After Kibe and Jun's conversation the bell would ring. Jun looked up at the bell in the library while Kibe continued to look to his book, his hands grazing over it. His expression was getting more and colder. "Well seems the debate is getting ready to start." Jun said as she then looked to Kibe and offered her hand.
"Good-"
"Farwell, Nakyama." Kibe said, Jun's eyes widened temporarily. Her mind frozen still. Jun's words were caught in her throat. Everything wanted to spill out. But she had no clue what to say. Kibe then looked to Jun only to see her smack her face.
"Huh?"
"WOAH! Thats brisk. Sorry about that, spaced out for a moment. I'll catch you around ok? Break a leg!" she shouted as she ran out of the library. Kibe watched her leave. Kibe would begin to make his way out of the library and towards the auditorium. As he walked in there he would see nearly the entire student body all there. Each of them was chatting with one another, and taking videos and sharing their thoughts. Kibe could see each of them all filled with their own theories and thoughts on what was to come. Kibe would make his way towards the backstage, where he would be greeted by the faces of the student council and by extension also, Bato and Jun.
"Well, I see the stead has found its way to the track. Question is now, will it run good enough to be considered a contender." Bato said as Kibe stood next to him.
"It is never a matter of if the horse itself is a contender, it is a matter of which if the others, are worthy enough for him to be one at all." Kibe said as he slowly looked at Bato, Bato stared at Kibe, the two sharing eye contact for a brief few moments. "Gentlemen." said a voice behind the two, they'd turn to see Hideaki come to them and place a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Looks like the time has come. I hope to see you both giving it your all out there. The reputation of the school, and the honor of our people will be looking to you both has hosts. Let us hope you survive the process." Hideaki said.
"Don't be concerned on our survival Mr.Hideaki, just concern yourself with the fact you have someone actually willing to participate in this at all." Bato added, Kibe looked at them both. It was like they were both attempting to pop a ballon.
"Oh I hope you haven't misread me." Hideaki said, Bato continued to stare at him.
"I don't care, how well you do or if you go out there and have a heart attack. I only care to see if this school, filled with some of the greatest students in japan, are kept well together. Not embarrassed. You may think I've put you out there to be heard, but really, I'm crucifying you...and I can't wait to watch how you bleed." Hideaki said as he then pat Bato and Kibe on the back and walked out to the stage, everyone would cheer as he raised his arms and announced himself.
It wouldn't be too long until Kibe and Bato would be announced.
"Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for. The ballots are already here, your votes are awaiting for you all to give wonderful and beautiful choices to the plausible representative for Sawa high.
Now then, I've kept you waiting long enough, I bring you, Nori Kibe and Ojima Bato." Hideaki said as he then bowed, Kibe and Bato walked onto the stage. Both giving a wave as they walked out and beyond the curtain once concealing them both. As they walked to their podiums they would see the incredibly large group of people. All awaiting for their words to hit and sink into them, like a needle, a bullet or even a knife. However during this time at the police station, Richard would once again be sitting in front of the imprisonment of Kat, leaning back in his chair and looking at that small red book. Meanwhile, Kat was swinging her pants in the air as she laid in her bed. A few officers who passed by them would look in confusion and bewilderment.
Richard's eyes would travel to Kat for a brief moment, looking at her face. Even though she was set to be sent away to prison soon, she seemed, completely unbothered. Richard couldn't tell if this was because of the fact that she was legitimately crazy, or...that she thought she wouldn't truly be in here too long. Richard once more, kept eyes on her. He would continue this, until he then looked at his small red book, and closed it. He then put it in his jacket pocket. He stood up and looked to the jailer. "Excuse me?" He asked.
"Hm? Yes sir?" asked the Jailer as he walked over to Richard. Kat looked over at them. "Do you have the keys to these cells?" asked Richard.
"Oh um, yea of course." said the Jailer as he showed them to Richard. "Hm, shiny. May I?" asked Richard as he pointed at them.
"Of course. What do you need them for?" asked the Jailer as he handed them to Richard who began to go through the different keys. They weren't labeled, but just one glance at the Kat's cell keyhole, and he'd immediately know which key it was.
"Oh, just going to get some one on one time with our guest." Richard said as he then opened Kat's cell. The Jailer of course panicked. "WOAH! WHAT ARE-"
"Don't worry officer." Richard said as he then walked into the cell and closed it behind him. "I'll be sure to keep a close eye on her." Richard said, the jailer shook his head as he ran off, likely to get some help.
"Good, no one is here then." Richard said as he then turned his head to see Kat right in his face, with a wide smile to accompany it. "Your crazy...I like that." Kat smiled.
"Glad to know." Richard said, "What makes you so sure I won't kill you right now?" Kat said.
"Because I can offer you something more than just a pointless kill." Richard said.
