*Step, Step, Step*
Slow march with steady steps, straighten posture and face with a slight touch of irritation hidden behind his glossy square glasses reflecting sunlight…
The young man walked through the corridor of the main building, under the gaze of the crowd of students, giving way in haste before his passage.
While most boys were turning their gazes away to not meeting his eyes in fear of offending him, the girls' eyes, on the other hand, were filled with admiration, bowing their heads to salute.
He took one glance at the lots and paved his way to the far end of the corridor, occasionally waving his hand in courtesy to the greetings with a polite smile.
"Kyaaa! Isn't he so cool?"
"So handsome!"
"I wish he could look at me, too."
Girls were in uproar. Indeed, he was that popular.
They were gossiping and giggling among themselves, whereas the boys were thanking the heavens for surviving the crisis.
*Phew*
"I thought I was gonna get caught this time…," one said, adjusting his collar and tie.
"Didn't I warn you to tidy up your uniform before going out? You know how crazy he is about rules." The second complaint, "Have you forgotten what happened to the last guy who got caught with an infraction?"
*Gulp*
"…Yeah, I know," he recalled, having cold sweat, "I can't believe it almost went to the board of Directors."
"See that? Better watch out next time and don't drag me down with you," his friend warned.
"Yeah, yeah, let's get out of here," he pressed him, feeling uneasy.
Because he knew the consequences of getting on his bad side.
It was not only a matter of getting punished and scolded out.
Rather, it was matters of survival in this prestigious Academy, renowned in the whole country for producing geniuses and future
The young man who walked past them was no other than the vice president of the student council.
Narugami Tendo, ranked <2nd> on the just under Nakajima Alicia.
A genius armed with impeccable logic, inflexible principles, and rigorous discipline, one who not only managed to gain the favor of the teachers but also built connections with the board of Directors through his sheer mind.
His influence in the academy was such that a single word of his could mean the end of one's life in this private school, closing the door to any of their future career paths inside the sphere of high society.
Thus, there was an unspoken rule among all students from each year and classes from <1-A> to <3-C>.
"No matter who you are and what your background may be, never mess with Narugami Tendo!"
*Knock, knock, knock*
In front of the big door at the far end of the alley, Narugami stood, waiting for the welcome.
"Enter," the soft yet firm voice spoke.
*CLACK*
The door opened to the student council bureau.
A room with large enough space to fit in a high-class hotel saloon, fancy decor, and expensive furniture adorning each wall, the floor, and the ceiling.
Centered in front was the main bureau, made of a huge piece of fine wood, shaped into a desk with countless compartments and filled with accessories and tools of all kinds.
On top were long piles of paperwork, classified documents, and files to be submitted to the board.
And in the middle was Nakajima Alicia, the school council president, going over each paper, eyes focused, not giving a mind to the second in command closing in on the desk.
"Good day, President Nakajima," he greeted solemnly, standing before her.
"Hum," she nodded, not bothering to even look at his face.
"…"
He took it in, tidied up his glasses, and resumed with the exchange as prepared.
"I see that you are getting yourself busy even during breaks," he observed, checking the contents of the papers with a single glimpse, "As expected of our number one student sitting at the top of the school."
*Sigh*
Alicia paused, raised her pupils a little, and asked, hand crossed on the table, "So, what brings you there at this time?"
"I don't remember us having any meeting today." She added in a lower tone.
"…Indeed. There is no council meeting planned today," he confirmed, "But let me remind you that the reunion between the teachers and the boards of Directors will begin shortly."
"Noted." She received, getting back into work.
"On a side note," Narumagi interrupted,
"If there's any urgent matter or topic you would like to bring up during the meeting, I would be pleased to submit it on your behalf."
Alicia stopped once more, stared at the boy for a second,
Noticed his gaze peering into her with a condescended posture and a squared face only showing a subtle, courteous smile worthy of a gentleman.
'What an unpleasant sight,' she voiced in, not revealing any ounce of feeling, 'You are not even trying to hide it anymore… Your profound malice!'
Only she could foresee just what kind of treacherous being he would become if he were to be given the chance.
For that reason, she had no other choice but to suppress his ego as much as possible, even if just a little bit…
Head straight, eyes lifted, glaring like a warning sign, she deepened her tone to affirm her authority,
"It seems you have forgotten who you are speaking to stand on this seat."
"If there was indeed something I desire to have, I can get it with my own hands," she claimed, her body well seated on the chair as if on an elegant throne, handmade by a master craftsman and carved in the finest piece of wood in the world.
This was a symbol of power and authority, the highest position a student could ever dream of attaining, and she snatched it from him without relying on petty tricks and courting favors.
*Crack! *
Narugami Tendo's nerve was boiling inside, unable to hold the popping veins from showing on his forehead just above the fuming glasses reflecting his inner self and true feelings.
