Cardfight!! Vanguard: Heiwa

-Part 5

As the second week of the school year went by, the situation on Heiwa started to grow worse, though many failed to notice it. It felt like an unsettling change slowly being made before its due conclusion. The various posses of delinquents on the school all talked about how one of theirs would become King, but what most saw was the various delinquents finally finding unity among them. What most saw as the delinquents' actions slowing down, others saw a unity to support a person as bad as them.

"Sheesh, talk about an heavy atmosphere. It ain't even been a month and the mood of the school feels already off, know what I mean?" Tate asked, walking side by side with Izuru through the hallways of the second floor in the direction of the student council room. "Everything just feels... Off, y'know?"

"Yeah." Izuru nodded. "The air is filled with this uncertainty. The delinquents have become united for the first time, and the talk about one of them becoming King doesn't stops. It'll probably die down eventually, I don't see a reason to worry about it."

"Hey man, if you say so, I'll take your word for it. By the way, guess what? Me and Ako are together again!! This is the best, I'm finally getting some high school love!"

"For like the tenth time this school year. Didn't she dump you sunday?"

"Nah man, that's all on the past. Why focus on the past so much when you got a whole present to live in? Live the moment, no need to be focused on what's to come and what came already, just focus on coming now!"

"That sounded stupid and you should feel stupid for letting yourself say that." Izuru deadpanned.

"Harsh, Miyuki... Harsh."

"Did I ever pull any punches?" Izuru chuckled, opening the door to the student council room. "Good morning."

Aimi, the only one in the room, sat behind her desk. She lifted her head upon hearing the greeting and got up, slightly clenching her fists.

"I'd like to speak with you about a thing, Izuru." Aimi declared. "It's urgent."

"Well then, hello pres Hanagata, bye pres Hanagata." Tate said, closing the door on his way out.

"Sure, what's the matter?" Izuru asked, placing his school bag down on one of the couches.

"The headmaster notified me about something."

Izuru clicked his tongue. 'Already, huh?'

"Are you really using one of the contracts against the new student? On what basis?" Aimi asked. "Have you even gave Ban-san a chance? Why are you so focused on him?"

"I think you can see the rising issue that his presence has become by now. The delinquents have all gathered up, advocating for a new King, spreading the rumour that one of their kind will take Heiwa. Using a contract in this situation is futureproofing. It'll shut down any attempts at rising up from the delinquent side of Heiwa. Ban Katsushito's a threat to the harmony Heiwa has, so he has to be dealt with before this flame of rebellion of his spreads like wildfire and turns Heiwa into some delinquent-controlled school. We both know the headmaster won't directly expel Ban, so it's up to us to deal with the issue."

"Up to us? You mean up to you! You're simply using the contracts without consulting me or Chika-senpai! The first time I heard about your actions was when the headmaster told me about it!"

"Because you'd never agree to it! You're too calm in these situations, you wouldn't think twice before giving that damned bastard a chance! His presence in Heiwa is like a virus, we have to deal with it before we're affected by it, it's a do or die situation!" Izuru snapped.

Aimi, startled by the sudden words, took a step back, looking slightly down. "When you went to pick me up on monday, your walking seemed weird, and you were always reaching for your torso and taking breaks while we headed to the station..." Aimi looked up at Izuru. "I've heard rumours about you getting into fights all the time before you came to Heiwa. Is this what's this is about?"

Izuru looked away from Aimi and then at the door, reaching for his school bag. "Our conversation here is done. I'm going to the library."

"Izuru, answer me!"

Aimi dashed towards Izuru, grabbed his sleeve as he opened the door, but in an abrupt motion, he forced her to let go by swinging his arm away. He lookd back at her, looking down on her eyes with an unsettling but plain glare in his already dark eyes.

"I told you I'd get you into the school council when I met you, didn't I? I stood by what I promised and completed my end of the bargain without ever asking you for anything in return. I think you own me at least this much, so I'll say it just once. Don't go prying into my personal life like it's any of your business."

"I-izuru..." Aimi muttered under her breath as Izuru left the council room. "What... What happened to you..."

Izuru walked down the hallways of the school, heading for the library to meet with Kasumi. From the corner of his eye, he could see the quick looks some of the delinquent-looking students gave him, confirming one of his suspicions regarding the current climate of the school.

'I see. If Ban's the one behind their unity, it confirms I'm his biggest obstacle. Gathering the muscle side of the school to support you isn't a bad idea, but it'll be soon be all for naught.' Izuru thought as he entered the empty library. "Hm? Kasumi, are you there?" He called out.

"Oh, you've arrivee sooner than I expected, Sawada-san." Kasumi chuckled, arriving shortly after Izuru with her schoolbag in her hands. "Good morning."

"Hey, how's the contract coming along?"

"I already have it ready, but I'll bring it on friday like you requested. However, there's one thing I must ask."

"Hm? What's up?"

"Are you sure you want to proceed with this?" Kasumi asked, the glare in her eyes showing her seriousness.

"Of course I am. Ban Katsuhito needs to be dealt with before things go for the worse. You've seen how things are outside, we have to deal with this as soon was possible!"

"The way the matter gets your worked up... It became personal at some point."

"I already told you this before, he was planning on going after Yumi and forced Minami to say where Yumi's house was!"

"I see... What about Ban-san's side of the story?"

"Why's everyone so focused on the story of that professor-beater? Sheesh. Just bring the contract tomorrow so that I van have it for friday."

"Understood." Kasumi nodded. She trailed Izuru with her eyes, only speaking up when he was about to open the library's door. "Did someone happen today, Sawada-san? Your eyes look different."

"What's that suppoused to mean?" Izuru asked, looking at the girl.

"Your eyes usually have this tired and plain look on them, but today, they seem unsettled. My guess... You had a fight with someone today."

"...don't worry about it, everything's fine." Izuru said before leaving.