Bicker and turn Twelve into Three, Merit I Choose Thee
In a restricted area below the Diet Building in Nagata-cho, several people gather in a single room. Countless lamps suspended in the air light up the gold oriented room. Bookshelves line the walls. Pillars split the surroundings into sections. Two more floors are clearly visible from the middle of the room. The staircases leading to the second floor curve around the entrance. A gigantic clock sits high above the entrance while partially covering the third floor behind it.
Everyone is silent. Only the "tick-tock" of the clock can be heard. A lone boy with striking blue eyes enters the room. Blue-striped hood ears trail behind him, flying freely in the air. Messy black hair sticks up in almost every direction. His face shows no traces of emotion. He wears a white hoodie over a blue and white-striped turtleneck. Blue jeans cover the opening of his simple black shoes.
"Ah, Hiro. Thank goodness. We were waiting for you..." A bob haired girl speaks up.
"Ooh, hey, Hiro. You sure got great timing." A smiling boy wearing a yellow scarf calls out.
"What's wrong?" Hiro responds.
"We were all talking about what to do from here on, and we wanted to hear your opinion." An orange haired dancer wearing rectangle shaped glasses answers.
"But even after putting our heads together, it's going nowhere." A shorter red-haired girl wearing a white pillbox hat and scarf with musical notes describes the current situation.
"Hahah, yeah. We're not talking about what we think so much as yelling about it." A man wearing a striped tuxedo and hat jokes.
"Look who's talking! I said from the start that this would be useless." A woman wearing a black coat over her white Chemosang with faint flower patterns joins in.
"Are you quarreling?" The blue-eyed boy finally asks.
"Mm. Not quarreling. But we aren't really agreeing." A taller boy wearing a black bucket hat answers.
"True... We all come from different backgrounds, so we don't have the same values." A blond-haired woman wearing a doctor's uniform provides more information on what everyone is debating about.
"Pfft, talking in circles like this is pointless. Let's just finish this with our fists." A steely-eyed boy impatiently urges.
"My, my... And what have we here? The masses meeting?" An intelligent boy with callous narrow eyes wearing a long black coat walks in.
"Oh...! Chief Hotsuin..." A blue haired woman with a similar wardrobe notices him.
"Hm...? You're here too, Hiro? Then this is a good opportunity to say something." Yamato notices Hiro beside Io and Daichi.
"Is it bad news?" Hiro asks slightly worried.
"Haha. For me, it is neither good nor bad." Yamato chuckles at Hiro's question then frowns and crosses his arms. "Listen to me, all of you. Before, I spoke to you of my ideal world. Since, then I accounted for your feelings and allowed time for reflection... But with Mizar's attack, the barriers are down. This world is out of time. From this moment on, Iam marshaling my forces towards rebuilding this world...!"
Daichi is in shock. "Wh-Whoa, ahng on! R-Right now! Seriously! But we're still-"
Yamato stops Daichi. "We knew this would happen. There's no point in debating the matter further. My desire is to rebuild this world. Look at the big picture. Your hesitance matters not."
"You said it!" Hiro agrees with Yamato.
"Ha, indeed, Hiro." Yamato responds to Hiro's comment and continues his speech. "Individuals are important, but focus too much on them and you lose sight of the big picture."
"...What're you gonna do with the ones who won't follow you?" Hinako asks.
"Nothing, if they stay out of my way. If they can't do that... I will kill them." Yamato says cold-heartedly.
"You...!" Airi says disgusted at Yamato's answer.
"...Oh yeah? Sounds pretty simple to me." Keita smirks in agreement with Yamato.
"You'll kill them if they don't obey you...? N-No..." Io says unable to believe Yamato.
"That's so like you, Hotsuin. but don't expect me to bow before your threats...!" A new voice joins the debate.
"Hm...! That voice...!" Makoto immediately recognizes the new voice.
"Yamato Hotsuin... I will never let your ambitions come to fruition!" Ronaldo stands up to Yamato.
"...I have no idea who you are. Mind enlightening me?" Yamato drops his arms and smirks.
"Wh-What...! You bastard! My name is-" Ronaldo curses Yamato.
