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"FELIX! LET'S GO!" MAX shouts from outside their clubroom, so Felix bids their clubmates farewell for one last time before finally joining Max outside so they could all go to the Great Hall together.
The two of them just went to their club to come up with activities or things they can show to the visitors. After the meeting yesterday with president Janus, everyone ended up feeling even more excited about the convention. This was going to be the only chance they can show off, and knowing the students of the House of Kings, they won't miss such an opportunity.
"Do you think we'll end up scaring the guests?" Felix asks while the two of them were walking down the corridor.
"I don't think so. It's not like we're going to be placing fake blood and bodybags again like what we did during Brotherhood Week. We're just going to talk about what we do and make them join us on an assignment. I already asked BND, it will be fun," Max explains like the club leader that he is.
"I guess you're right."
"Guys!" Someone suddenly calls out, making Max and Felix stop walking so they could turn their heads to check who it was.
Keigo, who was wearing his PE uniform, runs toward his two friends and got in between them before draping both arms on their shoulders. "How are you guys? How's the club meeting? What's Omega Society planning to do for the convention?"
"Since President Janus made it clear that he wanted to leave a good impression on the guests, we're not going to do anything crazy. We're just going to have a mini-sharing, like a training session, and then they're going to join us in an assignment," Felix explains with a smile since he was still excited about it even though it's not what they usually do in their actual club activities.
"Oh not bad. In our Computer Programmers club, we're going to be making this program where we scan their faces, and then we're going to make them a fake J.S high school card with all their data on it," Keigo explains, making Felix and Max look at him with furrowed brows.
"Is that even legal?" Max asks, and Keigo laughs at their reaction.
"It's not like we're going to open their very personal background, just the basic ones. And we have their consent signed anyway so they can do it at their own risk," Keigo explains, and Felix and Max just nodded their heads, not even questioning it anymore.
The three of them eventually arrived at the Great Hall, and waiting at their table were Ari and Ervin who were also talking about what they were going to be sharing in their clubs.
"Wow, so this is the infamous table that unites the four strongest brotherhoods," Keigo fanboyed, staring at the table with great awe like it was such a historical piece. Max and the other didn't even comment about it anymore since they'd started to get used to their new friend's weird personality.
"You two seem busy," Max then says, and the three of them took a seat on their respective chairs while Keigo just sat beside Ari.
"Everyone's busy actually. It's the first time I've seen the white uniforms so excited too," Ari corrects, and the others couldn't help but agree.
"Well, we're going to have visitors from other schools. Most of the time people get excited over that," Ervin explains.
"And out of all the schools that are going to visit, six of them are a Coed, so these bastards are just trying to impress some girls," Felix then adds, and Ari teases him by saying, "Why? You worried that the girls wouldn't like a small guy like you?"
"Want me to fucking smack you Faulkner?" Felix answers back, making Ari laugh even more.
"Ari, stop teasing Felix already," Max then defends. "You do know that a guy would usually tease someone when they like them, right?" he jokingly says right after, and Ari instantly stopped talking. Max was starting to have a hunch that Ari found out about him and Gavriil during the field trip so this is just his way to get even with him.
"W-What are you talking about?" Ari asks, obviously flustered as he tries to hide his red cheeks while Felix looked completely unbothered. Keigo and Ervin couldn't help but laugh at their reaction.
While Ari tries to think of an excuse after what Max just said, the brotherhoods started arriving as well. First was Jokers, and then Cigarettes, BND, and Crazy 8. The members of Crazy 8 and Cigarettes went to the balcony, while the others joined Max at their usual table.
"There's my little toy!" Krist greets, patting Max's head before sitting beside him. "How's your club preparations? Doing good?"
"Yeah, we already talked to Hans too," Max answers with a smile.
"Don't worry, we won't give you guys weird assignments, unlike Cj here who would definitely ask you to dispose of a body if you asked for his help instead," Hans explained while Cj laughed sadistically because he knew damn well that Hans was right.
While everyone was taking their seats, Keigo immediately stood up and awkwardly waited for everyone so he'd find an empty spot after. This was his first time eating with Max at their table because yesterday he had to go to the council office to finish that program he's making that would refine the merit point system.
He was aware that the brotherhoods were going to sit with them, but he didn't know it would feel this intimidating.
"Kawanishi, you can sit here, I'll just move," Ari offered, but before he could even stand from his seat, the brotherhoods suddenly looked at Keigo, making Keigo flinch for no good reason.
"And who do we have here? A new recruit?" Brave asks.
"Hi," Keigo awkwardly says.
"You're Kawanishi Keigo, right? You're the one who helped Max with the task involving Thomas," Hans says before standing from his seat. "If I haven't already said it, thank you for your help, we appreciate it. You can sit here, we can move," he then says, and the rest of the brotherhood members moved as well so they could give Keigo a seat.
