Chapter 20: Physically defying online slander part 5

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Translator: Soafp

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Around the low table are the same members as yesterday.

Today’s first phone call was handled.

“I think I understand why Mizuka-chan has been asking Sou-chan to join the drama group so often. You saw right through him, right?”

　Shion nodded her head again and again in agreement.

“Shio was invited along, and Harigaya was also invited.”

“Yes, for the time being, it’s a tactic that involves taking a few hits and calling out to them.”

　Masaki laughed bitterly.

“But you know”

“Shio, let’s talk about it later. What are you going to do now?　As I said yesterday, I think it would be better to make them think the store’s phone number has been changed and then pass that information to the chat room of the Notake-san beatings.”

　Wakaba looked dissatisfied.

“But that would be like forcefully stopping someone who is criticizing Nanaka because of a misunderstanding, wouldn’t it?”

“I agree with you. It would be better to clear up the misunderstanding and let them understand.”

　The girls’ group agreed. Nanaka, on the other hand, was downcast and said nothing.

　Masaki is also silent. The two of them were in agreement.

“Both of you. You should think about it. You heard the people on the phone yesterday and today. They can’t communicate.”

“But I still don’t want Nanaka to be left as the bad—-.”

“Impossible.”

Sousuke cut off Wakaba’s words in mid-sentence.

“It’s absolutely impossible to clear up everyone’s misunderstanding.”

“So just stop the phone calls and be done with it?　Then wait for the situation to go away naturally?”

“I don’t think so. If we stop answering the phone, close the comment section of the blog, and close the store, what do you think the people who want to criticize will do this time?”

“They’ll go to the chat rooms, complain, and beat us up, won’t they?　Anyway…”

“The people who are calling me won’t be satisfied with that. That’s why”

He wondered if it was a good idea to talk about a strategy that he was not sure would work here, but he had no choice because Wakaba was not convinced and kept coming back to him.

　As a result, the critical phone calls stopped coming in that day. He yelled back that each one was a wrong call and passed the information on to the chat room. Of course, this was not a fundamental solution.

　The next night.

　Sousuke and Masaki were waiting between the building across the street from “Maka” and a private house.

“Are they coming?”

There are a lot of dynamic idiots out there.

　An hour and a half after he started waiting.

　About five shadows appeared on the narrow street.

“Oh, a big group.”

“Not what I expected.”

　Sousuke clicked his tongue and looked at his phone. The number “110” had already been entered.

“Look, look, they’re doing it.”

All of them must be men. They took spray cans and began to write graffiti on store doors and walls with impunity.

　Words like “Die,” “Get lost,” and “Get out” were written on the walls and doors of the shop.

“All right, let’s close it up.”

“Yes, let’s work together. You saved me here, Harikeya.”

　At the same time that Masaki ran out, Sousuke made a call to 110.

　A few minutes later.

　When Sousuke walked out through the gap, the four men were passed out around the doorway, with Masaki wrestling the largest young man to the ground. As for their positions, Masaki was holding them down by their backs and twisting their arms.

“He’s the only one who’s conscious.”

Calmly put, she is responsible for the devastation as seen in this delinquent comic strip. Not surprising, given that she apparently became a legend during her middle school years.

“Same as ever,…… no, it’s nothing.”

　Sousuke squatted in front of the man.

“Hello, Onii-san. I just called the police, so please wait a little longer.”

“Aah?!　What, you little brat. Why did you have to call the police?”

“Because you painted graffiti on someone else’s property?　Why did you do it?”

“The woman who lives in this house sells food made from expired ingredients with impunity. Criminals like that deserve to be kicked out of the property.”

“You have some surprisingly brilliant ideas. Yes, it would be worrisome if little kids ate such things.”

　Sousuke nodded repeatedly.

“But do people in this store really do such things?”

“The woman in this house is just looking for money.”

　Kanasuke’s eyes narrowed.

“Hey, you. You’re distracting me, but what’s the purpose of all this graffiti?”

“Aah? You didn’t hear?!　It’s that woman”

“I’m not talking about the woman!”

　Sousuke shouted and stood up.

“I am not asking you that. You graffiti on someone else’s store, how dare you speak so highly of yourself?”

“……”

For a moment, Sousuke’s change in attitude was upsetting. He is not defending Nanaka. He is here to pursue the crime of graffiti.

“This is a crime. Why did we call the police? It is a given”

　The man was at a loss for words.

“Expired date? Is it okay to commit crimes as long as you pretend to be righteous?”

“….!　T-that woman is allowed to do that, and we’re not!?”

“Doesn’t matter in this case. I’m talking about you……I mean, what other things are you doing?　Like threatening her, for example.”

　Sousuke touched the screen of his phone. Then a recorded voice starts playing.

[Die, die, die, I’m coming to your store if you don’t get out of here soon.]

“Ah…”

A dumb look on his face, apparently it was him. It was one of the calls that came in yesterday afternoon, and it seems to have been a lucky one.

“W-What. My…”

“It’s a great opportunity. Go to the police and sue the woman in this store for what she did. If they investigate, you’ll know if it really happened. But if not, …… you are just a criminal who harassed and threatened innocent civilian.”

　Sousuke said and stomped down the spray near him vigorously.

　One news item that followed.

[The suspect stated that he became angry when he saw on the Internet that a restaurant owned by a woman had used expired ingredients.]

[There is no evidence that she used expired ingredients.]

[We need to identify the person(s) involved in the slander against the woman.]

　One morning.

　Sousuke was listening with sleepy eyes. The news was fragmentary, but it was something like that.

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TL: This is the last chapter for this novel because I’m dropping this. It becomes too repetitive and it is not enjoyable anymore.