CH 103

Ijuin returning

Translated by Dawn

Ijuin returning

The next day, Tuesday, July 31.

The classrooms were lively before the end of the semester ceremony, as the students were amiably discussing their plans for the summer vacation.

In our group, Shisae was still pushing hard for the sea.

Then silence broke in.

When I looked back at the unexpected silence, I saw Shusuke Ijuin standing at the entrance of the classroom.

He still had the same model body and long, beautiful hair that one would expect to see in a shoujo manga, but his expression was more mysterious or pensive than one would expect from a high school student.

Everyone in the classroom knew of Ijuin’s misdeeds from the news.

A gifted high school student with the perfect combination of family background, good looks, and ability was arrested for abetting a murder just as he was about to transfer to his new school.

Everyone was tight-lipped and seemed more in trouble than alarmed.

Ijuin, on the other hand, came toward us with a slow gait.

I got up from my seat, and Kiriha and Matsumi stepped forward with sharp eyes.

But Ijuin stopped two meters in front of Kiriha and turned to Maria.

“I’m sorry.”

After closing his eyes, Ijuin bowed deeply.

Showing the back of his head, Ijuin began his defense and apology in a quiet, sincere voice.

“What I did to Arima-san was a crime. I have no intention of evading the charges. So, during the summer vacation, I will reflect on what I did at the welfare facility.”

Maria listened silently to Ijuin’s words, saying nothing.

After confirming that, Ijuin continued.

“I was getting carried away, I’m sure. I have been treated specially as a prognosticator since I was a child, and after the government established the Extraordinary Ability Department, I became the ace of the police squad and was called the ‘Big Four’ by the public. Even when I provoke the netizens to attack you, no harm will come to Mr. Arima because I will save you anyway. So I thought this was just a little stunt to convey my feelings to Mr. Arima. It was like riding a bicycle through a red-lighted crosswalk. Even though I knew it was a crime, I had stopped thinking that it was okay to do that.”

What Ijuin said seemed small but important.

To mention a few details, many people, including me, commit crimes on a daily basis.

Borrowing supplies from someone you know and using them without permission.

Using electrical outlets in stores or facilities without permission.

Writing bad things about others on the Internet.

Claiming lost property as our own.

Cutting in line.

Taking out the garbage on a day other than the designated day.

Buying tickets from resellers at a price that was clearly higher than the original price.

All of these were crimes.

However, everyone did these crimes based on their own convenient interpretation that “it’s OK to do this” or “everyone else is doing this”.

In fact, few people were ever caught by the police for these crimes.

The problem, however, was that people were selfishly expanding this gray area.

Toxic parents were a good example of this.

They justified any kind of punishment to their children by saying, “Parents are free to do what they want with their children,” and “This is our family’s educational policy.”

No matter how heated the punishment becomes, they justify it as “it’s still fine,” “this is part of education,” “educational guidance,” or “a loving gesture to raise our child as a true human being.”

Then, after they were arrested, they learned that what they had done was not in a gray zone, but in a dark, black zone.

“A teacher at my old high school once told me. The higher you rise in the world, the less empathy you lose and the more selfish you become. But the people who don’t lose their empathy as they rise through the ranks become the real successes.”

Ijuin looked up and turned his whole body to me.

“Okui…I see why Mr. Arima trusts you so much…”

“Huh?”

Before I could say anything, Ijuin turned on his heel and turned his back on us.

“I’ll only make things worse for everyone by staying here. I’m going to sit out until the end of the school day starts. Then I’ll see you in the gym later.”

“I forgive you.”

Maria muttered as Ijuin took a step forward.

Stopping and staring at Ijuin, who turned around to look over her shoulder, Maria, as usual, was emotionless and spoke flatly, as if there were no past history between them.

“You had no intention of harming me, and in fact, no one was hurt, neither me nor Honey-san. Besides, it was only that woman who was provoked and carried out the deed. Therefore, I forgive you. When you leave the welfare facility, we will work as the same police team again.”

Everyone gasped at Maria’s words.

Her words were those of an exemplary saint, and it would have taken steel willpower to do it even if someone forced her to do it.

And yet, she chose to do it on her own, without anyone telling her to do so.

I took my hat off to her soul, which, as her name suggests, was like that of the Virgin Mary.

Come to think of it, she had no grudge against her parents who had mistreated her.

Maria, who did not have the sensitivity to hate and see others as enemies, might be the most necessary person in this world.

“……It would be a relief for me to hear you say that.”

After muttering to himself, Ijuin left the classroom.

His classmates, who had been watching the current exchange, fell silent and the classroom remained quiet.

Not very much, I guess, but they were not in the mood to get excited about their fun-filled summer vacation plans.

Nevertheless, after everyone resumed their conversations, Matsumi said,

“You’re a little too soft-hearted for your own good, you know? You almost got yourself killed, didn’t you?”

“But he had the plan to save me, and I’m sure he didn’t mean to harm me.”

“Well, that’s true. I’m worried about your future. Ikuo, protect her, you’re Maria’s Honey.”

Matsumi glared at me and I giggled.

“Of course. I’ll sewer-shoot anyone who comes near Kiriha and Maria.”

“You are really a cheat…”

Just as Matsumi sighed in dismay, the homeroom teacher appeared.

As everyone was seated and morning homeroom began, I thought about Ijuin.