『』『』『』『』『』
"Why are we headed over here?" Ayanokouji asked. "It's a little early to be counseling me about my post-high school career, isn't it?"
"You'll understand soon."
"..."
Ayanokouji tried to lighten the mood with a joke as they stood in front of a large double door together, but it didn't seem like she had any intention of answering a student's question.
However, rather than what awaited him on the other side of the door, what he was more concerned about was the teacher standing beside him. She sounded almost flustered, and that worried Ayanokouji. She was normally so composed. Whoever she was taking him to meet, even if it was the person he imagined, this wasn't normal behavior for her.
She knocked on the office door.
"Enter."
Ayanokouji heard a gentle voice that carried the dignity of wisdom.
Chabashira opened the door. "Principal, I've brought Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."
A man around sixty years old sat on the sofa. He was indeed the school's principal. Ayanokouji had seen him several times before, at the entrance ceremony and the end-of-semester ceremony. However, he didn't look calm. In fact, sweat trickled down his forehead.
There was one other person in the room, seated opposite the principal.
Ayanokouji now understood why he had been called here.
"You two may talk now," the principal slowly rose up from his seat. "I trust this is acceptable?"
"Of course."
"Very well. I'll take my leave now. Excuse me." The principal then bowed respectfully before leaving, despite the man sitting opposite him being considerably younger, only in his forties.
"I'll excuse myself as well." Chabashira-sensei bowed politely to the man before leaving with the principal.
The final look she gave him as a teacher was noticeably uneasy, and Ayanokouji caught it as well. As the door closed, the only sound that remained was the faint whir of the heating system.
"How about taking a seat? I came all the way here to meet with you, after all."
The man spoke his first words as Ayanokouji remained standing, completely still and silent.
It had been one year... no, a year and a half since he'd last heard this man's voice in person. His tone and manner of speaking hadn't changed at all.
"What do you want? I'm not planning to have a long conversation. I promised some friends I'd meet them."
"Friends? Don't make me laugh. There's no way you're capable of making friends." The man let out a faint sneer before continuing. "I've already prepared the documents for your withdrawal. I've spoken with the principal. All I need is for you to say yes."
"I have no reason to drop out," Ayanokouji replied.
"That may be true for you. But I have my own reasons."
The man looked directly at Ayanokouji for the first time. The sharp gleam in his eyes hadn't faded. If anything, it had only grown sharper. His gaze was like a blade, threatening to cut straight through a person. Ayanokouji was certain those eyes had wounded countless people and driven many into despair.
"Does a parent have the right to ruin their child's life for the sake of their own selfishness?" Ayanokouji asked, unfazed by the intensity of his gaze.
"Parent? You've never even acknowledged me as your father, let alone your parent."
"You're right."
Ayanokouji doubted the man before him had ever regarded him as his own flesh and blood either. In truth, they recognized each other as father and son only in the most technical sense.
As stated in the documentation on his birth certificate.
As established by blood relation.
And as confirmed by shared genetics and DNA.
Beyond that, however, there was little to suggest they were family at all.
"Hmph. The fact remains that you've been acting selfishly. I ordered you to remain on standby," the man declared, no longer bothering to ask him to sit. "You defied me and enrolled at this school. It's only natural that I order you to withdraw immediately."
"Your orders are absolute inside the White Room. But outside it, there's no reason for me to obey you. Right?" Ayanokouji countered.
It was simple logic. But a man of his caliber and stubborn nature wasn't someone who could be persuaded so easily.
"You've become quite talkative in the short time since we last met."
"Answer my previous question."
"You mean the pointless query about no longer needing to obey my orders? The man rested his chin on his hand, looking at Ayanokouji as if he were less than filth. "You're my property. A man may do as he wishes with his property. Whether I keep you alive or kill you is up to me,"
To think that he could say such a thing to his own flesh and blood, in such law abiding country no less, and mean them, spoke to what a fearsome force he was.
"Don't you wonder how Matsuo is doing?"
As if he owned the principal's office, the man leaned back against the sofa and suddenly changed the subject.
"The person who told you about this school and gave you the idea to enroll?"
"Not especially."
Even so, Matsuo's face immediately came to Ayanokouji's mind. A gentle-looking man in his sixties.
"I hired him to look after you for a year in his role as a butler, but he chose to betray his employer." He spoke without pausing, then deliberately stopped after the word "employer" before continuing. "He told you about this school as a way to escape my control. You ignored your real father's wishes and enrolled here without my permission. Truly foolish. So, naturally, Matsuo had to be punished."
"...."
For a man who naturally treated others as beneath him, Matsuo being punished was almost inevitable, especially when the person Matsuo had helped was him, and the one he had betrayed was the man standing before Ayanokouji.
"Then I assume you know about his son as well. His pride and joy."
Matsuo had married young but wasn't blessed with a child until much later. He was already over forty when his first son was born, but sadly lost his wife during childbirth. His son was around Ayanokouji's age, and Matsuo treasured him more than anything. Ayanokouji had never met the boy himself, but Matsuo often spoke about how diligently his son studied so that one day he could achieve great things and repay his father's sacrifices.
The smile on Matsuo's face as he said those words was still etched into Ayanokouji's memory.
"When you enrolled at this school, Matsuo's son had also passed the difficult entrance exam for this prestigious school. He worked exceptionally hard and earned that opportunity through his own efforts."
He paused.
"Tell me. What is the maximum number of students allowed in each classroom?"
The meaning behind the question was obvious, and Ayanokouji already knew where this was leading. He found it distasteful, but this was exactly the kind of man he was.
"Forty," Ayanokouji answered.
"Matsuo's son was supposed to enroll at this school as a Class D student. But because of you, not only did you take his place, you destroyed his future as well. You trampled all over his years of hard work, Kiyotaka."
"...So? What's your point?"
