Chapter 268: Respecting Tradition

"Where did the president go?"

"She left by helicopter around noon. Said she had something to deal with," answered a girl with a side ponytail named Sayaka.

Her full name was Igarashi Sayaka, student council secretary at Hyakkaou Academy and someone fairly close to the president, Kirari Momobami.

"Eh~? She left now of all times? And just when someone very interesting showed up."

A petite girl with a childish voice and striped thigh-high socks chimed in while playing her handheld console.

This was Yomozuki Runa, the most unpredictable member of the student council. She always wore cute hoodies and never let go of her console, even during meetings.

"I actually think the new guy's kind of interesting. His name's Takamine Rinji, right?"

The short-haired girl leaning back in her chair didn't seem afraid of Rinji at all.

She wore an eyepatch—not out of chuunibyou, but because she literally had no eyeball. With shoulder-length hair, a giant bow, and piercings on her face and tongue, she was named Ikishima Midari, head of the Beautification Council, which was essentially the school's disciplinary committee.

"Aren't you scared of him? I think he's terrifying~"

The one speaking in a cute voice was a twin-tailed girl with star-shaped pupils.

This was Yumemi Yumemite, the student council's PR officer and also a popular idol.

"He's so violent. He beat up Manyuda-kun the moment he got here. So scary~"

As she said this, the bandaged-up Manyuda Kaede frowned.

Kaede was the student council treasurer and the guy Rinji had beaten up earlier. Now wrapped like a mummy, he adjusted his glasses and said sternly:

"The student council represents supreme authority at this school. Yet Takamine Rinji assaulted a council member, and the president hasn't even responded. Is she scared?"

"The president would never be scared!" Sayaka quickly retorted.

"Then is she okay watching one of her members get attacked? That's a pretty pathetic president."

His tone was thick with sarcasm toward Kirari.

In the corner, a long-haired girl in a kimono with closed eyes said nothing the entire time.

She was Nishinotouin Yuriko, student council member and head of the Traditional Culture Club.

She feared Kirari—and also feared Rinji. She believed both of them possessed a madness beyond normal comprehension.

These were the student council members present.

Rinji's arrival had disrupted the original balance of the school, forcing them to consider their next steps.

But every one of them had their own agenda. The student council of Hyakkaou wasn't nearly as united as it seemed.

"Anyway."

Kaede, face still wrapped in bandages, pushed up his glasses.

"I believe Kirari is failing as president. Not only does she ignore the council's authority, she even let a lunatic like Takamine Rinji in from the outside—"

Click!

"Sounds like someone just called my name."

"!!?"

Mid-meeting, Rinji suddenly burst through the student council room door, strolling in like he owned the place.

Some members immediately went on guard. Runa kept playing her game. Midari, on the other hand, looked at Rinji with interest.

Without paying attention to the mixed expressions of the student council members, Rinji pulled out a chair and sat down right in front of them.

"Takamine Rinji, why are you here?" Sayaka frowned and asked.

Rinji didn't answer her question. Instead, he glanced at the others and asked, "Where's Momobami? Where did that girl go?"

"…The president had some urgent matters to attend to. She's not at school for now."

"Oh… not at school, huh."

Rinji nodded as if he understood, then looked around at the student council members. "So with the president gone, who's in charge now?"

"The vice-president."

"And where is the vice-president?"

"She… isn't here either."

The vice-president, usually seen standing beside Momobami Kirari, was a long-haired girl who always wore a mask. But today, she was nowhere to be found.

"Not here either? Then who's running things now?"

"…I am," Kaede said, pushing up his glasses.

This wasn't officially decided by the student council, of course—it was a self-appointed decision he made on his own.

"…And who are you again? I don't remember there being a mummy in the student council."

"I'm Kaede Manyuda."

Kaede's tone was irritated.

Though he was furious, he didn't dare act out. He absolutely didn't want to get beaten up by Rinji again.

"Oh, you."

Rinji suddenly grinned.

"Since you're in charge, I've got something to discuss. I want to establish a club, and I heard that needs approval from the student council."

"What kind of club are you trying to set up?"

"An Anti-Gambling Club."

"Anti… anti-gambling?"

Everyone in the student council was stunned by Rinji's words.

At Hyakkaou Private Academy, a school where gambling is everything—he wanted to create an anti-gambling club?

"Yup, the Anti-Gambling Club. So I need you, Kaede, to sign off on this document," Rinji said, placing the application form in front of him.

Kaede stared at the form in silence.

Sayaka looked at Rinji and couldn't help but say, "It's impossible to establish an anti-gambling club in this school."

"Oh?"

Rinji raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

"Gambling supremacy is a rule set by the president. Even before she took office, gambling has been the school's tradition. An anti-gambling club is—"

"Oh—tradition, huh? I see, tradition."

Rinji chuckled and stood up, strolling around the student council table while nodding as if he were admiring something.

His actions made the student council even more tense.

"If it's tradition, then I guess it can't be helped."

"If you understand tha—"

BANG!!

Before Sayaka could finish her sentence, Rinji suddenly slammed a handgun onto the meeting table.

It was a real gun. They could tell at a glance.

"Everyone, I have a tradition too."

Rinji's mouth curved into a cruel smile.

"My tradition is this—once I make a decision, anyone who says 'no' gets a bullet in the head. I respect your traditions, so I ask that you all…"

Looking at the color draining from their faces, Rinji's grin turned maniacal.

"Show some respect for mine too. How about it?"