Morning – Academy Grounds
The sun peeked over the campus rooftops, casting a golden hue over the school courtyard. Birds chirped. Students yawned. Life returned to routine.
Except for one person.
Sol Yoshida walked through the front gate with a ridiculous grin plastered on his face.
Ryker spotted him from across the courtyard and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you look like you just ascended to heaven?"
Sol spun dramatically. "Because I did, brother. I have tasted the nectar of victory — and it's strawberry-flavored."
"…You're talking about ice cream or love?"
Sol placed a hand over his heart. "Both."
Ryker snorted. "You're lucky I don't deduct cool points for cheesiness."
Celica appeared beside them, sipping juice. "Didn't he get glared at by Yumi like... a lot during the date?"
"I call it tsundere affection," Sol said proudly.
Ryker shook his head. "You're doomed."
Morning – Academy Announcement Room
The crackle of the intercom interrupted first period.
"Attention all students. The nomination period for the next Student Council President begins today. Voting will take place this Friday. Good luck to all brave—or foolish—candidates."
Sol blinked. "Wait, we have elections?"
Ryker leaned back in his chair. "Of course. It's a prestigious academy. The President holds real power here—access to guild documents, connections to higher-ups, and even... classified missions."
Sol looked shocked. "That's… kind of insane."
Celica grinned. "It's also a popularity contest. Don't underestimate it."
Main Hall – Nominee Registration Booth
The school had transformed into a battlefield—banners hanging like war flags, candy bribes disguised as campaign strategy, and promises as empty as lunch trays after exam season.
Amid the buzz, Amelia stepped forward, chin high, eyes gleaming with confidence. Her partner, Shin, trailed behind her, casually munching on a rice cracker.
"We're aiming for 1st-Year President," she declared, loud enough for a crowd. "With Shin's brain and my charm, it's checkmate."
Shin adjusted his glasses coolly. "Calculated 84% win rate… unless Ryker enters."
They turned, eyes locking onto the boy lounging by the window—Ryker, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded like someone who'd already seen the future and found it boring.
Amelia smirked. "Ryker, I'll win this. So you better vote for me."
Ryker didn't flinch. "I didn't even participate. This stuff? Waste of energy. Win, lose… doesn't change the world."
Shin tapped his glasses. "It changes the system within the school. Influence is power."
Ryker tilted his head. "If you need a title to prove power… you're weaker than you think."
Amelia scoffed. "Tch. Whatever. I'll beat Aisa too."
As if summoned by fate—
"Hey, Aisa. You're entering, right?" Celica asked, arms folded with a knowing grin.
Aisa nodded calmly. "Yes. I hate attention, but… someone needs to balance the chaos."
Amelia laughed. "Heh. Then I'll crush you too—"
Then paused, a devilish idea lighting her eyes.
"Every presidential candidate needs a partner. Why don't you pick Ryker?"
Aisa: "I already planned to."
Ryker blinked. "...Wait, what?"
"You're already on the form," she said without a trace of guilt.
Ryker exhaled. "I really need to start reading what I sign…"
Amelia pointed with dramatic flair. "Then it's settled! I'll defeat you both!"
Official Nominee List – 1st Year Election
Amelia & Shin – Brains and dominance
Aisa & Ryker – Calm and silent storm
2nd & Last Year Election:
Mira & Lu – Elegant and strict
Fuji & Botan – Jokers with unexpected backing
Student Buzz
"Why do I feel like this is gonna turn into war?" Sol muttered, peeking over Celica's shoulder.
Celica giggled. "Because with those four? It already is."
"I voted for the cutest pair," Yumi chimed in.
"You mean me and you?" Sol said hopefully.
Yumi smirked. "I said pair, not delusion."
Meanwhile, Ryker muttered to Aisa in the hallway, "Just tell me what to say and where to stand."
Aisa replied, "No. You'll speak from the heart."
Ryker blinked. "...Great. We're doomed."
Main Auditorium – Results Day
The voting had ended. Campaign fliers littered the ground like fallen leaves. And tension thickened the air as the principal stepped onto the stage.
"We've tallied all 300 votes. The results for this year's Student Council elections are in!"
The screen behind him lit up.
