With two days left until the athletic festival, at this hour, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka walked alone down the corridor of the school building.
His steps were slow, and those somewhat languid-looking eyes swept aimlessly over the schoolyard beyond the window.
Those fervent, bustling training scenes had little to do with him.
He neither took part in them nor cared about them.
To him, the athletic festival was nothing more than an event he had to get through—no different from any other exam.
So long as he didn't stand out, didn't draw attention, and passed through it plainly and quietly, that was enough.
This was the principle he had always lived by.
It was also the secret to how he had managed to survive so quietly in this academy up until now.
Thinking this to himself, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka prepared to head back to the dorm.
And it was right at that moment that a voice rang out from behind him.
"Ayanokouji."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka stopped in his tracks and turned his head.
Chabashira Sae was standing behind him, and on that perpetually expressionless face, no particular emotion could be read at this moment either.
"Chabashira-sensei."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka called out to her, his tone still that same flat register.
"Is there something you need?"
"Someone wants to see you."
Chabashira Sae stated it plainly, sparing no words.
Hearing this, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
Someone wanted to see him?
In this academy, who on earth could it be?
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka thought this over, and his mind began rapidly searching for possible candidates.
But he couldn't come up with anyone.
After all, he had kept his head down and behaved himself in this academy for so long that he was basically an invisible presence.
There was practically no one who would take notice of him.
Let alone someone who would go out of their way to have him summoned.
What's more, ever since he'd entered this academy, Chabashira Sae had only sought him out once.
And after that one time, she had basically never come looking for him again.
Now, she had suddenly appeared before him, saying someone wanted to see him—no matter how he looked at it, it felt a little off.
Another thought couldn't help but surface in Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's mind.
It was possible that the person who had come looking for him this time was that father of his.
The moment he thought of this, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's mood couldn't help but turn somewhat sour.
That man—was he going to come and disturb his peaceful life yet again?
This was something Ayanokouji Kiyotaka found utterly repugnant.
He had finally, with great difficulty, escaped from that place. He had finally, with great difficulty, come to live the life of an ordinary student.
He didn't want to go back.
He didn't want to face that man again.
He didn't want to face that place again.
But Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, thinking this to himself, then drew in a deep breath.
Who exactly it was that wanted to see him—in the end, he'd only know once he'd gone to look.
If it really was that man, then he'd deal with it when the time came.
"Please, lead the way."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka spoke, those utterly still eyes gently closing.
Chabashira Sae nodded, then turned and walked off toward the other end of the corridor.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka followed behind her, the two of them walking one ahead of the other.
The corridor was very quiet, with only the footsteps of the two of them echoing through the air.
The two of them walked for about several minutes, arriving at a certain spot in the school building. Chabashira Sae stopped before a door, then turned and looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"It's right here."
She spoke, then reached out and pointed at that door.
"The rest is up to you."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka glanced at the door and nodded.
Chabashira Sae reached out and pushed the door open.
Then she stepped aside, gesturing for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to go in.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka strode forward and walked into that room.
Chabashira Sae waited until he had gone in, then shut the door from the outside.
The lighting in the room was somewhat dim. It was afternoon now, with only a faint yellowish light spilling in from outside, but the curtains were half-drawn, so it was still quite dark.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's gaze swept once around the room, then came to rest on a man standing before the window.
That man had his back to the doorway, hands clasped behind him, gazing at the scenery outside.
He was tall of build, dressed in a dark suit, his whole person exuding an air of severity.
Just standing there, he gave off a sense of pressure.
Seeing that figure from behind, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka couldn't help but knit his brows slightly.
He recognized this man.
Even without seeing the face, even with nothing but a view from behind, he still recognized him.
Because this back was one he was all too familiar with.
Once Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had come in, that man finally spoke slowly.
"Kiyotaka, you've come."
The man spoke slowly, addressing Ayanokouji Kiyotaka in a rather intimate manner.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka stood where he was, not moving.
He looked at the man's back, no expression on his face.
"What do you want with me?"
He asked, his tone blunt.
He had no desire to waste words with this man.
This man, Ayanokouji Atsuomi, was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father.
Hearing this question, Ayanokouji Atsuomi did not answer right away.
He slowly turned around and looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
On that face, which bore a certain resemblance to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's, there was a trace of severity and a trace of scrutiny.
"Sit down first."
He spoke, then walked over to the sofa and gestured for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to sit.
"No need."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka shook his head, his tone cold.
"Just say what you have to say."
His attitude was clear: he didn't want to stay here a second longer, didn't want to exchange a single extra word with this man.
Whatever he had to say, say it quickly, and once it was said, he'd leave.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi looked at him in this state, no change in the expression on his face.
He merely walked over to the sofa and sat down, then raised his head and looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka standing where he was.
"Since you want to be direct, then I'll speak plainly."
He spoke, a trace of coldness in his tone.
Then, he took a sheet of paper and a pen from his breast pocket and placed them on the tea table before him.
"Sign this paper, and withdraw from this academy."
