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"ST. GEORGE ACADEMY. LET everyone in this hell know that I, Maximilian Leigh Sinclaire, will remain as a serf until my last day in your school and find out why you are all treated like this. And even if you despise me, hit me, pour paint at me, or even kick me until I fall, I will help this god-forsaken house and make sure no one will bleed again. We will find a solution to your cruel system. That is my promise, and that is my undying resolve. I swear it, as a student of J.S High," A video of Max plays, making one of the men watching it chuckle.
"This video has been circulating since this afternoon. I can't believe we're experiencing the same exciting drama that usually only happens in J.S High," President Justice Thorndyke of the Saints says to the man who's alone with him at the Saints' office.
Vice President Leviathan Dubois, who was busy signing documents at his desk, turns to Justice to also watch the video on the screen of his computer. "Someone sent it to my email earlier as well," he tells him.
"So you've watched it?" Justice asks before looking away from the video and stuffing his mouth with chips. "What's your opinion about it?"
The vice president stares at Max on the screen and then looks at his bleeding hands before turning back to Justice. "How do I put this? The thing he did... It's very...J.S High. The students in the House of Kings have always been overly outspoken. He's not the first to do such a stunt."
"As someone who actually studied in J.S High, I won't even argue with you. They're outspoken, but they also get things done. Their students are far more ambitious than ours," Justice says, and Levi adjusts his glasses before going back to his documents.
Justice went back to watching the video a hundred times before putting a smile on his face. "I swear it, as a student of J.S High. That's what he said. I don't know Grey as much as you did, but I feel like he'd say the exact same thing if he saw the state of our school."
As soon as Justice mentioned Grey, Levi stopped signing midway before removing his glasses and massaging his eyes to hide the sad expression on his face. Levi was Grey's vice president, and despite not openly admitting it, he greatly admired him. He saw how he transformed J.S High and how he helped both the white uniforms and the brotherhoods.
He wanted to be just like him.
But when Grey died and when Levi was about to become the school President, PHD gave him an invitation to their banquet. And because of that very invitation, Levi wasn't able to follow in Grey's footsteps. But he wasn't mad about it at all. That was the outcome, and he admitted defeat wholeheartedly and never blamed PHD for it. But if he did have any regrets, it would be the fact that he wasn't able to help the House of Bishops as Grey did to the House of Kings.
"I failed you, Grey. I'm sorry," Levi suddenly mumbles to himself, instantly making Justice turn to him.
"Did you say something?" Justice asks, but Levi shakes his head and puts his glasses back on before turning to the president with his usual blank expression.
"I'm just tired," he replies, looking down at the documents in front of him again.
Justice takes a deep breath and finally exits the video. The office becomes quiet as Justice looks at his vice president. He takes another deep breath and then asks, "Levi...you never opened it up, and I never questioned you about it, but why did you get transferred here? What did PHD make you do that you got expelled from J.S High?"
Levi stops again and stares at the words on the document, not daring to look at Justice at all. The question had a simple answer, but for some reason, the vice president couldn't even open his mouth.
"Did they purposely kick you out so you don't become the Elites' President?" Justice asks this time.
"No, that's not it," Levi quickly disagrees, finally looking at Justice, who was staring directly at him. Levi then opens his mouth and gets ready to say something else, but he closes it back and takes a deep breath instead.
"I got transferred, and now I'm here. That's all you have to know," Levi finally answers, making Justice slouch and scratch the back of his head in frustration. He knew that Levi would give such a bland answer, but he still couldn't help but be disappointed about it.
"Alright, if you're going to be secretive about it, then fine. But answer me this," Justice then says, standing from his seat and walking towards Levi so he can stand just a few meters away from him. "Why did you give me your points and make me the President?" He finally asks, surprising Levi this time because he never thought Justice would ask that next.
"You had a seven thousand gap with the secretary. A little more, and you would have been the President yourself. But why? Why did you give me six thousand points?"
