Chapter 67 - Showdown Part-2

Not a single sound was heard throughout the Auditorium. All gazes were aiming at me.

{BUT BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING. I NEED TO ASK THE PRESIDENT SOMETHING.}

"And what is that?" he asked me.

{I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, I CAN ASK THEM, RIGHT?} I turned towards the President to give his consent. I don't really care whether he give his consent or not because if it comes to worst the Principal would help me out. So, I just did some formality to him.

"Yes," he said, "But you are still going to get expelled soon. So, ask away anything since it won't matter when you leave this school." I lowered the arm that was holding the microphone.

"I dare you to try it," I said.

"Wh-" before he could say anything I started my plan.

{ARE YOU ALL STUPID?} I said out loud.

For a moment the voice echoes throughout the Auditorium. Half of them were still processing what I just said but the one who know me on a personal level had their mouth wide open and those people include Selene, Lily, Liz, Iris, Mike, Peter, Noah and the among them there was another and that person was the one who I really didn't expect, and that individual was Roy.

"…" I still strolled my eyes around to see each and every single of their expression and the one with the most fascinating expression was Harvey. He one who looked the most surprised by my statement. Did he really think I would just sit back and let him crumble me? But this is just the tip of the iceberg. So, don't be too much surprised because there is more to it.

"What did you say!?" 

"Is he out of his mind…?"

"Huh? Did I hear him right…?" an uproar began in the Auditorium. Even the teachers had trouble controlling the students. Seeing the response I could say that my first step was successful. Alright, now to the second step.

{WAIT, WAIT. YOU ALL AGREED TO LISTEN TO ME TILL THEN THE END, RIGHT? OR ARE YOU THINKING OF REFUSING THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST?} Slowly but gradually the frustrations settled down. Harvey sure has a presence in this school. Well, that's to be expected since he is President. To take him down I need to proceed accordingly.

{ALRIGHT, NOW I CAN BEGIN. LET'S START WITH THE FIRST STATEMENT YOUR PRECIOUS PRESIDENT SAID EARLIER. IF SOME OF YOU FORGOT LET ME REPHRASE HIM- 'WE OUTPERFORM EVERY OTHER SCHOOL IN EVERY ASPECT. WE WON SECOND PLACE IN THE NATIONALS OLYMPIAD IN MATHEMATICS. WE WON FIRST PLACE IN PHYSICS AND THIRD PLACE IN BIOLOGY.'}

"Where is he getting at…?"

"I don't know…" confusion began among the students. But don't worry I'll clear that soon enough.

{YOU THERE, SECOND ROW FROM THE FRONT. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?} I randomly picked a student. For my plan to be successfully executed I don't even think of picking a certain student. 

"W-who me…?"

{NO, NOT YOU. THE ONE BESIDE YOU.} I said.

"Me..?" I just told him yet he is still confused.

{YES, YOU. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?}

"… James…?" he answered. He looked a little flustered, maybe because I called out to him suddenly. But I don't care so let's continue with it.

{SO, JAMES I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. FIRST, DID YOU WIN MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD?} I asked.

"… N-No…" the voice was very low. This way the one in the back won't be able to hear it.

{IS THERE ANOTHER MIC? NO ONE FROM THE BACK WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR HIM THIS WAY.} I asked.

Out of nowhere, soon a mic was passed down to him. 

{SO NOW TO THE SECOND QUESTION, DID YOU WIN THE PHYSICS TEST?} I continued asking the question.

"N-no…" now his voice is loud enough.

{AH, I GET. YOU WON THE BIOLOGY TEST, RIGHT?} This was the third question. Nevertheless, I didn't stop and instead, I still continued pressing him further.

"W-what are you getting at Allen…?" I heard a voice close to me. The one who said that was Harvey. He looked a little worried. Did he really think I wouldn't try to do anything to protect myself?

{AH, JAMES CAN YOU JUST WAIT A MINUTE BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PRESIDENT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO ME. STILL, IT DOESN'T MATTER MUCH BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHY IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT…} I tried intimidating him, and seeing his face I think it was spot on. Not to let the audience hear our small conversation I placed my hand to it and turned towards the President.

"President, I don't mean to disrespect you but can you shut for now? Let me finish," I replied while giving out the coldest stare I have made till now.

"W-what…?" experiencing my stare firsthand made him lose his composure.