Hearing these words, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's gaze fell upon that sheet of paper.
It was a voluntary withdrawal application form.
On the white paper were printed the school's emblem and some text.
All he had to do was sign his name on it, and his life at this academy would come to an immediate end.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was silent for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Ayanokouji Atsuomi.
"I refuse."
Hearing this answer, Ayanokouji Atsuomi's brows knit slightly.
He looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, a trace of displeasure in those eyes.
"Kiyotaka, don't tell me you've come to enjoy this game of playing house inside this academy?"
There was a trace of mockery, a trace of disdain, in his tone.
"What game of playing house?"
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka looked at him and asked in return.
"The very life you're living now."
Ayanokouji Atsuomi said, a trace of coldness in his tone.
"Do you think this kind of life has any meaning at all?"
"That has nothing to do with you, does it."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka spoke, his tone still flat.
"I am your father."
Ayanokouji Atsuomi looked at him, the displeasure in those eyes growing even more apparent.
"You have an obligation to obey my arrangements."
"I do not."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka shook his head. The eyes with which he looked at Ayanokouji Atsuomi still carried no emotion whatsoever, as though the man before him were nothing more than someone who merely held the identity of his "father"—any excess sentiment beyond that, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka possessed none.
Once these words were spoken, Ayanokouji Atsuomi looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and fell silent for a moment.
Then, he let out a soft sigh, his tone easing somewhat.
"Kiyotaka, to let your talent go to waste in a place like this—it's far too regrettable."
He paused, then continued.
"The White Room has resumed operation."
He looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, a trace of earnestness in those eyes.
"Come back with me."
The White Room was the place that had cultivated Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and it was during the period when the White Room was shut down that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had, with the help of the butler, managed to leave that place and come to this school.
"I refuse."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka spoke once more, his tone still firm.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi's face darkened.
"Kiyotaka, you don't have the right to refuse."
His tone turned somewhat rigid, carrying a note of brooking no dissent, those eyes fixed dead upon Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"You are my son. Your fate is decided by me."
"I've already decided—I'm staying here."
Even though Ayanokouji Atsuomi's tone had turned quite rigid, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's attitude did not change in the slightest.
And having received this answer from Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Ayanokouji Atsuomi went on speaking, his gaze turned toward Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"Kiyotaka, I understand now."
He spoke, a note of deeper meaning in his tone.
"In this academy, you basically do nothing at all."
"Do you really intend to become an ordinary student?"
Hearing these words, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's face bore no expression.
"And what if I do?"
He asked, his tone indifferent.
"This is the life I want."
Ayanokouji Atsuomi looked at him in this state and gently shook his head.
"Kiyotaka, you're still far too young."
He paused, then continued.
"Playing the fool to catch the tiger—play the pig long enough, and in the end you'll become a pig."
He looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, a trace of admonition in those eyes, and a trace of mockery as well.
"You want to hide your strength, want to be an ordinary person."
"But once you truly grow accustomed to this kind of life, you'll turn into a genuinely ordinary person."
"And by then, when you want to rise up again, it'll be too late."
Having heard all this, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka fell silent for a moment.
Then he raised his head, looked at Ayanokouji Atsuomi, and spoke.
"This is none of your business."
"There's no need for you to concern yourself."
Hearing these words, Ayanokouji Atsuomi knit his brows even tighter.
His expression grew even uglier, a trace of anger in those eyes.
"Kiyotaka, do not test my patience."
His tone turned rigid, carrying a hint of threat.
"I'll say it one more time—sign this withdrawal application form."
He reached out and pointed at that sheet of paper on the tea table.
"And then come back with me."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka looked at that sheet of paper, then looked at Ayanokouji Atsuomi.
He didn't move, nor did he speak.
The atmosphere fell into a stalemate.
And it was right at this moment.
Knock, knock.
The door was knocked upon. Then, the door was pushed open.
A middle-aged man walked in.
He wore a fitting suit, a gentle smile on his face, looking altogether refined and cultured—it was none other than Sakayanagi Narumori.
"Ayanokouji-sensei, it's been a long time."
Sakayanagi Narumori looked at Ayanokouji Atsuomi and greeted him with a smile.
Seeing Sakayanagi Narumori, no change came over Ayanokouji Atsuomi's expression.
He merely gave a slight nod, by way of a response.
Sakayanagi Narumori's gaze then fell upon Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and he nodded with a smile.
Then, his gaze returned once more to Ayanokouji Atsuomi.
"Ayanokouji-sensei, the current Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-san is a student of this academy."
He paused, then continued.
"If a student is unwilling to withdraw, then even a parent is not permitted to force that student to withdraw."
"Those are the rules."
Hearing these words, Ayanokouji Atsuomi cast a faint glance at Sakayanagi Narumori. Within those eyes was a trace of some indecipherable emotion—as though he were reproaching Sakayanagi Narumori, or perhaps meaning something else entirely—but he said nothing.
Because what Sakayanagi Narumori had said was fact: in this academy, the student's will came first.