Mira & Lu – 7 votes
Amelia & Shin – 13 votes
Aisa & Ryker – 76 votes
Fuji & Botan – 204 votes
Total Votes Counted: 300 (100%)
The room gasped.
Celica's jaw dropped. "204?!"
Sol: "Fuji and Botan? They were literal memes last year!"
Shin stiffened. "This is statistically improbable... unless… unseen support?"
Amelia clenched her fists. "WHAT?! How did those clowns beat me?!"
Ryker leaned back in his chair, barely reacting. "Well, at least I didn't win. That means no paperwork."
Aisa smiled, serene as ever. "Actually, I'm relieved. I just wanted to test something."
Meanwhile, Front Stage
Fuji stormed into the hall like a rockstar, Botan sobbing beside him.
"LET'S GOOOOOOOO!!!" Fuji screamed.
"We finally made it!!" Botan wailed. "After two years of humiliation… we're legitimate!!"
Students roared in laughter, claps echoing across the auditorium. The underdogs had become legends overnight.
The announcement had barely faded from the loudspeakers when Funji and Botan approached Ryker. The cheers for the newly elected president duo still echoed in the background, but the two boys ignored them. Their focus was only on the one who didn't win—yet held the reins from the shadows.
Funji bowed his head slightly.
"As promised, Ryker… we're under you now. Thank you."
Ryker didn't answer right away. He stood casually, hands tucked into his pockets, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Shin's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Wait… what?"
Amelia stepped forward, voice sharp. "Hey—are you saying this was your doing, Ryker? But… you lost."
Ryker turned to her with his usual unreadable calm.
"No, no. I won," he said smoothly. "You got seven votes, Amelia. I got seventy-six." He tapped his temple with two fingers. "You lost our little challenge."
Amelia's brows furrowed. "But Funji and Botan won! Why them?!"
Ryker sighed, brushing a hand through his hair, as if it was all too troublesome to explain.
"Because that was the plan. If I won, I'd have to do all the boring presidential work every day. Meetings, events, paperwork… I don't want that. So I made sure I didn't win—while still winning."
Shin blinked. "What... what do you mean 'plan'?"
Ryker's smirk deepened. There it was—the predator behind the calm.
"Simple. I visited every class. Observed everything. I noticed a pattern—plenty of students didn't like you, Amelia. So I used that. I split each class into groups of two or three, and in every single group… I planted one of my people."
He took a step forward.
"I told the boys, 'Why do you always vote for girls? Just because they're pretty? You're not voting for leaders—you're voting with lust.' And guess what? They listened."
He glanced at Amelia.
"And the girls? Some already hated you. I just whispered a few things. Created small doubts. Made you look arrogant. Told them there were better options. That they could vote for someone new. Someone else. I manipulated them, Amelia."
Then he casually pointed toward Funji and Botan.
"I made sure most groups narrowed their choices down to just two pairs—Aisa and me... or Funji and Botan. No matter who they picked, I controlled the outcome."
Ryker tapped his temple once more.
"Then I left the rest to luck. And this time... luck picked them."
Shin stood there, frozen, mouth slightly open.
"What the f**k He's a damn puppet master…"
Ryker turned away from Shin's stunned expression and looked back at the cheering crowd.
"If I win, then I win," he said, voice calm, laced with quiet pride. "But if they win… I still win."
He looked over his shoulder, eyes sharp, smirk widening.
"In the end, whether it's my face on the stage or not—I'm the one pulling the strings. I decide the outcome. That makes me…"
He stepped forward, hands still in his pockets, gaze sweeping across the academy like a king surveying his kingdom.
"…the ruler of this school. Indirectly. Silently. Completely."
Amelia's fists clenched.
Shin's voice was barely a whisper. "He's a monster…"
Ryker didn't deny it. He just kept walking, leaving behind silence—and the echo of his words.
Shin narrowed his eyes as he approached Sol, his tone casual but edged with curiosity.
"Oyy... red hair. You're Ryker's childhood friend, right?"
Sol glanced sideways, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Right. But why're you asking?"
Shin folded his arms, lips twitching in thought. "No reason. Just... now I see why you turned out a little crazy too."