Classroom Of The Elite: The Silent Syndicate

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston S. Churchill

"So why did you guys call me here at gym?" I asked Ryuen. 

"Kukuku Takashiro can't you join your 'friends' for a gym session?" He said smirking. 

"First off we aren't friends, secondly it is 6 a.m, I don't like spending my personal times with you, and thirdly Ishizaki-" I turned my head towards him. "-don't touch the bar unless the person is in trouble when he is bench-pressing." I said looking at him and Albert. 

Ishizaki flinched at my words, looking between me and Albert like a kid who got caught stealing an expensive hairpin from a convenience store. "H-Hey, I was just making sure he didn't get crushed, alright?"

Albert, as always, said nothing. He just gave me a slow nod, acknowledging my words in his usual silent agreement.

'Also fourthly a day pass is 5000 points...'

Ryuen chuckled. "Kukuku, still sharp as ever, Takashiro. But since you're here, why not show us what you got?" 

"Sure after you tho. How much can you bench-press Ryuen? Your max?" 

"110 kg. Ishizaki is about 90 kg and Albert is 150 kg." He answered. 

Ishizaki 90kg? Not gonna lie for someone of the weight class, that's pretty low. But I guess it's due to him not working out that much. 

"Albert get off the rack." I commanded, my tone firm. With a slight nod, he released the barbell, sitting up with effortless grace. 

I gestured toward Ryuen, who was smirking in the background. 

"Alright then Ryuen how about you beat your PR today. How about we all try and beat it. We start from Ishizaki since he is the weakest." 

Ishizaki's face flushed a deep crimson at the jab, but the challenge ignited a spark of determination in his eyes. "I-I can hit it today! You'll see!" he proclaimed, straightening himself as if to prepare for battle. 

"That's the spirit," I said, trying to stifle the smirk creeping onto my face. I gestured toward the barbell, its polished metal gleaming under the unforgiving fluorescent lights. "You've got this; just focus on your form."

He shuffled nervously to the bench, lying back and gripping the bar with a good, but shaky, hold. "Count for me, will you? I want to push it to 95 kg," he said, voice trembling slightly. 

Ryuen lounged against the wall, arms crossed and eyes glinting with mischief. "Go on, then, show us how it's done, Ishizaki. Give the 'weakest' some proof he's got muscle too." His taunt floated in the air like a challenge itself, egging Ishizaki on. 

With a nod, I positioned myself at the head of the bench, ready to count. "On three. One... two... three!"

Ishizaki unracked the barbell, grunting as he maneuvered the weight. The moment felt electric, charged with tension and unspoken hopes. "Come on, Ishizaki, you've got this!" I encouraged, keeping my voice steady and loud, aiming to drown out Ryuen's ever-constant snickering.

He pushed the bar down, the metal gliding close to his chest. Sweat dotted his forehead as he strained against the weight, veins bulging in his neck. I could see the fire in his eyes, a stark contrast to his usual timid demeanor.

"Focus, man, it's just weight," I reminded him, pushing my own frustration with the earlier situation aside. When he began to push back upwards, I sensed the room inhaling sharply in anticipation. But just as he thought he might succeed, those treacherous whispers from Ryuen sliced through the air. 

"Maybe he's not cut out for this after all, huh? What's the point of trying if you can't even lift what's required of you?" 

Ishizaki faltered for a brief moment, that flicker of doubt almost crushing his resolve. I locked eyes with him, determined to relay a silent message: Ignore him. Finish this. 

"Come on, push!" Ryuen said to him.

With every ounce of willpower, Ishizaki bore down on the bar, his face contorting in a mixture of pain and concentration.

The bar wobbled precariously but slowly began to ascend. Ishizaki let out a guttural roar, muscles straining against the weight, and in that moment, a surge of adrenaline shot through him. The bar steadied, defying gravity as he finally locked it above him. 

"Not bad I guess." I said. 

Ryuen clapped slowly. "Kukuku, well done, Ishizaki. Maybe you're not completely useless after all." There was an underlying tone of begrudging respect in his words. 

Ishizaki sat up, his breaths heavy but triumphant, a grin breaking across his face that transformed him entirely. "I told you! I can do this!" His voice was more confident now, like a fire ignited within him, and I could see the genuine joy sparking in his eyes.

"Now it's your turn, Ryuen," I said.

