Hirano pov:-
I felt a light slap on my cheek. I slowly opened my eyes to see a man staring down at me.
"...Ayanokōji?"
"I hadn't expected you to be here. But it seems you managed to put up a fight against Ryuuen."
I looked over my shoulder. Karuizawa was gone. And everyone in Class B had collapsed.
"So this is the mastermind of Class D? Your amazing Ayanokouji-kun." I spoke in a defeated and exhausted voice. There was no point in picking a fight with him. I can't imagine myself beating him.
"Hmm? So you knew about me being the mastermind?"
I smiled towards him. "I made a guess. A gut feeling infact. But it was always useless without any evidence."
"You seemed to have given up. I can tell by those eyes."
"Hehe. It's not that I gave up. It's that I managed to release a lot of anger that I held back. Now I just feel relaxed." I looked into his eyes. "What about you? Do you feel better after kicking Ryueen's ass?"
"I feel nothing in particular." He responded.
"I see. A man that can fight without feeling any emotions? Truly terrifying."
Ayanokouji walked away from me without saying anything else and woke up the others.
I took this as a chance to finally get up from the hard ground and onto my own two feet.
"Finally awake, are we?"
"Do you think...this settles things, Ayanokouji?"
"It's over. Surely you're not going to say you want to keep going, are you?"
No matter who looks at it, it's clear this fight's been settled.
"I'll use any means I have to if it's for the sake of victory." Saying that, Ryuuen slowly raised his upper body. "If necessary, even war."
"Are you going to report that I pummeled you?"
"...kuku. Now that'd be lame. But, that's an option if it's for the sake of winning. While I'm at it, I could even forcibly set it up to make it look like you set the trap."
"For the record, this is just my advice but I wouldn't recommend doing that.
Beneath us, the former student council president is waiting. Even if he doesn't know the details, the fact that a problem did occur would be immediately revealed. And the fact that Ryuuen is the one who set the trap has been made clear from the moment the surveillance camera got destroyed. On the other hand, I was in Keyaki Mall around that period. If necessary, I can come up with as many alibis as needed."
I was surprised to know that Horikita senpai was present aswell. But why did he wait? If he knew about the fight then shouldn't he have come here. Unless Ayanokouji-kun told Horikita senpai to wait for him. For Horikita senpai to listen to someone and not interrupting such a big event.... Don't tell me...
"...even though you could've had a third party act as witness from the start, you didn't?"
"Because you wouldn't stop attacking me unless I pummel you once."
"You think I'll accept this defeat?"
"At the very least, I think you will. There's only one reason behind your
defeat, Ryuuen. You messed up the order of conquest. That's all. If you'd
first faced off against Ichinose's class then had the experience of fighting
against Sakayanagi, perhaps you might've been closer to my level when you fought me. You got too curious and overextended."
He laughed bitterly when Ayanokouji spat those words out. "You're being rather frank......"
"I'd like to say I'll accept a rematch anytime but......I have no intention of
standing out from this point onwards. If possible, please go after someone else."
"Unless I'm reading too much into
the fact that you had the witness keep their distance, it means if I persist in
going after you, you'll drive us into a corner even if it means sacrificing your
identity and Karuizawa's past, is what it means."
"I'd like to avoid that to the best of my ability but yes, I'd have no other
choice but to do that."
"And not only me but you'll also drag the others here Hirano, Ishizaki, Ibuki and Albert down with you."
"Not Hirano. Karuizawa testified that he had tried to save her. As for the others, they will surely receive harsh punishment. Yet another one of your failings was assuming that my identity and Karuizawa's past would be absolute. If you wanted to shut me down in advance, you should've either done it on a larger scale or posted more watchdogs."
"In other words, as long as I continue to exist, Class B will be handicapped."
"Not really. As long as you don't take any reckless action against us, I have
no intention of using this matter as a tool either."
"I'm not naive enough to believe in a verbal promise like that. If Class B ever
drives you into a corner, you'll report today's incident to the school. Am I
wrong?"
"Perhaps. But what'll you do? What's done is done, Ryuuen."
"Shut up. I'm done fighting against you. And, my own battle's also over."
Ryuuen looked around at me and the other three before taking out his phone
and typing something into it. And then he slid the phone across the floor of the rooftop where it came to a stop near my feet.
"What......"
"I take responsibility for everything. Before that, I'm transferring all my points over to you."
"Huh...? Ryuuen, you, what are you saying......? Are you stupid?"