"And how in the hell are you a pointless kill? Your the freshest meat in the fridge! The new boy on the block, a new pretty sunflower for me to pluck from. Piece by Piece." Kat giggled. Richard stared at Kat, she was everything associated with the textbook variations, both German and Japanese Psychopaths. Yet she also clearly displays traits not entirely akin to those types as well. However, there is one countable thing I can say for certain she has.
"Unpredictability." thought Richard.
Back at Sawa high, Bato would begin his speech.
"Greetings students of Sawa High. I am Ojima Bato, you know me and I know you. I have seen you working in the libraries, and have seen you hard at work in the gym and on the track. You all display great courage and strength.
This school has been under some tough times, and horrible losses. I grieve with everyone here." Bato said, Kibe watched as Bato continued on with his speech. "Hes trying to relate to them. He feels that speaking to their more human side is exactly what they want. That comfort is something they'll likely cling to. Cause from all thats happened. They need it." Kibe thought as he looked on at the audience.
"There are often times where heartache and pain may take shape within you, but I will be the
Kibe would watch the eyes of everyone in front of him. There he would see a few notable faces, such as Kenji and Kiko and of course Mi. He would see their reactions to what was going, but would notice that it seemed they were more or less waiting to see Kibe's own rebuttal for what Bato was saying. Bato covered over many aspects of the school, from its tainted reputation, and even as far as the incompetency of himself to do something about it. A notably good move, as self-awareness is one of the key things an audience looks for. That sympathy, and they are eating it right up. Kibe once more looked around the room, seeing how everyone was reacting to the words from the waterfall of awareness that was Bato.
Eventually, Bato would close out his speech.
"And that is why, I believe that you should anoint me as the sole representative of Sawa High. Thank you all for your time." Bato said. He'd bow as the student body would then clap their hands loudly, applause roaring throughout the entire auditorium. Bato smiled and waved at them.
"A great applause, I can see how you'd be labeled a King back in that place. I wonder though, does a king truly retain his title, if he comes to a land that isn't his own?" Kibe thought as he then focused up and looked to the rest of the student body. Bato looked at Kibe, and so was everyone else. The silence in the room was like that of a nuclear bomb, silent at first, but overwhelming upon its inevitable arrival.
Kibe took a moment to look at everyone, and then, he spoke.
"Greetings everyone. I am Nori Kibe, you don't know me. However after today, maybe you will. I am a background character in this school. No one worth to be noted, but I also know, that a lot of you also feel the same way. Life can be crushing and cruel to those who aren't exceptional.
...Or funny." Kibe said, getting a chuckle out of the audience. Bato just stared at him, while Hideaki and the other members of the council chuckled a little. Kibe cracked a smile before he continued.
"The future of this school shouldn't be one drenched in anymore blood then what's been shed, but should be one shown in its stature, it's integrity and of course most of all; the very community that breaths through these halls." Kibe said.
"What is this? Is he trying to appease to their kindness? Yet...his face. Is he genuinely smiling?" Bato thought.
"This warmth. He truly means this." Rin said as she fanned herself.
"I tell you all now. If you appoint me as Sawa High's chosen representative. I will show you-
No.
I'll show the world! Just what Sawa High is about! I will show them, that this school is meant for integrity, it is meant for companionship and most of all, it is meant for the greatest that Japan has to offer!" Kibe shouted as he grabbed his podium with intent and grit. Kenji and Kiko both were watching with wide eyes at what was being done here. Kibe wasn't just reaching out to these people, his humanity was reaching out to them. Rather this was a type of manipulation or just him being genuine, they couldn't tell. Bato's eyes were wide with shock at this as suddenly-
VROOOM!
Kibe would raise his right hand high in the air.
"HEAR ME SAWA HIGH STUDENT BODY! IF THE WHITE RABBIT COULDN'T BRING US DOWN! WHO CAN!" Kibe shouted, and in response the crowd would answer-
"NOBODY!" they replied.
"WHO CAN?" Kibe shouted again.
"NOBODY!" they replied again.
"I SAID! WHO CAN!?" Kibe roared.
"NOOOOBOOOODY!" they roared back. Kibe then put his hand down and looked down for a moment. Bato was shook at what he was seeing, Kibe to him, was a stranger now. The calculation, the tactics, and the manipulation.
This wasn't the machine.
This was Nori Kibe. Thats when it clicked to Bato, Kibe wasn't trying to say what the audience needed to hear, like what Bato did. He was saying what they wanted to hear.
Kibe was speaking as a normal guy, not a machine. Bato's teeth clenched tight, his mind was full frustration. He was so fixated on trying to one-up Kibe, that he didn't even consider the idea of trying to truly appeal to the audience.
After the speeches were done, Kibe and Bato would be sent to the backroom of the auditorium with the student council as they sat down to let the student body decide if they wanted to pick now or if they had something else in mind for the possibility of figuring out who was going to be, Sawa High's IPOW representative.