Cote: Elite in Action

Control of Destiny

"Wake up," I said while lightly slapping the faces of the four guys sitting there, their hands tied behind their backs. But that wasn't all...

"Eh? What happened?" murmured the burly guy, trying to grasp the situation.

"Hello," I said with a friendly smile as they stared at me. Their faces shifted from confusion to fear and then to discomfort.

"I'm glad you all woke up quickly."

"How could we not wake up if you hit us?" protested one of them.

"I guess you're right," I replied, shrugging.

"Why the hell am I naked?!" one suddenly yelled, alarmed.

The others looked at him and then quickly checked themselves, discovering in horror that all four were completely naked.

"Why the hell are we naked?!" they exclaimed in unison, shooting me fierce glares, fear replaced by indignation.

"Oh, well, I guess it's time to explain that," I said, maintaining my smile.

"Where are our things? My phone!" one said, tense.

"Relax. Your stuff is over there." I pointed to a nearby bench where their belongings were. Seeing them, their shoulders relaxed a bit, though not entirely.

"Then what was the point of leaving us naked? If you already beat us up, you could have just left, right?" another said with an accusatory tone.

"You're right; I could have done that. But I'm pretty sure that if I had, you'd still be keeping an eye on me, wouldn't you?"

They fell silent, confirming I was right.

"See? That's why you are as you are now," I said, shrugging again.

"Is this your revenge for following you?" one asked, annoyed.

"No, it's something a bit more practical." I took my phone out of my pocket and showed them a picture on the screen. The image showed the four of them, completely naked, just like they were now.

"Why did you take that picture?!" one screamed, horrified.

"Please lower your voice. Dealing with loud people is quite tedious," I replied, massaging the bridge of my nose.

"What are you planning to do with that picture?" asked the burly guy, somewhat calmer.

"Well, I suppose tomorrow you four will be the center of attention at school." I smiled widely.

The four looked at me with wide eyes, realizing the situation they were really in.

"Don't tell me you're going to publish that photo?" one asked, as if his world was crumbling.

"Correct. Tomorrow the whole school will see your miserable bodies," I replied, relishing their desperation.

"No!"

"Please, don't do that!" begged another.

"Osawa, please, don't do that. We'll do anything; just don't publish that photo, please." They were pleading for me not to distribute the image, and it was understandable. For a teenager, their image is one of the most important things. If that photo got out, their social lives would be ruined.

"Well, what should I do? Hmm, I have something in mind," I said, toying with them as they watched me closely.

"Look, I want two things from you," I began, enjoying their anxiety.

"Yes, what do you want?" one asked, visibly nervous.

"What do you want?" I repeated, adding dramatic flair to the situation.