ã€ŠThe Cute Yandere Next to Meã€‹


 Chapter 1 Prologue

    It was a hot summer day when everyone arrived to ss for their first day of high school.

    Most of the students in the ss had already been going to this school for several years. However, I waspletely new, not only to this school but to traditional schooling in general. I had lived my life in almost pure istion, I was first a product of the now-scrapped Ideal Human Project, then I had to survive off of part-time jobs whilst I was still underage andcked any identification.

    Onlyst year, I finally decided to take the entrance exam for National High School. It seemed my intensive education during the Ideal Human Project paid off, as I managed to get in with a 100% schrship and free ess to boarding facilities.

    After several days, I was able to tell that this school was certainly the upper-echelon in terms of education and wealth. Even so, the students of this school seemed rtively normal¡ªwell, it''s not like I can reallyment on normal. The school itself was as you''d expect, however, there was something that interested me.

    *

    On the first day, the teacher assigned everyone a seat.

    That was when I noticed Sara Fujiharu. She was two seats away from me and between me and her sat a boy, Kazuki Afford. I didn''t take much notice of them at first, for all I knew, they were just two random people. However, several weekster, I noticed that something was distinctly... off.

    The way the two of them interacted, you''d believe that they were dating. The two seemed to flirt quite a lot during ss, and I overheard plenty of invitations for hangouts outside of school as well. Fujiharu''s smiling demeanour and happy-go-lucky attitude appeared to be genuine, however, something didn''t feel right.

    It was on one very humid day when I arrived at ss and witnessed a severely depressed Afford. He and Fujiharu didn''t talk at all the entire day, at first, I believed that maybe he''d just been dumped. However, when the teacher announced that we would be changing seats, I noticed that Fujiharu wasn''t sad at all.

    In fact, it would appear that the two of them never had any sort of rtionship in the first ce.

    Instead, she was happily flirting with the boy who had now been seated next to her.

    That was when I first realised it.

    ***

    This cycle went on continuously every time the seating n was changed.

    Some of the boys in the ss began calling her the ''seatmate bully'', however, her reputation appeared to be untarnished. For she was a genuinely cute girl, it would appear understandable to most people that she''d reject a lot of boys.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Most people chalked it up to a coincidence that it was often her seatmate who would be heartbroken.

    However, I very clearly noticed this pattern.

    Why was she doing this?

    What was her goal?

    Aside from her ''seatmate bullying'', she seemed to be an honest, kind person. It didn''t make sense...

    What was her reason... for breaking so many hearts?

    Soon enough, I would have an opportunity to find out.

    *

    Usually, our teacher would reshuffle the seats every 3 to 4 weeks.

    It was the beginning of the second semester.

    It was just a coincidence that I was seated next to Sara Fujiharu at the beginning of this semester. I was in the seat at the very front and on the very left, seat one as we called it. She was seated to my right, with another girl on the other side of her. The girl seated on the other side of her was Karen Nakatani; she was one of Fujiharu''s best friends from what I observed.

    The teacher generally had a boy-girl seating allocation method but she would also make sure that you had at least one friend beside you¡ªso it was more like a boy-boy-girl-girl seating method. As a result, Fujiharu would always be seated next to one and only one boy.

    In thest couple of months, I had noticed Fujiharu''s tendency to break the hearts of the boys sitting next to her. All I knew was that not a single boy yet managed to survive the several weeks without falling for her. I didn''t have much information on what was really happening¡ªI could only really observe from the outside.

    Now, I would be right in the middle of her attacks.

 Chapter 2 New Semester New Seats - Part 1

    I slowly made my way into the ssroom.

    I looked down at the rows and rows of tables which were all empty¡ªit was to be expected since I got here quite early. My entire life, I''ve always woken up much earlier than others, usually because I had to attend a part-time job early in the morning. This morning when my rm rang at 5:45 am, I decided to just get up.

    The sun still hadn''tpletely risen from beneath the horizon, the sky was smudged in a pinkish, purple-y colour. The ssroom was dimly lit, and the light was on even though there was lighting from through the windows, albeit not a great deal.

    I took a seat on the seat that I had been allocated. The previous day, our teacher sent an email with the seating n for our ss. I usually didn''t care about the seating n, I was pretty anti-social¡ªwell, at no fault of my own, the istion I inhabited all my life caused me tock social skills to some extent. To be fair, I did learn ''social skills'' during the Ideal Human Project, but I never really got an opportunity to use them.

    That didn''t really matter, I took my bag and ced it beside my chair, removing the stationary and books I would be using for the first period. Since I was so early, I decided to take out Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy by Maudemarie rk. It was a book I had been reading for the past few days, I also realised that my reading habits did not coalign with the reading habits of most students in my year.

    As I consumed the philosophy of Fredrich Nietzche, I was interrupted by the sound of a girl entering the room.

    I looked up and saw a girl with long brown hair and a bright beige hairpin. She was a cute girl with a face which made countless boys fall in love with her. Her gentle movements, her smile, her down-to-earth demeanour, she was someone who was truly popr. Waving at me, was Sara Fujiharu, she was considered to be one of the cutest girls in the school.

    "Hey, Mizuhara!"

    "Hi."

    "You''re really early, do you always arrive at this time?"

    I usually arrived around this time, it seemed she wasn''t all that observant towards boys before she began targeting them. Oh well, that knowledge would help me in the future, then again, I doubt I''d have to change anything about myself.

    "Yeah."

    She sauntered over and looked down at the book I was reading.

    "Ooh, that''s a nice book you''re reading! Nietzc- um..."

    I could tell that she was about to start a conversation about the book, but she noticed that it was somewhat out of her area of expertise. It didn''t really matter to me, I was expecting a bit more from her but I guess I''d just continue reading.

    She seemed to have given up at that line of conversation and instead, she hooked her bag onto the back of her chair and started arranging her table. All of her belongings were ''cute'' per se, a small colourful pencil case and bright big folders, all decorated with some coloured markers.

    After a little while, she began talking to me again.

    "So Mizuhara, do you like reading?"

    "I suppose so."

    It was less that I enjoyed reading, and more that I didn''t really have anything else to do. I had always resorted to reading whenever I was put in a situation without a goal in mind.

    "Well, do you read any light novels?"

    It was to be expected that she''d ask that. Students our age always read light novels.

    "I don''t mind them, there are some that I like."

    I had nothing against light novels, it was just that I read them the same amount as any other book. So I was just in the mood to read this philosophy book.

    "Ooh, which ones are your favourite?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Uh... one I read recently was called My OP Minion System... um... in the Apocalypse or something."

    "Ah, by H.Z? I liked that novel as well!"

    "That''s good."

    I had basically given up trying to read my book at this point so I was fully engaged in speaking with Fujiharu. She had already swivelled her chair around so that she was looking directly at me so it was kind of awkward if I just kept looking off to the side. I wasn''t all that good at starting conversations though.

    "Are there any other light novels you like?" She asked

    "Um... I also read one about someone being sent to another world to protect a princess... I think that one was pretty good as well."

    "Someone being sent to another world to protect a princess.... hm¡ªah! You''re talking about the H.Z''s first-ever light novel, right?"

    "Yeah, I think so."

    "Ah, his works are really good, he''s definitely one of my favourite novelists at the moment. It''s just a shame that he''s a bit sick at the moment, I saw on Twitter a few days ago that he said he was taking a break."

    "Oh, well, health is important."

    "Yeah, but now I''ll have to wait longer before I can read the next volume of his novels."

    We were interrupted by the sound of another student entering the ssroom. She was a short, brte girl with a ponytail. She was one of Fujiharu''s best friends from what I knew.

    "Heyo, Sara!"

    "Oh, hey Karen-chan."

    She looked over and noticed that I was also in the room. As soon as she noticed my presence, she appeared to be trying to make herself less imposing. She dumped her belongings onto her seat before leaving the room again.

    "Ah! Did you do the holiday homework for maths?" She asked.

    "Yeah."

    "Can you please share it with me~ I might have forgotten."

    She was usually quite an honours student, it was surprising that she would manage to forget the holiday homework, especially since the teacher emphasised the importance of it so much at the end ofst semester.

    "I suppose."

    I reached into my bag and pulled out the work that I did.

    As she reached into her bag and grabbed her maths book, I saw thepleted homework whilst she frantically flipped to an empty page.

    "Thank you so much! The teacher would''ve been so angry at me."

    But Fujiharu, you alreadypleted the homework.

 Chapter 3 New Semester New Seats - Part 2

    She appeared to be copying down my answers onto a nk page in her workbook.

    I could have called her out for it but I didn''t really care. I guess these were the types of strategies she used to make other boys fall for her.

    After scribbling them down for a little, she closed her workbook and handed my homework back to me.

    "Thank you~ if you ever need something just ask me," she affirmed teasingly.

    "I''ll keep it in mind."

    I slid my homework back into my bag and opened up the book I was reading before. As Fredrich Nietzche once said, ''I''m not upset that you lied to me, I''m upset that from now on I can''t believe you,'' it seemed that philosophers had interesting takes on life events. I guess she had a facade that was covering her true self¡ªwhatever her ''true self'' was.

    Even despite her somewhat questionable actions, I saw no signs of her having any truly malicious intent. If I gained one thing from all of my years in the Ideal Human Project, it was the ability to deduce whether someone was malevolent¡ªeven so, she seemed to be a normal girl.

    I just didn''t understand why she was like this.

    More students were gradually flowing into the ssroom. More and more of the empty seats were being taken up as the time got closer to the start of period one. For some reason, I felt as if there were some people ring at me. I assumed that it was because I was sitting next to Fujiharu¡ªshe was popr with everyone, whilst I was as basic as it gets.

    The teacher walked in and greeted us after the long break.

    "I hope everyone has done their holiday homework, I''ll being around to check it."

    The entire ssroom was filled with the sound of paper ruffling, bag scrunching and an undertone of panic. I pulled the homework out of my bag that I had previously shown to Fujiharu. The teacher made her way towards me first and looked down at the work I did.

    "Good job, Mizuhara."

    She checked my name off on her clipboard and made her way to Fujiharu.

    I still had Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy face down on my table. Judging by the reactions of some of the students behind me, it seemed that this was going to take a while. I decided to pick my book back up and continue reading. A few secondster, the teacher checked off Fujiharu''s homework as well and moved on to Nakatani.

    The more I read, the more I noticed that Nietzsche was quite addicted to music, demonstrated by his most famous quote, "without music, life would be a mistake." Personally, I did enjoy music but not to such a degree. I wonder if his interpretation of music was one that was more magical.

    Maybe I''m a bit too pragmatic.

    "¡ªMizuharu~"

    I turned my head and ced my book back on the table.

    "Yeah?"

    "How were your holidays?"

    "They were fine, I didn''t really do much."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Ah."

    It seemed as if she wanted me to say more, maybe she was trying to figure out what my hobbies were. To be fair, I didn''t really have any major hobbies, my time is usually spent either reading or doing whatever I wanted. Usually, I''d just visit some local shops or go to the gym in the nearby leisure centre¡ªthere wasn''t really anything I invested that much time into.

    Anyways, there wasn''t much I could tell her even if I knew her intent.

    "How about you?" I asked

    Now that she was talking to me again, I guess I''d learn some stuff about her.

    "Oh me? I went shopping for some clothes a few days ago," she pointed at her hairclip, "I got this clip at Hepta, it''s definitely my favourite store. Before that, I went to the city with some of my friends and had some fun at the arcade. For some reason, there were a lot of boys who were looking at us hehe, then I won a..."

    She was quite sociable, she seemed to be able to talk non-stop. She detailed all of the most interesting parts of her holidays and happily recounted them to me.

    I certainly wouldn''t be able to do that.

    "Ah, I''m rambling on again, aren''t I?" She made a gesture of covering her mouth.

    "It''s fine."

    A few minutester, the teacher finished checking the homework and made her way back to the front of the room.

    "Anyone who didn''t finish their holiday homework will have a lunchtime detention with me to finish it."

    There was a uniform groan uttered by some of the students in the ss. I thought that the punishment was fair considering how short the homework was and how much time we had to finish it¡ªI guess not everyone agreed.

    The teacher pulled up some information on the television and began reading through it.

    "...in order to find the derivative, you have to use the quotient rule and then apply the chain rule afterwards. You can use the alternate chain rule if you wish, if you don''t remember, the alternate chain rule is..."

    It was all pretty basic stuff. I had already learnt most of this in the Ideal Human Project so I was somewhat bored as the teacher continued to exin things on the television. I never needed to take notes or even study before a test, it was never necessary for me. At most, I would just have a quick look at the textbook and learn an entire lesson''s worth of knowledge in a few minutes.

    Fujiharu was writing down some notes in her workbook. Heryout was incredibly clean, her page was separated into sections and she used a different coloured pen for different parts of the equation. Even back in the Ideal Human Project, I would never take notes, I''d simply listen to the lesson and remember what I was taught¡ªI never really understood the purpose of taking notes.

    I wanted to open up Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy and continue reading but I didn''t really want to appear rude.

    In the end, I just sat back in my seat and listened to the lesson.

    Maybe I should open up my workbook, so it seemed like I was actually doing something.

 Chapter 4 New Semester New Seats - Part 3

    Several periodster, the bell rang for lunch and all the students quickly got up from their seats.

    The entire ssroom was filled with the sounds of seats rumbling and subtle chatter. I was in no rush to leave, however, so I decided to stay seated and wait until the horde had left. I began taking my belongings off my desk and cing them in my bag since we had PE ssst period. People scampered out of the ssroom and I looked over at Fujiharu who also appeared to be staying behind for a little.

    I took little notice of it and decided to finally get out of my seat. Most people who resided at the boarding facility generally got food from the canteen since it''s included in the fees. However, whilst I was trained to be able to eat anything, I preferred more healthy food like sandwiches and fruit.

    Just as I was grabbing my lunchbox out of my bag, Fujiharu called out to me.

    "Mizuhara, you shoulde to eat lunch with us today."

    "No thanks."

    I wasn''t sure who ''us'' were and I preferred to be alone whilst I was eating. I still hadn''t finished the philosophy book that I''d been periodically reading throughout the day. I also suspected that this was part of her n to make me fall for her. It''s been pretty obvious that she''s been paying special attention to me since I became her seatmate.

    I''m trying to figure out what the underlying reason for this phenomenon was. It waspletely possible that she simply spoke to her seatmates more and thus they fell in love with her more often. That would appear to be a much more understandable reason that if she were purposely trying to make her seatmate fall in love with her for the purpose of rejecting them.

    I guess it''d be a bit of time until I found out.

    After failing to invite me to lunch with her, she didn''t give up.

    "Hey, where do you usually eat lunch?"

    "Probably just in the ssroom."

    I had originally intended to eat in the cafeteria but I didn''t really want to get involved with anything that could be a hassle. In the end, I decided that the ssroom would be a nice ce to have my lunch¡ªI didn''t mind eating here anyways.

    "Ah, how about I join you, some of my friends are doing club activities so I don''t really have anyone to eat with."

    It was quite hard to tell whether she was lying or not. It certainly seemed unlikely since she previously invited me to eat lunch with her friends but then again, it was possible that she just invited me because she had no one to eat with.

    "Suit yourself," I replied.

    It was a little annoying since I preferred to be alone but I didn''t want to t-out reject her twice in case she honestly didn''t have anyone to eat with.

    She seemed to be somewhat taken aback by my response and quietly took out her lunch. I guess I may have sounded a bit harsh.

    Today, I brought an apple and a ham and cheese sandwich I made myself. I usually didn''t cut my sandwiches into four pieces but I decided to today since that''s what many of the other students did. I didn''t really understand the appeal, I guess it was so you didn''t have to eat the crust first? But you still had to eat the crust in the end...

    As I contemted the sanctity of a sandwich''s structural integrity, Fujiharu lifted the lid on a cute little bento lunch. All of the different parts of the meal were separated, from rice shaped like little chickens to a small egg roll with a g on top to tiny bite-sized vegetables, it looked like something that would have taken lots of work to make.

    She looked over at me as she took out her chopsticks.

    "Hey, do you want to try some?"

    I didn''t really want any, I had packed enough food to suffice myself. I generally liked to control the amount of food I ate so I could get the right amounts of calories, however, it probably would make my life more interesting if I actually went out and tried new things.<novelnext></novelnext>

    After thinking about it for a little, I agreed.

    "Just a little."

    She smiled and grabbed an egg roll with her chopsticks.

    "Say ah~"

    I opened my mouth.

    She ced the bite-sized egg roll into my mouth and I munched down on the food I was given. It didn''t taste that special, it was just as you''d expect¡ªegg-voured.

    "Thanks."

    "Aren''t you going to give me something in return?"

    I looked down at my sandwich. It was a little awkward since I had just eaten some of her food so holding onto my own food would seem a little selfish¡ªI suppose I could spare a slice of my sandwich.

    I grabbed a single triangle of my sandwich and passed it to her.

    "Here."

    She didn''t seem to ept it.

    "Aren''t you going to feed it to me?"

    "No."

    "Eh~"

    Begrudgingly, she epted the sandwich in her hand and took small bites out of it. She probably wouldn''t like my food all that much since it was pretty nd. I never really cared about the taste of the things I packed myself.

    "Did you make this yourself?" She asked.

    "Yeah."

    "You should try adding some sauces or more vegetables to it."

    I could, but I didn''t exactly have a great deal of spare cash either. I had to ration if I wanted to go through high school with the savings from my earlier days. The food I made had enough of every nutrient so it was good enough for me.

    I picked up Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy and began reading it as I ate my lunch. Fujiharu was also busy eating lunch so the two of us didn''t talk to each other for a little while. I read the line, ''you must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.'' I pondered the non-literal meanings of the quote, however, I didn''t need to ponder for too long.

    "Hey Mizuharu, are you free tomorrow afternoon?" She asked.

 Chapter 5 New Semester New Seats - Part 4

    Huh.

    I thought about it for a little.

    I didn''t really have a reason to decline. I was definitely free tomorrow afternoon, in fact, I was free basically any time these days. She looked at me as I was making my decision, not that it was really a hard one. I didn''t really care but I don''t usually go out with people.

    "Yeah."

    She showed me a bright beaming smile and continued to talk.

    "Ah, that''s great, there''s a cafe just a few blocks down the road that I want to try."

    "Alright."

    "I''ve got club activities today so tomorrow it is!"

    I noticed that there was no point where she actually asked me if I wanted toe, it seemed I had just automatically epted her invitation.

    Oh well.

    After epting her invitation, I went back to eating my lunch. I had already finished the rest of my ham sandwich so I went on to eat my apple. I was careful not to spill any of the juice onto my book. The area went silent for a little while again as neither of us spoke to each other. A few minutester, I had finished eating and fullymitted myself to reading.

    I was getting pretty close to the end so I would probably go to the library to grab another book once I was done. There were still around 40 minutes of lunch left so I''d have plenty of time.

    Near the end, I managed to witness another one of Nietzche''s famous quotes, ''no one can construct for you the bridge upon which precisely you must cross the stream of life, no one but you yourself alone,'' this was a quote which I could somewhat rte to. My entire life, I had been forced to face almost every situation, every problem, by myself. By relying on others, you are only setting yourself up to fail.

    At least, that was what I believed.

    Eventually, I finally reached the conclusion of the book. I closed it and stood up from my chair.

    "Where are you going?"

    "To the library."

    Fujiharu looked as if she had basically finished eating.

    "I''lle with you."

    I didn''t really see the point of hering with me. All I wanted to do was to return this book and get a new one¡ªbut since she wanted toe, I guess there was no point trying to stop her.

    "Sure, I guess."

    She quickly packed up her lunchbox and shoved it back into her bag.

    The two of us walked through the halls and towards the library which was situated outside of the main ssroom building. I again felt res from nearby students as we strolled through the courtyard, I guess the idea of me being with Fujiharu was quite disagreeable to most people.

    It wasn''t like I really asked her to tag along.

    A few momentster, we were greeted by the automatic ss doors of the library and made our way inside. Right in front of the entrance was a little disy with the sign, Our Picks, I had a quick scan of the books and eventually walked past it. I had already read several of those books and the rest all seemed rtively unappealing.

    I began walking through the library, having a look at each of the sections.

    Fujiharu suddenly showed interest in a novel.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Mizuhara, you should try this one!"

    She pointed at a novel with quite an extravagant name and quite a colourful cover. I had a quick look at it and saw that it was called, Apathy at Gifted Academy, another novel by H.Z.

    "I read it a few days ago and it was really good!"

    She pulled on my arm, gesturing for me to grab it.

    I didn''t really want it however, I had read quite a few light novels in thest few days and I wanted a more traditional book instead. Aside from Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy, I had read a significant number of teen novels in the past days. I looked around and saw a book that caught my eye.

    It was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

    Despite how well-known the nove was, I still hadn''t read it. I figured that it was about time I read through it, itsmentary on injustice and the historical socio-economic climate was definitely something I should witness firsthand.

    Fujiharu seemed to be displeased by my choice.

    "Aw, that book looks so boring."

    "I don''t really mind it."

    There was no aspect of it that I found particrly uninteresting. I would likely be able to finish the entire book in a day or so and then I''de back for another. I generally didn''t like borrowing more than one book at a time as I felt that it was more exciting toe back to the library every time for a new book.

    The two of us made our way to the counter and I handed in Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy, after that, I borrowed To Kill a Mockingbird and scanned my student card. With a beep, the machine processed all the information and the two of us left the library.

    "Ah, your taste in books is so weird."

    "I suppose, but I''ve always read these types of books."

    "Oh, were your parents very into literature?"

    "Um, I''m not sure."

    "You''re not sure?"

    I hardly had any memory of my parents at all. My only core memory of my family at all was one time when my older sister and I were sitting, curled up in our room. My parents were shouting at each other in the kitchen, I don''t recall much of the conversation, but the one thing I remember was the phrase, "we don''t need Ayato."

    They only cared about my sister. Well, at least that''s what I assumed from the context.

    A few days after that, I was a participant in the Ideal Human Project, after that point, my entire life was consumed by it.

    I wonder where my sister was now.

    It didn''t really matter that much to me, I didn''t have enough time to really build a connection with my parents and I only had very fleeting memories with my sister.

    "I didn''t talk to my parents much when I was younger," I said.

    "Oh, do you still go back to visit them now?"

    "Not really, this school is basically my only home."

 Chapter 6 Fish, Prawns And A Squid - Part 1

    PE ss ended up being cancelled due to heavy rain outside.

    We ended up just having a free period instead and most students just ended up doing nothing in the ss. I spent the entire time reading through as much of To Kill a Mockingbird as I could; I managed to read over a quarter of the small nove.

    Fujiharu was rtively quiet throughout the period¡ªit seemed she had some important work to do.

    The bell rang for the end of the day and all the students quickly rushed out the door. The substitute teacher didn''t seem to have much authority over them so it was basically anarchy. I stayed in my seat since I didn''t have anything to attend to after school. I was nning on just reading for a few more hours before I made my way back to the dorms. Fujiharu got up from her seat.

    "See you tomorrow, Mizuhara!"

    "Bye."

    A few minutester, the ssroom waspletely silent. The substitute teacher cleared her items off the desk and also left the ss. The room waspletely empty aside from me.

    Ah, how rxing.

    I picked up To Kill a Mockingbird and consumed its literary content for about two hours or so. I silently read through the pages as the bright sun shined through the windows. As I finally reached the middle of the book, I ced it down and looked out the window down at the courtyard.

    I should probably get going.

    Almost two hours after all the other students had already left, I got out of my seat and ced my belongings into my bag and made my way toward the lockers. After walking through the empty hallways of the prestigious school, I reached the area where my locker was. For some reason, there was a distinct smell of seafood.

    Did someone have raw fish for lunch?

    As I walked closer to my locker, I finally realised what had happened.

    My lock had been cut and my locker had been filled with raw seafood. On top of some of my workbooksy slices of fish, barely-defrosted prawns and a single dead squid. I could tell that the juices and smell had begun seeping through my locker.

    Oh my.

    I thought about who would do this. It was possible that one of the boys decided to harass me as a result of seeing me hanging out with Fujiharu.

    It didn''t really matter.

    There was a security camera in the area so whoever did it would be easily caught... or so I thought.

    I looked at the security camera and noticed that it had been covered by some sort of spray paint. It looked like there was a ck liquid that had hardened and begun dripping before solidifying.

    It seemed the perpetrator knew that there was a security camera there.

    What a hassle...<novelnext></novelnext>

    I walked back over to my locker and observed the contents. Luckily, I held most of my belongings in my bag so there wasn''t much in my locker that could be destroyed. The main annoyance was the smell.

    However, the perpetrator would likely escape due to the vandalised security camera.

    The only possible time that they could have done this was between the end of school and the time I left the ssroom. Which meant the seafood had only been sitting in there for two hours at most.

    I considered reporting the incident but it would likely be to no avail. With no evidence, the perpetrator wouldn''t be able to be found and there wouldn''t be any point in reporting it.

    I looked at the raw seafood in my locker and thought about it for a little.

    I guess I''ll take this into my own hands.

    I pulled a paperclip out of my pencil case and bent it so that it was basically a straight wire. Every lock on the lockers had a small keyhole in the case of emergencies, however, as a result, you would also be able to pick them if you knew how.

    I picked the lock on the locker to my right. After a bit of fiddling, I decided that I''d need another wire, I opened my pencil case again and grabbed out another paperclip. A few momentster, I managed to pick the lock and it popped off.

    I grabbed all of the seafood and dropped it all into the locker I had just opened. It was a really messy locker with paper and books everywhere. The seafood fit right in with the other random junk that was inside. After doing so, I grabbed my personal lock, which was cut, and ced it into the little hole where their lock would''ve gone.

    This person was not going to be having a good day tomorrow.

    My goal was to make it look as if the perpetrator had identally ced the seafood into the wrong locker.

    It was pretty obvious that it was a targeted attack since they even brought bolt cutters with them, as a result, they were likely going to be quite unsatisfied if they identally dumped the seafood into the wrong locker.

    In doing so, I would be able to lure them out. I assumed that they''d want to get me again tomorrow time, so I''d simply sit and wait for them to act.

    The cleaners'' storeroom was very close by. Since the security camera was covered, I decided to pick the lock to the storeroom and grab some odour remover and other cleaning equipment in order to get the smell out of my locker as much as possible. I also dumped all of the belongings that were in my locker into the bin. It was only a few cheap workbooks that I wasn''t going to use anyways.

    After that, I returned all the equipment and closed my locker with my neighbour''s lock.

    With all that I''d done, it was quite convincing that the perpetrator would think that they harassed the wrong person''s locker.

    Now my preparations were set.

    After setting up the trap, I made my way over to the toilets to wash my hands. The smell of the rotting seafood was beginning to stick to me which was annoying.

    Ah, I wonder who did this?

 Chapter 7 Fish, Prawns And A Squid - Part 2

    Back in the dorms, I took a pretty long shower.

    **

    The next day, I arrived at school early as usual. As I entered the cold, quiet ssroom, I noticed that someone was already seated.

    "Hey, Mizuhara!"

    The happy-go-lucky, carefree girl greeted me from her seat.

    "Hi, Fujiharu."

    I wasn''t really expecting her to be here already. I guess she noticed my daily schedule and decided to match me by arriving early as well. It was getting much more convincing that she was in fact the ''seatmate bully'' that some people call her. There was no way that this could have been a coincidence.

