Inside the council room(part 1) - Dead Logic

Two hours ago___

In Shuhi's school, through a quiet hallway, Akari and Rina could be seen rushing to a common place.

Akari was furious for a reason, "Why did I never think about it before? I could be called lucky that this came to your mind."

Rina was by his side, trying to make him calm, 'Akari, you don't have to! It's too much. You don't even know if Delta would do such a thing."

"But there is a possibility." Akari said, stopping and turning back.

"Whatever she does will be on her own! I won't let her get any help." Akari said.

Rina tried to say something but stopped,

"Damn it! If he decides something in his mind, it's useless to stop him." Rina thought.

They reached the classroom at the end of the corridor. It was their break time so a very few people was supposed to be there. Akari slid the door open and entered as well as Rina.

It didn't take him long to find one of the student council president candidate, Takase Hoshimoto there, sitting above a table desk, talking to his friends. As it was the election days, the discussion of who would be the next president was here and there.

Hoshimoto, being the second to Hiroshi in terms of vote count, was discussion among his friends on how to win people's favour more.

"Excuse me, is Hoshimoto senpai here?" Akari asked them, shoving his previous anger inside him and trying to be polite.

"Yes, I am Hoshimoto. You want something?" Hoshimoto stood up.

"My name is Akari Taizo. And she is Rina Lowell, first years." Akari introduced himself and Rina.

"Nice to meet you, senpai." Rina said, bowing a little.

Hoshimoto told his friend behind him to leave them for now and he will meet them later, "So what is it? We were actually in the middle of a big decision making discussion." Hoshimoto said.

"Sorry if we are interrupting but, I noticed that you have been campaigning aggressively." Akari stated.

Hoshimoto wasn't expecting a comment involving him and the election from newcomers. He tried to be casual,

"You caught it very quickly! Surprising for someone new here as usually people just watch the election going on in their first year and don't get involved. Yes, I am doing it. I have to do at least something to gain people's vote, right? Or else, what reason would they have to vote for me? That's basic of running an election." Hoshimoto cleared.

Akari,on purpose stated the fact about Hoshimoto because he predicted Hoshimoto would give that specific reply. A reply he had a counter already prepared,

"But why? Hiroshi senpai seems to be doing absolutely nothing. Not even coming to people's sight. Yet, the leaks are showing he is way above than you." Akari said.

These words were a calculated step from Akari. Rina, being by his side, instantly understood it.

"I see what you are doing. A dead lock situation. But for senpai. If he deflects, he looks insecure. If he admits it, he looks weak. If he normalizes it, he will reveal fear. So which one?" Rina thought.

Hoshimoto gave a sigh, eyes small, clearly showing frustration.

"You know what's frustrating? No matter what I do, the momentum shifts." Hoshimoto said.

"The momentum shifts?" Rina asked, a little bit surprised.

"You saw the leaks, right? But those are just some numbers. If you see the vote growth like a graph, at first mine and senpai's lines were almost equal. But suddenly his curve went higher. Obviously more people decided to vote for him." Hoshimoto explained.

A moment of silence bestowed upon them as no one opened their mouths.

"If the trajectory continues, then I will lose." Hoshimoto said in a hopeless manner.

His hopelessness made something spark inside Akari. Not empathy but something selfish. His worst tension was coming true. His grand plan, his wish of Shuhi making Ondo the president will be easier if Hoshimoto decides to step down. He couldn't let the battlefield become easier for Shuhi in any way.

"If you are thinking to withdraw, then I have to step up!" Akari said, now serious.

Akari's serious words came as a surprise to Hoshimoto. He was surprised to see that Akari, with a single conversation, was able to figure out his current motive,

"How did he know that I wanted to withdraw? I never said something like that. No, probably a hunch. Based on my words of losing." Akari thought.

"What the…he is really going through this?" Rina thought.

"Could you clarify what you mean by 'Step up'?" Hoshimoto demanded an explanation.

Now Akari leaked a little bit of his rage, "I am not even gonna bother explaining! Just tell me where the student council room is. I better get my position as the president."

A sense of heart spread through Hoshimoto's body. Words stopped mid air for a moment, "So…you mean…you will accept the gamble?" Hoshimoto said, voice cracking a little.

"Yes, I am going to play and win the position as the president. Now tell me where…"

"Are you a complete moron?! Challenging him in your first year?! Why do you want to ruin your high school life so badly?" Hoshimoto snapped.

"I am asking for a damn location!" Akari shouted at him.

Hoshimoto eventually told them where the council room was. Akari went straight his way to the council room, not stopping for a moment. Rina tried to get her hand on his shoulder and tried to stop him,

"Akari kun, don't be foolish! You heard senpai."

Akari didn't look back, "Get your hands off. Or I am seriously gonna break your fingers! Wouldn't take long to forget playing piano."

