Tokyoites don't have martial virtue

It seems that Suoh, the prosecutor, is quite hostile towards Makoto Kyushu; his eyes and tone are as sharp and terrifying as a dagger.

However, this is understandable, as Makoto Kyushu is now a "host student" who has seriously violated discipline, making him a formidable enemy to the Disciplinary Committee.

"Of course I have objections!" Kyushu Makoto took a deep breath, bracing himself on the table with both hands, and said slowly:

"I believe this is a fabrication and slander against me; I do not work in this field!"

"I see... I have indeed received both sides' claims." The judge nodded and instructed:

"Then, both sides can present evidence and witnesses and discuss the matter."

Suo Takefumi took out three photos and slammed them on the table: "Judge, this is the first piece of evidence I want to present."

At the same time, the projection screen in the multimedia classroom slowly descended, displaying the contents of three photos.

These three photos are the illustrations in the "Host Host Exposure Post," and they were also photos that Senior Karakawa once showed to her. They are secretly taken pictures of Kyushu Makoto and a host entering a hostess bar.

"These photos are the best irrefutable evidence." Suo Takefumi asked threateningly, "Does the defendant, Kyushu, have any defense regarding these photos?"

The appearance of these photos was not surprising at all; Kyushu Makoto was naturally prepared. He stared at the prosecutors and said righteously:

“I admit that the person in the photos is me. But is it too hasty to conclude that I work in a brothel based solely on these photos?”

"Oh? So how does Kyushu plan to explain this?" Suoh Takefumi narrowed his eyes with interest and asked:

"You're not going to try to explain that you just accidentally went to the wrong store, are you? If you're going to tell such a lame lie, you might as well just admit it."

Kyushu Makoto smiled slightly and requested the judge, "I would like to invite the student who took the photo to the witness stand. I need to question him!"

"Why?" Suoh Takefumi asked, puzzled. "These photos are irrefutable evidence. Is it really necessary to invite the student who took the photos up here?"

"How can you determine the authenticity of these photos without questioning the photographer? Can you guarantee that there are no signs of forgery or alteration on these photos?" Kyushu Makoto calmly retorted.

“If the photographer is unwilling to appear in court for trial, then I have the right to suspect that these photos are forged and are not qualified to be used as evidence.”

"Hmph, what an ugly death throes~" Suoh Takefumi shook his head helplessly and said, "In that case, I agree to call the witness to the stage. Please grant me permission, Your Honor."

"Since the defendant insists, then summon him to the court." The judge was clearly displeased with Kyushu Makoto's unreasonable remarks, and his tone became much colder.

Shortly after, a male student with a buzz cut walked up to the witness stand, with a portable camera hanging around his neck.

"Hello, teachers and students..." The cameraman looked a little nervous, gripping the edge of the table with both hands.

“My name is… Higashino Ichiro, a second-year student. I’m the one who took those photos.”

Kyushu Makoto's eyes turned somewhat unfriendly; it seemed this person was a henchman of the newspaper department. Rather than a so-called "chance encounter," Kyushu Makoto believed that this person was acting on orders from Director Karasawa, deliberately following and secretly photographing him.

"Hello, Higashino-kun. Could you please explain the details of what happened?" Kyushu Makoto stared intently at him and asked.

"I hope you can explain why you were in Kamurocho after school, and why you happened to have a camera with you, and why you just happened to take pictures of me entering the hostess shop?"

The cameraman, somewhat intimidated by Kyushu Makoto's gaze, spoke:

“My hobby is photography, and I carry a camera with me as a personal hobby. That day after school, I decided to go to Shinjuku to take pictures of the street scenes. As it happened, I saw a boy wearing our school uniform walk into a hostess shop at an intersection, so I took a picture as a reflex.”

Then, the cameraman took out a memory card from the camera and said, "The original files of these photos are all in here. You can let professionals check them at will. I haven't made any modifications or forgeries."

Takefumi Suo chimed in, "We actually asked the 'Computer Club' to check the original files of the photos a long time ago, and there were indeed no signs of retouching."

"So, all these photos are real, is that right?" the judge asked.

“That’s right!” Suoh Takefumi nodded and said to the photographer, “Thank you for the witness’s explanation. Please leave now.”

Just as the photographer was about to leave the stage, Kyushu Makoto hurriedly called out, "Wait a minute!"

"What's wrong?" The photographer froze in shock, while the prosecutor also looked displeased.

"I have a few more questions for this witness," Kyushu Makoto asked earnestly, staring intently into the photographer's eyes.

"I'm a little curious. Even though you're going to Shinjuku to shoot street scenes, why did you specifically choose Kamurocho? That's a district with the most thugs and sex workers. For safety reasons, most student photography enthusiasts wouldn't go there to take pictures, right?"

"Well...that's because..." The photographer suddenly seemed a little flustered, as if he hadn't expected to be asked that question: "Because I just suddenly wanted to go there to take pictures!"

"So, all of this is just a coincidence?" Kyushu Makoto pressed, his words highly provocative.

