I identified myself to those inside, and Fellow Stalking Horse opened the door.

"Sorry to be late."

"No, sorry to have called you here. Oh, Ikoma's here, too," noticing her behind me, he glanced at her and his eyes widened for an instant at her haggard state, but beckoned us into the room. I allowed Ikoma-san to go first and followed.

"Oh…"

Wakaba-chan was here. She raised her head from the documents she was parsing through and waved, "Welcome," with a smile.

"I thought it best to have the victim here," explained Fellow Stalking Horse. He went on to apologize for not telling me in advance.

Wakaba-chan stood up smiling, and motioned us to sit at the sofa. "Want to drink something? Coffee? Tea?" While she was pouring some cold tea for everyone, Ikoma-san was looking down making a tight fist with both hands.

When Wakaba-chan sat down after getting everyone's drink, Fellow Stalking Horse announced, "Let's start."

"Um, I heard what happened. That Ikoma-san was the culprit."

"Yes…" Ikoma-san replied in a hushed voice.

"I see. I see," nodded Wakaba-chan, her arms crossed.

"My unfounded assumptions led me do some terrible things against you. I'm truly sorry. I can't apologize enough…" Ikoma-san stood up and bowed her head deeply to Wakaba-chan.

"Okay. I understand. You can sit, Ikoma-san. And because you're a fan of Kisshouin-san, and you did it for her sake? That's why you messed with my belongings.

"Yes…"

"Okay, okay," nodded Wakaba-chan.

"Not everything was Ikoma's doing, but she was responsible for much of it, like I told you earlier," added Fellow Stalking Horse.

"I see. So Ikoma-san likes Kisshouin-san that much." She then murmured, "I see. You like Kisshouin-san enough to harass me," to herself. She continued, "You like Kisshouin-san so you messed up my shoes and uniform."

"…I'm sorry."

I see, I see, nodded Wakaba-chan. Why is she verifying that it was for me so many times? Fellow Stalking Horse and I couldn't read her thoughts, and looked on.

"Then, would you be shocked if I told you…" Wakaba-chan made an exaggerated look of confusion and tilted her head.

"What is it?"

"Hmm… What should I do? So, Kisshouin-san, do you think I should say it?"

Huh? What?! What are you going to say!? She turned to Ikoma-san and continued, "The indoor shoes and uniform I have on are hand-me-downs from Kisshouin-san."

"Eh!?" Ikoma-san's raised her head at that bombshell.

"Those are Kisshouin's hand-me-downs?! What do you mean, Takamichi?" Fellow Stalking Horse couldn't stay calm after that unexpected statement. But it's worse for me. I'm in a state of panic from Wakaba-chan revealing the secret. Why!? I said that was a secret!

"Yeah, they got messed up, but Kisshouin-san happened to be there and she gave me her spares."

"Kisshouin…" Fellow Stalking Horse stares at me stunned, but I haven't recovered, either. My heart is still racing! Why did you tell them, Wakaba-chan!?

Wakaba-chan stood up and turned, showing off the uniform. She stood in front of Ikoma-san and lifted the hem of the dress slightly and posed in front of her smiling. "It's a hand-me-down from Kisshouin-san that you admire so much. Jealous?" Ikoma-san's eyes widened. "Your harassment led me to getting Kisshouin-san's hand-me-downs, and also became the reason we became close. What do you think about that? How about it?" She provokes Ikoma-san getting in her face, as if to say, 'are you jealous?' What's wrong, Wakaba-chan? That's too dark…

"What are you doing stirring things up?" chided Fellow Stalking Horse.

"Well, after going through some of that, I thought a little payback was all right," she laughed.

"Oh, what the heck… But I never imagined that Takamichi's uniform was from Kisshouin…"

"Yeah, the indoor shoes are one thing, but the uniform's tough to replace, so I'm grateful for her spares. Thank you once again, Kisshouin-san."

"…You're welcome…" Why did you tell them, I asked with my glare, but she just smiled back.

"You're lucky other students didn't see that. Kisshouin might have been seen as the culprit like the locker incident." As he says. If I were seen next to Wakaba-chan with a dirty uniform, most would think that I did it, considering how the last president of the Pivoine treated her. Considering this and the locker incident, I had been walking a tightrope… Maybe I should ask for a protection from misfortune performed for me…

"I didn't know… I had been causing Reika-sama trouble for so long…" Ikoma-san hung her head again.

"Yeah. By the way, Ikoma-san. The vandalism on my desk and locker started again after the school trip, but that was you?"

