Marcus's question reflected the thoughts of many cssmates who thrived on attention and loved stirring excitement. Yet, unlike Marcus, who dared to voice his thoughts, the others hesitated, intimidated by Emmanuel’s stern authority.

  However, when it came to the school sports meet, Emmanuel exhibited an unusual level of understanding. After all, the students were merely in their first year of high school; there was no need for excessive strictness. Striking a bance between discipline and rexation was crucial.

  If he were in charge of a second-year css, his approach would surely be much stricter.

  Css 1-3 was no ordinary group. It was a provincial recruitment and quasi-experimental css, filled with students from well-connected familias. These students were typically reserved, often suppressing their true personalities. For them, the school sports meet was a rare chance to express themselves, and Emmanuel understood it wasn’t a moment to stifle creativity further.

  Surprisingly lenient, Emmanuel did not dismiss Marcus's question outright. Instead, he responded amicably, suggesting that new ideas were welcome, provided they remained moderate, harmonious, and avoided anything too fmboyant.

  The students, eager to make an impression, cheered at his response. The cssroom buzzed with excitement as some even professed their newfound loyalty to Emmanuel:

  “Teacher Emmanuel, you’re amazing! I’ll listen to whatever you say from now on!”“You’re the best, Teacher Emmanuel! Not that I ever called you anything else!”“Teacher Emmanuel, you’re practically a saint!”

  Despite his usual reputation as “Emmanuel the Great Terrorist” due to his strict and domineering management, his strategic kindness had already won over some of the more difficult students. This gesture of leniency, even over something trivial, earned him substantial goodwill.

  Emmanuel’s faint smile softened his typically intimidating demeanor. Raising a hand, he signaled for quiet, and the css immediately fell silent, obediently waiting for his next words.

  With over a week left before the sports meet, students began considering fmboyant costumes for the opening ceremony. Emmanuel, taking charge, turned to Ryan, the css monitor.

  “Ryan, since you’re the monitor, why don’t you lead the css, carrying the banner in the parade?” he suggested confidently, his autocratic tendencies shining through.

  Ryan, however, was introverted and avoided the spotlight. Leading the css meant donning an eye-catching outfit, something Ryan was reluctant to do. Politely, he proposed an alternative:

  “Teacher Emmanuel, I don’t think I’m suited for this role. I suggest we hold a css vote to decide the guide.”

  If asked, Ryan knew who he thought was most suitable—Xanthia. Not only was she beautiful and charismatic, but she also had an admirable sense of css pride. She worked diligently, especially during cleaning duties, and her enthusiasm left a sting impression on him.

  When Emmanuel entered the spotless cssroom that morning, he had praised the cleaning efforts, though few realized the primary contributor was Xanthia. Ryan, however, had quietly noted her dedication.

  He wasn’t one to judge based on appearances alone. Over the years, he had encountered many shallow individuals who hid behind their good looks. Xanthia, on the other hand, possessed both beauty and substance, excelling academically while remaining humble—a rare combination.

  Though Emmanuel frowned slightly at the idea of a vote, he recognized the opportunity to motivate the css and agreed.

  “Alright, let’s hold a vote. Any self-nominations?” he asked.

  Several boys immediately stepped forward, eager to showcase their fir. Among them was Miguel, Marcus’s friend and a devoted anime fan. Miguel, who had attended numerous comic conventions, saw the sports meet as an opportunity to funt his eborate costumes.

  “If I’m elected,” Miguel announced enthusiastically, “I’ll become Ultraman Tiga, symbolizing the ‘css’s light’!”

  The idea of transforming into a beacon for the css excited him. After all, anime and manga were widely celebrated, making his bold choice less likely to invite ridicule. Xanthia herself enjoyed such pop culture, which reassured Miguel of his decision.

  In contrast, the girls were more reserved, pnning to enhance their beauty discreetly while avoiding the role of css guide, which seemed too prominent. They preferred to enjoy the parade in a more rexed manner.

  Emmanuel’s expression darkened as he observed the boys volunteering. To him, the css guide—the face of Css 1-3—needed both height and an appealing appearance. Compared to other csses showcasing handsome boys and elegant girls, his css risked being overshadowed.

  Reluctantly, he proposed a compromise.

