"Chabashira-sensei!" I shouted to the escaping figure. Chasing her down the hallway after classes had ended.
"Kushida? What is it? It's unusual for you to be searching for me, if there was something you didn't understand about a lesson I can make time for it later." That was probably the most innocuous way that this woman could tell me to get lost. Her cold attitude honestly made me wonder why she even chose to become an educator, she didn't fit the nurturing and caring mould in any way whatsoever.
"No, that's not it! Were you about to head off to the roof? You know it isn't the best for your health, I worry for your wellbeing!"
"As much as I appreciate that... Adults do what they can to make it through the day. This is just my way of doing it." She said curtly before moving up a few of the steps. I followed after her back.
"But it really is dangerous for your health, don't you know all the risks they lead towards; cancer, yellowed teeth, destroyed lungs, decreased cardiovascular health. Hoshinomiya-sensei was teaching us!"
"Was she now? I'm glad that you're paying attention in class, however, I don't continue unaware of the risks." She looked up the stairs as she fiddled with her inner breast pocket.
"But it's imperative to your health and the health of the class!" I pleaded.
"That's kind but-" She looked back abruptly. A packet of cigarettes in hand.
"..."
"Health of the class?" She inquired, hesitantly.
"Absolutely! You're a pivotal member of the class as well aren't you, Sensei? Now I don't want to see you on that rooftop for at least a week, do you understand me?" I dedicated a cheeky smile all for her own.
"A week, huh?" She sighed dishearteningly. Looking once at the pack before placing it back in her pocket with a look of dissatisfaction.
"You should be able to handle at least that much, for me? For us?!" Upturning my eyes at the stern teacher mollified her slightly.
"F-fine. I get it."
"Really?! Great! No lying either, Chabashira-sensei! I'll know if you are!"
"Yeah, yeah. Promise. I won't let myself impede the class's progress. Thanks for the warning Kushida." She walked back down the stairs patting me once on the shoulder as she passed by, her eyes meeting my own as she did.
"No problem. Take care, Sensei!"
I watched as her figure disappeared down the stairs. I just had to hope her nicotine addiction could be resisted for that long. There was just one other thing I had to make sure of and everything else was in place. Manabe and Ibuki would do the rest of the work.
A familiar student walked by, though it was unusual seeing him here. He usually just sat in the corner of the classroom chittering back and forth with Horikita, talking about some inane nonsense, no doubt. How didn't he get bored? Talking to Horikita for two seconds alone drained my social battery unlike any other, I could find more enjoyment talking to a brick wall. The wall's replies would be less dry cut than hers.
"Ah, Setsuya-kun! What are you wandering about for? Finding something to amuse yourself with, like usual?"
"You're making a mistake Kushida." He said all of a sudden. His tone cutting through my own like a hot knife through butter.
"Huh, what do you mean? Are you here on important business?" Maybe he was looking for Chabashira-sensei, or another teacher?
"It isn't important. At least not to me. Play with fire and you'll get burned."
"Wha-"
"I said what I needed to. Don't tell me I didn't warn you later."
"..." Does he know? How? More than anything... why was he always unaffected by my disguise? Did she finally say something to him? As I thought, I need to get rid of her soon...
It's one after the other. Ibuki, then Horikita, then Setsuya... what comes next?
No, don't think about that...
What could either of those two do? Nothing.
It doesn't matter. Not yet.
Not so long as I can protect my secret... compared to that, nothing else does. If keeping myself safe entails playing with fire, then I'll set the rest of the world ablaze in a heartbeat.
I wish it could be different, Ibuki-san. Unfortunately, it can't.
I will not allow my peace to be destroyed again, whether by my hand or another's. This is my utopia for the next three years. A utopia has no need for the ugly truths of the world. I'll keep that ugliness under wraps even if it means cutting sections of that utopia to pieces, like they never existed in the first place.
[Class C: Civil War]
"What are we doing here, Manabe-san? Did you need something from the video store?" We had travelled to Keyaki Mall, a hub of just about anything necessary at this school. And located at the end of the ground floor was a peculiar shop. A video store that deals mainly in cameras but also other electronics. They even had shelves for renting or buying movies. A pretty high chance that someone knew more about the security cameras in this place. It would make sense to use resident members of staff for maintenance rather than hiring outsiders considering the school's interest in guarding information.
"Info. You want to know whether that embarrassing moment will remain in the school for all of history, right?" Whether we could actually extract any of that information depended on something. And I was almost assured of my success going forward as soon as my eyes made contact with the reception desk. Too easy.
"Shhh!" Kushida reacted like a frightened animal, physically hunching when she heard those words coming from my lips.
"Then this is the best place."