Yet it was not enough to make him falter.
This young man, whose ego was bigger than the universe itself, managed to force in a smile and responded, "…Ha-ha, naturally, there is nothing our president can't possibly do."
"Sorry if my words just now sounded rude," he added, bowing in reverence, "It was presumptuous of me."
"…"
'Truly, the most dangerous human being I have ever met in this life!' she stated, squishing her hands together, keeping her composure, then replied with a little gesture of the hand,
"It's fine so long as you get it."
"And since we are on this topic, there is indeed a matter I want to bring up in our next council meeting," she said.
"Um? What are the contents of this meeting, if I may ask?" he inquired, taken aback.
"Nothing in particular, just that… from now on, we will be short of one member in the council."
*Flinch! *
Narugami's body twitched in response to the sudden announcement, yet still proceeded as usual,
"And who… might it be?" he followed up, casually adjusting the glasses.
"…Takami Daichi, the reports management assistant," she revealed, pupils down, almost sighing.
"Oh! Him?" he raised his eyebrows, then, with a forward move, he asked with curious glares, "Did… something happen?"
"…"
The room turned deathly as both had a stare-down at each other, carefully checking the other's movements and reactions.
"Nothing," Alicia broke the silence, "Just a change of heart."
"I see…" Narugami gave up, not finding an opening, "If that's the president's will, then there is nothing else to say."
"After all, he was never officially part of the council," he emphasized, pointing out the obvious.
That simple fact was known to everyone in the council and among the teachers.
Takami Daichi, despite enjoying some privileges due to his connection to the student council, was just an
one of the many volunteers assigned by the teachers to lessen the burden on the members in times of tight schedules and emergencies.
Despite that, no one complained and all wholeheartedly accepted him among them.
All because he was recommended by no one other than Nakajima Alicia, the president herself, the one at the top of the academy.
Now, that very person was announcing the destitution of the said student out of the blue.
He may not have predicted this particular outcome, considering the ambiguous relationship between these two, but the meaning behind her words remained unchanged.
"From now on, Takami Daichi will revert to being a normal student with no backing or support."
And that was all he needed to know.
"Though it's regrettable!" he dramatized, "I have to admit he was quite good at handling paperwork."
Alicia frowned lightly, glaring at him, '…Quite good, you said?'
'If I were to compare him to any other students in or out of the council, he was actually…
The best assistant I could ask for!'
*Sigh*
Alicia felt guilty about having to let go of such a precious aide by her side.
He may not have been the best in terms of academic achievements and sports, but his greatest quality resided in his mind.
An immense curiosity and drive to challenge the unknown, and a particular attention to detail, made him the perfect choice for the job.
'If only he didn't cross the line…' she regretted, 'there is no way he would be comfortable working there again after all I have said.'
For his own safety and for them to keep moving forward on their respective paths, she had to cut him off now before it's too late.
'It's for the better,' she thought, 'I would rather him not getting involved in this meaningless war for power and authority.'
A wish that would never come true, not in this life nor all the others.
Never could she have foreseen, even with her otherworldly perception and accurate predictions, that this one single decision would be the beginning of the end.
"Then, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave." Announced Narugami Tendo, giving his salute.
"Please do," responded Alicia, eager to see him out.
*Step, step, step… *
One foot after another, he made his way out, maintaining his demeanor and high posture under the annoyed gaze of Nakajima Alicia.
*CLANG! *
The big door closed on itself, leaving her alone in the large, fancy yet monotonous office room.
*Plunk! *
"Haaah… finally gone." She sighed, dropping her head on the table.
This single exchange between fellow students and colleagues was more exhausting than any kind of battle she had fought in the past.
'I wish I didn't have to deal with this every single day…' she hoped, fully knowing it was inevitable.
She had gone too far into this path to give in now.
All she had to do was keep going, keep enduring, keep winning until the day she could fulfill her true wish.
And for that, she would do anything, even if it means crushing every obstacle in her way.
Like the one leaning on the door side opposite hers.
*Phew*
'Such a frightening woman,' Narumagi breathed out while removing the sweat from his quality brand glasses.
'I would rather not cross her path often… For now, at least, he voiced inside, he was the only being who understood what she was.
'That aside, I got some good news today,' he lightened up his mood, put back his glasses, and lastly, he grinned.
'At last! The annoying bug is gone!'
An elated smile, going to the brims, revealing the darkness in his heart and the abyss in his eyes.
If one were to witness this scene, they would have frozen to death, for they would have seen his true face.
A narcissist, perfectionist, and psychopath whose real goal and origins were as profound as the existence itself.
"Vice… Vice president?" a soft, warm voice muttered, taken aback by the scene her eyes laid upon.
*Twitch! *
In this short instant of lassitude, Narugami let his inner self slip out.