The Scumbag's Guide To Heroism novel Chapter 353

Chapter 353: 353 | A Hell of a Character Reference

I finished the demonstration without incident, but the exchange lingered in my mind as I walked back to the dormitory. Dravid was watching me. Not in the general sense that faculty watched all students, but specifically. Actively. Looking for something he suspected was there but couldn’t quite prove.

Another variable to track. Another threat vector to manage.

The campaign finale arrived at dinner.

Caden stood on his chair at the 1-B table and announced his withdrawal from the representative race with the theatrical energy of someone who had been saving this performance for exactly the right moment.

"I’ve decided that my talents are better suited to advising than leading," he declared to the cafeteria at large. "Also, Lukas promised me better snacks at faculty meetings and I’m a simple man with simple needs. Vote Belmont. He’s less boring than Theo."

"Thanks," Theo said dryly from three seats away. "Really feeling the love."

"You’re welcome." Caden dropped back into his chair with a grin. "Also, for the record, Theo would make an excellent representative and this cohort would be lucky to have him. But Lukas has better hair and that matters in politics."

Marco threw a napkin at him. The table erupted in laughter.

The endorsement worked exactly as Caden had predicted. By the time dinner ended, three students who had been undecided approached me with questions about my platform. I answered each one honestly, which felt strange given how much of my existence at Halloran was built on lies.

I wanted better training accommodations for non-standard Aspect types. True.

I wanted transparent communication between faculty and students about curriculum changes. True.

I wanted to represent 1-B’s interests during joint practicals with 1-A because Cole Dravid would weaponize any weakness he found and I’d rather control that narrative than react to it. Extremely true.

By nine o’clock, Percy’s revised polling showed me at thirty-five percent, Theo at thirty-eight percent, and the remaining candidates splitting the difference. Close enough to matter. Close enough to win if I could find one more endorsement that carried weight.

I checked my phone. No messages from Camille.

The evening found me at Field Zeta for my training session with Hiro. The abandoned field looked different in the dying light, all long shadows and amber grass, the rusted bleachers casting geometric patterns across the ground.

Hiro was already there when I arrived. He stood in the center of the field with his Corona dimmed to maintenance levels, his perfect hair somehow maintaining its perfect styling despite the evening humidity.

"Heard you’re running for representative," he said by way of greeting.

"Word travels fast."

"Word travels at the speed of teenage gossip, which is approximately faster than light." He rolled his shoulders, loosening up for the session. "Also, Petra mentioned it at dinner. Loudly. With opinions."

"Let me guess. She thinks the democratic process is a formality that will confirm her predetermined superiority."

"Those weren’t her exact words, but the sentiment tracks." Hiro dropped into a fighting stance. "You going to win?"

"Planning on it."

"Theo’s a better person."

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