From across the student council room, the president could only watch in horror as Solitary Man drew back its mighty fist and pummeled Miyuki Shirogane directly in the face, breaking his nose with a sickening crunch. It was unnerving- the sight of a Stand turning on its user so suddenly- but perhaps most unnerving of all was how Shirogane reacted to the apparent disloyalty of his Solitary Man. There was no sign of fear in his eyes, no surprise or shock. He simply stood, unflinching in stature and unwavering in resolve, oblivious to his Stand's betrayal even as its fist collided with his face.
Instead, it was the president who flinched on Shirogane's behalf, wincing in sympathy as his opponent staggered backwards from the force of his self-inflicted blow. Miyuki's knees nearly buckled, and for a moment, the president's vacant stare betrayed a flicker of concern, causing his voice to waver slightly.
"Shirogane…?"
As if in response, Miyuki clutched the bridge of his nose, a steady stream of blood trickling out of his nostrils. He took a ragged breath inward, as if summoning strength from within, then stared back at the president, a determined grin plastered across his face.
"I've got it."
"What?"
"I said I've got it. The key to defeating your New Abnormal."
The president scoffed, his prior concern seemingly forgotten for the moment as he took a tentative sip from his fourth can of soda. "Oh? Enlighten me."
Despite the fact that his voice had returned to its usual sarcastic monotone, the president still fixed his steely gaze upon the figure of Miyuki's Solitary Man, refusing to look away. Staring back into his eyes, Shirogane could just barely make out the faintest traces of genuine uneasiness hiding behind the president's seemingly indifferent facade, as if the sudden outburst of Miyuki's Stand's had genuinely unsettled him.
"The aluminum can is truly impressive- a modern marvel of engineering, especially considering the demanding constraints of mass production… but perhaps most impressive of all the can's many features is the clever device that was designed to open it. A pop tab is composed of two different levers working together- a 'first-class lever' and a 'second-class lever.' When the tab is pulled, the 'second-class lever' activates first, pushing the rivet of the pop tab through the surface of the lid and 'venting' the air inside. Once the 'second-class lever' has released the pressure inside of the can, the pop tab then becomes a 'first-class lever' which creates the hole through which we drink."
The longer he spoke, the louder Shirogane's voice became- as if his already formidable conviction was growing with each word that escaped from between his lips.
"When you first described your ability to me, you made it sound as if it was the 'first class lever' that activated New Abnormal's ability. But it was the 'second-class' level all along! The 'second-class lever' is the part of the pop tab that 'vents' the can before you open it- and the action of 'venting' the can is the 'trigger' for your Stand's ability!"
Sighing, the president downed the contents of his fourth can, still refusing to take his eyes off of Miyuki's unpredictable Stand. "I suppose I should have expected this. You're very perceptive, Shirogane- I'll give you that. But in the grand scheme of things, you're still just fighting to survive… so desperate to defend yourself that you've been rendered incapable of fighting back."
"I only avoided telling you about the 'second-class lever' because I assumed that doing so would have been needlessly complicated. So instead, I simplified my explanation. Saying that the pop tab was the 'trigger' for my ability made things much easier for the both of us… although I suppose that hardly matters now, since it seems you've discovered the 'truth' of my Stand's ability on your own. Yes, New Abnormal is indeed controlled by the 'second-class lever' of the pop tab… but what good does that knowledge do you? All you've done with your little deduction is prolong the inevitable by stalling with more of your useless words."
As the president finished his fourth can and tossed it aside, the grin on Miyuki's face only widened.
"That's where you're wrong, President. With this knowledge…"
While Shirogane spoke, the president finally averted his gaze away from Solitary Man, shooting a sidelong glance at his desk as he subtly reached for his fifth can of soda. Sensing an opportunity, Miyuki's hand dove into the pockets of his uniform, grabbing a ball-point pen and clicking it in one fluid motion.
"With this knowledge, I can definitely defeat your Stand!"
"MUDA!"
Before the president had time to react, Solitary Man had taken hold of the pen, ripping it out of Shirogane's grasp and throwing it like a knife across the room with blinding speed. The president's outstretched hand drew back instinctively as Miyuki's pen made contact with the can, knocking it off of the table and out of reach with a metallic clink.
"The release of pressurized gas from 'venting' the can is the 'trigger' for New Abnormal's ability. If that's the case, then it doesn't matter if you activate the 'second-class lever,' so long as the can itself has already been 'vented!' I punctured a hole in the lid of your fifth can- not to drain out the liquid, but to 'vent' the air inside… meaning you can no longer use its 'second-class lever' to 'trigger' New Abnormal's ability!"
