Where Everything Will Start

UTOMIYA POV

Six in the evening, a day before the new school year starts, I got a message that I have to go to the reception office immediately.

So we were finally called. The start of my real battle.

I believe they sent a message to Amasawa and Yagami too.

I knocked on the door and opened it. The first thing that I saw was Amasawa who was near the door and was about to leave the room.

It appears that she got interrogated already. So we were called at different times.

I entered the room while Amasawa walked past me and went out of the reception office.

There, Tsukishiro was standing while that man was sitting on a sofa.

He even came here. This would be harder than I thought.

"Sit first, Utomiya."

Tsukishiro ordered me to sit down and so I did, facing that man. I have to make myself even harder to see through or this man would notice my real plan.

"The reports I heard about you sound very disappointing, Utomiya."

As soon as I sat, that man spoke with a cold look while tapping his index finger on the armrest of the sofa.

"Tsukishiro said that you're very much enjoying this school. Joining the student council, working hard on every special exam that your class advanced to class B."

We overtook Yagami's class as he was not really interested in helping his class. He only made it look like he was leading them but he was only making half-assed strategies. He only cares about defeating Ayanokoji after all.

It's not just our class, Horikita's class also overtook Ryuen's class. Both our classes are Class B starting tomorrow.

"But that's only from Tsukishiro's perspective. I, who have been watching you for a decade, already knew what type of person you are. So, I believe you're gonna tell me something interesting today, am I right?"

That man then looked at me attentively, waiting for me to say what he wanted to hear.

"Let me hear your plan."

"Yes."

I fixed my posture and made a serious expression.

"It's true that I did nothing yet on expelling Ayanokoji and was only observing him from up close and at the same time, keeping my distance for him to not know my identity. What I only know was his impressive record in the white room but his personality and the way he thinks are not known to us."

"And for a whole year of observing him, did you manage to get the information you needed to expel him?"

"Shut up, Tsukishiro...."

Ayanokoji's father ordered Tsukishiro to close his mouth after interrupting me, which he immediately obeyed.

"Continue...."

"But your son was always on guard. Even to the people around him, who I thought he considered as friends, he refuses to show that much about him. It wasn't just that, it wasn't just us enforcers. Couple of students such as class leaders, not just from his year level but from upper and lower levels too, were targeting him. But despite everything, he was able to protect himself while still staying low. I must say, I already get why you call him the masterpiece of the white room."

Upon hearing that, the right corner of his lips raised slightly, looking proud.

"Though I already had the idea of how to take him out, I needed a back up plan."

"Are you saying you're not sure that your strategy will succeed?"

"My opponent is your son after all."

He was looking even more proud than before.

"I thought that I didn't need it but after watching him this whole year, I concluded that what I was doing this whole time was not a waste."

"And this is your back up plan."

"Yes. Aside from special exams, a certain student has the power to expel students if you give enough evidence of them breaking school rules that are punishable by expulsion."

"Oh. And this is...."

"The student council president."

"I see."

Tsukishiro, who was thinking that I disobeyed the white room orders all this time, showed an expression that he already got why I joined the student council while Ayanokoji's father was only looking like he already expected this.

"I needed to wait for her to become a 3rd year student as it was the time that she could fully wield her power as the president.... but based on her personality, I need Tsukishiro to do something for her to cooperate."

The confused and a bit troubled Tsukishiro, who wasn't allowed to talk, only glanced at Ayanokoji's father.

"Say it."

"This girl's personality is hard to deal with. She's also pretty stubborn and does not trust people that easily. The reason why I was making an effort during exams wasn't just only about me trying to look like a normal student just like you ordered, but it was also my way of gaining her trust. She has the biggest desire to reach class A. Her class was class D before but after offering some of my help, she was able to reach class B."

"And you managed to gain her trust?"

"Yes, though it took me a long time."

"And what is this thing that you want Tsukishiro to do?"

"She's actually a classmate of Ayanokoji, so she might hesitate to cooperate with us...... What I wanted Tsukishiro to do is threaten her by saying he will use his power for her class to drop to class D again."

Tsukishiro, who was a little bit bothered by my idea, glanced at him again but still, he did not give him permission to talk.

