Regardless of how the students felt, the confrontation on stage continued.
The two debated fiercely over how to handle students who violated the school's code of conduct. To others, their tone seed heated and full of gunpowder.
Of course, that was only the illusion Rinji presented. The only one genuinely angry was Iino.
Rinji was deliberately guiding the conversation, with the goal of helping Iino leave a righteous and respectable impression on the students and have her publicly state her beliefs.
Shirogane stared blankly at the two who seed to be arguing, until Ishigami nudged him with his elbow.
"President, it's your turn now."
"Huh?"
"Rinji has already accomplished his goal. He's gotten Iino to express her ideals and changed the students' perception of her," Ishigami said. "But all of this depends on you winning. If they keep talking, they'll steal the spotlight."
Not just Ishigami, Rinji was also waiting for Shirogane's entrance.
No matter what Rinji had done for Iino, the first priority was still ensuring Shirogane's victory in the election.
"I understand."
Shirogane looked at Rinji on stage, picked up the microphone, and walked toward the platform step by step.
"President."
"Hmm?"
"If possible… try to preserve Rinji's reputation. He did all this because—"
"Of course," Shirogane smiled slightly. "Rinji isn't just your friend. He's my friend too."
…
By the ti Shirogane got on stage, the debate between Rinji and Iino had reached a boiling point.
He cleared his throat and said into the mic, "Rinji, give the USB."
The students looked at each other in confusion. None of them expected the forr student council president to appear at this mont.
When Rinji saw Shirogane on stage, he knew his part was over.
He pulled the USB from the computer and tossed it toward Shirogane.
Shirogane caught it and smiled. "There aren't any backups, right?"
"Nope. That's the only one."
"Good."
Shirogane set the mic aside and used both hands to snap the USB in half.
Crack.
In full view of the students, Shirogane had broken the USB that supposedly held their embarrassing secrets.
He then picked up the mic again and said, "Rinji, I know you care deeply about the school's discipline, but your thods were too extre. Listening to students and guiding them is what a student council mber should do."
"The president is right," Rinji replied.
"I hope you reflect on your actions. I'll also spend ti helping you revise your ideas on school discipline."
"Understood."
Shirogane's actions served two purposes.
First, to tell the students: Rinji wasn't acting maliciously—he just wanted to improve the school's discipline.
Second, to show everyone: only he, Shirogane, could control Rinji.
Rinji cooperatively stepped off the stage.
"Next…"
Shirogane turned toward Iino.
"Now it's just between us. I also have questions about the pledge you made."
Iino looked at Shirogane, recognizing him as her biggest rival.
But there was no fear in her eyes now. She picked up the mic and said, "I'm ready."
---
This year's student council election was probably the most unusual one in Shuchiin Academy's history.
Rather than speeches, the election was decided through a debate.
The results were announced that sa afternoon.
As Rinji walked through the school corridors, sure enough, students from all grades moved aside when they saw him.
Their eyes were filled with fear and disdain, and so even whispered insults behind his back.
But the mont Rinji turned around and glared, they imdiately scattered.
He walked unimpeded until he reached the bulletin board where the results were posted. There, a group of students surrounded Iino.
"Thanks so much, Iino."
"Yeah, if you hadn't stopped that demon, who knows what might've happened."
"Mhm, as expected of the brave Iino from the discipline committee. She stopped that jerk—oh, and for the record, I wasn't scared. I didn't do anything bad anyway."
" neither."
The students praised Iino one after another, treating her like a hero.
Iino had never experienced this kind of admiration before. She looked disbelieving, but clearly happy.
"Hey."
Rinji suddenly called out.
The students turned and saw the "demon" himself. Instantly, they cowered behind Iino.
"You were all pretty loud when gossiping about , huh?" Rinji said casually. "Did you really think I couldn't hear you?"
"Rinji, stop scaring them."
Iino didn't understand his intentions and thought he ant to harm the students. She stepped in front of them protectively.
Just then, Shirogane and Ishigami also arrived.
Shirogane addressed the students. "Head back to your classrooms. I'll take care of this."
"Thank you, President Shirogane," one student said, before quickly leaving the area.
They called him President because the election results were already out.
Shirogane had narrowly won over Iino and would continue to serve as student council president.
"Quite the storm you stirred up, Rinji," Shirogane chuckled, patting his shoulder. "As the new treasurer, you'll need to work on your public image."
"I was never the model student to begin with. A positive image is asking a lot," Rinji replied with a smile.
"Um…"
Iino looked at both of them, puzzled.
"That USB… was it really destroyed? Was there no backup?"
"The so-called evidence was fake to begin with."
Ishigami stepped forward and showed her the broken USB.
"Huh?"
"There was nothing inside it from the start. The president only broke the outer shell. The rest of the USB wasn't even functional," Ishigami explained. "Besides the two photos shown earlier, the rest of the presentation was all blank."
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