Chapter 54 - New Challenger

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If you don't give me your powerstones I'll...

Be very sad so please send them my way, as always I appreciate comments and reviews as well, I love hearing everyone's thoughts.

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"True power is sitting back and observing things with logic. True power is restraint. If words control you that means everyone else can control you." ~Warren Buffett

"Was this really necessary, Horikita?" Tachibana asked, her tone slightly exasperated. "Classes are just starting again today. This meeting could've waited a bit, don't you think?"

"No, this needed to be done as soon as possible," I replied firmly, tapping my finger against the desk as I reviewed the files spread out before me. "Everything is entering its final phase. Soon, I won't have any influence here, Tachibana. I need to ensure that everything is perfect, that I'm not making a mistake."

The documents in front of me detailed information on both Miyabi Nagumo and Light Yagami, including assessments of their abilities and progress in recent exams. Two forces on a collision course.

"It's impressive, isn't it? I mean, I watched the games myself, but even I was taken aback," Tachibana said, leaning over my shoulder to glance at the files.

"Yes. More impressive than even Nagumo's run," I acknowledged, my gaze focused on Yagami's results. "While I'm relieved to see that Yagami is intellectually capable of challenging Nagumo, there's a concerning aspect to his behavior. He humiliated and mocked each of his opponents in every exam and game."

Tachibana nodded slowly, mulling over my words. "I can see that, yeah… Sometimes, it's almost like he has two personalities. I mean, I can tell he's a good person. You saw it yourself when he helped Karuizawa from Class D or when he stood up for his bullied classmate Morofuji. But it does feel like he gets ahead of himself at times," she said thoughtfully.

After a brief pause, she added, "Although you heard, right? Yagami never had any intention of expelling Morishita. That came out during his last game against Ichinose."

"True," I admitted, leaning back slightly in my chair. "But even that seemed to be a calculated move with the goal of humiliating his opponent. Still, if I had to choose between Yagami's sadistic streak and Nagumo's poisonous ideologies, I'd choose Yagami every time."

Tachibana looked at me curiously as I continued. "Yagami's behavior, while unsettling at times, has its advantages. His peculiar personality might actually work in our favor. He's thorough—he doesn't just aim to win; he aims to dominate. That could be exactly what's needed to defeat Nagumo. And when Yagami takes over as student council president, I doubt he'll cause harm to the school. Unlike Nagumo, Yagami's methods aren't reckless."

I paused, my thoughts sharpening. Yes, Tachibana was right. Deep down, Yagami is a good person.

He's done enough to prove that.

At that moment, the sound of the door opening caught my attention. Yagami stepped into the meeting room, his expression composed as always. "I hope I'm not late," he said, moving quickly to take his seat.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. He had arrived precisely on time—not a second late, nor a second early. "No, you're just on time," I replied, my tone steady.

Yagami chuckled lightly, leaning back in his chair. "Good to hear. I was a bit surprised when you called for a last-minute student council meeting."

"Don't be," I replied firmly. "It's standard procedure with the second half of the school year starting. Besides, you understand that this will be my last term here. It's time to make some things official. But before we proceed, allow me to congratulate you on your performance in the first two special exams. Honestly, you exceeded even my expectations."

"There's no need to compliment me, President. I just did what my class needed," Yagami responded with a polite smile, his tone humble yet self-assured.

"Good work merits recognition," I replied. "Now, speaking of work, how have you been managing your role in the student council as Secretary of the Treasury?"

"It's been good," he said with measured confidence. "I hope you understand that I've been a bit backtracked because of the special exams, but I believe I've been handling my responsibilities well. Then again, you've been monitoring my work, haven't you? I'd assume you'd know better than I would how I've been doing."

He was right. I had been keeping a close eye on his work, especially given the role I had assigned him. Overseeing the movement of points and finances across the school is a position ripe for abuse. Historically, few student council members have been entirely upright, and I was willing to allow Yagami some leeway—as long as his actions remained within reason. Yet, despite the potential for exploitation, Yagami had performed his duties with precision.

His work had slowed slightly after the Karuizawa case, but that was understandable, given the finals and special exams he had been facing.

"Yes, you've done a great job, Yagami. Even I can't deny that," I said.

"Thank you. Shall we get to business now?" he asked.

"Yes. I called you in a bit earlier than the official meeting time to ensure we'd have enough time to talk," I explained, meeting his eyes.

"Does that mean I'll finally get to meet him? Nagumo?" Yagami asked, a spark of curiosity in his voice.

"Yes, exactly. And it also means that starting today, now that the second term has begun, you can officially consider yourself the vice president. All that's left is for the paperwork to process. Nagumo's ascension to president is also unavoidable at this point. I'll remain in power a little longer until his inauguration, but it's only a matter of time."

