A.N: Hello again, everyone! Here is the twentieth chapter of this story! I hope you enjoy reading it!
Chapter Twenty: Leader on the Crusade
20th of March, 2011
"Alright, class is dismissed. Have a good day, everyone."
Math was finally behind him, and Makoto couldn't hide his relief. He once thought that he would eventually enter a healthy relationship with the realm of numbers at Hope's Peak, but that was clearly a mistake on his part. Well, it was over for the day.
"Naegi-kun! May I have a word?"
Makoto jolted as someone nearly shattered his eardrum and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. With slight fear, the Ultimate Lucky Student turned around and noticed Taka standing there. That explained the loudness.
"Hey Taka," Makoto greeted politely, trying to ignore the assault on his ears from the Ultimate Moral Compass. "What did you need?"
"Ah, I am glad you asked! As you recall, I am trying to become the Class Representative to guide the sixteen of us, which requires knowledge! I arranged a meeting with the Student Council President, and I was curious to know if you would accompany me!"
"Huh?" That caught Makoto off-guard. I understand he wants to meet the Student Council, but why does he want me to go with him? To secure my vote? He's the only candidate! "H-Hm, sure, I don't really have anything planned, but... why...?"
Taka saluted. "Because I believe you to be a sensible person, Naegi-kun! And an honest one, at that! With your help, I am positive I could further my understanding of the needs of the students!"
"T-Thanks, Taka, I'm flattered," the brown-haired boy said, face slightly flushed on the cheeks. "Well, I don't mind joining you. I'm not sure how useful I'll be, though." I guess getting to meet the Student Council President could serve its purpose...
"That is good to hear!" He let out a hearty laugh that echoed down the hall. "Let us get going, then!"
It was not exactly what he'd planned, but hey, he didn't have any plans to begin with. Besides, this could be an opportune time to learn more about the black-haired Ultimate. Taka sure shouted a lot, but Makoto knew very little about him.
However, the Luckster was actually beaten to the punch.
"Hey, Naegi-kun! As we're walking together, let us have a little chat; what do you say?!"
Geez, not so loud, Taka... Makoto had to hide his eye-roll. He did not want to be the one to ask the other boy to lower it down a little, but someone would have to eventually. The Ultimate Lucky Student had to wonder if Taka had been paid by the hearing aid industry to get them more customers!
Nonetheless, he nodded and smiled. It wouldn't do any good to admonish him. Not only was it not something Makoto enjoyed doing, but it was also highly improbable to have any effect.
"Excellent! Then, let us get down to business immediately!" proclaimed Taka, his passion not receding even a little bit. "We must determine where we stand on the big issues, Naegi-kun! What do you want to talk about? Politics? The economy? International affairs?!"
The boy's face turned pale. Needless to say, these were pretty far from his subjects of interest. The only hot topic I have an opinion about is the Nintendo vs. Sega war... "W-Wait, hold on a second... Instead of a serious discussion, can't we just chat normally? I think that's the best way of learning about people, Taka."
It was an understatement to say the moral compass looked shaken. It was as if Makoto had revealed the truth of the world to him. He began to sweat profusely, and he seemed visibly uneasy.
"W-What do you mean by 'chatting normally?'"
"Hm, for example..." I'm not sure I'll convince him, but here goes nothing! "What do you do in your spare time?"
"Ah, I study, of course! I am a student, aren't I?! A student must be a studying professional!" He declared this as if it was the most self-evident thing ever. To Makoto, it definitely was not. "And, of course, my duties as the Ultimate Moral Compass keep me quite busy, too! I must foster an environment in which we can all study! This is why I want to be the Class Representative!"
"Okay, but..." So far, Makoto couldn't quite say he was surprised. This was an expected answer for someone so adamant about following the rules. "What else? Like, when you're at home or have some time to kill?"
Somehow, the hazel-eyed Ultimate had an idea of where this was going. He was quickly proven right. "If I have time to kill, I study!"
Yeah, don't color me surprised here... "I... see." Frankly, Makoto wanted to add something, but the words simply never came. Taka was a little too easy to read.