  “Let’s have the css committee members nominate candidates. Ryan, as css monitor, you go first.”

  Dematero, sitting next to Ryan, leaned over and whispered, “Recommend Xanthia! She’s perfect for the role!”

  Ryan, unimpressed by the obvious suggestion, gnced at Xanthia briefly before replying, “I recommend my deskmate, Dematero. He’s tall, has good looks, and is quick-witted. He’ll surely come up with something creative.”

  Dematero froze, staring at Ryan in disbelief. What was he thinking? Dematero had no interest in fmboyant outfits, and the idea of wearing a dress, as some male guides in other csses were forced to do, horrified him.

  Dematero prided himself on his integrity and would never compromise his principles, even for css morale.

  Emmanuel, however, seemed satisfied, promptly writing Dematero’s name on the board. To him, Dematero’s height and cssic appearance made him a suitable candidate.

  “Lilim,” Emmanuel continued, addressing the vice-monitor and discipline committee member. “Who do you recommend?”

  Lilim, amused by Dematero’s pained expression, decided to echo Ryan’s suggestion.

  “I’ll also recommend Dematero. He’s creative and should come up with something fun.”

  Lilim had little interest in the sports meet. Short and unathletic, she preferred staying in the cssroom, using the time others spent celebrating to study. The sports meet was merely a distraction from her academic goals.

  Dematero’s frustration grew as Lilim’s recommendation added weight to his nomination. His only hope was that the css wouldn’t actually vote him in as parade leader—it was too much to handle!

  Meanwhile, Henry, the study committee member, refrained from recommending Dematero. Instead, he silently debated whom to nominate.

  With a smile and a mischievous glint, Henry suggested, “Jimmy.”

  The css erupted in ughter. Jimmy as a parade guide? The idea seemed absurd. What kind of performance would he deliver—holding the banner while embarrassing himself on the spot?

  Jimmy gred at Henry with intense hatred, silently cursing him:

  “One day, you’ll regret this. Go ahead and ugh. Enjoy your life while you can because vengeance will be mine!”

  Emmanuel frowned slightly at the mention of Jimmy’s name. It was clear this candidate didn’t meet his expectations, but candidates like Jimmy were often just there to fill out the list. Writing his name on the board was a mere formality.

  “Luciel, it’s your turn,” Emmanuel said, addressing the life committee member. He held her in high regard, especially since she had recently ranked second in the monthly exam.

  With a smile, he added, “Why don’t you nominate yourself? I believe the css would be thrilled to have you as the parade guide. Don’t you agree, everyone?”

  The room immediately buzzed with approval, particurly among the girls. Those in the same dormitory as Luciel, such as Xenia La Sagrada and Crissante, expressed their full support. Luciel’s charisma, beauty, and leadership made her the ideal representative for the css.

  Even the boys voiced their support for Luciel. Privately, many regarded her in the css. Having her as the parade guide would surely be a spectacle to remember.

  Emmanuel, seeing the unanimous enthusiasm, didn’t wait for Luciel’s response and took it upon himself to write her name on the board, making it seem almost like an official decree.

  However, Luciel quickly spoke up, “Actually, I’d prefer to recommend Xanthia. Teacher Emmanuel, could you add Xanthia’s name to the board as well?”

  Ryan, the css monitor, let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this. He had anticipated that Luciel might recommend Xanthia and had only joked with Dematero earlier. He hadn’t expected Emmanuel to act so decisively, which almost complicated Ryan’s efforts to avoid suspicion.

  Respecting Luciel’s choice, Emmanuel added “Xanthia” to the board. Both Luciel and Xanthia were candidates he deemed suitable.

  Luciel continued, “I appreciate everyone’s enthusiastic support, but I need to crify something. If you vote for me, I’ll only wear the school uniform as the guide. I’m afraid I won’t meet everyone’s expectations for entertainment. That’s all I wanted to say.”

  Predictably, her statement caused some disappointment among her cssmates, particurly the boys.

  This was typical of Luciel. With her strong and commanding presence, she exuded an air of authority. Her sharp, piercing eyes and natural leadership qualities marked her as a authoratative figure. Expecting her to indulge in fmboyant antics was unrealistic.

  Luciel was also known for her conservative taste in fashion, rarely wearing skirts and favoring practical clothing.

