[X] Plan NSMS
[I'm so upset I can't even sleep at night]? You won't make fun of bullying and the effects it has on people. To be targeted with ill intent because you're perceived as weak, or because someone cannot accept you earned something with your own efforts...No, there is nothing to make fun of.
But if she truly is upset...why is she here begging for help?!
"Worry not, 2nd year Ariake!" Medaka puts down the cup and stands up. "Tonight will be your last sleepless night. I, Medaka Kurokami-" She slips out her fan from her sleeve and points it at the brown-haired girl. "-Will expose the criminal today!"
"Today?!" Ariake repeats in disbelief.
No, if it's Medaka it can be done. The problem is- "Is that really the best solution?"
They both turn to stare at you.
"I can tell you this Ariake-sempai: both Medaka and myself can solve this case for you. You have no need to fear otherwise. Instead, let me tell you the question you should be asking." Your eyes narrow. "Should Medaka or I solve this for you?"
Ariake is confused, while Medaka simply covers her mouth with her fan. "In response to a Suggestion Box request it is my duty as the President to put the Council into action. However Zenkichi, I believe you have your reasons to say that. Enlighten us."
"I say this not out harshness, laziness or a desire to avoid work,-" You tell Ariake to clear any possible misunderstandings. "-but because of one simple truth: so long as you continue on your course, this situation will happen again. Perhaps not this week, this month, or even this year, but unless truly drastic measures are taken by us... it will reoccur. And when it does... what will you do? Fall to stress, unable to help yourself as you're forced to turn to us for aid again and again?"
You can see your words are having an effect on her. By her introduction it's clear she was, at least initially, reluctant to ask the Council for help. Whatever the reason is, hesitation or pride, the thought of relying on us constantly doesn't sit well with her. Good.
"So I ask of you, to make your request again after asking yourself one simple question: what is it that you truly want here?" You hold out your right hand to her, palm open and fingers pointing down. "For us to solve your problem for you and condemn you to a life of dependency,-" You clench your hand into a fist. "-for us to solve your problem so thoroughly that it will never reoccur..." Spreading your legs you raise your arm in the air and open your hand. "-or for us to give you the tools you need to solve this problem yourself?"
Ariake gasps as the weight-no, the truth of your words hit her. In her eyes you can see a previously smothering ember swelling as if someone blew air on it. By contrast Medaka's own pupils are a roaring inferno: as expected of your opponent, she already understood.
"By coming here in person and not merely making an anonymous request I believe you've shown the courage needed to rise above the trash in this school and your club..." You tell her in approval before lowing your right hand and putting the other into your pocket. "But of course, that is only what I see. The only one who can prove me right or wrong..." You point at her. "Is you!"
"...I..." Ariake weakly begins, as if there are thorns in her throat.
"I...!" Her muscles tenses as she fights against her own body's limitations. A flash of irritation passes on her features.
"I DO NOT WANT TO FEEL SO HELPLESS!!!" She finally shouts loudly. She is biting her own lips, and even as tears are forming on the edges of her eyes she puts her hands on her legs almost possessively. "I joined the Athletics Club because I like running! I trained hard because I thought it was not enough to merely have fun, I must also do my best! I was so happy when they chose me, it was more than I ever hoped. The coach told me, that I earned it fair and square! But then this happened. And I...I crumbled!" She frantically shackles her head. "But I don't want to! I don't want to toss away all I worked so hard for just because someone is mean to me! If I were to be that shallow...I wouldn't be able to live with myself!"
Now there is it...the burning resolve that lift humans above their own failings!
"While Zenkichi's words were somewhat harsh..." Medaka begins while going through the poses of the Ginyu Force. "They weren't wrong! To go beyond merely solving your request and help you grown as an individual...Beautiful!" She says so while grinning like a shark, so the impression is somewhat contradictory. Still, you believe Ariake-sempai understands Medaka's feelings. "2nd year Ariake, let me ask you again: what is your request to the Student Council?"
She takes a deep breath before jumping back on her feet. The message is clear: those legs she is so proud of...can support the individual know as Aria Ariake! "PLEASE MAKE ME ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY MYSELF!"
"I ACCEPT YOUR REQUEST!!" Medaka shouts back. "The one to find the culprit...shall be you!"
"M-me?!"
"With a little help of course." You gesture to Medaka to come close. "Medaka, brainstorming time."
You and Medaka huddle in a corner and begin whispering outside of Ariake's hearing. It takes a lot of gesturing, counter-arguments and random objects pulled out from your respective uniforms before the two of you have something resembling a plan.
"Do you read Detective Conan?" You ask Ariake.