    Suddenly, she grabbed a book out of her bag.

    "You know, since you were reading it, I thought it''d be interesting."

    Turns out she also had a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, not only that, judging by the appearance of the book, it was definitely brand new. It wasn''t a library copy or an old copy, she likely went out and bought it a little while ago from a bookstore.

    "Ah."

    "Hehe, aren''t we matching now?"

    "I guess."

    I took my seat beside her and ced my bag on the floor. I grabbed my copy of To Kill a Mockingbird and began reading it. I had done a significant amount of reading the previous night, so I was only several pages from the end. When I flipped to the page that I left off, Fujiharu nced at me with a perplexed look.

    "You''re already that far in?"

    "Yeah, I did some readingst night."

    As if taking it as a challenge, she quickly flipped open her copy and began quickly reading it. She seemed to have quieted down as a result so I wasn''t too fussed.

    I brought the book up to my eyes and began reading through the final few pages. The father-daughter rtionship between Scout and Atticus was just reaching its narrative conclusion and all the loose ends were being tied up.

    There were still around twenty minutes before more students generally arrived. In that time, I finished the book and ced it down on the table in front of me.

    Fujiharu looked over.

    "You''re done already...?"

    "Yeah."

    "Ah... but I''ve just started."

    "That''s fine, have fun reading."

    "N-no... that''s not wh..." her words trailed off.

    I wasn''t dense enough to be unable to tell what was going on. However, I still couldn''t decipher the true intentions behind all of her answers. It just didn''t seem to make sense, was everything coincidental? Was she deliberately trying to make me fall for her?<novelnext></novelnext>

    Well, it didn''t really matter that much.

    ss doesn''t start for another 25 minutes. In that time, I decided to go to the library and borrow another book. As I got up from my chair, I noticed that Fujiharu was still avidly reading the nove. I made my way out of the ssroom and over to the school library.

    As I entered therge haven of literature, I looked around and contemted what I was going to read next. I decided to make my way over to the contemporary section and find another novel. I quite liked mystery novels so I looked through that section. After a few moments, a novel caught my eye, it was Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. It was another rtively old novel but it seemed to be quite interesting.

    After flipping through the first pages, I took it up to the counter and passed it to the librarian.

    The librarian scanned the books and my library card. I returned To Kill a Mockingbird and made my way back outside.

    ? As I walked back into the ssroom, I noticed that several other students had also entered. Fujiharu was still quietly reading To Kill a Mockingbird and I took my seat next to her. There were still a few more minutes until ss began so I decided to read through the first few pages of my new novel.

    A few minutester, I looked up at the teacher who was fiddling with some television cables. Apparently, she was trying to connect herptop to the TV but it wasn''t working. A few students helped her and before long, the television lit up with the contents of the lesson.

    I looked over at Fujiharu who was still reading the nove even though the ss had started.

    It seemed she was trying really hard.

    "...the helper t-cell then activates the naive b-cells which undergo clonal expansion. After that, the b sma-cells produce antibodies which bind to the pathogen..."

    As usual, the lesson was rtively uninteresting. It wasn''t really anything I hadn''t learnt before and a few days prior when I waspleting the homework, I managed to learn everything she was teaching right now anyways.

    I decided to just sit back in my seat and listen to the lesson. I looked around me at the students who were frantically taking down notes. With some scribbling down every word the teacher was speaking to others who were busy choosing which colour of pen to use.

    I wonder if life was more fun for them.

    Obviously, nobody liked to be under stress. But maybe something even worse than stress was boredom.

    The ss went by without much hassle and after setting us some work to do, the teacher then moved on to the next lesson. Turns out the next lesson was chemistry.

    "Alright everyone, did anyone struggle with the homework I set yesterday?"

    There was a uniform answer of yes.

    It seemed that the homeworkst night must have been quite hard¡ªI didn''t have much issue with itst night but I guess I mustn''t have found it as difficult as the others.

    The teacher sighed and pulled up a digital copy of the homework on the television.

    "...in the redox reaction, you have to bnce the charges on both sides of the equation..."

    As she exined the answers to the homework, I noticed that Fujiharu was still fully concentrating on reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Her eyes were glued to the pages like they were gospel and page after page, she read through them without any break.

    Honestly, I couldn''t understand her.

    I remembered that I needed to tell her something.

    "Fujiharu, is it fine if we postponed the visit to the cafe? I have something I have to deal with after school today."

    "Huh?"

 Chapter 8 Fish, Prawns And A Squid - Part 3

    The bell rang and I began making my way down to my locker.

    There was a decentmotion this morning as a result of the seafood-locker incident. It seemed the student whose locker I used as bait was from another ss. The school didn''t put out a public announcement which was to be expected. Especially with no method of determining the perpetrator, the school was likely discussing possible options.

    The flow of students slowed down as more time passed. Everyone was packing their bags and heading home for the day. Eventually, the entire locker area was empty, and the eerie atmosphere of silence consumed the room.

    Almost thirty minutester, in the distance, I saw a girl walk back into the school. She took a quick look at the security camera and noticed that it hadn''t been cleaned. She also nced around to see if there was anyone nearby, I quickly hid behind cover in order to avoid letting her know of my existence.

    Ah.

    As she got closer, I finally recognised her.

    Emi Tachibana.

    She walked over to my locker and plopped her bag onto the floor. In the front pocket, she grabbed out a pair of bolt cutters and clipped off my lock. She caught my lock in her hand and quietly ced it on the ground. Then, she opened my locker.

    I had ced several of my useless books in my locker as bait.

    Out of her bag, she grabbed several pens.

    I see what was going on now.

    She held the pens over my books in my locker and cut off the tips with the bolt cutters, as a result, deep, dark ink leaked all over my belongings. The ink flowed all through my locker, seeping into my book and the wood.

    Finally, I decided to show myself.

    Slowly I walked towards her, not making a noise.

    "Hey now, why have you done this."

    She suddenly jolted around in shock and dropped the bolt cutters onto the ground. The collision echoed throughout the halls, filling the room with a sharp nging sound.

    She was silent, so I decided to continue speaking.

    "Why have you done this... Tachibana Emi."

    All of a sudden, her face showed no fear... only anger.

    "Tell me, why have youe to this school?" She asked.

    "Why do you want to know."

    She kicked the lockers, sending a loud thump through the halls.

    "Y-you! Even this many yearster, you still let my father''s words control you?"

    "Who says his words control me."

    "You have so much power, yet you simply listen to a dumb mission and follow it naively like a stupid little duckling!"

    "Tachibana, you understand just as much as I do."

    "The Ideal Human Project was years ago! It''s in the past, just forget about it." She took a deep breath, "I fucking hate you, stay away from me! I don''t give a shit whether it''s your mission or not!"

    Tears were beginning to form in her eyes.

    "Tachibana, you don''t seem to understand. The reason I follow my mission is not because of any affection I have for you."

    "Fuck you! You''re a pervert, a dumbass, a bitch."

    She raised her arm.

    I grabbed her wrist and mmed it into the lockers.

    "Tachibana, you''re not going to change my decision."

    She looked at me with pure rage.

    "...Let go of me."<novelnext></novelnext>

    I released her arm.

    "Why... why are you here... I thought, finally, I could be free bying to this school. I even had Uncle implement special measures. I don''t understand..."

    "Tachibana, you don''t get it."

    "Shut up! Leave this school, nevere close to me ever again."

    I looked down at her.

    "...What do you want from me... Is it my body? Is it my hand in marriage?!" She continued.

    "You know that I don''t care about you at all."

    She fell silent.

    "I would prefer to live my school life in peace. I would appreciate it if you would stop making suchrgemotions."

    "...you, you want peace? You want fucking peace?"

    Tears were flowing freely from her eyes.

    She grabbed the cor of my shirt.

    "I''ll stay away from you as much as possible. In return, I want you to leave me alone as well." I offered.

    "No... no!"

    "I don''t see the problem, we can both have the freedom we desire."

    "If you want freedom, then piss off and forget about your stupid mission!"

    "You don''t understand, without my mission, I would also lose my freedom."

    "Who''s going to stop you? Who''s going to punish you?!"

    "There was never anyone who would punish me, however, I willingly chose to ept it. It''s something that only the Oues would understand."

    She was very sensitive to the word.

    "You dare talk about the other Oues? They were my friends, they were my happiness... and you... you..."

    "Tachibana, the one clinging onto the past is you."

    She pulled my face closer to hers. The emotions on her face showed something less of anger, instead, it was more of sadness, of despair.

    "Ayato... I''ll ept your offer for now, but I''ll never forgive you."

    It''s okay, I never wanted your forgiveness.

    She marched off into the distance, picking her bag up and leaving through the entrance.

    For personal reasons, I wasn''t going to report her. Although, I should get a stronger lock.

    I looked inside of my locker and saw that ink had already flooded it. There was such a great quantity that it was beginning to drip out of my locker even with the door closed. I took some tissues out of my bag and tried to clean it up as much as I could.

    It was lucky that my useless workbooks soaked up most of the ink. I grabbed them and threw them into the nearby bin. Some ink dripped onto the ground but there was nothing I could do about it. I cleaned up my vandalised locker as much as I could before deciding to head back for the day.

    I wonder where I''d buy a new lock, I guess I could ask the school to provide me with another.

    Knowing the type of person Tachibana was, I doubted that she''d try to do this again. However, I likely wasn''t off the hook just yet.

    She will likely never forget the incident, with me and the other Oues of the Ideal Human Project.

    As much as I try to pretend as if it didn''t happen, guilt still sits at the bottom of my heart.

 Chapter 9 Superficial Cafe Date - Part 1

    I once again entered the silent ssroom early in the morning.

    Like the previous day, Fujiharu was already seated and was reading through To Kill a Mockingbird. Based on what I could see, it looked as if she was getting pretty close to the end of the nove. I guess she did some serious reading the previous night. I made my way over to my seat as she looked up from her novel to greet me.

    "Morning Mizuhara!"

    "Hey."

    "What did you have to do yesterday?"

    "It''s a bit of a long story."

    "Aw~e on, tell me."

    I didn''t really want to exin the entire thing to her since it would take quite a long time. I decided to just make up something to smooth this conversation over.

    "I had a mandatory conversation with the principal about my enrolment here."

    "Oh, why did you need to do that?"

    "Uh, it''s because it was about my schrship."

    "Ah, is there any problem?"

    "Nope, it''s just a regr thing."

    It was somewhat of an odd excuse but it worked out in the end I guess. I ced my bag on the ground and took a seat. After a little bit of silence, Fujiharu looked over at me again and quietly said something.

    "So are we going to the cafe today?" She asked.

    "Yeah, if you want to."

    "Of course I want to~"

    She smiled and ced To Kill a Mockingbird on the table.

    "I''ve just finished reading this, it was a little boring but I liked the court scenes."

    "Ah, that''s good."

    "So what are you reading now?" She asked.

    "Murder on the Orient Express."

    "Oh yeah, I saw you reading that yesterday."

    "Yeah, it''s a nice book."

    She took To Kill a Mockingbird off the table and got up. She pulled some of her stationery out of her bag and set up her desk for the day. After that, she looked over at me.

    "Look after my stuff okay~ I''m just going to the library."

    "Alright."

    With that, she walked out of the ssroom.

    I opened up the crime thriller novel and continued to read through it. It was around the same length as To Kill a Mockingbird so I predicted that I''d be able to finish it by tonight, after that, I''ll get another book from the library. As I got myself lost in the nove, I was brought back to my senses by the sound of students entering the room.

    I guess ss was starting soon.

    Fujiharu still hadn''t returned so I assumed that she was taking her time in the library. As I ced Murder on the Orient Express on my desk, I thought about what happened with Tachibana yesterday.

    She was the daughter of the founder of the Ideal Human Project. I didn''t really get to interact with her that much but I heard that lots of the other Oues had time to y with her. I had talked with her a few times and we seemed to get be getting along alright, however, ever since that incident, she has held a grudge against me.

    I doubt that I''d ever be able to make up with her.<novelnext></novelnext>

    After a few minutes, Fujiharu returned with a copy of Murder on the Orient Express.

    "I''m back, luckily someone just returned this so I managed to get it."

    I was pretty close to finishing the book already though...

    "Ah, that''s good news."

    "How far in are you?" She asked.

    "I''ll probably be finished by tonight."

    "Seriously?"

    Just as she heard that, she quickly opened the book and began reading.

    Why was she doing this?

    Finally, the teacher entered the room and began the lesson for today. She pulled up something on the television and grabbed a book from under her desk. It was the y that we were studying for English, Shakespeare''s Macbeth. I had already read it before so I was pretty prepared.

    "Did everyone bring their copy of Macbeth?" The teacher asked.

    A few students raised their hands and she handed out a few paper copies.

    As she walked back up to the front, she looked at Fujiharu who was thoroughly reading Murder on the Orient Express. She was usually the ideal student so the teacher was quite confused by herck of attention today.

    "Fujiharu, do you have your copy of Macbeth?"

    "Huh? Oh, yeah I do." She quickly grabbed the book out of her bag.

    "Just make sure you pay attention."

    "Yes."

    Her reading was momentarily interrupted by the ss. I guess she was trying really hard to catch up to me in the novel. ''Fair is foul and foul is fair,'' the contradiction between one''s appearance and one''s true nature is sometimes a sharp pill to swallow. Only when people finally see the world for the dark ce it really is, when someone can finally see through all the masks.

    In the end, a ''...false face must hide what the false heart doth know.''

    I looked around at the students around me. Most seemed to bepletely zoned out, not intaking any of the information being shoved into their faces. Literature has its own charm which cannot be appreciated until you finally reach a point where you understand it.

    Oh well.

    I was going to be going to a cafe with Fujiharu tonight. I wonder what we''d do. Maybe just for a few hours, I''d turn off my constant analysis of everything. Maybe just for a few hours, I''d experience what other students my age got to experience. Maybe just for a few hours, no matter how superficial, no matter her ulterior motives, I''d pretend as if I was really enjoying it.

    I wondered, is the way I live my life really the right way?

    In my programming was a constant analytical thought process. In every situation, and every interaction, I would predict and calcte the behaviours of others, I would ount for every possibility. I would always make the pragmatic choice, the path of least resistance.

    As a result, I never got to experience the spontaneousness of life.

    That''s why I liked to read novels.

    They showed me something that I couldn''t see.

    The thoughts of the characters.

    The friendships, the love, the heartbreaks and the despair.

    I wonder, what did it feel like to be normal?

    There was a chance that I''d never get to find out.

 Chapter 10 Superficial Cafe Date - Part 2

    Past the wave of students who rushed out of the school. I stood at my locker, waiting for a specific person.

    Since when was I the type of person to go out to a cafe after school with a friend? Never in my life, have I ever experienced this.

    A few minutester, as the area quietened down, a happy, smiling Fujiharu approached me. As she made her way over, I felt more than just a few more gazes from the distance. She sauntered over, bouncing on her feet.

    "Are you ready to go? Mizuhara~"

    "Yeah."

    The two of us walked side by side as we left the school premises. Even still, I still felt gazes on my back. It was annoying. A normal person might have been able to ignore them or they might not even notice them. However, I was extra sensitive to being watched and the uneasy feeling never left my body.

    "How was school?"

    "It was alright."

    "Aw~e on, you can say a bit more than that."

    "Uh, I don''t really know, I read my novel for most of the day."

    "Ah, Murder on the Orient Express, I was also reading through it, it was quite enjoyable."

    "That''s good."

    "Hercule Poirot is really cool, I love how cold he is."

    When you look your most innocent is when you are up to something¡ªthat was a phrase that I took great interest in, a quote from Hercule Poirot himself.

    "Yeah."

    "Hehe, aren''t you excited to be going to this new cafe?"

    "I suppose."

    Despite my apathetic tone, she was still cheery and joyful. I was honestly impressed by how sociable this girl was. Even, in theory, I wouldn''t be able to achieve something like this, no matter how hard I''d try to.

    Suddenly, she turned and hooked her arms around my neck.

    "Come on, cheer up! Surely you should be happier about this."

    "Don''t worry, I am enjoying this."

    "You don''t look like it~"

    She pulled herself closer to me, it was to the point where my nostrils were filled with the deep aroma of her perfume. She looked up at me with wide-open eyes and a bright smile. Her hair swayed gently in the wind as she waited for my response.

    Gradually, I pulled her arms off of me and responded, "it''s fine, I am happy."

    She giggled a little before she moved back and walked by my side once again. She seemed to be somewhat disheartened by my response.

    As we made our way closer to the cafe, I noticed quite arge number of couples gathered there. It was very new and modern, with bright signs and overly simplistic designs. To be fair, this is my preferred type of atmosphere. I enjoyed staying around modern architecture.

    The two of us walked through as a couple hugged each other and passionately kissed right beside us.

    Suddenly, Fujiharu leaned to my ears and whispered.

    "¡ªmaybe if it was you, I wouldn''t mind... just kidding~"

    The two of us continued walking into the cafe. She appeared to be somewhat embarrassed that her teasing didn''t have much of an effect on me. It was a little awkward afterwards as the two of us walked in silence to the counter. Eventually, she spoke up to the server.

    "Um, table for two please."

    We were led to a table by the window and we sat down opposite each other.

    "Sorry, I probably went too far just then..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "It''s alright, I don''t really care."

    She pouted and looked away.

    I decided to have a look at the menu and see what was for sale. The prices for the food were quite high, probably due to the location and design of this cafe. I didn''t exactly have a lot of spare cash lying around so I didn''t want to get anything expensive. In the end, I decided to just order atte.

    Fujiharu was still observing the menu, choosing between the plethora of different meals.

    "So, Mizuhara, what are you having?"

    "I''m just going to have a coffee."

    "Are you sure that''s all?"

    "Yeah, I ate plenty at lunch."

    I seemed to have unintentionally impacted her choice of food as well. As the waiter came over to take our order, she only ordered a small orange juice and a sd.

    "Hey Mizuhara, let''s take a photo!"

    There was a photo stick that was stuck with all of the cutlery. It was just another method to promote the business, but it was probably quite trendy with the visitors here.

    "Sure."

    Fujiharu took out her phone and leaned across the table. I moved in a little closer and she made a cute hand gesture. With a click, the photo was taken and she slowly returned to her side of the table.

    "Aw, you didn''t even smile, do you want to take another?"

    "It''s fine."

    She tapped her phone a few times before sliding it back into her pocket.

    After a few minutes, the waiter brought over our orders and ced them on the respective sides of the table. The two of us thanked him as he turned to serve another table. I looked at Fujiharu who was clearly somewhat disappointed with her order.

    I should probably do something... this was quite awkward.

    It wasn''t like I was broke or anything, I felt a bit weird to be indirectly pressuring a girl to eat less than she wanted. After taking a sip of thette, I gestured for the waiter toe back over.

    "Yes?"

    "Can I order a serving of fried chicken as well?"

    "Sure."

    A few minutester, he returned with my extra order.

    "Fujiharu."

    "Y-yes?" She looked up just as she was eating another bite of sd.

    "I don''t think I''ll be able to finish this, do you want some?" I saw her face visibly light up.

    "Uh... a-are you sure?"

    "Yeah, I kind of bought it on a whim but I don''t want it to go to waste."

    "Well, i-if you insist."

    I slid the serving of chicken to the middle of the table and she reached in, grabbing a drumstick. She was happily eating her extra meal as I continued to slowly drink the coffee that I had ordered. I didn''t really want to eat any of the chicken anyway since I wasn''t that fond of junk food.

    It was somewhat nice to see Fujiharu happily eating the fried chicken.

 Chapter 11 Superficial Cafe Date - Part 3

    The two of us finished our meals and made our way back out to the street.

    "What now?" I asked

    She thought about it for a little.

    "Let''s have a walk around, there are lots of shops we can have a look at~"

    It was quite a busy street, the quintessentialmercial zone. I wanted to go home and read my novel but I guess since I was already out here I might as well have a walk around. Fujiharu seemed to be enjoying herself so I didn''t really mind hanging outside.

    We walked side-by-side along the street, there were lots of bright shops with very decorated storefronts. I''ve always enjoyed these types of ces¡ªmaybe it was due to the fact that I spent my childhood in a very technologically advancedb-like facility. The warm sunlight shining down on us was quite pleasant, conjuring a calm atmosphere.

    The more I walked with Fujiharu, the more I wondered.

    Is this what she used to do with each of her seatmates?

    It was hard to tell what was genuine and what was fake.

    After a little while, something seemed to have caught her eye.

    "Mizuhara, let''s go in there!"

    It was a small local jewellery store. It wasn''t especially high-end. However, its design was just clean enough to emanate a feeling of quality. There wererge disys right by the window, however, Fujiharu wanted to go inside. As we entered, we were quickly brushed by a wave of cool air, the entire store was effectively air-conditioned, producing a near-optimum environment.

    I guess this was the strategy of these types of stores¡ªto make the entire experience as pleasant as possible.

    She looked around, observing the various pieces of jewellery on disy. I didn''t take much interest in them myself. I looked at some of the price tags and they were just as you''d expect¡ªI wasn''t really all that taken aback since jewellery was always this expensive. The ce had all you could think of, rings, nes, watches, they were all here.

    I awkwardly followed Fujiharu around as she moved from area to area, looking at all the different products. All of a sudden, she turned around and looked back at me.

    "Hehe, aren''t you embarrassed to be here?"

    "Somewhat."

    "Don''t worry, I''ve looked at all I wanted to, we can leave now."

    "Alright."

    I wasn''t sure exactly what types of items she was looking at but I guess she''d had enough.

    As we continued to walk along the street, I thought back to my time in the Ideal Human Project¡ªit was the reason why I was so devoid of interpersonal rtionships. Well, to be fair, dating wasn''t exactly banned there, it was more like it bred an environment which made it almost impossible to have an exciting rtionship.

    There were no restaurants, no recreational areas, nothing that would allow for young romantics to enjoy themselves. In a white facility, inside white rooms, there was only so much you could do. We also didn''t get to spend a lot of time with each other, each Oue had their own room and their own routine¡ªit was very rare that we would get free time.

    Then again, I should be speaking for myself. It was more than one time when I''d witnessed a rtionship ur within the Ideal Human Project. It wasn''t like the rtionships were built to fail anyways, there appeared, at least on the outside, to be as functional as any other.

    I guess it was more that I personally never got in a rtionship, I never built any friendships, let alone a girlfriend. It wasn''t like I waspletely devoid of emotion however, it was more that I could control my emotions much more than the others. Romance is formed when two sides show affection for each other but I would never show my true feelings on my face.

    It was a coping mechanism against the harsh reality of the project¡ªyou could say.

    It was still possible for me to fall for someone, it was still possible for me to truly enjoy spending time with someone. However, I always control my emotions to the point where no one else can tell what I''m thinking.

    It was a strategy which worked for my time during the Ideal Human Project anyways.

    I was the first test subject admitted and the final one who remained.

    "Mizuhara, do you go shopping often?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Well, I have to buy groceries since I need to make lunch and stuff."

    "Ah, but doesn''t the boarding facility provide them for you?"

    "They do, but I like to make my own food."

    She giggled a little bit.

    "Hehe, but your own food is always so basic, wouldn''t it be easier to just eat the school food?"

    "I just like to eat healthier and keep track of how much I''m consuming."

    "Alright, that makes sense I guess."

    She grabbed my arm.

    "You know, you should try something new. All I''ve seen you eat the past couple of days has been fruit and some pretty nd sandwiches."

    "Um, I don''t really mind them though."

    "How about this, let''s go to the fruit and veg store and we can buy some new things. You can tell me what you want and I''ll think of a dish with them."

    "You don''t have t¡ª"

    "It''s okay~ I want you to try some of my cooking! You can tell me what ingredients you want and see me make it, it''ll be as healthy as you want."

    Before I had time to respond, she quickly pulled me into the small grocery store.

    "So, what do you like?" She asked.

    "Um, I guess I like potatoes... and cauliflower."

    Those were the two vegetables I ate the most¡ªI guess I preferred them to some extent.

    "Hm... ah! I''ll make you some cauliflower soup! I''m really good at it, trust me."

    "Okay."

    "She walked through the aisles and grabbed some ingredients she needed.

    After the purchase, we made our way back out.

    "Um, but where are you going to cook this?" I asked.

    She thought about it for a little.

    "We can go over to my ce, we''ve got a pretty big kitchen, and I''ve got all the utensils I need."

    "Are you sure?"

    "Of course!"

    After a brief moment of silence, she lowered her voice.

    "...you know, I could tell you got the fried chicken for me; it was really nice of you..."

 Chapter 12 Cauliflower Soup Is Awkward - Part 1

    I stood in front of a fairly modern home.

    There were a series ofrge windows allowingrge amounts of light inside. From what I could see, just the garage was around half of the house''s width. It was made up of clean geometric-like shapes with hardwood and painted concrete.

    "Come inside!"

    I followed Fujiharu-san to her front door as she took off her shoes. I did the same and she opened the door with her keys.

    As I made my way inside, I saw that the interior was incredibly clean and organised. From what I could see, you''d imagine that there was a maid living in the home and cleaning it every single day.

    She led me through her hallway into the kitchen. There was a little marble counter that was just off-centre from the kitchen with several high-rise chairs. I ced the groceries on the ground.

    "Take a seat~"

    I sat down before she grabbed an apron off the wall.

    She happily walked around the kitchen, getting utensils and setting up her workstation. She took out the cauliflower and ced it on the chopping board. I could hear her faintly humming something as she prepared all the different ingredients. She heated up some oil in a saucepan before systematically putting the vegetables inside.

    I patiently waited as she cooked for me. The more I thought about it, the more I realise that she is definitely popr for a reason. Everyone thinks that she''s cute, but not only that, she was quite capable. She was good at sports, good at studies and good at socialising¡ªshe was considered by many to be perfect.

    A few minutester, she poured the cauliflower soup into two bowls and drizzled some olive oil on top.

    "Here you go~"

    She passed a bowl over to me before taking a seat next to me.

    "Thanks."

    She watched me intensely as I scooped some of it into a spoon. It was somewhat awkward to be eating while someone was looking at me so vigorously¡ªoh well. I took a sip and consumed the vour in my mouth.

    The taste was alright, it was nothing special.

    "It''s good."

    She pouted and moved her face closer.

    "Are you sure it''s only good?" She teased.

    "Uh, it''s pretty good..."

    She seemed a little disappointed but soon enough, she began eating her soup as well.

    "Hey Mizuhara-kun, what did you get on your midtermsst semester?"

    "I ranked 20th."

    "Ah, that''s good."

    I could tell that she was saying that out of pity; she came 2nd ce after all. It didn''t really matter to me though, my score wasn''t actually a representation of what I could achieve, ideally, I would get an even lower score. The issue was that I worried that the school might take issue with my schrship if I scored too low during the exams.

    However, Fujiharu-san was in fact quite smart, her intelligence was not to be overlooked. Inparison to rank 3, she was much smarter. In basically any other school, she might be ranked first. The only reason she''s not ranked first here is because of one girl¡ªthe girl who witnessed the Ideal Human Project first hand, Tachibana Emi.

    The results of thest midterm exams showed this quite clearly.

    1. Tachibana Emi - 398

    2. Fujiharu Sara - 379

    3. Chiyazome Ritsu - 321

    ~

    Eventually, the two of us finished our food and I took the bowl over to the sink.