  “Kenny, as the sports committee member, who would you recommend?” Emmanuel asked next.

  Without hesitation, Kenny replied, “I recommend Hera. She has excellent fashion sense and the means to stand out. She’ll definitely add gmour to our css. I hope everyone will vote for Hera!”

  Hera, whose talents rarely extended beyond her charm, beamed with delight, looking pleased and self-assured.

  She considered the parade guide role to be the perfect ptform to showcase herself. She pnned to wear a luxurious dress, adorned with fine jewelry, to funt her wealth and status.

  Most importantly, the parade guide for Css 1-1 was sure to be Dionysius. Hera believed that if she became the guide for Css 1-3, it would highlight how perfectly matched they were.

  However, as soon as Kenny finished his recommendation, a mocking voice rang out from the back, “Add gmour? Do you mean by ughing and farting? Hera’s the only one who could pull that off!”

  The css roared with ughter, louder than when Jimmy’s name had been mentioned. Jimmy, the so-called “Pee King,” had been dethroned by Hera, the “Fart King.”

  Kenny, furious, turned to confront the voice. “Who said that? Which lowlife insulted her?”

  His attempt to defend Hera was dramatic, almost knightly, as if he were protecting his dy’s honor.

  Then he spotted Marcus in the back row, lounging in his chair with his hands behind his head, wearing a smirk. Marcus sneered and said to Leon, “Leon, how did I insult Hera?”

  Leon grinned. “Bro, you just repeated what she did.”

  Realizing Marcus was behind the mockery, Kenny’s anger quickly dissipated. Though he was the sports committee member, he was no match for Marcus’s intimidating presence and reputation as a bully.

  Hera, noticing Kenny’s unease, advised him, “Apologize to Marcus after css. He was just joking. No need to get worked up.”

  This was typical of Hera—intimidating those weaker while ingratiating herself with the powerful.

  She knew Marcus was close friends with Dionysius from Css 1-1, and she fantasized about becoming Dionysius’s girlfriend. Once that happened, she could use Marcus to boss others around. The thought thrilled her.

  Kenny, though humiliated, rationalized that following Hera’s wishes would improve his standing with her. The effort was worth it. Winning over someone like Hera was a prize he couldn’t pass up.

  Meanwhile, Emmanuel calmly added Hera’s name to the board and moved on.

  The bor committee member abstained, having no candidates to suggest.

  Finally, it was Lhoraine’s turn. Initially pnning to recommend Xanthia, she noticed Luciel had already done so. As a gossip enthusiast, Lhoraine decided to stir the pot by nominating “Elena La Loannou.”

  While Elena wasn’t frequently mentioned, Lhoraine realized she commanded a certain respect. Being addressed by her full name, rather than just her first, was a subtle yet significant mark of distinction. It wasn’t something even Xanthia had achieved.

  Momentarily taken aback, Lhoraine thought, How did I not notice this before?

  She didn’t truly wish for Elena to win but wanted to see how popur the top three—Xanthia, Luciel, and Elena—really were. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect for Elena’s mysterious allure.

  ...

  Emmanuel wrote down all the candidates and began the anonymous voting process. Each student was instructed to write up to three names on a piece of paper and submit it to the back row, where the votes would be tallied.

  As the process unfolded, Hera considered asking Emmanuel to dey the vote so she could campaign further. However, Emmanuel preferred to avoid deys, fearing any disruption to his carefully managed process.

  This was the css’s first experience with a democratic vote, and they found it thrilling. For the first time, they felt they had the power to choose their representative.

  In one corner, Dematero was fervently campaigning for Xanthia. “Vote for Xanthia! Remember her stunning JK uniform? She’s perfect for this!”

  His roommate, Benedicto, joked as he wrote Xanthia’s name, “Should I write Elena too? She’s elegant and would make a good guide.”

  “No way!” Dematero shot back. “Elena’s too aloof and no fun. Trust me, vote Xanthia. She’ll love it, and you’ll benefit!”

  In another corner, simir debates unfolded, with most students rallying behind Xanthia.

  “Vote for Xanthia! She’ll bring pride to Css 1-3!”

  “She’s kind, stylish, and charismatic—what more could we ask for?”

  “Don’t miss this chance. Xanthia is our best shot at making a statement!”