"Eh? I watch the anime, but-"
"Good enough." You make her sit down back on the chair and put a magnifying glass in her hands. Then you and Medaka both sit down on the other side of the desk. "Do as he does and find the hints that lead to the culprit." You finally gesture to the shoes and the letter.
"Eeeeh?! I'm a sprint specialist, not a genius detective!"
"Nobody is asking you to be one. Just use your own experience as a member of the Athletics Club." You tap the table. "As unpleasant as it may be, try to think like the culprit, and what you would do if you were them."
"...Alright, I will try." She gulps before starting with what she is more familiar with: her shoes. After a few minutes of looking at them with and without the glass she begins to slowly say: "I...haven't really noticed before, but cutting them shouldn't have been easy. Especially with scissors. But the cuts...they have been made exactly along the seams. I know, because I used those shoes for a long time."
"Correct." Medaka nods. "What does it mean?"
"Is...the culprit a methodical person?" Ariake makes an attempt, but your childhood friend remains silent. Ariake frowns, forcing her brain to work through the unfamiliar field. "Or...or...or they know those shoes just as well as I did. Well not my shoes but-" Her eyes widen. "Someone who use the same brand!"
"Very good." You scribble on a paper and show it to Ariake:
Reasonable (Not Certain) Facts About The Culprit:
-Female Athletics Club member (since boys cannot enter the girls changing room)
-Sprint specialist (one of those that failed to get your place)
-Owns your own brand of running shoes and used them just as long as you or more.
"I would add that the culprit cherishes this brand of shoes just as much as 2nd year Ariake." Medaka comments.
"Uh? But look at what they did." Ariake protests.
"Odd thought it might sound, look at the brand logo." One elegant and slender finger points at it. "No one mark was made on it. Even if subconsciously, the culprit put limits on how much they were willing to ruin those shoes, limits that can only be born out of respect."
"Moreover, look at the cuts." You continue. "Don't you think they can tell you more? Try to imagine yourself cutting your shoes like the culprit did."
Ariake is clearly uncomfortable with the thought but still comply. After a few minutes her eyes shoot open. "Lead me paper and a pair of scissors please!"
Grinning you give her the items you already prepared beforehand. She cuts the paper in various ways before confronting them with the shoes. "The culprit is left-handed! Using the right hand the cuts bend to the left, while when using the left hand they bend to the right! I know because my father is left-handed!"
Reasonable (Not Certain) Facts About The Culprit:
-Female Athletics Club member (since boys cannot enter the girls changing room)
-Sprint specialist (one of those that failed to get your place)
-Owns your own brand of running shoes and used them just as long as you or more. Also cherish them.
-Is left-handed.
"Now let's move to the letter." Medaka says. "What do you think of it?"
"The letter?" Ariake blinks. "Well...the paper seems pretty common, and the cut-out letters were just randomly taken."
Time for a hint it seems. You fan yourself. "My, Medaka, don't you think the lights in this room are too strong? They're so penetrating, I feel as if I can see my own limbs through my clothes!"
"Do you? It could be: the light bulbs have been there since the time of the last President." She replies while starting to take off her clothes, forcing you to physically stop her.
Ariake is understandably freaked out, but seems to finally get the message after you repeatedly look between the letter and the ceiling lights while putting back the clothes Medaka is still trying to remove.
"Ah! Wait, I think I recognize the style." She exclaims after looking at the parts of articles written on the letters' backs, visible under the light. "They're from Fuguruma newspaper. Ah, but a lot of people read it..."
"It is unreasonable to expect you to find the last two hints, so I'll make an exception." Medaka says while keeping you in an arm lock. "They were taken at random from a week's worth of Fuguruma newspapers. The culprit didn't buy the newspaper just to make that letter, they probably used newspapers that were lying around the home. Furthermore, they are all from the 14th edition that is delivered only on Block 23."
"H-How do you know that?" Ariake gasps in awe.
"I read and remember every article in every newspaper!" She bombastically proclaims.
"So that's it." You remove yourself from the arm lock and write for the last time on the paper:
Reasonable (Not Certain) Facts About The Culprit:
-Female Athletics Club member (since boys cannot enter the girls changing room).
-Sprint specialist (one of those that failed to get your place).
-Owns your own brand of running shoes and used them just as long as you or more. Also cherish them.
-Is left-handed.
-Reader of Fugurume newspaper.
-Lives on Block 23.
"This however is not hard evidence, merely circumstantial." You sigh. "With it you cannot accuse anyone. Unless, of course, you manage to get a confession. Knowing that, what are you going to do?"
"I..." She nods resolutely. "I want to talk to the girls who fit those criteria! I want to face my fears head on...and ask the culprit why did she do such a terrible thing!"
[] Help her find the possible culprit.
[] Just provide some hints to point her in the right direction.
[] Let her do this alone.
[] Write-in.