    "Thanks for the meal."

    I picked up my bag and prepared to go to back to the dorms.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Wait, do you want to watch a movie?"

    I wasn''t really interested, I wanted to go back to the school and read Murder on the Orient Express. I tried to keep walking, hoping that she''d eventually give up but all of a sudden, I felt her arms wrap around my chest.

    "Come on~ just one movie."

    "Uh, I don''t really like movies that much."

    "We have our own movie room, it''ll be fun~"

    I could feel her tugging at me.

    "We can watch To Kill a Mockingbird, or a movie based on one of the other books you like."

    "I mean, I suppose so."

    "Yay~"

    All of a sudden, I heard the front door unlock. I could hear a little ruckus outside, there was some slight chatter before several people walked inside. From what I could see, I assume that it was her parents and a younger brother.

    "Crap."

    She suddenly pushed me into the closest room and mmed the door closed.

    Well this was awkward.

    I turned around and looked at where I was. I was met by a small, girly room. There was a single bed with tons of pillows and a soft pink nket. Around the room, there were various nts and different decorations on the walls. She also had apact bookshelf with a row of novels all written by H.Z¡ªI guess she liked his books quite a bit.

    However, the most interesting thing I saw was a thick photo album. I considered having a look at it but I felt that it would be a bit of an invasion of her privacy. Instead, I just took a seat by the door and waited until everything blew over.

    I could hear her having a conversation with her parents. Everything seemed normal for the most part but I could tell that she was obviously trying to lead them away from her room. I guess bringing a boy back to her house was a big deal.

    I stayed seated for almost ten minutes before she finally returned. She slid open the door and quickly hopped inside before closing it again.

    "So, can I go now?" I asked.

    "No, they''re still in the kitchen."

    "Can''t I just introduce myself to them?"

    "No."

    Huh.

    I guess we''ll be ying this weird game of hiding until they finally leaved.

    She took a seat on her bed and gestured for me to sit next to her.

    I walked over and took a seat beside her.

    "Sorry about all this, hopefully this isn''t too annoying for you."

    "I don''t really mind that much."

    She giggled a little.

    "You know, Mizuhara-kun, I really don''t mind hanging with you."

    What was that supposed to mean?

    "Um, that''s good, I guess."

    "No... well, what I mean is... never mind."

 Chapter 13 Cauliflower Soup Is Awkward - Part 2

    The two of us sat silently for a little while.

    "You probably want to continue reading Murder on the Orient Express, don''t you?"

    "Yeah."

    She walked over to her bag and grabbed the book.

    "Let''s read it together," she offered.

    "Aren''t we on different sections though?"

    "I''ll just continue reading from where you''re at."

    I thought about it for a little bit.

    "How about we can read it from the point you''re at, I''ll just reread," I said. I could tell that she was trying to satisfy me as much as possible so I didn''t want to be too greedy. It didn''t really matter to me anyways, I didn''t mind rereading some of the novel.

    "Are you sure?"

    "Yeah, it''ll be a bit weird if you skip the entire middle section."

    "Alright then~"

    She held the book out in a way so that both of us could read it. It didn''t look like a veryfortable position for her arm so I stuck out my hand and grabbed the other side of the book¡ªwe were now holding one side of the book each.

    I worried about the fact that we had different reading speeds, however, it seemed she had already thought of that and began reading the book out loud, "...but I know human nature, my friend, and I tell you that, suddenly confronted with the possibility of being tried for murder, the most innocent person will lose his head and do the most absurd things..."

    I listened as her soft voice articted the words on the page.

    We sat side-by-side reading Murder on the Orient Express for almost twenty minutes. Eventually, Fujiharu stood up and walked over to the door.

    "I''m just going to check on them."

    "That''s fine."

    She opened the door and peeked outside.

    "I think they''re doing something else now."

    "Ah, well, I''ll leave now then."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Are you sure? We can keep reading if you want."

    "I have some things I want to do back at the boarding house."

    "Aw, alright then."

    She led me over to the door and I left after saying a short goodbye.

    *

    I sat on my bed and looked up at the roof.

    My dorm room was very emptypared to other boarders. I generally liked to keep things rtively minimalistic, not for any stylistic purpose but mostly because I never bought things. I was on a pretty strict budget most of the time and I never really desired anything.

    I had a few sets of clothing in my closet and some basic furniture and that was basically it. I spent most of my time reading on my bed anyways so it wasn''t like I really needed anything anyways. I was getting pretty close to the end of my novel so I''d likely have to go to the library again.

    The school library was open until 8 pm so I still had time to go and borrow another book. I decided to read through the final few pages of Murder on the Orient Express. I guess a genius is expected to provide, ''...one or two fantastic suggestions.'' After reading thest page, I closed the book and prepared to make my way down to the library again.

    I changed out of my school uniform into something more casual. With that, I began making my way through the schoolyard, over to the library.

    As I looked through the endless supply of books, there was something that caught my eye¡ªit was something that was quite pronounced throughout the Ideal Human Project, something that even the founder, Tachibana Kohei, used to read. I picked up Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Satre and walked towards the counter.

    As I looked down at the book, I thought about my childhood. For all intents and purposes, Tachibana Kohei¡ªTachibana Emi''s father, was the closest thing I had to a father figure. He was a gentle, kind man, not the type of person you would believe to start an experimental facility for children. Then again, his treatment of us Oues was not all bad, in fact, our conditions were quite pleasant.

    Aside from the slight istion and overly extensive education, our lives were as normal as one of a normal child. He would always take in children who were either abandoned or had abusive parents, whether that was a choice or due to ack of choice, I still don''t know, but all I knew was that to me, he was a good person.

    Only near the end of the project did I finally realise his reason for starting the entire thing in the first ce. It was a reason which was selfish yet kind, a reason that was rational yet unpredictable and it was a reason which influenced me to choose the mission that I still follow to this day.

    He was the most influential person to me, for good and for bad.

    After scanning the book through, I began walking back to my dorm room. On top of my shelf,y a single book. It was a book I had kept all the way from my days in the Ideal Human Project, it was Tachibana Kohei''s most prized possession¡ªwell, second-most prized possession. It was a book detailing the ns for an optimal school system.

    It was the details of a school system which bredpetition, a school system where only the strongest survived and everyone else was slowly culled. It was his life''s work, only several days before his death, was he finally able to finish it. From what I knew, there are only several copies of this book in existence. Some belonged to the most powerful education ministers in the country and one of them belonged to me. It was titled, The Tachibana System, written by Tachibana Kohei himself.

    Who knows, maybe in the near future, a select few schools might try to implement the system. It guaranteed immense sess for those who are capable of pushing through all the challenges, although in the process, many students will suffer and be thrown out.

    There were very radical ideas in the book and only someone with great power and great influence would be able to truly implement them all into a school.

    Someone¡ªlike the principal of National High School.

 Chapter 14 Acting As The Ideal Tutor - Part 1

    It was early on Saturday morning when I received a rather frightening message.

    ''Meet me in the locker area, we need to have a talk.''

    It was sent by Tachibana¡ªconsidering the fact that I only got my phone at the beginning of the year, I have no idea how she managed to get my number. After all, not a single person has my number at the moment; she must really be quite sly.

    Well, there was no point in me declining. I thought that she would leave me alone for a little while at least but it seemed my wishes were unfounded. It would likely only get escted if I decided to evade her request so I put on some clothes and began making my way out of the dormitory.

    Once again, I was back at the lockers. I was starting to get shbacks of Tachibana''s bullying. I really didn''t know what she wanted me to gather here for, maybe she was going to try to kill me with a bomb or something.

    "Ah, so you finally showed up."

    "You''re the one who called me here."

    "Hey now, I had no other choice."

    No other choice?

    She took out her phone and handed it to me, on the screen, there was an address.

    "You''ve memorised it right? Someone wants to talk to you; go meet them there."

    "What is it that they want?"

    "Ugh, just go there and you''ll find out, now leave."

    She was just as cold as I expected.

    It was a little suspicious that she was trying to get me to a random address I had never seen before¡ªhowever, judging by her expression, it seemed that her intent was not to kill me. She left without saying another word so I was not going to be getting any rification. I assumed that there was someone else trying to contact me through her.

    Why would someone want to contact me?

    With basically no other choice, I decided to make my way over. It was only a few minutes on foot and the general area was rtively safe. It appeared to be a pretty rich neighbourhood so I doubt that I''d end up getting kidnapped. I made sure to stay on high alert just in case something were to happen.

    As I arrived in front of a veryrge high-rise apartment, I was finally getting the gist of what was going on. From the outside, it looked extremely luxurious¡ªit was something that the very rich would live in. There were huge automatic doors with electronic locks and a veryvish reception area staffed with several people in suits.

    Why was I needed here?

    Suddenly, a man walked out of the apartment towards me.

    "You''re Mizuhara Ayato, right?"

    "Um, yes..."

    "I just want to have a chat with you,e inside."

    He scanned his personal keycard on the electronic lock by the door and after a slight beep, the ss door slid wide open, revealing the giant, modern reception area. He led me over to some seating just around the corner and the two of us sat down opposite each other on some elegant couches. He was holding a cup of coffee in his hand.

    "You''re probably wondering why I called for you."

    "Yes."

    "I''ll cut right to the chase, I want you to be a tutor for my daughter."

    Huh?

    "I don''t understand, why me?"

    "Because... you''re one of Tachibana Kohei''s Oues, aren''t you."<novelnext></novelnext>

    Ah, I see what was going on now.

    "Don''t worry, your efforts won''t be unrewarded, I will pay you $300 an hour to tutor her; you''re pretty low on cash I would assume," he continued.

    "I don''t see why you couldn''t just hire another better tutor with that type of money."

    "Well, there''s a reason I''vee for you, you''re myst resort, I''ve tried everything else I possibly can."

    Everything else you possibly could?

    With that type of money, he could hire some of the best tutors in the world¡ªit was pretty obvious that money was not an issue for him. I just didn''t see how he knew of me and why he thinks I''d be a good tutor.

    "I still don''t see why you would want me. I wouldn''t be a very good tutor."

    "You were part of the Ideal Human Project, I don''t mind putting a little faith in you."

    "Why do you know so much about me?"

    "Oh, it''s no big deal, I was the biggest sponsor of the Ideal Human Project, after all, it''s to be expected that I''d want to see some return on my investment."

    Ah.

    "Sure, I''ll be her tutor, but don''t expect anything from me."

    "Sorry, but I''m expecting quite a lot, I want her to pass all of her exams at the end of this semester."

    "Are you going to fire me if I can''t do it?"

    "I know something like that wouldn''t motivate you," he ced his cup of coffee on the table, "if she doesn''t pass all of her exams, I''ll reveal your secret to the entire school. Don''t expect to have a normal life after that."

    "What secret might you be referring to?"

    "Ah, you know exactly what I''m referring to, what did they call it again... the incident? Was it? Oh, I remember now, they called it The Incident That Ruined the Oues."

    This must have been his trump card from the beginning.

    I was left with no other choice.

    "You know, you''ll regret manipting me like this."

    "Haa, I''ve got plenty of regrets in my life already."

    He took out a key card from his wallet and passed it over to me.

    "Use this to enter the building, we''re on floor 6, room 124. Everything else is up to you, Mizuhara Ayato."

    I grabbed the card and ced it into my pocket.

    "I''m going on a business trip for a few months, when I get back, I''ll be expecting some good results from you. Feel free to make any purchases you feel necessary for her education, I''ll reimburse you."

    After that, he stood up and walked out of the building.

    Getting someone to pass their final exams shouldn''t be too hard in theory. However, if I was hisst resort, that meant that many other tutors have tried and failed to produce the result he wanted.

    This was going to be a hassle.

 Chapter 15 Acting As The Ideal Tutor - Part 2

    I noticed that he had handed me a note alongside the keycard.

    ¡ªShe might be cold at first but I''m sure you guys will get along.

    Well, for $300 an hour, I guess I''d at least try to teach her something. Granted, my entire school life is being threatened but even if worsees to worst, the reveal of The Incident that Ruined the Oues wouldn''t exactly destroy my life. I made my way over to the elevator and pressed the button. The elevator door instantly opened.

    Well, I guess I won''t be having much free time in the near future.

    It was arge, posh elevator that looked as if it was made for royalty. I scanned the keycard again on a sensor on the elevator before it allowed me to select the level I wanted to go to. Floor 6, room 124, that''s where I was going.

    A few momentster, the elevator door opened once again and I made my way to room 124.

    Should I just walk in?

    I wasn''t sure if the person I was tutoring had been notified of my arrival. I worried that I might identally catch them off-guard and have the police called on me. My keycard could technically unlock the door but I decided to knock anyways.

    A few secondster, the door opened and I was greeted by a short blonde girl. On the other side of the door, I saw a Yokosuka Girls Academy uniform. It was probably the most prestigious school in the entire area,parable only with National High School, even so, Yokosuka was likely much more elegant whilst NHS was more academically-based.

    "What do you want?" She asked, with a very harsh tone.

    "I''m your tutor."

    m.

    The door closed right in my face.

    Ah, what a pain.

    "Can you please let me in? I was sent here by your father."

    "No, I don''t need another tutor."

    "I''m afraid that decision isn''t up to you."

    She didn''t respond to my next statement.

    Ugh.

    I decided to just scan the keycard and open the door.

    I slowly made my way into the high-end apartment, it was somewhat messy, there were clothes all over the ground and other items hanging where they shouldn''t.

    "Ah! What are you doing in here?"

    "I''ve got a keycard to this apartment."

    "Go away! I told you, I don''t want a tutor!"

    I walked over to her as she was sitting on the couch. The TV was on and she was watching some fantasy show with kings and queens.

    "I''m afraid you''re going to have to ept it whether you like it or not."

    Suddenly, she turned off the TV and ran into a room, mming the door behind her. I decided to take a seat on the couch while I thought about what to do. I could use force to make here out, but I doubt that''d allow for any positive oues for either of us.

    It wasn''t like I had anything I needed to do these two days. If I wanted to, I could camp here the entire time and wait for her toe out. Even so, I needed to think of a way to get her to study.

    What a troublesome situation.

    I walked over to the room she was hiding in and spoke through the door.

    "Why do you not want to study?"

    I was met by silence.

    I grabbed the doorknob and began turning it before I felt a force pulling it the opposite way.

    I guess I''d use a little more strength.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I twisted the doorknob with a little more power and I heard a squeal on the other side of the door. As soon as I felt a slight release on the doorknob, I pulled open the door.

    "Hey!"

    Before she could close it again, I jammed my foot between the door and the hinge.

    "Sorry but I have my own reasons for doing this."

    She pulled on the door but it wouldn''t budge.

    Through the small crevice, I managed to see into her room. On a desk behind her, I noticed arge collection of trophies, scattered all around her room were various different eloquent chess sets¡ªit didn''t take long for me to connect the dots.

    "So you like chess?"

    "Shut up, I''m not talking to you!"

    "I assumed you''re a chess prodigy with all of those trophies."

    "Why does that matter to you?"

    "If you''re so good at chess, surely studying alsoes easy for you."

    She didn''t respond.

    "How about this, if you beat me in a game of chess, I''ll leave you alone forever..."

    She was extremely by my sudden proposition. I quickly shoved the door open and entered her room. She backed up as I walked closer.

    "But if you lose, you have to study with me."

    "W-wait... why are you..."

    "You''re confident in your skills aren''t you? I''m just a nobody."

    She took a second to think about it.

    "Fine... but get out of my room."

    I walked out back into the lounge room.

    It had been quite a few years since Ist yed a proper game of chess.

    After a few moments, she came back out of her room with a chess set.

    "I want you to leave this house as soon as I win."

    "You have my word."

    Slowly, she began putting the pieces in ce. The chess set she chose wasn''t a very stylistic one, it was quite basic, being made out of standard wood¡ªhowever, it was still much more elegant than any of the chess sets I had ever used.

    Just observing the way she was cing the pieces on the board, it was obvious that she was quite proficient with chess. In the few seconds in which I had to glimpse at her trophies, I noticed that they were all first-ce awards. There were quite a few trophies from very famous tournaments as well¡ªsome that even I''d heard of.

    After a few moments, she finished setting up the board and picked up a pawn of each colour into her hand. She covered them with her hands and stuck her hands out toward me.

    "Which hand?" She asked.

    "Left."

    She opened her left palm exposing a white pawn.

    It was decided, that I would be ying white and she would be ying ck.

    This brings back memories.

 Chapter 16 Acting As The Ideal Tutor - Part 3

    She assumed a very rxed posture.

    She didn''t seem to expect very much from me¡ªmaybe it wasn''t even the first time a tutor posed such a proposal. Her father must have hired quite a few of the best tutors in the entire country with this type of wealth; especially if he was even willing to threaten me in order to get his daughter to study.

    Beating a chess prodigy was not going to be easy.

    I began with a simple opening. The two of us moved our pieces, one at a time.

    Pawn to E4.

    She responded with Pawn to E5.

    I yed Knight to F3.

    She responded with Knight to C6.

    I could tell that she was pretty rxed about the entire match. She didn''t try to do anything out-of-the-ordinary. All of her moves were incredibly robotic, simply responding with the mostmon moves for ck.

    I yed Pawn to D4, leading into the Scotch Game.

    She responded with Pawn takes on D4.

    I then yed Bishop C4, moving into the Scotch Gambit.

    From here, she continued to y rtively predictable moves. It seemed she still hasn''t begun trying to show her chess proficiency. I yed extremely aggressively, trading pieces and simplifying the board wherever I could.

    A few movester, she began showing her true strength.

    To her, my moves would still seem amateurish, normally, chess yers on a high level would not try to constantly trade pieces like this. Games were usually quite technical, requiring a yer to have intricate knowledge of specific positions and board states.

    However, this was my n from the start.

    Quite a few movester, most of the board had been cleared. There were only a few pawns and some of the weaker pieces left. Our queens and rooks had been traded and in terms of pieces, she was up by a bishop.

    Ah, this was going to be quite a strain on my brain.

    I took a few minutes for every move.

    It seemed that she wasn''t too concerned by the time I was taking.

    Move after move, I slowly reposition my pieces.

    I noticed that she was getting more and more worried.

    Knight to A5.

    She replied with Pawn to F5.

    Knight to B3.

    Pawn to F4.

    Pawn to A5.

    Pawn to H6.

    Pawn to B5.

    Knight D7.

    Pawn takes on A6.

    Suddenly, she stopped her looked at the board.

    Herposure had been broken as she observed the position of the pieces.

    "No way..."

    She yed Pawn to F3.

    I replied with Pawn to A7.

    After her Pawn to F2, I was able to promote to a queen with my A pawn.

    "Crap..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    She stared at the board for a few minutes.

    I was now up several points, there was basically no chance of victory for her anymore.

    A chess prodigy like herself would be able to see that this was over.

    "H-how... how did you go from that losing position to this... how did you calcte so..."

    Chess is a strategy game after all.

    First of all, she has definitely studied way more lines than I have. In terms of pure knowledge of theory, she is far out of my league. I had about as much understanding of chess opening as a beginner. As such, I stand no chance if I tried to y a technical game with lots of known positions. With much more experience than me, she would easily be able to recognize patterns that I would never be able to find.

    I only had one hope to beat her. I would have to force the game into an end game as soon as possible and try to outdo her on calctions alone. Inte-game chess with not many pieces on the board, it is a purepetition ofputation. There have beenputers which have ''solved chess'' when there are a certain number of pieces on the board, however, no human would ever be able to achieve that.

    As such, if you can calcte further and more urately than your opponent, there was a chance of victory even if you were in a losing position. When the board is cramped with lots of pieces, it''s physically impossible to predict many moves in advance due to the practically infinite amount of different moves. However, when there are only a few pieces, it is possible to calcte over ten moves in advance.

    Therefore, I yed extremely aggressively in order to trade pieces off of the board. I was helped by her initial underestimation of me which may have led to some inuracies in her early moves.

    Once there were only a few pieces left, I simply calcted further than her.

    The game was determined as soon as the board began to clear.

    After being speechless for a few seconds, she finally uttered her words of defeat.

    "I-I... resign..."

    That was a lot of effort.

    "Now, you remember the bet, don''t you?"

    "U-um... f-fine... just today, I''ll study with you."

    She slowly began packing up the chessboard. As she put the pieces back into the box, she looked toward me.

    "Are you also a chess prodigy?" She asked.

    "No."

    "But... you were the first person to ever beat me... since I was eight years old."

    It was true that I beat her this time, however, I was still far inferior to her in terms of chess. I only managed to win due to her underestimation of me and also some tricky tactics¡ªif we were to y again, it would almost be guaranteed that I''d lose. This was a one-time event.

    "I wouldn''t be able to beat you again."

    "Huh."

    "You could tell couldn''t you, I have no knowledge of chess theory."

    She packed away the rest of the pieces.

    "I just don''t understand... who are you?" She asked.

    "I''m just a student at National High School."

    "Why did my father ask you to tutor me?"

    "Uh, I guess you could say... personal reasons."

    She was unhappy with mycklustre exnation¡ªhowever, I couldn''t tell her the real reason.

    "Anyways, what''s your name?" I asked.

    "It''s Hanae¡ªHanae Kanako."

    "Alright Kanako, I want you to do a test and show me how much you know."

    She suddenly seemed to be distressed after hearing what I said.

    There were a few workbooksid out on the table. From what I could tell, they seemed to be the exact same subjects that we were being taught.

    Let''s see how smart you are at academics.

 Chapter 17 Acting As The Ideal Tutor - Part 4

    I spent a few minutes sorting out questions so that I would be able to gauge Kanako''s ability¡ªthis was the first step in a likely gruelling campaign. I made sure to pick a wide variety of questions and make sure that each subject was equally difficult.

    I handed her the questions and had herplete them

    I watched as she seemingly managed to finish them without any struggle.

    "Are you done?"

    "Yep!"

    She passed her answers to me before sprinting off into her room.

    What on earth...

    From what I could tell, she was definitely trying...

    The only problem was... 25% in English, 20% in Maths, 10% in Sciences, and 15% in Humanities.

    Well, no wonder her father was looking for tutors.

    She had holed herself back up in her room. I slowly made my way over and began speaking through the door again. She was definitely not making it easy for me to teach her. Well, at least I''ve got an understanding of her abilities now.

    "Can youe out?"

    "No!"

    "If you don''t, I''m going to pull you out, we made a bet, didn''t we?"

    "I''d like to see you try."

    Ah.

    Again, I twisted the doorknob; as expected, she was holding onto it from the other side. I twisted it with a bit more strength but it appeared that she was holding onto it harder than before.

    I''m sure her father won''t be too mad if he needed to rece her door¡ªhe did say that he would pay for anything I needed.

    With the design of these doorknobs, I couldn''t really put my full strength into them.

    "I would step away from the door if I was you."

    "What are you nning on doing!"

    I let go of the doorknob and took a step back.

    "I have personal matters at stake, I''m afraid I cannot just let you do as you like."

    "No! What are you going to do!"

    "I''m going to kick the door down, now move away from the door if you don''t want to get injured."

    "Stop!"

    Suddenly, on the other side of the door, I heard the faint sound of a few steps.

    I walked forwards and simply opened the door.

    I was met by her lying on her bed, with her head on her pillow.

    "Kanako, I''m going to need you to cooperate with me."

    "No... I don''t want to study..."

    "Why is that?"

    She covered her face with her pillow and didn''t respond to me.

    I needed to find out why she was so against the idea of studying.

    "You''re good at chess, I''m sure that it would trante pretty well into subjects like math."

    "I-I just don''t understand them... chess is the only thing I can do..."

    "You won''t know unless you try."

    "I do try! You don''t know how many other tutors I''ve had before you! In the beginning, I would work hard with all of my energy... but nothing woulde of it."

    "Everyone''s capable of improving."

    "That''s what all the other tutors said as well! But look at me, I get terrible marks on all of my tests despite how hard I try... You look the same age as me! How could you possibly help?"

    "Juste out and study with me for a bit... please."

    "No! I''m stupid, I''ll never be anything aside from stupid... chess is the only thing I have..."

    I walked over and took a seat on her bed.

    "How about this...e to the mall with me," I offered.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Huh...?"

    I waited for her response.

    "Why... why do you want me to go to the mall with you...?"

    "No reason, I''m just bored."

    She pulled her face off of her pillow and looked at me.

    "I''ll give you ten minutes to prepare, then we''ll go," I stated.

    "B-but..."

    "It''s not studying, is it? There''s no issue, right?"

    I walked out of her room and closed the door behind me.

    Ten minutester, she came back out of her room, dressed in a casual outfit.

    "W-we''re just going to the mall... right?"

    "Yes."

    The two walked over to the front door and made our way into the hallway of the apartmentplex.

    "I don''t understand... why do you want me toe to the mall with you?"

    "It''s a bit awkward to go to the mall by myself."

    "Can''t you just go with one of your friends?"

    "There''s a cafe with really good food but it has kind of a couple''s vibe, I feel awkward going inside with a group of boys."

    "Eh?" She seemed to have been caught by surprise.

    "Do you not want to go?"

    She appeared to be quite flustered by what I said.

    "B-but... I mean... we just met..."

    "It''s just for some food, nothing more."

    "Ah... alright then..."

    I called for an Uber which picked us up and took us over to the mall. The two of us made our way to the cafe that I was referring to¡ªas expected, it was filled to the brim with couples, it was definitely the most popr store in the entire mall.

    The two of us were greeted before being shown to a table near the corner of the cafe.

    The waiter handed us each a menu before going on his way.

    She seemed to be quite tense as she looked down through the menu.

    This store had a specific cauliflower dish that I wanted to try. It was $14 which was much more than what I''d usually pay for a meal, but since I was getting paid quitevishly for my ''tutoring'' job, I decided to indulge myself.

    "Have you decided what you want to eat yet?"

    "Um... just give me a few more seconds."

    A few momentster, the waiter returned and we told them our orders.

    After a brief moment of silence, I started to talk with her.

    "Kanako, how long has your father been getting tutors for you?"

    "U-um... for about five years..."

    That was quite a long time¡ªespecially with no substantial results.

    "Do you have any siblings?" I asked.

    "No... that''s the reason why my father is trying so hard to make me study."

    Huh.

    "I just want to be a chess yer," she continued, "but he wants someone to take over thepany and I''m his only child."

    "Has he considered having another child?" It was somewhat of an insensitive question but I needed to understand the details of this arrangement.

    "U-um... Mother died when I was very young and Father doesn''t want to have a child with anyone else... he loved Mother very much."

    Ah, I was beginning to piece the story together.

 Chapter 18 Ideal Human To Prodigy - Part 1

    Eventually, we made our way back to the apartment.

    "Kanako, have you heard of the Ideal Human Project?"

    "Huh...? Yes... I have; Father used to talk about it a lot."

    "Do you know what type of kids were taken in?"

    "The smart ones?"

    "No... the only kids there were ones who had lost all hope."

    The two of us sat down on opposite sides of her kitchen table.

    "But..."

    "Did you know that they called the Ideal Human Project a sess?"

    "Yeah... I heard about that."

    "Do you know why it was ssified as a sess?"

    "Um... I would assume it was because they made really intelligent kids."

    It seemed she knew a little about it but she was still missing most of the key parts.

    "No, in fact, the Ideal Human Project was aplete failure in that regard."