For a moment, the president stood behind his desk in silence, his eyes once more fixed on Miyuki and his Stand. Then he burst out laughing, shaking his head in disbelief as he sauntered across the room to pick up the fifth can of soda.
"I know I already asked you this, but are you sure you want to keep fighting? All of this stops the moment you say the word. I don't really want to hurt you, but if this continues… I won't ask again."
Shirogane frowned. "What makes you think I'm ready to give up?"
The president chuckled. "I only ask because of what you did just now. To think that you'd make such a sloppy mistake… the precision of your Solitary Man must truly be abysmal. Given your relative inexperience, I figured I should at least give you one last chance to leave this place with your dignity intact."
"I'm not sure I follow, President."
Sighing as he bent down to pick up the fifth can, the president shook his head again- this time, with an air of genuine disappointment. "Shirogane… I already drank the contents of my fourth can, meaning New Abnormal's ability has already been 'reloaded.' While your attack did succeed in 'venting' the pressure of my fifth can, that pen of yours only punctured the lid of this can. While it is true that I can no longer use its 'second-class lever' to trigger my ability, I can still drink its contents! There's still liquid inside! Once I drink the contents of this fifth can, I'll be able to fire two 'bullets' of New Abnormal's 'dry ice' at once!"
Miyuki smirked. "I know. I'm counting on it."
Once more, the student council room grew eerily quiet as the president's eyes widened in shock. "W-what?"
"Look where you're standing, President. When Solitary Man threw the pen at your fifth can of soda, I wasn't just trying to puncture its lid to 'vent' the air inside. I was trying to knock it off your desk, so it would roll across the room, away from where you were standing… away from the sixth can! If I had used the pen to both 'vent' the fifth can and drain the liquid inside, you would have no reason to leave your desk and pick it up. The fifth can would have been useless to you, and I would have lost my only chance at victory. But if there was still liquid inside of the fifth can, I knew that you would be willing to abandon your position... since drinking its contents would allow you to fire two 'bullets' of 'dry ice' at once! That was why I only punctured the lid of the fifth can! My real objective was to put distance between you and the sixth can of soda! If you want to trigger your ability, you've got to reach the sixth can!"
The president's head whipped back towards his desk, staring at the final can of soda from his six-pack. "Impossible…"
"Right now, it seems as if we're both about the same distance away from the sixth can… meaning that the outcome of this fight will be determined by whichever one of us is able to reach it first! Our Stands might be on even footing when it comes to speed, but if I had to guess, the real power of your New Abnormal comes from its 'dry ice bullets.' My Solitary Man may not be very strong, but with its durability… in close quarters combat, you don't stand a chance!"
Shirogane thrust a finger towards the president, his finger uttering an unspoken challenge. Sensing that Miyuki had thrown down the gauntlet, Solitary Man rose into the air behind its user, shrouding him in an aura of sinister resolve.
"President! If you want that can, you'll need to go through me first!"
Grabbing his hat by the brim, the president removed it to run a shaky hand through his hair.
"How… how could I have let this happen? Such a careless mistake… could this be…"
Shirogane nodded coldly, eyes narrowed in determination. "It is. You're correct, President. This is my 'ability.' I'm not quite sure how it works, and I still can't quite control it yet. All I know is that in response to stress, or in times of great danger, Solitary Man has the 'ability' to accelerate my thoughts. It's almost as if time itself slows down around me while my thought process speeds up in tandem, giving me the chance to out-think my opponents in the heat of battle. Your Stand's 'ability' is truly amazing, President… especially when compared with mine. In fact, compared to me, you're certainly a much more 'talented' Stand user- but that 'talent' alone isn't enough. 'Talent can't beat hard work.' That is my philosophy. That is the power of Solitary Man. All it takes is one second. One second, one misstep, one mistake. That's all I need to win this fight!"
The president exhaled slowly, readjusting his cap. "I see. So that means this whole time… you were using your 'ability' to outsmart me?"
Again, Miyuki nodded. "Solitary Man's 'ability' triggered earlier, when New Abnormal fired its first shot at me. If it hadn't, I probably wouldn't have been able to think of a way to dodge your attack. However, I've found that I can 'trick' my 'ability' into activating much more reliably if I inflict a certain amount of damage upon myself… which is why I had Solitary Man break my nose. In addition to giving me the psychological advantage by making my Stand seem unpredictable and dangerous, it also gave me enough time to figure out a plan of attack."
