COTE:SHATTERED BONDS

[8] UNEXPECTED PLAYER

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The Unexpected Player
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The tension in the air was thick as Horikita Manabu, the student council president, sat at the head of the long, rectangular table in the meeting room. His expression was calm, but there was a sense of anticipation hovering around him. At one end of the table, Class D's teacher Chabashira sat stiffly, her eyes narrowed in concentration. Opposite her was Class C's teacher Sakagami, who appeared more relaxed, though a subtle undercurrent of concern was visible in his demeanor.

Around them, the students from both classes-Class C with Ryuen Kakeru and his group, and Class D with Horikita Suzune, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and Sudo Ken-were gathered, waiting for the discussion to begin. But Manabu remained silent.

Ryuen, with his signature smug grin, leaned back in his seat, already confident of how things would unfold. Horikita Suzune glanced around impatiently, wondering what was causing the delay. Kiyotaka, as always, remained composed, his mind running through the various possibilities of why they hadn't started.

Sakagami, sensing the awkward silence, cleared his throat and addressed Manabu directly. "President, if we're ready, perhaps we can begin?"

Manabu, his sharp gaze fixed on the door, responded coolly, "Not yet. There's still one more person we're waiting for."

Both classes exchanged glances, confusion evident in their expressions. Suzune's mind raced, trying to understand who could possibly be important enough to delay the meeting. Even Kiyotaka, typically unbothered by such things, felt a flicker of curiosity.

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Suddenly, the door to the meeting room creaked open, and a figure walked in. Anzai Kazue -the new humanities and social sciences teacher-stepped inside, his presence immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the room. His white hair, striking against his pristine suit, paired with his sharp golden eyes, made him stand out even more in the otherwise formal atmosphere.

Suzune's eyes widened in shock. Why is Anzai-sensei here? Her mind raced. She hadn't expected to see him involved in something like this, especially given that he'd only just recently joined the school. And yet, here he was, as if he had a significant role to play in this meeting.

Kiyotaka, too, narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling Kazue's earlier words in class, offering his assistance if needed. Is this what he meant? he thought, his expression giving away nothing. Interesting.

The rest of the students, both from Class C and Class D, exchanged curious looks. Kazue's presence was an anomaly-an unexpected addition that no one had anticipated. Even Ryuen, who usually seemed unfazed, raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. He was clearly trying to assess whether Kazue's arrival would change anything about his carefully laid plans.

Manabu gave a small nod of acknowledgment as Kazue took his place quietly near the front of the room, standing slightly to the side. "Now we can begin," Manabu said.

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The room was silent as Manabu opened the discussion. "We're here to address the growing conflict between Class C and Class D," he stated, his tone neutral but authoritative. "As the student council president, I will oversee this meeting, and both parties will have the opportunity to present their sides."

Ryuen, ever confident, leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh? And what exactly are we discussing? I thought everything was already settled."