"…I'm sorry…"

"Oh, I'm not attacking you. Just wanted to confirm. So how much did you do? Mizusaki-kun and Kisshouin-san caught you this morning, but did you temporarily stop right after you started before doing it again today?"

"…? I don't know what you mean by temporarily. After the school trip, not every day, but 2, 3, 4 times a week?"

"That's a lot."

"…I'm sorry…" She shrank down.

"Hmm… But that's strange. I only remember a few times after we got back. I don't remember anything happening after that until this morning."

"Huh?" Ikoma-san looked confused.

"But Ikoma-san continued to do it. That means that somebody was cleaning it up before I saw it every time." Wakaba-chan looked at me and Fellow Stalking Horse in turn. "Was that Kisshouin-san and Mizusaki-kun?"

She knows!?

While I thought of ways to get out of it, Felloe Stalking Horse admitted, "That's right… But Kisshouin started the cleanup first. I joined up later."

"Huh? Kisshouin-sama did!?" Ikoma-san turned to me. "Then…"

"Yeah. Kisshouin-san was cleaning up after you mess from the the entire time!"

"Didn't you say that you weren't attacking her?"

Wakaba-chan answered him with a smile. "What I wanted to ask was why you did that without telling me. Why?"

"Because…"

Wakaba-chan's gaze is telling me not to lie…

"I wanted to catch the vandal as the student council president, and as Takamichi's friend."

"I just didn't want you to suffer…"

Wakaba-chan smiled, "Thought so. Thank you. I've caused the two of you nothing but trouble. Especially Kisshouin-san, it must have been rough getting here early every day. I'm sorry, and thank you very much. But if you told me, I would have come, too."

"That would defeat the purpose."

"Not true. We could have looked for the culprit, and we could have studied and talked together. And I would have brought snacks."

"Uh… then let me have some of the snacks I missed."

"Ahaha, understood."

"…Are you two friends?" asked Fellow Stalking Horse.

"That's right. Kisshouin-san and I are friends since way back! Right!?"
Wakaba-chan! That was a secret we protected all this time, and you just blurted it out!

"Y, yes. Wakaba-chan and I are friends!" But she called me a friend. I'm happy about that! Oh, who cares! Just admit it! And we smiled at each other in joy.

"I didn't know."

"I didn't say," answered Wakaba-chan to Fellow Stalking Horse.

"What the heck…" he muttered, holding his head.

"But once again, all you do is help me, Kisshouin-san."

"That's not so. I always a guest at your house, and treated to meals, taught how to make snacks, and treated well by your family." And we're friends! Friends help each other!

Fellow Stalking Horse had an expression that said do what you will, but he slapped his hands together as he said, "Let's get back to it," and he was once again serious. "Now, Ikoma's offenses are clear, so next is discuss her punishment."

"…!" The main question. Ikoma-san's future will be decided. She closed her eyes, and began trembling.

Seeing that, Wakaba-chan said, "You don't have to report this to the school."

"Huh?"

Wakaba-chan smiled. "Of course, I'm mad at what she did, but if she gets a punishment that changes her life, I'd feel badly, and probably drag around some guilt."

"…I see… And?"

"So, we can call this incident over, right here."

Ikoma-san stared at Wakaba-chan in disbelief.

"Are you sure about that, Takamichi?"

"Sure. Wasn't that why you brought her to me, Mizusaki-kun?"

"…Sorry."

So Fellow Stalking Horse wanted to avoid suspension or expulsion, too. He apologized with a wry smile as he was found out.

"…But… Really… Is that okay?" Ikoma-san's eyes are filled with tears.

"I guess. But just this once. There's no next time."

"…! Thank you…! I'm sorry! Thank you!" Ikoma-san covered her mouth with trembling hands and bowed her head as tears poured out of her eyes.

"Ikoma, think over what you did wrong one more time. Repent from the bottom of your heart, not because you got caught, but because what harm you did to others. Takamichi happened to be strong, but if it was someone that couldn't handle it, they may have felt badly enough to quit coming to school. If something like that happened, I would never have forgiven you."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" The floodgates opens as Ikoma-san cried, prostrated on her knees. I rubbed her back, and everyone waited for her to calm down.

When she stopped crying, Fellow Stalking Horse continued, "However, considering your many actions, just because you apologized, and Takamichi accepted, I'm not convinced that you should be let off so easily."

Well, as he says. She's done quite a lot, so no further punishment seems wrong. A month of cleanup duty might be normal, but we're keeping this among ourselves, so we can't hand out punishments openly.

"Then how about compensation for damages, at least," I suggested.

