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Chapter 38 - Chapter 38 – Shuffle the Lineup

Chapter 38 – Shuffle the Lineup

The announcement dropped like a stone.

"Final speaker lineups have been submitted and confirmed," the judge said flatly, pinning the names to the wall.

Koganei East (Opposition)

1st Speaker: Aizawa (Captain. Loud. Unhinged.)

2nd Speaker: Naruse (Silent and deadly)

3rd Speaker: Tsukui (Polished finisher)

Hōjō High (Government)

1st Speaker: Mikako

2nd Speaker: Kotarō

3rd Speaker: Souta

Just like they planned.

Mikako would start strong with structured breakdowns, Kotarō would handle the clash and teardown, and Souta would clean it all up with charisma and impact.

Haruka sat out for this round. They had all agreed. She didn't argue. She simply smiled and said, "I think it's Mikako's show this time."

(Kotarō Internal)

"Haruka plays piano. Mikako plays chess. This round needs checkmates, not crescendos."

But as soon as Aizawa's name landed at the top of the Opposition list, the air changed.

He hadn't spoken last round. Despite being the captain. Why?

Because, in his words, *"I didn't feel like it."

Now?

Apparently, he felt like it.

And unfortunately for everyone else, when Aizawa "felt like it," reality bent slightly.

He burst from his seat like someone had announced free snacks.

"HAAARUKA-CHAAAAN!" he howled, arms outstretched like a betrayed anime protagonist.

Haruka didn't even blink.

"I'm not speaking today," she said. Calm. Flat. Unbothered.

Aizawa dropped to his knees dramatically.

"How could you?! I brought my best metaphors for you! I had sea turtle analogies, Haruka! SEA TURTLES!"

Mikako rolled her eyes so hard they nearly left orbit.

Then, without skipping a beat, Aizawa turned to Kotarō.

Locked eyes. Grinned.

"Nozomi. You." He pointed. Slow. Intentional. "You carry her will now."

(Kotarō Internal)

"Please stop talking like she died. She's literally sipping strawberry milk six feet from us."

Aizawa didn't care.

"You and me, buddy. I want fireworks. I want philosophy. I want the crowd to cry."

Kotarō stared at him, half expecting a camera crew to burst through the door.

Back at the prep table, Haruka leaned in.

"He's not dangerous," she whispered. "Just deeply theatrical."

She took a sip of strawberry milk. Calm as the eye of a storm.

"He once tried to argue that sandboxes promote authoritarianism. The judge still gave him a win."

(Kotarō Internal)

"So I'm debating a cracked-out poet with a captain badge. Awesome. I love anime."

As if summoned by chaotic intent, Aizawa reappeared.

He leaned onto the table, face way too close to Kotarō's.

"You ready?" he asked. "Because I wrote this speech at 3 a.m. after a jazz playlist and two liters of grape soda. I'm either going to revolutionize education or cause a diplomatic incident."

Kotarō blinked. Slowly.

"Good luck with that."

Aizawa saluted with two fingers, spun on his heel, and moonwalked back to his bench.

(Kotarō Internal)

"This man is a walking TEDx talk sponsored by chaos and sugar. And I have to rebut him."

The bell rang. The room settled. The judges signaled the start.

Mikako stood. No flair. No drama. Just the quiet confidence of someone who brought a scalpel to a sword fight.

She walked to the podium and adjusted her tie.

(Kotarō Internal)

"Let's see what happens when chaos meets calculus."

Chapter End

 

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