"This again? I already told you, didn't I? It's because we're both underlings of Checkmates. As your co-castling (Castling: Checkmate's underlings), I wanted to help you and—"
"Bullshit," Justice immediately interrupts. "I heard the truth from the other members of Checkmate. You begged Uchdryd to recruit me as his underling so he could give me five thousand merit points. You've always planned to make me rank up and become the president. The question is, why?"
The Vice President stares at Justice and doesn't say anything for a while. He stared at him and then remembered the first time he saw him. He remembered the time when Justice was just a serf, and now here he was, standing in front of him as the Saint's President.
"I heard you're going to propose the White Uniform Protection Code," Levi answers instead, surprising Justice.
"Of course. Did Uchdryd tell you that too?"
"You're not the first," Levi then reveals, catching Justice off guard. "I also proposed that back then, but the old president dumped it before I could mention it to the board," he explains further as Justice's mouth slowly starts to open in shock.
Why has he never thought of it before? Of course, who else would have proposed that first other than the white uniform who helped write it?
"This wasn't my original house, but I wanted to help St. George Academy when I saw how everyone was treated here. I genuinely wanted to help, but as time passed and as I was silenced hundreds of times, I just gave up. I grew tired, and I take full responsibility for not being able to make a change," Levi truthfully explains.
When the vice saw the look on Justice's face, he sighed again before massaging his temple. "Don't look at me like you pity me. You're the President now. I taught you everything I know, didn't I? That's why you should never look at anyone like that."
"But Levi—"
"It's my last year, Justice. I'm graduating soon, along with half of the brotherhoods here and hundreds of white uniforms who might never experience a school that actually cared about them. But you know what? We're all going to forget about everything that happened here and continue on with our lives, acting as if all this was just a bad dream. But you? Everyone else that will be left behind? You're all still going to continue living in this nightmare, and that fact has scared me ever since," Levi explains, leaving Justice speechless because he never expected to hear Levi say such truthful words to him.
"You ask why I made you the President?" Levi asks again before standing from his seat. He walks towards a window and stares at the view of the campus. Despite what happens in their house, St. George Academy always looks stunning, especially at night.
"When I failed PHD's task and got transferred here, I didn't become a serf and retained my merit points since I was already a vice president, and that was the exception. During the time I was going to be declared as the vice president of the House of Bishops, everyone practically rioted, especially the council," Levi shares while Justice stands behind him.
"At the Dining Hall, the students started throwing food at me before they could even pin the Saint's brooch on my collar. But you know what happened during that ceremony?" Levi then asks. And without waiting for Justice's reply, he smiles and answers, "This particular serf stood from the table and shouted at everyone to shut the fuck up. The Dining Hall became completely silent after that, and the way he commanded that room made the hair on my skin stand."
Justice was surprised that Levi even remembered that time, but he also couldn't help but laugh at that memory. "The white uniforms actually began to throw food in my direction after that, but you know, you're welcome."
Levi chuckles and continues to stare at the view in front of him.
Justice smiles at their vice president and places his hands inside his pockets before walking closer to Levi so he can stand beside him. "So you basically wanted me to be the president because I shout at people. Got it," Justice jokingly says, making Levi laugh this time.
"No, it's obviously not because of that," Levi quickly defends. "You were fierce. And when I looked back at you, I saw J.S High. I saw ambition and power. I saw...Grey."
Justice looks away from the window to look at the vice president. Levi had this look on his face, a look of sadness and longing. Justice wanted to comfort him, but he remembered what the vice said. As President, you shouldn't look at the students with pity. Out of everyone in the school, you should be the first to look at them with hope.
"You and Maximilian Sinclaire. I see bright futures with you two. I know you'll be able to change St. George Academy, Justice. I know you can actually make a difference," Levi sincerely tells him.
"But I can't do it alone."