"Such an underhanded move is hardly becoming of a future student council president, you know."
Shirogane gritted his teeth in anger. "You think my 'ability' is just some cheap trick? You think this is easy for me? That day, at the lake, when I first summoned my Stand... when Solitary Man activated its ability, I was terrified. Suddenly, I could think faster than time itself- and yet, despite that, there was nothing I could do. I was powerless. The confines of my mind became claustrophobic as my thoughts overwhelmed me, leaving me rooted to the spot- paralyzed by an overwhelming tide of anxiety and doubt that threatened to swallow me whole. All I could do was stand there and watch helplessly as that girl drowned, right before my eyes, burdened with the knowledge that it was my fault. And it was. When it mattered most, I lost my resolve. I was afraid, and because of that, I couldn't save that girl."
The president opened his mouth, as if to interrupt, but closed it just as suddenly.
"For as long as I can remember, I have been afraid- afraid of being alone, of failing the ones I love. That same fear has plagued me for my entire life… so it was only natural that my fighting spirit would become a physical manifestation of it. Solitary Man is the living embodiment of my anxiety- that, President, is the true secret of my Stand's 'ability.' Accelerating my thoughts can give me the split-second strategic advantage I need in the heat of battle… but if my resolve wavers, even for a single second, those same thoughts will leave me paralyzed. Every time I summon my Stand, I have to fight against that fear- the fear of being alone, of failing the ones I love… the same fear my Stand is made of! I have to fight it, President! Can you even imagine what that must feel like? Having to wrestle with yourself over control of your own Stand? Living in fear, every day? Like I said before- the fact that I'm still here… the fact that I'm still fighting, even now, in spite of everything I have to fear and everything I've been through… that fact alone is a sign of my resolve! To overcome that fear, the fear of failure… to become a man who can stand alongside Shinomiya… that is the reason I chose to run for student council president. I will become a man no one can look down on! Not even you, President! When I'm finished, not even you will be able to look down upon me!"
"Shirogane… why are you telling me this?"
"Because just like you, I'm confident it won't matter. You revealed the secret of your Stand's 'ability' to me, right?"
The president held a hand to his chin in contemplation. "I suppose I did."
"By revealing the secret of your Stand, you were treating me as if I was already beneath you. The only reason you warned me about your New Abnormal's ability in advance was because you thought it wouldn't matter in the end! That's why I've shown you the truth of my Solitary Man's ability! Now that we're on even footing- now that we both know each other's secrets, and I'm no longer beneath you, we can finish this thing… once and for all!"
"Is that so? I've been prepared to finish this fight ever since it began. Shirogane… are you really sure that you have what it takes?"
Once again, Shirogane fought back a laugh. "You said that words were useless things, President, and that actions would always speak louder than them. Yet despite that, not even your actions have been able to dissuade me from following this path! No matter what, I will not abandon this course! Compared to the fear I've lived with for every day of my life… compared to the resolve that fear has given me, both your words and your actions are entirely useless!"
"Useless, huh? I suppose that makes me something of a hypocrite… doesn't it?"
Miyuki shrugged. "Call me my father's son, but I never much cared for useless things myself. We've wasted enough time trying to convince each other to stand down with our words, President. I think it's about time we took action… don't you?"
The president nodded, a small smile spreading across his face. "Very well then. I did ask you to give me everything you've got, Shirogane…"
A violent humming filled the room once more, as the skeletal figure of New Abnormal materialized behind the president. The ghastly apparition curled its fingers into a fist, as if steeling itself for the fight to come.
"BUT VICTORY WILL STILL BE MINE! THAT SIXTH CAN… I'LL DEFINITELY REACH IT BEFORE YOU!"
In an instant, the president was on his feet, hurdling over the coffee table and bolting towards his desk. From the opposite side of the room, Shirogane sprinted after him, summoning his Stand as they drew closer and closer to the sixth can of soda.
This is it! My final chance to finish this, here and now!
"SOLITARY MAN! LET HIM HAVE IT!"
As Miyuki sprinted towards the president, New Abnormal extended two of its fingers threateningly, poised and ready to fire the second its user reached the sixth can. Both Stands lunged at each other, inches away from a fight.
In that instant, the stakes of their little conflict became clear to Shirogane. Whoever reached the can first would be declared the winner… one way or another. Two of the most brilliant minds in all of Shuchi'in Academy had abandoned strategy in favor of a single, suicidal test of their resolve- one final round, one last bout with their lives on the line, both men determined to die if it meant proving their conviction.
