Another Like Me - Part I (CoTE x OC) ✔

Chapter 30 - Strength Test

(Class 1-D, Horikita, Suzune POV):

We had been given a 2 hours free homeroom period every week to strategize and plan for the upcoming Sports Festival. Chabashira-sensei moved to the back of the class, most probably to silently watch over the discussion, while Hirata-kun took control of the class, and decided to initiate the meeting.

I looked forward to my left to a certain seat. Takeyama-kun wasn't present in Class. If I remember correctly, he had taken permission from Chabashira-sensei to secure 2-3 grip strength machines from the Gymnasium, and had taken off at the end of the Class.

"Ano~ Hirata-kun?" Kushida-san spoke up. "Shouldn't we wait for Takeyama-kun to return from wherever he went? Since he's the Leader of the Sports Festival this time, isn't it imperative that his opinion is valid as well?"

The class murmured in approval to Kushida-san's words. However, I could hear some dissatisfactory responses from certain parts of the class, which included Shinohara-san and her entourage.

"Hey Hirata-kun, why are we allowing Takeyama-kun to take the leadership role in this Sports Festival when we know that you're the one best suited for it?" Shinohara asked a rather unpleasant question.

"Yeah, isn't it strange how he suddenly took the initiative to lead the class? I wonder if there's something in it for him?"

Such voices of concern and apathy rose up in the dull classroom, and Hirata pleaded for everyone to calm down.

"I think we have some explaining to do to the Class, Hirata-kun," I stood up. The unexpected speaker gathered the entire class's attention in an instant.

"I was hoping to wait for Keisuke to return before we explain, Horikita-san," Hirata reasoned.

"But it seems that our class is a bit impatient," I replied. "It's alright, it's not like Takeyama-kun needs to be here for everything to be explained."

With that, I got up from my seat, and gave a sneak glance towards Ayanokoji-kun, who just nodded his head along. I made my way to the podium of the class. Even Chabashira-sensei was now interested, and she leaned back into her chair.

I came to the teacher's desk, and looked around the class once, before continuing.

"Takeyama-kun is the real leader of Class D."

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"What?"

"What do you mean, Horikita-san? You and Hirata-kun are our leaders, right?" Kushida asked with a perplexed expression.

"Yeah, I don't see where this is coming from," Yukimura pushed his glasses up his nose. "What do you mean that he's our leader?"

"It mean exactly what it means," Hirata-kun joined in. "Takeyama-kun is the real leader of Class D. He's been working from the shadows, and now he's decided to come forward and take the lead."

"I'm sorry Hirata-kun, but I don't follow," Karuizawa-san started. "It's true that he's smart, but he's the hidden leader of Class D? I find that really hard to believe." Karuizawa's friends supported her statement as well.

"It is true," Hirata-kun said. "It may be hard to believe. It was hard for me to digest as well, when Takeyama-kun confided in me yesterday. Only Horikita-san was aware of the situation. Keisuke stayed hidden within the Class to avoid suspicion from other classes. But on the cruise ship, it seems he had an altercation with Ryuuen-kun, from Class C, where he said that he would expose Keisuke's identity to the rest of the grade."

"Ryuuen-kun and Takeyama-kun..... ?"

The class fell into frantic whispering.

"Umm, Hirata," Yukimura spoke up once again. "If you're really telling us the truth, why did Takeyama-kun suddenly decide to expose himself to the rest of the class? Shouldn't he have just stayed hidden and controlled everything from the back?"