The night passed in anxious silence.
Like the calm before a final chord.
Less than a day remained until the end of the trial.
We didn't know how many "carriers" had already been exposed.
The curators were silent.
So was the system.
But now I had something more than guesses.
I had the truth.
And the one who brought it.
I assembled a team of four. Only those I could trust.
Aoi.
Hanae — the silent analyst.
Tokise — a top student, quiet and sharp.
And — Mina.
They didn't ask unnecessary questions.
— One of the classes tried to eliminate a carrier, — I began. — Not expose. Eliminate.
— Eliminate? — Tokise asked. — That's against the rules.
— Exactly. But they almost succeeded.
I tossed a piece of paper on the table — the one Mina had found.
— If we make this public, it'll be a scandal. But if we wait… we can turn it against them.
Aoi nodded.
— We need to bait them into making a mistake.
— I'll handle it, — Mina said. There was strength in her voice.
Not loud — quiet, but real.
That evening, the final meeting of class representatives took place.
The same faces gathered again.
Yuki.
The overly polite girl from 2-C.
The squinting, anxious leader of 2-B.
And me.
But this time — I spoke first.
— Someone tried to exploit the rules. Not to win, but to discredit.
— Is that an accusation? — someone asked with a smile.
— It's a fact, — I said. — And I have the evidence. Copies have been sent to the observation center.
A pause followed.
Yuki lowered his head slightly, hiding a smirk.
— Well then. Seems someone just outplayed themselves.
The next morning, the results were announced.
One class — disqualified.
They didn't say which. But judging by the reactions, it was 2-B.
The girl who tried to frame me was the first to leave.
No noise. No farewells.
And I… stayed.
When we returned to our sector, Aoi said quietly:
— You knew she'd try again?
— I hoped she would, — I replied.
And looked to the side.
Mina stood by the window. She wasn't smiling. Just watching the taped-up glass.
As if she already knew: lies may scream, but truth doesn't ask for permission.