Yet, surprisingly, he laughed. "Haha! This is fun, Naegi-kun!" he said, the broad smile on his lips backing up his words. It was the first time he'd seen him smile so much. "Alright, my turn now! What do you do in your spare time?"
Now that he had successfully struck a conversation, Makoto needed to keep it going. "Um, you know, just normal stuff. Watch TV, play video games... I'm pretty average, so my interests are also kinda average."
"Huh?" The smile was replaced by a confused frown. "And this helps you study... how?"
He could not do it physically out of deference to his classmate, but mentally, Makoto had the biggest facepalm moment of his life. If 'missing the point' needed a picture in the dictionary, this was the prime candidate.
"N-No, you don't get it, Taka... It's not about studying..." This might be the weirdest chat I've had since I enrolled here... and I've chatted with Enoshima-san! "It's just having fun, you know?" You definitely don't...
"But doing things 'for fun' serves no purpose!" Taka objected passionately. "There has to be more to it! You wouldn't spend valuable time of your life doing pointless things, would you, Naegi-kun?!"
I stand corrected: you DEFINITELY don't get the point. If I wanna convince Taka, I'll need more than just that, though... After a moment of thinking, he reached his answer. "You know how it's useful? It helps give you something to talk about with others!"
"Something... to talk about?"
"Like, when you see something amazing on TV or play an awesome video game... you wanna share it with someone!" Makoto explained, hoping his enthusiasm could be contagious. "You seek people who feel the same way, and this is how you make friends! This is how I've always done it, at least."
Taka stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes for a moment. Makoto figured he was reflecting on his words, though he hardly thought they required that much focus to ponder. "Wh-...? Wh-Wh-Wh-What...?!"
Suddenly, a shout that echoed in the halls of the entire school was heard. Now, it left no room for doubt: Makoto would officially go deaf before the end of the year.
"I was once blind, but now I see it!"
"W-What the heck?!" For an instant, Makoto thought Taka's heart had just suffered from a heart attack. His face was blue, and he was sweating bullets.
"That kind of thing has plagued me for years!" the Ultimate Moral Compass started crying, which made Makoto worry. "I've tried making friends, but whenever I attempted to make conversation, it would die after a few minutes... But now... I have found the answer...!"
So that's what it was... It was difficult not to feel bad for Taka. All the Ultimates were eccentric in their own way, and unfortunately for him, Taka had been granted an eccentricity that made it hard to make friends.
"Thank you! I now know that I need to study more video games! More TV shows, as well!"
Makoto couldn't help but chuckle. You don't seem to fully understand, but I'll take that. If it can help even a little, then it's already something.
While the Ultimate Lucky Student was taking their conversation at face value – a serious one, but not a life-changing one – Taka saw it differently if his reaction was any indication. The boy started crying his eyes out in a strange mix of joy and despair.
"I-I am so ashamed of myself!" he declared, shouting it so loudly that his admission was heard by all of Hope's Peak. "If there was a hole dug on campus, I would hide in it and request to be buried alive there! Imagine, Naegi-kun! So many years without realizing the gaping hole in my studies!" He wiped his tears away with his whole arm. "I am a complete embarrassment! I am not qualified to be a moral compass, let alone the Ultimate one!"
"I-I honestly don't think it's that huge a deal-"
"Thank you, Professor Naegi!"
The Luckster took a step back in surprise. "P-Professor?! W-Where did that come from?!"
"You have taught me a valuable lesson!" Taka started explaining, his composure back on and his tears a thing of the past. "You have thus earned my respect and the title of Professor!"
Makoto accepted it with a smile. It seemed to please Taka so he wouldn't object. Sure, being called something like this was a bit awkward, but there was no harm. His classmate looked genuinely happy, and he wouldn't take that away from him.
"Hahaha, I cannot wait for your next lesson, Professor! Until then, I shall strive to learn as much as possible on my own!"
Well, that's a good resolve to have, though I'm not sure you need resolve to watch TV or play video games...
They came from wholly different worlds, and it was clear as day that they had been raised very differently. From Makoto's perspective, these things were normal, almost not even worth bringing up. What he learned, though, was that his normality could be much more foreign to somebody else.