    "Then..."

    "Kanako, I''m telling you because I want you to understand," I pushed some books over to her, "you can''t make a genius. However, there are people... hidden in the shadows, who are capable of something amazing."

    "What are you saying...?"

    "I''m saying, I can see with my own two eyes, that you''re a genius."

    "But..."

    "Your chess skills, they don''t juste to anyone."

    "But you beat me..."

    "You''ll understand in the future," I took a breath, "Kanako, listen to me... and follow my instructions. You will pass your next exam."

    ...

    A gave her a few more minutes to decide whether she wanted to study with me or not. At this point, if she were to reject me, there would be nothing else I''d be able to do. If she were to decline, I would leave and suffer the consequence.

    "Fine, I''ll listen to you for now."

    I circled some questions in her textbooks and had her attempt them. I could tell that she was racking her brain trying to figure them out. Still, it appeared that she was struggling to no avail¡ªthat was to be expected after all.

    After attempting a series of questions, she showed me her responses¡ªthey were all wrong. As I looked at her working out, I noticed something very interesting.

    I decided to rewrite the question I have her, this time changing theiryout ever-so-slightly. All of a sudden, as she looked down at the new questions, something seemed to have clicked within her. After another attempt, she managed to get 50%.

    "Did you see what I changed?" I asked her.

    "I don''t know... they seemed easier for some reason."

    Once again, I gave her a new set of questions. To no surprise, she once again answered them all wrong. However, once again, I changed the questions ever-so-slightly and handed them back to her. Uponpleting the altered questions, I saw that she managed to get a majority correct.

    "Did you see what changed this time?"

    "Um... I don''t really know..."

    "That''s fine, we''ll do it again."<novelnext></novelnext>

    For the third time, I handed her another few questions that I had chosen. She then again struggled with the original questions, failing to answer a single one correctly. She looked over at me, already expecting what I was doing.

    I then changed the questions, altering only several words.

    She finished the altered set, and this time, she managed to achieve an 80% score.

    "Do you see what the difference is?"

    "I... they''re simpler...?"

    "Not quite."

    After seeing her thinking to no avail, I decided to call it a day.

    "That''s all for today, I''lle back tomorrow."

    "Huh? But we''ve only been going for a little while..."

    I pulled over a few of her textbooks and began circling questions. I looked specifically for one type of question, a type of question which will significantly improve her understanding of the concepts.

    "Look in the textbook if you don''t know the answer. I want you to keep looking until you manage to get the correct answer, no matter how long it takes."

    I pulled out my phone.

    "Give me your number."

    She hesitantly typed her number into my contacts.

    "Whenever you think of an answer, I want you to send it to me. I will tell you whether you are wrong or right, you will keep redoing the question until you get it right."

    "But... what if I can never get the right answer?"

    "Then you will keep going, even if it means staying up all night."

    "Huh."

    "Tomorrow morning, I wille back and check on you."

    I got up from my chair and began making my way toward the front door.

    I still hadn''t quite put my finger on what the problem was. I still didn''t quite understand how she was so good at chess yet so poor at academics. It wasn''t logical, at least from the point of view that I was thinking from. However, nothing is without reason¡ªit is merely that we have yet to find the reason.

    All this just to keep my secret from being leaked.

    Then again, in the words of Jean-Paul Satre, ''it is therefore senseless to think ofining since nothing foreign has decided what we feel, what we live, or what we are.''

    Since I believe that there is something to lose, there must be something that I care for. Years ago, no one would have ever been able to hold something hostage about me. Years ago, no one would have been able to threaten me.

    You can only be threatened when you have something to lose, after all.

    Ah, I''m working so hard.

    But... I had to admit that this was just a little fun.

    As the door locked behind me, I walked down the well-kept, soft carpet toward the elevator. There were various nts and other decorations keepingpany by the walls. The bright lights lit up the area to such an extent that there were hardly any shadows.

    I walked into the elevator before scanning the keycard that I had been given.

    Ground floor.

    The elevator rumbled slightly before I felt the momentum of my body heading downwards. A few secondster, with a little tune, the door opened and I made my way back out into the reception area. It was starting to get a littlete in the afternoon.

    As I walked out though the automatic ss doors, the cold breeze brushed up against my skin. I was once again reminded of how alive I was.

    Ah, my life was such a mess.

 Chapter 19 Ideal Human To Prodigy - Part 2

    Missions.

    Every single Oue of the Ideal Human Project had one.

    It was one that was decided by the ''higher ups''¡ªwith a little input from ourselves. Each Oue had a different ''mission''.

    Although we couldn''t really be controlled by the ''higher ups'', most of us epted it, only for the purpose of holding onto our humanity. Even we don''t want to be serial killers¡ªdestroying the world, so all of us hold the ''mission'' we''re given quite close to our hearts.

    ¡ªIt was like the only sign that we were still human.

    Most of us only kill or even just use our abilities to the fullest when either our lives are threatened or if it would further us inpleting our respective missions. We also had an unspoken rule to not interfere with each other.

    ¡ªI only cared about my mission, in the end.

    I wonder if I would meet another Oue at some time in the future. Ever since the Ideal Human Project was dissolved, we haven''t contacted each other at all.

    Well, there was also The Incident That Ruined the Oues.

    ***

    The next day, I woke up pretty early in the morning and began making my way to Kanako''s residence. It wasn''t too far away from the school boarding facilities so I just walked like I did the previous day. She had texted me a few times the previous night, with various answers, after a little while, however, it seemed that she stoppedpletely.

    I was somewhat curious to see what she was up to.

    I scanned my keycard at the entrance of the grand apartmentplex and made my way inside. I was suddenly sted by a wave of warm air, it was a nice transition from the chilly morning atmosphere. Before long, I was standing at the door of her apartment, I decided to ring the doorbell to see if she''d open the door for me without me having to force my way in.

    I heard a few footsteps in the distance before her voice began travelling through the door.

    "...don''t you have your own keycard to this apartment?"

    "I wouldn''t want to walk in on you while you''re changing."

    "...you think I get changed out in the hallway or something?"

    "I don''t know that much about you."

    "...you don''t need to know a lot about me to know that I don''t just get changed in the hallway!"

    This conversation was getting a little pointless.

    "Well, are you going to open the door for me?"

    After a brief moment of silence, I heard a slight click before the door slowly slid open.

    "Come in, I suppose."

    As I started to walk in, she suddenly began pushing at the door.

    "Wait... I didn''t finish all of the questions from yesterday..." she appeared to be visibly sorry.

    "I guess I''ll have to spank you then."

    "Huh?!"

    "I''m kidding."

    Well, I''ve done it now.

    Before I could take another step, the door mmed in my face.

    "...don''te in you pervert!"

    "Ah, I said I was kidding, didn''t I?"

    "...how can I know for sure? You were threatening to kick my door down yesterday!"

    "I didn''t actually kick it down, did I?''

    "...I can''t trust you at all!"

    Well, this was awkward.

    "I promise I won''t do anything, can you let me in so I can tutor you?"

    "...you barely did any tutoring yesterday, you might as well just stay home and assign me questions. You''re just doing this for the money aren''t you?"

    Well, money wasn''t the entire equation.

    "It doesn''t really matter why I''m doing this, does it?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "...of course it does! If you''re only going to tutor me halfheartedly I might as well just study by myself and keep a pervert out of my house."

    Now, what am I supposed to say here?

    "I''ll actually tutor you, so just let me in."

    There was another period of silence.

    "...only if you y me in another game of chess."

    "Fine."

    Eventually, I managed to convince her to let me in. The door slowly opened for the second time as I stepped foot into her apartment. I noticed that some of the mess strewn around the doorway had been cleaned up. She turned around and began making her way towards the lounge room, I followed behind as she picked up a chess board.

    "So how did you go on the questions I gave youst night?"

    "Um... I didn''t finish them... sorry," she seemed to be moving her body away from me as she responded.

    "That''s fine, did youplete any?"

    "I managed to answer seven of them."

    That was actually more than I expected.

    I had assigned her ten math questions to do with the expectation that she wouldn''t be able toplete a single one.

    The end game was in sight.

    "Can you show me your working out for the questions?"

    "Only after this game of chess..."

    "Alright."

    She set the pieces up on the board before taking two pawns into her hands.

    "Which hand?"

    "Left."

    She giggled.

    As she opened her palm, I was shown a white pawn.

    "Same asst time it seems."

    As the two of us looked down at the board, I yed my first move.

    Pawn to E4.

    Pawn to C5.

    Ah, the Sicilian¡ªthis was going to be problematic for me.

    I yed a pretty standard Knight to F3.

    She responded with Pawn to E6 beginning the French Variation.

    As the two of us continued to y, I noticed that she was ying a lot less aggressive and a lot safer than yesterday. Now that the board was getting rather congested and it was quite difficult to make long calctions. I could tell that her experience was easily getting the upper hand in this position.

    With basically no understanding of chess theory, I struggled to keep up with her momentum. I constantly found myself blocked and in sub-optimal positions.

    A few more movester, she had taken several of my pieces and held a decent positional advantage. I stood no chance in this closed game, with too many variables to calcte, I was unable to make the best moves.

    "Check," she said with a smug face.

    Ah, I was in zugzwang now.

    My loss was inevitable.

    A few more movester, she had managed to gain immense momentum and I found myself constantly in check with only bad moves to y in response. Slowly, my position was whittled down until...

    "Checkmate."

    Well, that was to be expected.

 Chapter 20 Ideal Human To Prodigy - Part 3

    She seemed to be quite happy with herself after winning that game of chess.

    "You know, it''s been a while since I''ve been this happy to win a chess match~"

    "That''s nice, am I really that deserving of an opponent?"

    "You were the first person to beat me in years... um... wait what was your name?"

    ? "It''s Mizuhara Ayato."

    "Ah, Mizuhara... or should I say teacher?"

    "Just Mizuhara is fine."

    As she packed up the chessboard, I got up.

    "So, can you show me your work from yesterday?"

    "O-okay."

    She picked up the chess board and walked with me over to her room. I looked at her desk, which was packed to the brim with various chess trophies. In the middle, however, there was a very worn textbook and a huge amount of paper.

    "Ah, wait!"

    She quickly grabbed all of the loose sheets of paper and put them on her bedside table. She then showed me a workbook.

    "Here."

    I opened it up and looked at her working out for the questions.

    They were quite messy, but I could still see her thought process.

    As I observed her work carefully, I noticed that her work had a specific pattern to it.

    As I read through her answers to all the questions, I put the workbook back onto her desk.

    "Kanako."

    "Yes?"

    "Are you dumb?"

    "Eh...?!"

    "I''m just kidding, if anything, I think that all of your past tutors have been dumb."

    "What do you mean...?"

    "There''s a very obvious pattern to the mistakes you make."

    I wrote some notes down on a sheet of paper. After that, I looked through her maths textbook and circled some more questions.

    "Answers these questions and make sure you pay specific attention to the notes I made."

    She took a seat at her desk and began doing the questions.

    This was probably going to take a bit of time.

    I decided to take a seat on her bed which was a mistake.

    In the corner of her eye, she managed to see me sitting on her pink nket.

    "Hey! Why are you sitting on my bed?"

    "Uh, you don''t have any other seats in this room."

    She looked at me with a stern expression.

    I decided to get up.

    "You know what, it''s fine, you can sit there if you really want."

    "Um, you don''t sound very satisfied, do you want me to sit somewhere else?"

    "Just sit wherever you want okay!?"

    Gah.

    What was I meant to do here?

    I decided to make my way over to her living room and grabbed a random chair.

    As I returned, I saw that she was hard at work on the questions, looking over at my notes every once in a while. I ced the chair on the side of the room and took a seat.

    I hade prepared today with my book, so as she worked, I read through Being and Nothingness. ''I must be without remorse or regrets as I am without excuse; for from the instant of my upsurge into being, I carry the weight of the world by myself alone without help, engaged in a world for which I bear the whole responsibility without being able, whatever I do, to tear myself away from this responsibility for an instant.''<novelnext></novelnext>

    What a dark view of the world.

    After almost an entire hour, she managed toplete all of the questions I assigned her.

    "I''m done!"

    She passed her workbook over to me and I looked through the answers that she had written.

    After examining all the questions, I saw that she managed to get 60%.

    Well, that was enough to pass, at our school, a passing grade was 40%.

    "You did quite well."

    "Really?" She seemed to be quite overjoyed at my statement.

    "If you keep up this rate, you''ll be able to pass."

    "No way..."

    I looked through the question that she''d gotten wrong and tried to find another pattern. My previous strategy had managed to increase her score from 20% to 60% in a rtively short amount of time. However, it would likely be much more difficult to increase it from there.

    "Kanako, let''s move on to English now."

    "Ah... okay then," she was more enthusiastic than before at least.

    I looked at her English textbook and quickly flipped through the pages. I circled a few reading andprehension questions and handed them to her.

    "Complete these."

    "Ah, okay."

    I sat back down on the out-of-ce chair and opened Being and Nothingness back up. As I got lost in the words of Jean-Paul Satre, I was awoken from my literary slumber by the sound of Kanako struggling.

    "Eh... how do you do this...?"

    English was a much more subjective topic than Maths. Her pattern recognition and chess skills helped her significantly in terms of maths as well. It seemed that she was struggling to grasp the problems that required interpretation of the texts'' non-literal meanings.

    I put my book down and made my way over to her.

    "Which question are you having trouble with?"

    She pointed at the second question I set.

    ording to the text, what is Kevin''s primary intention formitting the theft?

    "Can you point to the part of the text where it talks about Kevin''s theft?"

    She scanned the passage for a little before pointing at a paragraph.

    "...here."

    "Alright, read it out loud to me."

    She read out the passage.

    "Alright, now what does it say about his theft?"

    "Um... it says his heartbeat increased and he was quite excited when he left the store."

    "Now, what does that imply about how Kevin was feeling afterwards?"

    "I guess he enjoyed doing it?''

    "Yes, so what does that mean?"

    "Um... that he does it for the thrill?"

    "Yep."

    "Ah, I see!"

    I grabbed another sheet of paper and wrote down some tips.

    If you''re stuck, first, find the paragraph referring to the question, then, read again slowly, and finally, make small associations until you finally get it¡ªthink about when, where, why and how.

    After cing the sheet of paper next to her, she got back to working on the next question.

    I got back in my seat and continued to read the book on existentialism.

    It looked like I was going to have to put in quite a lot of effort to teach this girl.

    I had to go back to school tomorrow as well, not that it really meant anything. I had alreadypleted any homework I had and there wasn''t much else I needed to prepare.

 Chapter 21 Swimming Pool And Tension - Part 1

    It was the beginning of yet another normal school day.

    I opened the sliding door into the ssroom. However, today, it was a little more boisterous than usual. Even from the outside, I could hear the sound of distant chatter. It was still early in the morning, so it seemed that some people must have arrived earlier than usual. As I looked inside, I noticed a group of people gathered around Fujiharu''s desk.

    "Hey Fujiharu,e to the pool with us after school today, will you?" One of the boys asked.

    "Yeah! Fujiharu shoulde with us!" one of his friends affirmed.

    There were also a few girls who were also standing around the table

    "Apparently, they''re opening a new waterslide at the local leisure centre," one of the girls added.

    "Come on, Fujiharu! It''ll be fun!"

    "Yeah, we''re all going. You shoulde too."

    They were quite desperately trying to convince her to go with them.

    "Oh, Mizuhara, do you want to go to the pool with them?"

    Before I could leave the room, I was quickly added to the conversation by Fujiharu.

    It seemed her friends quickly grasped what was going on and rushed over to me.

    "Ah, um, you shoulde!"

    "Uh, I th¡ª" I didn''t even get enough time to finish my sentence.

    "Wait, since Mizuhara''s also going, I guess I''ll go as well," Fujiharu suddenly dered¡ªwell, it looked like the girl''s strategy worked pretty well.

    I didn''t really mind going, but I didn''t really like the ulterior motives...

    "Yay! We can all go together. Let''s all meet at the lockers after school," one of the girls decided.

    Hold on...

    Before I could speak, they had all decided the n and left the ssroom to do something. All that was left were the bags that they had dropped off at their seats.

    Oh my.

    I walked over to my seat and ced my bag down. I guess there was no argument left to be had. I pulled out my seat and sat down.

    "Haa, I didn''t think you were the type of person to want to go to the pool with everyone," said Fujiharu.

    "I mean, I don''t hate it..."

    I began taking out my workbooks and stationery for the day. It seemed that I had suddenly been invited to a pool outing, and I didn''t even get to decline. I guess I won''t be able to tutor Kanako tonight, then. I didn''t really mind that much.

    I suppose it wasn''t all bad. I had never gone to the pool with friends before. It might be somewhat fun.

    The of us sat in silence for a little while now that the others had left. I guess most students would just leave their bags in the ssroom and go outside to socialise. Suddenly, the silence was broken by Fujiharu, who asked quite a surprising question.

    "Mizuhara, have you ever liked someone?"

    Based on the emphasis on the word like, it was pretty obvious what she was referring to.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Well, I guess I have.

    Whilst I never showed it on my face, there actually was an experience in my childhood where I felt feelings that could only be exined by love. It happened years ago. It was a time when the children in the Ideal Human Project were taken on a ''holiday'' to another part of the country. We were supposed to spend our time studying the historical monuments and various other things.

    However, our carer, who felt a great deal of empathy towards us, let us explore and have fun for one single day. Most of the children were overjoyed, breaking off into small groups to explore to therge outside world that we were almost never exposed to.

    I didn''t have any friends. I also had no desire to have fun. As a result, I simply took a seat on the grass as I waited for the day to pass.

    All alone, I stared off into the horizon as the soft breeze brushed against my clothes.

    However, it was that day when I met her. She was a girl, around the same age as me, with long brown hair, a cute light blue dress and a smile that lit up the world.

    My entire life was changed, ever so slightly, since I met her.

    It was only one day that we spent together... but in that time...

    For a while, I wondered if I''d ever see her again.

    ~

    "Ah, well, I guess I have."

    "Really?"

    "Is it that surprising?"

    "I mean, you''re so cold all the time and... well, you know."

    I assumed that she was referring to the fact that I barely ever reacted to her provocations. That was apletely separate matter altogether.

    "It was a long time ago, though."

    "Tell me about it!" She was very intrigued by my response. She hadpletely turned her body around and moved her face closer to mine.

    "It''s not that interesting."

    "No! Just tell me~ I''m curious now."

    "Maybe in the future. I don''t really want to talk about it at the moment."

    She seemed disappointed, but she didn''t continue to push me.

    There was a specific reason why I didn''t want to talk about it.

    A few minutester, most of the ss had gathered in the ssroom, and the teacher began preparing her lesson for the first period. There were still a few minutes left, so I decided to read a few pages of Being and Nothingness.

    I thought about how we would be going to the pool today. Whilst I did have a swimsuit, I would need to go back to my dorm in order to grab it. I was confused as to how Fujiharu was going to get hers. She obviously wasn''t informed of this beforehand, either. I guess her house wasn''t too far anyways. Everyone would probably be happy walking to her house before we went to the pool.

    Oh well, I''m sure it''ll work out.

    I wonder if it''ll be fun.

    I guess I''ll let loose to some degree and try to enjoy myself.

 Chapter 22 Swimming Pool And Tension - Part 2

    The bell rang for the end of the school day.

    As everyone got up to leave, Fujiharu made her way over to me.

    "Are you excited to go to the pool?"

    "I guess."

    A few momentster, the two of us also began making out way down to the lockers. It was quite crowded so it was difficult to find the others who were going with us. As the hoard of students slowly dispersed out of the school, the two of us joined the group which had formed.

    "Ah, Fujiharu! Do you have your swimsuit?" One of them asked.

    "Oh um... I''ll have to go grab mine," she then turned and looked at me, "how about you, Mizuhara?"

    "I''ll have to grab mine as well."

    "We''ll meet you guys there!" Fujiharu assured the group.

    After a small discussion, the group agreed and headed off first.

    "We can get yours first then we''ll go and get mine," said Fujiharu.

    "Alright."

    The two of us made our way to the dormitory where I stayed. She followed me as I made my way to my room. I unlocked my room and grabbed my swimsuit from inside. Fujiharu also followed me inside and looked around.

    "There''s like nothing here~"

    "That''s just how I like it."

    "Are you a minimalist?"

    "Somewhat."

    I grabbed my swimming shorts and towel and put them into my bag.

    "Alright, let''s go to yours now."

    "Okay~"

    We left the school and walked down the street to Fujiharu''s ce. After a few minutes, we arrived at her front door but she suddenly noticed something.

    "Shoot, I forgot my keys."

    Well, that wasn''t good.

    "What are going to do then?"

    "I''ll just use the spare key, close your eyes, Mizuhara."

    As she requested, I covered my eyes so I wouldn''t see the hiding spot of her spare key. Now that I thought about it, I had a keycard for Kanako''s ce which is probably a bit weirder than I first realised. A few momentster, I heard a click on the door.

    "Alright,e in!"

    "Okay."

    "You didn''t peek when I was getting the spare key did you?"

    "No."

    "Hehe, anyways, I''ll just be one second."

    She grabbed her swimsuit from her room and the two of us were once again on our way. The leisure centre wasn''t too far away from here so we decided to just walk over there. It was a rtively hot day so the walk was pretty rxing.

    "Ah, I can''t wait to go in the pool."

    *

    We finally arrived at the entrance of the leisure centre and met up with the rest of the group.

    "Jeez, took you guys long enough."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "We didn''t take that long did we~"

    Now that the group had been reunited, we walked into the reception area and bought our tickets. There was quite a long line so we were forced to wait a little while before we could make our purchase. A little wristband was attached to each of our hands as we paid the $35 entry fee.

    I guess money wasn''t that big of an issue for me anymore¡ªI''ve been getting transfers into my ount by Kanako''s father for the tutoring.

    After we bought the tickets, the boys and girls split off to enter separate change rooms.

    "You''re Mizuahara right?" One of the boys asked.

    "Yeah."

    "So, what''s your rtionship with Fujiharu?"

    I figured that this wasing.

    "We''re just friends."

    "Are you sure? You guys spend so much time together."

    "As friends do."

    "Aha, alright then, well I''m Riku Okamoto, nice to meet you."

    "Likewise."

    He was a quite muscr boy with short ck hair. From what I could see, he looked like someone who''d be quite popr. Between his sociability and supposed athleticism, it wasn''t hard to see why he''d have lots of friends.

    We made our way into the change rooms and I ced my bag into one of the lockers.

    We quickly got changed before making our way into the main leisure centre. It was an incrediblyrge facility with several pools, all with unique designs. There were some which were for proper swim training and others which were designed to be in cartoon-like shapes. The humid air filled my nostrils as we walked in, I could also smell a slight aroma of chlorine which was in the pools.

    The entire area was heated so I felt like sweating the moment I walked in.

    "Ah, looks like the girls aren''t out yet." Sakamoto looked at the three of us as we decided on what to do.

    "Do you want to wait for them?" One of them asked.

    "I''m going to have a quick dip, I can''t wait anymore!" The other one answered.

    Following him, the rest of us also jumped into a square pool which had some volleyballs set up. The water immediately cooled me down as I sshed into the pool.

    "Hey, Take, go grab one of those volleyballs!" Shouted Okamoto.

    "Why don''t you go grab it?"

    "You''re closer so obviously you should grab it!"

    After a rather pointless argument, the boy named Take eventually swam over and grabbed a soft volleyball from the side of the pool. I recognised him as Takeuchi Kaito, the fifth-highest scorer on the midterm exams.

    "Here, Mizuhara!"

    He lobbed the ball over and I caught it in my hands.

    "Alright how about this, Hinata and I take Mizuhara and Take," proposed Okamoto.

    "Yeah, you''re on!" Takeuchi replied.

    I started with the ball and hit it over with a standard volleyball overhand serve. I have never yed water volleyball before but it wasn''t too hard to adapt to the conditions. Having to tread water made it slightly more difficult than usual but it still wasn''t too hard.

    Okamoto received the ball with a dig and lifted it up for his teammate. Heunched himself up and spiked the ball over to our side. Water was sshing everywhere so it was hard to even see where the ball was. However, Takeuchi was able to receive the ball and set it up for me.

    I swam forward andunched myself up, preparing for a spike, I noticed that Okamoto was directly in front of me. In order to avoid his block, I dyed my spike when Okamotounched himself upwards, this way, I tapped the ball as he was going down and he was thus unable to stop it.

    His teammate tried to get it but to no avail.

    "Wow, you''re good, Mizuahara!"

    It was the voice of Fujiharu.

 Chapter 23 Swimming Pool And Tension - Part 3

    Standing by the side of the pool, was the group of girls, all in various different swimsuits. I could tell that the other boys were quite bewildered at the sight, especially at the sight of Fujiharu. Her swimsuit quite overtly emphasised the shape of her body, it was clear that she was pretty¡ªthe other boys would definitely agree.

    They all jumped into the pool with us and swam to either side of the volleyball.

    "Now we can do a 4v4!" Eximed one of the girls.

    The group had perfectly split itself into two teams of four.

    "Alright, the current teams will do."

    Okamoto passed the ball to me.

    I guess I was serving first.

    We took a few moments to get into some sort of formation before I overhanded the ball to the opposite side of the pool. With this many people, the game was quite a bit easier. The main struggle in water volleyball from what I could tell was just covering the court. Swimming is much slower than diving and running so it was quite difficult to receive a ball that didn''tnd near you.

    Our group managed to y with a significant amount of order. There was plenty of passing between teams and some decent teamwork¡ªit was quite different to the volleyball we yed in PE ss which involved a lot of smacking back and forth across the.

    As we were ying, I noticed something.

    I remembered that there was a fifth girl, however, there were only four here.

    I guess she might have gone home or something.

    After around half an hour, we decided they decided that they''d had enough of volleyball and began discussing what to do next. I didn''t really have anything specific I wanted to do so I just waited for them to make a decision. All of a sudden, Fujiharu swam over to me and grabbed my arm.

    "Hey Mizuhara, what do you think of my swimsuit~"

    "It''s cute."

    "Eh?!"

    She appeared to be extremely surprised by what I said. Instantly, her face went red and she ducked under the water. I was met by the sight of bubbles on the surface of the water.

    Ah, I didn''t even mean it in a romantic way.

    I waited until eventually, she popped her head back above the water.

    "I didn''t mean it in a weird way."

    "Ah... it''s just that, you''re not the person to say that..."

    Well, this was a little awkward.

    However, a few momentster, she managed to regain herposure.

    "So, Mizuhara, are you having fun?"

    "Yeah, it''s been pretty fun so far."

    "Hehe, I guess inviting you along was a good idea after all."

    "You made a situation where I didn''t have an opportunity to refuse on purpose, didn''t you?"

    "Fufufu, I wouldn''t do something like that~"

    Everyone began getting out of the pool so Fujiharu and I followed suit. Water dripped all over the ground as all of us began walking around.

    "Where are we going?" Asked Fujiharu.

    "We''re going to line up for the new water slide," replied Takeuchi.

    We all walked over as a big group until some of the others wanted to get some food before lining up, there was a small cafe near the waterslides so some of the others went to buy some snacks first. I decided to have a quick walk around as I waited for them. There was a pretty long line so I assumed that it would take a while.

    In the distance, I saw a girl sitting by herself in a corner. She was huddled up in a ball, holding her knees in her arms.