"But why a video store?" Was she really this clueless? Or maybe the other classes didn't have the same worries? I guess ours only came about because of Ryuuen and his deal... Makes me feel even stupider for taking it seriously now.
"He knows cameras. A security camera is a similar sort. If anyone knows, it'll be a worker here. Unless you'd rather go ask a teacher?" I directed a sarcastic smile her way. To which she immediately waved her hands away, making a worried face.
"No! L-Let's not do that..." I wonder just how bad it really is? Was she the one smoking up there? Or maybe our little angel friend has a hidden dark side? If she does, she's doing a bad job of hiding it, her nervousness only makes me more interested in seeing it.
I popped another button undone from my shirt, wandering from aisle to aisle looking at the random cameras and video equipment.
"For now, have a look around. I'll handle this, all you need to do is smile and nod when the time's right."
"Are you sure? Shouldn't I ask him myself?"
"It's embarrassing, isn't it? Just let me handle it, we're friends, aren't we?"
"Yeah. T-Thanks, Manabe-chan!" I didn't bother replying, simply walking towards the service desk.
Heh, already looking. I won't even have to try for this.
There he was, sat with a magazine in hand. Pretending to look busy. He gripped it a bit tighter as he noticed my footsteps coming closer.
"Excuse me, sir?" I asked in a polite tone.
"A-Ah, what is it?" The service person slowly glanced from the magazine in his hand towards me, he was trying to appear unbothered, but it was clear to see he was flustered. God, what a loser. It's kind of funny.
"Me and my friend just had a question, could you help answer it for us?"
"W-well I mean... it would depend on what the question is. If I can answer, I'll do everything I can to help!" He placed the magazine on the counter giving me his full attention. Well, obviously. All the sales training in the world couldn't make you marketable to a single person. That lecherous smile could frighten even the most innocent girl in the world. Just being near you makes me feel violated. Scum.
Repressing the urge to spit on the store employee there and then, I leaned forwards slightly.
"Well, we just had a question regarding the cameras around the school... Y'see my friend and I." I directed my doe-eyed gaze towards Kushida who was standing by the cameras, inspecting one or two of them. "We got up to some... well let's just say embarrassing antics not long ago. Y'know how girls are, they just like to... experiment shall we say?" Leaning in slightly, I'm sure he could smell my perfume, his eyes had a hard time staying in one place.
"U-Uhhh... I'm afraid, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at..."
I leaned closer, my bust resting on the counter. Close enough to whisper directly into his ear.
"She's cute, isn't she? Makes you just want to eat her up... I'm sure you can catch my drift." I chuckled lightly.
He turned beat red, a blush dusting his cheeks as his disgusting smile grew in size. "Hoh... I see. A-And?"
"Don't you think it would be a shame if two young girls, just looking for a fun time, would be punished the rest of their lives for a bit of... experimentation? I'm sure it would just break such a handsome man's heart, no?"
"Of course... love is love, after all." Don't make such a certain statement with that ugly face.
"The truth is... my parents... they're quite religious. Very strict about this sort of thing. We only just noticed the security camera today and of course, we're worried sick about it. Look, my skin's losing colour already, don't you think?" I rested my hand on top of his own, allowing his darker complexion to contrast the paleness of my own.
"S-sure, I can see it..."
"So, I know this is a huge favour... But... could you tell me what you know about the security camera system?"
"Wellllll..." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "L-look, I'd love to help but I can't really, I could lose my jo-" Pretending to be responsible. I guess he needed a bigger push...
"Please! We could lose everything... I'm sure my parents would kick me out of the house. If there was proof of what we were doing, then I might never hold a job. Please... It was just a stupid little exploration of youth. Don't you think we should be allowed that much? I'd be forev... No. We would be forever grateful to you... Kusuda-san. No, Kusuda-sama!"
"...Even so, I can't-"
"Please... we really need this. Right, Kushida?" My voice picked up some volume towards the end, finally including the other girl.
"Oh, yes! Please... it'd be embarrassing if it ever got out. Can we rely on you, Kusuda-san?" She asked with upturned eyes, her hands clasped together as if in prayer against her large bosom. I wrapped my arm around her, bringing her closer and pressing my body against hers.
"Please..." I doubt she knew exactly what lie I spun, but it didn't matter. If her secret was so embarrassing it shouldn't be much different.
"...F-Fine. I just need to tell you about it? I don't have access to anything like that, so don't go expecting much..."
"Yeah! Thank you, Kusuda-san!" Kushida cheered cutely.
"I knew you were a cool guy as soon as I saw you." I winked and gave him a little smirk. He blushed profusely, grabbing the magazine once again, his beady eyes glancing over and at us.
"J-Just give me a few minutes to finish some things f-first." He said in a rush, plopping down the magazine and escaping to the back room for employees only. If he was doing anything back there, I hope he'd at least ingest a few mints, that greasy breath of his nearly knocked me unconscious.
