Chapter 279: Karma

"Rinji-kun."

"What is it, Secretary Fujiwara?"

One afternoon, Rinji was tapping away on a keyboard in the student council office, sorting through the financial report for the quarter. Fujiwara was lying on the desk in front of him, staring at him as he worked.

"You've been in the student council for a while now, haven't you?"

"It has been some time."

Rinji continued typing, the keys clicking away. He didn't even glance at Fujiwara.

"I just think it's kind of strange."

"What's strange?"

"Ishigami-kun joined the council later than you, but he's blended in really well with everyone."

Fujiwara absentmindedly twirled her pink hair with her finger.

"You talk to us often enough, but I always get this weird feeling... like you don't really fit in with the group."

Click.

His fingers paused mid-typing.

"Of course, don't get me wrong, Rinji-kun. It's just a silly feeling I had, nothing serious," Fujiwara giggled and waved it off.

Rinji smiled bitterly after a short silence.

"Sometimes I'm surprised at how accurate your weird feelings are. There are moments when I really feel I don't fit in with the council."

"Eh? Why is that?"

"Because... the world I grew up in is very different from yours." Rinji smiled. "Even though I've enjoyed my time in Japan with the council, and I'm thankful the president let me join…"

"A different world?"

Fujiwara tilted her head.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I grew up in a place very different from yours. That environment shaped how I act and deal with people—and it's far from normal."

Rinji looked into Fujiwara's curious, wide eyes.

"I've never fully blended into the council because deep down, I know there's something that separates me from you all."

"What is that something?"

"The karma… born from the way I deal with others."

---

"Kiwatari Jun, I gotta say—you sure run fast. You barely survived the Tsubaki class and already dared to mess with another group. Are you that confident I wouldn't lay a hand on you? Or do you just believe in the council's protection too much?"

In a spacious classroom in Hyakkaou Private Academy used for gambling.

On one side of the table sat Rinji. On the other, Kiwatari, now confined to a wheelchair.

Kiwatari's expression was grim. The moment he'd been shot, he'd passed out from the pain. When he came to, he was already facing Rinji.

A shot to the knee meant he would never walk again.

"You… what are you…"

"My name is Takamine Rinji. I'm sure you've heard of me," Rinji said with a smile. "And I've heard something interesting about you too. Word is, you've been abusing the school's 'livestock have no human rights' rule to harass female students labeled as livestock. Is that true?"

"You… you're here to take revenge for them?"

Bang!

"AAAGGGHH!!"

With a gunshot and scream, Kiwatari's right ring finger was blown off, blood dripping onto the floor.

"Don't answer a question with another question, you filthy frog piss of a man." Rinji said coldly. "To answer you honestly, I don't know those girls. Except for Tsubomi Nanami."

"Ugh…"

Kiwatari clutched his bleeding hand, trembling with fear.

"Wondering why, huh? Fine, I'll be kind enough to tell you."

Rinji stood from his chair, grabbed Kiwatari by the hair, and pulled his face close.

"Because it's fun."

"W…what…"

"Just like you enjoyed tormenting the weak, I enjoy watching you scream in front of me. Different people, different hobbies. Be a little understanding."

Thud.

Rinji let go, letting Kiwatari collapse.

He returned to his seat, picked up the deck of cards on the gambling table, and started shuffling.

"I heard it was you who ordered my and Nanami's bags to be shredded that day. The ones I hospitalized told me before they passed out. Still sent them to the hospital, though. Too late."

Rinji placed the shuffled deck on the table, his expression turning twisted.

"They say you couldn't stand me helping Nanami. Wanted to teach me what happens to those who help livestock at this school. I'll give you credit—great idea. But you made a fatal mistake. You tried to take on an enemy without knowing enough about them. In war, intel is everything."

"W-what do you want? If it's money, my family—"

"No, it's not about money. Your life has a greater use."

Looking at the trembling Kiwatari, Rinji snapped his fingers.

The door opened. In walked a girl in a mascot costume.

Runa Yomozuki, a third-year and member of the Hyakkaou student council.

"What is it, Rinji-kun? Calling me out from the council room?"

"I need a witness for a match." Rinji smiled, glancing at the sniffling Kiwatari. "A duel with this... entertaining classmate."

"Eh… but if you want me to witness, we have to follow council rules, right? And you hate those rules."

"What rules?"

"Both parties have to agree to the gamble, or it doesn't count." Runa said as she chewed her lollipop. "Even if you force someone to agree, it still counts."

"Strange. Doesn't your school have people who force others to gamble?"

"Forcing agreement is still agreement."

"Got it."

Rinji pulled a phone from his pocket and slid it over to Kiwatari.

The moment Kiwatari saw the photo, his eyes widened in shock.

On the screen, his father—the current prefectural governor—was shown with a gun pointed at his head.