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Max opened the student council door and stepped in, his movements calm and deliberate. Tom and Ashi followed, slipping in behind him like shadows, their senses immediately attuned to the new environment.
The room was larger than they'd expected—spacious but austere. In the far corner, a sofa cradled nine students, their posture tentative, eyes flicking nervously toward the newcomers. Ashi leaned slightly toward Tom and Max, murmuring, "They're new… I've never seen them before."
The trio approached them. Ashi's voice cut politely but firmly through the quiet.
Ashi: "Can I know which class you guys are in?"
One of the younger boys shifted uncomfortably before speaking.
9th Grader: "We… we're all ninth graders here."
Tom arched an eyebrow. "Can you tell us where the Vice President is?"
The boy hesitated, glancing at his peers.
9th Grader: "We… we don't know. We were called by the Vice President, but when we got here, he wasn't around."
Ashi's fist clenched at his side, anger bubbling just under the surface. "What the hell is with him?" he muttered, teeth grinding.
Suddenly, a sharp splash echoed from the attached bathroom. Everyone's heads snapped toward the sound. The nine ninth-graders froze, tiny ripples of fear passing through them.
The bathroom door creaked open. A figure emerged—tall, muscular, and imposing, almost mirroring Tom's build. Dark eyes, but his aura was palpable, pressing down on the room like a heavy fog. Tom and Ashi instinctively tightened their stances, muscles coiled, every nerve alert to the newcomer's slightest movement.
Even the ninth-graders, small and inexperienced, began to tremble almost instinctively.
Max, ever unfazed, broke the oppressive silence with a casual, confident tone, as if greeting an old friend.
Max: "Senior, did you call for us?"
The Vice President paused mid-step, heading toward his desk. For a fraction of a second, he stopped entirely, and his gaze swept over the trio. Cold, calculated, piercing.
His voice finally cut through the room, icy and precise, carrying to every corner.
Bam: "Juniors… could you guys come back later?"
The nine ninth-graders obeyed instantly, leaving the room without a word. Silence settled again like a dense curtain.
Bam strode to the sofa and gestured toward the seats.
Bam: "Please, sit down."
Ashi, ever impatient, shot a glance at Max and then spoke, his tone sharp.
Ashi: "Vice President, can you speak up fast? We have other things to do."
Max's hand went up gently to calm him.
Max: "Hey, what's wrong with you? At least show some respect. He is a senior."
Bam's voice softened, almost unexpectedly calm.
Bam: "Shhh… no need to be so formal. You guys can call me Bam."
Tom tilted his head, surprised by the shift from icy authority to approachable ease.
Tom: "Can I ask why you called for—"
Bam cut him off smoothly.
Bam: "I called you and Ashi here, not Max. I thought of talking to him later, with another student named Sam. But… it's fine. It's not like you're forbidden to be here."
He paused, letting his words sink in, before continuing.
Bam: "The reason I called you both here is to become part of the Student Council, to help establish discipline across the school."
Ashi and Tom exchanged subtle glances. Neither looked particularly shocked; in fact, the possibility had crossed their minds before.
Max, however, betrayed the slightest flicker of confusion, an eyebrow arching imperceptibly.
Ashi's voice rose, sharp and unyielding.
Ashi: "We clearly decline this offer. We're not interested in being one of your underlings."
Tom's tone followed suit, louder this time, tinged with challenge.
Tom: "Yeah. And if you think you can force us, go ahead."
Bam's gaze remained steady, unreadable.
Bam: "I never said you would be my underlings. I simply offered you both the chance to become captains, to help discipline the school."
Ashi scoffed, leaning slightly forward, fists lightly clenched.
Ashi: "Do you really think we're fools? Do you think we'd fall for this?"
Suddenly, a commanding voice cut through the tension.
Max: "Stop it!"
His eyes blazed with intensity, his tone cutting through the growing heat of the room.
Max: "Are you guys stupid or something? Don't you even have the slightest bit of patience?"
Ashi bristled, leaning back, frustration etched into every line of his face.
Ashi: "What the hell is patience? Can't you see he's trying to lure us here?"
Tom reached over, placing a hand on Ashi's shoulder.
Tom: "Hey… calm down a bit. Let's think first."
Ashi's gaze shifted—Tom, then Max—before he reluctantly folded his arms and sank back into his chair, chest rising and falling as he worked to steady himself.
Max's tone softened slightly, though still commanding attention.
Max: "I think we're misunderstanding. Bam, can you please elaborate? Explain why you need these two and what you expect them to do."
Bam leaned back against the sofa, folding his arms. For a moment, he simply observed them, letting the silence build anticipation. His aura filled the room, pressing down in a subtle but undeniable weight.
Bam finally spoke, measured, calm, but with undeniable authority.