"Then isn't this perfect? J.S High's future president is here in our very house. This might be the perfect time for you two to be acquainted," the vice then jokingly says, making Justice laugh.
Justice looks at the vice president for one last time before turning back to the window to stare at the scenery of their school, the school that they decided to love despite how imperfect it was.
"There's still a few months left before the end of the school year, but I'm only gonna say this once," Justice suddenly says. "I'm gonna miss you, Levi. You were like a mentor to me and a big brother who saw more to me than a filthy serf. I'll remember everything you taught me up to this point. Your ambition and your hopes for both J.S High and St. George Academy...I'll carry them with me no matter what," Justice suddenly says, making Levi look back at him with surprise.
Levi doesn't say anything for a while, but despite being shorter than the president, he reaches out to pat Justice's head, instantly making the president look flustered.
"You grew up well, Justice. I'm glad to have been able to serve you as my president," Levi says with a smile, instantly making Justice push his hand away in embarrassment. Levi always did this when Justice was still a serf, but he stopped doing it when he became president. Looks like this moment was the only exception.
"Anyway, you should—" As Levi was about to tell Justice to head back to their dorm so he could rest, Levi's head suddenly throbbed, instantly making him lose his balance. He stumbles towards Justice, but thankfully, the president caught him on time.
"L-Levi, are you okay?" Justice asks.
"Sorry, I guess I am a little tired," Levi answers, massaging his head again before pushing Justice away so he can stand by himself.
"Are you sure?" Justice asks again with a worried expression.
"I told you to stop looking at me like that."
While Justice was trying to make sure that his vice president was okay, someone suddenly knocked on the door, immediately making them turn around to see who it was.
"Excuse me, President Justice...Vice President Levi," A white uniform says as he approaches the two officers while holding a red velvet case that contains a black stole. "Maximilian Leigh Sinclaire's stole has arrived," he says. "I asked the other Saints to hand it to him, but they all rejected the task."
The vice president sighs while Justice chuckles. The president then takes the case from the white uniform's hand and says, "I'll do it then since I'm not busy. Where is he?"
"He's still at the clinic getting his hands treated."
"Alright, I'll head out first. I'll see you at our dorm, vice. And please, don't stay up all night like last time. A certain black uniform will get mad at me again if he finds out you stayed out late," Justice teases before finally heading out.
The white uniform who handed the case to them also touched his chest before following Justice. As soon as Levi was alone inside the office, he took a deep breath and glanced at the scenery outside the window for a couple more seconds before finally walking back to his desk.
When he got there, he grabbed a bottle of water and pulled out a small case from the drawer. He opened the case that contained medicine and took one to intake, chugging the water down as he slowly went back to his seat. When he started feeling better again, he grabbed his pen and stared at the document in front of him. But before signing it, he once again remembered the video he watched regarding their new student, Max.
"I will help this god-forsaken house and make sure no one will bleed again. We will find a solution to your cruel system. That is my promise, and that is my undying resolve. I swear it, as a student of J.S High," he remembered, instantly putting a smile on the vice president's usual blank face.
"You were right, Grey," Levi says to himself. "Your childhood friend really is a remarkable boy."
Levi couldn't help but remember the time Grey used to talk about Max when they were in the Elites' office, even though Levi tried his best to ignore him.
Back then, when the Elites were created, they didn't make up the five highest-ranking students. No, rankings came before that. The Elites were hand-picked by Janus himself. And despite not wanting the position, Levi became the vice president thanks to Grey's recommendation.
Levi was from Class I-B with Richard Young, who eventually became the Elites' Secretary when the Elites started taking in the highest-ranking students. Levi became the vice president with the mindset that he wasn't there to make friends. He was there for a job and nothing more.
Back then, the secretary and the treasurer were fourth-year students, the school rep. was a third-year, while he, as the vice, and Grey, as the president, were both first-year students. All five of them were chosen by Janus, and all of them didn't like each other...except for Grey.