"Threatening..... hmmm... not bad. But you're introducing Tsukishiro as someone who has  something to do with my son to her."

"She knew about the bounty exam, infact, she investigated it. And upon investigating, she got to know that Tsukishiro and Ayanokoji knew each other and believed that the bounty exam was made out of personal reasons."

Just don't ask where she got the information.

"Oh... that girl is not bad."

Thankfully, he was only amused by Horikita, thinking that she was an excellent student.

"But will that be enough? Isn't that threat far too weak?"

"Of course not. She always believes in herself so I know that she would say that she can protect her class even against the school's acting director. As much as she cares about her class, she also has a big sense of responsibility, so if we won't only attack her class but the whole year level and cause a lot of expelled students, her pride as a class leader and as the student council president will shatter. Thinking that she failed to protect her class and do her job as the student council president. Considering this number of sacrifices, she will definitely reconsider cooperating with us."

Though my plan was already cruel enough for Horikita, Ayanokoji's father did not even react.

"So despite everything, you still think that she will only reconsider. That she won't immediately say yes."

"She....... actually thinks of Ayanokoji as her friend. It would make her have a hard time making decisions."

"And that sole reason was what made your plan flawed, is that it?"

"That's why I want to add one more thing."

He only looked at me, urging me to say it.

"There's actually someone she cares deeply for outside the school. If we add someone more important to her than Ayanokoji and someone she couldn't protect, she would definitely obey us."

The interest in his eyes came back as he heard my suggestion.

Threatening and messing with a person's life are your favorites right?

"So it's not just Tsukishiro that you want to get involved with but also my men outside."

"It's only a few of your men outside that are added. Even one is enough. If you really want to bring your son back to the facility as soon as possible, shouldn't we go all out?"

Ayanokoji's father chuckled. Amused by everything he heard.

"What do you think, Tsukishiro?"

"..... I'm fine with it as long as it could help expel your son."

There was a small pause before Tsukishiro answered. Well, he already knew who she was.

"Well then, let me hear the name of this poor girl."

I made my expression even more serious. This is where everything will start.

"...... It's Horikita Suzune."

Upon hearing her name, his face hardened. Though Tsukishiro and I know why, I have to pretend that I'm clueless.

"Horikita?"

He stared at me for a while. 

".......... Have you seen this certain student's data Tsukishiro?"

Though he slightly turned his head on his right side, where Tsukishiro was and asked, his eyes were still fixed on me.

"Yes, sensei. And it's exactly what you think."

Out of everyone in the facility, hearing it from me would be the most suspicious.

"Despite knowing her background, you still suggested that strategy."

"It can't be helped. She holds the position that I need to expel Ayanokoji successfully. And is that even a problem? There are a lot of means out there to silence her."

If I acted fearlessly here, they would only think that what I know was Horikita's background and not the whole incident.

Well, I don't really know the whole incident but just a part of it.

"You're right. There's nothing to fear."

And considering the facility's pride, of course they wouldn't be troubled by it.

"Just one thing...... I'll be the one who will negotiate with her instead of Tsukishiro."

He then turned his head to his right side and looked at Tsukishiro.

"You can extend my stay here, right?"

"Of course, sensei."

"Let me ask a question first. Those two seem to have different motives, especially Yagami. Are you not interested in defeating my son on your own?"

"This school is not the perfect battleground for us. It's better to defeat him in the white room, where he excels the most. And surely, I will surpass your son and snatch that masterpiece title from him."

Ayanokoji's father smiled, amused by my answer. 

I did hesitate when they told me to come to this school just to expel Ayanokoji, and said that I wanted to stay in the white room. 

Hopefully, this would give him a second thought that I know about that incident and I was only using every means necessary to expel Ayanokoji and return to the white room immediately.

My interrogation ended. Tsukishiro arranged the meeting for tomorrow with Horikita.

As I got out of the reception office, I sent an email to someone.

[ You can do it already. Even to Ayanokoji's class only is fine but be sure to spread it before the class starts. ]

HORIKITA POV

It's my 3rd year in high school and starting today we are in class B. I'm getting closer to my goal.

One more year. I will surely ascend and graduate in class A. No, our class will surely graduate in class A.