"Matsuo's son was resilient. Even after losing the school he'd placed all his hopes on, he refused to give up and immediately tried to enroll somewhere else. I made sure he couldn't. I did the same to Matsuo. I ruined his reputation so no one would hire him. His son eventually lost his way as well, and now he's unemployed."
According to the man before him, Matsuo and his son had lost everything because of Ayanokouji's selfishness. He wasn't making any of it up. Every word was almost certainly true.
But if he had come all this way just to tell him this, then he was going to be disappointed.
"I assume none of this comes as a surprise to you. Matsuo defied me, so it was only natural that I repaid him in kind. Crushed by the guilt of stealing his son's future, he begged me to spare the boy. Then, last month, he chose to end his life through self-immolation."
"So did you spare him? Just like what Matsu begged you to do?"
Without even a change on his expression, the man answered, coldly, "Right now, his son's working part-time, earning enough to live on and nothing else, with no guarantee of a future. No dreams. No hope. His family's tragedy is your fault. The boy must surely bear a deep grudge against you. Even in death, he won't forgive you."
So, that was what he came here to say. That my selfish actions led to a man's death, and his son despair.
The corners of the man's mouth curved slightly upward in a despicable grin.
"The man who took care of you, who saved you, has died. And you show no reaction whatsoever. If Matsuo could see you now, he'd be full of regret."
"...."
What kind of joke was this?
Dead people felt no regret.
The man before Ayanokouji was the reason why Matsuo and his son lost everything—why Matsuo killed himself—and he wasn't even trying to make Ayanokouji feel guilty He was simply stating the fact that he had no mercy for those who angered him. That was what he wanted to convey to him.
"If he really is dead, then that's all the more reason for me to stay in school. Matsuo helped me enroll, even though he knew you'd punish him. I must honor his wishes."
A ridiculous reply for a ridiculous story.
"You've changed quite a bit, Kiyotaka." The man said, "What happened that during that one year? What made you so determined to go to this school?"
Ayanokouji always followed his order before, Well, he followed the White Room's orders. It had been his entire world. This man's sole failure was the one year he left him with Matsuo.
"It's certainly true that you gave me the best education possible," Ayanokouji said. "Even if the methods could never be made public, I can't deny what the White Room gave me. I have no intention of revealing my past to anyone, nor will I do anything that would threaten you. But I'm the product of your relentless pursuit of the ideal. That was your mistake."
He was only a first-year high school student. Just sixteen years old adolescent boy.
Yet the knowledge he possessed already surpassed what most people could learn in a lifetime. It was precisely because of that that he had come to understand the endless depth of human curiosity.
"You taught us everything. Not just academics, but martial arts, self-defense, and more practical knowledge than I could ever count. Learning itself fascinated me. I wanted to see the ordinary world that you dismissed as worthless. I wanted to learn about the things you chose to cast aside."
"So that's why you ran away?"
"Do you really think I could've learned what I've learned here if I'd stayed with you? What is freedom? What does it mean to live without restraint? Those are things I could never have learned in the White Room."
That was one thing even the man before him couldn't deny.
The White Room may have been the most efficient institution in the world for raising and training exceptional individuals, but it couldn't teach everything. It was a place that relentlessly cut away anything it deemed unnecessary.
To the very extreme.
"Matsuo told me this school was the only place in Japan where you couldn't reach me."
If he hadn't chosen this school and had simply waited as instructed, or chosen any other path, he would have been sent back to the White Room.
That was something Ayanokouji would never accept.
"I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing."
"I don't entirely understand your way of thinking, but it seems I have no choice but to accept it." The man spoke without raising his voice. "Suspending the facility's operations was a mistake. To think that a plan sixteen years in the making would be derailed twice..."
For the first time since they met, a faint trace of conflict crossed the man's face.
"The White Room has resumed its operations. This time, my plans are flawless. Nothing will stand in my way. I'm prepared to make up for the time I've lost," he said.
"In that case, you must have no shortage of candidates to succeed you. Why are you so fixated on me?"
"It's true that things are proceeding smoothly. Even so, none of them possess talent on your level. So think very carefully before you answer me. Which would you prefer? Leaving this school of your own accord, or having your parent force you to leave?"
The man was determined to drag him back to that place.
Given the influence he wielded, it was probably well within his power. Ayanokouji didn't know what methods he intended to use, nor did he care to hear them. His mind had already been made up. After finally escaping that place and making it this far, nothing could change his decision.
After a long, suffocating silence, the man finally let out a sigh.
"So you have no intention of returning?"
"I don't know if someone like you can ever be helped, but I have no intention of giving up. This school nurtures its students' talents in its own way, even if its methods differ from yours. I expect to learn a great deal here," Ayanokouji replied calmly.
"How foolish. This school is nothing more than a barn filled with common rabble. I'm sure your class is no different. A collection of worthless people with no hope of ever amounting to anything."
"Worthless? I don't think so. This school gives me a chance to find out whether all people are truly born equal or not. I find that rather interesting."
"You believe even the most incompetent fool can stand shoulder to shoulder with a genius?"
"Yes," Ayanokouji answered without hesitation.
"...What?"
Even the man before him seemed taken aback by that answer.
It was understandable. After all, Ayanokouji was the masterpiece he had devoted years to creating. He had been pushed beyond every conceivable limit, filled with knowledge and ability to the very extreme.
Yet an incompetent standing on equal footing with a genius?
A certain person's face surfaced in Ayanokouji's mind.
That person was undeniably incompetent.
There wasn't a single thing that person could surpass Ayanokouji in, and he was completely certain of that. Even so, that same incompetent person was also the only one who had ever made Ayanokouji feel genuinely threatened.
Not even everything he experienced in the White Room had made him feel that way.
However, Ayanokouji had no intention of explaining himself any further and the man seemed to realize that as well.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Please excuse me."
A man in his forties slowly stepped inside.
"It has been quite some time, Ayanokouji-sensei," he said, bowing deeply like a subordinate greeting his superior.
