Things once again returned to normal. Whatever normal meant anymore. His father was back to ignoring his existence most of the time, and his classes and clubs continued at their usual pace. Ren still tried to pry now and then, but Gakushuu had managed to shut him down pretty quickly. Gakushuu's main gripe right now was being unable to do any real exercise until two weeks after he had stitches. He didn't realise how much he relied on sports to let out pent up frustration and fill up his time. He felt a little lost without it.

Right now it was PE, and he had to sit on the sidelines, watching, feeling weak and self-conscious. He was sure his classmates were whispering among themselves, wondering why the great Gakushuu Asano was deciding to skip out on PE.

His injury was high enough on his forearm that he'd been able to hide it just by wearing slightly longer sleeves. He didn't exactly want to advertise to people that he was currently slightly impaired right now, someone might take advantage. He was half-tempted to just say 'whatever' and join in, but his father had told him in no uncertain terms that if he ripped his stitches he 'would not be pleased'. Gakushuu had decided it was not in his best interest to piss off the Chairman any further.

Gakushuu wasn't sure if it was E classes' mystifying run of wins, but the Chairman seemed more unstable than ever this year. The Chairman hadn't meant to scar him, he had admitted as much. That didn't make Gakushuu feel any better, in fact, it just made him feel more scared; No matter how horrible or how painful punishments had been in the past, Gakushuu had always felt the tiniest bit of security in that, his father was a very controlled man- he would never be stupid enough to do something that left lasting evidence. Now that last piece of safety-net was gone.

This was all E-Classes doing. Gakushuu wasn't entirely sure why his father was so insistent on keeping E-Class as failures, but clearly, they're recent streak of wins had unravelled him. Things were just FINE before E-class started getting ideas above their station.

Gakushuu's thoughts were interrupted when a girl from his class approached him, a carton of orange juice in her hands.

"Um, Asano, you looked hot out here so.. you can have this if you want." She said, blushing. Gakushuu looked up at her, smiling on instinct.

"Thank you- "

"Hey! Tomoi-san- why're you giving him a drink he's just been sitting there, I've been working my ass off!" Seo interjected angrily.

"Butt out, Seo." Tomoi-san growled. Asano and the rest of the class laughed, and for a moment, things felt normal again.

Gakushuu did not envy the E-Class representatives who had to trek down a mountain after a long day at school in order to attend student council. As usual, Isogai and Kataoka where the last to arrive, although they both looked surprisingly fresh considering the journey they'd had to take. They must be getting used to the hike.

"Isogai. Kataoka. I know you're both from E class, but please try to make it to these meetings on time." Gakushuu said snidely, feeling a wave of satisfaction when the other reps snickered. He was well aware that the distance between E class and the main school made arriving on time impossible, but that was part of what made it funny.

"Sorry, Asano." Isogai said with a smile, totally unaffected.

The meeting went by as usual. Sometimes it felt like these inter-class meetings were more for show than anything, after all, Asano made whatever decisions he wanted at the end of the day. But pretending to care what the others thought made him look better.

("Do you think the baseball team will be happy with the budget cuts?" The C-class rep asked.

"Of course not, but if they wanted to keep their bonus they should of performed better this year." Gakushuu said. "The swimming team is clearly more deserving.")

The two hours came to an end, and it was just Gakushuu, Ren, Teppei and the two E-class representatives left; Since they arrived late, the other classes had decided those two should be the ones to re-arrange the chairs and tables in the classroom. Teppei was finishing writing up the minutes of the meeting, Gakushuu was overseeing and Ren. Well. Ren was just hanging around Gakushuu, something he had taken to doing recently.

Isogai and Kataoka where talking amongst themselves as they tidied. Something about Isogai had always got under Gakushuu's skin; his kind nature, his effortless smiles and humble attitude. He was like he living embodiment of everything Gakushuu pretended to be to his classmates. Surely nobody could actually be that nice, right?

Suddenly, he wanted those E-Class students out of his sight sooner rather than later, he decided to contribute to the tidying, grabbing a stack of chairs.

"Wait- it's okay, Asano- we've got this." Isogai said, rushing over to Gakushuu and taking the chairs before the other had a chance to lift them off the ground.

"I know you two where voted to tidy up, but you don't have to stick to it so stringently. At this pace we'll be here all day." Gakushuu responded, crossing his arms. Kataoka shot him a glare, probably because that last dig was unjustified- She and Isogai where working at a perfectly adequate pace.

