Why the Hell are You Here, Teacher!? — Monologue of the Shadow Operator
Sanshokuin Sumireko is invisible. The plain library committee member with thick glasses and a braid—too pretty to approach, too quiet to notice, alone since middle school. She's spent three years perfecting the art of being unremarkable, and she has exactly one hobby: watching Kisaragi Amatsuyu.
She knows his gentle smile is a fabrication. She knows the kind, pure-hearted boy everyone adores is a mask for a cunning, calculating schemer who rains silent curses on his childhood friend even as he
Why the Hell are You Here, Teacher!? — Monologue of the Shadow Operator - The Observer at Rock Bottom — All-School Assembly, Tears of Solitude
The cherry leaves at the school gate swirled in the wind.
The October morning had already turned cold. Sanshokuin Sumireko stood in the shadow of the gatepost. Her thick, black-rimmed square glasses caught the morning light in a dull reflection. Her black hair, braided into a plait, curled tightly against her shoulders. A navy skirt that fell well below her knees swayed in the breeze, quietly wrapping around her ankles.
To anyone looking, she was just a plain library committee member.
That was the perfect mask she had built for herself at this school.
Sumireko stared fixedly down the path that led from the gate.
(Will he come today?)
She murmured it in her mind and hugged the observation notebook in her hands against her chest. The corner of the notebook bit into her fingertips.
Three days had passed since that day.
Since the wretched day stolen goods were found in Amatsuyu's desk. The rumors of shoplifting that had spread through the school. The security camera footage that had been fabricated, the false testimony that had been prepared. No matter how much Sumireko searched for counterevidence, Ooga Taiyou had always been a step ahead, smothering it all.
(If only I had moved sooner.)
Sumireko bit her lip.
Then, from the far end of the path, she saw a boy walking toward her.
Black hair still mussed from sleep. A hundred and seventy-two centimeters tall. Gentle brown eyes. A harmless, unreliable smile.
Kisaragi Amatsuyu.
Something deep in Sumireko's chest gave a small throb.
(He's here.)
Amatsuyu walked with his head lowered. His back was rounded. The usual carefree air about him was nowhere to be found. Dark circles stood out clearly beneath his eyes. Even his uniform looked rumpled.
(...He hasn't been sleeping.)
Sumireko analyzed his complexion in an instant.
She stepped out from behind the gatepost.
"Kisaragi."
Amatsuyu's shoulders gave a small jerk.
He raised his head slowly. The moment his eyes found Sumireko, something in them flickered — just for an instant — like fear.
"...Sanshokuin."
His voice was hoarse.
Sumireko stood directly in front of him.
"Are you all right?"
Amatsuyu stared at her for a moment.
Then he forced the corners of his mouth into a smile.
"Yeah, I'm fine. This is nothing, really."
(...A lie.)
Sumireko murmured it in her mind.
(Right now, inside your heart, this is what you're screaming.)
('It's over. No one believes me. Not Himawari, not Cosmos-senpai, not anyone in class — they all treat me like a criminal. Nothing I say matters. It's already been decided that I did it. A school like this might as well disappear.')
Sumireko reproduced the voice of his heart perfectly.
But her expression didn't change.
"I will prove it. Without fail."
She said it quietly, but clearly.
Amatsuyu's smile vanished.
"...Huh?"
"Your innocence. I will prove it, without fail."
Amatsuyu stared at her.
Deep in his eyes, she could see something slowly growing cold.
"Don't do anything unnecessary."
His voice was low and hard.
Sumireko's chest tightened.
(...He's never once used a voice like that before.)
Amatsuyu looked away from her.
"What could you possibly do? A plain library committee member like you. Stay out of this. You're just a nuisance."
Sumireko's fingertips trembled against the observation notebook — just for an instant.
(...I know.)
(...Right now, inside your heart, this is what you're thinking.)
('Don't get involved with me and land yourself in trouble. Don't act like some champion of justice just because you're a plain girl. Even if you do something, nothing will change. If anything, you'll just end up a target of the rumors too. So stay away.')