"Of course! Thanks again, stud." Gave him a small wave and winked in his direction.
God. Men are so easy. Show a bit of interest and they trip over their own feet. Imagine giving up insider information and risking your career just because two girls asked a question acting as if they were interested in you. Pathetic. People like that deserved to be under my foot. No doubt they'd like that placement.
"Manabe-chan, don't you think it's a bit wrong to..."
"What?"
"It's just... seems a bit like you're leading him on. Isn't that a bit problematic?"
"Just a bit of harmless flirting. He's an adult, he knows nothing can come from it." And that's why it was the perfect defence. They should know better.
"But... I don't want you to trouble yourself like that just for me..." She looked down at the floor, guilt seeping from her pores. She didn't need to feel that bad, if anything it was useful she had come with me.
"Don't worry about it, it's no trouble." After all, I wasn't doing it for you.
[Class C: Civil War]
A single boy and girl sat in the sparse and tidy student council room. The older boy sat before his great desk with a pile of paperwork to his left, ignoring them and instead directing his attention to the girl seated across the room on a plain but comfortable sofa.
"Feel free to hand me your application when you're ready, Sakayanagi-san."
"I don't believe I ever gave the impression I was going to apply?"
"Common sense dictates that your interest in meeting must be related. Otherwise, I struggle to find any reason that you might be so interested in meeting me in person." He finished with an even tone, unperturbed by the inane way she was acting.
"I could've simply been overtaken by a passing fancy. I am but a teenage girl, after all. Even I am not immune to the pulls of romance."
"Well you should know that as the president of the student council I wouldn't have an interest in such things at the moment. It would be imperative to both our schedules if you simply cut to the chase." He barely repressed a sigh.
"Being so impatient hardly reflects well on a man of such station, don't you think?" She said, goading him further.
"There are times to remain impassive and times to push the envelope. I don't believe you are a woman that wishes for that sort of placidness. Though, maybe I'm wrong. Am I?" The student council president removed his glasses and set them on the table, his eyes resting stoically on the girl before him.
"Fufu. No, certainly not. I suppose that's enough for pleasantries. I was merely curious as to your operations here, that is the main reason I reached out. Nothing more than that."
"That's a shame. You could say with your birthright alone that a place on the student council is almost owed to you." He folded his hands together, responding with a politician's tone.
"I dislike that connotation. Whilst my peerage is undeniable and ability even more so, I don't associate myself with nepotism. Without my father's association a place on this council would easily be beholden to me."
"Not if I were to take a stand against it. Ability doesn't decide everything. If I were to find you ineffectual in other areas, it would be easy enough to rescind your application." He responded, shutting down her assertions.
"The information I've gathered is to the contrary. You are not a monolith. Is that not the same reason we are having this meeting in confidence compared to the other applicants?"
"You are free to think as you like. I'm simply affording greater privileges to those who have a higher standing."
"That's quite a mixed message for the great student council president of this prestigious academy to be pushing. Could it be you don't believe in the equality between us students?"
"If you don't even understand that much then this meeting was indeed a major waste of our time."
"Fufu. Interesting. Then what do you believe would be a better use of this opportunity?"
"Provide me with good reason to include you within my numbers." He said, whilst resting the glasses back on his face.
"That's a curious choice of words."
"I prefer to be direct with these matters." He cut across directly, not spending another thought on the previous insinuation.
"And would you care to share just what that would entail? Becoming one of your lackeys as it were." She snorted derisively, as if the thought itself of leaving her actions in the hands of another was detestable by nature. Whether it was the accredited student council president or another, it likely wouldn't make a difference.
"That's on a need-to-know basis, and I'm afraid without joining, you don't need to know." He egged her on, dismissing her standoffish position. Taking no heed of the natural aggressive front she bore.
She sighed wistfully. "This isn't much of a negotiation. There's little for me to gain and all too much for me to lose by accepting your offer. Surely you don't think I'll acquiesce so easily just because you request it?"
"Of course, the choice is yours in the end. However, I would then redirect the question to you; why check on my operations if there was nothing to gain from the act itself?"
"Simple. Scouting the board, is how I'd describe it."
"..." He mulled over her words for a moment. Though she didn't want to give any vital information away it was more than clear that she has some understanding of the S-system and all it entailed. It was difficult to see just how far that understanding extended, however.
"The King should not be sent as the scouting party. That seems like a blunder, whether intentional or careless." His gaze tunnelled through her own, directly confronting her with her apparent foolhardiness.
"Would be if I were in hostile territory, though I suppose even the brave student council president wouldn't like a potential coalition between other parties."