"Sakayanagi. Seeing you again brings back memories. It's been, what? Seven... eight years?" the man asked.
Sakayanagi?
Hearing the name, Ayanokouji couldn't help but associate him with the student from Class B who shared the same surname.
"I suppose it has been about that long since I succeeded my father as chairman of the school board. Time certainly flies," the visitor replied before slowly turning toward Ayanokouji. "You must be Ayanokouji-sensei's... Kiyotaka-kun, correct? It's a pleasure to meet you."
"We've finished talking, so I'll be leaving."
"Ah, would you mind waiting just a little longer? I was hoping to speak with both of you, Ayanokouji-sensei. Please, have a seat."
There was no reason for Ayanokouji to refuse a request from a third party, especially the chairman of the school. He quietly took a seat, and the chairman sat down beside him.
"I've already heard from the principal. Is it true that you intend to make him withdraw from the school?" Sakayanagi asked.
"I simply want him to leave a school he enrolled in without his parent's permission."
"High school is not compulsory education, nor is attendance mandatory. Students are free to attend whichever high school they choose. If you had been paying his tuition, this might be a different matter. However, the government covers all tuition fees at this school. We place our students' autonomy above all else."
Ayanokouji finally began to understand what Matsuo had meant when he said, 'If you go to this school, you can escape the White Room.' It was likely because of Chairman Sakayanagi's influence.
It was evident in the way he spoke to his father without the slightest hint of hesitation or fear. Unlike the principal, who practically groveled before those in positions of authority.
"You've changed as well. Whatever happened to the agreeable man you used to be?" the man asked.
"I still hold the utmost respect for you, Ayanokouji-sensei. However, I also share my late father's vision for this school, and I intend to carry it on. I'm sure you understand that better than anyone. Nothing about those principles has changed since his time."
"You're free to inherit your father's ideals. But if that's truly your intention, then why did you allow Kiyotaka to enroll in this school?"
"You ask why? Because we determined that he met our admission standards through his interview and examination."
"Don't evade the question. This school operates differently from ordinary schools. Kiyotaka should never have been considered an eligible applicant. You and I both know those interviews and examinations are merely a formality."
Chairman Sakayanagi had maintained a pleasant smile until then. After hearing those words, however, his expression quietly stiffened.
"Even in retirement, you're every bit as perceptive as ever, Ayanokouji-sensei. You're remarkably well informed."
"He was secretly recommended to this school. The moment that recommendation was made, his admission was effectively guaranteed. In other words, any student without a recommendation would never be admitted, regardless of their interview or examination results. Am I mistaken?" The man said.
It seemed they had begun discussing matters that a student like Ayanokouji was never meant to hear.
"You're correct. He wasn't originally among the students we planned to admit. Under normal circumstances, we reject applications from students outside our selection list, while the interview and examination merely serve to conceal that fact. He's one of the two students whose admission I approved entirely on my own judgment. You may have come here to take him back, but he is now one of our students, and therefore under our protection. It is my duty to safeguard every student at this school. Even if this request comes from you, Ayanokouji-sensei, I'm afraid I must decline. That is, so long as Kiyotaka—"
He was suddenly cut off mid-sentence by a commotion outside the office.
"Wait, Kumagawa! There are guests inside!"
Ayanokouji immediately recognized the anxious voice of his homeroom teacher from outside. The next moment, the double doors swung open as though they had been kicked.
『Excuse me... Oh? We have visitors? 』
"I told you to wait outside," Chabashira said, doing her best to keep her composure.
『I did wait. But then I changed my mind. Suddenly, I just didn't feel like waiting anymore. 』
"Yeah. For about five seconds..."
Ignoring her remark, Kumagawa's eyes slowly wandered around the room. The principal was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, his gaze settled on the man seated across from Ayanokouji.
The man's sharp eyes turned toward Kumagawa.
The moment he laid eyes on him, he couldn't help but look down on the boy. To call it disgust would have been an exaggeration, but there was no mistaking the contempt in his eyes. He was looking down on Kumagawa simply as one human being looking down on another.
"So this is the level of manners the finest school in the country has to offer?" he said, directing the remark at Chairman Sakayanagi. "How disappointing."
『...』
Kumagawa quietly looked back at him for a moment.
Then he smiled.
『Sheesh, that's scary. 』 The word left his mouth as casually as if he were commenting on the weather. 『What's with you? You look like the kind of person who could make children cry just by saying good morning. 』
"....."
Even for a man like him, being insulted the moment they first met was enough to leave him momentarily speechless.
"You'll have to forgive them," Chairman Sakayanagi replied with a faint smile. "They're still students. A bit of youthful behavior isn't exactly unusual."
He paused before adding,
"Although, I must admit this is rather unexpected. I never imagined the two of you would meet under these circumstances. Then again, I suppose it was only a matter of time before you learned about him, Ayanokouji-sensei."
"What do you mean by that?"
"As you mentioned earlier, every student admitted to this school requires a recommendation. Without one, they cannot enroll here, regardless of their interview or examination results."
"You mentioned that Kiyotaka was one of the two students whose admission you approved entirely on your own judgment. Is he the other one?"
"Ajimu Najimi."
For the first time in Ayanokouji's life, he saw his father's composure completely break.
"Kumagawa Misogi-kun was recommended by that woman."
"....."
Silence filled the room.
Ayanokouji had no idea who Ajimu Najimi was, but this was the first time he had ever seen his father make that kind of expression. At the same time, he noticed Chairman Sakayanagi quietly signal to Chabashira, who was still standing by the door.
She gave a small nod before stepping outside and gently closing the door behind her.
Only four people remained in the room.
『Why does everyone react like that whenever Anshin'in-san's name comes up? More importantly, could someone please get me some tea? I got lost so many times on the way here that I'm completely parched. 』
Anshin'in-san?
Now that's a familiar name.