    Was she injured or something?

    I decided to just leave it for the time being.

    As I waited for the others to finish buying their snacks, I noticed that there were some boys approaching the girl. They seemed to be talking for a little while before one of them grabbed her wrist. There was a little bit of resistance as the boys continuously tried to talk her into something.

    What was this situation?

    I guess I''d go check on her.

    As I made my way over, the boys pulled her with a little more force and she was pulled to her feet. They began dragging her away as she reluctantly followed.<novelnext></novelnext>

    It probably wasn''t an issue, they might''ve been her friends or something.

    She might have been having a bad day and they were just trying to get involved, I couldn''t really deduce the situation from over here.

    I''ll just check just in case.

    I continued to tail them as they dragged the girl to a rtively secluded location. There weren''t many people nearby since this area was pretty far away from the pools.

    This was starting to seem a little suspicious.

    "What''s going on here."

    "Huh?" The boys turned and looked at me.

    "What do you want?" They asked.

    I didn''t really know what to say.

    Suddenly, as I managed to get a closer view of the girl, I realised it; her long hair which partially covered one of her eyes¡ªshe was in our group, the fifth girl who was seemingly missing.

    Well, that makes it significantly easier.

    "She''s one of my friends, I''ve juste to see what was going on."

    "Huh? You''re friends with her? What a lie."

    Ah, what now?

    "Did youe to y the hero? It''s fine, she''s happy with us, isn''t that right?" One of the boys red down at her.

    She very reluctantly nodded her head.

    "See? It''s all good, we''re just going to hang out with her for a little," he said.

    I decided to walk a bit closer, pushing past the boys.

    "Tell me, are you really fine with this," I asked her directly.

    I looked down at the obviously distressed girl.

    "Oi, what do you think you''re doing!" I was grabbed in the shoulder by one of the boys.

    I lifted his hand off of my shoulder.

    "I''m just asking her a question."

    I looked down at the girl.

    She looked up at me and answered very weakly.

    "...no."

    "Alright well, that''s her answer."

    I was again grabbed by one of the boys.

    "Who do you think you are?" He shouted.

    Suddenly, a lifeguard began walking over as he witness themotion.

    The boys also noticed that the lifeguard was approaching.

    "Damn! Guys we''re going."

    The group gave up and left, walking off to another area.

    The lifeguard approached me.

    "Is everything okay here?"

    "Yes."

    Now, what was actually going on with this girl?

 Chapter 24 Giving What I Once Got - Part 1

    The lifeguard walked back over to the pool.

    Now it was just me and the girl.

    "You came with us, didn''t you?" I asked.

    She didn''t respond.

    She was again huddled on the ground, covering her face.

    "Howe you''re sitting by yourself?"

    She still didn''t respond.

    The old me would have just left her here.

    However, something about this situation felt familiar. There was a slight burning in my heart that stopped me from leaving. This situation, this situation was oddly simr to the time I met her.

    Ah, I guess no matter what, people do have an impact on me. Especially the girl I met all those years ago¡ªshe left a never-fading mark on my heart it seemed. If it wasn''t for the girl I met all those years ago, I would still bepletely without empathy.

    I decided to take a seat next to this girl.

    If she wasn''t going to talk to me, I guess I''d just wait until she did.

    I assumed the group were still waiting for their food so I had a decent amount of time.

    I sat in silence for a few minutes beside her.

    "...what do you want...?" She finally muttered to me.

    "I want to know why you were sitting by yourself before?"

    "...why do you care?"

    "I''m just curious."

    "...go away..."

    It seemed she didn''t find my reason too genuine.

    "I''ll leave if you tell me the reason."

    "...why."

    I waited for her to tell me her reason but she didn''t budge.

    "Come hang out with us at least, don''t you want to have fun with your friends?"

    All of a sudden, that seemed to have triggered something.

    "...they''re not my friends... well, I''m not theirs..."

    "Howe? You came with all of us didn''t you?"

    "...you don''t understand."

    I was getting closer to the real reason.

    "If you don''t want to hang out with them, do you want to hang out with me?"

    "...huh?"

    "We can do whatever you want."

    "...but won''t the others be looking for you?"

    I took out my phone and sent a message to Fujiharu-san.

    I''ve got a bit of a stomach ache, you guys can ride the slide without me.

    Aw, you can meet back up with us if you feel better, she replied.

    I then turned the phone around and showed the girl.

    "Not for the time being at least."

    She was surprised by what I did.

    "What''s your name?" I asked.

    "Chitose... Kinoshita."

    "Alright Kinoshita-san, follow me."

    She slowly got up and followed me as I made my way to the pool. The others were lining up in the long queue for the waterslide so I wasn''t at risk of being seen. The two of us made our way into one of the smaller pools which was designed to look like a cat.

    "Are you good at swimming?" I asked.

    "N-not really..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Ah, so why did youe to the pool?"

    The two of us sat in the pool whilst leaning against the edge.

    "I just wanted to hang out with them."

    "Then howe you''re hanging by yourself?"

    "They... don''t like me very much."

    Hm.

    "They invited you didn''t they?"

    "Well... I was just there and I wasn''t really invited..."

    "Oh, but still you could hang out with them since you''re already here."

    "I mean they were basically ignoring me the entire time."

    "Surely Fujiharu-san wasn''t ignoring you?"

    "She wasn''t... but we didn''t really talk much anyways... she''s out of my league."

    The water bubbled at my feet as I felt warm air being pushed up. There were various small heating holes around the ground which were pumping warm air into the pool.

    "Do you still want to hang out with them?" I asked.

    "N-not really..."

    I didn''t really know what to do at this point. It seemed she wasn''t really enjoying her visit to the pool but I also had no way to incorporate her into the group. She didn''t seem to want to be with them anyways.

    After a moment, she looked up at me.

    "You''re Mizuhara-kun... right?"

    "Yeah."

    "Howe you''re talking to me instead of hanging out with them? I''m sure that I''m ruining your experience here, aren''t I."

    "It''s a long story."

    "What...?"

    In fact, it was a story which goes back over 6 years.

    "How about this, you should follow me and we''ll meet back up with the group."

    "Huh? But they won''t ept me..."

    "It doesn''t matter, just stay by me if no one talks to you."

    I was running out of things to do alone with her and I wanted to head back with the group as well. There was only so much support that I could provide one-on-one.

    As I got back out of the pool, she begrudgingly followed behind me as I made my way back toward the group. I assumed that they were lined up for the water slide and sure enough, I managed to see them pretty close to the back of the line.

    As we got closer, Fujiharu-san saw me and waved.

    "Mizuhara-kun! Are you alright?"

    "Yeah, I''m fine."

    I felt a bit guilty joining the group while there were still people behind but it would''ve been more awkward to just move to the back of the line. The people behind didn''t seem to care too much since they were also in a rtivelyrge group.

    "Ah, Chitose-san, where were you?" Asked Fujiharu-san.

    "Um... I was..." She was struggling toe up with an excuse.

    Eventually, Fujiharu-san stopped pushing and just let her be.

    I noticed that the other girls seemed to be less than pleased to see Kinoshita back in the group but the boys didn''t seem to care all that much. She was sticking quite close to me, subtly hiding behind me so that the other girls didn''t look at her.

    "Is your stomach ache better now?" Fujiharu-san asked.

    "Yeah, it was just a mild pain."

    "That''s good, I would''ve been sad if you had to miss out on the waterslide."

    Very slowly, we began moving along the line. It seemed that this waterslide was quite popr; there was a wait to get an intable raft and then there was a very steep climb up to the top of the slide.

    "We''ll need to decide the groups now," said Okamoto-kun.

    "What raft sizes are there?" Asked one of the girls.

    "Um... from what I can see there are single, double and four-person rafts."

    The group allocations began.

 Chapter 25 Giving What I Once Got - Part 2

    ording to what Okatmoto said, due to the fact that we had an odd number of people, someone was destined to ride by themselves. I wonder what decision they''re going toe to, I decided to just let them decide and not give any input.

    "We could split into boys and girls..."

    One of the girls gave that suggestion but it was pretty obvious that no one wanted to do that.

    "How about we split into two groups of four?"

    People were giving suggestions but no one really knew what they wanted.

    "Um, we have nine people here," Fujiharu exined, as soon as she said that, Kinoshita''s face lit up. It seemed that that was exactly what she wanted to hear.

    There was a brief moment of silence. It seemed that some of the other girls would''ve preferred it if no one ever acknowledged Kinoshita''s presence.

    At this point, someone had to ride alone.

    "I''ll go by myself so everyone else can sit with someone," offered Okamoto.

    One of the girls wasn''t too pleased by that suggestion.

    "But... I''ll want to sit with you..."

    How bold.

    Okamoto''s face suddenly went red and he turned around. The girl also looked as if she had just said the most embarrassing thing in the entire world. The entire group went silent as everyone began processing what was going on.

    One of the girls suddenly walked over to her.

    "...Hina, do you have a crush on Okamoto?"

    Her face was red like a tomato.

    "Alright then, Takagi and Riku should sit together!" Dered Takeuchi.

    No one disagreed with his proposal.

    Now that Okamoto and Takagi Hina were out of the equation, we were left with seven people to distribute, three boys and four girls.

    Fujiharu then came up with a suggestion.

    "I''ll ride with Mizuhara, Chitose and Takeuchi, the other three can form a group and try to find someone in this line who''s alone."

    The suggestion was to have two groups of four and include a member of the public who might be riding alone. It was still a little awkward but no one wanted to argue with Fujiharu. After a short moment of introspection for everyone, there was a somewhat begrudging eptance of the idea.

    We continued to stand in line for almost an entire hour. In that time, all of us were basicallypletely dry by the time we got to the front of the queue to get the intable raft. We were swiftly greeted by an employee who gave us our respective rafts, the employee looked as if he was about to give up on life from tiredness¡ªit certainly was quite a busy day.

    Takeuchi and I carried the raft up a very steep flight of stairs as Fujiharu and Kinoshita followed behind us. I looked up at Okamoto and Takagi who were very awkwardly walking up the stairs, the two of them climbed in silence¡ªnot even making eye contact with each other.

    The chamber with the stairs wasn''t as air-conditioned as the main centre so it was significantly cooler. Kinoshita was still sticking quite close to me as we made our way up to the top of the waterslide. A few minutester, we made it to the top and were once again forced to wait in line. There was a single staff member who was trying to organise the order of people descending.

    The line was much shorter than the line at the bottom so it wasn''t too long of a wait. Before long, Okamoto and Takagi were boarding their intable raft. They sat down before being pushed down the slide by the staff member.

    Next was us, I ced the raft onto the flowing stream of water at the top of the slide as all of us stepped into the water. While the staff member was still holding onto the raft, we all sat down and got asfortable as we could. There was a short radio signal to the staff member as they confirmed that the group at the bottom had dismounted.

    "Are you guys ready?"

    As we all gave thumbs ups the member nudged the intable raft and we descended down the waterslide. Just seconds after, I felt Kinoshita grab my wrist. The slide was rtively fast with lots of twists and turns, eventually, we reached this middle section where there was arge whirlpool-like stream of water. Only around a minute after we began, we were at the bottom of the slide, sshing into a huge wave of water.<novelnext></novelnext>

    We were greeted by another staff member who helped us off of our raft.

    "That was underwhelming,"mented Takeuchi.

    "Yeah."

    For a one-hour-long wait, that didn''t exactly live up to its excitement. We got off the slide and met back up with Okamoto and Takagi. Just over a minuteter, the other three also reached the bottom and our group was reunited again.

    "That was pretty boring."

    There seemed to be a mutual agreement between everyone that the slide wasn''t all that fun.

    "What do you guys want to do now?" Asked Okamoto.

    "Do guys want to have a swimming race?" Proposed Takeuchi.

    "Ooh, I''m down!" Replied Okamoto.

    A few of the girls also agreed to race.

    "Mizuhara, are you going to race?"

    "Uh¡ª"

    "Come on! It''s only fun with lots of people!"

    "I guess."

    In the end, everyone aside from Kinoshita agreed to race.

    "Chitose can be the judge then," said Fujiharu.

    She nodded her head agreeing to the offer.

    Our group made our way over to thepnes which were mostly empty. There were exactly eightnes in the pool and no one seemed to be using them. It was likely due to the poprity of the new waterslide. This was convenient for us as we all had ane to ourselves.

    "You guys want to have a punishment for the slowest?" Asked Fujiharu.

    It seemed that she was quitepetitive.

    "How about the first ce can ask everyone to do something," suggested Okamoto.

    "I think the girls should get a head start though," one of the girls pointed out.

    Everyone seemed to think that was fair.

    "How about girls get a five-second head start and we race 100 metres," Fujiharu said.

    "Yeah, that sounds fair."

    "Alright how about this, we race 100 metres of any stroke you want and girls get a five-second head start. The winner gets to ask the people who ced in thest four positions to do anything they want within reason," exined Okamoto.

    No one disagreed and thus the rules were set.

 Chapter 26 Announcement

    I''ve got a new book titled ''SSS-Rank Viin System: The Hero is a Yandere''! You can find it on my profile.

    I highly rmend reading it if you like my style of writing. (At least read the Prologue, it''s something I spent a decent amount of time on, and I''m sure you''d be surprised what it entails!)

    I''ll leave the synopsis here.

    ***

    Without viins, there can be no heroes.

    ***

    [Testing suitability with subject]

    [Testing...plete]

    [Compatability: 100%]

    [Intiating induction...]<novelnext></novelnext>

    !#($*&%^$#&*(%

    With a powerful hero running through the world, protecting the world from anything and everything, what the world needs now, is a viin who canpete against her. By all measures, her reign was absolute. For years, several underground organisations have been trying to find a way to create something stronger than the hero. Otherwise, they would undoubtedly be wiped out.

    The greatest sess of the Rudiless Project is a young boy by the title of Subject K. He is the pinnacle of their scientific development,bining with the ''System Agent'' to wield the greatest system ever developed.

    Despite any wishes the young boy may have had, he would be forced into the role of ying the absolute viin. With no care for his well-being, the system only cares about developing his strength, with the hope of eventually being able to defeat the hero. Missions after mission, he would sacrifice more and more of the world, with the hopes that his one and only wish.

    He hoped that one day... he would be able to see the girl he loved... once more.

    The only way to do so was to defeat the hero. Thus, the ultimate weapon was created. Kay Rudiless, the most unfortunate boy in the world, would be the greatest viin in the world.

    ***

    Here''s a link:

    https://.webnovel/book/sss-rank-viin-system-the-hero-is-a-yandere_25002130206794005

    asionally missing content, please report errors in time.

 Chapter 27 Giving What I Once Got - Part 3

    All of us got up onto the diving boards and prepared to race.

    Kinoshita raised her arm.

    "On your marks... Go!"

    All of us dived into the water. Some of us caused bigger sshes than others. As my body glided through the cold water, I looked beside me to see how far ahead I was. I didn''t want to bring too much attention to myself so I aimed to get fourth ce.

    There was a lot of sshing so it was pretty hard to decipher what was going on, I decided to bet on the lower side just in case. I swam at about half my full capacity as I made my way along the 25-metre-long pool. Eventually, I made it to the other side and did a pretty rxed tumble turn, making my way back the way I came. 100 metres was 4ps of the pool so I was about a quarter of the way.

    After a little while, I managed toplete my fourps and finished with my hands on the wall. I bobbed my head out of the water and looked around to see what happened. From what I could see, only Fujiharu and Okamoto were finished.

    A few momentster, everyone else finished and we slowly got out of the pool. The others were all huffing and puffing, as if they had just been in the biggest race of their lives.

    "So Kinoshita, what did everyonee?" Asked Okamoto.

    The results were quite different to what I expected.

    ording to Kinoshita the order was:

    1. Fujiharu Sara

    2. Okamoto Riku

    3. Me

    4. Takeuchi Kaito

    5. Ikeda Hinata

    Then the other 3 girls were thest three.

    Fujiharu seemed disappointed that I came in the top 4. Honestly, I wasn''t expecting her to be faster than even Okamoto. From what you could see, Okamoto looked quite athletic; for Fujiharu to beat even him was rather impressive.

    "You were so fast! Fujiharu" Kinoshitamented after she finished her announcement of the order.

    "Eh, I just do a lot of swimming in my free time~"

    "So, what''s your punishment for the losers?"

    She thought about it for a little.

    "Can I decideter?''

    "That''s fine."

    After the race, everyone was quite tired.

    "What''s everyone''s n from here?" Asked Okamoto.

    "I have some work to deal with, I think leave around now," I said.

    "Ah, already?"

    "Yeah, it''s pretty important."

    "Alright then."

    I started to make my way back towards the change rooms. The ground was a little slippery so I made walked a little slower than usual. I wanted to go back and see what Kanako was up to. There wasn''t much time left before the next exam and I''d prefer it if she passed. It was the best oue for both me and her father.

    Suddenly, I heard the sound of stomping behind me.

    "Mizuhara!"

    It was Fujiharu.

    "Are you in a rush right now?" She asked.

    "Not really."

    "We should walk back together, I''ll get changed as fast as I can."

    "Aren''t you going to stay with the others?"

    "It''s getting a little boring and I want to get back as well."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I guess that''s fine, you don''t need to rush too much, I''m not really in a hurry."

    "Okay!"

    I made my way into the change rooms and took a quick hot shower. As the steaming water warmed up my body I thought about what I''d do to help her study. I had a feeling that when I leave, she doesn''t have the discipline to keep studying. I could just stay there for longer but I would prefer to return to my dorm and rest.

    I guess a study partner would help. We have a few exams on soon so I''m sure I could find someone from our school to be her study partner. The only problem was that I wasn''t exactly close with that many people... ah, Fujiharu might do.

    I''ve heard that she''s been trying to beat Tachibana during the exams for a while now. I''m sure she''s probably wanting to study as well.

    I turned off the hot water and dried myself with a towel.

    I thought about it for a little bit as I put on my clothes. Whilst I have talked to Kanako about the Ideal Human Project, I doubt that she actually knew that much about it. When I was talking to her about it before, she seemed to only know the very basics so I doubt that''d she knows I was a part of it. I guess it''d be fine for Fujiharu to study with her.

    I made my way out of the change rooms and looked around. It seemed that Fujiharu wasn''t here yet.

    I guess I''d wait for a little bit.

    A few minutester, Fujiharu walked out of the girls'' change rooms and saw me standing outside.

    "Ah, let''s go Mizuhara!"

    "Wait, Fujiharu, I''ve got a question for you."

    "Yes?"

    "Are you looking for a study partner?"

    "Yes! Are you suggesting that we should go study together now?"

    "No."

    "Eh?!"

    I guess I must have given her the wrong idea.

    "There''s this girl who I''ve been tutoring for a little while, I think it''d be good if she got a study partner."

    "Huh, then why don''t you be her study partner."

    Well, the main reason was that I couldn''t be bothered.

    I don''t exactly need to do a lot of studying anyways.

    "Also you''re tutoring someone? That''s a surprise, I didn''t expect you to be a tutor."

    "There were a lot of personal reasons for it."

    "Ah, so is she in primary or middle school?"

    "She''s in the same year level as us."

    "Huh? Really?"

    "Yeah."

    I guess it was kind of hard to exin.

    "Anyways, you shoulde along today."

    "Well... if you say so."

    The two of us walked out of the leisure centre back out into the open air. It was starting to get a little dark since it was prettyte in the afternoon. It was nice to breathe the fresh outside air after being in that humid environment for so long.

    "No offence, but you''re grades aren''t amazing, howe you''re a tutor?"

    I figured that this wasing.

    I wanted to say that they were a family friend but I felt like that wouldplicate things more.

    "I lied on my resume."

    "Eh!?"

 Chapter 28 Perfect Girl And Chess Prodigy - Part 1

    "So, how far away does she live?"

    "I guess it''d be around a half an hour''s walk from here."

    "That''s pretty far."

    The two of us were walking along the sidewalk beside the busy road. The leisure centre was directly opposite a major shopping area, so traffic was usually pretty dense there. The sun had basicallypletely set already, so the entire area was being lit up only by street lights.

    "Hey, Mizuhara."

    "Yeah?"

    "Have you heard of the Ideal Human Project?"

    Huh.

    I guess it wasn''tpletely impossible that she''d know about it, there was a pretty long period of time where the Ideal Human Project was being reported by a few science magazines¡ªalthough, for the most part, the entire operation was secret.

    "Yeah, I think I remember seeing it in a magazine one time."

    "Ah, so you''ve heard of it too?"

    "I guess."

    "I haven''t told anyone this... but one of my old friends actually met a boy from the Ideal Human Project¡ªit was many years ago."

    "Really?"

    "Yeah, apparently she met one in Osaka."

    For a split second, I thought that it might''ve been the girl I met all those years ago, however, that girl wouldn''t have known that I was from the Ideal Human Project.

    Most likely, one of her friends met any one of the many Oues who were exploring Osaka during that ''holiday''. There were quite a few who were running around Osaka during that day.

    "Ah, what were they like?"

    "She said that he was really smart, apparently he knew lots of facts about the city."

    Hm, I do remember an Oue who sounded like that, although it could be true for many of them.

    "Ah, that sounds cool."

    We continued to walk down the street, it was interesting that Fujiharu had a friend who was in Osaka that day. There are probably very few people in the entire world who have ever met an Oue before we were all discharged.

    After the day we were discharged, many of the Oues, without constant training and education, became no different to normal people.

    Now that I thought about it, I did make a promise to the girl I met all those years ago¡ªI wonder if she still remembers it.

    *

    After around thirty minutes of walking, we made it to the apartment that Kanako stayed at.

    "This is the ce."

    Fujiharu appeared very surprised.

    "This ce? It''s so big!"

    "I forgot to tell you that they''re pretty rich."

    I scanned my keycard to the apartment.

    "You have a keycard to this ce?"

    "Yeah, they gave me one when they hired me."

    "Wow, lying on your resume was really worth it in the end."

    "It sure was."

    We made our way into the elevator and I scanned my keycard again before pressing the button for floor 6. Our elevator eventually reached the destination and we made our way through the modern, well-kept hallway toward room 124.

    I knocked on the door.

    A few secondster, Kanako opened the door.

    She appeared to be taken by shock when she saw Fujiharu standing beside me.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Who is this girl?" She asked.

    "One of my friends."

    "No, my question is why is she here?''

    "I thought you might want a study partner."

    "Are you not my study partner?"

    I didn''t want to go through this again.

    "Ugh, welle in I guess," she eventually sighed.

    Fujiharu whispered to me.

    "Are you sure I''m wee here...?"

    "Don''t worry, she''s just like that."

    The two of us made our way into the high-end apartment as Kanako walked towards her room. We followed inside and Kanako grabbed her workbook which was on the table.

    "How did you go?" I asked.

    "Um... I didn''t really know how to do any of the science questions you set me..."

    Ah.

    "Science? That''s my favourite subject!" Exined Fujiharu, "Excuse me for taking your job Mizuhara, but can I try to teach her?"

    "Sure."

    This was exactly what I wanted to happen.

    I decided to watch for a little while as Fujiharu tried to exin the question to Kanako. Although, she tried her best for a few minutes to no avail.

    "I still don''t get it."

    "Ah, maybe I''m not such a great teacher."

    Well, this was bound to happen. Her father did hire very many tutors all to no effect, I wasn''t exactly expecting Fujiharu to be able to upheave the precedent. I only brought her here to help Kanako study longer.

    I walked over and looked at Kanako''s work. It seemed that shecked the base knowledge required to answer the questions in the first ce. From the looks of it, whilst she struggled with every science, biology seemed to be the hardest for her.

    "I think it''s best if you try reading the textbook first."

    I know that reading the textbook wasn''t exactly the best method of intaking information but I wasn''t going to just stand up and give a lecture all of a sudden like a real teacher.

    "You should read it through and ask Fujiharu if there''s anything you don''t understand, she''s pretty good at science from what I''ve heard."

    "Alright then."

    As the two of them began working, I decided to make my way into her living room and took a seat on the couch. I grabbed her English textbook before I left.

    I would like to go back to the dormitory now but I might stay for a little longer just to make sure there aren''t any issues.

    The thing was, I didn''t really expect her to suddenly learn science by reading the textbook, I''m sure many of her other tutors have tried the same thing and failed. I just wanted her to at least learn some of the base knowledge so it would be easier to teach her tomorrow.

    I began circling some more questions in her English textbook. Since I''ve already pretty sufficiently taught her English and maths, it would be easier for her to consolidate those today with Fujiharu.

    There was going to be a dorm room inspection today so everyone needed to be back before 9 pm. I still had plenty of time but it meant that I couldn''t just stay here all night.

    Suddenly, I heard some talkinging from the room.

    "...so what''s your rtionship with Mizuhara?"

    "...huh? We''re good friends, we were just at the pool together before."

    "...ehe, like a date?"

    "...there were other people as well."

    Well, that conversation seemed to be a little off-topic.

 Chapter 29 Perfect Girl And Chess Prodigy - Part 2

    After handing Kanako the work I set for her, I decided to make my way back to my dorm.

    *

    I took a seat on my bed and stared off into the distance.

    Supposedly, there was meant to be a dorm room inspection in a few minutes. My room was quite tidy and there wasn''t really anything that might''ve been of concern to the inspectors so I wasn''t really worried. I decided to read Being and Nothingness while I waited for them toe for the inspection.

    A few minutester, there was a knock on my door.

    I opened the door and saw a teacher apanied by a man I''d never seen before.

    "We''re here for the room inspection."

    "That''s fine,e in."

    They walked inside and began looking around my room.

    "You''re room''s quite clean,"mented the teacher.

    They searched around a little bit and suddenly, they grabbed The Tachibana System from my shelf. As soon as he saw the book, the man''s expression changed.

    "Why do you have this?" He asked me.

    The teacher seemed confused but didn''t seem to make ament.

    "It was given to me as a gift."

    "By whom?"

    "The person who raised me."

    The man seemed to understand.

    "I''ll have to confiscate this for various reasons, are you okay with that?"

    "I still want it, you know."

    "I figured you''d say that; there aren''t many ways to negotiate with you but I know you will want this."

    He began taking a slip of paper out of his pocket.

    "We''ll return the book at the end of your schooling career, in exchange, I''ll give you this." He continued.

    "What is it?"

    "It''s more valuable to you than the book."

    "Are you going to tell me what it is?"

    "I''ll say this, it rtes to your mission, I''m going to say no more than that."

    I instantly knew what it was.

    "Alright."

    After confiscating the book and handing me the slip of paper, he and the teacher left my room without saying another word.

    The door closed once again and only I was left in my room.

    I was having a rest on my bed when I heard the sound of knocking on my door once again.

    Did theye back for something?

    As I opened the door, I was greeted by someone who I wasn''t expecting.

    "H-hi... M-mizuhara."

    "Oh, hey, Kinoshita."

    She was in a little short skirt and wearing a pretty oversized t-shirt¡ªit was quite the casual attire. It was quitete at night so I wasn''t sure why she was here¡ªI honestly didn''t even know how she found out where I lived.

    "Do you need something from me?" I asked.

    "O-oh um... I was wondering... if y-you wanted to y a board game with m-me...?"

    Huh.

    "Um, isn''t it a bitte?"

    "Don''t worry, I''m only a few rooms down from yours..."

    Ah, I see, she was also a boarder like me.