(...No. You're trying to push me away.)
(...You've already given up on protecting yourself. But you don't want to drag me into it.)
Sumireko gently scooped up the truth of his heart.
So she smiled.
"...Yes. I understand."
She gave a quiet nod.
Amatsuyu let his shoulders drop, as if relieved.
"...Then."
He walked past her, heading toward the school gate.
Sumireko watched his back in silence.
(...But I will protect you.)
(...Even if you come to hate me for it.)
She hugged the observation notebook against her chest once more.
The morning wind stirred her braid.
The gymnasium was chilly.
The entire student body stood in neat rows. The murmur of voices echoed off the high ceiling, turning into an unpleasant din.
Sumireko stood at the back of the second-year rows.
(I had a bad feeling when I heard there was a whole-school assembly today.)
(...And I was right.)
She fixed her eyes on the principal standing at the podium at the front of the gym.
"Quiet, please."
The principal's voice rang through the gymnasium over the microphone.
The murmuring gradually died down.
Sumireko shifted her gaze.
The row of student council officers. Amatsuyu was among them.
His face was pale, and he stared straight ahead.
(...Kisaragi.)
Sumireko clenched her fist.
"Today, I must share some unfortunate news with the entire student body."
The principal's voice was heavy.
"It concerns the theft that occurred on school grounds the other day."
A ripple ran through the air.
The students all turned to look at Amatsuyu at once.
He kept his head down, not moving an inch.
"As a result of the investigation, it has been determined that there is extremely strong suspicion that Kisaragi Amatsuyu of Class 2-2 unlawfully removed school-designated property."
The gymnasium fell dead silent.
Sumireko bit her lip.
(That's wrong. Kisaragi didn't do anything.)
"Ordinarily, this is a matter that should be reported to the proper authorities. However, taking into consideration the opportunity for Kisaragi's rehabilitation, the school has decided to keep this an internal disciplinary matter."
(...An opportunity for rehabilitation, is it.)
Deep in Sumireko's chest, a cold anger began to swell.
"Accordingly, as of today, Kisaragi Amatsuyu is relieved of his post as student council secretary."
A stir ran through the gymnasium.
"Kisaragi, come forward."
Amatsuyu's body went rigid for a moment.
Then, slowly, he stepped out of the student council row and walked toward the podium.
The eyes of the entire student body pierced him.
From the back, Sumireko watched him as if devouring the sight.
Amatsuyu stood before the podium.
Head still down, his fists clenched tight.
(...He's screaming inside.)
('No. It wasn't me. I didn't steal anything. Why is this happening? Someone, please believe me. I didn't do it.')
Sumireko felt the voice of his heart as if it were her own pain.
But the words that came from his mouth were different.
"...I apologize for the trouble."
Amatsuyu bowed deeply.
Silence filled the gymnasium.
Sumireko clenched her fist hard.
Her nails dug into her palm.
(...Why are you apologizing?)
(...You haven't done anything wrong.)
She shifted her gaze to the student council row.
There stood Ooga Taiyou.
Short, neatly trimmed black hair. A hundred and eighty centimeters tall. Handsome features. A refreshing smile.
Taiyou looked down at Amatsuyu on the stage, his lips curling in satisfaction.
(...That man.)
Deep in Sumireko's chest, a cold flame blazed without a sound.
The assembly ended, and the students filed out of the gymnasium in a slow stream.
Sumireko wove through the crowd, searching for Amatsuyu.
(...Where is he?)
Out in the hallway, she spotted his back ahead of her.
That was when it happened.
"Hey, Joro!"
A shrill voice rang through the corridor.
Sumireko stopped in her tracks.
Himawari stood blocking Amatsuyu's path. Her small frame trembled with rage. Behind her stood Akino Sakura — Cosmos — her expression cold.
"You're the worst!"
Himawari's voice cut sharply through the hallway.
Amatsuyu looked at her.