"T-That's right, Ryuuen-san! It's not like anyone's going to talk about what
happened here so there's no need for you to take responsibility!" Both sides
cannot afford to speak up about this incident. On the surface, we're locked
into a stalemate.
But the truth of it is that Class D is in an overwhelmingly advantageous position and Ryuuen's realized that. There's only one way to cancel it out.
"Ayanokouji, I'm the sole perpetrator of all this. One expulsion's enough,
isn't it?"
"You're being rather serious. To take responsibility for your actions." How
stupid. He spat those words out along with the blood that had accumulated
inside his mouth. "A tyrant is only tolerated so as long as his power holds
meaning. Now that I've lost this badly, no one will follow me anymore."
"You've got to be kidding me. Why are you entrusting it to me......?" I asked.
"Originally, I didn't plan to invite you here. Since I knew that you wouldn't keep your mouth shut about it. But that's all gone out the window. But hey? I got to see a side of you that you hide so well so it was entertaining atleast. Once I get expelled, Katsuragi and Sakayanagi will declare the contract null and void but there's nothing that can be done about it." That's right...If the contractor himself drops out of school, there's a very high possibility that would be the case... The same will happen to the contract between me and Ryueen.
"Are you seriously saying this, Ryuuen-san!?" Ishizaki also stood up and shouted that out in a sad sounding voice.
"Shut up. I can hear you just fine without the screaming." Ryuuen laughed thinly. "You guys handle the rest yourselves."
It would seem he's serious about dropping out. He stood up without even looking at his phone. "Later." Leaving behind those words, he tried to exit
the rooftop. Neither Ibuki's words nor Ishizaki's words reached that back of
his. And me and Albert didn't even speak.
"Are you sure? About dropping out of school. I think you'll regret it
though." For some reasons, Ayanokouji stopped Ryuuen.
"What do you care?"
"If you leave here without even knowing the reason behind your loss, your growth will stop right there and then."
"Huh?"
"Are you fine not knowing the reason you lost against me?"
(Is Ayanokouji planning to be a teacher when he grows up?) I thought, confused by the situation.
"...spare me. There's no reason for you to save me in the first place. You stand to gain nothing from sparing me, not after I've learned about you and
Karuizawa. There's no telling when I'll spill the beans."
"That's right...if I have to state a reason then it would be that things will get
easier for Class D even without me if you would take out Sakayanagi and
Ichinose on my behalf. Besides, if your contract with Katsuragi remains intact, Class A will slowly accumulate damage. And most importantly, if you suddenly drop out, Sakayanagi and Ichinose would end up thinking Ryuuen got beaten by X. It would be troublesome if that were to happen."
He is right. Sakayanagi and Ichinose aren't idiots. They would surely connect the dots.
"Even if word of this unexpectedly spreads, I've sustained no visible injuries, fortunately enough. No matter who looks at it, it would only seem as though you guys had a falling out, no?"
"...then this'd be the scenario. I tried to punish Hirano not listening to my orders. but he got fed up and retaliated and as a result, I was overthrown. Let's leave it at that."
"The Hell!?" I spoke up.
"What? It's true. You were a real beast fighting me. I was actually impressed. And since you did retaliate. It's not a lie. is it?" He is planning on twisting the truth to make it look like I defeated him.
"You...are you really fine with that?"
"Everyone here got demolished by Ayanokouji alone. To hell with it all at
this point. Besides, me disappearing off on my own minimizes the damage
dealt."
"Just let me add this. You're free to drop out on your own and you're free to
doubt me too. But I have no intention of telling anyone about what happened
here. I also ensured that the former student council president waiting below will keep his silence on the matter. In other words, nothing happened here
that would require expulsion. If you still wish to drop out, then I won't stop
you......"
"Then don't stop me. I don't trust easily." Leaving those words behind, Ryuuen left the rooftop. Ishizaki and even Ibuki seemed dissatisfied with Ryuuen's actions.
Soon they left one after another. Until only me and Ayanokouji remained. He walked towards the stairs and stopped at the entrance. Looking back at me, he asked. "Are you not coming?"
I looked at him with a mixed expression. "I will be there in a minute. Just go without me."
Without a second thought, Ayanokouji left. I looked down at the object near my feet.
I picked up Ryuuen's phone. I didn't know how to feel about the situation. I always wanted to get away from him. But for somereason, I don't feel happy at all...