    "Well, I guess it''ll be fine,e in then."

    She took off her shoes and made her way inside.

    "T-thank you..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    She brought a board game with her. The two of us took a seat on the ground beside my bed. Monopoly¡ªit wasn''t the most interesting game but I guess it''ll pass some time for me.  She opened up the box and began setting everything up.

    "Have they already done your room inspection?" She asked.

    "Yeah."

    After a little while, she finished setting up the board and all of the cards. Each of us picked out a token to use as our character and we started the game. I rolled the two dice and got a total of seven, I moved my token to it. Inded on the chance square.

    I took a card off of the chance pile and read it.

    You just ran off with a midget¡ªcollect $2000 for reality show rights.

    What on earth is this.

    "What did you get?" She asked.

    "Um... collect $2000 dors...."

    "Ah okay!" She handed me $2000 dors from the bank.

    Why were the chance cards like this...

    "By the way, I borrowed the Monopoly from the downstairs recreation room, apparently they said that some things might be missing."

    I didn''t really know what to say.

    We continued to y the game.

    "Ah, it''s a bit hot here..." Kinoshita said.

    All of a sudden, she began taking off her socks. She pulled off her long ck socks and ced them on the side beside her, revealing her ivory, fair skin. She looked over at me awkwardly as if she expected something.

    "It''s your turn," I said.

    "Ah, oh y-yeah."

    She quickly grabbed the dice off of the board and rolled them.

    The game seemed to be never-ending. We yed for almost two hours and the game didn''t even appear close to finishing.

    "I don''t think we''ll be able to finish the game tonight," I said.

    "We s-should y until it''s over, it''ll be hard to keep track of if we pack it up."

    "I guess, don''t you have to return to your dorm?"

    "It''s fine, I''ve got a roommate, she''ll tell the teacher that I''m asleep."

    Come to think of it, I was the only person in the entire dormitory who didn''t have a roommate.

    There was meant to be a final curfew check at 11:30 pm to make sure that everyone was in their own rooms, however, the teachers never actually entered the rooms to properly check.

    I decided to just continue to y Monopoly, it wasn''t too uninteresting and Kinoshita seemed to be pretty into it. It might''ve been an issue having a girl in a boy''s room thiste at night but I couldn''t really be bothered thinking about it. I assumed that she''d leave soon enough when the game finished.

    There was a knock on my door.

    "Mizuhara, are you inside?"

    "Yes."

    With that, the teacher left to check on the next room.

    I looked over at Kinoshita who was giggling to herself.

    The game continued and we kept ying for a decent amount of time. After a while, I looked over at Kinoshita, who appeared to be quite sleepy.

    "Are you tired?" I asked.

    "Not at all!"

    It was a pretty obvious lie, her consciousness seemed to be waning in thest few minutes.

    There were pretty long spans of time which went by as her mind seemed to be drifting off to sleep. I usually slept quitete anyways so I wasn''t really all that tired but it was probably a good time to send her off.

    "Kinoshita you should probably go to bed now, you look rather sleepy."

    "N-no... I can finish this game."

    "We can finish it tomorrow,e find me tomorrow afternoon and we''ll y the rest of it."

    "Are... you sure...?"

    It was quite obvious that she was struggling to stay awake.

    Finally, she got up and made her way back to her room.

 Chapter 30 Fujiharus Offensive - Part 1

    It was another seemingly normal morning when I walked into the ssroom.

    Unlike the previous day, only Fujiharu was seated.

    I guess she''s stillmitted to arriving earlier than me.

    "Hey, Mizuhara!"

    "Hi, Fujiharu."

    As I took my seat beside her, I noticed that something appeared to be bothering her. She was obviously restless for one reason or another.

    "Are you alright?" I asked.

    All of a sudden, she looked at me with an awkward grin.

    Huh?

    "Did you do your homeworkst night... Ayato?"

    Oh, she''s using my first name now.

    As I looked at her, it seemed her face was starting to turn red.

    "Yeah, I finishedst night''s homework."

    As soon as she heard my response, all the embarrassment disappeared from her face. Instead, she stuck her hand into her bag. After a little bit of ruffling, she pulled out something that looked like some tickets.

    "Um, do you want to go to the aquarium with me?" She asked.

    "Sure."

    She then responded with a bright beaming smile.

    All of this was pretty stock standard now but for some reason, I couldn''t help but feel as if those tickets appeared suspicious¡ªin a different way than usual.

    There was a specific reason why I wanted to go with her.

    *

    After school, I made my way straight back toward my dorm since I didn''t have anything on. As I walked back, I couldn''t help but think about how busy my life has be.

    Eventually, I unlocked the door to my dorm and took a seat on my bed. The springs squeaked a little bit as I sat on my mattress¡ªI guess the bed was getting a little bit old. I wondered why the man took my copy of The Tachibana System yesterday.

    There was only one reason I could think of.

    A few minutester, I heard a knock on my door.

    I walked over and opened the door, it seemed to havee as a shock to the person on the other side.

    "Ah, M-mizuhara..."

    "Oh, you''re here already?"

    "Yeah..."

    "Well,e in then."

    Kinoshita was alreadying over. I had expected her toe a littleter but it didn''t really matter to me, I didn''t have anything I needed to do today. Kanako had some sort of school excursion so she wasn''t going to be home which meant that I would get a short break from tutoring her.

    We had left the Monopoly set in my room overnight so I took it off of my cupboard and ced it on the ground. I set up the position we were atst night from memory and passed the dice to her.

    "It was your turn," I said.

    "How did you remember where everything was?"

    "I took a photo of itst night."

    "Ah, I must have been too sleepy, I hardly even remember what happened."

    We yed from where we left off the previous night and slowly, she was getting the lead and bringing the game closer to an end.

    I looked over at Kinoshita who seemed to be searching something up on her phone.

    "U-um... Mizuhara, what''s the best gift you''ve ever been given?"

    It was an odd question¡ªI wasn''t expecting it at all. I had a sneaking suspicion that she may have been searching up conversation starters on her phone.

    Now that I thought about it, I haven''t really received many gifts. In fact, I think the only gift I''ve ever really gotten was from Tachibana Kohei. It would''ve been a bit awkward if I answered too honestly, I decided to just make something up.

    "Uh, I guess it would be my phone."

    I technically purchased my phone myself but it didn''t really matter.

    "Ah, that''s cool, who gave it to you?"

    "Um, my mother did."

    "That''s nice~"<novelnext></novelnext>

    We continued to y in silence for a little while before Kinoshita decided to speak to me again.

    "Mizuhara, do you have any brothers or sisters?"

    "I have a sister."

    "Ooh! How old is she?"

    "Um, she''s turning 18 this year."

    At least, that''s what I assumed she was.

    "Oh, does she also go to this school?"

    "No."

    "Which school does she go to?"

    I honestly had no idea.

    I didn''t really want to talk about this anymore, it was going to be rather awkward if I had to exin my entire family situation to her.

    "Some other school."

    "Ah."

    "Anyways, are you going to buy the property?" I asked.

    She quickly looked down at the board and thought for a little.

    "I think I''ll get it."

    "Alright."

    She handed the dice back over to me and I rolled them onto the board.

    Slowly but surely, the game wasing to a close. I had basically run out of money and she basically owned the entire board. I was practically destined to lose in the next few moves, at most, I might be able to survivending on her properties once or twice.

    I was getting a little bored with the game anyway.

    After I lost thest few hundred dors I had, the game officially finished.

    "That was fun!" She announced.

    "Yeah."

    I cleared the board and began packing everything back into the box. I organised them a little so the inside of the box wouldn''t be too messy.

    "Well, I need to buy some groceries now."

    "U-um, I''lle with you!"

    "It''s fine, the supermarket''s pretty far away, you don''t have toe."

    "I insist!"

    "Well, if you want to then alright."

    I didn''t really care that much either way. The two of us were still in our school uniform but I didn''t really have an opportunity to get changed. I decided to just put on my shoes and make my way outside. The supermarket was around a twenty-minute walk from the dorms, I walked through the schoolyard, eventually leaving the school premises.

    Kinoshita walked beside me as we made the journey to the supermarket. I had several things I wanted to buy including shampoo and some ingredients for lunch the next day. I had just run out of bread and fruit.

    We eventually arrived at the supermarket and I purchased everything I needed.

    Kinoshita bought some snacks before following behind me.

    "By the way, Kinoshita, who''s your roommate?"

    "Oh, she''s Nishimura Yui from the year above us."

    "Ah, so your roommate''s an upperssman?"

    "Yeah."

    I hadn''t heard of the Nishimura Yui before.

    After a little while, we arrived back at the dorms, and Kinoshita decided to return to her room.

    "Bye Mizuhara~"

    "Bye."

    I made my way back into my own room, finally being able to get some peace and quiet. I pulled out Being and Nothingness, which I still hadn''t finished and began reading through thest few pages.

    For some reason, Fujiharu''s invitation to the aquarium seemed a little odd. It didn''t have its usual feel to it.

 Chapter 31 Fujiharus Offensive - Part 2

    It was Saturday morning.

    There was a knock at my front door.

    "Ayato~"

    I walked over and opened the door.

    "Hey, Fujiharu."

    "You ready to go?" She asked.

    "Yeah."

    I had already gotten dressed in some casual clothes and done my morning routine. Still, she arrived slightly earlier than I expected. I was nning on packing some lunch for the trip, but I guess it''d be fine¡ªI''d just buy some food there.

    Fujiharu was wearing a short beige dress with a light blue jean coat; she also had a small handbag. Her outfit was rather aesthetically pleasing¡ªI guess she must have some decent fashion knowledge. I was just wearing jeans and a dark green shirt which was usually my go-to when it came to casual clothes.

    She walked by my side as we made our way out of the dormitory. We were nning to take the train to the next city where the biggest aquarium in the country was.

    "Do you like going to aquariums?" She asked me.

    "I haven''t been to one before."

    "Seriously? You''ve never been to an aquarium?"

    "Yeah."

    It was true that I hadn''t been to an aquarium. It was mostly because I never had the opportunity to visit one. However, I had a decent amount of knowledge on marine biology regardless, not that I was going to make it obvious.

    "So Ayato''s first visit to the aquarium will be with me~"

    "It seems so."

    She smiled and walked closer to me; I could feel her shoulder nudging against mine.

    Just walking down the street, people constantly turned their heads to look over at us. Fujiharu''s presence was magical in a way, being able to lead the eyes of passers-by to us. Although it was to be expected, in her outfit and in general¡ªshe really was cute. I could smell her light perfume as she walked through a light breeze.

    Eventually, we arrived at the train station.

    The two of us took a seat on one of the benches as we waited for the train to arrive. The station was quite packed; there were people everywhere, all standing around waiting for the same train.

    "It''s pretty busy today," Fujiharumented

    "Yeah."

    "Do you want to have lunch before we go to the aquarium?"

    "I guess that''d be good."

    "Okay then! I''ve got a nice restaurant we should go to, do you like rice bowls?"

    "I don''t mind them."

    "There''s a store called OMI which my friends said was really good."

    "Sounds good."

    A few momentster, the train arrived and the two of us got on. The entire train was quite crowded, it was nearly impossible to find two free seats but luckily at the very back, there was perfectly a free row of two seats.

    We sat down next to each other as Fujiharu ced her handbag on herp.

    The train ride was going to be a pretty long one so I decided to getfortable.

    As the train got moving, I looked over at Fujiharu who appeared to be quite sleepy.

    "Ah, I didn''t get much sleepst night..."

    "Oh, that''s fine, you can sleep here if you want, I don''t mind."

    "Are you sure?"

    I guess she was worried that I''d get bored. Granted, I didn''t bring any entertainment with me on this trip aside from my phone. It didn''t really matter though, I didn''t mind just sitting in silence either.

    Slowly, Fujiharu''s eyes closed as she fell asleep on this gently shaking train.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I was looking out the window when I suddenly felt something on my shoulder. Her body was leaning to the side and her hair was drooped along my body. I could hear the sound of her gentle breathing as her heady on my shoulder.

    This wasn''t too bad, I suppose.

    *

    Over an hourter, I looked outside and noticed that we had arrived at our stop.

    "Fujiharu."

    She nudged me a little bit before her eyes gradually opened.

    "We''re here."

    "Ah... already?"

    "Yep."

    She moved her head off of my shoulder and stretched her arms upwards. Her hair shook a little as she patted down her clothes. After a few moments, she seemed to have gained all of her energy back.

    "Alright, let''s go, Ayato!"

    The of us got up and made our way off of the train. We joined in with the big group of passengers who had also just left. The station we stopped at was one of the biggest in the area so there were very many different trains which were just stopping. It was a veryrge building, almost like a small airport, there were restaurants all around the area from fast food to cafes.

    "Let''s go get lunch!"

    She took out her phone and began searching for the address of the restaurant we were going to. A few momentster, with the sound of a robotic voice, the navigation was set up and we began making our way to OMI.

    "Ayato, the others are going to the pool again tomorrow, do you want toe with us?"

    "Um, yeah that sounds good."

    "Yay~ The pool was so much funst time!"

    "It was pretty enjoyable."

    "Also... Ayato, you should call me by my first name as well..."

    Huh.

    "Come on~ just try it..." she insisted.

    "Um... okay, Sara."

    Suddenly, her face turned red as she quickly looked away.

    "Hehe, that was more embarrassing than I thought."

    We slowly made our way down the busy foreign street as the navigation led us.

    "It shouldn''t be too far from here."

    Fujiharu was looking around the street at the various different stores. It was a quite densely popted and modern city, slightly more than the city we came from. There were a veryrge number of people walking down the same rtively narrow footpath so it was a bit awkward having to constantly manoeuvre around other people.

    A few minutester, we arrived at a small restaurant which served rice bowls.

    ''Your destination is on the right.''

    "Ah, we''re finally here!"

    "Let''s go in."

    I pushed open the door, which rang a jingling bell. We were immediately greeted by a server who passed us each a menu and led us to our seats.

    We sat opposite each other and had a look at the menu.

    The food was actually quite cheap, contrary to what I expected Fujiharu would want to eat.

    "Are you guys ready to order?" The server asked.

    "Yes."

 Chapter 32 CONTRACTED [Pending]

    I''m honestly surprised, but this novel managed to get a contract.

    I''ve got a few contracted novels on my main ount, but I never expected this one to get one.

    I guess I''ll write a bit harder.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Gimmie some gifts~?

    Happy reading!

    asionally missing content, please report errors in time.

 Chapter 33 Fujiharus Offensive - Part 3

    Once we finished our lunch, Fujiharu led me toward the aquarium.

    "Aren''t you excited about your first visit to an aquarium? Ayato~"

    It seems she''s dropped the honorific as well.

    "I guess."

    It was a rtively short walk from the restaurant we were at. After crossing a few streets and walking past a few blocks, we were standing in front of a grand building. It was extremelyrge, with various curves and contours that made it look like a veryrge fish. Near the entrance, there were several big banners advertising various documentaries.

    We walked into the building and lined up for tickets. The line was too long but it was still going to be a little wait.

    "What do you think of the ce?"

    "It''s pretty nice, it''s bigger than I expected."

    "I know right? It looked smaller on the pictures."

    A few minutester, we were at the front of the line.

    "Two general admissions, please."

    "Alright."

    After purchasing our tickets, we walked through a dark hallway before entering arge dimly-lit room. The lighting was done in such a way that it made the walls look like coral. Before long, we reached the first main section. There was a big ss barrier between us and an endless number of sea creatures. From fish to sharks to stingrays, it was like they took a chunk of the ocean and ced it into a building.

    "You know, Ayato, I''ve always loved sharks."

    "Really?"

    "They''re so cute-looking¡ªwell when they''re not killing something."

    Just as she said that, a shark swam right by the ss window.

    She giggled a little.

    "Look at its face, it''s so funny~"

    Looking at it from this close, it did look a bit dorky. When they were docile, they did look quite funny. A few momentster, a stingray made its way over toward the window.

    "Look at that stingray."

    "Hehe, it''s got a funny-looking face as well."

    Sheughed as the two of us continued to watch the various sea creatures swimming by.

    I guess it did feel different in person, there are some things that can''t be expressed using text on a page. All of the creatures looked different up close, it was like I could observe them to a level of detail I never could before¡ªbut more importantly, the feeling of being up close and personal was truly different.

    "Ayato~ do you want to go to the next section now?"

    "Sure, Sara."

    "Aha, I''m still not used to that." She covered her face with her sleeves.

    We walked through the dark hallway once again until we reached the next big window. On the other side, there was a plethora of colourful fish. It was like a stter of paint in the water; there was fish of every colour imaginable. They were spread through the water hypnotically.

    "I didn''t realise fish came in so many colours!"

    "I guess it''s just nature."

    "Which one''s your favourite?" She pointed at one which was striped like a zebra, "I like this one, it''s got such a clean pattern."

    "Um, I like the white ones."

    "Aw, that''s so basic~" She teased

    "Eh."

    "Just kidding, they''re very bright, like the sun~"

    The two of us just stood in silence as we watched the fish swim around. It was oddly rxing, I felt as if I could just watch this scene for hours.

    "Are you having fun, Ayato?"

    "Yeah."

    "That''s good."<novelnext></novelnext>

    I felt her nudge her body towards me, leaning against my arm.

    "Don''t you wish that this couldst forever?"

    "Huh?"

    "Ah... forget I said that..."

    She looked up at me with her wide emerald eyes. After a brief second, she turned and looked back over at the fish. We continued to look at the fish in silence. It was a calm yet magical environment, the atmosphere had no tension or any stress, it was just, free.

    The room gradually began filling up with more people. I noticed that there was quite arge number of couples. I guess that was to be expected in such a ce.

    "Let''s go on," Fujiharu whispered.

    "Alright."

    We made our way up a short flight of stairs before walking through a very dark room. Inside, there were some luminescent sea creatures. The room was briefly lit by the passing of the fish, swimming through like sentient glow sticks. The entire room was made of ss so you could see through to the water in basically every direction.

    "Wow~" Fujiharu seemed to be mesmerised by the creatures.

    The room was periodically lit as if there were a disco ball, however, there were only sea creatures swimming around. The two of us slowly walked around as we looked at them, eventually, I felt our backs bump into each other.

    "Hehe, this is so fun~"

    "It is."

    Suddenly, I felt a tug on my shirt as Fujihara dug her face into my back.

    "Sara?"

    She didn''t respond, she simply just continued to lean against me in silence.

    "Ayato, what do you think of me?"

    "Hm?"

    "A-actually, don''t answer that question."

    After a few moments of silence, Fujiharu let go and walked in front of me. There wasn''t another door from this exhibit so we had to go back the way we came, although we hadn''t even explored close to the entire aquarium, there were still many more areas.

    She looked a little bit more excited than before.

    "Ayato, apparently the next section is the penguins!"

    Ah.

    "That sounds interesting."

    "Apparently this is the only aquarium in the area with Emperor Penguins, I''ve been really wanting to see them~"

    We began making our way through another dimly-lit hallway before arriving at a very busy room. It was almost packed to the brim with people. It was the penguin exhibit.

    "Aw, look at little baby penguins, they''re so cute!"

    There was a big group of fluffy grey Emperor Penguin chicks which were all huddling together. They looked like big pillows of fluff.

    "I just want to hug one~" said Fujiharu.

    "They do look really soft."

    The two of us were starting to get subtle shoved around as more people tried to fit into the room.

    "I think we should move on to the next section, we can look at the penguins againter when it''s less busy," Fujiharu suggested.

    "Yeah, that sounds good."

    We moved out of the bright penguin room back into the dark hallway. It took a little while for my eyes to suddenly adjust to the changes in light but it wasn''t all too bad.

    Fujiharu continued to walk closely beside me¡ªour shoulders subtly touching.

    All of a sudden, Fujiharu''s arm got grabbed from behind.

    "Huh?!"

 Chapter 34 Fujiharus Offensive - Part 4

    In the dark room, it was impossible to determine who the person was.

    "Get off me!" Fujiharu jerked her arm away from the assant.

    I pulled Fujiharu away from the person who was grabbing her, however, they didn''t give up, this time charging in and pushing me aside.

    What on earth? An attacker in this ce? And why are they trying to get Fujiharu?

    I stood my ground and kept myself between her and the attacker.

    "What do you want?" I asked.

    The assant took a step back, and in the darkness of the room, I was able to get a very slight nce at the person''s face. It was a boy, who looked no older than 20. Suddenly, he began reaching into his pocket. I couldn''t take the risk and let him grab a weapon; with no other choice, I raised my leg and attempted to kick him to the ground.

    Using only a small portion of my strength, I connected with his side, sending him crashing to the ground. He didn''t get up off the ground, instead, he held his arm in pain.

    All of a sudden, Fujiharu was grabbed by another person who wasing from the other entrance. The second assant was armed with a cloth and covered her mouth with it. As I turned around, I felt someone grab me from behind. It seemed that there were quite a few people in on this n.

    In the dark room, it was hard toprehend what was going on. I was forced to deal with the person grabbing onto me first. I forcefully shook him off my body before turning around to engage him; however, it seemed just the force of the shake already caused him to fall to the ground. When I looked back around, Fujiharu was already gone.

    I quickly nced at the two attackers who were lying on the ground, it appeared that they weren''t going to be much of an issue anymore. One of them tried to grab my leg but I easily shook it off and began running in the direction of the hallway.

    It was hard to see what was going on but as I made my way through, I noticed that they werepletely out of sight. Eventually, I reached a split where there were two separate directions where they could''ve gone. I heard loud footsteps behind me, it seemed that the two assants which were previously on the ground had recovered and were running at me again.

    We were still in a rtively empty area, it seemed most people were busy staying in the penguin exhibit so the dark hallway was pretty empty. I quickly scanned around to make sure no one could see, then I braced to fight them off. For some reason, they attacked me one at a time, allowing me to easily pin them to the ground.

    "Why are you guys doing this?" I asked.

    They didn''t respond.

    I decided to grab one of their arms and began bending it backwards.

    "I expect an answer if you don''t want your arm broken."

    "U-um, it was someone else''s n, we don''t know their intention either!"

    I bent their arm back with a little more force.

    "Please! Stop, I''ll tell you anything, don''t break my arm!"

    It seemed I didn''t really need to threaten them that hard.

    I let go of his arm and looked down at them.

    "Why are you guys on board with this?"

    "T-they offered us a lot of money... we''re broke and we''ve had to resort to this..."

    The other assant nodded.

    Suddenly, I heard the sound of footsteps in the distance. I didn''t want to be seen by any members of the public at this time. I took a step back and pulled the two attackers up.

    "I''m going to call the police, you know?"

    "Our boss probably has her in his hands right now, he''ll definitely do something to her if he finds out you called the police."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Alright then, you guys are going to tell me where your boss is located."

    "We don''t kn¡ª"

    "Ah, that''s not an answer."

    The other quickly responded.

    "He''s probably somewhere in the aquarium! He didn''t bring an escape vehicle so I don''t think he''s going to be leaving."

    "I''m not convinced."

    "Please! We weren''t informed of everything either!"

    There wasn''t much I could do, I''d have to find her myself.

    "You two stay with me, if you do anything suspicious, I''ll kill you."

    "Y-yes!"

    I began walking through the aquarium once again, and the two assants were following behind me with no issues. It was pretty hard to tell where they might have gone, the aquarium was ratherrge and there were lots of different paths to take.

    I assumed the boss would want to stay in a rtively isted area in order to stay out of public view, as a result, I looked at the guide I received at the beginning and deduced which paths would likely have the least amount of people.

    I looked around the dark rooms which were popted with lots of fish. There were a few people here and there but they were still the least popted rooms by far. I made my way through several different hallways before I found a ce where they might be hiding. Considering the boss probably wanted to be in a locked room with scarce people around, I guess that the janitor''s office would be a suitable ce.

    "I-I think our boss might be in the janitor''s office," one of themmented.

    I guess I was correct.

    I made my way over and twisted the handle, however, it seemed to be locked.

    "Do either of you have something I could pick the lock with?"

    "N-no..."

    I saw one of them fiddling in their pocket.

    I quickly grabbed his arm, pulling it out of his pocket and swiftly disarmed him. However, all that was in his hand was a key.

    "You have the key on you?"

    "N-no... that''s my, um, house key."

    It obviously did not look like a house key.

    I slotted the key into the door and pushed it open. As I walked inside, I saw Fujiharu being held down by some man; there was tape around her mouth so she couldn''t speak.

    I looked down at her.

    "I''ve got to admit, I''m surprised, Sara."

 Chapter 35 Fujiharus Offensive - Part 5

    I slowly pped.

    "Are we done with this show now?" I asked.

    They all appeared very surprised by my statement.

    "You know, you really should hire some better actors."

    The two assants behind me took a step back.

    I walked over to Fujiharu; the man holding her down tried to stop me, but I grabbed his wrist. As he tried to resist, I tightened my grip a little harder until there was a snapping sound. The man yelled and held his wrist in pain.

    I leaned down and ripped the tape off of Fujiharu''s face.

    "You know, you certainly made me feel like a hero."

    She looked up at me with a very shocked expression.

    "You should probably increase your budget and get some more skilled actors though."

    "...b-but how did you..."

    I stood back up and leaned against the wall.

    It was all obvious from the beginning.

    First of all, she invited me out of the blue to an aquarium which was an odd choice considering the distance from our home but it was all rtively normal.

    Secondly, she seemed to be following a tight schedule, as if she needed to be at a certain ce at a certain time. It was odd how she seemed to be rushing through the sections despite showing so much interest in them.

    Thirdly, the moment she was first grabbed, she reacted incredibly quickly, faster than how a normal person would react and especially faster than how you''d expect her to react.

    Fourthly, there couldn''t have possibly escaped so quickly if the attacker had to drag a Fujiharu who was resisting them. Considering that they were gone by the time I turned the corner, there was no way they could''ve moved so swiftly.

    Fifthly, both of the attackers were putting in way less effort than you''d expect from a normal person. In that situation, they were putting in so little effort that I hardly even had to move to stop them.

    Sixthly, they were way too open with their information. Even a normal person being threatened would at least think before revealing the information. However, they revealed it incredibly swiftly, as if they were nning to do so in the first ce.

    Seventhly, the two assants were acting stupidly at the end. It was obvious they were trying to subtly feed me information in order to guide me to the right room.

    It was all too obvious.

    I wondered, was this a n she used on all of her seatmates? I assumed the reason for doing so was to make them feel special, make them feel as if they''re a hero¡ªsaving a damsel in distress. She was ying to their masculinity, ying to their heart. I guess it was another of her ns to make her seatmate fall in love with her.

    "So, what are you going to do now?" I asked her.<novelnext></novelnext>

    She looked speechless. Not a word coulde out of her mouth.

    I must admit, she must have had guts toe up with such a n. There were so many risks involved, from the police being called to being seen by a member of the public. There were many ways where this n could''ve gone wrong. But more impressively, she had the guts to pretend to be kidnapped, all in order to make a boy fall for her.

    Everyone in the room stood silently.

    Fujiharu slowly got up from the ground.

    "So tell me, Sara, how much of our rtionship is a lie?"

    She was still staying silent. However, tears were forming in her eyes.

    I took a step back.

    Suddenly, she started to mumble something.

    "I-I didn''t... I..."

    I guess this was the first time she was called out for one of her plots.