"Well, it's just- your arms hurt, isn't it?" Isogai said with a concerned smile. "I don't think you should carry anything too heavy."

Gakushuu froze at the other's words. He thought he'd hidden it well. Nobody in his class had noticed that his arm was injured, so how the hell had Isogai, this nobody from E class sussed it out? Gakushuu was suddenly aware that Teppei and Ren were both looking at him.

"Oh, so that's why you weren't participating in PE, Asano." Teppei said, looking up from his computer screen. His tone was casual. "Why didn't you just say so? What have you done to it anyway? Sprained it? Bruised it?"

"It's just a very, very, mild sprain." Gakushuu lied. For once, he wasn't happy being the centre of attention, he could feel his cheeks turning slightly pink. Hurting your arm was normal, lying about it was not. Acting cagey just made it worse.

"How did you do it?" Teppei asked.

"Judo." Gakushuu replied, meeting his gaze, just daring the other to try and question him. He didn't.

"I'll help tidy. You sit down- " Ren suggested.

"I can still life a few chairs, I'm not an invalid."

"Okay, if you say so." Isogai replied. "But just be careful, you don't want to hurt yourself even more."

Gakushuu seriously wanted to slap this patronising little bastard. Who the hell did he think he is? This E-Class scum clearly had ideas above his station if he was going to point out Gakushuu's weaknesses then act like he's somebody who needs protecting. How dare he make Gakushuu look like an idiot!

To prove a point, Gakushuu began moving excessive amounts of piled up chairs, but he was completely favouring his uninjured arm, and he was sure that everyone who was watching noticed.

A week later, the stitches had dissolved, and other than the occasional twinge and bouts of stiffness, his arm was feeling a lot better. Which was good, because the sports festival was coming up. It was an event that Gakushuu always looked forward to; yet another chance to show off in front of the whole school!

He was sat in the library opposite Koyama, a science book between them. Koyama had memorised the whole thing word for word, which even Gakushuu found pretty impressive, but Koyama had a bad habit of memorising things he didn't fully understand, so Gakushuu was quizzing him on various subjects.

Right now, Koyama was the member of his group who was easiest to be around; Seo and Teppei had an edge to them, as much as they respected and followed Gakushuu, he knew the two of them would overthrow him at the first sign of weakness. And Ren.. Ren just looked worried and guilty all the time, and Gakushuu didn't know how to make him stop.

Suddenly, he was approached by Seo and Teppei both of them had large, devious smiles on their faces. Ren was trailing behind them, looking decidedly less enthused.

"We just found out some very interesting information, Asano." Teppei said in a half-whisper (they were in the library after all).

"Yes. We're sitting on a nice juicy piece of gossip that could ruin someone." Seo added, his eyes practically glowing with a slimy sort of excitement. Gakushuu's stomach flipped and he suddenly felt sick. He tried to catch Ren's eye, but the other was looking away. He hadn't told them, had he? He would put it past Seo and Teppei to use information on his family situation as blackmail.

"Well? Don't waste time building it up. What is it?" Gakushuu asked, forcing himself to stay impassive. If they knew how scared he was, it would just make it easier for them to manipulate him.

"E classes' Rep; Isogai Yuuma. He has a part-time job." Teppei said, smugly. Seo laughed. It took Gakushuu a moment to process what they said and realise that it wasn't him they had dirt on, it was one of his enemies. Have I always been so paranoid? Gakushuu wondered.

"That nobody has been acting like a hotshot this year. We can go ahead and get him suspended." Seo gloated.

"Yeah, that'd be a blow to those E-class upstarts. I bet they'd fall apart without their 'perfect leader'." Teppei added. "Do you want to let it slip to the Chairman, Asano?"

Gakushuu listened intently, this was good information. Finally, some leverage over E-Class, and it concerned that too-perfect-for-his-own-good Isogai. Isogai would regret trying to make Gakushuu look weak.

"Let's not be too hasty." Gakushuu said. "Getting Isogai suspended might be fun, but there's a lot more we could do with this information- "

"Oh?" Seo said, his eyes narrowing in interest. Gakushuu felt a brief flash of gratitude that he had chosen an inner-circle who had a similar cavalier attitude to the shackles of morals and ethics.

"I'm thinking blackmail- " Gakushuu whispered. "We could let the whole of E-Class play right into our hands.

"Don't you think that's a little harsh?" Ren asked afterwoods, when the two of them where alone.