Being a class leader and a student council president, it was a tough and a busy year. But despite that, I could say that my 2nd year was a good year. 

We got promoted from class D to class B. And I also think that my relationship with the people around me became better. There are some who I consider as my friend like Sudo-kun. I don't know how he views me but I'm also comfortable with Utomiya-kun. Though my relationship with Ayanokoji-kun has ups and downs, I still consider him as my friend.

After every good thing that happened last year, I wonder what my 3rd year would be like. Somehow, I felt uneasy. 

I got a message from the acting director Tsukishiro to go to a certain meeting room. I don't actually have any idea of what he wants from me.

Utomiya-kun told me that it was at the start of the school year when the acting director called them for that bounty exam of Ayanokoji-kun.

Don't tell me that he made another unreasonable exam and he wanted me to participate. This could be the reason why I'm feeling uneasy now. 

I know Ayanokoji-kun warned me to stay away from him but this could be a great opportunity to investigate him.

I'm on my way to this certain meeting room. No one was around yet as it's an hour and a half before the class starts.

I already reached the door but I stood for a while and tried to calm myself down. Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. As I turned the doorknob and opened it a little, I got confused as to why the room was dark.

Is this not the right room? I raised my head and double checked the name of the room but saw that I wasn't wrong. 

As I fully opened the door, it turned out that only the light above the two persons inside the room was on.

Who is that person sitting? It's my first time seeing him. What's more, the acting director was only standing beside him. Is he the headmaster of this school?

"Come inside, Horikita-san."

The moment I closed the door, the corners of the room became much darker.

"It seemed like you were hesitating to enter."

"I was just confused about why the room was dark, acting director."

"Just don't mind it."

No. This type of setting. It's like they're trying to shake me up emotionally.

"Will you please come closer? We're going to have a serious talk."

I then walked towards them and stopped when I reached the bright side of the room. 

Acting director Tsukishiro was wearing his usual smiling face but the man beside him was looking at me seriously. I know this is my first time seeing him but his eyes kind of reminded me of someone.

"Sensei."

Sensei? Not headmaster?

"It's nice meeting you, Horikita Suzune."

"...... I-It's nice meeting you too, sir. But, can I ask something rude first? Will you please tell me who you are? Aside from the acting director, I'm not familiar with every high ranking official in this school."

"Sorry to tell you but I can't tell you who I am. I know that it's also rude of me for not introducing myself though I called you here to ask for some favor."

So it's not the acting director who wants something from me but this unfamiliar person.

"Favor?"

"That's right. So will you please hear me out?"

Though he said that he's asking a favor, his voice sounded like he's commanding me.

"You're the only one who could help us so I hope you would agree, Horikita-san."

"If I'm capable of it then, of course."

"That's why I'm asking you, cause you're the only one capable of it."

"Me?"

"You are the current student council president, right?"

"Yes...... sir."

"We're actually hoping for you to agree as your cooperation is needed to make our plan successful."

He then leaned his head on his hand and said.

"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka...... you know him, right?"

Ayanokoji? Why did he suddenly say his name?

"..... Yes...... He's my classmate."

He nodded.

"I want him out of this school."

My eyes widened upon hearing what he said. Confused but somehow, I wasn't really surprised. Why is it? Probably because I was suspicious of Ayanokoji after I got to know everything about the bounty exam. No, because the acting director is here, whom I thought has something to do with him.

"Y-you mean.... you want him expelled?"

"That's right. As the student council president, you have the power to expel any student as long as there's enough evidence of him breaking school rules that are punishable by expulsion, right?"

"What.... you want me to frame him up and falsely accuse him of breaking school rules then punish him with expulsion?"

The man smirked.

"Falsely accuse.?.. no, of course not. That person just has to make sure that he indeed broke school rules. We'll give you enough evidence and you give the appropriate judgement which is expulsion."

"That's ridiculous. That's basically framing him up. And what do you mean by 'that person'?"

He moved his hand away from his chin and leaned his back in his chair. 

"It seems like she wants to see you already. Guess it's time for you to show up."

He then said that while looking at the dark corner of the room on my right. 

I followed his line of sight and saw a figure of a person. But I couldn't see the person's face.