With that, the two Ultimates continued walking toward the Student Council room.
20th of March, 2011
"Hello! I had scheduled an appointment with the Student Council President! Would it be possible to talk to him, if you please?"
A strong-looking young man opened the grand doors of the Student Council room, which, to Makoto's surprise, looked rather plain. It was a standard classroom that had been repurposed, though it seemed pleasant enough to work in. For the Student Council of such a prestigious school, the Ultimate Lucky Student had just expected something with more grandeur.
It seemed he'd been wrong.
"Ah, yeah. Ishimaru, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
"And who's this guy...?"
Makoto gulped. The pair of scary eyes on him did little to improve his confidence. A part of him quickly regretted going along with Taka to a meeting where he clearly had not been invited.
"He is my classmate, Makoto Naegi! A young man of great wisdom who has vastly helped me see the world in a better light!" the Ultimate Moral Compass explained. The Luckster's cheeks heated up at having his praise sung like this. "If it is no trouble to the Student Council President, I would like him to accompany me!"
After another glance at the hazel-eyed, the older student nodded. "Alright, I'll go ask him. The two of you stay here. The name's Gouryoku, by the way."
"Thank you, Gouryoku-senpai!"
When Taka bowed, Makoto felt compelled to do the same. Their upperclassman said nothing and returned inside. The two boys could hear him talking with someone, the echo of his strong voice easily audible.
"The Prez will see you both. You may go in."
The classmates didn't make him wait and entered without hesitation. Makoto first noticed how... disorganized everything seemed to be. There were papers scattered around the tables, and whatever most people in the room were doing, it looked nothing like work.
Maybe they're on break... Though I'm honestly surprised that a school like Hope's Peak can afford to have its Student Council take breaks...
"Were you two the ones who wanted to see me? Ishimaru-san and Naegi-san?"
Makoto's attention was quickly diverted back to the matter at hand when a boy dressed in a fancier uniform than the one they wore addressed them. It was not clear at first glance he was a year older than them, and he looked somewhat nervous. Not that Makoto ever judged a book by its cover, but it was, again, a small surprise. For now, though, the Luckster preferred to take a backseat and let Taka handle the talking.
"Correct! My name is Kiyotaka Ishimaru, and this Makoto Naegi! We are, respectively, the Ultimate Moral Compass and Ultimate Lucky Student from Class 78th!" Taka explained with an exaggerated bow. "You see, I seek to become my class's representative, and I thought meeting with the Student Council President could be a great idea! I brought my classmate Naegi along for his great wisdom!"
"H-Hello..." You're embarrassing me, Taka... Luckily for Makoto, most of the upperclassman's attention seemed to be directed at the moral compass.
"Hm, I see. Please have a seat at my desk, and we can talk," the older boy said, gesturing to a desk where files were messily scattered. "Oh, my name is Soshun Murasame, by the way. I'm the Ultimate Student Council President and a student from Class 77-A."
Damn, even the Student Council President receives an Ultimate title here... Quietly, Makoto followed after his classmate and sat down. From there, Taka immediately bombarded Soshun with a barrage of questions. Most dealt with the finer workings of the school, and Makoto wondered why the hell he was even here. He barely understood a word of Taka's jargon.
However, one question suddenly popped up and caught his interest. "What type of events does the Student Council manage?"
"Ah, well... We have a culture festival, a sports festival, and various other activities in preparation for certain traditional or foreign holidays," the Ultimate Student Council President explained. "We oversee the preparations and manage the budget. W-Well, what we're allowed to do, at least..."
That last part, which was uttered barely above a whisper, made Makoto react. And as far as he could tell, it caught his classmate's attention, too.
"Do you mean there is a higher instance than the Student Council?" Taka inquired, his voice somehow lower than before. Makoto could detect slight suspicion in his eyes. "I expect the Headmaster to have authority, but from my previous research, he does not interfere with the business of the Student Council."
So, Headmaster Kirigiri does not have so much power that he can really influence the Student Council, huh...? Makoto brought a hand to his chin in thought. That's interesting, and I feel like I should keep this in mind.