"It's hardly appropriate to make such rude remarks the moment you walk in," the chairman said as he slowly rose to his feet. "Still, I'll brew some tea. Please wait a moment."
『Thank you. 』
He then turned toward Ayanokouji and his father. "Would either of you like some as well?"
Ayanokouji quietly shook his head.
His father gave a slight nod.
The chairman left his seat and walked over to prepare the tea. Before long, the room was filled with the soft clinking of porcelain and the faint sound of water beginning to boil.
Silence settled over the room once again.
Ayanokouji quietly observed the two people seated across from each other, especially his father, whose eyes remained fixed on Kumagawa.
It had to be because of the "Anshin'in-san" Kumagawa kept mentioning—the woman whose real name was apparently Ajimu Najimi.
Ayanokouji didn't know who she was or what kind of connection she had with his father. Even so, it was surprising that merely hearing her name was enough to shatter the composure his father had maintained throughout the entire conversation.
After a short while, Chairman Sakayanagi returned carrying a tray with three cups of tea.
Paying no attention to the tense atmosphere, Kumagawa casually took a sip of the tea the chairman had prepared for him.
『Mm. Delicious. 』
"What is the meaning of this, Sakayanagi?"
Although the man tried to keep his composure, the irritation in his voice was unmistakable. He really had been shaken.
"I don't quite know what to say, Ayanokouji-sensei. It simply turned out this way."
"You know that's not what I'm asking." His tone was noticeably sharper than before. "Since when have you been in contact with that woman?"
"....."
Instead of answering immediately, Chairman Sakayanagi reached into his suit and took out a letter, then quietly handed it to the man across from him.
"It was during the first month of this year. It was not a direct contact per se, but I somehow found this letter lying beside my bed." He gave a wry smile. "Knowing her, I can't say it was completely surprising. Still, I was quite startled. For a moment, I thought a burglar had broken into my house."
Even Chairman Sakayanagi wore a conflicted expression as he spoke.
"....."
After glancing at the envelope, the man unfolded the letter and silently read its contents.
A moment later, he let out a quiet sigh before placing it back on the table.
"...That does sound like her."
Seated across from him, Ayanokouji managed to catch a glimpse of the letter.
There wasn't much written on it.
In fact, it was only a single sentence.
Since he was sitting opposite the man, the writing was upside down. Fortunately, reading upside-down text was something he had learned to do in the White Room, so it posed little difficulty.
I'll leave the boy whose name is written as the sphere-grinding river of ritual purification in your care. Make sure you enroll him there, Saki-chan. Otherwise this Anshin'in-san will let you have a piece of mind.
Sphere-grinding river of ritual purification....
If those words were read as a name written in kanji, they could only refer to Kumagawa Misogi.
Seeing the note on the table, Kumagawa casually leaned over and picked it up to read it, despite having three pairs of eyes fixed on him.
Ayanokouji had to admit he was rather impressed by Kumagawa's complete lack of social awareness at times.
『Hmm... So Anshin'in-san really has been setting things up behind the scenes. 』
After quietly murmuring to himself, he placed the note back on the table and looked between the mysterious man and Chairman Sakayanagi.
『Ahaha, I don't really know what's going on or all the details, since she never tells me anything. But are you two some of her many victims? Anshin'in-san does have a habit of toying with the people around her. If that's the case, you have my condolences.』
"Brat."
『Hmm? 』 Kumagawa turned to the mysterious man.
"What is your relationship with that woman?"
『Who, Anshin'in-san? 』
The man gave a slow nod.
『Even if I answered it, Anshin'in-san probably wouldn't take it seriously. She's... something like an admirer? No... I think she was my first love—Ah, no, my second love. My first love is a retired psychosomatic surgeon. 』Whether Kumagawa was telling the truth or simply making things up on the spot was impossible to tell. He sounded completely sincere either way.
The man, however, didn't dwell on the answer. Instead, he immediately asked what was likely the question he cared about most.
"Where is she?"
Not only was this the first time Ayanokouji had seen his father's composure falter, it was also the first time he had seen him so desperate for an answer. His desire to know seemed even greater than his determination to bring Ayanokouji back to the White Room.
That alone was enough to surprise him.
『Hmm... That's a difficult question. Anshin'in-san is far too fickle for anyone to keep track of. Trying to pinpoint where she is would be like trying to find the right star in the middle of the day. 』
"So you don't know where she is?"
『Yup. 』
"Tch. How useless." The man rose from his seat. "In that case, we're done here. If you'll excuse me."
It seemed he hadn't expected much of an answer to begin with. More likely, he had already anticipated that no one would know Anshin'in-san's whereabouts in the first place.
"By the way," he said, turning to Chairman Sakayanagi, "I heard that quack fortune teller showed up around here."
Fortune teller?
"She wasn't exactly a quack if nearly all of her predictions came true. You should know that better than anyone." Chairman Sakayanagi replied with a faint smile, earning an irritated look from the man. "That said, I did hear she appeared during the summer break. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet her myself. By the time I learned she was here, she had already disappeared. It seems it was only a one-time visit."
"Tch. Typical."
"I'll see you out," Chairman Sakayanagi offered.
"No need."
With those curt words, the man left the office.
『...What was that all about? And who was that, anyway? I don't think I've ever seen him before. 』
"...He's my father," Ayanokouji replied.
『Your father? 』 Kumagawa tilted his head. 『So that's Ayanokouji Papa? 』
"Don't call him that."
What was even Ayanokouji Papa?
The contrast between that nickname and the man himself was so absurd that Ayanokouji couldn't even find it amusing.
『But putting Ayanokouji Papa aside, isn't the school supposed to prohibit outside visitors? What is this, nepotism? As the student council vice president, I can't just overlook something like this. 』
"Hahaha."
Chairman Sakayanagi's laugh drew both Ayanokouji's and Kumagawa's attention as he smiled warmly.