"I see," Yagami said, his tone contemplative. "So Nagumo will likely start targeting me soon."

"I'd say he's already begun," I replied. "After your performance in the special exams, Nagumo grew curious about you. He's been gathering as much information as he can."

Yagami fell silent for a moment, appearing to consider my words.

"Don't worry," I added. "You won't be alone. There's one last thing I can offer you, but… well, I suppose that'll have to wait until next time."

As I finished speaking, the door to the meeting room opened, and Miyabi Nagumo entered.

"Welcome, Nagumo," I said calmly, watching as he strolled in with a folder in hand.

Nagumo yawned, the gesture almost mocking, as he made his way to the seat across from Yagami. "What's with this early meeting? I guess I should be flattered, though—we don't talk much these days," he said casually, his sharp eyes briefly flicking toward me before settling on Yagami, who remained composed and silent.

"Ah, so this is my junior in the student council I've heard so much about?" Nagumo said, his tone curious.

"Haha, yes. I'm Light Yagami," Yagami replied. "It's good to meet you, Nagumo. I've been curious about you for a while now."

"Is that so? Well, I can't lie—I've been curious about you too," Nagumo said, tapping a finger lightly against the table. "So, what's the point of this meeting?"

"I thought it was important for you to meet the new addition to the student council," I explained. "Yagami here will officially be vice president as of today."

Nagumo didn't seem particularly bothered by my words, though I noticed a faint smile creeping onto his face.

"I thought you'd given up on this batch of students, Manabu," he said with a slight chuckle. "But it seems you're desperate for a successor. Well, whatever—it doesn't matter much. Yagami, tell me something. From what I've heard, you're an exceptional student—perhaps the most capable in your year. Academics, intellect, physical ability, willingness to cooperate with others—you rank highly in all of these areas. And yet, here you are, stuck in Class C, struggling to reach Class A. Doesn't that seem unfair?"

"You're right. In many ways, it is unfair," Yagami replies, his calm voice immediately capturing my attention. His eyes meet Nagumo's. "But the real question isn't whether your system or Manabu's is fair. The question is whether they work as intended. You call your system a true meritocracy—one that rewards talent and punishes incompetence—but if we're being honest, all you've created is a flawed image of what a meritocracy should be."

Nagumo leans forward slightly, his interest visibly piqued.

"Even if I were to take your system at face value," Yagami continues, "it ignores one fundamental truth about merit. No one rises to the top alone, Nagumo."

Nagumo narrows his eyes but remains silent. The atmosphere in the room shifts as Yagami presses on.

"Meritocracy isn't just about rewarding those who are already exceptional," Yagami explains. "True meritocracy must account for potential, for the idea that every individual deserves a fair chance to develop their abilities. People aren't born perfect. Abilities are cultivated, honed, and revealed over time. Your system fails to acknowledge this. Instead, you deny people the opportunity to grow by isolating and eliminating them too early."

He pauses for a moment before continuing. "How many students will you expel—students who could rise to excellence if given the chance?"

For a brief moment, no one speaks. Nagumo's gaze remains fixed on Yagami, a touch of interest dancing behind his otherwise cold expression.

Then, Yagami breaks the silence.

"That's the thing about fairness—or meritocracies…" he begins. His eyes shift downward, staring at the table below him. "When one pursues fairness, the very definition of what is 'fair' becomes blurred. And in the process, one way or another, they inevitably undermine the very principles they claim to uphold."

"So, this really was hopeless," Nagumo says with a shrug. "I thought I could get you to join me, but it seems like a waste of time. Man, you sure talk a lot, though." He leans back slightly, smirking as he continues. "There's no point in this discussion. This isn't some sappy kids' show where I'm going to change my perspective just because you think it's wrong. The way I see it, those with potential will rise to the top regardless of the system they're in. And if they can't adapt, well, that's their problem, isn't it?"

Yagami remains silent for a moment before he responds, "I see. Then you are right; this discussion really is pointless."

Nagumo chuckles lightly, leaning forward again, his gaze shifting between me and Tachibana. "Horikita, and you too, hot stuff," he says, addressing Tachibana with a joking tone. "I'd appreciate it if you two left me and Yagami alone for a moment. There's something I want to discuss with him."

"And why would I do that?" I ask, narrowing my eyes. I didn't want to leave Nagumo unsupervised, especially with someone like Yagami.

"Because," Nagumo replies smoothly, his smirk widening, "I'll get in contact with Yagami at some point anyway. You know that as well as I do. So, there's no point in trying to stop the inevitable."

I glance at Yagami, whose calm demeanor hasn't shifted since the conversation began. His expression offers no clues, yet it's clear he's already calculated the possible outcomes of this exchange.