"J-Just pretend you didn't hear that."
No matter how much he insisted, Taka never got an explanation. It also aroused Makoto's curiosity, but he felt it was not his place to ask.
"Then, if I may ask, how does one get into the Student Council? If my bid for Class Representative were to fail – which I hope it doesn't! – I may be interested in joining to help bring the school closer to the perfect educational journey!"
Soshun chuckled. As far as Makoto could tell, he looked far more relaxed than earlier. "While I appreciate your enthusiasm, Ishimaru-san, I'm afraid we cannot accept any new members." He scratched his head. "And even if we could, aside from its president, the Student Council does not accept Ultimate students within its ranks."
"W-Wait, it doesn't?"
Immediately after speaking up, Makoto wished he had not. However, the words left his mouth before he could refrain himself.
"That's right," Soshun answered with a nod. "This is done to ensure fairness in decision-making between the Ultimate students and the Reserve Course. I am the only Ultimate student in the Student Council."
As an Ultimate with such a unique status, Makoto felt he should agree with this. After all, he viewed himself as average as the Reserve Course students, perhaps more. However, he did not. Something bothered him. Something somehow felt wrong.
"If I may, I don't think this is quite right," he spoke again, feeling somewhat emboldened by his conviction. "Shouldn't the Student Council of such a prestigious school be run by the most competent, regardless of status?"
"I agree with Naegi-kun!" Thank God he didn't call him Professor. Makoto did not want to explain this. "While I do not question the current council's ability to lead our school, I believe it would be optimum for those with the best abilities to hold such responsibilities!"
"Well, you are entitled to your opinions, but I'm afraid those cannot affect the rules," Soshun said diplomatically, even if Makoto could sense the tiniest bit of hostility toward that suggestion. "However, if you are so eager to discover the Student Council, I suppose I could try to free an observer spot for you, Ishimaru-san."
Taka nodded. "That would be most helpful! Until then, count on me to drive Class 78th to the greatest heights I can manage!"
"Alright, then. The Student Council will summon you here once a spot's opened up." The older boy stood up. "For now, though, we have some work to do, so I must ask you to leave."
Though it was said with a smile, Makoto guessed this was their cue to get the fuck out, so to speak. More polite, perhaps, but the Ultimate Lucky Student realized they had asked questions that were too sensitive for mere students.
"Thank you, Murasame-senpai! We shall leave you to your work, then!"
Makoto nodded in agreement, even if work didn't appear to be the number one priority inside the room. Though they were pretty much getting kicked out, he knew trying to impose would be a bad idea. Only a week after enrolling at Hope's Peak, getting into trouble with the Student Council was not a path that would take them far.
Their upperclassman was kind enough to guide them to the door and even extended an invitation to visit again at a later date. Makoto had no intention to take him up on it, but Taka seemed more interested. After the door was closed, though, the Luckster realized this was not totally true.
"Quite unsatisfactory!" Taka exclaimed, the frustration written all over his face. "What a shady organization! I feel like none of my questions were answered truthfully! You agree, don't you, Professor?!"
"Q-Quite, yeah." He definitely has a point... This Student Council is weird, and while I hate to think that way, its president, too. "Are you really interested in joining the Student Council as an observer, Taka?"
The Ultimate Moral Compass sighed. "I cannot say for sure as of now. Of course, it would be an honor, considering my title, but if it truly is shady..."
"Yeah, I get ya."
They left without many answers. Perhaps they were better off not knowing, Makoto thought. Whatever the higher instances of a school like Hope's Peak Academy could be hiding, it may have been too important for them to meddle with.
Makoto put the growing feeling of unease away, not wanting to be alarmed by suspicions that were most likely grounded in nothing but paranoia.
To be continued...
A.N: Thank you for reading this chapter, I hope you liked it! As I said last time, my break's pretty much over now, so I'll be significantly busier. I'm hoping to write one more chapter before everything starts again, but after that, the schedule will be more random. I'd like to post at least two chapters a month, but I'm not going to make any promises I'm not sure to hold. Until then, please leave a review, and I hope you all have a nice day!