"Ayanokouji-sensei aside, I believe this is the first time we've properly met. Kumagawa Misogi-kun... and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun. It's a pleasure to finally meet the two of you."
"Likewise, Chairman," Ayanokouji replied with a small nod.
『Hmm...』
"Is something the matter, Kumagawa-kun?" the chairman asked, noticing the peculiar look Kumagawa was giving him.
『I'm wondering... do you happen to know that little girl from—』
"Arisu, right? She's my daughter."
『Ah, that explains it. So you're Sakayanagi-chan's papa, huh? No wonder the two of you give off such a similar vibe. Ahaha. 』
"Don't you mean the same surname?" Ayanokouji asked.
『What are you talking about, Ayanokouji-kun? It's silly to assume people are related just because they share the same name. The beggar across the street could be named Sakayanagi too. That'd be a pretty rude assumption. 』
"....."
『As for how I figured it out... I couldn't really tell you. It was just... something. Maybe his build. Maybe the atmosphere around him. People can lie about their names all the time, so judging someone by that alone doesn't make much sense. 』
"How does that even work..."
So it wasn't because of the name?
Kumagawa's explanation was completely at odds with how normal people and modern facial recognition identified another.
『Anyway, forget about that. Why was a man from outside the school sticking his nose into school business? Even if the chairman doesn't mind, my dignity as vice president is at stake! 』
"Do you even have any dignity left...?" Ayanokouji muttered, looking at his classmate with faint exasperation.
Ayanokouji glanced at the chairman.
The chairman gave a small nod in return.
It seemed he had already realized what was troubling Ayanokouji and what he wanted to ask. Judging from the earlier conversation between Kumagawa and his father, he had likely understood Ayanokouji's intention.
"It's my father. He wants me to withdraw from this school—"
Ayanokouji briefly explained his situation. He left out many of the details, but it was enough to give Kumagawa a clear picture of what had happened.
Even for Ayanokouji, choosing to tell Kumagawa all of this required a considerable amount of resolve, along with a bit of recklessness. There was no guarantee it would accomplish anything.
Still, if he wanted answers, he had to take that chance.
『I see... 』Kumagawa quietly nodded. 『So, in other words, you're a rich kid, aren't you, Ayanokouji-kun? How enviable. 』
"....."
Did he even listen to the explanation?
And even if he had, was that really the only part he thought was worth remembering?
『Well, I did expect Anshin'in-san to have a hand in just about everything. She's a rather cruel person, isn't she? Not only has she been toying with me, it seems she's been toying with you as well. 』
"...Now can you answer a question for me?" Ayanokouji asked, ignoring that rather unsettling remark and getting straight to the point.
『Sure. What is it? 』
"Tell me more about this Ajimu Najimi... or rather, Anshin'in-san."
Ayanokouji deliberately added the honorific.
The last time he had referred to her without it, Kumagawa had clearly taken issue with it. Whether he had been genuinely offended or not was another matter, but his reaction had certainly been different from usual.
His father.
Chairman Sakayanagi.
Even Kumagawa.
The woman called Anshin'in=san seemed to be connected to all of them in one way or another. At the very least, judging by his father's reaction, she had played some part in just about everything.
Even if she wasn't directly involved, she was clearly someone worth knowing about, especially if she was connected to the White Room.
『Come on, you can be a little more honest with yourself. You don't really want to know about Anshin'in-san. What you actually want to know is how involved she is in your situation, right? After all, you're the type of person who doesn't concern himself with something unless it affects you directly, or promises some kind of reward, whether now or in the future. 』
"....."
It was a little unsettling how accurately Kumagawa had described him. They had hardly interacted since the uninhabited island exam, but perhaps what had happened back then was enough for Kumagawa to understand the kind of person he was.
『Well, if you're worried that she's going to start toying with you or make your life miserable, you don't have to worry too much. 』
"What do you mean?"
『Anshin'in-san is far too fickle for her own good. She gets bored with almost everything sooner or later. Even if she did have a hand in that Bland... no, Plain...? Whatever Room of yours, if she really was interested in it, she wouldn't have sent me of all people. 』
"...Why would sending you make a difference?"
That explanation did little to ease Ayanokouji's concerns—If anything, it only made him even warier of this Anshin'in-san.
After all, if she had chosen to send Kumagawa of all people, then there had to be a reason for it.
『Who knows? 』Kumagawa gave a light shrug.『I was sent here without my consent in the first place. I didn't even know my left from my right when I first arrived, so even if you ask me, I don't know what to tell you. Though Anshin'in-san does have a habit of dumping anything she finds troublesome onto someone else, so maybe that's the reason. 』
"That Anshin'in-san really does seem to have a lot of bad habits..."
To the point that, even if Ayanokouji needed to meet her someday, he wasn't sure he wanted to.
『Ahaha, you don't have to be so wary of her, Ayanokouji-kun. Once you get to know her, you'll stop worrying so much about whatever she's involved in. To Anshin'in-san, white and black, good and evil, saints and sinners, plus and minus— all of them are perfectly equal. 』
"..."
What a dangerous way of looking at the world.
It was the kind of perspective only someone detached from humanity, someone truly abnormal, could have.
『But if you're really that worried, there's actually a simple solution to your problem. 』
"A simple solution?"
『Yep. A super-simple super-solution. 』
"I'm fine with super-simple, but a super-solution sounds a little scary." The phrase gave Ayanokouji the impression of something like If you're dead, you won't have any more problems. Still, if Kumagawa claimed there was a solution, it was worth hearing him out. Keeping his expression as calm as ever, Ayanokouji asked, "What is it?"
『It's a sort of Copenhagen interpretation. 』
"The Copenhagen interpretation? That's a concept from quantum mechanics."
People could never fully grasp the present, let alone predict the future with perfect accuracy—But what did that have to do with his situation?
『Aren't you supposed to be the straight man? I obviously meant the Copernican Revolution.』
"How was I supposed to know that? Those are two completely different concepts."
