COTE: The Best Version of Me

Chapter 15 - J'adoube

Hashimoto POV

Loyalty

The word floats through my mind with an almost comical aura. Loyalty, that fragile and ephemeral thing that people tend to value so much, has always seemed to me more of an illusion than a quality. For most people, loyalty is a kind of invisible pact, something that binds you to a leader, an idea or even another individual. 

But deep down... all of this is superficial. Everyone is loyal until they aren't anymore, it's that simple. Loyalty ends as soon as they realize there is something better for them on the other side.

I never had that kind of illusion. Loyalty, to me, is a bargaining chip, nothing more. It serves to open doors, build temporary bridges and is discarded as soon as it is no longer useful. That's where the difference between me and others lies. I understand the value of flexibility. Where others are tied to an ideal or a leader, I keep my options open, carefully observing where the wind blows strongest. I'm not driven by emotions or a sense of duty. I'm always looking for the best opportunity.

If you commit too much to someone, you end up blinding yourself to the other opportunities the world has to offer. Being loyal to one person means ignoring the chances of something bigger, something better. And I'm not the kind of person who lets those chances pass me by.

What people call betrayal, I call adaptation. Those who don't adapt get left behind. I just see life as a series of strategic moves, a dance where those who hesitate lose the rhythm.

Katsuragi, for example, is a solid, straightforward guy. He's reliable, sure, but predictable. Sakayanagi, on the other hand, is a more intriguing piece on the board. Intelligent, cunning. Her loyalty, if she has any, is rooted in her own ambition and it would be beneficial to be on her side. While I understand Katsuragi's point, he won't stand out much if his competition is Sakayanagi.

So what exactly should I do or choose to support? As long as I end up being in the Class that's at the top, I'll be fine.

Class A was more relaxed, and some were stretching their arms and limbs after sitting in their seats for a long time. However, we still had some things to resolve for tomorrow and especially for our own future.

The discussion between them had started with the usual tone of civil disagreement, but it was quickly escalating. Sakayanagi, sitting with her usual relaxed posture, her delicate fingers tracing invisible lines on the table, had a subtle smile on her face. 

Katsuragi, on the other side, was stiffer than usual, his brows furrowed as he tried, in his pragmatic way, to steer the debate in a more conservative direction. After Class B's Ayanokoji simply said that he wouldn't fight us and trampled on their pride, both of our class leaders were discussing what we should do.

"We should focus on consolidating our positions, Sakayanagi. I don't see the point in taking such a risk with an aggressive move now. The self-assessment was an individual examination, yes, but we can use it to strengthen our weaknesses, not to attack directly. If we wait for others to make the first move, we can respond more effectively."

Katsuragi's argument wasn't a bad one. Raising our defenses and focusing only on ourselves was overly defensive, but it was also a safe way to go. However, it was also predictable. A solid wall that could also be suffocating. It made sense, but what he didn't understand was the larger game Sakayanagi was playing.

Sakayanagi, on the other hand, remained motionless in her chair, that smug smile never leaving her face. "Consolidate our positions, Katsuragi?" Her voice was a soft whisper, but as cold as marble.

"We have a chance to move up the rankings, to crush the classes that still pose a real threat. If we act now, we can maintain complete control over the next phases of the exam. It may seem hasty now, but it will be beneficial to lay some groundwork for a powerful attack in the long term. Letting them make the first move? No, that would put us on the defensive." She paused, her smile widening.