Gakushuu had formulated his plan (Blackmailing Isogai and E-Class into challenging him into a pole-toppling contest so they could suffer a humiliating defeat in front of the whole school.)

"It's just a friendly sports game." Gakushuu replied with a shrug.

"Isogai isn't a bad kid, not really, I'm sure if he has a job he has a reason for it, maybe we shouldn't be trying to get him suspended." Ren said, he was trying to sound casual, like he didn't really care either way, but Gakushuu could tell he felt guilty.

"I'm not going to get him suspended." Gakushuu said. He really wasn't lying this time. "I just want to push him into challenging us and humiliating the rest of his class. It's the boost we need. E class have been winning too much lately and it's putting everyone in the wrong mind-set."

"But what if he wins?" Ren asked, Gakushuu scoffed. "Will you still keep his secret?"

"There is no way that loser class can win. We'll crush them completely." Gakushuu smirked. Ren still didn't look satisfied. Gakushuu sighed. "Fine. In the one in a million chance that E-Class somehow wins, I won't get Isogai suspended. Happy?"

Ren smiled, looking pleased with Gakushuu. "Happy." He confirmed.

Gakushuu hadn't had that much fun in a while; Who knew blackmail could be so much fun? It had all been so funny, and it was so satisfying seeing the look of horror on Isogai's face. He'd like to see the other boy try and patronise him now.

He was on his way home. He had the other virtuosos had stopped off at a restaurant after their little stop at Isogai's place of work. Recreation without purpose wasn't something that Gakushuu engaged in often, but he supposed once in a while wouldn't hurt. Hanging out with his underlings was surprisingly.. fun.

As he walked home, alone now, he noticed someone walking behind him, glancing into the shop window he could make a reflection. Suddenly, a pair of hands were over his eyes.

"Give me your wallet, now." A voice said, obviously sounding far more gravelly than it usually did.

"Get your hands off my face, Akabane." Gakushuu replied, his tone calm. Karma removed his hands.

"Aw. You're no fun." He said, walking so he was next to Gakushuu. "I thought I disguised my voice pretty well then, but you still knew it was me."

"I could see your reflection walking behind me in the shop mirror. Your hair is bright red. Not very inconspicuous." Gakushuu replied, still walking. He had Karma must live close together if they kept running into each other all the time. "Don't you have anything better to do than harass me?"

"Don't you have anything better to do than blackmail people?" Karma retorted. His grin had dropped now, and for once, the look in his eyes were deadly serious.

"Oh. You heard about that? News certainly travels fast through E-Class." Gakushuu replied lightly. He felt just a tiny bit nervous. Karma had a dangerous reputation, and he was probably less than happy about what Gakushuu had done. Out of everyone in the school, Karma was the one person who could possibly beat Gakushuu in a fight, he did, after all, have more experience.

"Can't say I'm too impressed that our esteemed student council president has to stoop to blackmail." Karma sighed, he had his hands in his pockets. Maybe he had a weapon on him? Gakushuu tensed, getting ready to block at any moment.

"Oh yes, because I've always been a paragon of kindness and virtue." Gakushuu snorted. Perhaps that was a little too honest; Gakushuu's ruthless side was known by everyone, but he very rarely publicly acknowledged it. Even Karma looked momentarily surprised.

"It's just, wasting your time trying to crush others rather than build yourself up never really seemed to be your style, is all." Karma replied. "You might of been involved, but your cronies made the bet at midterms and your father orchestrated Takebayashi's transfer. I always thought you were above all this. I guess I was wrong."

"Is this you trying to appeal to my better nature?" Gakushuu sneered. "You want me to call off the pole-toppling event that badly?"

"Nah. I think it will be fun. You can have your little tournament. Just don't get carried away trying to threaten my classmates." Karma said. His tone remained casual, but there was a threat behind it.

"You don't scare me, Akabane."

"Oh really? I know fear. Asano, and you reek of it. All the time." Karma replied, he looked the other up and down, eyes honing in on Gakushuu's fists. They were balled tight, ready for a fight. "I bet you always think everyone is out to get you. I wonder why that is?"

"I don't know what you're implying- "

"Well. It was nice catching up, Asano." Karma cut him off, suddenly speeding up his walking pace, so he passed Asano. He indicated to the others hand, the one which still had three fingernails in the process of re-growing. He smirked before adding. "And don't forget, you owe me one, okay?"

