Chapter 23:

Ostensibly Onyx

Good Luck in the Golden Classroom: The Golden Waltz


 What is success?

Is it the completion of a goal? Is the satisfaction from work? Is it the result of one’s actions? Or is it the complete domination of something?

As for me, it’s one of them, that is the success.

But, there was one who blocked the path to success—no, to overcome this obstacle will be a success——a milestone taking me closer to my ultimate goal.

But first, I must listen to the intense, thumping music before the battle. The beating of drums and the blaring of trumpets announced each side’s epic entrance.

The song was provided by the awkward and annoying elevator music; it lasted for thirty seconds but felt like forever. Maybe it was because the elevator was in 'maintenance mode,’ or probably because of my apprehension.

Finally, the elevator stopped and opened its doors. A strong breeze hit me cooly in the face. The bright, blue sky blinded me. The sun was high when I stepped out. Almost instantly, my body began sweating—no, I was sweating before, despite the cool breeze. I rolled up my hoodie’s sleeves to reduce the heat.

And a person was pacing in front of the elevators. He immediately stopped to look at me. His face contorted in shock before composing to his usual confidence.

“Oh, so you did come. Wasn’t expecting you this early,” Takeuchi greeted with a faint shiver in his voice.

“It’s cold, isn’t it?” I looked around; his friends weren’t in sight.

“Yeah,” he spoke now as cool as the breeze, but I could perceive his sweat, “it would be better if I had a jack—”

“A jack-ton of friends.” I stepped closer. He seemed to falter but stood his ground. “Lonely, aren’t you?”

“They’ll come, so you just stand there and wait.”

Why would I wait? Both of us were in a cold sweat. And his sweat was as clear as his intentions. He cowered behind his friends for protection; that was his only strength. It was wise of him to wait, but he didn’t know that his opponent’s tenacious.

Yes, he didn’t know me, and neither do you.

I shook my head, “No, no.” I stopped to contain my laughter. “We should go over there.” I pointed to a shaded area by the pool. That area was by the edge of the rooftop. “We wouldn’t want to sweat before the battle, do we?”

“Good point.” He followed. While he walked behind me, he noticed something. “Hey, why are you tiptoeing?”

“My heels hurt today.”

He kept a distance from me as he leaned on the railings, looking at the distant skyline.

I did the same. There was no need to rush. I owned the day, though, I thought that one person would be impatiently waiting for me to finish what I had to do.

When I was thinking of that person, my phone vibrated. I read the message I received.

‘Hey! Were is da gang? Dont u tell me dat dey were comin or did dey bac out?’ It was from Ryuu.

‘I don’t know.’

‘Were u?’

‘I’m stuck in my room. My door’s locked.’

‘Wat!?’

Then, another message from another sender arrived.

‘I’m at the Mall. Where are you right now?’ messaged Miyazono.

‘I’m in my room.’

‘I heard things are malfunctioning, so I’ll wait for you.’

I sensed my companion walking toward me, so I pocketed my phone before I could send my message.

“It seems that they can’t leave or go. We know where this is going.” He was within arms reach. He cracked his knuckles in a show of strength. “So, let’s end this.”

I looked up at the ceiling to confirm something, then I placed my hands in my pocket. “Before that, I want to know something first.”

He exhaled sharply, “What’s it?”

“Were you planning to kill me?”

Suddenly, he began to laugh. “M—me? Kill you? What are you saying?” He pointed to a surveillance camera, “I would if I could, but, as you told me, what good will it do to slaughter the flock?”

So, he didn’t even consider me as a leader, but as part of the flock.

“So, who will you kill?”

“The president.”

It wasn’t a surprise. Power-hungry humans will soon overthrow whoever they think is superior because they are cowards. A little threat scares them of the possibility of their downfall.

But for Takeuchi, he was only beginning to grow. He feared nothing to lose, but that was because he didn’t realize what he would lose.

I pulled out black gloves from my pocket, “So, we have the same goal.”

His friends, his army, his class.

“You’re after the president too? Too bad, I’d hate you to be on my side.”

Reputation, money, relationships.

“There can only be one power! One strength–! What’s with those gloves?”

His school, his family, his pride.

“But mine’s a different person,” I said.

And one thing I didn’t fear taking because no one was watching.

Takeuchi rushed over to me with his fists ready.

Because no one can watch.

With a grin, he shouted, “It’s me, isn’t it!?”

His life.

“Don’t take me for an idiot!!” He threw his fists.

I dodged and slid, avoiding every strike. With his every strike, he groaned.

“I don’t know how you did it, but it’s you, isn’t it!?” He punched after, but he only displaced air, but I didn’t realize that he was below me. “Don’t take me for a fool!!” He powered an uppercut, but I blocked it with my hands.

That was my first contact with this fight. Before, my opponents had an edge over me, and I couldn’t fight back. What I could do before was a dodge, but to dodge was to impress cowardice.

Without an audience, to dodge was to escape.

But, I wasn’t trying to escape.

“What!?” He recomposed himself. “Impressive that you could take a punch! Were you training?” He guffawed. “The weak one’s training! Hey, look guys!” He looked behind him. He instantly remembered that his usual goons weren’t there to watch him— “It’s a shame that—AGH!!”

—writhe in defeat.