"Himawari... it's not like that. I didn't do it."
"Don't lie to me! San-chan told us everything! How you were using all of us!"
Himawari's eyes were brimming with tears.
"Believe me. I have never once used any of you."
"Kisaragi."
Cosmos spoke quietly.
"We believed in you, you know."
Her voice was cold as ice.
The color drained from Amatsuyu's face.
"Even you, Cosmos-senpai..."
Sumireko couldn't hold back any longer.
She pushed through the crowd and stepped between the three of them.
"Wait. It's not right to condemn someone without evidence."
Himawari glared at Sumireko.
"Pansy-chan, this doesn't concern you."
Sumireko's words caught in her throat.
(...Doesn't concern me.)
(...You're saying it doesn't concern me.)
For a moment, she was speechless.
"You're taking Joro's side? You've been fooled by him too."
Himawari's words drove deep into Sumireko's chest.
She looked at Amatsuyu.
He wasn't looking at her.
He just stood with his head down, biting his lip.
(...Kisaragi.)
She heard the voice of his heart.
('So no one believes me anymore. Not Himawari, not Cosmos-senpai, not even Pansy. ...Yeah. That's right. I was alone from the very beginning.')
Sumireko's chest felt like it would burst.
Himawari and Cosmos glanced at her once, then walked off down the hallway.
Amatsuyu turned his back on her too, walking in the opposite direction.
Sumireko stood alone in the corridor.
(...If only I had moved sooner.)
She clenched her fist tight.
After school.
Sumireko stood in the deserted connecting corridor behind the library.
The setting sun dyed the school building red.
(...I knew it was dangerous to answer his summons.)
(...But I had to go.)
She let out a quiet breath.
Then she heard footsteps behind her.
She didn't turn around.
"Hey there, Sanshokuin. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Taiyou's voice rang through the evening stillness.
Sumireko turned slowly.
Taiyou stood with the sunset at his back.
His smile was as perfect as ever.
"...What do you want?"
She spoke flatly.
Still smiling, Taiyou approached her.
"I hear you've been running around doing all sorts of things for Joro."
Sumireko didn't answer.
Taiyou stopped right in front of her.
"Give it up. The more you move, the worse his position gets."
His voice was quiet.
But within that quiet was a definite pressure.
"I know you're looking for counterevidence. But it's pointless. I've got all the evidence locked down."
Sumireko stared straight at him.
"...Then what do you want me to do?"
Taiyou smiled brightly.
"Simple. Just do what I tell you."
He took a step closer.
Sumireko took a step back.
Her back hit the wall.
Taiyou looked down at her face.
"At the next whole-school assembly, I'm going to expose your real face to the entire school."
Sumireko's heart leaped.
"Take off those glasses, undo that braid, and show everyone the face you've been hiding."
His voice was low and cold.
"That is — if you keep moving for Joro."
Sumireko looked right back at him.
(...I'm scared.)
(...I'm scared. But if I give in here, it's over.)
She desperately suppressed the trembling in her voice.
"...If that's what it takes to save Kisaragi, I'd be glad to."
Only the very last syllable of her voice trembled, just barely.
Taiyou didn't miss it.
His lips slowly curved into an arc.
"Tough talk."
He brought his face close to hers.
"If you really want to protect him, you have no choice but to do what I say. You understand that, don't you?"
Sumireko bit her lip.
Taiyou said nothing more and slowly pulled away.
"See you around, Sanshokuin. I'll be looking forward to your answer."
He turned his back and disappeared into the sunset.
Sumireko stayed pressed against the wall, unable to move for a while.
Her legs were shaking.
(...I won't lose.)
She repeated the same words in her mind, over and over.
(...I won't lose. I absolutely won't lose.)
The library was dead silent.
The setting sun streamed through the windows, dyeing the bookshelves red.
Sumireko sat alone in her usual seat, second row from the window.
No one else was there.
She opened her observation notebook.
[Observation Record]
[Sub
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