Tokyoites don't have martial virtue

"If you want to verify the authenticity of the chat logs, you can contact Nishio-senpai. He didn't dare to speak out before because he was afraid that the newspaper club would retaliate against him and affect his high school studies and baseball career. But he graduated last year, so there's no reason for him to keep it a secret any longer."

"Your claim is... the news department has been engaging in extortion for years, and you're one of the victims?" Suo Takefumi hung his head, his glasses dimming, and the confidence in his eyes vanished. "How could it have come to this... how could the news department do such a thing..."

Seeing that the prosecution was not in a good state, the judge tapped his gavel and asked, "The prosecution seems a bit confused. Should we adjourn the court temporarily?"

Then, the judge asked the defendant, "Kyushu, what is your intention?"

“No problem, we can adjourn for a while. After all, I've presented new evidence, so let Suoh-kun think about it first.” Kyushu Makoto nodded magnanimously.

"I hope that during the recess, you can summon all the executives of the news department, especially that Director Karakawa. I request that they be interrogated."

After thinking for a moment, the judge agreed, "Of course, no problem. Now that new evidence has emerged, this class-level trial will pursue the matter to the end."

Immediately afterwards, the judge tapped his gavel and announced, "This 'class adjudication' will be adjourned for fifteen minutes!"

The audience members began chatting casually, and some noticed the news department members in the gallery and started giving them unfriendly looks.

Kyushu Makoto walked to the prosecutor's bench and deliberately spoke loudly to Suoh Takefumi:

"Suoh-kun, I've always believed that the Disciplinary Committee is an honest, upright, and righteous student organization. You'll surely punish all violations of school rules and stand up for the victims, right?"

"..." Suoh Takefumi stared blankly, head bowed. Despite knowing it was a provocation, he couldn't utter a single word.

40. Fast forward to the embarrassing history section.

During the fifteen-minute recess, Kyushu Makoto left the classroom to get a drink from the water fountain.

"You're really capable, Makoto Kyushu."

Three students walked towards him.

When Kyushu Makoto looked up, he saw that the visitors were Karasawa-senpai, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and two of his journalism club followers.

"The evidence I found is pretty good, isn't it?" Kyushu Makoto smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow.

"I heard that Professor Jiangniao visited my home a few days ago, and he brought a student assistant with him." Senior Yagawa's tone was calm, but her eyes revealed a sinister glint.

"I asked Ms. Jiangniao, but she remained silent and refused to say who the student was. I guess it was you?"

"Then continue guessing?" Kyushu Makoto shrugged.

"You're a tough nut to crack. I've never seen anyone resist to this extent, which makes me admire you even more." Karasu Saki chuckled, flicking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"If you drop the lawsuit now, our news department will help you clear up the negative news about you at school and persuade the school to cancel your punishment. Moreover, I will still invite you to join the news department and become one of my subordinates."

Kyushu Makoto met Karasukawa Senpai's gaze with disdain and retorted, "You guys chickened out?"

"No, I'm just appreciating talent~" Karasukawa Sakifumi raised her chin, looking down at him arrogantly:

"I admit you're quite remarkable to be able to put up such a desperate struggle in such a short time. But with these paltry pieces of evidence, you still can't beat our news department."

"Is that so?" Kyushu Makoto shook his head. "Then we'll wait and see."

"I told you long ago, going against our news department will only end badly." Rejected again, Saki Karasawa's eyes turned icy cold once more.

Sometimes, being overly persistent is incredibly foolish.

She shook her head incredulously and left with her entourage.

......

After the break, Makoto Kyushu returned to the defendant's seat in the courtroom.

"The defendant is ready."

Prosecutor Suoh's expression had improved considerably. He stood up and said, "The prosecution is ready. Please continue the trial."

"Let's continue our discussion," the judge announced, tapping his gavel.

Suoh Takefumi adjusted his glasses, striking first:

“Kyushu, the new evidence you presented is amazing. However, during the recess, I spoke with the press officers and found that the facts are not as you say.”

At the same time, a light, melodious female voice rang out in the courtroom: "Please let me testify regarding the news department's matter!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was a dashing short-haired girl.

"Karuga-kun!" a classmate exclaimed in surprise.

Saki Karasu, who has been in the top five of the "Showdown Super Popular Beautiful Girl Ranking" for three consecutive years and currently holds the important position of Minister of News, appeared in everyone's sight and walked gracefully to the witness stand.

Perhaps it was her dazzling presence and her commanding walk that caused most of the students in the gallery to stare wide-eyed, and all the lights in the courtroom to focus on her in that instant.

"Really?! This is the first time I've seen Karasukawa-senpai up close like this!" In the audience, Takashi Karasukawa stared in amazement at Karasukawa Saki's long legs, his nostrils flaring and a monkey-like expression on his face.

"She's really a beauty, even more stunning up close." Suzuki Yuujin pointed to the female classmate next to him and complained, "Look at the girls to my left, they're all blushing."

"She's a terrifying woman," commented Genji Takatsuki.

After Karasukawa Sakifumi came to the witness stand without permission, the judge asked with some surprise, "Isn't this Karasukawa-kun? What are you doing here?"

"You're quite popular, Karasukawa-senpai?" Kyushu Seiya teased.