Bam: "Discipline isn't just about enforcement. It's about presence, about influence. People like you—strong, aware, decisive—can make others follow rules not because they're afraid, but because they respect structure."
He glanced at Ashi and Tom, eyes hidden yet piercing.
Bam: "I didn't call you here to control you. I called you to empower you. To make the school… safer, steadier, stronger. Your strengths will help set the standard for others."
Ashi's mind raced. He felt the weight of the offer but resisted the urge to show interest. Discipline… influence… structure. He'd seen the difference between raw power and real authority, and the latter fascinated and frustrated him in equal measure.
Tom's brow furrowed, curiosity warring with skepticism. "And you think we'd actually… buy into this?"
Bam's answer was calm, almost teasing.
Bam: "I don't expect you to 'buy in.' I expect you to understand. Then decide."
Max leaned back slightly, studying Bam's every movement, reading the subtle cues in posture, tone, and timing. "So it's not about loyalty. It's about capability."
Bam nodded once. "Exactly. Prove yourself. Influence without fear. That's the real test."
Ashi exhaled slowly, tension leaving his shoulders in a small, controlled release. He glanced at Tom, who mirrored the subtle gesture. Both understood—this wasn't a trap. It was an invitation. A challenge. Something to measure themselves against.
Sam, unknowingly, would have called this chaos. But for Ashi, Tom, and Max, it was a battlefield of minds—quiet, strategic, and entirely invisible to those who didn't understand the stakes.
Bam's voice cut through their thoughts again, calm, yet carrying authority:
Bam: "I don't need answers now. Think about it. Decide what kind of impact you want to have. The choice is yours."
Max exhaled, leaning forward slightly. "Alright… we'll consider it. But you'll need to earn our full attention first."
Ashi smirked, crossing his arms. "And if we decide not to?"
Bam's head tilted slightly, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Then… you'll have made your choice. And I respect that. I only ask that your decisions be deliberate, not reckless."
The trio sat back, letting the words sink in. Around them, the room hummed with an undercurrent of tension, authority, and potential—quiet but electric. The challenge had been laid out. The arena was set. And for the first time that day, Ashi, Tom, and Max felt the weight of real responsibility pressing down—not as a threat, but as a chance to measure themselves against something truly formidable.
Max: But Bam, I still don't get it. Why do you suddenly need help when you already have so many strong guys under you?
Bam: Okay, okay. Looks like I'll have to tell you the real reason why you're sitting here.
Ashi: What do you mean? You've been deceiving us all this time?
Bam: Please, just listen before jumping to conclusions.
> He takes a deep breath before continuing.
"This year, something strange happened. The number of students taking admission suddenly doubled compared to last year. The principal decided to expand the school — now each grade will have four sections: A, B, C, and D.
I was informed early because the principal personally told me about it. He knew that with the sudden rise in student numbers, the Student Council's responsibilities would also double.
But that's not the real issue. The real problem is who these new students are. You already know our school doesn't accept just anyone — only the best, the strongest, the most ambitious. That means these newcomers aren't going to be easy to handle.
Most of them come in with heads full of ego and arrogance, trying to dominate others until we, the Council, put them in their place. But this time, it's worse. We're expecting even crazier ones — not just from the country, but from abroad. International transfers. And they're coming in large numbers."
Ashi: Whoa… we didn't realize it was this serious. But how could just the two of us solve something that big?
Bam: I never said it'll be just you two. I've got others lined up. But you two… you'll be my biggest help. You've got real influence over the previous year's students — most of them will listen to you. That alone will calm half the storm. The rest... will be the dangerous half we'll have to face ourselves.
Max: "Okay — so Ashi and Tom take the role you offered. But what about the other half? The new students you mentioned — the dangerous ones. They sound on another level."
Bam let out a short chuckle, the kind that sounded like amusement and a warning at the same time.
Bam: "It'll be simple… and a little troublesome."
Ashi: "Speak plainly for once."
Bam's smile thinned. "Fine. Listen. It's not that Indus can't handle the influx. It's that the Student Council alone can't process the chaos that will come with so many ambitious, untested students all at once."
Max folded his arms. "So you plan to recruit more council members?"
Bam shook his head. "No. Not recruitment. A temporary alliance." He tapped the armrest with a knuckle. "For a short period we need the three pillars of school to coordinate — the Student Council, the Free Ranks, and the Lone Wolves."
At the word Lone Wolves Tom and Ashi reacted at the same time.
Tom & Ashi (in unison): "You're joking, right?"
Max held up a hand before the argument could start. "Guys, shut up. Let me finish."