With a strangled cry, the president reached for the sixth can, his fingertips just barely brushing against the side of the seemingly innocuous aluminum cylinder that would determine his fate.
"TANSA-"
The president's Stand never had a chance to finish its battle cry. Before he could reach the sixth can, just seconds shy of victory, Solitary Man was upon him, its fist colliding into the skull of New Abnormal with a resounding crack. It roared with an inhuman anger, unleashing a furious barrage of blows at the president's Stand with lightning-fast speed.
"MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
New Abnormal raised its fists, trying to fight back, but it never got the chance. Solitary Man was indefatigable, pummeling the enemy Stand with a relentless, disorienting assault that made up for what it lacked in strength through sheer determination alone. The onslaught seemed endless, spurred on by the seemingly endless resolve of Miyuki Shirogane- until, suddenly, it ended.
With a whistle and a rush of air, Solitary Man drew back, retreating behind its user as Miyuki's eyes narrowed in determination.
"It's over, President. I've won."
Glancing downward, the president's mouth hung open in shock. Missing from the front of his uniform was the golden aiguillette that denoted his status.
"What?"
Frantic, the president's head whipped around the room, searching for the missing aiguillette.
"Where…"
He didn't have to look for very long. Clenched within the confines of Miyuki's hands was the tiny golden chain.
"'All you need to do to win is remove the presidential aiguillette from my uniform.' That's what you said, right?"
The president sighed as New Abnormal disappeared into thin air behind him. Wearily, he removed his trademark hat, tossing it to the side as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Of course… you took advantage of my New Abnormal's weakness in hand-to-hand combat."
Miyuki nodded, a grin appearing across his face. "You were so preoccupied with the fight between our Stands that you didn't even notice when I snatched the aiguillette right off of your chest! Our fight for the sixth can was just a pretense to close the distance between us once more, so I could finish this once and for all!"
"I see. It's my loss, then. Well fought, General Affairs Advisor. You've given me no choice but to acknowledge your resolve. I suppose that means I'll be endorsing your candidacy now, doesn't it?"
Shirogane smirked, forcing himself to maintain a facade of indifferent confidence.
"I suppose it does. I'd take that drink now, if you don't mind."
The president cocked an eyebrow, surprised. "Really?"
Miyuki laughed, releasing the tension he had been carrying ever since their fight began. "It's only fair. You did offer it to me, after all."
At last, the sounds of violence had stopped, and the student council room was quiet once more. In the center of the room, Miyuki and the president sat cross-legged amidst the destruction they had wrought, tending to their wounds together.
Silently, the president slid Shirogane a first-aid kit.
"Sorry about your nose. There should be bandages in there."
Miyuki snickered as he applied one of the bandages to the bridge of his nose. "Come on. If anything, my nose is the one injury you shouldn't be sorry for."
The president rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I know, but… I still feel responsible. You're going to have one hell of a black eye, you know?"
Shirogane scoffed sarcastically. "Your face isn't looking too pretty, either."
The president grinned, as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. "True. It's strange, though- you may have won our fight, but of the two of us, you certainly look worse for wear."
Once more, Miyuki shrugged. "Eh. That's the price of victory, I suppose- especially with my Stand. Thanks for the drink, by the way."
As Shirogane lifted the sixth can to his lips and took a sip, the president smiled good-naturedly. "Of course. It's not like I needed it, or anything."
"So what do you usually do with the last can in a six-pack? Once you've opened it, couldn't you just drink it too? That way, you wouldn't have to use the first can of a second six-pack to recharge your Stand's ability."
The president shook his head. "I could. But I usually just pour it down the drain to celebrate once I'm finished fighting- I hate the taste of these things, and like I said, I usually only need five shots."
"I guess that makes me the exception, huh?"
"It certainly does."
There was a moment of silence as Miyuki took another sip from his drink, then applied a second bandage to the shallow cut across his cheek.
"Were you really going to kill me?"
The president sighed. "Honestly? No. In fact, almost everything I said was a lie. By constantly provoking you and increasing the stakes of our conflict, I was testing you to see if your conviction would waver in the face of danger, since I was worried it might."
Shirogane nodded curtly. "So it was all a test, then. Just like at the lake, only this time, I passed- although I'm sure that wasn't enough to totally redeem me in your eyes."
"That's not-"
"I get it, President. You did what you had to do to make sure that the student council would be in good hands after you were gone. I'm sure you're not thrilled about having to endorse my candidacy, since it was stipulated in the terms of our wager, but I appreciate that you're a man of your word, and that you're at least willing to fulfill your promise, if nothing else- even in spite of your contempt for me."