Gakushuu watched him go, his heart still hammering in his chest. He let out a shaky breath he didn't realise he was holding in. What a load of rubbish, he told himself, Akabane got a few decent grades and he thought he knew everything. Akabane knew nothing about him! He was just a pathetic armchair psychologist. But as he walked home, the other's words continually rang through his brain 'I bet you always think everyone is out to get you. I wonder why that is.'

Later that night, when Gakushuu is sat at his desk doing some last-minute studying before bed, his father walks into his bedroom. Gakushuu's stomach immediately does a somersault and he feels as if he's missed a step. His father approaching him is never a good thing, especially not lately.

"Can I help you?" Gakushuu asks, as usual, forcing himself to seem calm and unaffected. It was a miraculous how his heart was racing and his mind was screaming but his voice remained even. He sat there rigidly, almost too afraid to move.

His father didn't reply. The expression on his face gave away no emotion, it was the same impassively determined look he had when he was completely engrossed in something. The Chairman took of his blazer, folding it over the back of the char Gakushuu was sat in.

This wasn't a good sign. Unpredictable or strange behaviour with this man was bad news. Had he heard about the incident with Isogai perhaps? Was he displeased? Was it because he had a meal with his friends? Gakushuu's mind raced with possibilities about why he could be in trouble this time.

The Chairman suddenly pulled something out of his pocket, Gakushuu flinched, but the Chairman's hand didn't come into contact with him. Instead, he slammed the thing- whatever it was- in front of Gakushuu onto his desk, before removing his hand and leaving it there.

Gakushuu's eyes widened when he realised what it was.

"Why are you giving me a knife?" Gakushuu asked, concerned. He didn't know what the goal of this particular mind-game was.

"Isn't it obvious?" The Chairman grunted. He was sat on the edge of Gakushuu's bed now, rolling up the sleeve of his shirt. Gakushuu practically gaped at him.

"No." He replied, tentatively taking the knife in hand. He would rather hold it than the Chairman having access to it. The Chairman sighed, looking frustrated.

"You know. Even I can admit when I made a mistake." The Chairman said. He pointed to his forearm, the exact spot were Gakushuu's injury was. "Don't you want to get even?"

The pieces clicked into place, and Gakushuu finally came to the horrifying realisation of what his father meant. He looked down at the knife in his hands- it was the same one his father had used to remove his nails.

"You want me to stab you?" Gakushuu asked in disbelief. The Chairman nodded, he was smiling now.

"Yes. You finally get it. Remind me now how you're at the top of your class?" He replied with a small chuckle. "I'll let you get one hit in. That's penance for my mistake."

Gakushuu looked down at the knife in his hand then looked up at his father. This was the closest the man has ever come to an apology, but rather than vindicated he just felt sick.

"I don't want to." Gakushuu said, holding the knife tighter.

"What? Are you afraid?" His father mocked, that disconcerting smile still on his face. "I won't retaliate. You won't get in any trouble. Even if you 'miss' and slice my neck open, I won't stop you."

The way his smile grew and his eyes practically shone when he spoke about having his neck slit made Gakushuu feel ill.

"I don't want to hurt you." Gakushuu said. The smile instantly dropped from the Chairman's face and the glee transformed into frustration.

"Why? You think if you don't do this then you will have one over on me? It doesn't work like that, Asano, this is your only chance for revenge." The Chairman hissed. He stood up. "Weren't you running around crying saying I abuse you? You act like you can't stand the sight of me. If I were really that bad, you would take this opportunity!"

"I just don't want to be a part of your twisted games!" Gakushuu shouted back, before quickly quietening his voice (he didn't want to wake his mother.). "Do you think me stabbing you fixes anything? You just want to use me as another way to punish yourself, so don't pretend that this is for my sake- !"

Gakushuu cut himself off, realising he had likely said too much, that analysing the Chairman's demented psyche in front of him was a very bad idea.

Rage flickered over the Chairman's face, and Gakushuu thought for sure that the knife was about to be wrestled from his hand and he would be on the other end of that blade. But instead, the Chairman took a deep breath, and he was back to his usual ice-cold self.

"Well. It's up to you, Asano, but I hope you don't mistake your weakness and fear of hurting me for nobility or moral fibre. You don't possess any of those qualities. And you don't need any of them. All you need is strength." The Chairman said, taking his blazer off the back of Gakushuu's chair and leaving the room without a second glance.

Gakushuu collapsed back into his chair as soon as the man was out of sight, his heart still racing.

Isogai: Is a decent human being to Gakushuu

Gakushuu: So you have chosen death?