Ryuen pushed himself off the wall, nonchalantly sauntering towards the bench with an air of exaggerated confidence. "As if I'd back down now," he mused, flicking a lock of hair away from his brow. He positioned himself underneath the barbell, even as a knowing smile creeped onto my face. T

"What's your goal, Ryuen? You might as well shoot for the stars, right?" I quipped. 

He let out a patronizing chuckle. "Please, I eat PRs for breakfast. I'll go for 120 kg. Shouldn't be a challenge for someone like me." 

I nodded, though I saw the flicker of uncertainty behind his bravado as he adjusted the plates on the bar.

As he settled on the bench, Ryuen allowed himself a moment's pause, a brief eye contact filled with thinly-veiled competition sparking between us. "You ready to count, Takashiro?" His voice oozed sarcasm, but it was tinted with a hint of seriousness.

"Just focus on lifting," I shot back, maintaining my steely demeanor. "Don't get crushed beneath your own ego."

He exhaled sharply, sounding almost offended, before taking a firm grip on the bar. "Alright, alright. Count for me and prepare to witness why I never lose," he said, a touch of bravado re-surging. 

'You got your ass kicked by me on the first day but ok i guess.' 

"On three. One...two...three!" 

With a primal grunt, he lifted the bar off the rack, tension mounting as the weights swayed gently. 

With a slight tremor in his arms, he pushed, forcing the weight upward but gritting his teeth, determination mingling with effort. Ryuen held the bar steadily above him, sweat cascading down his brow like a seasoned warrior in the heat of battle. 

"Make sure you breathe," I added. As he reached the apex of his lift, his eyes locked onto mine, seeking a nod of reassurance, or possibly challenge. 

"I can handle this," he said fiercely, channeling an almost infectious spirit. With one final exhale, he surged upward once more, barbell trembling beneath the strain, muscles working with pure desperation. The bar shifted slowly but surely back to its starting position. 

"Let's go Ryuen-san." Ishizaki said. 

With a triumphant grin stretching across his face, he locked the bar into place, beams of sweat gleaming with exertion under the harsh light. "Just as I said. Easy." 

"Alright Albert it's your turn now." I said to the big guy next to me. 

Albert quietly stepped forward. He adjusted the weights with a deftness that contrasted sharply with Ryuen's earlier bravado. 

"Good luck Albert." Ishizaki said encouragingly. 

He gave a simple nod, lacing his fingers tightly around the bar.

Albert lay back on the bench, his massive hands gripping the bar with the kind of calm precision that only someone like him could manage. Unlike Ryuen, there was no need for bravado, no need to declare his dominance. He simply existed as a force of nature.

I leaned slightly forward, watching as he settled in. "150 kg, right?"

Albert gave a short nod.

"Alright. One... two... three."

The moment the bar left the rack, I could tell the difference between him and the others. There was no hesitation, no wavering grip. The weight descended smoothly to his chest before he pushed it back up with a steady, almost mechanical motion. No struggle, no sound of exertion. Just raw, controlled power.

Ishizaki watched with wide eyes. "D-Damn… he makes it look so easy."

Ryuen crossed his arms, lips curving into a smirk. "Kukuku… of course he does. That's why he's Albert."

Albert didn't even acknowledge the conversation. He just kept going. 

I watched as Albert powered through his reps, his form unbreakable, his breathing controlled. On the seventh rep, I saw it—the briefest tremor in his arms, the smallest hint of strain. But he wasn't done.

"Push through," I said simply.

Albert exhaled sharply, locking out the rep before finally racking the bar with a satisfying clang of metal on steel. He sat up, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, his expression unreadable as always.

"Not bad," I said, nodding. "Could've gone for eight."

Albert merely shrugged, his silence speaking louder than words.

Ishizaki whistled. "Man, that was insane. I don't think I'll ever reach that level."

"Not with that attitude," I shot back.

Ryuen stretched, cracking his neck with an air of exaggerated boredom. "Kukuku, well, that was fun. But now, Takashiro—it's your turn."

I sighed, rolling my shoulders. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

Ryuen's grin widened. "Kukuku… now this should be interesting."

I approached the bench, placing my hands on the bar. The metal felt cool under my fingers, but to me, it might as well have been weightless.

"How much you putting on?" Ryuen asked, eyes glinting with curiosity.

I looked at him, then at the plates. "200 kg."

Silence filled the gym. Ishizaki nearly choked on his own breath. "W-Wait, what?! Are you serious?"

Ryuen's smirk twitched, but he quickly covered his reaction. "Kukuku... bold of you."