His wounds mostly treated, Shirogane wrapped one last bandage around his injured knuckles as he closed the first-aid kit and stood to leave.
"I'll see you at the assembly, President. Until then."
"I was scared."
Once more, the student council room fell silent.
"What?"
"I said I was scared. The truth is, a part of me was interested in seeing what you would do- that day, at the lake. But another part of me was frozen, just as paralyzed as you were. I didn't know what to do myself. If I had used one of New Abnormal's 'bullets' to carbonate the water in that swamp, the rush of bubbles from beneath the surface might have propelled that girl to freedom, but then everyone would have seen evidence of my Stand's abilities. You had only just discovered the existence of your Stand- but as the student council president, I had no excuse."
Miyuki's eyes widened in disbelief as the president spoke, unable to understand the words coming out of his opponent's mouth.
"I wasn't just being hard on you, Shirogane. I was being hard on myself. The only reason I pushed you as hard as I did during our fight was because I wanted you to be better than I was… to become a better leader than I ever could be."
"I thought… I thought even after all that, you were still looking down on me."
The president shook his head, his face beaming with pride as his tone finally softened. "I was wrong about you, Miyuki. The fact that you've worked as hard as you have to get to where you are now… it's evidence of your formidable resolve. In the end, you were right- talent can't beat hard work. You'll make one hell of a student council president, and I'd be honored to support you."
For the first time in what felt like forever, a genuine smile spread across Miyuki's face, shattering his mask of perfect composure. "Thank you, President."
The president extended his hand outward as a gesture of reconciliation, and Miyuki shook it firmly.
A thought occurred to him, then.
Talent can't beat hard work.
"President… if you'll excuse me, there's something I need to do before the assembly."
The president stood, donning his cap once again as he gestured towards the exit. "Better make it quick. You wouldn't want to miss your own nomination, after all."
Miyuki nodded gratefully, then turned to leave. Bursting through the doors of the student council room, he started to run… only to collide with treasurer Momo Ryuju, who had been eavesdropping on the other side.
"Hey, Shirogane, what gives? You were in there forever, and I could hear the two of 'ya yelling like crazy- holy shit, what happened to your face?"
"I took your advice, Ryuju."
"Whaddaya mean?"
"I stopped being such a goddamn pushover."
"So he's gonna give you the nomination? That's great! Look, we don't have a lot of time, but we gotta get you on stage. The assembly's starting soon, and we've gotta be ready for your big speech-"
"Ryuju. I'm sorry, but could you excuse me for a second?"
Shirogane's words were polite, but his tone betrayed an underlying forcefulness Momo had never heard from the usually quiet General Affairs officer before.
"O-of course."
"Thank you."
And with that, Shirogane sprinted off down the hall, his mind empty save for a single thought split in three, echoing in his skull- repeated it like a mantra as he raced through the halls of Shuchi'in Academy in search of the reason behind his resolve. There were only a handful of minutes left until the general assembly, and given the size of Shuchi'in, there was no guarantee Miyuki would find her before the ceremony began. But Shirogane figured that after everything he had been through, he owed it to himself to try.
Talent can't beat hard work.
Become someone no one can look down on.
Become a man who can stand alongside Shinomiya.
The hallway that led to the auditorium was empty. Kaguya Shinomiya knew that the general student assembly was due to begin any minute now, but she wanted to check the most recent round of exam score postings before the ceremony began. If any of Shuchi'in's students were going to leverage their academic standing in the upcoming election, Kaguya wanted to be prepared. After all, choosing the candidate she wanted to support ahead of time would allow her even greater influence over the student body. It was only a matter of picking the right one.
Someone must have noticed she was missing from the assembly by now. Still, being reported for truancy was of little concern to her. Even the faculty of Shuchi'in Academy were smart enough to avoid provoking her icy wrath- one of the perks of her family's status, she supposed.
A distant clatter interrupted her thoughts as it echoed down the hallway behind her- footsteps, growing closer with each passing second. It sounded as if someone was running, and running towards her, at that.
Probably an underclassman, late for the assembly. How disrespectful. Even Shuchi'in's newest students should have learned the value of punctuality by now. Speaking of punctuality, I had better be going soon myself. I certainly wouldn't want to be late.
Still mulling over her thoughts, Kaguya paid the footsteps no mind… until suddenly, they came to a stop right next to her.
"Shinomiya."