"You just happened to go to Kamurocho, you just happened to run into me in front of the hostess shop, and your camera just happened to be on so you could take pictures anytime. Isn't all this coincidence a bit too much?"

"I...I just happened to run into you!" The photographer shrank his neck and retorted hastily, "I couldn't possibly have followed you the whole time!"

“Oh, right.” Kyushu Makoto smiled slightly and asked, “Since you admit that you took these photos, did you also write that post?”

"No, a friend wrote it for me..." the photographer said awkwardly after thinking for a moment.

"Really? Then could you please have your friend come up and testify? I'd like to ask him a few questions," Kyushu Makoto continued to press.

"He went straight home after school!" the photographer replied, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Are you kidding me? Shouldn't he be present as a witness at a time like this?"

"I...I don't know!"

"Speaking of which, you must be a member of the news department, right?" Kyushu Makoto changed the subject again.

"Yes, what's wrong?" The photographer nodded.

"The 'friend' you're talking about...you wouldn't happen to be someone from the news department, would you?" Kyushu Makoto smiled slightly.

"Yes, I..." The photographer was bewildered by the series of questions.

Just then, Suoh Takefumi interrupted unhappily, "Kyushu-kun, stop asking questions that are irrelevant to this case!"

The judge tapped his gavel and warned, "The defendant is indeed asking questions unrelated to the case. Please stop immediately and stop obstructing the witness."

After being stopped by the judge, Makoto Kyushu had no choice but to give up.

The photographer clearly lacked composure; he appeared very guilty when interrogated and was obviously lying.

However, the time is not yet ripe; we cannot immediately expose his lies and bring the news department into the spotlight.

After the photographer left the audience, Makoto Kyushu spoke again:

"Your Honor, I would also like to invite a witness to come up to the stage."

38. Courtroom Files, Part Two

Under the curious gaze of everyone present, Manager Saito took his place in the witness stand.

"Please state your name and occupation, witness." The judge's tone softened slightly when he saw that the witness was not from the school.

"My name is Saito Ninosuke, and I'm the manager of [Tokyo Gensokyo]." He smoothed his slicked-back hair and said calmly.

"The PR bar that your school's students secretly filmed is the one I run."

There was an uproar around them; who could have imagined that the manager of the PR shop would brazenly appear in a university?

"Mr. Saito, do you acknowledge that Makoto Kyushu works at your shop?" Takefumi Suo asked purposefully.

Store manager Saito glanced at Kyushu Makoto, then stared at Suo Takefumi: "No, this child is not an employee of our store."

"But...you're a witness invited by Kyushu Seijin, aren't you?" the judge asked curiously.

"Since you have no connection with Makoto Kyushu, why did you accept his request to appear as a witness?"

"Well, actually, I do have a connection with this child." Shopkeeper Saito smiled slightly.

"That kid, Kyushu Makoto... he's probably some kind of 'son of a bitch'."

"Godson?!" Another uproar erupted in the courtroom.

Suo Takefumi also stared in surprise and asked, "I've never heard of such a thing before! Could you please explain, Mr. Saito?"

"There's nothing much to explain. I just feel sorry for the kid, so I often give him some pocket money," Manager Saito replied calmly.

“I occasionally let him come to the store to help with odd jobs, but it’s just voluntary work, not the kind of work where he serves customers.”

"So, the reason Kyushu Makoto walked into this hostess bar was actually because he was adopted by the manager?" The students on the jury began to discuss.

"So...Mr. Saito, did you register the adoption?" Suo Takefumi pressed on relentlessly.

"No, I would never do such a thing." Manager Saito shook his head and gave a wry smile.

"My profession is rather sensitive. If I suddenly adopt a high school student as a godson, people will definitely gossip, right?"

"So, in other words, Kyushu Makoto is not your legally recognized godson, but it's just wishful thinking on your part?" Suoh Takefumi frowned.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Manager Saito stared at the prosecutor, his eyes crinkling slightly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make things difficult for you." Suoh Takefumi's glasses gleamed, and he began to press his advantage.

"But based on such casual statements, it's hard for me not to suspect that you and Kyushu Makoto colluded on your testimonies beforehand, and that you're helping him commit perjury."

"Think what you want then. I'm not going to waste time arguing with you." Manager Saito said with an indifferent look, complaining irritably.

"I can't believe you're questioning my good deeds? Are all high school students these days so cynical?"

"I..." Suddenly subjected to a moral interrogation, Suoh Takefumi was at a loss for words.

As expected of a seasoned veteran who has been in the underworld for decades, Manager Saito silenced the students from the prosecution with just a few words.

At that moment, someone in the audience suddenly stood up and said, "Mr. Saito, may I ask you a question?"

Everyone turned their attention to the voice and discovered that the speaker was none other than the school's chairman.

For this school, today's "class referee" is of reform significance, so the chairman of the board also chose to come to the scene to listen in person.

"You say you're sponsoring Kyushu Makoto because he's pitiful, but I think that's a very weak reason." The chairman's sharp, hawk-like eyes turned to Manager Saito.