Another Like Me - Part I (CoTE x OC) ?

Chapter 61 - Suspicion

"Wait. Say the same thing again, but slower."

"You saved Ryuuen-san from being expelled. Thank you," Ishizaki heeded to my request, and proceeded to formally thank me. I could hear Albert's affirming hums from the other end as well.

So Ryuuen did not get expelled, huh?

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What?

I clenched my fists in anger.

How?

I didn't do anything.

I even made sure that Kiyotaka did not interfere with Ryuuen's expulsion.

How did Ryuuen not get expelled, or worse, at least suspended? I was hoping for him to get expelled. One less class to worry about.

I grit my teeth.

What the hell was happening? This wasn't a part of the plan. How is Ryuuen still in school?

"Umm, Takeyama-kun?" Ishizaki spoke slowly from the other end. "Are you there?"

"Ishizaki."

"Y-yeah?"

"Did Ryuuen even go to the teacher's office? To submit his letter for resigning from the school?" I asked cautiously.

"Well yeah, duh! He did go. But it seemed that the matter was somehow handled internally by the teachers and principal. I'm surprised it didn't escalate at all. You're the one who put in a good word for Ryuuen-san, right? You revoked his expulsion!"

I kept silent.

Ryuuen's expulsion from the school..... was revoked?

But why?

"But we still got hit by a penalty of 50 Class Points for our behavior, so I guess that compensates," Ishizaki muttered from the other end.

"Where is Ryuuen?"

"Ryuuen-san? Oh, he's outside the faculty office right now. Do you want me to hand the phone over to him?"

"Ask him to stay where he is. I'm coming right now."

"W-wait, Takeyama-kun?" Ishizaki asked me worriedly. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Ishizaki. I'm just coming over for a little chat."

I cut the call before I could get a response, and immediately put on a jacket. I walked out into the December air towards the teacher's office.

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I stood in front of the school building's third floor, and I could make out the figures of Ibuki, Albert and Ishizaki, standing outside the office.

I walked over to the trio.

"Takeyama-kun?" Ishizaki was the first one to acknowledge my presence. "You actually came?"

"Where's Ryuuen?" I skipped directly to the point.

"He just left. He's outside, sitting down on the bench behind the school. You know the bench next to the vending machine?"

"I do. I'll head over. Besides, how's your mouth? Ryuuen sucker-punched you pretty bad."

"I think it's okay," Ishizaki said warily, massaging his cheek. "I feel a weird lump sometimes, though....."

I turned around to leave before he could delve into more anatomy.