I elbowed his head underneath me and caused him to hit his chin on the ground. He lay full-length on the floor, unable to stand up from his broken pride.

He probably bit his tongue when he hit the ground. I allowed him to stand. His head shook as it faced me in anger. Blood dripped from his mouth. He might have wounded his tongue.

“Phyouuuu!!!” he rushed me with unexpected strength and slammed me against a pillar. Wrapping his arms around my body, he disallowed my escape, but my limbs were free.

I elbowed his back and kneed him on his stomach. He let go, unable to endure the pain, and faltered backward.

Then, I kicked him on his side toward the railings of the rooftop’s edge.

I did all of this while I stood on my toes.

He rested himself at the railing and coughed out blood.

I checked myself for any residue and realized my folded sleeves, exposing my skin. Quickly, I rolled it back and stood near him.

He was too tired to fight. Talking would pain his tongue. He couldn’t utter his usual insults, in victory or defeat. He could only fearfully ask one question, “Sho, aa uu going cru kiw me ow?”

“Take off your vest,” I ordered, and he followed. I placed the vest on the floor, remembering to take it later. Then, I bowed down to his legs, “Kazuya Takeuchi, you must know one thing,” and wrapped it with my arms.

“You were in the way,” then I flipped him over the railings.

And he screamed, seemingly louder and louder as he descended faster and faster. At some point, I couldn’t hear his desperate screams anymore. It was probably because his screams couldn’t reach my ears, or because he had landed in hell.

Looking down, I saw his fallen body atop a nearby building. His body wallowed in an expanding pool of red.

I took the vest and inspected it. There were pockets but nothing in it. Whatever he carried probably fell with him; I could only hope.

Then, I roamed around the area, checking the ground for anything. When I confirmed that nothing was found, I wore the vest inside the hoodie and tiptoed to the elevator.

When I arrived at my room’s door, I messaged Principal Miyu, “Can I go out now?”

It took a while, but my door unlocked, and I pushed it open.

Surprisingly, another door opened, and a voice greeted, “Oh, there you are.” I was shocked that Miyazono was still there.

“I thought you were at the Mall.”

“Well, I lied. Anything wrong about that?”

“So, you weren’t planning to go in the first place?”

“You know why? Because you lied too.”

I froze. Did she know? Did she find out?

“I lied about what?”

“Being in your room.”

I sighed. “You still don’t trust me, do you?”

“That’s right; I still don’t.” She quickly walked and looked up at me. Her eyes attempted to pierce through my soul. Her eyebrows fluttered questionably. Her lips were as straight as her sight. She had a frown forming. “So, where were you, Amahiko Yajima?”

I stayed silent.

“What were you doing, Amahiko Yajima?”

I still stayed silent. Then, I devised an idea. I meekly looked away. “There are things I can’t tell you.”

She placed her fingers on her lips and stepped back. “Don’t tell me you were—”

“I was! I was, okay!? So, stop asking me! Goodness, you are so dense,” I covered my face.

She stomped closer, “You have the nerve to say that!?” but immediately retreated.

“Goodbye, Miyazono,” I entered my room and turned around to pull the door, “We’re not having lunch.”

“You’re so depraved!” She shouted and ran to her room.

When I was about to close the door, the elevator chimed and opened. A throng ran to my room. Ryuu was leading them.

“Are you alright!?” Ryuu worriedly asked.

“Where were they? Did they trick you? Did they hurt you?” Ito stepped afront.

I raised my arms and calmed them down, “It’s alright. Nothing happened.”

Ryuu grew confused when he looked at my hands, “What’s with those gloves?”

“Ah, this?” I quickly removed and pocketed them. “I was trying to pick the lock, but it seems like I didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh right!” Ito began, “Everyone’s rooms were locked, and the elevators weren’t working. It’s like someone sabotaged us. Good thing nothing happened to you! I thought they were planning something.”

Then, the PA system announced, “Sorry for the sudden inconvenience. From 11:00 AM to 11:15 AM, a sudden interruption occurred. Please be rest assured that this was part of our routine systems checks to ensure your security. Sorry for the troubles we have caused and thank you for staying calm.”

“Oh, I guess it is because of some dumb check after all,” Ito laughed.

“That aside,” Ryuu interrupted, “we never met with Takeuchi and his group. Are you sure they told you it was today? Maybe it was later?”

“They probably got locked in their rooms too,” I said.

After hanging out for a while, they left my room in glee. I didn’t tell them of Takeuchi’s death or anything that had occurred. It was a shame now that I couldn’t have lunch with Miyazono today. Maybe, some other time.

I removed my hoodie, the vest, and the new shoes and threw them into the trash. I called Reona for a clean-up.

But there was one more thing I needed to do.

I pulled the drawer on my desk. A small, metallic case slid with it. I placed it on the desk and unlocked the combination. In it was a leatherback notebook. I flipped to a page and crossed out a line. I couldn’t help but smirk.

I looked toward the window, reminiscing about the fleeting academic quarter. The first day at school——high school, the beatings, the friend-makings, the ongoing class-building, the ball, and the new level.

Another quarter was about to begin.

What was all this for? For success.

What was your success? The twenty-five percent.

What was your goal? Haven’t I told you?

It was to make the most of my high school life…

…in all aspects.