A.N: Hello again, everyone! Here is Chapter Eighteen of this fic, the first one of a new arc! Now that Makoto's made his debut at Hope's Peak, it's time to focus on some other things. I hope you enjoy reading this new chapter!
Chapter Eighteen: What Status Entails
16th of March, 2011
"Alright, students, listen up!" Yuki said as the class sat down, the chatter gradually receding until the room was mostly quiet. "As I told you on our first day of class together, you guys will need to elect a Class Representative. Today, I'd like us to discuss the details of the upcoming elections as well as the role of the Class Rep at Hope's Peak."
Having been called to class, the sixteen students were present. This had never happened since the first day. Still, aside from Byakuya, Toko, and Mukuro, no one had missed homeroom more than once to this day. Nobody really knew whether this was an indication of things to come, but everyone was here today, at least.
Right, she did mention the Class Rep... I'm not sure if there'll be many candidates, though. Makoto thought, immediately excluding himself from the list. He had not heard about anyone being interested. Well, except for one person. His eyes were drawn to one of his classmates in particular. Well, at least we're pretty sure *he'll* be a candidate.
"The election is pretty straightforward, and I wouldn't be surprised if you had similar ones at your previous schools. We'll simply put it to an anonymous vote; whoever receives the most votes is the winner. Simple enough, right?" Seeing there were no objections – it was, indeed, pretty straightforward – Yuki carried on. "Now, on to the more interesting part. What does the Class Rep actually do?"
She picked up a piece of chalk and turned to her blackboard.
"So, you could say the Class Rep is the link between the class and the higher-ups in the school," she explained, making simple drawings to illustrate. "Mainly, the administration and the Student Council. Of course, I'll be there to help, but if you have any questions or requests, the Class Rep is a good person to turn to."
"I have a question." Everyone turned their attention to the student who had just spoken up. To Makoto's surprise, it was Kyoko. Except for when they met in the morning so he could shower, he rarely heard her voice. "With such responsibilities, how are we to ascertain as a class that our representative acts in our best interests?"
The Ultimate Lucky Student noticed that the question immediately caused some uneasiness. He had to wonder why – though this was one of the things he knew an average folk like himself would always struggle to understand. He could feel this concerned the others a lot more, hence why they all seemed to catch on quicker than he did.
Yuki herself looked uncomfortable. "Well, there are no hard rules in place for that," she admitted. "However, you're free to decide as a class on rules to make the bigger decisions as a group." She gave the Ultimate Detective a skeptical look. "May I ask why that worries you, Kirigiri-chan?"
"I hope my worries are unfounded, but I would simply prefer not to give too much power to a single person, especially if they turn out to be incompetent," the lavender-haired girl said, arms crossed and eyes closed. They heard Byakuya mutter something that sounded like a rare agreement. "This school is Hope's Peak Academy, after all."
It suddenly felt awkward. She spoke no more, but even Makoto could see precisely what Kyoko meant. It pained him, especially since her rational yet cold words appeared to arouse suspicion among the other Ultimates.
Someone could theoretically use the school as a stepstool for their own benefits, I guess... The Luckster preferred to believe no one would do that, but he couldn't deny that it was, at the very least, possible. After all, everyone here but me is pretty famous, and they might think they need to defend their reputation at the expense of others...
"I understand your concern, Kirigiri-chan, but there is no need to worry. I assure you that everything will be fine," the Former Ultimate Lucky Student said, struggling to hide she was trying to defuse the situation. "Now, as for requests that are often made by Class Reps, we have school trips, parties, or other events that would require preparation."
With that, the mood improved. The thought of a fun school trip seemed to please most of the class, and Makoto couldn't blame them, as it raised his spirits, too.
"If you have any questions about some other technicalities, I can also suggest seeking Nanami-chan from Class 77-B. If you're lucky enough and she's not sleeping, she'll probably be able to help you."
"Yoshida-sensei! I have a question, please!"
He was the man of the hour, one could say. They all expected Taka to speak up at one point or another.
"Yes, what is it, Taka-kun?"
"You mentioned the Student Council earlier, and I am curious about its role and how it works!" the Ultimate Moral Compass said, just as loudly as ever. It was a surprise how he had yet to break any eardrums.
The look on Yuki's face made some students laugh. "Erm... I know they manage the budget allocated to events and all that jazz, but I couldn't tell you more. Sorry..." She scratched her cheek embarrassedly. "If you're interested, I would seek out the members directly. They'll be of more help than me."
Could Taka be interested in joining the Student Council? It's true that at a school like this one, it must hold tremendous power and influence, so it would make sense for anyone trying to build up a reputation. Makoto shivered. Talk about pressure, though! It's definitely not for me!
"So, with this out of the way, today marks the first day of campaigning. We'll hold the election on May 15th, so you have a month to convince the others to vote for you. If anyone wishes to announce their bid, they're free to do so now. Needless to say, in a class of sixteen, every vote counts!"
To no one's surprise, Taka stood up. "I am interested! I wish to lead our classmates toward success in this crusade!"
"Didn't you basically say you wanted to join the Student Council...?" Leon asked, suspicion seeping in his voice. "You sound more like a politician trying to stay relevant than anything else, man."
