A supporting character in a romance anime? I became a god using a rat talisman.

"as you like."

Kazama Chiba sighed and gave up on this pointless argument.

Just as he was about to ignore this idiot and turn away...

Two middle-aged men dressed in plain clothes, but who looked every bit like cops, blocked the end of the corridor.

"Kazama Chiba-kun, right?"

Yamoto Taro had a cigarette dangling from his mouth that never seemed to light, and he scrutinized the man from head to toe with an expression that looked as if he wanted to dissect him.

Kosaka Itsuki, standing next to him, held his signature notebook, looking quite serious.

The surrounding students fell silent instantly. Their instinctive awe of the police made them subconsciously step back into a vacuum.

"We are from the Shenshui Police Department. We need your cooperation regarding a case that occurred near the school yesterday afternoon."

Yamoto Taro took out his ID and flashed it, then quickly put it back in his pocket.

"Don't be nervous. We don't need to go to the station. We just need to use that empty classroom over there. Is that alright?"

Although it was a question, the tone clearly said, "You have the right to remain silent, but whatever you say, you have to come with us."

Moreover, their positions were such that one was blocking the way in front, while the other had already quietly moved around to the back.

Clearly, Kazama Chiba was not given any room to refuse.

The surrounding students immediately fell silent.

Police entered the school to look for someone.

This is big news.

"There's trouble again..."

Rikka nervously grabbed Kazama Chiba's sleeve.

"They're pursuers from the Bureau! Allies, should we break out? I have a flashbang (actually some kind of homemade firework)!"

Kazama Chiba glanced at her.

"Don't overact."

"This is none of your business. I told you, I'm a troublemaker. If you don't want to get involved, stay away."

He ruthlessly slapped away the hand that was grabbing his clothes.

Then, after straightening the neatly folded collar of his school uniform, he gave the two detectives a standard, polite smile befitting a good student.

"Of course, officer. Cooperating with the investigation is a citizen's duty."

……

The third floor, empty classrooms in the old school building.

The curtains were half-drawn, and several desks missing arms and legs were piled in the corner, leaving only an empty space in the middle.

Kazama Chiba leaned against the podium, one hand in her pocket.

Yamoto Taro and Kosaka Itsuki stood on the left and right, blocking the doorway and windows like two walls.

This is indeed a low-budget version of an interrogation room.

There were no one-way windows, no bright lights, but the suffocating psychological pressure was no less intense.

"Since we're all smart people, let's get straight to the point."

Yamoto Taro didn't sit down, but leaned against a desk, his hawk-like eyes fixed on Kazama Chiba's face.

"Yesterday afternoon, at 5:56 PM, did you pass through the third alley intersection in Mitakihara Ward, Kamisui City?"

"Yes, that's the route I take every day on my way home."

Kosaka Itsuki stared into his eyes.

“Last night’s surveillance footage shows that you were the last person to pass through that alleyway. And you stopped there for a while and looked inside.”

"And after I watched it, the security cameras there went out of order. Isn't that a coincidence?"

Kazama Chiba shrugged.

"The problem with the surveillance system is a municipal issue. You should complain to the department responsible for maintenance, not come to me."

"As for looking inside... I did look inside."

His answer was so frank that it surprised Kosaka Itsuki for a moment.

What did you see?

"I saw three people beating up a girl."

"Now that you've seen it," Yamoto Taro took a step forward, and the smell of tobacco drew closer.

"Why did you stop to look? Since you know it's 'not a good thing,' why didn't you walk away?"

Kazama Chiba smiled and spread his hands.

"Officer, what you're saying is a bit strange."

“I am human. Humans are essentially just curious monkeys. We'll stop and watch if there are dogs fighting on the street, let alone if there are people causing trouble in an alley. Isn't it a biological instinct to take a second look?”

"What then?"

Yamoto Taro was not swayed by the rhythm.

"The surveillance footage shows that you glanced at the camera. Then the screen went black for five seconds. When the screen came back on, you were gone, very decisively."

"Then why did you just glance at it and leave?"

Kosaka Itsuki couldn't help but interject.

"Since you heard the screams, why didn't you go in?"

"The people inside are calling for help. Shouldn't a human being with normal moral values ​​lend a helping hand at this time?"

Kazama Chiba shrugged.

"Because I don't want to cause trouble."

"As I said, I am human. It is also instinctive to seek advantage and avoid harm."

He pointed to his head.

"Those were three thugs. They were probably carrying steel pipes or knives. As for me, I'm just an ordinary high school student who's 1.75 meters tall and weighs 60 kilograms."

"What do you expect me to do in there? Be their punching bag? Or to give them some extra 'exercise'?"

"Moreover, I saw the camera."

"Since there are surveillance cameras there, and since the police will investigate, why should I risk getting myself involved? For a defenseless bystander like me, the best option is to turn around and leave, pretending I didn't see anything. Avoid getting involved. Isn't that a textbook self-preservation strategy?"

"Is there a problem with this?"

"There's a problem! Of course there's a problem!"

Kosaka Itsuki couldn't hold back any longer. He closed the notebook, his somewhat young face filled with anger.

"You knew perfectly well what was happening there! You knew that girl was in danger! If you didn't want to rush in, why didn't you call the police?! Even just a simple call to 110! Do you know what those few minutes meant? If you had called the police or even shouted something, those three people might not have died!"

Kazama Chiba looked at that face, which was flushed red with anger.

He wasn't frightened; he didn't even blink.

Would calling the police be helpful?

He raised his hand and pointed to his rather handsome face.

"In my second year of junior high, I was trying to help someone. And what happened? I got cornered and beaten up in an alley by those people."

"I called the police."

"And then what? The police came. They took three hours of statements. It wasted my work time. Then you called those guys over, gave them a few words of reprimand, made them apologize, and that was it."

"The next day, I was cornered at the school gate and beaten even worse, the reason being, 'How dare you snitch!'"

“I went to tell the teacher. The teacher said, ‘Why do they only bully you and not others?’”

"From that day on, I understood a principle."

"In this school, calling the police is pointless except for wasting my time and getting me into more trouble. Those scum won't change their ways just because of your words. They'll only become more ruthless."

"So why should I waste my time and risk being retaliated against by those three thugs by calling the police for someone I don't even know?"

"you……"

Kosaka Itsuki was speechless, choked up.

"But that's no reason for you to stand idly by!"

Kosaka Itsuki couldn't help but retort.

"Because of your indifference... three people died! Three lives!"

Kazama Chiba blinked, her confused expression so realistic it could win an Oscar.

"Who died?"

“Those three thugs,” Kosaka Itsuki said through gritted teeth, “they were murdered in the alley. And they died a horrible death.”

"Oh--"

Kazama Chiba dragged out the last syllable, as if savoring the words.

Then, he said something that completely broke the two policemen's guard.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Huh?" The two policemen were stunned at the same time.

“The bully is dead. The scum is dead. These creatures, which have no value other than wasting air and food, have been wiped out of this world.”

"Isn't this something to celebrate? Why feel regret? If I had called the police and saved them, how many more girls like them would have been harmed by them tomorrow and the day after?"

"So, officer, are you accusing me... of not stopping the world from becoming a cleaner place?"

"You bastard...!"

Kosaka Itsuki was so angry that he trembled all over. He suddenly stood up, grabbed Kazama Chiba by the collar, and dragged him away from the podium.