Chapter 70: Cultivating Victory

While the whole class was already in high spirits, Akuma still stood in front of everyone. He suddenly slammed the teacher's table with his two hands. Everyone immediately became quiet and looked at the direction of Akuma. He then lowered his head. He was facing directly at the table.

"I am really glad that we are all able to rally around our classmate who is terribly in need. Seeing such a scene really warms my heart… Which is why I am saddened to hear someone from 2-C say that we are a bunch of heartless losers. If only they could see us now…"

Akuma made his voice tremble, as if he carried a great burden. Unbeknownst to everyone else, he was smiling the whole time.

Some of his classmates commented on what they heard. They said things such as 'Huh? They're underestimating us, aren’t they?' to 'We'll see about that.'. Akuma continued to speak after he heard his classmates' reactions.

"And I really wanted to keep this weight by myself, but I just couldn't bear it any longer after hearing someone from 2-D say we are a bunch of weaklings compared to them. That whatever we do, they are the better class than us. I wanted to answer back, but I wasn't sure if everyone here felt the same as me… What if they were right about us?"

Akuma, while still looking down, then covered his face with his right hand. His motions mimicked that of someone who was crying. In reality, his grin was getting bigger and bigger.

Now, his classmates were angrily shouting things such as 'How dare they mock us?' and 'We'll show them who is weaker!'. The celebratory and joyous mood from a few moments ago were now gone. They were replaced by palpable anger and disdain.

"But! The thing that really crushed my heart was hearing something someone from 2-A said… When they heard about what happened to our Fukushuu Angelie, someone who almost drowned, they laughed at her effort! That she should have just skipped the exam if she couldn't swim! How could they make fun of someone's hard work?! If it were up to me, I'll make sure they eat their words… But unfortunately, I can't do it alone… Everyone! Will we let them continue to look down on us?!"

Akuma had already raised his head and looked directly at everyone. Miraculously, his eyes had tears well up in them.

The whole class shouted a collective 'No!'. Some shouted things like 'We'll destroy them!' and 'Now that they made fun of Fukushuu-san, they'll regret ever living!'. Akuma was successful in whipping the class into a frenzy. Everyone was busy psyching themselves up that they didn't notice Akuma walk away from the teacher's table and head back to his own seat. Akuma smirked as he had his hands inside his side pockets while walking. He passed by Angelie, who was still seated.

"W-what did you just do?"

Angelie looked up at Akuma, who was now standing beside her.

"I gave them motivation to win."

"But… why?"

Angelie raised her eyebrow while looking at him.

"I'm burying you further into debt."

Akuma grinned at her and then continued walking to his own seat.

"Oh… Huh? What do you mean—"

Angelie couldn't finish her question as Akuma already walked away and sat back down on his seat.

---

The second-years changed into their swimming outfits while the first-years' competition started. After changing, most of the second-years went to the pool area to watch. They were only allowed to watch from outside of the wired fence.

Angelie and Sanaka went to watch together with some of their classmates. Akuma chose to watch the race from afar. Unlike his classmates who went near the wired fence, he observed from a good distance. Suddenly, someone stood beside him.

"Ah, if it isn't Mr. President of the Help Club who won't win the competition today."

Teki gazed directly at the swimming pool area. He watched as the students cheered for those who were currently competing.

"Well, I didn't know that, Mr. Vice President of the Student Council who can see the future. I wish all of us had your innate ability to predict what is to come."

Akuma closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Not all of us need to see the future to know how the competition will end. Everyone in our class is well-prepared."

Teki continued to face forward.

"I know where you are coming from. Though, over confidence rarely ends up with the desired result."

Akuma smirked as he made a side glance at Teki.

"I will be swimming twice for our class. How about a friendly race between us? I believe your class also has less students than 2-E? Let us race by being the last swimmers. Oh, that could only happen if we aren't in the lead and already winning. What was I thinking?"

Teki then glanced sideways at Akuma as he smirked as well.

"Ugh…!"

Akuma tried to respond but couldn't find the right words without directly picking a fight with Teki. Akuma just ended up clenching his fists at his sides while glaring at Teki.

"Anyway, I shall be on my way. I planned to cheer for Hisyo-san. Later, then."

Teki walked away from Akuma and headed toward the pool area.

"Now I've really found a reason to win this competition. You're going down, Mr. Vice President who didn't know who he went up against."

Akuma grinned as he almost bore a hole onto Teki's back with his death stare.

---

The first-years' swimming competition ended with class 1-A winning the relay race. The second-years went back to their classrooms after the race. They had enough time to eat their early lunch before it was their turn to compete in the swimming competition.

Angelie and Sanaka talked about inviting Mimi to eat at the rooftop. When Akuma heard this, he immediately stopped them.

"If you two go to their classroom now, you will be eaten alive."

Akuma glared at Angelie and Sanaka, who were both sitting down on previously vacant seats. Akuma was standing in front of them.

"I think he's right, Angelie-san. If the other classes are as… eager as us, then they would probably pounce on us harmless, delicate ladies…"

Sanaka embraced herself and tightly gripped her own harms.

"You're thinking too much, Sanaka-san. You're being dragged into this idiot Demon Lord's pace."

Angelie grabbed Sanaka's shoulder.

"Just concentrate on the upcoming race. Eat light so you won't have a hard time swimming. And that goes double for you, Sanaka."

Akuma continued to glare at Sanaka as he crossed his arms.

"Eat… light?! Do you know who you're talking to? I can't do that! I'm starving as it is!"

Sanaka glared back at Akuma, but with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Well, you have to do it! I need to win this race!"

Akuma bent over and drew his face closer to Sanaka's face. They had a staring contest for a while. Angelie watched them for some time but then shook her head and interrupted them.

"A-anyway, what did you mean by burying me into further debt? Do you think I need the points from winning the race to have a passing grade?"

Angelie stared at Akuma.

"That doesn't matter anymore! That'll just be a byproduct of us winning the race! What's important is I beat that smug Student Council Vice President!"

Akuma turned his head toward Angelie.

"Well, I don't need the points—"

"Hey! The Vice President isn't smug! Take that back!"

Sanaka interrupted Angelie as Sanaka grabbed Akuma's head with her two hands and turned it toward herself.

"Are you prepared to witness your beloved Vice President eat my dust?"

Akuma smirked at Sanaka. They glared at each other again and resumed their staring contest. Angelie let out a deep sigh.

---

Before the start of the swimming competition of the second-years, class 2-B had one final meeting. Everyone was visibly raring to go. The seeds of contempt and revenge Akuma planted oozed out of most of his classmates.

Akuma once again stood in front of the class. He gathered everyone's attention by loudly clearing his throat. His classmates looked at him with serious faces. This time, he announced that he would be one of the two students who were going to swim twice during the race. He also said that he would go last.

"As someone who deeply want to reclaim the honor of our dear classmate Fukushuu Angelie, I hope you all would agree to my request…"

Of course, he lied through his teeth, as he had been doing all morning. His classmates cheered loudly in approval.

Akuma then asked if there was anyone else who wanted to swim twice. Luckily, they had a male classmate who was a member of the Swimming club. Suiei Hayai had the physique of a swimmer. He had long limbs and a toned body.

It was then that Akuma could visualize the crushing defeat of Teki. He couldn't stop himself from grinning sinisterly.