"I was merely curious to know how the institutions of this school work, Kuwata-kun!" Taka explained calmly, though his voice could indicate otherwise. "Were I to work with them, it would be best to further my knowledge of this school for our class's benefit!"
That satisfied the redheaded boy. Frankly, Makoto doubted anyone was more suited for the job than Taka. After all, his Ultimate talent revolved around being morally reliable, and it was clear as day that he had picked up some leadership skills. And, well, if he was the sole candidate, it wouldn't even be a question.
"Anyone else who wishes to announce their candidacy?" Yuki asked. However, after a few seconds of silence, it dawned on her that she would get no answers. "Alright, then. You have until right before the vote to become a candidate, so take your time to think."
Think, Makoto shall, though his answer was already decided. Giving the car keys to Taka, so to speak, satisfied him perfectly, and he would root for the guy, especially given his enthusiasm.
With that, homeroom resumed as usual, the future Class Representative pretty much already decided.
16th of March, 2011
"I don't think you'll have much fun coming along, as I am not expecting a ton from this place, Maizono-san," Makoto said honestly with a sheepish smile, though that seemed to do everything but deter the Ultimate Pop Sensation.
The order of the afternoon for the boy was to – at last – visit his Research Lab.
After five days at Hope's Peak, it was about damn time, he realized.
"I'm sure it'll be fun!" Sayaka argued, giving Makoto her customary smile. It always seemed to carry more emotion than the boy thought was possible. It was most likely something she had worked on a lot. "After all, with such an intriguing talent, it's bound to be exciting!"
I sure wish I could be as optimistic as you are... With this thought, Makoto inputted the ID required to open the sturdy door. A notice on the students' e-handbooks explained it was for better security. It prompted the Ultimate Lucky Student to wonder what could possibly be inside that would warrant such precautions.
The sixteen Labs for Class 78th were scattered around campus, some closer to the dorms than others. Unfortunately for Makoto, his was pretty much on the other side of Hope's Peak. Well, it at least allowed him to chat with Sayaka on the way. For that reason alone, it may have been worth it.
"Wow, it sure is bright in there! It's like I'm stepping on stage!"
Sayaka's observation could only be shared by Makoto. There were so many lights he thought he'd go blind. For someone who wasn't used – nor who liked – the spotlight – both literally and figuratively – this would be a pain; he just knew it.
"I hope they don't plan on sending me the energy bill for this room..." Makoto thought aloud, waiting for his eyes to adjust to finally get a good look around. "Are those... slot machines?"
"Seems like it," the bluette agreed, walking over to one of the machines and giving the lever an experimental tug. It showed unmatching symbols. "Aw, I lost. Guess I don't have Ultimate Luck like yours, Makoto."
Makoto rolled his eyes and joined her. "Look here," he said, giving the lever a tug of his own. After rolling for a few seconds, the slots displayed a cherry, a seven, and a times two multiplier. Unfortunately, two times zero was still zero. "See, I lost too, so you probably don't need to worry, Maizono-san."
They both chose not to dwell on how depressing this last statement actually was.
More eager than the hazel-eyed Ultimate was, Sayaka inspected every nook and cranny of the Lab, trying out every device she could find. More often than not, she lost. Just as often, Makoto lost, too – though he made sure to keep his optimism up.
Overall, the room had clearly been tailored for an Ultimate Lucky Student. Most of the games were fun, though Makoto was wary of how stressful they would become by exam time. The variety of card games would most likely give Celeste's Research Lab a run for its money.
It was probably no coincidence that the Ultimate Gambler had been given a Lab just next door. If he wanted to try his luck, playing poker with Celeste was perhaps more effective by a factor of ten, possibly more.
"Oh, by the way! There's something I need to tell you, Makoto!"
The suddenness of that outburst caught Makoto off-guard. "Yeah, what is it?"
"I heard from Hina and Enoshima-san that they plan to hold a video game party the day after tomorrow!" the pop star explained. "They asked me to spread the word, so there you go. Do you feel like coming?"
A video game party? "Sure, that sounds fun!" After all, he had played many video games as a kid. The opportunity was nearly unmissable, especially with his new friends. It was at least a field where he could be confident in his abilities. "Thanks, Maizono-san."
"Oh, you shouldn't thank me! I'm just spreading the word around, nothing more! But I'm glad you like the idea." She smiled at him, and Makoto felt his cheeks heating up. "It'll be fun if you're here."
The Ultimate Lucky Student had to divert his eyes from hers. "P-Please don't exaggerate..." he muttered embarrassedly.
If anything, Makoto knew for a fact it was the other way around. As they exited the room, the Luckster had something to look forward to. For the video games, obviously, but as far as the blush on his face was concerned, for another reason, too.
To be continued...
A.N: I'll be the first to admit that this chapter is definitely more slow-paced than the rest. Admittedly, I didn't exactly know how to conclude it, as it was too short but still too long for me to start writing the next scene. Well, the pace will pick up in the upcoming chapters, so please bear with me. Anyhow, thank you for reading, please leave a review, and I hope you all have a great day!