{SORRY, THE PRESIDENT NEEDED TO ASK ME SOMETHING. HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT 'SOMETHINGS' GOING WRONG BUT NOW WE HAVE CLEARED THE CONFUSION AND WE CAN CONTINUE NOW.} I proceed, {WHERE WAS I? AH YES, JAMES DID YOU WIN ANY PRIZE RELATING TO BIOLOGY?}

"N-no…" his answer was the same earlier. Even the question changed his answer never changed that made my plan be executed easily.

{OH, I'M SORRY IF I EMBARRASSED YOU. BUT I HAVE ONLY A SINGLE DOUBT LEFT SO PLEASE ANSWER THIS ONE. YOU CAN DO THAT AT LEAST RIGHT?}

"Y-yeah..." He said. Seeing him I could easily make out that he has already lost it. The confidence he showed when he shouted to expel me and now is the complete opposite. How the tables have turned?

{JAMES, IF I'M RIGHT YOU ARE A THIRD-YEAR, RIGHT?}

"Y-yes…" his voice was shaky.

{HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING UP TO THIS POINT TO ASSIST THIS SCHOOL? I DON'T JUST MEAN IN STUDYING, BUT ALSO IN SPORTS. OR IN ANY OTHER ACADEMIC SUBJECT?}

"…" he didn't answer. No, let me rephrase that, he couldn't answer.

{HERE WE HAVE A THIRD-YEAR STUDENT NAMED JAMES WHO HAS STILL NOT DONE ANYTHING TO SUPPORT THIS SCHOOL. WHAT I REALLY MEAN TO SAY IS, ON WHAT GROUNDS ARE YOU SAYING THAT 'ALL' OF YOU MADE AN EFFORT TO MAKE THIS SCHOOL PRESTIGIOUS?} I looked at Harvey to see his reaction and seeing his expression I knew that this strategy is going brilliantly.

"…" not a single student dared to counterattack that.

{OKAY, LET'S FORGET THIS. CAN YOU ALL RAISE HANDS WHO WON THE COMPETITIONS YOUR SCHOOL PRESIDENT MENTIONED EARLIER?}

At first, no one raised their hands but slowly they rose their hands but one thing I noticed was that only a handful of people have actually contributed to this school. I wonder what the President was talking about in his speech earlier when he made it sound like each and every student have contributed.

"Pfftt…!" a sole chuckle echoes throughout the auditorium. It's a serious situation and if someone was seen laughing would have been definitely been punished but not to someone of that post. It was the Principal.

"Ah, sorry continue…" she controlled herself.

{SEEING THE PRINCIPAL, I THINK YOU'VE ALL GOT A HINT WHERE I'M GETTING AT BUT LETS STILL CONTINUE…} I SAID.

"…" those cold stares at me have turned to self-doubt. They might have agreed to the President but that was him influencing them, now that I'm telling the truth to their face, they have turned pale. Especially the third year since they were the most enthusiastic when the topic of me being expelled came up. I guess they needed to push their failure at someone and that someone was me.

This has resolved most of the third-year troubles, allowing me to move on to the second-year obstacles. If I'm not able to shut them up here I could lose a golden opportunity like this.

Previously, I was concerned about the situation since I had absolutely no clue what was happening, but now that I know, I can make the best use of it. If it wasn't for that teacher I wouldn't have a plan but due to her carelessness, I could take on both of them at once and still come out unscathed.

{I ONLY SEE A HANDFUL OF STUDENTS. WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF YOUR EFFORT? ALSO, PRESIDENT HARVEY, IN WHAT UNIVERSE DOES THIS LOOKS LIKE THE EFFORT PUT IN BY ALL OF THE STUDENTS?} I continued, {WHY NOT ALSO CONTRIBUTE THE PRIZE MONEY AS WELL, EVEN IF YOU COUNT THE AWARD AS A WHOLE FOR THE SCHOOL IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T COUNT. IF YOU DISTRIBUTE THE PRIZE TO ALL, I WILL CONSIDER IT TO BE THE EFFORT OF EVERYONE. UNTIL THEN, I WILL NOT ACCEPT THE NONSENSE YOU SPOUTED IN HERE, NOT JUST ME, ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WILL AGREE WITH ME.}

"..." no one dared to say anything.

{THE AWARD HAS A NAME WRITTEN ON IT SHOWING WHO HAS WON IT AND IT'S NOT FOR IT TO BE SHARED WITH EVERYONE. IT'S ONLY FOR A SINGLE PERSON. SO DON'T USE THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO USE IT AS AN EFFORT MADE BY WHOLE.} 

"…"

TO BE CONTINUED…