Ashi jabbed Tom with his elbow. "He's right. Dumb heads like you should stay out of serious talk—"
Tom's reflex was faster than his filter. He swatted Ashi's head. "Who the hell are you calling dumb?" Then, as if magnetized, the two started throwing childish punches and kicks at each other behind Max.
Max pinched the bridge of his nose and emitted an exasperated sigh that somehow calmed the room. "Ben—" (Max used Bam's given name without formality)—"please, ignore them and continue."
Bam watched the duo bicker, a faint smile ghosting his lips, then returned his attention to Max.
Max cleared his throat and spoke with the precise, dry cadence he always used when he wanted everyone to listen.
Max: "Let me outline what I know. The three pillars you mentioned — Student Council, Free Ranks, Lone Wolves — they're different beasts. The Council is structure and authority; the Free Ranks are people who want a quiet life, often under the council's protection — they pay, they comply. Lone Wolves are individuals who operate above the Council's reach: they're not a group, they don't take protection, and they care for no one's rules but their own. They're the hardest to control."
Ashi, still pretending annoyance, crossed his arms, but his eyes were sharp. Tom finally sat down, muttering as he rubbed his jaw.
Max continued, voice calm, methodical:
Max: "From what you've said, two of those pillars are already in your hands. The Council — that's you. The Free Ranks will fall in line once Ashi and Tom use their influence among the older students. That solves roughly half your problem. The other half — the Lone Wolves — are the real issue. They won't join a temporary pact for the Council's benefit. They'll refuse, or worse, they'll exploit the alliance's weakness."
Bam's expression didn't twitch. He'd expected no less.
Bam (softly): "Exactly the concern I had."
Max paused, weighing his next words. Around them the council room hummed with a low, expectant silence — the kind that collects before plans are set into motion.
Max: "If you want their cooperation, you'll need leverage or incentive that fits their code. Fear is one option — but fear binds temporarily and breeds betrayal. Money or protection doesn't work with Lone Wolves; they don't want to be bought. Influence doesn't touch them. You need either a shared enemy they respect, or an arrangement that gives them autonomy while serving your purpose."
Ashi's impatience curdled into curiosity. Shared enemy, he thought — that could be interesting, dangerous in the best way.
Tom rubbed his chin. "So how do we find that enemy? Or how do we make one?"
Bam's sunglasses reflected the overhead light as he considered the question. He leaned forward, steepling his fingers.
Bam: "We don't create enemies. We identify them. The new batch of students — the ones with international transfers, the ones with unchecked pedigree — they may hold the key. If a cluster of those arrivals starts to dominate, that cluster itself becomes the common problem. The Lone Wolves won't like uncontrolled predators on their turf." He shrugged. "It's possible to steer their ire, if you know how to expose the true imbalance."
Max nodded slowly, every line in his face working the calculus. He didn't trust easy answers. He wanted specifics.
Max: "And if that fails? If Lone Wolves refuse to play along? If they attack instead?"
Bam's jaw tightened a fraction. "Then we adapt. That's part of the reason I need you two. Influence among the students will buy us timing — time to see the first moves and neutralize threats before they grow. If the Lone Wolves attack us directly, we'll need pockets of influence inside the student ranks to act quickly. You two can deliver that."
Ashi's chest tightened. The idea of being used as a strategic fulcrum made him bristle, but—honest to himself—he felt the pulse of possibility. Influence. Respect. The chance to shape the school rather than be dragged by it.
Tom's face split into that half-grin he only used when plotting mischief. "So we're the bait and the net. Not bad."
Max allowed a tiny, almost imperceptible smile. He liked the clarity of roles — the fewer the surprises, the better.
Bam folded his hands and leaned back, the weight of the room settling on him like an old cloak.
Bam: "I won't sugarcoat it. This alliance is temporary and fragile. It's a forced equilibrium. If any side smells weakness — if you, Ashi or Tom, act recklessly — the whole arrangement shreds. That's why I wanted you to think, not react. Discipline is composure. Influence is responsibility."
Max met his gaze, steady as a metronome.
Max: "Understood. We'll consider it. But timeline, parameters, and clear expectations — those come before any agreement."
Bam inclined his head once. "Fair. I'll lay out the terms. For now, watch, learn, and don't make broad moves. Let us see who reacts to the new students. Let the first week be an observation period."
Ashi, folding his arms, let out a breath that was half irritation, half anticipation. Tom's mischief calmed into a focused edge. Max's eyes narrowed; already he had started to map variables.
All three felt something shift in the room — not a victory, not yet — but the beginning of a plan. Bam's voice, soft but firm, closed the meeting:
Bam: "We'll reconvene in three days. Show me who you are, and then we decide the rest."
They stood. Behind them, the hallway outside the student council room still thrummed with a world that hadn't yet noticed the change. Inside, the chessboard had just been set.
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