Rina let him go, knowing there was no stopping him. He came close to the council room door and pushed it open. Without any greetings, he immediately screamed about the challenge,

"Hiroshi senpai, I accept your gamble! Come and play!" Akari screamed, voice shattering the air inside the large room.

Everybody, moving here and there just stopped at their place. Students holding files, continued to stare at Akari as if they saw a ghost and couldn't process it.

Hiroshi, who was sitting on his president chair, dropped down his feet from the table and put the unfinished sweet by the side tray.

"Am I dreaming?" Hiroshi said in amusement, "I got a competitor after months!"

He took his steps to approach Akari, slowly taking each step, hands behind his back. After reaching close to Akari, he started circling around him, eyes fixed.

"Let's see, first year, right? And you admitted recently. " Hiroshi said, judging from Akari's newly made uniform and no markings of ever washing.

"Peak teenage blood exploding I suppose? After hearing you could 'gamble' and win as a president? No, your eyes scream something more deeper and complex. A hidden motive!" Hiroshi continued.

"It doesn't matter. Now hurry up and start the gamble!" Akari said.

"Fine then," Hiroshi said, looking at others, "You heard the boy. Bring the setup." Horishi said, clapping his hands twice.

Instantly, everyone in that room started moving back and forth. Clearing table, bringing out old log books, covering the back window with cover, turning on all the lights. All preparation for the game that was about to unfold in that room.

Two students bringed a folded table and unfolded it. Another student placed it at the center of the room and placed 12 envelopes on the table.

A third year girl with square glasses and a composed face stepped to the center, notebook held against her chest. Unlike the others, she didn't look shocked. She looked entertained.

"Since this is an official presidential gamble," she began, voice steady, "the rules must be set clear at first."

She flipped the notebook open.

"This game is called 'Low Pairing'."

A few murmurs rippled through the room.

"Twelve cream-colored envelopes sat in a clean grid on the table. These are completely identical."

The girl continued.

"Inside each envelope is a number. The numbers range from one to twelve. No duplicates."

Akari's eyes flicked briefly toward the table.

"Whatever, I got this. We had to take part in very hard challenges. What could they do anyways." Akari thought.

"Hiroshi-senpai," she gestured politely, "or Akari will not participate directly."

Akari frowned.

"Instead," she continued, "a neutral third party will act as extractor."

A second-year boy raised his hand awkwardly from the side wall. He looked confused about being there.

"He has not seen the contents of the envelopes," she clarified. "He will randomly select envelopes upon instruction."

Akari's brows narrowed. He saw her turn a page.

"In each round, there will be an active player. The extractor will pick up an envelope and show it to the active player. It will be his decision if he wants to pass or take it. If he passes, the other person is forced to take it."

She turned another page, "Taking an envelope because of the opponent's pass doesn't mean that person's round is over. In round 2, the other player will be the active player. He will also have to do the same. Either take or pass the envelope."

She shaked her throat a little, "Only 3 passes are allowed. The envelope collecting part of the game will end when both players have 6 cards."

Akari instantly figured out a problem with this rule.

"Wait, what if after we both get 3 envelopes and after that, I get another envelope and Hiroshi senpai calls pass 3 times? There will be 7 envelopes in my hands." Akari asked.

"That won't happen," the girl continued, "Passes will not work if one player has already reached his limit of 6 envelopes. If someone reaches this limit, the remaining cards will automatically go to the other player."

"Now, if I may…" she wanted to continue,

"After the envelope collecting phase, you have to create 3 pairs of 2 using your numbers. Then you need to calculate the difference of every pair. For example, if you get number 5 and 9 then your pair's difference will be 4. We call this the 'd' value. Of course for 3 pairs, you will get 3 'd' values."

She turned another page and took a glance, "Now comes the final phase. In this phase, both players will compare their 'd' values. The one holding the lower 'd' value wins."

"But if both of our 'd' values are equal?" This time, Hiroshi raised this question.

"In that case, we have to see the second 'd' value. If this also turns out to be equal then the 3rd. If that one also becomes equal then the entire game is a draw." she finished.

"How many times did I tell you that I hate draws! Either win or loss. Nothing in middle!" Hiroshi shouted at the girl.

"I am sorry," the girl immediately apologised by bowing, "Akari kun just suddenly bumped in, I couldn't come up with a better game in this short time."

"Then next time, design a game in advance. Whatever, let's play." Hiroshi confidently said.

"Akari kun, do you agree with the terms?" the girl asked.

"Yes, I do." Akari said.

"Then as announced in the open challenge of Hiroshi senpai, he will bet his position of the student council president. If Akari loses, he shall never get a chance to be involved in council matters ever again." she cleared.

Chapter 44 - Inside the council room(part 1)