"I guess. Was it the indoor shoes and uniform? That much should be provided at the least," agreed Fellow Stalking Horse.

"So adding up the indoor shoes and uniform…"

"I'm not sure of the exact amount, but 200-300 thousand?"

"…"

I guess that Ikoma-san didn't know the price, either. Her eyes opened wide. Putting aside the rich internal students, 200-300 thousand yen isn't something a normal high school student could gather… I don't know Ikoma-san's family's finances, but seeing her reaction, I don't think I'm mistaken.

"I have some savings like New Year's gifts so if I withdraw that… I can pay back the remainder with my allowance every month…"

New Year's gifts…. If she told her parents, that might be best, but that's may be difficult emotionally.

Then Wakaba-chan held up her hand. "But wouldn't that turn into blackmail if something goes wrong?"

Huh? Blackmail? Fellow Stalking Horse and I stared at Wakaba-chan.

"Compensation is a legitimate right, but it'll look like blackmail from someone who doesn't know." Fellow Stalking Horse went silent. She may be right… Giving a large amount of money to a classmate is suspicious behavior. Wakaba-chan smile apologetically at our reaction. "So, well, it feels wrong saying this in front of Kisshouin-san who gave me the uniform and shoes, but I didn't take any monetary damage thanks to her, so I don't need compensation."

"Huh?" The three of us looked at each other.

"But that's a little…"

"Takamichi. I understand how you feel, but…"

"But I have a condition." Wakaba-chan raised her index finger. "Instead of compensation, I'd like you to work at my family's shop for a while."

"Work?!"

"My parents were the ones who earned the money for the uniform and shoes. So to make up for treading on my parents' feelings, I want you to understand how hard it is to earn money. Not all the time. Just on weekends for about a month."

"Takamichi, I think you know, but work is prohibited by Zuiran."

"I know. That's why it's my family's shop. Obviously unpaid. I'll tell my parents why, so it may be unpleasant. That's your punishment."

"But…"

"I'll do it!" Ikoma-san interrupted Fellow Stalking Horse.

"Ikoma."

"I'll work at Takamichi-san's home. I want to make up even a little for her forgiveness that she's given me, despite all I've done. I'll work hard! To make up for Takamichi-san's magnanimity and for Reika-sama who cleaned up after my crimes!" She bows her head again looking determined. Wakaba-chan's nodding.

I guess it's okay if it's okay with them…? I glance at Fellow Stalking Horse, who sighed, but nodded.

When I thought that it was settled, Ikoma-san stood up. "I will make a pilgrimage!"

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

"Hmm?"
The three of us were puzzled by Ikoma-san's sudden announcement. Pilgrimage?

"I was thinking about what to do the entire time. I've caused so many problems for Takamichi-san and Reika-sama, and also Mizusaki-kun. Takamichi-san forgave me, but my crimes won't disappear. Then how do I truly repent? I can shave my head, confront my crimes, and go on a pilgrimage. Yes, even immediately!"

"No, no, no!"

"That's making a leap…"

"Shikoku is far away."

You have school, shaving your head and going on a pilgrimage is bad!

"I'll feel the weight of my crimes with every step there."

"Huh? Walking!?"

"Wouldn't take over a month?"

"You'll flunk school due to attendance."

We avoided suspension and expulsion, and even the revoking of the internal admission to the university. Wouldn't it be pointless if she flunked? But Ikoma-san was determined.

Fellow Stalking Horse looked exasperated as he looked at me and muttered, "Why are your believers so extreme…?"

"What do you mean by believers!? Don't say strange things!" That sounds disreputable. I don't remember recruiting any believers.

But a pilgrimage is bad. We have exams coming up. If you insist on going, do it during summer vacation. Is ascetic training in fashion or something, like with Fuyuko-sama?

Huh? Oh, I know!

"I have an idea, Ikoma-san. Why don't we hold off on the pilgrimage, and try takigyou first?"

"Huh?"

"Kisshouin-san?"

While Wakaba-chan and Fellow Stalking Horse stared at me blankly, I grabbed Ikoma-san's hands. "Be struck by the waterfall and face your weakness. Defeat it, become purified, and be reborn. Don't worry, I know of a good location to train."

"Reika-sama…!"

I just gained Fuyuko-sama somebody to perform the takigyou. Fufufu…

"So you were that sort of person…"

"You're sounding like a recruiter for some new religion, Kisshouin-san."

Wakaba-chan and Fellow Stalking Horse were completely taken aback. They call out to Ikoma-san with their eyes warning, 'Don't be fooled! Wake up!'

Welcome to the new religion, the Church of Reika.