***Light Yagami***

"It's okay, President. I'd like to hear what Nagumo has to say to me. I'll be fine," I tell Horikita.

"I see," Horikita replies, his expression briefly contemplative before he stands, collecting his things. However, just as he turns to leave, Nagumo speaks.

"Your pocket looks a little empty there, president. Could it be you 'forgot' your phone somewhere around your seat?" Nagumo mocks Horikita, his smirk visible even as he leans back slightly.

I watch as Horikita lets out a resigned sigh. Without a word, he picks up his phone from his chair and slips it into his pocket. His actions are calm, revealing none of the irritation he likely feels. Quickly after, he and Tachibana exit the room, the soft click of the door shutting behind them, leaving Nagumo and me alone.

The moment the door closes, Nagumo's demeanor shifts. He peeks his head under the large meeting table, his sharp eyes scanning the area with care. "You can never be too sure with him. He's a tricky guy," Nagumo says, straightening up and locking eyes with me once more.

"Is that so?" I asked.

"Yes, but he's prone to mistakes—just like you are," Nagumo responds, his voice confident. 

"What do you mean?" I ask. His words have already piqued my interest.

"Let's keep this simple—I don't like wasting my time unnecessarily," Nagumo says, leaning forward slightly, his eyes fixed on mine. "Yagami, do you plan on opposing me? Horikita isn't here anymore. If you agree to work with me or even stay out of my way, I'll have no reason to fight you. But if you insist on stopping me… well, I'm sure you understand the implications of that."

"I'm serious in my convictions, and I don't plan to betray the President's trust," I respond.

"I see," Nagumo replies, his expression hardening slightly. "Then you leave me no choice. If you don't comply, I'll have to force you to."

He opens a folder he's brought with him and places three files on the table in front of us. The names printed on them are immediately recognizable: Misa Yumekui, Fumiko Miyo, and Aoi Suzuki—the three students I had expelled from Class 2-D when I 'saved' Karuizawa and Morofuji.

"I never got to 'repay' you for getting my peers expelled," Nagumo says, his smirk returning. "I'm sure you remember them, right?"

"Of course," I reply without hesitation. "Their actions were reprehensible."

Nagumo shrugs, a deliberate indifference in his demeanor. "That's what always bothered me. Those three were reckless, yes, but something about the situation that led to their expulsion felt… off. So, I looked into the files pertaining to the incident. They were supposedly expelled for extorting points from your classmate, Rika Morofuji, if I'm remembering correctly. But according to my investigation, the only one who actually received points from Morofuji was Yumekui."

Nagumo pauses, letting his words hang in the air for a moment. His gaze sharpens, clearly relishing the tension he's building.

"It's strange, isn't it?" he continues. "If Yumekui was the one extorting points from Morofuji, why were Miyo and Suzuki also expelled for extortion? There's nothing in these files that directly links them to the crime. And yet, they accepted the charges of extortion, knowing full well it would lead to their expulsion. That can only mean one thing." He leans back in his chair, his smirk widening. "They definitely did something worthy of expulsion—but it wasn't extortion. No, it must have been worse. That would explain why they accepted the charge of extortion without resistance. Am I on to something, Yagami?" he asks smugly.

"Believe whatever you want, Nagumo. You—" I begin, but he cuts me off before I can finish.

"I don't need to believe anything," he says, pulling a fourth file from his folder and placing it in front of me. My eyes narrow slightly as I see the contents: a printed image taken from one of the school's security cameras.

It's unmistakable—an image from the day of the trial for the three second-year Class D students. The camera in question was positioned in the lobby of the student council room, and the photo captured me entering the room. But what truly stands out is the context: my arrival alongside a beaten, muddied, wet, and clearly distressed Kei Karuizawa.

Nagumo doesn't need to say anything further. The implications are all too clear. It doesn't take a genius to piece together the truths of the case from this image alone.

"Hehehe, I see… things are starting to get interesting again," Ryuk says, his grin widening as he examines the documents and image, while Nagumo's gaze remains fixed on me from across the room.

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As everyone can see, we are starting a new arc. Let me know what you think about this introduction to Nagumo here; things will be slowing down soon, and this confrontation with Nagumo should span more than just a couple. I haven't decided on anything, but I plan for this confrontation to be a bit longer-winded. We will also be going into the sports festival, so the story will be a bit chiller. I want to add a touch of a slice of life (even though I feel like I'm not good at it), and overall, I'm excited for the future of the story.

Anyway, I feel like I did a decent job with Nagumo here, but let me know. After this, I plan on developing the classes a bit, specifically class A; I will also develop light relationships/friendships with some characters, as I feel that could use some work. So tell me which characters you'd specifically like to see some focus on. I'm planning to do Sakayanagi, of course, since she's probably the most requested one, but I haven't decided on who else to do.