    After a few moments, the only two people left were Fujiharu and me. They closed the door behind them, leaving a quiet chamber for the two of us.

    I looked over at Fujiharu, who was still trying to form words.

    "A-ayato... I didn''t mean for this to happen..."

    Of course you didn''t mean for this to happen¡ªby that, of course, you didn''t mean to get caught.

    "You still haven''t answered my question, how much of us is a lie?"

    She still seemed to refuse to answer the question.

    I guess I wasn''t going to be getting any answers from her.

    "Oh well."

    I turned around and left, closing the door behind me.

    ***

    [Volume 1 END]

 Chapter 36 Volume 1 Afterword

    Well there you have it guys, the first volume of The Cute Girl Sitting Next to Me is a Maniptor but I''m Smarter has beenpleted.

    Originally, I was pondering where I''d end the first volume, I had wanted to develop Kanako''s character a bit more since her entire first arc is still somewhat iplete, however, I felt that Chapter 32 was just such a good spot to end it off. Just the way it reached the climax of Fujiharu''s Arc was too appealing to let go of, so I ended it there.

    I''ll probably write a volume 1.5 per se to finish off what I originally intended to write for Kanako and tie up her Arc before we dive head first into the next main volume of the book.

    I''m also thinking of writing a few short stories from the perspectives of some of the other characters. I originally wanted to include some perspective changes during the main storyline but I felt that it didn''t really fit and it would break the flow. So I''ve decided to add them at the end.

    Volume 2 will focus a lot more on the Tachibana System which was something I was hinting at throughout the first volume. For the most part, I didn''t really think that writing a full Rom would be that interesting. I''ll obviously continue to develop the rtionships between the main cast and Mizuhara but I want to add something to spice it up.

    Personally, I find it rather boring when a story focuses on romance too hard. It makes the romance element of the story feel artificial and usually just ends up being a snoozefest. Of all the pure romance animes I''ve watched, the only one I''ve really enjoyed to the end was Quintessential Quintuplets, but I think was mostly due to the animation and cuteness of the characters. All the others like Nisekoi or Love and Chunibyou were good at the beginning but became boring af the longer they went on.

    Romance will now sit side by side with the psychological-thriller aspect of a meritocratic high school where only the strongest students will survive. Tachibana will be getting a lot more exposure and we will also see the reveal of Mizuhara''s sister (exciting stuff!).

    That''s not to say I''ll leave out the rest of the cast though. The first volume has been pretty tunnel-visioned on Mizuhara which was what I intended but obviously, I want to get some more characters into the flow. Fujiharu will continue to be the main heroine, albeit with some drastic personality changes (Yandere?). Kanako will transfer to National High School alongside many other notable people once the Tachibana System is in full effect.

    It''ll be during theing volumes when you''ll see just how smart Mizuhara really is. There''ll also be some development on the Ideal Human Project and some more backstory on all of the characters.

    I know this is a bit preemptive but I''ve got an ending somewhat nned out, expect at least 7 or 8 more volumes (maybe more depending on how popr the novel gets) before you get to really see the end of the entire novel. I think the ending will tie up everything quite well and leave you will a nice wave of withdrawal symptoms.

    I''m really excited to get into this second volume as I''ve got lots of exciting things nned. All of the characters will be explored in much more depth and you''ll find out that Mizuhara isn''t the only person hiding their true strength.<novelnext></novelnext>

    **

    Now, I want to talk about some more personal stuff.

    I really enjoyed writing this, but for the most part, I still need to focus at least half of my energy on My OP Minion System in the Apocalypse. This novel isn''t bringing me any ie at the moment, and I suspect that it will never be as popr as the other one.

    I do need to earn some money since I''m dedicating a LOT of time to writing novels at the moment and this definitely isn''t sustainable. I''m not expecting any of you to do anything major, but if you do enjoy this novel, it really would mean a lot to me if you would write a positive review and tell some of your friends about it. That would be one of the best ways to support me without having to dish out your hard-earned money :)

    Also if I don''t reply to yourments, don''t be discouraged, I read every singlement at least 12 times. It''s just that I have a godplex and don''t want people to think I look desperate...

    ? Well, I hope you liked the ending to the first volume, and with that, let''s read some short stories before we head into volume 1.5!

    Thank you for your continued support and I''ll see you all soon! (Probably in the afterword of volume 1.5~)

    Leave me a nice review¡ªI''ll probably read it around 19 times~

    <3

    asionally missing content, please report errors in time.

 Chapter 37 Short Story: This Wasnt Meant To Happen

    As I walked beside Mizuhara, I felt someone grab my arm from behind.

    Here we go.

    "Get off me!" I jerked my arm away as hard as I could.

    Suddenly, I felt Ayato''s hand on my shoulder. My body shook as he pulled me away from the assant. Ah, what a nice feeling. I fell into his embrace as he held me away from the attacker.

    The attacker continued to pursue me as nned. They pushed Ayato aside as he tried to protect me.

    Come on Ayato, you can do better than that~

    Ayato stood between me and the assant. I peeked around to see if the other one was nearby, they should be getting here soon.

    "What do you want?" Ayato asked him.

    In the dimly-lit room, the assant took a step back and reached into their pocket. It was a little weird, the others hadn''t arrived yet. I assumed that he was trying to get some contact from the others. I watched as Ayato kicked the man to the ground; the attacker hit the ground pretty violently; hopefully, he was okay.

    Good acting.

    "...Fujiharu, sorry for beingte."

    The other assant finally arrived.

    I let myself get restrained and had a cloth ced over my mouth. In the darkness of the room, I hoped that Ayato would be distracted for a little longer.

    The attacker dragged me a little bit before we were out of Ayato''s sight. He then let go of me as the two of us began running through the aquarium. We needed to get to the designated area before Ayato sees us again.

    A little whileter, we arrived at the janitor''s office.

    "Do you have the key on you?" I asked.

    "No, I think Abe has it."

    "Ah, didn''t you get it from him?"

    "We were in a rush, I forgot..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Eh..."

    "Keep a lookout, I''m going to pick the lock," he said.

    I looked around the hallway to make sure they weren''t nearby. A few secondster, with his various tools, he managed to open the door.

    The two of us rushed inside and locked the door behind us.

    "Tape me up now," I said.

    "Alright."

    He taped up my mouth and the two of us took a seat by the wall.

    "I told Hashimoto to make it obvious where we are, we don''t want a repeat ofst time."

    I nodded my head.

    We almost got caught by the publicst time because the boy couldn''t find where I was hiding.

    The two of us gotfortable as we waited for Ayato to arrive.

    Come on Ayato~ you can do this, hehe.

    Several minutester, we heard the sound of loud footsteps outside. The man quickly grabbed my arms and pinned me to the ground, making the scene of a kidnapping. I looked up and waited for Ayato to step inside. After a few moments, the door unlocked and the three of them walked in.

    For some reason, he didn''t look very enthusiastic as he made his way over to me.

    "I''ve got to admit, I''m surprised, Sara."

    Huh?

    What was this now?

    Don''t tell me...

 Chapter 38 Short Story: I Really Do Hate You

    I made my way into the locker area.

    I already checked outside to make sure that no one was nearby. Thest thing I wanted was to be caught in the act¡ªhowever, I had made plenty of preparations.

    As I walked into the empty halls, I quickly checked the security to make sure it was still covered.

    After that, I scanned my surroundings once more before grabbing the bolt cutters out of my bag. The ruffling noise echoed through the empty school, but I was pretty sure that no one could possibly be nearby.

    Ayato, this is all your fault¡ªI really do hate you.

    I can''t believe that I managed to put the seafood in the wrong locker yesterday. I''m definitely not the type of person to make a mistake like that. This morning, I felt as if I was going to burst out with anger; I never make mistakes.

    In one clean strike, I managed to cut off Ayato''s lock. As it fell, I caught it in my hand and gently ced it on the ground. As I opened his locker, I noticed that there were only a few workbooks inside.

    Oh well, I guess he doesn''t have many belongings.

    I grabbed some pens out of my locker and held them over his books.

    You deserve this, Ayato.

    After cutting off the tips with the bolt cutters, the thick ck ink leaked all over his books. I made sure to swirl them around a little to make sure that everything wasthered.

    "Hey now, why have you done this."

    What?!

    In shock, I dropped the bolt cutters onto the ground, smashing into the hard vinyl floor.

    W-why are you here...?

    "Why have you done this... Tachibana Emi-san."

    Mizuhara Ayato...!  This is why I hate you so much.

    "Tell me, why have youe to this school?" I asked.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Why do you want to know."

    I can''t stand your nonchnt expression! That was the same face you made when you...

    In anger, I kicked the lockers as hard as I could. There was a dent where my foot mmed into the door. The loud sound echoed throughout the empty halls.

    "Y-you! Even this many yearster, you still let my father''s words control you?"

    "Who says his words control me."

    You... you really think that your mission was made for any reason aside from my father''s selfishness?!

    "You have so much power, yet you simply listen to a dumb mission and follow it naively like a stupid little duckling!"

    "Tachibana-san, you understand just as much as I do."

    "The Ideal Human Project was years ago! It''s in the past, just forget about it." Anger was building up in my chest like a balloon, "I fucking hate you, stay away from me! I don''t give a shit whether it''s your mission or not!"

    "Tachibana-san, you don''t seem to understand. The reason I follow my mission is not because of any affection I have for you."

    I breathed all of the oxygen in the world into my lungs.

    Ayato... one day, I''ll make sure you get what you deserve.

    After what you did to them...

    After what you did to me...

    I''ve watched you longer than anyone else has¡ªeven longer than my father.

    And I thought I could trust you.

    Unforgivable.

 Chapter 39 Short Story: Someone Who Is Kind To Me

    "Kinoshita, who invited you?"

    Eh, I-I mean...

    "Hey, don''t say that," responded Fujiharu.

    "I''m just saying, I don''t think anyone wants her here."

    I noticed that the others didn''t even look at me.

    I guess I''m really not wanted here...

    A few momentster, all of the other girls left the change rooms. Even Fujiharu left without saying anything to me, she looked as if she was eager to do something. Once again, I was left all alone, trying to put on my swimsuit as fast as possible.

    I don''t care anymore.

    Slowly, I pulled my swimsuit up and made my way toward the pools.

    As I entered the centre, the others were nowhere to be seen.

    I guess I''ll just sit by myself, it''s not that bad...

    Ah, it''s cold.

    I huddled my legs close to my body and looked down.

    "Hey~ you look lonely, you should y with us."

    Huh?

    I looked up to see a group of boys around me.

    "...go away."

    "Oi, aren''t you lonely by yourself? We''ll make sure you''re well appreciated."

    He had a disgusting look on his face.

    Suddenly, one of the boys grabbed my wrist.

    "...hey, get off me..."

    Theypletely ignored me and began dragging me somewhere. I tried to pull away but the boy was much stronger than I was. It was like my arm was being towed by a car. I couldn''t break free from his grasp.

    Ah, well this is what I deserve for being alone.

    "What''s going on here."

    I suddenly heard a soft, yet apathetic voice.

    "Huh?" The boys all turned around, "What do you want?"

    "She''s one of my friends, I''ve juste to see what was going on."

    What was this? Was he talking about me?

    "Huh? You''re friends with her? What a lie."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Did youe to y the hero? It''s fine, she''s happy with us, isn''t that right?"

    One of them red down at me.

    I was forced to nod my head.

    Who... who was that other boy...? Did he call me his friend...?

    "See? It''s all good, we''re just going to hang out with her for a little,"

    There was a short silence.

    Ah, I guess he was going to abandon me too.

    All of a sudden, he pushed through the group.

    "Tell me, are you really fine with this."

    His voice was directed towards me. I looked up at his face; he was expressionless, but for some reason, he seemed different.

    "Oi, what do you think you''re doing!" One of the other boys grabbed his shoulder.

    Despite that, he simply stood there, looking down at me.

    "I''m just asking her a question."

    His eyes¡ªthey were kind, no, they were...

    "...no."

    "Alright well, that''s her answer."

    What are you going to do now?

    A few momentster, the other boys left, all that was left was him.

    "You came with us, didn''t you?" He asked.

    "Howe you''re sitting by yourself?" He continued.

    I stayed silent, I didn''t want to make myself known to him¡ªit was all my pointless pride.

    I guess he''ll leave as well soon enough.

    For some reason, he took a seat next to me.

    What?

    Why?

    Why are you sitting next to me...?

    I''m just a worthless girl...

 Chapter 40 Interlude - Glossary (Spoilers Up To 35)

    This''ll be thest chapter before volume 1.5!

    (Also, for some reason, my contract is taking a long time to be reviewed...)

    -----------------------------------------

    Mizuhara Ayato

    The main character of the novel.

    He was once part of the now-scrapped Ideal Human Project. He is rtively cold and calcting but still holds a small bit of empathy.

    **

    Favourite Food: Things made with cauliflower

    Favourite Sport: Ser

    Favourite Subject: None

    Favourite Number: 0

    -----------------------------------------

    Fujiharu Sara

    The female lead of the novel.

    For some reason, she often makes the boy sitting next to her fall in love with her, only to reject them in the end. She''s kind, popr and smart, maybe even the perfect girl.

    **

    Favourite Food: Fried Chicken

    Favourite Sport: Netball

    Favourite Subject: Science

    Favourite Number: 1

    -----------------------------------------

    Tachibana Emi

    She was the daughter of Tachibana Kohei, the founder of the Ideal Human Project. She is a rational, cold and unkind girl, but she is very intelligent.<novelnext></novelnext>

    **

    Favourite Food: Rice

    Favourite Sport: Judo

    Favourite Subject: Maths

    Favourite Number: 101

    -----------------------------------------

    Kanako Hanae

    She''s a chess prodigy who struggles with studying. She''s also the future heir of her father''s conglomerate business. She''s apetitive person who prides herself in her chess. She''s cold at first, but as you get to know her, she bes friendlier.

    **

    Favourite Food: Chips

    Favourite Sport: Chess (Yes, I''m iming that chess is a sport)

    Favourite Subject: Maths

    Favourite Number: 32

    -----------------------------------------

    Kinoshita Chitose

    She''s a shy girl who has very little self-esteem. She isn''t liked very much by the other girls, but she still wants to fit in. She''s timid and just wants someone to be there for her.

    **

    Favourite Food: Hamburgers

    Favourite Sport: Tennis

    Favourite Subject: Geography

    Favourite Number: 9

    -----------------------------------------

 Chapter 41 Sickness Is In The Air - Part 1

    I received a text early in the morning from Kanako.

    This was the first time she''d ever asked me to go over. Based on the message, I didn''t really know what was going on, but it sounded important. It wasn''t like I had anything else I wanted to do. Fujiharu wasn''t going to be inviting me to go out any time soon. I put on my normal clothes and began making my way over.

    A few minutester, I arrived at the front of her grand apartmentplex. I scanned my keycard to enter the main reception area before getting on the elevator. I had hardly ever seen a receptionist at the desk, I guess they must only be working during weekdays around school hours.

    Eventually, I was at her door. I knocked a few times but received no response.

    "Kanako, can Ie in?"

    Still no response.

    I decided to just scan my keycard and enter. I doubt that she''d get mad if she was the one who called me over. The door clicked and I walked into a very messy house.

    For some reason, Kanako was still nowhere to be seen.

    "Kanako, why did you call me over?"

    I walked around the apartment looking for her; I checked basically every room, and the only room left was her own room. Her door was closed, so I knocked a few times. Finally, I managed to hear a faint voice.

    "...Mizuhara..."

    I decided to open her door. I was met by the sight of a very tired and unwell Kanako huddled up in her bed. I slowly walked over¡ªit was obvious that she was definitely quite sick.

    "How are you feeling?" I asked

    "...not great..."

    "Howe you called me? Couldn''t you have called your father?"

    She hid her face under the nket.

    Oh well.

    "Are you hungry?" I asked

    "...yes... can you make some rice gruel?"

    "Rice gruel?"

    "...yes please."

    I guess I could make that¡ªit wasn''t exactly aplex dish.

    I made my way over to her veryrge kitchen and looked through a few of her cupboards.

    She sure has a lot of junk food.

    From chips to biscuits to chocte, her pantry was chock-full of these foods.

    After a little bit of searching, I managed to find where she kept her rice. I scooped some into a pot before washing it through. Then, I filled the pot with arge amount of water.

    Now, I assumed I just had to cook this at low heat.

    It usually took quite a few minutes to cook, so I made my way over to the living room couch. I contemted going back into Kanako''s room, but it''d probably be better if she got some rest.

    I honestly wasn''t exactly the best person to invite over to take care of a sick person.

    I probably should tell her father about this, but I guess I''ll hold off for a little while. It seemed she didn''t want her father to know for some reason.

    A little whileter, I walked back over to the kitchen and checked on the rice gruel I was cooking. From what I could see, it seemed to be done. I poured it into a bowl and added some chopped-up spring onion. Steam was radiating from the bowl yet there wasn''t much aroma. Such was the nature of rice gruel.

    I put a spoon into the bowl and made my way into Kanako''s room again. It seemed that she was still awake.

    "I''ve got your food."

    "...thanks."

    I ced it on her bedside table as she slowly got up to a seated position. Now that more of her body was out of the nket, I could see that she was sweating quite a bit. I ced my hand on her forehead¡ªshe definitely had a fever. Based on what I could see, I assumed that she either had a cold or the flu.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "...sorry for making you do all this."

    "It''s fine."

    She leaned over and grabbed the bowl of rice gruel from the bedside table. After scooping a few mouthfuls into her mouth, she smiled a little.

    "I-it''s good."

    She continued to slowly eat the food I made.

    "Do you have any medicine?" I asked.

    "Eh... I don''t think so..."

    "I''ll go get some, you just stay here and rest."

    "A-are you sure...?"

    "Don''t worry, your father will pay me back."

    "Hehe."

    With that, I left as she continued to eat the rice gruel.

    There was a convenience store nearby where I could get some medication. It was around a five-minute walk before I arrived at the small corner store. Inside, I looked around at the medications they had on sale. I guess all I really needed was something to deal with the symptoms. I got some anti-inmmatories and decongestants and took them over to the counter. I also grabbed some green tea.

    "That''ll be $17.99."

    I tapped my phone.

    I made my way back to the apartmentplex and made the pointlessly long journey from the entrance to her room again. I scanned my keycard before opening her front door. With the medication in hand, I made my way over to her room.

    It seemed she had already finished the rice gruel I made and was lying down in her bed again.

    "Kanako, I''ve got some medicine for you."

    "Oh, um, t-thank you."

    I poured the medicine out onto her spoon and fed it into her mouth. I left the green tea and anti-inmmatory tablets by her bed.

    "If you''re thirsty or your throat hurts, you can have these."

    After that, I began making my way out of her room.

    "...Mizuhara, can you stay...?"

    "You want me to stay here?"

    "...y-yes."

    "I suppose."

    I decided to take a seat on the ground, leaning against her bed. I didn''t bring anything with me aside from my phone, so there wasn''t much I could do.

    "...Mizuhara."

    "Yes?"

    "...sorry about all of this."

    "You know, I''m going to have to bill your father extra for all of this overtime."

    "...eh?"

    "Just kidding, I don''t really mind."

    I looked over at her and saw a faint smile on her face.

    I decided to take this moment to rx. Thest few days have been a bit more action-packed than I''d have liked.

 Chapter 42 Sickness Is In The Air - Part 2

    A few minutester, I looked over at Kanako who was fast asleep.

    I guess I can go somewhere else now.

    **

    I was sitting on her couch, watching some random stuff on the television. A few hours passed since she fell asleep and it seemed that she was awake again. She had gotten out of bed and was standing at her doorway.

    "Mizuhara..."

    I looked over.

    "Yeah? You''re awake?"

    "Yes..."

    "How are you feeling?"

    "A little bit better... my body is still a bit sore..."

    I made my way over.

    "You should probably get some more re¡ª"

    "Mizuhara, teach me..."

    "Teach you?"

    "We have some exams next week..."

    "You should rest up until you feel better."

    "No... we don''t have much time..."

    That was true.

    I guess doing some schoolwork wouldn''t be too much of a strain on her body. I made my way over to her desk and looked at the books she had. From what I could tell, it seemed that she was seriously studying even when I wasn''t here.

    I had taught her English, maths and science to an extent. Thest thing was humanities, which shouldn''t be too difficult. I grabbed her history textbook and had a quick read of it. Most of the questions were somewhat subjective, so I tried to select a wide variety.

    Kanako was standing beside me, looking somewhat lethargic.

    "Alright,plete the questions I set."

    "O-kay~"

    She took a seat at her desk and began working hard on the work I set for her.

    She''se quite far from the first time I worked with her.

    "You can take a seat if you want," she said.

    "I''ll go grab one."

    "It''s okay. You can sit on my bed if you want."

    "Are you sure?"

    "Yeah, I guess."

    I took a seat on her soft pink bed and looked over as she worked.

    She was still struggling quite heavily with the questions I set her. However, she was constantly reading through her textbook trying to find the answer. Every few seconds, she''d flip through her textbook, rereading paragraphs and highlighting sentences. Even though she took almost 10 minutes to do a question, she appeared to be quite satisfied with her answer.

    "Have you done the first question?" I asked

    "Yeah, I just finished it."

    I got up and looked at the work she did.

    "It''s right."

    "Really?"

    "You might want to include the phrase primary evidence, but aside from that, it''s correct."

    She showed a beaming smile, and immediately after, her expression went back to normal.

    She turned back around, looking down at her page, happily reading the next question.

    I sat back down and looked at my phone. I had received a text from Okamoto.

    ¡ªWe''re going to the beach this afternoon, do you want toe?<novelnext></novelnext>

    I guess it could be fun.

    "Hey Kanako, will you be alright this afternoon?"

    "Huh? What''s the matter?"

    "I want to go down to the beach with some friends."

    "Well, I might die, but aside from that, I''ll be fine."

    "Eh?"

    "You can go if you want, I guess."

    She gave me a re and then turned around to continue doing her work.

    What was that supposed to mean?

    She scribbled down answers as she read through the textbook. For almost 30 minutes straight, she didn''t look up at anything else. She waspletely focused on her work.

    I got up and brought the green tea I had bought over to her.

    "Here, stay hydrated."

    "O-oh, thank you."

    Suddenly, she looked away from me.

    What?

    She took tworge gulps of the tea and then turned her attention back to the questions she was doing.

    Almost an hourter, she finally finished all of the questions I set her and she handed her workbook to me.

    "I''m done."

    "Good job."

    I read through her answers.

    From what I could see, she was clearly struggling with some of the moreplex questions. Most of her answers were missing keywords and specific key points which would''ve definitely cost her marks in a real test. However,pared to the first day, she was much better, almost getting half of the questions correct.

    I put the book in front of her and began exining some of the mistakes she made.

    "You need to focus on including all of the keywords."

    "How do I know what words to include?"

    I flipped through a few pages of the textbook and started to highlight some words.

    "You can generally find the keywords by seeing and identifying the most important words in some of the dot points."

    I gave her an example by highlighting some of the words which were in the textbook.

    "Just make sure you include these words in your answers, this is quite important to ensure you get full marks for the questions you understand."

    "I see."

    I had a look at a few of her other mistakes. It seemed that she struggled to make conclusions based on specific pieces of information. I decided to write down some tips for her like I did the previous few subjects and left it as a note beside her.

    ? "Take a look at these tips before answering a question."

    "Okay."

    I picked up her textbook again and circled a few more questions. Now that I knew what she needed to focus on, I could target those specific weaknesses. I was surprised that none of her other tutors was able to identify hermon errors like this. There was a pretty clear pattern to the things she struggled with.

    I ced the textbook down and allowed her to try the questions.

    She was making progress pretty quickly. At this rate, she should be able to pass her next exams.

    Now that I thought about it, I guess once she passes her exams I''ll be relieved of my duty for the most part. Her father could technically continue to threaten me and force me to continue but I wasn''t going to let that happen. I only begrudgingly epted the first time because he offered a good sry and I felt a little bit of gratitude for his funding of the Ideal Human Project.

    He wasn''t going to be able to manipte me again.

    Forty minutester, she finished the next set of questions I set for her.

    She improved quite a bit from the first set. From what I could see, as long as she continued to practice with my advice, she''ll be able to improve on her own.

    I guess I''ll get ready to go to the beach.

 Chapter 43 The Ideal Human Project - Part 1

    A/N: I was originally thinking about making an entire volume 0 for this backstory, but I''ve decided to weave it into this volume instead. So enjoy, I guess.

    ***

    ?

    "Ayato, this will be your home for the time being."

    An old man smiled at me as he showed me the entrance of argeboratory-like facility. I looked around to see arge number of scientists walking around.

    At least I''m not with them anymore.

    Although I did miss my sister a little.

    He held my hand, and the two of us walked further into the facility. I was shown to a room which looked somewhat like a ssroom, but for some reason, there wasn''t any stationary or books or anything else you''d expect in a ssroom.

    "Just wait in here. The rest of the Oues will be here soon."

    Oues?

    Suddenly, a young girl ran over and grabbed onto the old man''s leg.

    "Papa, who''s that boy?" she asked.

    "That''s Ayato. He''ll be staying in this facility for the time being."

    "Ayato? Is he part of the experiment?"

    "Emi, this isn''t an experiment. It''s a safe space for abandoned children."

    I guess this was like an orphanage.

    I didn''t really care.

    There were a few seats and tables strewn around the room. I decided to make my way over and take a seat on one of them.

    "Ayato, just wait here, okay?"

    "Okay."

    The old man and his daughter left the room. I was all alone, with only the sound of silence to listen to. However, I didn''t mind that much, and I had already heard too much noise.

    A few minutester, the old man brought a few more children into the room.

    From the looks of their faces, they all either appeared to be extremely distressed or extremely unhappy. I wasn''t really sure what was going on; I guess they were orphans like me?

    As the old man brought the other children in, they were frozen still, like statues. Once they entered the room, they didn''t move an inch, only staring down at the floor.

    I continued to sit on the chair, swinging my legs as I waited for them to eventually give me something to do.

    Slowly, more and more children were brought into the room, and eventually, the old man entered again and closed the door behind him.

    "Hello, everyone, I''m Tachibana Kohei. You can call me Tachibana-sensei," his voice was deep and mellow, a soothing tone.

    There was no response.

    "Aha, alright, this will be your home for the time being. Why don''t we y a game to get to know each other?"

    Still, no one responded.

    I looked around at the group of children; there was amon theme¡ªmncholy.

    Unfazed, Tachibana-sensei continued to speak.

    "Ah, maybe we don''t want to y a game?"

    "I want to y a game," the high-pitched voice of a young girl violently broke the silence.

    "Ah, Mio, you can y with me if you want~" Tachibana-sensei offered.

    "Okay!"

    He walked over and lifted up his two pointer fingers.

    "Let''s y ''chopsticks'', do you know how to y?"

    "Yes!"

    She also raised her two pointer fingers in response.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The two of them yed for a little while until, finally, Mio won.

    "Ah, you''re good, Mio!"

    "Ehehe~"

    She smiled as Tachibana-sensei celebrated her victory.

    "Does anyone else want to y?" he asked.

    He looked around to no avail. All of the other children were depressed, either sobbing or silent.

    I decided to make my way over.

    "I''ll y."

    "Ayato! You can y against Mio."

    "Ah, okay."

