Chaos Mate ~Revenge In This Chaotic Academy~ - Chapter 64: Aversion to Vainglory

Chapter 64: Aversion to Vainglory

Leaving the student council room, I observe the school for a while. As BC said, students swarm the staff room, either seeking help or venting complaints.

The teachers inside, flustered, try to handle the crowd. One male teacher slips through and approaches me.

“Strolling the school now? You’ve got guts, Tsubaki. Guess this chaos doesn’t faze you,” he says.

“Kishino-sensei…”

My homeroom teacher stands before me, glancing at the student mob behind him, a lollipop in his mouth.

“What do you think of that?” he asks.

“Honestly, a waste of time. I get wanting to cling to something or lash out, though… More importantly, don’t you have something critical to deal with?”

“…Like what?”

Better to show than tell.

I pull my phone from my pocket and show him the screen. Lesta appears, cheeks puffed, fuming.

Seeing her, Kishino’s eyes widen under his sunglasses. He grabs his phone from his lab coat pocket, comparing screens.

“Lesta, why’re you on Tsubaki’s phone…?”

“You didn’t notice?”

“Well, I thought she was quiet… Haven’t used my phone in two days.”

“Think about Lesta’s feelings. Shouldn’t you make up?”

“No time for that. Keep her for now.”

“Uh, I’m fine with that, but… Lesta, you okay with it?”

Asking Lesta on the screen, she, still sulky, turns away from Kishino.

“I wanna stay with Tsubaki-san!! He’s a hundred times nicer than Onii-chan!!”

“W-Well, thanks…”

I give a wry smile, secretly grateful.

Lesta’s a huge help with tech, so despite my words, I wanted her handy.

Still, outside and inside, it’s noisy—my ears can’t catch a break.

Looking out the window, students try escaping the gate.

They attempt climbing the wall, but guards stop them.

Watching this, Kishino, stressed, crunches his candy loudly.

“When’ll this game end?” he mutters.

“No word on its duration?”

“Too many mysteries this time. Even us teachers weren’t told details. Seeing Sakurada-kaichou, she didn’t plan this. What’s going on… Wait, look.”

Kishino spots an odd circular gap near the gate. A dreadlocked, dark-skinned guy and Mao, a student council acquaintance, are in a tense standoff.

“Should I check it out?” I ask.

“Can you?”

“Sure, I’m on it.”

Kishino waves me off casually. Heading to the gate, I rush around a corner and carelessly bump into someone.

Déjà vu?

I brace myself, but the other person falls backward.

“Shit, my bad! Wasn’t looking.”

“Nah, it’s cool, don’t worry. I was on my phone too. Mutual fault,” says a pale guy with light lime-green hair, bangs clipped with a Concorde, standing with a grin.

“You’re… that rumored Tsubaki Madoka, huh? Honored to cross paths in this event.”

“Event…?”

“Hah, never mind, my thing. You’re in a rush, don’t need to go?”

That jogs my memory. “Oh, right, sorry!” I say, sprinting off.

…Didn’t catch his name. Probably won’t see him again, so whatever.

Reaching the gate, I slip into the crowd and end up behind Mao.

Time to eavesdrop.

“Kouzaki-san, retract that statement. It violates human rights,” Mao says.

“Hm, but I can’t lie. Unlike you vulgar commoners, a noble like me has no need for falsehoods,” Kouzaki replies.

“So you won’t retract? Even as a neutral council member, I’ll resort to force and remove you.”

“You can’t beat me. Unlike you worthless commoners, I’m chosen. I guarantee you can’t scratch me.”

“I’ll make you retract. Your words are intolerable.”

“Is stating facts a crime, Mr. Ishigami? You commoners are whining to the academy, escaping reality. That’s futile. That’s all I said.”

“Your phrasing’s the issue. I agree with your point, but I can’t forgive your character.”

“Haha, this is absurd! I don’t seek anyone’s forgiveness. Yours is irrelevant. I act as I permit myself.”

No good. They’re talking past each other.

From what I hear, Kouzaki, a blatant narcissist, went too far, and Mao’s trying to call him out.

Mao’s language is stiff, but Kouzaki’s not listening at all.

The crowd senses the tense air but is too angry at Kouzaki to let him slip away.

I try to leave to avoid trouble.

But someone pushes me from behind, and I stumble beside Mao, yelling, “Whoa!?”

All eyes turn to me.

“Tsubaki-san?” Mao says.

“Uh, haha, my bad. Wrong place. But Mao, relax a bit. Guys like this don’t get it if you confront them head-on.”

“But his behavior can’t be ignored! Calling people worthless commoners, incompetent…”

“Haha, what’s wrong with calling the incompetent what they are? They’re fleeing this situation because of their incompetence. No one here matters,” Kouzaki says.

Oh, one of those guys. His lifestyle’s almost enviable, in a way.

“Sigh… Kouzaki, was it? Work on your delivery. Your point’s half-right, but all you’re doing is pissing people off. Your message isn’t landing.”

“Hm, you’re more reasonable than Mr. Ishigami, Mr. Tsubaki. But what others think is irrelevant. A chosen one like me doesn’t need to consider commoners’ feelings.”

I get why Mao’s annoyed.

Talking to Kouzaki face-to-face is exhausting and stressful.

Now what?

“Look, I’m not joining your pointless debate. I’m just here to neutrally sort your mess.”

“I’m fine with that,” Mao says.

“Hm, I don’t need you, but if Mr. Ishigami’s okay with it, I’ve no objections,” Kouzaki adds.

My stance: absolute neutrality, siding with neither.

We need a compromise, or this talk stays deadlocked.

“Mr. Tsubaki, since it’s our first meeting, it’s unfair I know you, but you don’t know me. Allow me to introduce myself—honor me! I am Kouzaki—”

“Nah, not interested. No plans to deal with you again, so we’re good.”

The moment I say it half-lidded, the noisy crowd goes silent.

…Huh? Did I screw up?

Mao turns away, stifling laughter. Kouzaki bursts out laughing.

“Hahaha! You’re the first to refuse my introduction, Mr. Tsubaki. Truly amusing!”

Hey, you slipped your name in anyway.

I didn’t care, but you named yourself.

My internal retort goes unheard as Kouzaki walks off, laughing.

“First time I’ve laughed this hard in ages. Tsubaki Madoka, I’ll remember you. Be honored!!”

“Nah, just go already. And… repeat my words as a line, not as Kouzaki Wilhelm, but like a story’s protagonist. A noble aristocrat like you can nail the performance, right?”

“A line…? Hm, I’ll master any act!!”

“Say, ‘Everyone, I’m so sorry.’”

“Everyone! I’m! So sorry!! …Why must I perform this?”

Ignoring his question, I pat Mao’s shoulder lightly.

“See, Mao? Kouzaki’s apologizing in his own style. Let it slide this time. Honestly, I’m done here. Playing mediator’s a pain.”

“Y-Yeah… I’m tired too. Let’s wrap this up. Everyone, return to your dorms! Banging the walls won’t get you out. The council’s working on stopping this game. Please trust and support us.”

At Mao’s words, the crowd disperses reluctantly, leaving just us at the gate.

“Thank you, Tsubaki-san. Without you, this wouldn’t have calmed down.”

“You’re giving me too much credit. I just shooed off that exhausting narcissist.”

“That’s huge. But how’d you get Kouzaki to listen?”

“Flatter narcissists, then ask. They’ll do most things. Instead of fighting head-on, hype them up and play them while it lasts… Nee-san’s advice. I just followed it.”

“Really? That’s enlightening.”

For some reason, Mao gives a wry smile.