The person stood up from his seat and walked towards us...... A student? 

My heart was beating so fast as his figure slowly emerged from the dark. 

Don't tell me? Is that him? No, there's no way. My heart was hoping that it wasn't him.

But my hope was shattered the moment the light hit his face. 

"..... U-Utomiya-kun."

He only gave me a quick glance before facing them and stood beside me.

I heard the man chuckled and said.

"It seemed like you really fooled her Utomiya."

Though Utomiya-kun wasn't looking at me, I was only looking at him, confused of what he's doing here.

Wait. Fooled? Was that what the man said?

"Horikita, I want you to work with him and expel Ayanokoji, you hear me?"

Upon hearing that, I turned my head back to the man who was looking pleased of what's happening.

The cold eyes that he was hiding a while ago were getting visible.

"That look... yeah... I understand. You still couldn't accept that you were fooled. For someone who couldn't trust a person that easily and then finally trusting someone but in the end, you got betrayed."

Betrayed? Utomiya-kun did?

"W-what are you doing here, Utomiya-kun?"

That man chuckled once again.

"Stubborn indeed. It seems like she wants to hear it directly from your mouth, Utomiya."

Utomiya-kun gave me a side glance but wasn't really looking at my face.

"I'm here to execute an order. I'm going to expel Ayanokoji Kiyokata and you're going to help me."

My mouth hung open from disbelief, upset at what I heard.

Did I-

"From my small conversation with her and how she was looking now, I already confirmed that all your information about her was right, Utomiya."

Information about me? Utomiya-kun told him? 

My mind and heart were all over the place. My heart was aching and I couldn't think right.

"There's no need to beat around the bush. Tsukishiro, tell her the consequences if ever she disobeys us."

Acting director Tsukishiro nodded and turned his attention to me.

"You see Horikita, you're not the only one who holds power in this school. I heard that your class got promoted to class B starting today. Want me to demote you back to class D?"

"De-demote us? What are you talking about?"

"It's exactly what you heard. I'll put you back to class D if you won't cooperate with us."

"That's ridiculous. Even if you're the acting director, the school has enough rules to follow and could protect us from you. You can't easily demote us like this."

"Only if I'm going to follow."

"W-what?"

"As someone who has enough authority and access during exams, I can easily intervene and fabricate the result. All I have to do is not let anyone know."

My body stiffened as I heard what he said. 

"That's unjustifiable."

"Indeed. But I already did it once and I'm not scared to do it again."

"....... Y-you did?"

"Remember when Ayanokoji was your commander during that Event Selection Exam? He was supposed to be the winner in that chess match against Sakayanagi. But because I fabricated the instruction that he sent to you, the supposed to be winning move, he lost. And because of it, your class lost and was demoted once again to Class D."

Ayanokoji-kun won that match?

"How is it? Want me to do it again?"

"Is it okay for you to say that to me now? I could report it to the higher ups and kick you out of here."

"You think I'm stupid enough to not clean up my mess? You can't find evidence, Horikita. I already disposed of it."

"That's-"

"But of course, based on Utomiya's information, I know intervening solely in your class is not enough for you to obey us. So aside from your class, I will do it to the whole school."

Whole school? No way. Is he even serious?

"I can make this school a whole mess, Horikita."

A whole mess? This school? Why is this happening? Why on the time when I am the student council president? Is there any way for me to protect my class and the whole school?

There's a lot of questions running through my mind. But no matter how I forced myself, I couldn't find the answers.

I was trying to calm myself down and maintain my composure but the dark surrounding wasn't helping and was only increasing my anxiety. So this was the reason why they kept the room dark. So that I wouldn't be able to think right and couldn't fight back.

"Who are you people? Why do you have to go to this extent just to expel Ayanokoji-kun?"

Though that question was meant to all of them, I only looked to the person beside me, who was being silent the whole time.

Please give me the answers Utomiya-kun. Just like before.

"It seems like she wants to hear the answers from you, Utomiya. Care to explain to her?"

Utomiya-kun nodded. He gave me a side glance again but still not looking at my face.

"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka belongs to an elite and influential family outside. His parents wish him to drop out from this school to enrol in a more prestigious school abroad. But ever since first year he was rebelling and refuses to drop out. All of us here are just working for his family and were sent here to expel him."