Grey was the happy pill in the group. He greeted everyone with a smile and always asked them how they'd been doing. He talked to everyone about his ambition and how he wanted to transform J.S High. He talked about how he wanted to protect both the white uniforms and the brotherhoods, and his very ambition was the main reason why the Elites started trusting him.
Paradox hated the Elites because it divided power, but Grey protected them. Grey, despite his young age, became the very face of the council, and that's why they all looked up to him. But after everything that happened...about Grey's death and the other Elites' graduating, Levi was left alone. He had Grey's ambition on his back, and he felt extremely pressured to continue his legacy. But when he received PHD's invitation and when he failed to accomplish their task, he knew at that very moment that Grey's ambition wasn't for him to carry.
It wasn't for him.
It was for—
"You're still here?" A voice suddenly asks, making Levi lift his head up to check who the person is. Levi was prepared to question the intruder for visiting the office at this hour, but when he saw who it really was, Levi couldn't help but sigh instead.
"What are you doing here again? The Saints will eventually find out you've been making unwanted visits, and they won't be very happy about it," Levi explains as the Checkmate's leader, Uchdryd Rease, approaches him with a smug look on his face.
"Unwanted visits? I don't think I'm unwanted here. Especially to you, Vice President Leviathan Dubois," he answers, facing Levi before leaning against his desk. The vice president stares at the powerful leader as Uchdryd removes his glasses for him. Soon after, Uchdryd reaches out to carefully touch his cheek, and the smug look on his face instantly turns soft.
"You shouldn't stay up late. Your health has been declining, hasn't it?" Uchdryd asks in a much softer tone, making Levi take the leader's hand that's holding onto him so he can gently kiss it.
"I'm fine," he answers with a forced smile, only to make Uchdryd look at him with worry—an expression only the vice president can see on him.
"Don't look at me like that," Levi quickly tells him, but Uchdryd pulls him for a tight embrace so that the vice president can no longer see the face he's making.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Levi then asks while resting his head on Uchdryd's shoulder.
"I told you to leave St. George so you can get proper treatment. Why are you so stubborn?" Uchdryd scolds, but Levi can only hold onto Uchdryd tight, deciding not to say anything so that the leader won't get mad at him again.
"At least let me graduate," Levi answers instead, and Uchdryd could only hug him tighter.
"Why are you always making me worry about you?"
Levi and Uchdryd have been together since they were still in J.S High. They were both from Class I-B, and their relationship has grown since then. But the fact that both of them are now in the House of Bishop actually has a much deeper reason than others might expect.
"The moment you told me you wanted Justice Thorndyke to be your president was the same time you found out your sickness was getting worse, right? You shouldn't be making such plans. It's almost as if you're admitting defeat," Uchdryd truthfully says, and all Levi can do is give out a sad smile.
"Don't tell Justice, okay? He's a sensitive kid. He's gonna be guilty if he found out," Levi then says, and Uchdryd pulls him away so he can look back at his lover properly.
"You're always so selfless," Uchdryd then says.
Levi chuckles and gently touches Uchdryd's chest, which has a large dragon tattoo just right underneath the uniform. He then touches the brotherhood brooch on his collar, as well as the leader's crown brooch, before looking directly into his eyes again.
"And you're quite selfish," he then whispers, and Uchdryd chuckles, leaning close to give Levi a soft kiss on his lips while his hands still held onto his waist.
"I wouldn't be in this god-forsaken house if I weren't," he then says.
Levi chuckles and kisses Uchdryd for one last time before finally pulling away from him.
"Let me just finish reading this document so we can head back," Levi tells him. He was about to head back to his seat so he could continue his work, but then Uchdryd suddenly put on a much more serious expression this time as he said, "Levi, I actually came here for a different reason."
"What do you mean?" Levi asks with his eyebrows furrowed.
"Kim Hee-Joon...he wants to speak with you now."
- END -