Yamato closes his eyes and interrupts Ronaldo before he can say his name. "Ah, don't bother. There's no spotlight for you here. Go crawl back into your hole."
"Ngh... Hotsuin...! I am Ronaldo Kuriki-the man who'll put an end to you, evil one! I refuse your scheme! I will slay you at all costs to create an ideal world!" Ronaldo heatedly declares.
"Hmph.. Ideal, you say? You refer to this notion of egalitarianism?" Yamato asks unfazed by his declaration.
"That's right! I will create a society based on equality and peace! For all mankind...!" Ronaldo announces, bent on his own justice.
"What a fool. Equality is the ideal of the indolent. You'd enable those parastic scum?" Yamato spits his words out distastefully.
"You're wrong! Polaris is all-powerful, right? Then he can change mankind, too! People suffer and toil in this dilapidated world... So we need a society that ensures every man works for his fellows, and vice versa!" Ronaldo angrily argues.
"...Do what you will. Your foolish dream of equality isn't worth striking down." Yamato closes his mouth but continues to frown.
"W-Wait a second! I think I like his idea of equality better than your dumb merit system!" Airi sides with Ronaldo.
"Uh... Ai, wait...!" Hinako attempts to stop Airi.
"...I agree, too. Family, frinds, and strangers, all living in harmony..." Otome follows along with Airi.
"Mm... Sounds good to me. I gotta say, Clicky's speaking my language here." Joe also sides with Ronaldo.
"Hahaha! you see that, Hotsuin! Not everyone here will fall under your sway! I've no doubt the strongest ally is mine... A heart filled with justice!" Ronaldo grins in triumph.
"Is that so...? All right. I will grant you your satisfaction. Gather your sympathizers by tonight. Tomorrow, the battle will begin!" Yamato declares war against Ronaldo.
"Ha! Bring it on! Merit vs. equality... We'll see which comes out on top!" Ronaldo challenges him.
"Only two options? There are some people here who don't agree with either of you." Hiro says unhappy with both of the extremists.
"H-He's right! I think that they're both, well, just too extreme!" Daichi agrees with Hiro.
"Hm... Then let me ask you, Shijima: What other way are you advocating?" Yamato curiously questions.
"M-M-Me! I'm advocating... Um... A-A path where we're not all fighting each other...!" Daichi stutters his response to Yamato.
"...Daichi, I'm sorry, but this isn't a game. The fate of the world is at stake here. I wish you wouldn't butt in without a plan or an ideal you want to put into practice." Ronaldo responds harshly.
"Urgh... I-I just..." Daichi manages to say after being shot down by Ronaldo, but musters up his courage to say, "there's not much time, but I want to find a path where we don't have to fight over this!"
"Damn straight, Daichi! You said it!" Hinako gives Daichi her full support.
"Yeah! Wait, huh? Hinako...?" Daichi says confused.
"Yamato! Ronaldo! Don't you both have this all wrong! What Daichi's trying to say is that he wants a way where we won't bicker to the bitter end! I'm behind that one hundred percent! If he wins, you oughtta follow him!" Hinako explains.
"...Haha, an eloquent speech. I have no objections." Yamato acknowledges Daichi's path.
"Me neither. I'll put everything I got against you!" For once Ronaldo is in agreement with Yamato.
"Uhh, sorry to butt in. I hate ambiguity, so do you mind if I clear some things up?" Fumi speaks up. "Everyone here's helped defeat a Septentrione, more or less... So it's safe to assume that any of us has the right to open the path to Polaris. And we're divided into three camps: merit system, equality, and a third way, right?" Fumi recaps the entire discussion.
"...That sums it up. We'll each take sides by tonight, and tomorrow, the fighting begins." Otome adds.
"Um. What happens to the ones who lose?" Jungo asks about an uncovered topic.
"Well, the more support one has, the better. Losers should cede to the victors... if they live." Yamato answers ominously.
"No... even if they don't win, there's no need to force them into a belief they don't hold. We'll leave it up to the individual. but they'll have to back down from the contest." Ronaldo disagrees with Yamato and presents a different solution.
