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 Truth Beneath the Mask — The Reversed All-School Assembly
The air in the library was cold and heavy.
After school. Outside the window, the distant shouts of the baseball club drifted in. The sharp *crack* of a metal bat hitting a ball. Normally, that sound was nothing but noise—but today it cut through the air with a strange keenness, piercing straight into Sanshokuin Sumireko's chest.
Sumireko sat in her usual seat, second row from the window. Her thick, black-rimmed square glasses cast a shadow over the observation notebook on her desk. Her black hair, braided into a tight plait, curled against her shoulders as if it resented being confined.
(Today, I settle this.)
She murmured it silently, tracing the edge of her notebook with her fingertip.
The notebook held records from several days ago. That detestable entry—the one that captured the exact moment Ooga Taiyou slipped stolen goods into Kisaragi Amatsuyu's classroom. And paired with that record, a single photograph.
Sumireko pressed her hand against the inner pocket of her uniform. The stiff edge of the photo met her fingertips.
(This is the only proof of Kisaragi-san's innocence.)
(...But it's not enough. Not on its own.)
Sumireko lifted her head.
A girl stood in the library doorway.
A bright brown ponytail. Large amber eyes. Small in stature, yet radiating an energy that seemed to spill from every inch of her. Hinata Aoi, still in her tennis club jersey.
" ...What? Calling me out of nowhere like this."
Aoi stood frozen in the doorway, staring at Sumireko. The usual innocent smile was gone. In its place, confusion and a faint trace of wariness flickered in those big eyes.
(...A natural reaction.)
Sumireko noted it quietly.
For the past few days, Aoi had been avoiding her. Or rather—she hadn't known how to face her. The false accusation against Kisaragi Amatsuyu. Aoi had believed "San-chan"—Ooga Taiyou—and called Amatsuyu the worst. Sumireko had defended him, again and again. A deep rift had opened between them.
"...Come here."
Sumireko spoke softly.
Aoi hesitated, then walked over slowly and lowered herself into the seat across from Sumireko.
" You still believe in Joro, don't you?"
Aoi's voice was stiff.
"Yes."
Sumireko answered without hesitation.
Aoi's brow twitched.
" Why?! There was evidence! San-chan said Joro was on the security camera—"
"That footage was fabricated."
Sumireko cut her off.
Aoi's mouth opened and closed soundlessly.
" Fabri...cated?"
"Fake evidence, created by San-chan to frame Kisaragi-san. The witnesses, too—they're all lying at San-chan's request."
Sumireko's voice was flat, matter-of-fact.
" You're lying! San-chan would never do something like—"
"Look at this."
Sumireko pulled a photograph from her inner pocket and laid it quietly on the table.
Aoi's gaze dropped to it.
In that instant, the color drained from her face.
The photo was unmistakable.
A dim classroom after school. Kisaragi Amatsuyu's classroom, which should have been empty. Ooga Taiyou, pushing open the door and stepping inside. And in his hand—a small package.
" This... is San-chan, isn't it."
Aoi's voice trembled.
"Yes. Last Thursday, after school. The moment he entered Kisaragi-san's classroom to plant the stolen goods in his desk."
" No... it can't be..."
Aoi picked up the photo. Her fingertips were shaking in small, rapid spasms.
"Look at the date and time. You should remember. That's the day San-chan said he left club early."
Aoi stared at the timestamp printed in the corner of the photo.
" ...That day, I was supposed to walk home with San-chan... but he said something suddenly came up..."
Aoi's voice was hoarse.
"Yes. That 'something' was this."
Sumireko said it quietly.
A heavy silence fell over the library.
Outside the window, the baseball club's shouts still carried. *Crack, crack*—the steady, rhythmic sound. Only that sound, unnaturally loud, echoed between the two of them.
Aoi clutched the photo and hung her head.
Her shoulders were shaking.
" ...Why."
The small voice was wrung out of her.
"Why would San-chan do something like this... Joro is supposed to be his best friend..."
Tears spilled from Aoi's eyes, dotting the table with small stains.
Sumireko watched her steadily.
(...You still want to believe in San-chan, don't you.)
(You're looking at the person you love—at a version of him you don't want to see—and your heart is screaming.)
Sumireko quietly read the shape of Aoi's heart.
"...I have no right to change how you feel."
Sumireko spoke quietly.
Aoi lifted her head. Her tear-soaked eyes found Sumireko.
"Whether you believe or not—that's your choice. But—"
Sumireko looked straight into Aoi's eyes.
Behind the thick lenses, her large dark eyes glowed quietly.
"I will not bend the truth."
Sumireko's voice was soft.
But within that softness lay a resolve that would never waver.
Aoi looked into those eyes and swallowed hard.
(...She's serious.)
(This isn't the plain, quiet, shadow-thin library committee member I've known.)
(There's something incredibly strong burning behind those eyes.)
For the first time, Aoi felt she had touched the inside of the girl named Sanshokuin Sumireko.
"...What are you going to do?"
Aoi asked, her voice shaking.
Sumireko lowered her eyes for just a moment.
Then, slowly, she wove her words.
"I'm going to expose this evidence at the school assembly."
Aoi's eyes went wide.
" At the school assembly?! If you do that, San-chan will—"
"Yes. San-chan will never forgive me. He'll expose my secret in front of the whole school, I'm sure."
Sumireko said it without inflection.
" Your secret...?"
Aoi tilted her head, bewildered.
Sumireko touched her own glasses gently.
Tracing the edge of the thick lenses.
"...The truth is, I don't need these glasses. Or the braid."
Sumireko said it quietly.
Aoi blinked.