One belonged to astronomy.
The other belonged to quantum physics.
There was no reason for him to assume Kumagawa had confused the two.
『Anyway, my super-simple super-solution is basically a Copernican Revolution. Just give up, accept your fate, and go back to your papa. 』
"How is that even a solution...?"
Rather than solving anything, Kumagawa's so-called super-simple super-solution only created even more problems than Ayanokouji already had.
『I don't think it's such a bad suggestion. You may not have realized it yet, but as long as you go back, you're not really in any danger, are you? Sure, you'll lose some of your freedom, but it's not like you're going to die. 』Thanks to his usual carefree tone, Kumagawa didn't sound especially eager to persuade him. Even so, it was clear he was trying to steer Ayanokouji toward a certain direction. 『Or you could just outlive your father. It'd probably take a while, but if he dies before you do, wouldn't that solve all of your problem? 』
"....."
『But, well, if you don't like my idea, then there's nothing I can do. Just forget my super-simple super-solution and get on with your life. 』
Having said his piece, Kumagawa turned toward Chairman Sakayanagi, who had been quietly sipping his tea while listening to the entire exchange.
『Ah, Chairman. Could you sign this for me? 』He pulled a folded sheet of paper from inside his uniform and held it out.
Was that the real reason he had come here?
"Hmm?"
The chairman accepted the paper and looked over its contents.
"Ah, so it's already that time. But shouldn't the principal be the one signing this rather than me?"
『Come on. You're in a higher position than the principal, aren't you? Why are you being such a stickler for the rules? 』
Ayanokouji was genuinely surprised by how brazen Kumagawa was with the chairman. It wasn't that he lacked social awareness, it was as if he simply chose to ignore the entire concept altogether.
Rather than taking offense, however, the chairman merely smiled.
"Haha. I suppose you have a point."
He took a pen from his breast pocket and signed the document Kumagawa had handed him, and immedietly after, Kumagawa took the piece of paper and went toward the door.
『Now that I'm done here, I suppose I shouldn't overstay my welcome. 』He turned toward Ayanokouji. 『If you ever need another one of my super-simple super-solutions, you know where to find me, Ayanokouji-kun. Bye-bye! 』
With that, Kumagawa left the room, leaving only the two of them behind. Chairman Sakayanagi looked at Ayanokouji with a gentle smile.
"He's quite an unusual person, isn't he? Kumagawa Misogi."
"I wouldn't call him unique... but he certainly is unusual."
Unique and unusual.
Neither word felt quite right. "Eccentric" was perhaps a little closer, but even that failed to capture what kind of person Kumagawa really was. There were countless labels one could attach to him, yet none of them truly fit. In the end, perhaps the only thing that could accurately describe Kumagawa Misogi was Kumagawa Misogi.
"Is there something you'd like to ask me, Ayanokouji-kun? Since you haven't left yet, I assume there is."
"One or two things at most. I still need some time to sort out everything that's happened. If you don't mind."
"Of course." He smiled once more. "I'll answer whatever I can."
By the look of it, the chairman had expected this to some extent. Ayanokouji decided not to hold back.
"I'm curious about what that man—that is, what my father—said earlier."
"About your admission to this school?"
"Yes."
"I see. Well, Ayanokouji-sensei was correct. We only admit students whom we believe deserve a place here. Before admissions begin, we work with junior high schools across the country to identify promising candidates. The interviews and entrance examinations merely serve as a cover. A student could perform terribly during the interview or even score zero on every written test, yet still be admitted if we had already selected them. Since students from all over Japan apply every year, the examinations are simply a convenient smokescreen."
No wonder his father had been so disturbed by the fact that Ayanokouji had managed to enroll. Given the White Room's curriculum, Ayanokouji had never received a conventional education. In practical terms, he had never attended a registered middle school at all.
"The moment I decided to admit you, your acceptance was guaranteed. Scoring exactly fifty points on all your written tests had no effect on your success or failure," he continued.
This truly was an unusual school. Ayanokouji doubted there was another institution in Japan that operated this way.
"Was it the same for Kumagawa?"
"More or less. His circumstances were similar to yours, though not entirely. He, too, entered this school through a recommendation. His happened to come from Ajimu-sama."
Ajimu-sama...huh?
No matter how he looked at it, this Anshin'in-san really was someone important. Yet apart from the strange sense of familiarity he had felt the first time he heard her name, Ayanokouji knew almost nothing about her.
"Can you tell me more about Ajimu Najimi?"
Kumagawa was hardly the most reliable source of information, so it seemed better to ask someone as dependable as the chairman instead.
Instead of answering, however, Chairman Sakayanagi let out a quiet chuckle.
"I'm afraid I don't have much to tell you, Ayanokouji-kun. Just like Kumagawa-kun, I know very little about her. The only thing I can say is that, at one point in my life, she was something of a savior to me."
"Savior?"
"Mentor would probably be the more accurate word. Even so, what she taught me changed my life, so calling her my savior wouldn't be entirely wrong. It's a long story, so I wouldn't dwell on it if I were you."
"...."
The more Ayanokouji tried to learn about Anshin'in-san, the more it felt as though every answer only led to another question.
"Then... does she have anything to do with the White Room?"
That was the question he wanted answered the most.
Everything had begun there, and so had his life. He wanted to know just how deeply this mysterious woman was connected to that place.
But once again...
Instead of answering immediately, the chairman simply smiled. This time, however, the smile seemed different somehow.
"I'm sure you have many questions about her. I imagine Ayanokouji-sensei has just as many," the chairman said softly. "But in time, both you and your father will come to understand. Until then, as the person responsible for this school, my duty is to protect my students within the bounds of our rules. Do you understand?"
"..."
Ayanokouji didn't understand why the chairman had suddenly become so vague.