"Thank you," Keigo answers before slowly sitting down, a bit nervous that he has to sit beside the leader of BND while the leaders of Jokers and Cigarettes sat right in front of him. Keigo was the friendly type, but he didn't even know what to say. Thankfully, their food arrived and the waiters gave them their meals one by one.
"So, you got acquainted with Max because of the banquet, right?" Cj then asks, grabbing the tea that was served to him and taking a sip of it. "How was your time with him? Did he ask you to do anything crazy? Or did he end up slapping you? Our little Maxy is feisty after all," He then asks since he was just curious, but the way Cj asked the question sounded like he was interrogating him so Keigo ended up gulping in terror.
"You seem to be scaring the child," Siren then comments, and Cj just shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't worry, Cj might look like that but..." Marcus paused, thinking of a positive thing to say to the count. "Sorry, no, on second thought, he's actually a terrible guy, don't mess with him," Marcus ends up saying instead, and Cj gives him a middle finger as a response.
"We were actually classmates in Class I-A, but only for a while because I got recruited by Jokers a couple of months after," Rome, their youngest, then shares, and Keigo nodded his head to confirm it.
"Oh, then a friend of our jester is a friend of ours," Brave then says, and the members of Jokers started cheering like the rowdy bunch that they were.
"And anyone who helps Max can freely sit on this table, so don't feel so pressured about it. Like Ari, Felix, and Ervin, you can ask for our help if you need it. Max saw something in you, so the least we can do is help you out when you need it," Arjun then adds, and the rest of the brotherhoods at their table nodded their heads to agree to it.
Keigo couldn't help but smile at the warm welcome. Their table was filled with different kinds of students who had different personalities and beliefs, yet they all seem to get along. It was definitely an unforgettable experience for him.
"By the way, he's an underling of the princes," Max blurted out before taking a bite of his beef. Everyone at their table became quiet, but then, they slowly turned their heads to look at Keigo. Other than Marcus, Khian, Red, and Felix, no one else knew that Keigo was an underling of PHD.
Keigo was about to put the spoon in his mouth, but he stopped midway when he saw the others staring at him. "I-Is there something wrong?" He asks, blinking like he was utterly confused.
When the information finally sank in, the people at their table looked back at the hacker in shock before shouting, "What did you just say?!"
...
Viktor enters the principal's office with his other hand inside his pocket. He didn't say anything, and he didn't even knock when he got in. All he wanted was to get this over with so he could finally grab his lunch.
"It seems like you're manners are still terrible," the man sitting on his desk, president Janus Sinclaire, says as he removes his eyes from the screen of his computer so he could look back at Viktor.
Viktor doesn't say anything, but surprisingly, he touches his chest and respectfully bows to the man in front of him. "President Janus," he greets, and Janus nods his head and gestures at the chair in front of him so Viktor could take a seat.
Viktor did what he was told and sat down. The two of them were quiet for a while, but after a couple of seconds, Janus clears his throat and adjusts himself in his seat. "Viktor, I called you here today because I wanted to talk about the convention."
"Ms. Alisa already mentioned it to me. I know that I'm not allowed to show myself," Viktor says, which was something that greatly annoyed him especially when he's the king of J.S High, but at the same time, he's not even allowed to show himself.
"I know you don't really like the idea of staying hidden, but not a lot of people know you're alive, and I hope you're still aware of that. We're keeping this information as close knitted as much as possible. Even though we've tried our best to keep your secret from spreading, we can't predict the future. It's best to be cautious now than to be careless," Janus explains.
Viktor was displeased, but he doesn't say anything. Janus was right after all. There's no point in arguing about it now.
"The other reason why you also have to stay hidden is because a certain school might choose that boy to come to J.S High as a representative," Janus then explains, making Viktor furrow his brows in confusion.
"Who?"
"Crème de la crème's rank 4," Janus reveals, and that automatically made Viktor feel uneasy.
"That boy is also from a very powerful family, and others dubbed them as the family who replaced the Stepanov Clan after their demise. It would be troublesome if he found out that you're alive, especially when they're one of the suspects for the bombing incident," Janus revealed, and the moment Viktor heard about it, he immediately became serious.
"Is that everything you have to say?" Viktor then asks.
"There is one more thing," Janus answers. "I've heard you've been trying to look for the person who murdered your family."
"And who the hell told you that?" Viktor fires back.
"I understand how you feel, I really do, but allow the authorities to do all the investigating. You are the last of your bloodline Viktor; the last living Stepanov. If you get yourself involved with this again, who knows what will happen?" Janus says, sounding more like a concerned parent than a school president.
"And what do I do? Wait? I've been hiding for years, and I've found more things about this case than the goddamn police. If you think I'm going to sit around and do nothing then you're wrong," Viktor sternly says, and Janus could only sigh and massage his forehead in frustration.
Viktor lost his entire family when he was only eleven. With no one to take care of him, a lot of people who secretly looked over him were worried about what he'll become. But Janus, who has watched Viktor grow more than anyone else, is scared, but at the same time relieved, to see how capable and strong-willed Viktor has become.