The next day:-
I was waiting for a certain someone to come. Originally, Ibuki wanted to accompany me. But I told her that I wanted to talk to Ryuuen alone.
As I waited I saw a figure walking towards me. He completely ignored my presence. And started walking away.
"Hold it, Ryuuen" I called out to him by grabbing his arm.
"Huh? What the hell are you doing?
Don't go around casually touching me."
"I don't want to touch you either. You gave me your phone, didn't you? I just
came here to give it back."
I thrust the phone into his hand. "As you asked, I took almost all the points from it. It now only has about 20,000pp left. Just incase you change your mind."
If he changes his mind and doesn't drop out, if he wishes then I would gladly return all his points.
"I tolerated your domineering attitude and actions so far because I believed
we shared the same goal. The other day, even when you didn't give us an
explanation regarding the penalty for Class B, no one complained. Because
they all believed that in the end, we'd rise to Class A. But you're just going
to drop out here?"
"Kuku. Look at you! Being all confident! It seems yesterday something really did unleash inside of you. Didn't it?"
"I....I have a few anger issues..." I spoke as I averted my eyes.
"Oh? It seemed more than a few to me. You sure your not mental?"
"Stop changing the subject. Answer me."
"Fine. I did tell you small fry this, that if you follow me I'd take you up to Class A. But that's just me offering you the carrot after the stick. You know about my contract with Class A, don't you? I had no intention of giving it to you guys."
"So you're saying the plan was for you to go to Class A alone?"
"That's the idea, yeah. There's no way I'd seriously look after my classmates,
is there?"
He gave me back his phone and started leaving. "That's enough, no? Later."
"800 million points." I spoke.
".....huh?'.
"After you handed me your phone yesterday, I seriously contemplated whether or not I should take your points for myself or not. I after making my decision, I finally took a look at your points". I was honestly shocked. While I had struggled to get only 20 Million points. Ryuuen was planning on getting 40 times that!
"If it's only for one person's sake, 20 million points would've been enough.
But what's with this strategy? 800 million is the number of points necessary for all of Class B to rise to Class A, isn't it? Well, I don't think it's possible to save up that much though."
"Stop dreaming. I was just fooling around with that memo." He forcibly took his phone from me. "You and Soga will take the lead from now on. It's still possible as long as Ayanokouji doesn't make a move."
"That's not my point here."
"I don't care eitherway. Also take this 20,000pp, you left for me. I don't plan to change my mind."
"I don't need it. I already have enough."
I rejected it. For the first time since coming to this school, I don't feel like collecting points.
"Sigh. If your not going to change your mind then there is no point in talking further. Goodbye, Ryuuen." Saying that I walked back to the dorms and left Ryuuen to do what he wanted.
However, I was surprised to hear that he really did change his mind.
Apparently Ishizaki and Albert said that they would join in with l Ryuuen's expulsion causing Ryuuen to change his plans of withdrawal.
Third person pov:-
In no time, strange rumors began circulating among the 1st years.
That Ryuuen Kakeru has stepped down as leader of Class B and the new leader of Class B is Hirano Aki.
That he's stopped associating with Ishizaki and the others. That he no longer speaks to anyone.
The story about Hirano teaming up with Ishizaki and Albert to defeat Ryuuen also spread wide.
And as time went by, more development in Hirano's life started to begin.
Hirano pov:-
I planned to meet two people at a Keyaki Mall. I walked into a restaurant where we were supposed to meet up.
I spotted them immediately and headed towards the table.
"Hey guys."
"Sup." "Welcome." They both responded. Those two were known other than Soga and Takeda.
I took my seat. "So what did you two want to talk about."
"I want to take about the change in leadership."
"Dang Takeda. You went straight to the point."
"There is no point in beating around the bush, Soga."
I closed my eyes. I knew that's what this was all about.
When it was announced that I would be the new leader, the class was shocked and overjoyed because it meant that Ryuuen could do nothing to them anymore.
However I knew that there would a few with questions and obviously Takeda is one of them.
"Let's eat first. My treat."
"I invited you here. So let me." Takeda rejected my offer and offered to pay himself.
It wasn't really a problem for me to pay. Due to Ryuuen giving me his points. I now have a total of 10,702,550pp. Which is a little over half of what I need to change classes. Ryuuen really was saving up alot of points.
I just ordered a Masala Dosa, an Indian dish. While Soga ordered udon. As for Takeda, he just ordered curry rice.
The real conversation began as we were eating when Takeda decided to drop a bomb.
