Chapter 251: I'm Going to Socially Kill You All

At that moment, just before the election speeches began, Ishigami had sought out Rinji.

"Rinji, can we talk about your strategy? In this situation, how exactly do you plan to help Iino?"

"Haven't I already told you the method?"

"You're going to play the villain, so Iino can become the hero who defeats you. I know that part."

Ishigami looked more serious than usual.

"What I'm asking is—how much malice are you planning to bear? If—"

"Are you worried about me?"

"Of course I'm worried about you! This whole thing was my idea. If you're planning to go through with it by hurting yourself, then forget it. Just pretend I never brought it up."

Ishigami's voice trembled with a hint of anger.

He could already guess how Rinji was going to handle it—and he didn't want to see that.

Facing Ishigami's anger, Rinji simply smiled and asked, "Ishigami, if I hadn't stepped in back then with the Kyoko Ootomo incident, what would you have done? Would you have chosen to reveal the truth to everyone?"

"Of course I would…"

But right then, Ishigami found himself unable to finish the sentence.

To protect that girl's smile, he would have done anything—but exposing the truth wasn't one of them.

"I don't think you would've," Rinji said. "Because that's the kind of person you are, Ishigami. Even if you're the one who gets hurt, you'd never want someone you care about to suffer, not even a little."

"This time, you came to me because you don't want Iino to get hurt anymore, right?"

Rinji smiled and patted Ishigami on the shoulder.

"In the same situation, you'd make the same choice I did. But there's a fundamental difference between us—when you act as villains, it's only a role you're playing. For me, I am the villain. There's no pretense involved."

"…"

"You're like the rest of the student council—kind-hearted, good people. So let me be the villain."

"Rinji, I don't know if you're truly a villain. But I do know this—you are my friend," Ishigami said solemnly. "And even if you are a villain, so what? You can still choose to be a good person from now on."

"…Thank you, Ishigami."

Rinji smiled as he met Ishigami's steady gaze.

"No matter what happens, you all must remain good people. Because I've already taken the path of the villain, and that road is no longer open to you."

"You…"

"I can't turn back. The moment I chose the path that suited me best, it was already set—I'd walk it to the end."

Hearing Rinji's words, Ishigami lowered his head, his bangs covering his expression.

"Rinji… want to hear the truth?"

"Go ahead."

"You're an asshole."

"Thanks."

---

Kaguya Shinomiya had finished her speech. As she returned backstage, Rinji passed by her, holding nothing but a USB stick—no speech manuscript in hand.

Ishigami watched Rinji walk onto the stage, his fists clenched tightly.

Shirogane glanced curiously at him.

"Ishigami, what's up?"

He had noticed Ishigami behaving differently since earlier.

"Nothing. Just that we might be about to witness a performance—of a 'hero' slaying the 'villian.'"

"Huh?"

"President, do you know the relationship between the hero and the villian?"

"…"

After a moment of thought, Shirogane replied, "The hero must defeat the villian to earn applause. But without the villian, there's no need for a hero. The villian comes first, then the hero—that's how the story goes."

"Exactly. To create a hero, you first need a villian."

Ishigami looked at Rinji, who was adjusting the microphone on the podium.

Rinji seemed to notice Ishigami's gaze and smiled slightly in his direction.

'It's fine, Ishigami. I'm just playing myself.'

He cleared his throat and said to the entire student body:

"Shut the hell up and listen, you bunch of worthless trash."

The crowd fell silent instantly.

Even the students around Shirogane, including Iino and Osaragi, gaped in shock.

What the hell? Did he just curse in front of the whole school during a student council election speech?

After the silence came a wave of commotion. Many thought they'd misheard.

"Who is that?"

"Did he just call us trash?"

"I think he's that transfer student from last semester—the one who got suspended for a month after a fight."

"Scary…"

Though Rinji's move earned harsh criticism, it undeniably worked.

He had everyone's full attention.

Rinji officially began his speech.

"You slackers finally noticed me, huh? Makes sense. If I talked normally, you'd be whispering, chatting, daydreaming—none of you would even look at me. Only when I curse do you start paying attention. So, what does that make you? Masochists?"

His insults and personal attacks drew angry looks from the students—but Rinji knew he'd succeeded.

He pressed a button on the remote beside the podium, starting the presentation he had prepared in just one day.

"You want to know why I called you trash? Simple. The public image of Shuchiin Academy has been plummeting, all thanks to you so-called 'elite' students. Your actions have ruined our reputation. Three years ago, local organizations started banning Shuchiin from participating in night events. When I asked why, they showed me these photos."

Rinji clicked the remote again.

The screen displayed several photos.

Students littering. Graffiti on walls. Engaging in indecent acts with girls from other schools in public parks.

All of them wearing Shuchiin uniforms.

The worst part—none of the photos were edited.

Many in the audience covered their faces. Those pictured realized they were now socially dead.

Rinji continued, gripping the mic:

"I'm here as Miko Iino's supporter. I used to be on the Disciplinary Committee, and even then, the job was hard. I got criticized constantly by trash like you. Honestly, I couldn't care less if Iino becomes president. I care about only one thing."

As the crowd grew restless, Rinji grinned.

"And that's making you bastards suffer. Unlike Iino who tries to reason with you, I've got photos you'd never want anyone to see. So, let me take this chance to show them off."