"A-All right. So... Losing teams will be disbanded. They can follow the winning team or not, it's up to them." Daichi simplifies Ronaldo's response to Jungo's question.
"Sounds good to me." Hiro agrees with Daichi.
"Yeah... Whoever wins, no hard feelings!" Ronaldo also agrees.
"What nonsense... As if that matters. I'm leaving now." Yamato breaks up the debate.
Everyone leaves silently, focused on their own ideas.
(Protagonist's POV)
Using the terminal in Tokyo, I teleport to Osaka. My mind is already set on a path. I make my way towards Shinsekai, where the JP's main branch is located.
Upon my arrival, I find Yamato who has been waiting for me.
"...So you've come, Hiro. You're late." He acknowledges my presence.
"Sorry to make you wait." I apologize for being... late?
"Hahaha... What cheek. Though it's true, you're the only one I'd be willing to wait for." He admits.
Keita enters the room. "Yo, Yamato. We're ready over- Huh? Hiro? What're you doing here?"
"Oh... I see... You wish to have Kageyama join us?" Makoto also walks in, unlike Keita she understands the situation.
"Heh, naturally. It's obvious from all Hiro has achieved that he can be of use to us." Fumi also understands my presence.
"Hmph. Mr. Popularity. Well... I'm not gonna deny that he's good in a fight." Keita smirks.
"Away, fools. I'm speaking with Hiro now. Can't you wait your turns?" Yamato intervenes, upset that they interrupted us.
"Haha, I forgot about that. All right, we'll leave this to you, Chief." Fumi and the others stop talking.
"Now then... to business. I won't take up much of your time. ...Join me. From here in Osaka, we will work together towards the creation of a merit system. Hiro, you know that man has never known equality from the moment of his birth. It's as plain as day There are countless people in the world, each one of them unique. But one's success should not be granted by linage or family ties, as it is now. Individuality must be preserved by a truly skillful man leading the foolish masses! Until now, that was not possible. Preposterous logic and bizarre mores prevented it. Those were merely foolish ideals of the pwerless who fear their own downfall...! As long as such fools remain in power, do you think these wrongs will ever be righted? But with a truly powerful man leading the way, humanity will grow strong and fear nothing! Hiro! You are strong... you are one of the few who might surpass me! Join hands with me and let us lead mankind to true victory!"
After listening to Yamato's extremely long lecture, I simply answer, "okay."
"Ah...! Thank you, Kageyama. I'm glad we met." Makoto smiles at my decision.
"Heh... Good call, Kageyama. That's what I expect from you." Keita smirks in approval.
"Hello, Hiro. Looks like we're comrades now. We've got a ways to go, but we can do it." Fumi does the same as Makoto and smiles.
"Ha... Hahahaha!" Yamato does a forced victory laugh. "I've finally found someone...! I thought you'd agree, Hiro. You're my right-hand man. You will, of course, have a seat as my equal when the time comes. Starting tomorrow, we will eliminate the opposition and open a path to Polaris! I will prepare a room for you at the JP's office in Osaka. Rest well."
"I'll be anticipating tomorrow then." I say my farewells before heading to my room.
23:30. When I sit on my bed, a bunny-eared Tico appears on my screen.
"Yoohoo, Hiro! Good going surviving another day! I kinda put together a rundown of the stuff you did today... Well? Wanna hear it?" She asks.
"No, I'm fine." I respond feeling too tired after Yamato's lecture to listen.
"Oh...! Man, I nearly forgot to tell you something rilly important!" Tico stops herself from saying goodbye.
"What is it?" I ask.
"The death image site's shutting down tonight! But hey, you've picked a path, right? I'm sure you don't need us anymore! You're on your own when it comes to fighting for the future now! Have fun! Okay, then! Have a nice wheeee!" Tico gleefully says goodbye in her own unique way.
After Tico disappears from the screen, I get a notice from my phone saying that I have two unread messages. One is from Ronaldo and the other is from Daichi. I skim through both sleepily. Both of them are disappointed about my decision. I lie down on my bed exhausted from fighting Mizar and from listening to lectures. Mostly from lectures, though.
This is my decision. Merit will fix this world.