The voice was low but steady, and it caught her off guard. At the sound of the stranger's words, Kaguya turned to face him, genuinely curious.
"Hm?"
His eyes were blue. That was the first thing Kaguya noticed about him.
The second thing she noticed were the bruises on his face and the bandages across his nose.
"Let's see who scores higher on the next round of exams. If I lose, I'll do whatever you tell me."
Kaguya scoffed, even as her heart skipped a beat.
"What? This is completely out of the blue. I will do no such thing."
"Are you afraid to lose?"
"...excuse me?"
Again, Kaguya felt her heart skip a beat. For the briefest of instants, she considered the faint possibility that the stranger might actually be right, then dismissed it just as quickly.
"I said, are you afraid to lose?"
"Impossible. Suggesting such a thing… you're certainly quite the fool. State your name, now."
There was a quiet resolve in the stranger's eyes as he fixed his gaze upon her.
"Miyuki Shirogane."
Kaguya huffed under her breath, frustrated. "Fine. I'll accept the terms of your challenge. But just so you know, in the interest of fairness… when I win, I'll make you wish you had never even met me in the first place."
The blonde nodded, bowing his head. "As you wish. If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be."
And without another word, he was gone, running back the way he came.
Kaguya exhaled furiously as she stormed away from the spot where Miyuki Shirogane had stood moments prior, releasing a breath she didn't even know she was holding.
Who does he think he is? That… that arrogant fiend! How dare he challenge me! He must have issued that idiotic wager as a way of advancing his own status within the academy. Such a thoughtless provocation is clearly beneath me.
…so then why did I accept it?
That single thought continued to plague her, even as she hurried through the halls, her concerns about the assembly momentarily forgotten.
The house lights had already dimmed by the time Kaguya reached the auditorium. Slipping in through the back door, Kaguya scanned the audience, looking for an empty seat next to a certain companion of hers. Despite her schoolgirl disguise, Shinomiya had no trouble recognizing her faithful maid, sitting alone in the back row of the auditorium.
As Kaguya slid into the empty seat next to her only friend, Ai Hayasaka gave her young ward a concerned glance.
"Lady Kaguya, are you certain this is alright? What if someone were to see us?"
"Relax, Hayasaka. The rest of the student body will be too preoccupied with the assembly to notice the two of us together. Besides, there's something I absolutely must discuss with you, right away."
"Very well. What is it?"
"I need you to investigate a student for me."
Hayasaka blinked, taken aback. "On what grounds?"
Kaguya crossed her arms, snorting derisively. "The idiot actually had the nerve to challenge me. Can you believe it?"
"Challenge you, my lady?"
"His name was Shirogane, I think. The nerve of that man- he actually wants to see which of us will score higher during the next round of exams!"
"You mean Miyuki Shirogane? Haruno Shirogane's little brother?" Hayasaka blurted in disbelief, still unable to process what her mistress had said.
"Indeed. I must say, though, I hardly see the resemblance. From what I've been told, Haruno was quite the noble figure… a nobility his younger brother most certainly lacks. He looked positively like a delinquent, too- bruises all over his face, fresh from some fight held God knows where. Hopefully not on campus, at least. Really, Hayasaka, it was a rather unbecoming sight. Students at Shuchi'in Academy should know better than to engage in such childish rows. I wonder if we should notify the Disciplinary Committee of his actions."
Kaguya's ruminations, however, were abruptly brought to an end by a disembodied voice from somewhere off stage.
"Students of Shuchi'in Academy, take your seats. The general assembly is about to begin."
The auditorium fell silent, save for a few hushed whispers of excitement from the crowd.
"Without further ado, please welcome your 66th student council president."
There was a polite smattering of applause as the president took center stage. The audience however, soon stopped clapping, and a steady murmur grew throughout the auditorium as the student body of Shuchi'in Academy began to speculate, unsure of why their elected representative was covered in bruises and bandages.
"Good afternoon. I have several announcements pertaining to your student council. To begin with, I will not be running for re-election, nor will I be serving on the 67th student council in any capacity. Some of you may be relieved to hear this- I am aware that my administration was not always the most popular amongst the student body, but I still believe that my time as president may yet do this fine academy some good."
Kaguya held a hand to her chin in quiet contemplation. "Strange. The condition of his face looks quite familiar."
"You don't think…" Hayasaka began, only to be cut off by the president's next statement.
"With that in mind, it is at this time that I am announcing my support, endorsement, and official nomination for the candidate I hope you will elect to be your next president, and the leader of Shuchi'in Academy's 67th student council- acting General Affairs Officer Miyuki Shirogane."
