Earlier that day, the principal sat eagerly, the office was suffocating under the weight of his gaze, a dim glow from a single overhead drone casting flickering shadows across the cluttered desk. Principal Takeda fingers drumming rhythmically on the worn wood. The room reeked of stale air. A glass of whiskey sat untouched, its amber surface reflecting the light like liquid gold.

The door creaked open, and in walked Kazuto, his swagger unaffected by the stares from the corridors. His usual cocky smirk danced on his lips, but it faltered slightly when he saw the principal’s hardened expression. Kazuto’s eyes darted to the corner of the room, where a small drone hovered, its lens blinking red, watching, recording.

"You summoned me, sir?" Kazuto drawled, his voice laid on thick as he collapsed into the chair opposite the desk. "What’s this all about? Another lecture? Or maybe something else?" His eyes gleamed with mockery, as if nothing could touch him.

Principal face remained a mask of calm. He tapped a folder on his desk, pushing it toward Kazuto. Inside were photos, some of the principal’s son, others of the young boy’s bruises and haunted eyes, alongside police reports. “that had been buried under layers of your family's influence and money.” the principal began, his voice low and venomous. "And it includes my son's suicide."

Kazuto’s smirk vanished, his posture stiffening. "What the hell is this? You have no proof."

The principal leaned back in his chair, eyes cold, as if daring Kazuto to continue. "Oh, I don’t need proof anymore. This…," he motioned toward the drone, "isn't about evidence.”

Kazuto’s brow furrowed, eyes narrowing on the drone as he interrupts “What is this, some sick joke?”

The principal slowly reached under his desk, pulling out a sleek silver revolver and setting it on the table with a deliberate clink. He leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. “This is no joke.”

Principal Takeda’s fist slammed down on the desk, the sudden noise causing the drone to buzz in response, its lens focusing in closer on Kazuto’s face.

“You killed my son,” the principal’s voice trembled with barely contained rage. “Years of torment, and your family hushed everything up. Every bruise, every cut, every broken bone, hidden behind your father’s money.”

Kazuto flinched, the mask of arrogance slipping further as the principal’s words cut through the air.

“And then, she followed him…” the principal’s voice lowered, bitter. “My wife. She couldn’t live with the shame. She tried to save him, Kazuto, but after his death… depression swallowed her whole. She took her own life, just like my son.”

For a moment, silence filled the room, thick with grief and fury. The drone hovered closer, capturing every twitch of Kazuto’s face as he shifted uncomfortably.

Principal Takeda stood up slowly, the revolver still gleaming between them on the desk. “Your father’s wealth may have saved you from the law, but here.” as he gestured to the drone, “I’ve found a new benefactor”

Principal Takeda leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the glass of untouched whiskey. He allowed a thin smile to cross his lips, the drone's soft hum filling the silence as it recorded their every move.

“How about a game?” the drone spoke. The principal placed 6 glasses on the desk.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Kazuto’s eyes flickered with confusion and curiosity, his cocky demeanour slowly returning. "A game?" he scoffed. "What kind of game?"

"A simple one," the principal replied, pouring the whiskey into two glasses with deliberate precision. "You like to gamble with other people’s lives, Kazuto. How about we gamble with yours?"

Kazuto’s smirk grew, arrogance rekindling. “And if I win?”

Takeda met his gaze, the corners of his mouth twitching as if amused. “If you win, you’ll have what you’ve always wanted, complete control. You’ll be king of this school.”

Kazuto leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. “And if you win?”

“You’ll be expelled,” the principal said flatly, sliding one of the glasses toward Kazuto. “Your father’s influence can’t save you from this, now choose a glass.”

Kazuto chuckled, the thought of being expelled clearly not something he took seriously. “A bet, then.” He grabbed the glass with a confident grin. "What’s the catch?"

The principal raised his own glass. “No catch. One of us is leaving here happy, the other, unconscious. Now just drink.”

Kazuto hesitated for a brief second, his eyes narrowing on the principal. Then, with a flourish, he downed the whiskey in one gulp. The burning liquid slid down his throat, and he slammed the glass down on the desk, victorious.

But Takeda only smiled, slowly sipping his own drink, his eyes never leaving Kazuto.

Kazuto leaned back in his chair, a smug grin stretching across his face. “My father’s going to have your head on a platter once I win this little game,” he sneered, his confidence growing with each passing second. “You think you can get rid of me that easily? You’re nothing, Takeda. My old man owns half the town. He’ll bury you.”

The principal watched Kazuto with quiet amusement, swirling the whiskey in his glass before taking another slow sip. “Perhaps,” he murmured, setting his glass down. “But tonight, it’s just the two of us. No lawyers, no bribes. Just you and your choices.”

Kazuto chuckled, eyes gleaming with confidence. “You really think some stupid game is going to change anything? I’ll still be here tomorrow, and you… you’ll be long gone. Fired. Forgotten.”

The principal’s expression remained unreadable. He slid another glass toward Kazuto, his voice steady. “Then by all means, drink up. Let’s see how this ends.”

Without hesitation, Kazuto grabbed the glass and downed it, slamming it onto the desk with a cocky flourish. His movements were still sharp, but there was a slight wobble in his hand as he reached for the next glass.

“Two down,” Kazuto smirked, his voice dripping with overconfidence. “Guess I’m just built differently.”

The drone hovered closer, the blinking red light reflecting off the glass as it zoomed in on Kazuto’s face. His bravado showed no signs of fading, but a faint sheen of sweat had begun to form on his forehead.

Principal Takeda remained calm, his eyes fixed on Kazuto. “You may be built differently,” he said softly, sliding another glass forward. “But not invincible.”

Kazuto hesitated for a moment, his vision swimming slightly as he reached for the third glass. “What the hell do you know about anything, old man?” he snarled, grabbing the glass with a shaky hand. “I’ve got everything, money, power. You think this school means anything to me? My father’s got bigger plans for me than this shithole.”

Takeda simply watched, his fingers resting lightly on the remaining glasses. “It's come down to this, one of us will collapse.” as his nails tap against the glass, “Drink,” he said quietly.

Kazuto gulped down the third glass, slamming it harder this time as if to shake off the growing fog in his mind. His swagger remained, but the cracks were starting to show. His speech slurred slightly as he leaned back in his chair, blinking hard to focus.

“You think… this is gonna stop me?” Kazuto muttered, reaching for the desk. “I’m untouchable.”

But as he placed the glass back on the desk, his hand trembled. His vision blurred further, and his mind swirled with confusion. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog, but it was no use.

Kazuto slumped back into his chair, his body feeling heavier with each passing second. His head lolled to the side, his cocky grin faltering as his consciousness slipped away. “What… what did you… do…” he mumbled, barely coherent.

The principal leaned forward, watching with cold satisfaction as Kazuto’s eyes fluttered closed. “It’s not about strength, Kazuto,” he whispered, his voice calm and steady. “It’s about knowing when the game is already over.”

Kazuto’s body sagged in the chair, unconscious, as the drone zoomed in for one final shot of his lifeless form. Principal Takeda stood slowly, straightening his tie as he stepped around the desk.

Leaning down, he whispered one last thing into Kazuto’s ear. “You lose.” with a slurp of his drink.

The principal turn to the drone, “lets begin”