"You didn't defeat Ryuuen. Did you?"
I froze. "...Why do you say that?"
"With Albert and Ishizaki, it's understandable that you could beat Ryuuen. But I doubt that they would betray Ryueen-kun..." Soga spoke up.
"...Which means you had to fight alone. However, I doubt you could defeat Ryuuen. I don't see you winning against Soga. So you have no chance at beating Ryuuen." Takeda continued Soga's words.
They really are smart.
"Sigh. I don't know what to tell you guys... I doubt you would believe me anyway."
"I just wanna know. Who beat you guys up. Was it X from class D?" Takeda miraculously guessed who it was.
In such a situation, all I could do was remain silent.
"Hehe. So it was that X. I guess he really does exist." Soga took my silence as a confirmation.
"If that is the case, what do you plan to do now Hirano?"
I looked over at Soga and then at Takeda. I took a deep breath and then spoke up. "Since we will be demoted the coming semester, I plan to make class B lay low for a little while. There is no point in continuing for now. I will make everyone in class corporate and pass the exams that are to come. After one or two exams, I will start attacking the other classes for real."
"Like how Ryueen did?"
"No. We will compete against the other classes fairly and try to win anyway we can."
"That is easier said than done. We can't go forward without an actual plan."
"I....I know."
"What about X?" Soga interrupting Takeda and asked a valid question. After knowing that X is real, anyone would be curious about him.
"He won't be making anymore moves for now."
"He?" Takeda caught on.
"Nevermind that. Anyway, what's your point for this discussion?"
"So we can help!" Soga spoke up with a smile.
"H...Help?" I looked over at Takeda,who was smiling at what Soga said.
"I will help you manage the class. While Takeda can give you advise on how to tackle the exams. We also have Hiyori and Kaneda helping us. With all our efforts combined, we can challenge the exams even without Ryuuen!"
Soga's words of encouragement really sparked hope in my heart (Yes. We can do this.)
"Now then. Let's finish this meal and let's have fun! It's the winter vacation after all!" Soga spoke.
"Yeah. Let's. I just happen to want to check out this electronics store nearby." Takeda responded with a smile.
(Takeda really does love computers. Doesn't he?)
I looked over at them and realized that I had made some unique friends. Maybe with them we still have a chance to reach class A.
Timeskip:-
"So...Where are we going?"
"To have some fun Ofcourse!"
"And by fun... you mean wasting my money?"
I was standing infront of three girls. Each one of them holding a triple scoop icecream. Which were obviously payed by me! Why does this always happen?
"Don't be so stingy! You were the one who was avoiding us like a plague!"
"T-That's not...."
"Regardless you have barely hung out with us! Like seriously!"
"I... Okay fine." (I can't win against these girls.)
I just accepted my fate and went to the movies with Itsuki, Aika and Miku.
Upon entering I happened to meet a few people I didn't expect.
"Oh~ Well look who it is! Class B's new leader."
"Sakayanagi..."
Sakayanagi was present along with Kamuro.
"Where are the rest of your servants?"
"Fufu. They won't be coming. What about your new lackeys? Are those girls a part of them?"
"Hey!" Itsuki didn't take Sakayanagi's provocation kindly.
"May I remind you Sakayanagi. I don't treat my friends as lackeys. Unlike a certain someone who treats them like mindless dolls." I said while looking over from Sakayanagi to Kamuro.
"For someone who used to be everyone's errand boy. You sure can act tough after a little promotion."
"For someone whose class was crushed, you sure can talk alot."
"I believe, it isn't just my class who suffered a defeat in the previous exam. Aren't you and your class supposed to be demoted to class C?"
"Okay stop both of you!" Aika butted into our conversation.
"We are all here to have fun and watch a movie. So let's not start a fight okay?"
"Fine. We don't want to disturb anyone else."
"What she said."
And with that, we both went our separate ways.
Timeskip:-
The movie was great. But a little too... I don't know.... Stupid?
I mean... You are literally being attacked by a helicopter throwing missiles at you. Is it really the time to have a kissing scene? I don't get these movies sometimes...
I spotted someone waiting for me.
"What does she want now?" Itsuki said with a bit of hostility.
"I will see. You guys go on ahead. I had fun today."
"Please be careful Aki." Miku seemed worried about me.
I nodded and parted ways with the triplets.
"So what do you want from me?"
"Fufufufufu." Sakayanagi looked at me and laughed.
"Let's discuss this a bit more... privately~"