Is that really the life of Ayanokoji-kun that he was hiding all this time?

"Isn't the reason why he was rebelling was because you were trying to control his life?"

"That's a family matter that you shouldn't get involved in, Horikita. How about you just cooperate with us? If you're going to be stubborn here, Tsukishiro won't hesitate to make your time as the student council president miserable. And graduating in class A would be much harder for you. You're smart but just looking at your level, defeating the other class leaders would be very difficult. One year won't be enough for you to rise from class D again."

I was taken aback from the words that came out of his mouth that I became quiet. 

"Are you willing to sacrifice a lot of students just to protect someone who does not even trust you and constantly lies to you? Are you willing to sacrifice your dream just for him?"

What are you saying, Utomiya-kun? Where is the kind Utomiya that I used to know? 

He does not look the same anymore. No, he still looks the same but the aura that surrounds him made him look different. 

No. I have to ask Ayanokoji-kun. He might give me the answers. But will he?

Calm yourself down Horikita. If the people around you can't give the answers, you have to find it on your own.

Is cooperating with them the right thing to do? No.

"Ayanokoji-kun might have lied to me but you were the same. I've known Ayanokoji-kun much longer than you. I might have been through a lot because of him but he never did something cruel like this. You think I'm just gonna follow someone who I don't even know?"

Utomiya-kun did not even react after hearing what I said, as if telling me that  he does not care. 

I turned my head to the unfamiliar man when I heard him laugh.

"The information that you gave did not disappoint, Utomiya. This girl is indeed very stubborn despite everything. It kinda reminds me of someone."

He then looked straight into my eyes. His eyes are so cold and scary.

"Horikita Manabu."

My body trembled when he suddenly said my brother's name.

"W-why.?.... H-how did you know about him?"

"I heard he's such an exceptional person. He became the student council president though he was still a first year student. He was able to protect his class and graduated in class A..... And he's even attending a prestigious school as a college student. Being an excellent person must really run in your blood."

He even knows about what my brother was doing outside. Who is this person?

"I wonder what you would feel if I'll use my connection to make him drop out from that school that he's attending."

"...... Wha- ... what do you mean?"

"It's not just that. My connection is much wider than you think. I will make sure that your brother won't be able to find another school to attend and no company will employ him and will make your beloved brother nothing but trash."

"...... T-there's no way my brother will turn out like that. My fam-."

"Then, wanna try me?"

I don't know if his threats are true. I don't know if he's really capable of that. But somehow, a big part of me was scared and was thinking that it was possible.

What should I do?

"Let's stop here. She already looks so broken. We still need her after all. I'll leave her to you, Utomiya."

"Yes. I'll do the rest to make her cooperate."

"I'm gonna leave an ear. I don't think she will surrender that easily."

"Do what you want."

"One last thing, Horikita Suzune. Don't even think about going against me. You still don't know the limits of what I'm capable of."

That man threatened me once again before telling us to leave.

The moment I stepped out of the room, I gasped for some air. I felt relaxed upon seeing the sunlight. That dark room really took away my sanity. It felt like I just got out of the interrogation room.

Utomiya-kun did not pay attention to me and just started walking on the way to the school.

I walked at a fast pace, grabbed his wrist and said.

"Utomiya-kun. Please tell me the truth. That wasn't the real you, right?"

He tried to shake my hand away but I did not let go.

Shortly after, he let out a deep sigh.

"So tiring and annoying. No wonder why Ayanokoji chose not to trust you."

But then, he said something that completely vanished the remaining hope in my heart.

I was so upset, not to him, but to myself.

I slowly let go of my hand from his wrist.

"Put everything that you heard a while ago at the back of your mind for now. I already prepared an excuse for you. All you have to do is to act along with it."

"What excuse?"

"You'll know it the moment you arrive in your classroom. I know you're sharp enough to get it, so I hope you'll do your job."

Authors Note:I failed to finish this chapter early.

Though I already had the idea, it was harder to write it than I thought. Probably because I have limited knowledge in english. It was also longer than I thought. It even reached to 4500 words.

Anyway, I hope you're still reading this fanfic and hope you enjoyed it.