Was it because, as he had claimed earlier, he truly didn't know much about Anshin'in-san? But considering his connection with his father, there was no denying that he knew something. At the very least, he knew there was some kind of connection between Anshin'in-san and the White Room.
Ayanokouji wanted to know more.
The story.
The connection.
And the consequences of it all.
But in the end, Ayanokouji could only nod in response.
"Very well. Keep doing your best."
"Then, if you'll excuse me..."
With that, just like everyone else before him, Ayanokouji was the last to leave the reception office.
『』『』『』『』『』
Around the same time Ayanokouji was having a private conversation with the chairman, Kumagawa was walking briskly toward the island's main entrance. Not the school gate, but the checkpoint that separated the government-built artificial island from mainland Japan.
After several minutes of walking, he arrived at the island's checkpoint and headed straight for the security office beside the main entrance.
Without so much as a knock, Kumagawa opened the office door and stepped inside.
"...!"
The security staff looked up from their desks, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden visitor.
"Can I help you?"
『Yes. 』 Kumagawa answered with a nod before taking a folded sheet of paper from inside his uniform and placing it on the counter. 『I'd like to submit my request to leave the island. 』
The security officer picked up the document and quickly looked it over.
"Leaving the island? Do you have a valid reason?"
『Do I really need one? The chairman's signature is right there at the bottom. Isn't that enough? 』
"Obviously. But there are still procedures we have to follow."
『Good grief... 』 Kumagawa grumbled. 『Why is everyone at this school such a stickler for rules and regulations? 』
"....."
The security officer didn't understand what the student was complaining about, but after less than five minutes of speaking with him, he had already developed a slight dislike for the boy standing in front of him.
『Fine. It's for student council duties. I'm accompanying one of the clubs that's participating in this winter's competition. 』
"Ah... so it's that time of year already."
It wasn't unusual for students to leave the island for official club activities, especially competitions. Since the officer spent most of his time inside the security office, he sometimes lost track of the seasons.
Satisfied with the explanation—and the chairman's signature—the officer stamped the application.
『Is that all? 』
"Ah, one moment."
The officer bent down beneath his desk, rummaging through one of the drawers.
After a few seconds, he straightened up and handed Kumagawa a laminated identification card.
"Keep this with you on the day you leave the island. Show it to the security staff on duty at the checkpoint, and the departure procedures should go smoothly. Make sure you don't lose it."
『A card? 』 Kumagawa inspected the ID card between his fingers. 『Does this thing work forever? 』
"Of course not. You'll have to return it once you're back on the island."
『What a shame. 』
For a brief moment, Kumagawa considered all the different ways he could abuse it, and a few ideas came to mind almost immediately. But each of them sounded far more troublesome than they were worth. So he throw away that thought.
『Well then, thank you for your hard work. 』
Pocketing the card, Kumagawa gave the officer a small wave before turning around and walking out of the security office.
The afternoon breeze greeted him the moment he stepped outside.
He glanced toward the bridge connecting the artificial island to the mainland and noticed several black sedans parked along the roadside. Men dressed in black suits stood quietly beside them, their posture alone making it clear they were no ordinary bodyguards.
『... 』
Without paying them much mind, Kumagawa continued walking away from the security office.
Until...
"Kumagawa Misogi, was it?"
A voice called out from behind him.
Turning around, he saw a man walking toward him.
『Hmm? You're Ayanokouji-kun's father, aren't you? Ayanokouji Papa. 』
"....."
The man was clearly bothered by the nickname, though he did his best not to let it show.
Kumagawa found that rather amusing. The expression reminded him a little of Ayanokouji whenever he tried to hide what he was thinking.
"Why don't we have a little talk?"
Without waiting for an answer, the man gestured for Kumagawa to follow before walking over to a bench near the island entrance. He sat down as though he owned the place.
Curious enough to indulge him, Kumagawa sat beside him.
"To think that, of all places, I'd run into someone connected to that woman here..."
『You mean Anshin'in-san? 』
"That's right. Anshin'in... wasn't that the name she liked to call herself? Ms. Peace of Mind."
『Ahaha. So you really are one of Anshin'in-san's playthings. 』
To Kumagawa, it wasn't a particularly surprising thought.
The former vice president, who had existed since before the birth of the universe itself, had toyed with countless people over the ages. Compared to that, adding one more unfortunate soul from another dimension to her ever-growing list of playthings was hardly worth mentioning
"Plaything?"
『That's right. Though "victim" might sound a little more sympathetic. Anshin'in-san has a habit of dragging people into whatever catches her interest. Whether they agree or not is usually the least of her concerns. 』
"You know her well."
『Not really. If anything, she's the one who knows me. 』
"....."
『I've known her for a long time, but I still don't understand what goes on inside her head. 』 Kumagawa said with a small shrug. 『On the other hand, she knows more about me than I know about myself. She's just that amazing. A charming person with an equally charming personality. 』
"I see..." the man muttered.
Their conversation came to a halt.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The man seemed lost in thought, as though carefully weighing Kumagawa's words.
After a long silence, he finally spoke again.
"Then let me ask you something."
He looked directly at Kumagawa.
"As someone who knows her, what do you think of the concept of a perfect human? Someone superior to everyone else in every aspect. Someone who can accomplish anything. Someone who never loses, no matter the challenge."
『Ahaha, there isn't anyone like that. 』
"Even after meeting that woman? Someone who is perfect in every conceivable way?" The man's eyes narrowed.
『Mm... I think I understand where you're coming from, but you've overlooked something important, mister. Your premise is wrong. 』
"Wrong?"
『I can more or less guess why you think of Anshin'in-san that way, but there's no way I'd ever call her perfect. If anything, she's completely outside the category of human. Calling her "perfect" doesn't feel right. She's more "inhuman" than perfect. 』
"....."
『Though... speaking of a perfect human, I did meet someone like that once. Even Anshin'in-san acknowledged her. 』
The man's eyes widened.
For the first time since they'd begun talking, Kumagawa saw genuine surprise on his face.