"There was a reason why you made me enroll in J.S High. All of us, you made all of us enroll here because you knew. You knew damn well that we would—"
"Enough of this," Janus quickly says with such a commanding voice, and Viktor, who isn't someone who would easily show fear, instantly stopped talking when he saw the expression on Janus's face.
"I will not have this conversation with you again. I have done my part to protect you as much as I could Viktor. I asked my nephew to enroll here as you wanted, and I have done every favor you've asked. Now all I ask in return is you stop your investigation. You know damn well how dangerous this can be. At least think about the people who sacrificed a lot just to make sure you're still alive," Janus seriously tells him, and Viktor clenches his fist and looks away.
"Grey would have wanted me to continue," Viktor says, his voice sounding soft and helpless.
Janus takes another deep breath and looked back at Viktor with pity in his eyes. "Yet he's no longer here," he says, and Viktor finally stood from his seat, trying his best not to throw a fit. He wasn't going to break down here, especially not in front of him.
"If there's nothing else you have to say then I'll be on my way," Viktor tells him, turning to look back at president Janus before bowing to him again.
Janus doesn't say anything, and so Viktor turned away from him and finally left the room. As soon as he got out of his office, his brotherhood—who were waiting for him—immediately stood straight to properly greet him.
"How was the meeting?" Tanis asked, but Viktor doesn't answer him and just started walking away, immediately making his brothers follow behind him.
"Did president Janus confirm it? Are you really not going to attend the convention?" Another king asked, but Viktor continues to ignore them, so the members of Busters looked at each other before looking back at their second leader, Tanis, mentally telling him to say something.
Tanis, who's mostly the silent one in the group, looked like he wasn't in the mood to even speak, but he did it anyway as he told Viktor, "Joon's at the Dining Table. You can join him there and we'll just bring you your food. I think it's best if you relax for a bit."
Viktor suddenly stopped walking, instantly making the others stop walking as well. He thought about Tanis's offer for a while, but then he shakes his head and says instead, "I'm heading to the Great Hall."
Busters were surprised, but they didn't even question it or ask Viktor anything.
"Alright, if that's what you say," Tanis answers, and the nine members of Busters head to the Great Hall where the others were already eating.
When Busters arrived, two guards immediately rushed to open the large door for them, and as soon as the kings entered, the noisy cafeteria instantly became quiet, and everyone quickly stood from their seats to bow to them. The serious expression on Viktor's face immediately turned into a grin as Busters walked in. They got ready to head to the balcony, but Viktor suddenly stopped, making the rest of the kings stop as well.
"J.S High..." Viktor says in a loud voice, and everyone immediately stood up straight to look at him.
Viktor looks around the hall without saying a single word, after a while, he takes a deep breath and adjusts the brooch on his collar. "As we all already know, a bunch of those preppy bastards will be arriving in our house in a couple of days. Though it is saddening, I cannot join you in this joyous event," he says, emphasizing the word joyous to show how sarcastic he was.
"I might not be here, but as your king, I am only asking for three things..."
Viktor starts walking down the red carpet in the middle of the aisle while looking around the white uniforms who were all attentively listening to him.
"One," he starts, showing his index finger for everyone to see. "Make sure you leave a good taste in their mouths. Do not embarrass our house, do not embarrass our name, and do not embarrass your Elites and your brotherhoods."
Viktor looked up at the balcony where PHD and the rest of the members of Cigarettes and Crazy 8 were before looking down at Krist and the others. When he saw that they were looking at him too, he smirked and turned away from them.
"Two, make sure you make this an experience that they will never forget," he says, showing them two of his fingers now.
When no one answered, Viktor walked back to where Busters were. He stood in front of them before turning around, the kings all standing behind him with their chins held up. "And lastly, number three..." Viktor paused, and soon after a grin appears on his face. "Give them fucking hell," he announces to everyone.
The white uniforms didn't exactly know what Viktor meant by that, but when they saw the sadistic grin on his face, they knew in an instant that their king was planning something that would blow even president Janus away.
"They want us to fake it? Don't give me that bullshit. The House of Kings is never going to be like those schools. Don't be afraid to let loose. Let's show them what we really are, let's show them what J.S High is all about..." Viktor starts telling them, and the white uniforms—who were doubting if that was even a good idea—were starting to look excited now too.
Even Max and the others couldn't help but show a delighted smile.
This was the reason why Viktor was their king. Why on earth did they even agree to put on a facade and fake the things that really happen in their school? This is J.S High, home of the fearsome brotherhoods and the outstanding white uniforms. If those schools aren't ready for them, then it's their loss.
"We are the house that will conquer it all. We will grab everyone with an iron fist and make them remember our great name. This is J.S High, and whatever happens in the castle..." Viktor paused and looked at the white uniforms who proudly answered back, "Stays in the castle!"
And so, the most awaited Elite School Convention finally begins.
"Welcome to J.S High our dear guests!"
- END -