The second his name was spoken, Kaguya felt her blood run cold.
"What?"
As Miyuki took to the stage, a commotion broke out behind the podium. Several of the older student council members had swarmed the stage to raise their voices in protest, clearly upset by the president's impromptu declaration. From where Shinomiya and Hayasaka sat at the back of the auditorium, their enraged shouts were faint but audible, nearly drowned out by the roar of the crowd.
"No way in hell we're letting another impure take the presidency!"
"Shuchi'in belongs to us!"
"Even if he's Haruno's brother, he's still not worthy!"
"We're on the student council too, you know! You can't just disregard us like that!"
One of the upperclassmen, driven blind by rage- the vice president, Shinomiya realized- lunged at Miyuki with a guttural scream. Kaguya could have sworn she never even saw Shirogane swing his fist in retaliation as he sidestepped the attack, yet his opponent crumpled to the floor in a heap anyways, knocked out cold from the force of Miyuki's fist. Beside her, Hayasaka stifled a gasp.
The ensuing scuffle was as chaotic as it was brief. Before anyone could even process what had happened on stage, the president had tackled his senior cabinet members to the ground, ending the fight before it even began. And through the sea of tangled limbs and broken bodies strode Miyuki Shirogane, utterly unfazed by the overwhelmingly negative reaction of the crowd. He raised a hand, gesturing for silence, then tapped on the podium's built-in microphone, clearing his throat.
"Thank you, President. Good afternoon. My name is Miyuki Shirogane. A wise man once told me that words are fickle, fleeting things, and I have no use for them, so I will keep this brief. You know me, and you know my brother- one of only two impure students ever elected president of this fine academy, and the only impure student to serve a full term in office. When he first arrived at Shuchi'in, my brother was treated as an outsider… an 'invader,' someone who disrupted the status quo of sacred purity that this academy had religiously maintained for centuries. However, through his actions as president, Haruno was able to convince you that he truly did belong at Shuchi'in, and in the years since his graduation, his administration has become one of the most highly regarded and universally beloved in the history of this school. But over the course of my time here at Shuchi'in, through your discrimination, you have all made one thing abundantly clear to me- I am not my brother. I have been ostracized for my impurity, looked down upon for being unworthy of the legacy my family left behind. And yet, in spite of that- in spite of how hard this school has fought against me- I am still determined to fight for it. Because I believe in Shuchi'in."
The harsh sound of whispering throughout the audience had suddenly vanished.
"I am not my brother. Unlike him, I do not belong here- I am the 'invader' you believe me to be. Haruno Shirogane saw his impurity as something to be overcome, whereas I see it as my greatest strength. Haruno Shirogane rose to power by defending the traditions of this academy, whereas I aim to change them. I believe that Shuchi'in, as a result of its dependence on an inherently discriminatory system, has stagnated over the centuries- and that stagnation, if left unchecked, will lead to ruin. This school has grown complacent, and complacency is a disease. Every day, it eats away at the soul of this once-great institution, a threat to everything we hold dear. Despite Shuchi'in's expansion to include numerous sister schools across the globe, the status quo is still poised on the verge of rendering us obsolete. And yet, despite that, I still believe in Shuchi'in. What this school needs is a leader- someone with an outside perspective, someone with the resolve to stand and fight, even in our darkest hour. So to those of you who doubt my conviction- to those of you who doubt I have the strength to lead this school to greatness once again, I have but three words for you: just watch me. In the next wave of exams, I promise to earn the top score in my class. I will be continuing the 'open door' policy of the 66th student council, so that the student council room will be a place where all students, regardless of status, are welcome. As president, I pledge to create an environment where each and every one of us can feel free to do our best, together, as one. And most importantly, I will once more make Shuchi'in into a school that no one can look down on."
As Shirogane spoke, Hayasaka leaned in closer to whisper in Kaguya's ear.
"I heard he got Momo Ryuju to endorse his candidacy."
"Is that so?"
"She's quite popular amongst the freshmen, isn't she?"
"Indeed she is- even if her popularity only comes as a result of her family's rather… unorthodox occupation. Still, securing her support is certainly impressive, to say the least. I suppose that leaves us no choice, then. To save face and avoid conflict with Ryuju, we'll have to support his candidacy as well. Still, it'd be better not to get directly involved with Shirogane's administration. He seems like trouble."
