15 Chapter 15 - The Sole Artist in the Literature Club 1 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
To reiterate, this was a school. In a school, there are teachers and students, and then there are thieves. Unfortunately, there was no law enforcement at schools. No such thing existed in such an unique environment like a school. When a handful of students fell victim to a mysterious thief, the class president informed the teacher. Then, the teacher assessed the damage and comforted the victims in the class. Simultaneously, the teacher threatened the potential thief among his students, and then closed the case. Much like corporal punishment, seeking out or catching a thief was prohibited. It was a school after all.
In other words, without 'Baron girl' in the picture, the case came to a halt. Removing her from the classroom was not a difficult task.
”Who are you?” the girl wearing a red hairpin asked sharply, but Juho didn't answer. He kept his eyes on 'Baron girl,' and rushed her.
”Hurry! Mr. Moon is looking for you.”
”Yeah, OK.”
She was dumbfounded by Juho's sudden appearance, but soon, she was drawn to Juho's calm words. As the two were just on their way out of the classroom, Juho felt somebody snatch him. It was the girl with the red hairpin, and she was staring at him with piercing eyes.
”Hold up!”
”What is it? Mr. Moon said it was an emergency.”
”You're a first year, aren't you? You came here with your friends not too long ago.”
”That's right. I needed to speak to the same person.”
Her eyes were full of anger, and Juho sighed. It was going to be more complicated than he thought.
”It's you guys, huh?”
Damn it.
”What is?” Juho asked as if he were confused.
Seeing his reaction, the girl accused Juho even angrier than before, ”You guys took my cell phone!”
”Nope.”
Like she had done with 'Baron girl,' she was looking at Juho with the same, accusatory expression.
”Then what were the first years doing in our class? Weren't you scouting for anything valuable? No wonder my phone's gone as soon as I got a new one.”
”That's not true.”
”Give me the class number and names of your classmates. All of them. I'm turning in every single one of you to the police!”
That was an obvious strategy. She brought up the police to intimidate a first year. In this case, Juho, who responded calmly, ”Aren't you supposed to turn your cell phones in as soon as you get to school? You've been talking about your cell phone this entire time. Did you get your bag stolen with your phone in it?”
The girl was getting aggravated. It was a rule for students to place their cell phones into a designated bag in their respective classes before the morning announcements ended. The teachers took those bags and stored them in the staffroom until the end of the school day. It was a rule created to prevent such accidents from the inception of the cell phone.
Obviously, she wasn't the only one who didn't follow the rule. However, nobody ever caused a scene like that girl.
”You can't be stealing from other people. That's bad.”
”I agree. Stealing is bad. It's also bad to falsely accuse someone for it.”
Her eyes lit up with anger again. Juho looked at her face-to-face. There were tears in her eyes, and she appeared to be quite anxious.
”Sigh... You know, there's a limit to making excuses. I'm sure you're anxious after losing something that belonged to you, but I'm offended that I'm being treated like the culprit.”
”What's so wrong about that? My phone disappeared after you guys showed up! I heard that the door was open this morning. It was you guys, huh?”
Morning. Door. Juho immediately thought of someone. Bom had come to school early to leave snacks for Baron. It couldn't have been her. She didn't have what it took. Juho took a brief moment to think.
As if seizing her chance, the girl raised her voice, ”Hurry up and bring everyone else! Give me back my phone.”
”Sigh.”
Things were back to square one. At that rate, nothing would get through her head. Juho looked around in search of someone who could calm her down. 'Baron girl' was nowhere to be seen, and the other second years were watching from afar. Among them, Juho found someone who looked to be the girl's friend and thought, 'What's this person doing standing there and watching?'
”So much noise!”
Juho heard a deep voice from behind. The bluntness in the tone sounded quite familiar. Without even having to turn around, Juho knew immediately who that voice belonged to. It was the reason why Juho was there in the first place. It was Baron.
”What's this about?”
His voice resounded throughout the quiet classroom. He looked around once and then fixed his eyes on the girl with the red hairpin. She seemed to be intimidated by Baron's presence looking down at her.
Juho smiled despite the atmosphere. 'He has guts stepping up to something like this. It makes sense him being the only person drawing in an Literature Club,” thought Juho. Baron caught him smiling at a glance and quickly guessed the purpose of his visit.
”Is it your turn?”
”Yes. I'm only here to ask you to write something for me, but who would've known there would be such a commotion?”
Baron turned to to the girl, ”You heard him. He's here to see me. Same for the other first years. If you were a first year, would you dare come up to the second year's floor to steal?”
”That's always possible! They could have taken it while they were here!” the girl snapped back at Baron, determined to stand her ground.
”Oh, my lord,” Baron let out a sigh, having realized that she wasn't going to listen.
Triggered by his reaction, the girl asked, ”Are you one of them?”
”No.”
”Then, tell your first year to give me back my cell phone.”
”He said he didn't take it. Why do you keep asking?”
At Baron's response, the girl made a frustrated face as if she were the one supposed to be frustrated.