Albert, as usual, said nothing. He just started loading the plates.

I lay back on the bench, gripping the bar tightly. My body was already conditioned for this. To me, lifting wasn't just about strength—it was about control, about efficiency, about pushing limits without wasting movement.

"On three," I said, more to myself than anyone else.

One.

Two.

Three.

I unracked the bar, holding it steady above me. The weight pressed down, but it was nothing I couldn't handle.

Smoothly, I lowered it to my chest, feeling every muscle engage in perfect unison. Then, with a controlled breath, I pushed. The bar rose effortlessly, as if gravity itself had no claim over me.

Ishizaki's jaw dropped. "What the actual fuc—"

Ryuen's smirk had finally disappeared.

One rep.

Two.

Three.

I stopped at five, racking the bar without breaking a sweat.

"Albert put more weight on it." I said. 

"How much?" He asked. 

"Add 100 more kilos to it." I said. The bar was the same kind as the one used for olympics and world records, it should be capable of holding of this much weight. 

"Are you serious right now?" Ishizaki exclaimed, eyes wide as saucers.

Ryuen regained his composure, his curiosity piqued once again. "Kukuku, I have to admit, this is getting interesting. You think you can handle it?"

Albert efficiently added the weight, and soon the barbell gleamed ominously with a total of 300 kg resting on the rack. I settled back down, adjusting my grip as I focused on my breathing.

"Let's see if you can back up your words, Takashiro," Ryuen said, crossing his arms. 

"Count for me," I said, locking eyes with Ishizaki. 

"On three. One… two… three!" 

With a deep breath, I unracked the bar again, the metal cold against my skin. The weight bore down, but my body was primed for this. I lowered the bar slowly, feeling every muscle engage. Control was key; it was never just about raw power.

I pushed back up, smoothly powering through the lift. One rep. Then another. My breathing remained steady, my movements fluid. Each press felt like second nature.

I could feel Ishizaki's astonished gaze on me, while Ryuen's expression shifted from disbelief to grudging admiration. 

Racking the bar with a satisfying clang, I sat up, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead. 

"Albert remove the weight and put only 50s until it reaches 400." 

Albert nodded and began removing the heavier plates with a precision that spoke volumes. The bar soon gleamed under the fluorescent lights.

Ishizaki watched, his jaw still hanging open. "You're actually going to try for 400 kg? Is that even possible?"

Once Albert finished, the bar was set up with a total of 400 kg. I lay back down, gripping the cold metal. 

"Ready when you are," Ishizaki said, his voice a mix of awe and nervousness.

"Count it out," I instructed, eyeing Ryuen, who was leaning against the wall. 

"On three. One... two... three!"

I unracked the bar with a sharp inhale, the weight pressing down like a challenge thrown directly in my face. I could feel the tension in the room as I lowered it to my chest, the sheer weight forcing my muscles to engage fully.

With a deep exhale, I pushed. The bar wobbled slightly at first. 

One rep.

The bar moved up smoothly.

Two.

Each press was a battle, but I was winning.

Three.

The moment I locked out my arms on the fourth rep, a sense of triumph surged through me. The clang of the bar against the rack echoed in the gym.

"Holy fuck…" Ishizaki breathed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Anyways is that why you guys call me here?" I asked them. 

"No." Ryuen said. "...ok maybe yes."

"Takashiro-kun, so we just wanted to know what you and Sakagami-sensei talked about." Ishizaki added, continuing from Ryuen. 

"Nothing really, if it was anything worth mentioning, I would have already said it." I said before leaving the gym. 

'Great, now I'm all sweaty...' I thought to myself, grumbling as I headed back to my dorm room. 

 I quickly showered, letting the hot water wash away both sweat and frustration. Once I was clean and dressed in my uniform, I took a moment to adjust my tie. 

Eventually the day passed and it was lunch time and also the time for me to meet Manabu Horikita. After all I am a man of my words. A promise is a promise, and I had said I would meet Manabu Horikita.

I made my way through the hallways, the sound of chatter and laughter echoing around me. Arriving at the council's designated area, I took a deep breath before pushing open the door.

The room was well-organized, with neatly arranged desks and a large window letting in streams of sunlight. Manabu was already there, seated at the head of the table, poring over a stack of documents. He looked up as I entered, his expression shifting to one of mild surprise.

"Takashiro," he greeted, his tone steady. "You made it."

I nodded, taking a seat across from him. "I told you I would. What did you want to discuss?"