dictatorkoji

The Respect Between Rivals

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the campus, bathing everything in a warm, golden light. Ayanokoji stood near the vending machines, his usual blank expression concealing the complex calculations running through his mind. This was no ordinary day.

From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Suzune Horikita moving through the courtyard, her eyes fixed on her older brother, Manabu. She had been shadowing him for days now, trying to prove something—to him or to herself. Ayanokoji wasn't quite sure yet, but it didn't matter. What was clear was that today, something would change.

Manabu stopped in front of the vending machine, not yet noticing Ayanokoji. Suzune came to a halt behind him, keeping her distance but clearly intent on continuing the confrontation that had been brewing between them.

"You've been following me, Suzune," Manabu said without turning around. His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

Suzune stiffened at his words but didn't back down. "I'm not following you. I'm watching how you conduct yourself as student council president."

"Watching?" Manabu turned around, his eyes narrowing. "Or wasting your time? If you think observation alone will help you surpass me, you're mistaken."

Suzune clenched her fists. "It's not a waste. You might not see it now, but I'm learning. I will surpass you, Manabu."

Ayanokoji watched the exchange silently, observing both siblings with a quiet interest. While Suzune was clearly motivated, she still lacked the composure and foresight her brother possessed. Manabu, on the other hand, was a skilled strategist—one that even Ayanokoji respected, though he would never say so aloud.

Manabu finally turned his attention toward Ayanokoji, sensing his presence. "And what about you, Ayanokoji?" His voice was measured. "I didn't expect to find you here."

Ayanokoji gave a slight nod, his face betraying no emotion. "I tend to be where things happen."

Manabu studied him for a moment before speaking again. "You've stayed in the background for quite some time now. Quiet. Unassuming. But I doubt that's the real you."

Suzune glanced between the two of them, a hint of confusion crossing her face. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Manabu ignored her question and kept his gaze on Ayanokoji. "You're far more capable than you let on, aren't you?"

Ayanokoji met Manabu's eyes without flinching. "I just do what needs to be done."

"An answer that says everything and nothing at the same time," Manabu said, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "I suppose that's what makes you dangerous."

Suzune scowled, her frustration bubbling over. "Why do you always talk like that, Manabu? Why do you treat me like I'm some kind of child?"

"Because you still act like one," Manabu replied coldly. "You're driven by emotions—your pride, your anger, your need to prove something. But that's not how you win."

Ayanokoji decided to interject, his voice calm but carrying weight. "Manabu's right. This isn't a place where emotions lead to success. If you let them control you, you'll only fall behind."

Suzune shot him an incredulous look. "You're agreeing with him?"

"I'm pointing out a fact," Ayanokoji replied simply. "This school isn't just about being smart or working hard. It's about understanding the system and using it to your advantage. That's something you've yet to master."

Suzune's jaw tightened in response, but she didn't say anything. Her eyes flicked between Ayanokoji and her brother, as if realizing for the first time that she wasn't just dealing with a sibling rivalry—she was dealing with something far more complex.

Manabu regarded Ayanokoji thoughtfully. "You see things clearly. That much is obvious. But you still keep your distance. You don't get involved unless it benefits you directly."

"That's one way to put it," Ayanokoji said, his voice remaining neutral. "But we all have our reasons for staying in the background."

Suzune crossed her arms. "What exactly are you saying? You're both speaking in riddles."

Ayanokoji glanced at her briefly before looking back at Manabu. "I think your brother's point is that you still have a long way to go if you want to lead. You need to stop reacting emotionally and start thinking strategically. Only then will you stand a chance of surpassing him."

Manabu nodded slightly in agreement. "If you want to beat me, Suzune, you'll need more than just determination. You'll need to outthink me. And so far, you've shown little evidence that you can."

Suzune opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. She knew deep down that they were both right, but accepting that truth wasn't easy.

Ayanokoji turned toward Manabu. "You've put a lot of faith in the system here. But what happens when someone breaks the system from within?"

Manabu's eyes flashed with interest. "Is that a threat, Ayanokoji?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Ayanokoji's lips, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. "No. Just a possibility."

There was a moment of silence, a strange tension hanging in the air between them. Manabu's gaze lingered on Ayanokoji, clearly recognizing something in him that was still hidden from the rest of the student body.

Finally, Manabu turned away, addressing Suzune one last time. "If you want to surpass me, start by listening. Stop letting your emotions guide you. Only then will you understand what it means to lead."

With that, Manabu walked away, leaving Suzune standing in frustrated silence. Ayanokoji, as always, remained unreadable, his mind already calculating the next steps in the intricate dance of power at this school.

Suzune stared at the ground, her fists clenched. "He's always like this. Always looking down on me."

Ayanokoji turned his gaze toward her. "It's not that he's looking down on you. It's that you haven't given him a reason to look at you as an equal."

Her eyes snapped to his, surprised by the bluntness of his words. "And you? Do you see me the same way?"

Ayanokoji's response was as calm as ever. "I see potential. But it's up to you whether or not you reach it."

Without another word, Ayanokoji turned and walked away, leaving Suzune to wrestle with her own thoughts, the weight of her brother's words, and the enigmatic presence of Ayanokoji still lingering in the air.

As he walked back toward the dorms, Ayanokoji allowed himself a brief moment of reflection. Manabu Horikita was a formidable opponent, someone worth respecting. But even he could be manipulated, just like everyone else in this school. The game was only just beginning.

I tried making this chapter a bit more conversational than the others. If you like it, I can continue with this style in future chapters, though it might slow down the story a little. Let me know in the comments if you prefer a conversational or non-conversational approach!