" Huh? What do you mean?"
"No one at this school knows what I really look like. Only San-chan. And San-chan threatened me—if I moved to help Kisaragi-san, he'd reveal my true face to the entire school."
Sumireko continued, calm as still water.
"But that's fine. I don't care if my real face is exposed."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
"If Kisaragi-san can smile—that's enough for me."
She said it, and then smiled faintly.
That smile was softer, warmer, and just a little sadder than any expression Aoi had ever seen on her.
Aoi couldn't say anything.
Something tightened deep in her chest.
(...You're really serious about this.)
(You're prepared to throw away everything you have—for Joro.)
For the first time, Aoi truly recognized that Sumireko was not just "the plain library committee member."
"...Do you like Joro?"
The question had left her lips before she realized it.
Sumireko's eyes widened for just a moment in surprise.
Then, as if embarrassed, she turned her gaze toward the window.
"...Yes. For a very long time."
Sumireko's voice was small, but clear.
A warmth spread gently through Aoi's chest.
(...So that's how it was.)
(She's been watching Joro all this time.)
Aoi looked down.
She stared at the photo in her hands once more.
There, unmistakably, was Ooga Taiyou.
(San-chan framed Joro.)
(...I don't want to believe it. But the evidence is right here.)
Inside Aoi's heart, her love for San-chan and her friendship with Joro clashed violently.
"...What should I do?"
Aoi whispered, her voice barely audible.
Sumireko looked at her steadily.
"If you choose the truth—then I'll commit to my resolve as well."
Sumireko's voice was quiet and strong.
Aoi lifted her head.
Her tear-streaked face turned toward Sumireko.
"...I loved San-chan. I still do. But—"
Aoi bit her lip.
"Joro is my childhood friend. And I said terrible things to him. I called him the worst. I want to tell him I'm sorry for not believing him."
Tears spilled from Aoi's eyes again.
Sumireko nodded quietly.
"...It'll be all right. Your feelings will reach Kisaragi-san. I'm sure of it."
Sumireko's voice was kind.
Outside the library, the chime urging students to go home rang.
The quiet sound drifted slowly between them.
The gymnasium was wrapped in an unnatural stillness.
The entire student body stood in neat rows. The usual murmur of chatter was gone.
On the stage, the student council executive members were lined up. At their center stood Ooga Taiyou. Short, neatly trimmed black hair. Tall—over six feet. Handsome features. A refreshing smile. He wore his baseball uniform properly, without a single wrinkle—the picture-perfect golden boy who reigned at the top of the class hierarchy.
" ...In light of the above, the student council has determined that Kisaragi Amatsuyu's act of theft constitutes a serious disruption of school discipline, and that strict disciplinary measures are warranted."
Taiyou's voice carried to every corner of the gymnasium.
In it was a blend of righteousness, sorrow, and just a hint of superiority.
(...A flawless speech.)
(He looks like a champion of justice protecting the victim.)
At the back of the gym, Sumireko watched Taiyou steadily.
(But today, I'm going to tear off that mask.)
Sumireko gripped the photo in her inner pocket tightly.
" Accordingly, Kisaragi Amatsuyu will be relieved of his duties as student council secretary, and in addition, suspended from—"
Taiyou was about to read out the disciplinary measures when—
"Wait."
A quiet but clear voice rang through the gymnasium.
Every student's gaze turned at once toward the source.
The back of the gym. Through the rows of assembled students, a single girl walked slowly forward.
Thick black-rimmed square glasses. Black hair in a braid. A long navy skirt that fell twenty centimeters below the knee.
The plain library committee member everyone knew. Sanshokuin Sumireko.
" Sanshokuin...?"
Taiyou's smile vanished for an instant.
Sumireko walked straight toward the stage.
A ripple of confused voices rose from the students.
"What's she doing?" "The library committee girl..." "What is she thinking?"
Sumireko didn't stop.
She came to a halt before the stage and looked up at Taiyou.
"Ooga-san. Please wait—before you announce that punishment."
Sumireko's voice did not tremble.
" What are you playing at, Sanshokuin? This is a school assembly. Don't interrupt."
Taiyou's voice was low and cold.
"I'm not interrupting. I'm asking for a correction."
Sumireko spoke evenly.
"A correction?"
"Yes. What you are telling the entire student body right now contains a serious error."
Sumireko pulled a photograph from her inner pocket.
She held it high.
"Everyone, please look at this."
The gymnasium went silent.
Every student's gaze fixed on the photo in Sumireko's raised hand.
The image was unmistakable.
A dim classroom after school. Ooga Taiyou, pushing open the door of Kisaragi Amatsuyu's classroom and stepping inside. And in his hand—a small package.
" What—?!"
Taiyou's expression changed in an instant.
"This is a photograph taken last Thursday after school. It captures the decisive moment when Ooga Taiyou entered Kisaragi Amatsuyu's classroom to plant stolen goods. This is conclusive evidence."
Sumireko's voice rang out across the gymnasium.
" Wh—what are you talking about?! That's a forged photo! This plain little nobody is trying to frame me—"
Taiyou's voice rose.
It sounded nothing like the refreshing speech from moments ago—like a completely different person.
"It is not forged. The date, time, and location in this photograph match the security camera records from Kisaragi-san's classroom. And the baseball club's attendance records confirm that you left practice early that day."
Sumireko spoke calmly, but clearly.
"And—"
She opened the observation notebook she held in her other hand.
"Here are my observation records. For the past several weeks, you have been loitering unnaturally around Kisaragi-san's classroom. You have repeatedly sought opportunities to approach his desk. All of it is documented here."
Sumirek
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