But staring at the man on stage, trouble suddenly seemed like a gross understatement. Somehow, even in spite of the difference between them, it felt as if he was still staring at her- squinting at where she sat, in the very back of the auditorium, as if his every word was intended for her and her alone. His eyes were the sea, she realized, and she was drowning in them. It was hardly her fault for getting lost in his gaze- it was piercing and sharp, as if he could easily see right through her but chose not to instead. The way he looked at her was foreign, Kaguya decided, and strange to be sure, but not entirely unpleasant.
Certainly not something she disliked, anyways.
But it wasn't as if that mattered. She had a reputation to maintain, after all. As a Shinomiya.
Still, Kaguya couldn't quite shake the strange sensation she felt when looking out across the audience at Miyuki Shirogane, standing alone in the spotlight.
"I believe in Shuchi'in. And if you believe in Shuchi'in as much as I do, then I urge you to vote for me. Thank you for your time."
At first, the applause was scattered. Hesitant, almost unsure. But it soon grew, spreading through the auditorium until the crowd was on its feet, roaring in approval.
And alone at the podium, Miyuki Shirogane stood, his fists raised in victory, a dark determination smoldering in his eyes.
Ai Hayasaka sighed quietly to herself as she undid her hair. Kaguya had retired to her chambers early, citing a need to think alone, though Hayasaka knew it was only a matter of time before she was brought in to act as a sounding board. There was still work to be done before sundown, and rest was hard to come by in her line of work- especially when working for the Shinomiya estate.
Still, now seemed like as good a time as ever to complete the part of her daily routine she always dreaded the most.
Reaching into the shoebox she kept beneath her bed, Hayasaka pulled out a flip phone- a burner, easily disposable, designed for keeping secrets. Her fingers danced across the keypad, typing in the number she had called every night of her life for as long as she could remember.
There was an almost inaudible click as her call was accepted. Then, from the other end of the line, the distant voice of Oko Shinomiya echoed through the receiver.
"Hayasaka. Report."
"We have a new person of interest. Miyuki Shirogane, heir apparent to the Shirogane Conglomerate and second son of Dio Shirogane. He's running for student council president."
"Is he going to win?"
"I think so. He's endorsed by both the incumbent and treasurer Ryuju The other student council members weren't thrilled by his nomination, but he made short work of them at the general assembly today."
"Ryuju? Isn't that the yakuza girl? And you said she's behind him?"
Hayasaka collapsed onto her bed as she undressed, setting aside her maid outfit for later in the evening, when dinner was to be served. "It would seem that way. Your sister- Lady Kaguya feels she may have to reluctantly support his candidacy to avoid losing influence. At this point, with the Shinomiya name on his side, he may even run for office unopposed."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "I see. We'll have to proceed very carefully from here. If the Shirogane family is once more involving itself in academy politics… there's no telling what might happen now. Good work, Hayasaka. This is valuable information."
Hayasaka took a deep breath inwards, steeling her nerves for what was about to come next.
"There's something else you should know. Something I saw at the assembly, when the upperclassmen were attempting to challenge Shirogane's candidacy."
The image of what she had seen flashed before Hayasaka's eyes once again- Shirogane, hunched over the podium as the crowd burst into thunderous applause- and behind him, a synthetic silver figure standing guard, looking out over the crowd with its discerning, ambivalent stare.
That dark determination. The unbreakable resolve. Hayasaka had known almost instantly.
"Miyuki Shirogane has a Stand."
STAND NAME: Solitary Man
STAND USER: Miyuki Shirogane
STAND STATS:
POWER: D
SPEED: B
RANGE: D
DURABILITY: A
PRECISION: C
POTENTIAL: A
ABILITY: Accelerates the thoughts of its user, usually in times of great peril. This ability is something of a double-edged sword: when used properly, it can give Miyuki the time he needs to formulate a plan of attack, but triggering Solitary Man's ability also runs the risk of trapping himself in a state of "analysis paralysis" where his thoughts run rampant and overwhelm him, leaving him unable to act. Shirogane can "trick" Solitary Man into activating its ability by causing himself a negligible amount of physical pain- usually by covertly biting his tongue. Solitary Man has also triggered its ability by punching Miyuki in the face- while more dramatic than a tongue-bite, it produces the exact same effect. Miyuki only favors punching himself with his Stand during a fight, as it helps establish a tacit psychological advantage over his opponents and makes him seem unpredictable and dangerous. Despite the numerous ways Solitary Man could be used to cheat in an academic context, Shirogane has sworn not to use his ability in any sort of scholastic environment, as his code of honor forbids him from stooping so low.