If a student was unwilling to withdraw, then even a parent had no way to compel that student to withdraw.
These were the rules of this academy. The current Ayanokouji Atsuomi did not have the clout to arm-wrestle with Kijima—indeed, even his previous master, Naoe, had lacked the ability to arm-wrestle with Kijima.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi withdrew his gaze, letting it settle once more upon Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
He was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.
"Kiyotaka, since you're unwilling to sign."
He paused, then continued.
"Then prove it to me."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka looked at him, saying nothing.
"Go and defeat Shikime Natsu."
Hearing Ayanokouji Atsuomi utter this name—one that thundered in his ears on ordinary days—Ayanokouji Kiyotaka couldn't help but freeze for a moment, evidently not having expected that a student's name could come from Ayanokouji Atsuomi's mouth.
Still, once Ayanokouji Kiyotaka thought about the things Shikime Natsu had done—which could basically be called the greatest since the founding of the school—it wasn't so strange after all.
The name Shikime Natsu was probably quite famous out in the wider world, wasn't it?
After all, if even his own father had heard of it, then... everyone else all the more so.
And Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's basis for judgment was simple too: this school was, after all, fully sealed off for three years. Unless there were special circumstances, or one was a special person, one could not get in—and clearly, the situation of Ayanokouji Atsuomi walking straight in to make him withdraw was not any special circumstance; otherwise, other parents and the like could all use this pretext to get in.
On top of that, Sakayanagi Narumori had just now addressed his father as "Ayanokouji-sensei," evidently meaning they were acquainted. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka gently closed his eyes, thinking that this academy wasn't quite as "heartless" as it claimed to be, after all.
Of course, setting these matters aside, on the single matter of Ayanokouji Atsuomi ordering Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to defeat Shikime Natsu, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka reckoned that he himself couldn't do it.
The moment the name Shikime Natsu came up, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka couldn't help but recall that utterly perfect individual—whether in looks or in ability, Shikime Natsu stood at the very summit of this school.
Especially given the performance on the Deserted Island, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was all the more certain that there was a considerable gap in ability between himself and Shikime Natsu.
When it came to dealing with the other people in this academy, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka did have a certain confidence—after all, in Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's view, that really was no different from a game of playing house.
But when it came to facing Shikime Natsu, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka would say he absolutely could not do it—the two of them were simply not on the same level at all.
So then, even Ayanokouji Kiyotaka felt that he absolutely could not do it.
And right as he was still frozen in a daze, Ayanokouji Atsuomi had already risen to his feet.
He did not spare Ayanokouji Kiyotaka another glance, merely striding off toward the doorway.
Sakayanagi Narumori stood off to the side, watching Ayanokouji Atsuomi's retreating figure, the smile on his face still gentle.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi reached the doorway, his steps pausing slightly.
He didn't turn back, merely speaking.
"Kiyotaka, I'll give you time to consider."
"But—not too long."
Having said this, he strode forward and walked out of the room.
The door was closed.
The room returned to quiet once more.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka stood where he was, silently looking at that closed door.
"Ayanokouji-san, please rest assured. So long as you are unwilling to withdraw, and provided you pass the school's tests, the school will not expel you."
A gentle smile hung on Sakayanagi Narumori's face, but within the eyes with which he looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka there was a trace of unnatural emotion.
This child before him had been cultivated all along by the White Room, and his ability did indeed far surpass that of ordinary people—only... in the end there was still a gap.
Put bluntly, Sakayanagi Narumori did not believe Ayanokouji Kiyotaka could defeat Shikime Natsu—though... it wasn't out of the question that even Shikime Natsu might have a moment of slipping up.
Meanwhile, out beyond the door, the expression on Ayanokouji Atsuomi's face had returned to calm. The fury he had just displayed toward Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had been nothing but a sham. What he wanted was to prove himself—to use Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's success to prove that his method of cultivation was not wrong, to prove that the operation of the White Room was not wrong.
This school was the proving ground. Were it not for his own tacit consent, it would not have been easy for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to enter this school. Originally, Ayanokouji Atsuomi had gotten wind that Koenji Rokusuke, the sole heir of the Koenji conglomerate, would be entering this school, and that was why he had arranged for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to enter.
His aim was to display his ability to cultivate talent to that President Koenji standing behind Koenji Rokusuke—and, of course, to display it to Kijima as well. As a man who had clawed his way up from the bottom, Ayanokouji Atsuomi naturally understood that one must seize every opportunity and press upward with reckless abandon.
As for Shikime Natsu, this too was a person Ayanokouji Atsuomi had only heard of not long ago. This individual's ability was said to be very strong; as to exactly how strong, Ayanokouji Atsuomi wasn't clear—but... he had great confidence in the Ayanokouji Kiyotaka he had cultivated with his own hands.
So long as Ayanokouji Kiyotaka crushed Shikime Natsu, then... that group of people behind the scenes would be able to see his efforts.
Now he only hoped that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka would not let him down.
____
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