"I don't want to be praised like this by a junior who's fabricating evidence and slandering our journalism department~" Karasu Saki nodded slightly, her narrowed eyes showing a hint of disdain:

"Although I don't know how Kyushu found this evidence, his claims are completely unfounded. As the Minister of Information, it is necessary for me to come up here personally to clarify some things."

As they spoke, Karasukawa Saki and Kyushu Makoto exchanged glances, as if giving their enemy a final look before battle.

"So, we've finally brought out the culprit...?" thought Makoto Kyushu.

Suoh Takefumi said impatiently, "Karasawa-kun, please testify right now!"

At the judge's nod, Karasukawa Sakifumi, leaning on the table, said calmly:

"Adachi Shin was the previous head of the news club and also my senior in the club. However, as the head of the news club, I was completely unaware of the evidence presented by the Kyushu students."

"If the evidence is true, I can only guess that Minister Adachi used the name of the Information Department to carry out many shady and illegal activities. This is the first time I have heard of this, and I feel heartbroken and ashamed of the former minister's behavior."

With that, Karasukawa Saki closed her eyes and bowed deeply.

"But I promise that since I, Karasukawa Sakifumi, became the minister this year, nothing like this has ever happened again! We are now just a group of ordinary news enthusiasts who record and share campus oddities!"

Karasukawa Saki's tone was sincere, yet neither servile nor arrogant. She genuinely seemed to be apologizing for the "former minister's" extortion, but also disassociating the "current news department" from the "extortion incident."

"That's the truth, Kyushu-kun! You say Karasukawa-kun used the newspaper club's power to blackmail you? I think that's utter nonsense!" Suo Takefumi slammed his fist on the table and shouted imposingly.

"According to the Disciplinary Committee's investigation, Karakawa-kun has excellent grades and is well-liked at school. He often helps students and clubs in need and is a true model student. I believe that such a student of excellent character would never lead the News Club to commit such despicable acts as abuse of power and extortion!"

"Indeed." The judge agreed, "The extortion incident presented by the defendant, Kyushu student, occurred in previous years and is unrelated to this year's News Club. Therefore, it cannot be used to prove that he was extorted."

The judge then solemnly instructed, "Since such a terrible case has occurred in the news department before, it must be thoroughly investigated and cannot be simply dismissed."

“Of course, teacher~” Karasukawa Saki nodded slightly, then looked at Kyushu Makoto with a hint of pride:

"In any case, I want to thank Kyushu students for providing this evidence. I will lead the press department to investigate this matter thoroughly and do my best to make up for the losses that the previous minister caused to the school and students."

"Very good, that's truly responsible!" The judge smiled with satisfaction.

Karasukawa Sakifumi only went up to the stage and gave a few words of testimony, and the atmosphere in the courtroom took another turn.

"So the news department is innocent now? They never blackmailed Kyushu Makoto."

"After all, it was something a senior student did, so we can't blame it on the current news department, right?"

"Senior Yagawa took the blame for her senior; she's truly a responsible and magnanimous woman!"

"Kyushu Makoto is just using a fallacy to frame Karasukawa-kun!"

The audience in the gallery began to murmur amongst themselves, their doubts about the news department seemingly diminished considerably.

Sensing the shift in the tide, the two press officers on the jury regained their composure, their complexions becoming noticeably rosier.

"Silence!" The judge tapped his gavel and asked, "Jury, how many of you now support an acquittal?"

Upon hearing this, some jurors raised their hands, reducing the number of jurors to about 20%.

Compared to Kyushu Makoto, this "host student" who spouts nonsense, everyone is indeed more willing to believe the beloved Minister Karasawa.

Suoh Takefumi crossed his arms and sighed, "It's a pity, it seems that Kyushu-kun still can't prove his innocence."

The judge also asked, "Makoto Kyushu, is there anything else you'd like to say?"

“You’re right, this evidence alone is not enough to convict you.” Kyushu Makoto stared at Karasukawa Saki and couldn’t help but sigh:

"These things were done by the old news club, and have nothing to do with the current news club... What a great excuse, Karakawa-senpai."

"This isn't an excuse, it's the truth." Karasukawa Sakifumi narrowed her eyes and replied confidently:

"This news department has not extorted or threatened anyone; you are just trying to exonerate yourself for your illegal activities in the sex industry."

"Is that so~?" Kyushu Makoto smiled slightly and took out his phone from his pocket:

"Actually, I have a recording of our conversation on my phone. But even if I show it to you, you'll just argue that the recording was edited and faked, right?"

"Anyway, compared to an unknown nobody like me, everyone will definitely trust you, the well-connected Minister of Information, more."

"But my stance remains unchanged. I was blackmailed by you and falsely accused of being a 'gigolo student.'" Kyushu Makoto pulled out a photograph and said to the judge:

"Your Honor, I would like to present a photograph."

"What are you going to do now?" Suoh Takefumi asked nervously, his nerves on edge. "Do you have any more evidence?!"

"Don't worry~ This isn't evidence." Kyushu Makoto ignored the prosecution's protests and imported the photos from his phone onto the classroom's large screen:

"I prefer to call it a 'supplementary explanation.' I want everyone here to see Karasukawa Saki's true colors before considering which side you want to believe."