The blue light of the smartphone screen reflected in my eyes, rhythmic and cold.
The Aethelgard Private Forum—The Glass Square—was melting down. In the five minutes since Hana Mizuki had walked out of the Student Council office, the digital landscape had shifted.
[HOT] Mizuki vs. Kaneshiro: The End of the Fixer Era?
[POLL] Who has your vote? The Iron Queen or the Shadow VP?
[LEAK] Is the Council Budget actually a slush fund?
I sighed, leaning back in my leather chair. I didn't look like a man under pressure; I looked like a grandmaster watching a novice make a predictable opening move. Hana wasn't just running for office; she was weaponizing the "Social Tax" I had spent years collecting.
A sharp knock at the door interrupted the silence. It wasn't the heavy, confident strike of Hana. It was frantic. Uneven.
"Come in, Kobayashi-kun," I said, my voice slipping effortlessly into the calm, reassuring tone of a leader.
Takuya Kobayashi, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee, practically fell into the room. His tie was loosened, and his forehead was slick with sweat. "Ryu! Have you seen the Square? Someone leaked the redacted files from the Athletics Department. They're saying you covered up a scholarship scandal last spring. The students are calling for a full audit!"
I stood up, smoothing the front of my charcoal blazer. "The 'leak' is a fabrication, Takuya. A clever one, but a fabrication nonetheless. Hana Mizuki wouldn't use real files yet—she's testing our reaction speed. She wants to see if we panic."
"Panic? Ryu, the Board of Directors is going to see this!"
"The Board is at a donor dinner in Kyoto. They won't check the forums for another three hours," I said, my eyes narrowing as I calculated the trajectory of the rumor. "Listen to me. Do not issue a denial. In Aethelgard, a denial is just a confession in a different font."
"Then what do we do?"
I walked to the window, looking out at the rain-slicked courtyard where groups of students were already huddled over their glowing screens, whispering. This was the "Chitose" reality—the popular kids were terrified of losing their status, and the outsiders were hungry for a fall.
"We change the subject," I murmured. "The Drama Club's lead actress was seen entering the faculty lounge after hours yesterday, wasn't she? There's a grainy photo of her talking to the Dean."
Takuya blinked, confused. "Yes, but that was just for the rehearsal schedule—"
"It doesn't matter what it was for," I cut him off. "Post the photo. Tag it as 'Confidential.' By the time anyone realizes it's a dead end, the 'Audit' thread will be buried on the second page. I need three hours of silence to prepare for Hana's actual move tomorrow."
Takuya hesitated, then nodded and hurried out.
I picked up my phone and opened a private chat. One contact: H.M. Those pink eyes flashed in my mind, cold and judging.
Ryu:A distraction for a distraction. Is this the limit of your 'Transparency,' Mizuki-san?
The reply came instantly.
H.M.:The truth doesn't need a distraction, Kaneshiro-kun. It only needs an audience that isn't blinded by your 'stability.'
I locked my phone. The first ripple had passed, but the tide was coming.
Author's Note: