COTE: The Game of Elites

As Aiden climbed the stage stairs, the room seemed to hold its collective breath. His silver hair caught the light, and his red cap was tilted just enough to give him a mischievous air. Standing face-to-face with the chairman, their matching silver locks separated by decades of experience, the tension was palpable. For a brief moment, neither spoke, their gazes locked in an unspoken challenge. The entire auditorium seemed to freeze, even the teachers exchanging curious glances.

Then, Aiden adjusted the microphone with an almost lazy air, breaking the silence with a smirk. Leaning into the mic, he declared in an exaggeratedly dramatic tone, "Chairman-sama~! Your loyal servant has arrived!"

The silence held for a heartbeat before the gym erupted into laughter. Even the chairman allowed himself a faint chuckle.

"Good luck, Takahashi," the chairman said, his tone layered with subtle amusement.

"Well, good morning, everyone!" he began, his voice light and playful. "First of all, I'd like to thank the chairman for this... completely random VIP experience. Truly, it's an honor to be plucked from obscurity like this."

The room rippled with laughter, though the smarter students exchanged knowing glances.

Aiden adjusted the microphone with an exaggerated flourish, as if he were the host of a late-night talk show. "Let me tell you, folks, when I got here this morning, I didn't expect to be standing up here in front of all of you. I mean, who does, right? One moment you're blending into the crowd, sipping your soda, and the next you're in the spotlight. Life comes at you fast!"

A few chuckles rippled through the audience, easing the tension in the room slightly—whether it was due to his choice of words, his dramatic flair, or his public acknowledgment of his breach of decorum and rules.

"But first things first, can we take a moment to appreciate the air conditioning in here? Seriously, it's perfect. It's like walking into a luxury hotel lobby. Whoever decided to spend the budget on that? You're the real hero."

More laughter broke out, and Aiden grinned, riding the wave.

"Of course, this school has its fair share of surprises, doesn't it? I mean, let's talk about the points system for a second. 100,000 points, every month, to spend however we want? My first thought was, 'Am I in school or on some reality TV show?' Honestly, I half-expected someone to jump out and yell, 'Congratulations! You've won a lifetime supply of instant ramen!'"

The laughter this time was louder, the students whooped and clapped at the mention of their newfound wealth. Aiden took the opportunity to scan the room subtly, observing the reactions. His sharp eyes picked up on the varying reactions—some amused, some skeptical, some quietly observing.

"And then there's the campus itself. Have you seen this place? It's huge! Like a small city, complete with vending machines every five steps. And yes, I've tested it—living off chips and soda is totally doable. Not recommended, but doable."

Scattered applause and laughter erupted as Aiden gave a mock-serious nod, as if endorsing his questionable lifestyle. He straightened slightly, his tone shifting just enough to carry a hint of sincerity.

"But jokes aside, this school? It's something special. You can feel it the moment you walk through the gates. The energy, the possibilities… the idea that every single person here has something unique to bring to the table. It's exciting."

He paused, letting the words settle, then leaned forward slightly, dropping his voice as if sharing a secret.

"Of course, it's also a little terrifying when you think about it," Aiden continued, his tone growing playful as he leaned slightly closer to the microphone. "No parents, your own room, and a hundred thousand points to blow like it's Monopoly money. What's the first thing that pops into your mind, huh? Huh?"

He leaned forward with an exaggeratedly wide-eyed expression, as if scandalized by his own question. Then, with a dramatic gasp and a mock-innocent tone, he raised a hand to his chest. "Wait! Don't answer that!"

Straightening up, he adopted a mock-horrified look, clutching at the sides of the podium. "My innocence will be ruined! Think of my delicate sensibilities!"

The room burst into laughter, his over-the-top delivery eliciting chuckles even from some of the more stoic students. Aiden gave a sheepish shrug, like a boy caught in trouble, and sighed loudly, as if resigning himself to his imagined plight. "What kind of place is this? I swear, I was just here to study…"

The laughter grew louder, rippling across the gym as Aiden smiled to himself, letting the moment linger before moving on.

"Now, let's get real for a second," he said, his tone softening. he began, his gaze scanning the crowd. His mind was sharp and calculating, keenly watching for every small reaction. This was the moment he'd been building toward—the hook.

 "This place isn't just about the fancy facilities or the crazy points system. It's about the people. All of us, from different places, different backgrounds, different goals. We're all here, thrown together into this giant social experiment. And we're still figuring out how it's supposed to work."

He gestured vaguely toward the audience, his electric-blue eyes locking briefly on the clusters of students in each class.

"You've got your overachievers, your slackers, your rule-followers, your rule-breakers… and then there's me. Somewhere in between, I guess. Just a guy trying to make sense of it all."

The crowd leaned in, intrigued, a few students exchanging subtle glances as Aiden's self-deprecating humor earned a few chuckles.

"But here's the thing—I think we've got something really cool here. This is a place where we can all start fresh, prove ourselves, maybe even surprise each other. It's not going to be easy, though. Let's face it: with this many different personalities in one place, there's bound to be some drama. But hey, that's half the fun, right?"

The crowd chuckled again, some nodding in agreement.

Somewhere in the middle rows, Hirata Yousuke couldn't help but smile, his eyes softening. Drama? Sure. But fresh starts? Proving yourself? That's exactly what Hirata wanted this place to be. He felt oddly validated, as though Aiden was describing what he was here to create.

Aiden's smirk deepened as he added, "And then you've got the ones who seem to radiate something different. Kindness, charm, calm—you know, the ones who make you wonder if they're even real. Like, seriously, did the school hire angels to keep the rest of us in line?"

A faint chuckle rippled through the gym, but there was also a shift in the air—a subtle tension as students began stealing glances at one another.

Ichinose Honami, seated amidst her Class B peers, felt a faint warmth creep into her cheeks. The phrase "radiate something different" echoed in her mind. She fiddled with the hem of her skirt, her ever-present smile wavering for just a moment. Was he… talking about her?

Kushida Kikyou's practiced, sweet smile didn't falter, but her fingers tightened ever so slightly around the edge of her blazer. Charm, kindness, calm. The words felt like a spotlight aimed directly at her, though she dismissed the idea just as quickly. If anything, it was a reminder of the role she had to play.

In Class A, Sakayanagi Arisu's smile twitched, the faintest hint of amusement flickering across her delicate features. Angels? Hardly. But the notion was entertaining.

"And then," Aiden continued, his voice taking on a more deliberate edge, "there are the people whose presence just commands respect. You know the type. They walk into a room, and suddenly everyone's paying attention—even if they're not saying a word."

This time, the reactions were more visible. Heads turned, eyes darted, and unspoken assumptions were made.

Katsuragi Kohei, standing like a sentinel among his Class A peers, felt a faint surge of pride. He kept his expression neutral, but inwardly he couldn't help but agree. Respect was something earned, and he'd worked hard to cultivate his image as a steady, disciplined leader.

Ryuen Kakeru, leaning lazily against the wall in Class C's section, allowed a wolfish grin to spread across his face. Commanding respect? Damn right he did. Hell, he didn't even have to try—people just knew.

"And then, of course," Aiden added, his tone turning playful again, "you've got the ones whose very presence just feels… comforting. Like, even in a place as competitive as this, they make you feel like everything's gonna be okay. Don't ask me how they do it. It's a mystery."

The mood in the room shifted once more, a quiet ripple of curiosity passing through the crowd.

Hirata's smile softened further, his heart warming at the description. He wasn't the type to dwell on self-praise, but… comforting? That sounded like something he could be proud of.

Kanzaki Ryuuji, standing a few rows away, adjusted his glasses, his expression neutral but his mind working. Comforting presences. Strategic assets. Pieces on the board. The speech was lighthearted, but there was an underlying current of truth he couldn't ignore.

"And so," Aiden said, his smirk returning in full force, "my experience so far? Wild. One minute I'm unpacking my stuff, the next I'm being told we've got 100,000 points to spend on whatever we want. Like... what? Is there a catch? Do I have to eat bugs or solve a Rubik's cube to keep the money? Because I gotta say, I'm not great with puzzles, but I can definitely eat a cricket if that's what it takes."

This time, the laughter was unrestrained. Students across all classes chuckled, some doubling over at the absurdity of the imagery. Even the teachers exchanged faintly amused glances, though Chabashira's expression remained characteristically stern.

"All in all," Aiden concluded, spreading his arms wide, "I'd say this school is shaping up to be something special. And I don't mean the vending machines or the air conditioning—though those are top-tier. I mean the people, the stories we'll create, and the inevitable chaos that's bound to follow. So, here's to the wild ride ahead. And remember—life's like a shonen manga. Keep pushing forward, and maybe you'll find your ultimate power-up!"

"Thank you for listening! Your host signing off " he added, stepping back from the mic with a playful salute, tipping his hat and doing an exaggerated bow.

The gym erupted into applause, though the reactions were far from uniform.

Ryuen chuckled under his breath, his gaze sharp. This guy… He's got guts, I'll give him that.

Katsuragi frowned slightly, unimpressed by the theatrics but grudgingly acknowledging the boy's ability to hold an audience.

Ichinose clapped warmly, a genuine smile lighting her face as she felt a flicker of pride. He did well, she thought, relief washing over her.

Kushida's applause was steady and measured, her internal calculations spinning. A showman. But is there substance behind the flash?

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Author's Note:

Gotta say, I think this is hands-down the best speech I've written so far. Not only is it designed to entertain and keep everyone hooked, but there's a sneaky little objective tucked in there, hidden behind all the jokes and theatrics.