"Elaborate."
『Well, just like you described. Someone who's better than everyone else at everything. Someone who can accomplish anything. Someone who wins at everything she sets out to do. I met a girl like that once. We started out as enemies... and somehow ended up becoming friends. Even Anshin'in-san acknowledged just how extraordinary she was. She excelled at everything. Academics, athletics, leadership, social skills, morality, charisma, judgment, adaptability... there wasn't a single field where anyone could surpass her. She was so absurdly capable that you'd think she was the protagonist of the world itself. 』
The man listened without interrupting.
『But in the end... she was still just a normal girl. More human than anyone else I've ever met. That's exactly why she wasn't perfect. 』
"What a load of nonsense."
The man let out a cold snort.
"If the person you're describing truly existed, then how could you possibly call her imperfect? To label someone like that as anything less than perfect is absurd."
『You really don't understand, do you? Being perfect doesn't necessarily mean someone is perfect. That was especially true for that girl. She could master anything, learn anything flawlessly, and overcome any challenge. She was so perfect at everything that her perfection itself became her greatest imperfection. In other words... she was imperfectly perfect. 』
"That's nothing more than wordplay."
Letting out a sigh, Kumagawa looked at the man. 『Good grief. If you're just going to dismiss it as wordplay, why bother asking in the first place? But don't worry. Anshin'in-san is just as stubborn as you are, so I don't particularly mind. 』
"..."
His expression made it clear that Kumagawa's explanation had done nothing to please him.
『Do you have anything else you want to ask? I'm surprisingly generous today, so you can ask me whatever you like. I might even say yes to any request you make. 』
"Really?"
『Of course. 』
"Then come work for me. Leave this school."
『Work for you? 』
"That's right." The man gave a small nod. "That woman must have seen something in you to recommend you to this school. As much as I hate to admit it, her judgment has always been worth respecting. Rather than wasting your time in a place like this, why not work under me? Forget about the school's jobs and private points. Whatever you hope to gain here, I can provide it."
While he found the boy somewhat irritating, he couldn't ignore the fact that Kumagawa had been recommended by Ajimu Najimi. If someone like her had chosen to recommend him, then there had to be something valuable about the boy. Whether it was talent, potential, or something else entirely, there was no reason not to try recruiting him.
But...
『Eh~ no thanks. 』
He rejected the offer without even a moment's hesitation.
"Didn't you just say you might accept any request I made?"
『My generous mood, and the feeling that I'd probably say yes to any request you made, disappeared a second ago. Right now, I'm feeling selfish, so I don't feel like accepting anyone's request for any reason. 』
"...You really do have a talent for irritating people, don't you?"
『Ahaha. Anshin'in-san said the same thing. She told me it was one of my most charming qualities. 』
"So you're going to reject my offer... even if I resort to force?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Kumagawa noticed several bodyguards near the island entrance change their positions. From where he sat, he could clearly see they were armed.
『Ahahaha. Should I scream really loudly or something? For a second there, I thought this was about to turn into an action novel. Though a gunfight at a school in the middle of an open field would be a little too cliché. 』
With the same tone of voice as he always used—whether it was in front threat, or firearms, his attitude never really change.
Seeing such an indifferent reaction, the man let out a faint smirk. "Hmph. No wonder that woman took an interest in you. Even when you're being threatened, you remain completely unfazed."
It had been a long time since he'd wanted someone to work under him. The last person had probably been that quack fortune teller. Though he had partially succeeded in coercing her for a time, she ultimately slipped from his grasp as well.
"It seems that even if I resorted to force, you'd still refuse," the man said. His eyes drifted toward the nearby security office, where several guards could be seen through the window. "Besides, I can't do anything here. So you have nothing to worry about. Still, it's a shame. I probably could've found some use for you."
After saying those cold words, he turned around and began walking toward the bridge leading off the artificial island, intending to leave immediately.
『Do you want to meet Anshin'in-san? 』
The man stopped in his tracks.
Turning around, he saw Kumagawa wearing the same casual smile as always, without the slightest change in expression. Yet for some reason, the man couldn't shake the feeling that it was an utterly dubious smile, almost like that of a swindler.
"What do you know...?"
『Well, rather than people finding Anshin'in-san, it's usually Anshin'in-san who finds them. That's how it's always been for me, anyway. So maybe it'll be the same for you. 』
"And what makes you so certain?"
『Because that's simply the kind of person she is. If she wants to meet someone, she'll appear before them. If she doesn't, then you could spend your entire life searching and never find even her shadow. 』
The man's gaze hardened.
"So you're saying there's nothing I can do."
『It's not really a question of whether you can or can't, because hard work doesn't mean much to her. You could search for her with all your effort, use your connections, or even all your money, and it still wouldn't matter. Anshin'in-san doesn't care about things like common sense, logic, or convenience. After all... 』
Kumagawa smiled.
『She's simply an impartial non-human who just there. 』
Kumagawa stood from the bench and stretched lazily.
『Anyway, that's all the advice I can give. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. 』
Without waiting for a reply, he slipped both hands into his pockets and casually walked back toward the school, leaving the man alone by the bridge.
After a long silence, he turned and walked toward the waiting black sedan.
The bodyguards silently opened the door for him before the convoy slowly departed from the island.
『END』
『』『』『』『』『』
And that's it.
As you can see, I left clues here and there, and voilà, it turns out that Anshin'in-san is somehow connected. Is it a surprise? I thought not. I mean, I'm not even trying to hide it all that much. But if it is a surprise, then hooray for me.
As for the future plot, I'll leave that to my future self. If this ends up biting me in the ass later on, then I can only blame my past self. But even if that happens, I already have a general outline for the future plot involving the OC and the canon characters connected to Anshin'in-san, so look forward to that.
But what do you think? Does the story become more interesting?
Anyway, that's it for today's chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it.
[Thanks for reading!]