"Hmph. I suppose your pedigree speaks for itself, able to figure out that much from so little..."
"The fact that the vice-president is nowhere to be seen despite sitting in on every other council applicant meeting makes it somewhat evident. I wasn't too interested in joining, but should I take my application in his direction instead, perhaps?"
"As I thought, you don't understand him. I suppose that's a relief."
"?" Sakayanagi wasn't so much confused as she was simply waiting for him to continue. She made sure not to show even the slightest unease in the presence of this man. You never knew when a new enemy would make itself apparent, not in this school.
"You don't need to take any offence, there's only so much information you can gather in such a short time. However, if you knew him enough, you'd realise that threat doesn't hold any weight."
"Is that so?" She muttered half-heartedly.
"He would never work together with you. Frankly, you're beneath us." Those simple words seemed to ignite a fire in her eyes.
"Fufu. Now that is interesting... should we test it?" As if the bells of war were tolling already, she made the declaration. A threat.
"You're rather bloodthirsty... Can't say I expected that from the few interactions I've had with your father. But so be it. You'll be fighting a losing battle."
"There are plenty of ways to turn a disadvantageous situation into a positive one. I disregard the notion of losing before even stepping on the field."
"Choosing to go to war with no advantages to speak of in a game you don't understand the breadth of is no less than suicide. Didn't you come with a specific goal in mind?"
She fixed her posture slightly, clearing her throat once. "...It's merely an assurance, should it be necessary; I won't hold back against you." She directed a heated gaze at the sombre boy. Peering over his glasses back at her, he was completely unaffected by the threat.
"An impossibility for someone who has yet to take full control of their class. It seems we're both being called out on our bluffs." He uttered simply.
"Fu... Fufufufu... I suppose we are."
"So where does that leave us? I want to count you among my numbers, and you want passage onto this council. It would seem to me that our goals can align succinctly."
She looked dead-eyed for a moment, before rolling her eyes with an exasperated look on her face, hands fiddling with the crutch lay across her lap."...So that's what it's down to. How annoying."
"I assure you, this will be of use to you as well. In fact, I believe you might find a personal motive to aid me."
"I can only assume the same reason you mean to employ me is related?"
"That's the case, yes. Nagumo's and my ways don't see eye-to-eye. I can only push back against that tide for so long before my time is over here."
"So it was like I thought, the student council has a lot of power in this school..."
"Indeed. The foundations of what created this school are in danger. Tradition and the greater culture of this school should be protected for the future generations, as the next kin of those directly responsible for its safekeeping, I would like to think you agree. Only, you have the opportunity to protect it from the inside."
"Hm. I see."
"Are we in agreement?" He finally asked.
"For now, I believe we've come to an interim."
"Good, I'll get the paperwork ready. Nagumo will likely approach you in the coming weeks when the decision has been certified. Feel free to handle that however you like, however if you make things difficult for me, I'll have no choice but to cut you off." I am for me, you are for you. At the end of the day their cooperation was for their own benefit primarily.
"Obviously."
"Before we adjourn this meeting... Tell me; why did you want to join in the first place? I can't imagine you knew anything about Nagumo's ideals... It doesn't strike me as attempt to grab more authority. So why?" That was the one thing that bothered Horikita Manabu, he didn't know the exact reason she had arranged this meeting. She was interested in a seat on the student council, however she had waited longer than the other applicants and never expressly stated that this was the specific reason for their meeting.
It felt like the seat was a means to an end for some greater purpose beyond it. And that unpredictability... that made it dangerous.
"That's simple. To put the king in check."
---
Word count: 3793
Some more subtle planning going on as we progress. It'll make more sense as we go along.
Had the idea for Sakayanagi joining the student council. To me this actually makes sense for her to do this. It gives her an extra advantage and there are some special things only those in this position can do. Though, that'll play into it later.
I think Manabu giving Sakayanagi this task or trying to team up with her makes sense. This is her dad's school so it will make sense if she wants to try and preserve the traditions they've instilled for all those years. Nagumo's idea also goes against the major notion of the school itself. ANHS is a school made to create and foster leaders among the classes. If they focus on just the exceptional students then there's no need for leaders, they're just lone wolves. The original system keeps this intact by making loopholes and exams which allow for the leaders to make plays behind the scenes as well as delegating the tasks properly whilst the normies do the grunt work. AKA what leadership is.
Sakayanagi doesn't know all the details yet though. Honestly, I don't know whether she would agree or disagree with Nagumo's view on it. On one hand she herself notices that some people are just better from birth, but on another maybe she believes those that are gifted have a duty to pull those lesser than along with them. Though from the first year, this doesn't seem likely, she was completely fine with her class plummeting so long as she got fun battles from it.
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Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter. Let me know your thoughts below.
Until next time.