    Mio turned around and lifted her two pointer fingers. I lifted mine in response. From watching her y against Tachibana-sensei, I was able to deduce the rtively simple rules of the game.

    She tapped on my fingers, and the two of us yed the game.

    Eventually, she won again.

    "Yay!"

    Well, I guess I lost.

    Although, I could already tell that whoever went first was guaranteed to win if they knew the strategy.

    A few minutester, some scientists walked inside the room.

    "Tachibana, how are the children?" they asked.

    "They''re a bit quiet at the moment, but Mio and Ayato yed the game with me."

    "Alright, so we''ll put down Hasegawa Mio and Mizuhara Ayato for the extended program?"

    "Yes, please do that."

    After scribbling some things down on the clipboard, the scientists left the room again.

    Extended program?

    "Alright, everyone! Who''s hungry?"

    As expected, there was no response.

    "Come on, guys! Follow me. We''ll go to the cafeteria," he continued.

    Eventually, he just opened the door and waited for the children to follow him. Hasegawa and I walked over, and some others joined us as well, but most of the children were still frozen in ce.

    "Come on, guys, aren''t you hungry?"

    Slowly but surely, the rest of the children also followed behind.

    Our group walked through a very long hallway. There were lots of different rooms, which all looked like different types ofbs.

    We all sat down in the cafeteria as we waited for the food to be given to us.

    A few momentster, a scientist approached Tachibana-sensei again.

    "Um, so what''s the derived quotient of Mizuhara Ayato?"

    "It''s 99."

    "Ah, is he the one rted to subject 0?"

    "Yes."

    The scientist wrote some more stuff down before leaving once again.

    (Continued)

 Chapter 44 Bright Sun, Soft Sand, Cold Water - Part 1

    I slowly walked towards the deep blue ocean.

    The salty air began filling my nostrils as I strolled along the sand.

    They said they were near the yground.

    In the distance, I saw a veryrge group of people.

    A girl began running over to me, hair swaying in the wind.

    "Mizuhara~"

    "Hi, Kinoshita. There are a lot of people here."

    "Yeah, there are people from lots of different sses gathered here."

    "Ah."

    The two of us walked back over to the group as everyone was happily ying around. When we got back, the two of us were approached by Takeuchi.

    "Ooh, are you two dating?" He suddenlymented.

    A few students looked this way.

    "No," I replied.

    I nced at Kinoshita, whose face was bright red.

    Takeuchi pped me in the back before pulling me into the group. Everyone was setting up food and other things on several pic tables that our group seemed to have taken over. A few boys were over at the barbeque stations, heating them up.

    I looked around; there seemed to be lots of people here who I''d only seen a few times around at school. In total, there appeared to be around 50 people; it was really a big party. There was a group of people ying volleyball and another big group having a swim in the sea. It was definitely the biggest party I''ve ever been to.

    Suddenly, Takeuchi stopped in ce and pointed at something.

    "Look, Mizuhara, Takagi and Riku are dating now."

    "Oh."

    "Isn''t that so annoying! When am I going to get a girlfriend?"

    "I guess you have to put yourself out there."

    "Why won''t a girl confess to me..."

    "I mean, it''s not thatmon."

    He suddenly began whispering.

    "...Mizuhara, I think Kinoshita likes you."

    "Ah, you think so?"

    "...She definitely likes you. The moment she saw you in the distance, I saw her face light up. When will a girl be like that to me...?"

    "Well, you could try talking to some of the girls around?"

    "It''s not that simple, you know?!"

    I guess I wasn''t exactly a professional at socialising, either.

    I saw his eyes move in another direction.

    "Ah, imagine going out with Fujiharu; she''s so pretty..."

    "That sure would be great..."

    "I know, right?"

    On a separate note, it seemed that Fujiharu was also here. I guess that was to be expected since she was so popr. Not only her, however, but I also managed to catch a glimpse of Tachibana as well.

    How did someone manage to n such a grand event?

    "Mizuhara, do you have anyone you like?" Takeuchi asked.

    "Uh, not at the moment."

    "Are you sure...? There isn''t a single girl you have a crush on?"

    "I guess."

    "I can''t tell whether you''re lying or not."

    "I''m really not."

    "Ah, so you don''t mind if I ask out Kinoshita?"

    "Go ahead."

    "Ah, so you really don''t care."

    I guess he was trying to catch me with a bluff.

    I honestly didn''t care who he wanted to ask out.

    It seemed that Takeuchi''s eyes were still glued to Fujiharu.

    "Hey, hey, Mizuhara, do you think Fujiharu is a model?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I don''t know."

    "You seem to talk to her a lot in ss."

    "Do I?"

    "More than any of the other boys, although it seems you guys only started talking this semester. I thought she was dating another boyst semester."

    "I guess it''s just a coincidence."

    "Perhaps, I want to talk to her more often but she''s always surrounded by people."

    "You could find a time when she''s alone?"

    "Yeah, but then I get all nervous."

    Eh.

    Okamoto and Takagi made their way over to us.

    "You actually came, Mizuhara!"

    "Yeah."

    "Let''s go over and y some beach ser with them, apparently, someone brought goals and a ball," Okamoto suggested.

    Takeuchi seemed hesitant.

    I actually wanted to y.

    Ser was one of the only sports that I ever truly enjoyed¡ªit was the only sport I yed before my time in the Ideal Human Project.

    "I''ll y."

    "Okay! Mizuhara''s in. How about you, Take?"

    "Eh... if Mizuhara''s going, I guess I''ll also y."

    "Alright! We''ve got two more yers!"

    We made our way over and joined the pack of around 15 boys. There was also a significant number of girls sitting around, acting as spectators. Everyone was pumped up as if they were about to y the most important match of their lives.

    I guess this was a serious event...

    A few of the boys started to talk to the group.

    "How are we going to split the teams?"

    "Let''s do captains."

    "Who are going to be the captains?"

    "Okamoto and Furukawa should be the captains. They''re definitely the best here."

    "Hey! There''s no way Okamoto is better than me! I y club!" One of the boys shouted.

    "You never pass the ball!"

    "That''s because you guys are all bad!"

    "You always lose it because you''re a ball hog; you''re bad!"

    The boy was now fuming with anger.

    I guess his ego was substantially hurt.

    "I''m literally way better than Okamoto! The only person here who''s better than me is Furukawa!"

    "No, you''re not, Yamada, you''re terrible."

    In this scene, it looked as if a fight was about to break out.

    Finally, Okamoto walked over.

    "It''s fine. If he wants to be a captain, let him."

    Okamoto managed to convincingly resolve the situation. Begrudgingly, Yamada was made one of the captains alongside Furukawa. The rest of us got into a group as the two captains walked to the front.

    "Alright, let''s do rock paper sciss¡ª" Before Yamada could finish his sentence, Furukawa offered the choice to him.

    "You can pick first."

    "O-oh, okay... um, I pick Kimura."

    As Kimura made his way over, Furukawa named his choice.

    "I''ll take Okamoto."

    That continued for a little while until I was chosen by Furukawa as well.

    A few minutester, the teams were somewhat evenly distributed. We had one less yer but based on the reactions of most students. Our team was definitely the stronger one. The teams split up and began sorting out the positions to some degree. After some group discussions, Okamoto announced that the game would start.

    Kick-off was given to them as Yamada passed the ball to Kimura.

    It was somewhat difficult to run in the sand, but that also meant it was harder to both defend and attack. On their team, there wasn''t a lot of passing as Yamada began charging toward our goal.

 Chapter 45 Bright Sun, Soft Sand, Cold Water - Part 2

    So this is youth.

    Yamada quickly lost his footing as several of our yers tacked the ball off of him. There were a few passes around before the ball was slowly passed back to me. I controlled it and quickly scanned the area before passing it back off.

    The pace of this beach ser was significantly slower than that of normal ser. It was like everyone was running in slow motion. I could hear the cheers of the girls on the sidelines, it was mostly whenever Furukawa or Kimura were dribbling the ball.

    I stayed back in defence for most of the time. It had been quite a while since Ist yed, and I didn''t really want to go all out here.

    The ball zipped between yers as our team managed to pull off some decent teamwork. Finally, the ball was crossed in, and Furukawa managed to head the ball into the back of the small. Hended st on the ground, covering himself with sand.

    Our teammates rushed to celebrate with him.

    "Ugh! Why can''t you guys defend better?" Eximed Yamada to his team.

    "We''re not all ser yers, you know!"

    It seemed Yamada was definitely not a very amiable person.

    There was a bit more of amotion before someone kicked the ball and started the game back up. Their team did a little bit of passing around the back, but as soon as Yamada got the ball, he immediately began charging towards our goal.

    He managed to actually dribble past several of our yers. As I looked at him, I noticed that he had a very determined look on his face. I guess he was pumped up from all the anger. I drifted toward the centre and prepared to tackle him.

    He managed to get past another one of our yers, but he had lost most of his control of the ball due to the fact that he needed to take a really long touch. The ball began rolling toward me as he charged at full speed. He was determined to get the ball no matter what it took.

    He sprinted toward me as I took a small touch of the ball.

    When he was close enough to me, he instantly came in for a big slide tackle.

    I saw thating from a mile away and flicked the ball up a little, so it went over his body.

    Sand sshed all over the ce as I regained control of the ball.

    He was really angry now, I dribbled the ball a little so he wouldn''t be able to tackle it off me. He kicked my ankle several times as he tried to desperately get the ball.

    I passed it off and took a few steps back.

    Yamada scrambled up from the ground and began sprinting at the yer with the ball.

    "Hey, Mizuhara, you''re pretty good. Did you used to y?" Asked Okamoto.

    "A little bit."

    "That was a clean flick that you just did."

    "Thanks."

    "Yamada''s pretty enthusiastic, isn''t he?"

    "I guess you could say that."

    "He used to y in a team with me."

    "Really?"

    "Yeah, but he didn''t get selected for the A-team, so the two of us ended up splitting up. He was absolutely furious when he heard the news. The reason for him not being chosen was because he was too selfish, he never put trust in his teammates, and that resulted in him constantly being out of position."

    "Ah, so you guys went to the same club. I guess he''s always been like this, then."

    "Mhm, we still do. He''s mad at me because I''m in the A-team and he''s in the B-team. I''ve tried talking to him about it, but it seems his anger''s not going to go away soon."

    "That''s not good."

    "I was hoping that he''d be able to show some initiative today, so I let him be the captain. However, it seems he''s not going to be changing his ways anytime soon."

    "Ah."

    A few momentster, the ball was passed over to us, and Okamoto managed to get control of it. I moved in to tackle him, but it seemed that he had just passed it off.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Everyone ran around for a few more minutes before Yamada got heated once again.

    "Why are you guys so useless? Just pass the ball over to me. I''m literally right in front of you!"

    "Yamada, this is a team game."

    "Shut up! Do you guys want to win or not?!"

    Okamoto walked over.

    "Yamada, you need to calm down."

    "Go away! You''re an overrated piece of shit." He grabbed Okamoto by the cor. A few boys ran over, but Okamoto gestured for them to stay back.

    "I don''t think you understand."

    "What do you mean?!"

    "It''s precisely this part of you that caused you to not be selected for the A-team."

    "Shut up! The coach is just an idiot."

    "Yamada, let go of me."

    Yamada tightened his grip, pinching Okamoto''s skin before he let go.

    "You need to take a break," said Okamoto.

    Yamada was pretty clearly angry, added with the heat. His face was as red as a tomato.

    Seeing the mood, most people dispersed and joined up into small groups to have chats. It seemed that ser time was over. Yamada stomped off towards the ocean as Okamoto and I walked to the drinks cooler. Takeuchi, Kinoshita and Takagi joined us.

    "Ah, I''m really not built for sport," said Takeuchi.

    "You weren''t that bad, especially for someone who doesn''t y ser," assured Okamoto.

    Kinoshita moved closer to me.

    "You were really good. I was watching," she said to me.

    "Thanks."

    Suddenly, Takagi pushed Kinoshita into me. Her head bumped into my chest as she tried to regain her bnce.

    "Whoopsies~"

    She giggled as a flustered Kinoshita fixed up her hair.

    "Sorry, Mizuhara~" Takagi said.

    "Anyways, let''s go grab some food," suggested Okamoto.

    "Yeah, I''m starving!" Added Takeuchi.

    The five of us made our way to the food table, which waspletely filled with various different snacks. It was quite a mess as lots of people would take a few bites and leave the packaging open. The others grabbed some food as I waited.

    "Are you not going to eat anything, Mizuhara?" Asked Okamoto.

    "I already had quite a bit to eat at lunch."

    "Ah, that''s fine then."

    Suddenly, I got a message on my phone.

    meet me behind the toilets

 Chapter 46 Bright Sun, Soft Sand, Cold Water - Part 3

    Following the text, I slowly began making my way over to the toilets.

    They were a pretty significant distance away from the main area. It took around 5 minutes just to walk there. As I arrived, I looked around to see if there was anyone else nearby. It seemed aside from a few members of the public, we''d be all alone.

    I made my way behind the toilets to find Tachibana standing there.

    "So what''s the matter?" I asked.

    "There''s no one else I can talk to about this..."

    "What is it?"

    "It''s about the Tachibana System."

    "Ah."

    "Apparently, they''re going to implement it into the school next year."

    "Well, I guess that''s happening then."

    "How can you be so calm about this?"

    "I mean¡ª"

    "You know what the Tachibana System entails right?"

    "Yeah."

    "I don''t have much to worry about, but you on the other hand, are you going to be able to protect all of your friends?"

    Her hair swayed as the breeze brushed through this shaded area.

    I looked down at her.

    "Who says I''m going to protect them."

    "Haa, you''re as cold as always, but my question to you is, are you really going to be able to sacrifice them?"

    I took a few steps closer to her.

    "Tachibana, you have a friend, don''t you?"

    "Sorry, but I don''t make myself vulnerable by doing things like that, Ayato."

    "That''s not true, is it."

    "What makes you say that?"

    "Ichikawa Mana, that''s her name, isn''t it?"

    "S-she''s not my friend."

    "You''re not as invincible as you think, Tachibana."

    She was obviously taken aback by my revtion.

    "I assume you''re going to try to get me expelled as soon as the Tachibana Systemmences. However, you''ve got a pretty big liability to carry, so are you going to be able to do it?" I said.

    "Y-you... don''t call her a liability..."

    "You''ve read The Tachibana System, haven''t you? You''re probably the person with the deepest understanding of the system aside from Tachibana Kohei himself. So, with that advantage, do you think you can defeat me?"

    "You also have a copy... I don''t have any advantage."

    "Why are you lying? I know that you were the person who sent that man to confiscate it from me. You''ll be happy to know that I never got an opportunity to read it either."

    Well, it wasn''t exactly that I never got an opportunity to read it. It was more of another reason. However, it was certain that Tachibana was the reason that man came.

    I can''t let myself get expelled for the sake of my mission.

    "Haha, you really are something, aren''t you? Yes, I did send the man, and yes, I will get you expelled from this school."

    "Are you really going this far to stop my mission?"

    "Yes, I won''t let my father get what he wants; I won''t let you get what you want, Ayato."

    "But, can you do it?"

    There was a moment of silence.

    "It''s not about whether or not I can do it¡ªno matter what, I must do it."

    With that, she turned around and began walking back toward the group.

    The Tachibana System.

    It really wasing to the school.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I wonder why Tachibana called me over to tell me about it.

    There were definitely many things that she was hiding during the conversation.

    Oh well.

    I also began making my way back over to the others.

    **

    A few momentster, I was back in the group.

    "Mizuhara, where did you go?" Asked Okamoto.

    "I just went to the toilet."

    "Ah, alright, well, we were nning on having a swim. Are youing?"

    "I didn''t bring any bathers."

    "Oh, that''s not good..."

    "It''s fine. Just go without me."

    "Are you sure?"

    "Yeah, I''ll be fine by myself."

    "If you say so..."

    The others were all getting changed into their bathers as they prepared to go to the sea. Kinoshita looked over at me.

    "Mizuhara, are youing?"

    "He forgot his bathers," replied Okamoto.

    I found a rtively shaded spot underneath a tree. As I sat down in the sandy dirt and leaned up against the rough bark, I heard the very slight breath of someone. It seemed that someone was sitting on the other side of the trunk. It was a nice ce to sit, covered from the sun, on a t plot ofnd.

    I looked into the distance for a little while until the other person started talking to themselves.

    "¡ªI wonder if we''ll ever make up..."

    The person on the other side stretched their arms and suddenly touched my shoulder. They jolted before pulling their arms back.

    "¡ªAh, is someone there?"

    "Yeah."

    "¡ªWait, that voice..."

    Suddenly, they fell silent.

    I could also recognise the voice on the other side of the tree¡ªit belonged to Fujiharu.

    As the cold ocean air blew against my body, I leaned up against the tree. I watched as everyone enjoyed their time at the beach, happily ying around and talking. It was much quieter here, with only the faint distance chatter in the distance.

    I felt the sensation of soft dirt and sand at my feet as I rxed.

    It was quiet.

    "¡ªAyato..." Fujiharu whispered from the other side.

    "Yeah?"

    "...do you want to see the real me?" She asked.

    The real her?

    To bepletely honest, I wasn''t all that interested.

    I had already seen a decent amount of her.

    "...I''m not the person that everyone thinks I am." She added.

    I guess a response from me wasn''t needed.

    "...ah, you probably don''t care that much."

    Her voice was different from usual.

    Suddenly, she went quiet again.

    The two of us continued to sit on opposite sides of the tree.

    We stayed like that for almost twenty minutes.

 Chapter 47 Kanakos Desires - Part 1

    Several dayster, I was informed that Kanako was having her first few exams.

    I wished her good luck as I also began making my way to school.

    Walking across the courtyard, I looked over at the same scenery I see every morning. The school was practically empty at this time since I would always arrive quite early. The early morning dew wet my shoes a little bit as I stepped on the soft grass. It was a chilly morning, contrasting with thest couple of mornings which were all quite warm.

    I eventually made my way into the main building, where all the ssrooms were. It was three stories high, and my ssroom was on the second floor. I climbed the flight of stairs until I made my way to the sliding door of the ss. Pulling it open, the door ground on the rail until it finally showed me what was inside.

    As I made my way over to my seat, I noticed that Fujiharu wasn''t here today. Well, at least she wasn''t as early as she usually was.

    I ced my bag down in the empty ssroom and took my seat. I had finished reading Being and Nothingness, so I needed to borrow another book from the library. It was the longest time I had ever spent reading one single book. I guess it just goes to say how chaotic the past few weeks have been.

    After putting my stuff down, I took the book out of my bag and began making my way over to the library. The schoolyard was still very quiet, with hardly any students having arrived; there were only a small number of teachers in their offices as well. As I entered the haven of books, I took a quick nce at Our Picks. As usual, the books on disy there weren''t all that interesting.

    I walked around, looking at various different books. I didn''t really have a specific genre in mind so I would just look around until I found something interesting. As I walked past the ssics section I saw something that caught my eye.

    It was 1984, by George Orwell, the quintessential dystopian novel. I felt as if it was somewhat fitting, considering the future of National High School. I made my way over to the counter and returned Being and Nothingness before borrowing 1984. I made my way out of the library and back toward the ssrooms.

    There were a few more students walking around the yard since I spent a decent amount of time in the library. As I entered the ssroom once again, I noticed several bags on the ground beside the seats, however, there was still not a single other person sitting inside. Granted, most students just left their bags inside before going outside to socialise.

    I took a seat and started to read through 1984. As I began making my way through the literature, more and more students began arriving at school.

    Eventually, it was time for the first period. The teacher walked in, looking at everyone who was sitting down.

    The teacher made their way over to me.

    "Where''s Fujiharu?"

    "I''m not sure."

    "It''s almost been an entire week, and she hasn''t shown up to school once..."

    "That''s not good."

    It seemed that she still hadn''te to school, which was unusual. Although it was possible that she was sick or had to take a few days off school for any number of reasons. She hadn''te to school for a single day this entire week.

    ss began, and the teacher asked everyone to take out their chemistry assignments. I grabbed it out of my bag and ced it on the table.

    However, as I looked around, it seemed that most of the other students hadn''t finished it. The teacher had a very disappointed look on her face, but eventually, they caved.

    "Ugh, well, since most of you haven''t finished it, I guess I''ll extend the deadline."

    There was a celebration in the ss.

    "But! If you still haven''tpleted the work by next Monday, expect harsh punishments."<novelnext></novelnext>

    The ss went silent.

    After that, the teacher brought something up onto the board and began teaching the lesson. As usual, I didn''t really have much to learn, so I just sat silently, listening to their lesson. The time went by pretty slowly, but soon enough, chemistry was over, and it was time for maths.

    "By the way, guys, we''ll be having a maths test in two days."

    There was outroar in the ss.

    "Two days?! That''s way too soon!"

    "Yeah, I''ve got other tests this week as well!"

    "I''ve got basketball training tonight!"

    People were frantically articting their various issues.

    However, unlike before, the teacher did not budge.

    "The test is on Friday no matter what; we''re preparing you for next year."

    Next year.

    "If you don''t want to fail, I suggest using this lesson efficiently, I''ve printed out some practice tests, I highly rmendpleting them all."

    She walked around, handing out a pretty thick pile of papers to each student.

    I looked down at the questions I was given.

    In the end, I decided to just read 1984 instead. Since this was just a revision lesson, it shouldn''t be too much of an issue for the teacher. Even after seeing that I wasn''t revising, they didn''t seem toin, just letting me do what I wanted.

    Secrets, ''If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.''

    That was certainly something that was true.

    It is near impossible to keep a secret once you are aware of it.

    Whether it be your subtle movements, your unconscious thought or slight changes in your behaviour, once you realise a secret, you are always giving off hints about it.

    The lesson was reaching its end.

    "By the way, guys, I will be changing the seating arrangement next week. I''ll email them to you by the end of Saturday."

    With that, the ss was dismissed, and we were allowed to go to recess.

 Chapter 48 Kanakos Desires - Part 2

    On the way back from school, I got a text from Kanako.

    just finished my exams, results areing out on friday

    Ah, it looks like it won''t be muchter before I am relieved of my duties.

    I slowly made my way back to my dorm room.

    There wasn''t much I needed to do today. I hoped to just be able to sit on my bed and read through 1984. As I made my way back through the busy courtyard, I entered the dormitory and climbed the stairs to my level.

    Many of the boarders were gathered in themunal room, ying with the various different games that were set up, from pool to table tennis. However, I opted to go straight to my room, I unlocked the door and walked into my quiet oasis. I ced my bag on the ground before taking a seat on my bed.

    As I looked at the ground, I noticed that there was quite a bit of dust.

    Ah, I haven''t cleaned my floor in a while.

    Putting the novel back down, I made my way toward the cleaning room. There was a specific room in the dorms where you could go at any time to borrow cleaning supplies. It was only a few rooms down from where I lived. As I walked through the hallway, I was suddenly greeted by Kinoshita, who had just opened her door.

    "O-oh, hi, Mizuhara."

    "Hey Kinoshita."

    "So, what are you doing?"

    "I''m just going to grab some cleaning supplies."

    "Ah, same here!"

    The two of us made our way to the cleaning room.

    "Did you spill something?" she asked as I grabbed a mop from the corner.

    "I just wanted to clean my floor."

    "Oh, I''m here because there''s some mould in my bathroom."

    As I grabbed the equipment I needed, I began to leave the room.

    "So, Mizuhara, are you doing anything this afternoon?"

    "I have some homework."

    I didn''t, actually, but I wanted some alone time.

    "Ah, that''s all good then," she responded.

    With that, we returned to our respective dorms, and I started to mop my floor. A few minutester, I finished with the equipment and returned it to the storage room.

    After that, I took a seat on my bed once again and began reading the novel I borrowed.

    ''In the face of pain, there are no heroes.''

    That was something that I remember from my time back in the Ideal Human Project.

    After a few hours of reading, I decided to take a break andy down on my bed.

    **

    It was starting to get prettyte at night.

    I decided that it was about time to make some dinner. I made my way over to my fridge and looked through the contents.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I guess I''ll make some sd with chicken.

    I began preparing the ingredients and chopping up the vegetables.

    A few momentster, I heard a knock at the door. I ced my knife down and walked over to the entrance to see who was there. As I opened the door, I saw Kinoshita with a bowl of food.

    "Hey, I made some risotto, but my roommate is eating out, so I have a little bit extra. Would you like some?"

    I looked at the risotto, and for the most part, it looked pretty well made. I wasn''t really into risotto generally, but since she was here, I decided to ept it.

    "Sure."

    She passed the bowl over to me, and I brought it into my room.

    When I looked back over, it seemed that she was still standing at my doorway.

    "Um, do you want toe in?" I asked.

    She took off her shoes and made her way into my room.

    "I was making some sd and chicken just then, so the ingredients are still on the bench."

    "Ah, I didn''t realise you were also cooking." She responded.

    "It''s fine. I''ll leave the ingredients for tomorrow."

    I ced the risotto on my table and grabbed a spoon.

    "So, what were you up to tonight?" she asked.

    "I was just reading."

    "Oh, what book are you reading?"''

    "1948."

    "I''ve heard of that. It''s by George Orwell, isn''t it?"

    "Yeah."

    "I was never really too interested in those types of books."

    A few minutester, I managed to finish all of the risotto.

    "Are you done?" she asked.

    "Yeah."

    She took the bowl and began making her way out of my room. It was quitete anyways, and tomorrow was also a school night.

    "I hope you liked the food~"

    "It was good."

    As she left, Iy down on my bed once again.

    The Tachibana System.

 Chapter 49 Kanakos Desires - Part 3

    We finished on Friday afternoon.

    I didn''t receive any texts from Kanako.

    I decided to go over to her ce to see how she went.

    I made the short walk over to her grand apartmentplex. Scanning my keycard, I entered through therge ss doors, which automatically opened. I took the elevator up to her floor and knocked on her door.

    "Kanako, are you there?"

    A few footstepster, the door clicked open and I was greeted by her.

    "Hey, Mizuhara."

    "Can Ie inside?" I asked

    "Sure, I guess."

    She let me in, and the two of us took a seat on the living room couch.

    There was a brief moment of silence before I asked her the question.

    "How''d you go on your exams?"

    She made her way into her room and grabbed her bag.

    After bringing it over, she took the tests out and passed them to me.

    English, 59%

    Maths, 71%

    Science, 43%

    Humanities, 49%

    Looks like she managed to pass them all. I guess I''m safe.

    "Good job, Kanako."

    For some reason, she didn''t seem very happy about it.

    "Hey, Mizuhara, can I get a reward...?"

    A reward?

    "Um, do you want to go to the arcade or something?"

    "Okay!"

    I guess the arcade it was.

    "Can you wait a moment? I need to fix up my hair~"

    "Alright."

    I waited on her sofa as she prepared herself in the bathroom. She did pass a few of the exams by the skin of her teeth. 4% less on her science exam and she would have failed. However, it was pretty nice that she managed to pass them all nheless, I assume that her father won''t have any further issues with me as a result.

    A few minutester, she made her way out of the bathroom.

    "I''m ready, let''s go!"

    I got up and followed her down to the ground floor.

    For some reason, she seemed to be a little less talkative than normal.

    *

    We went to the mall arcade which was probably one of the biggest in the area. Filled with bright colours and an endless number of games, it was a haven for children and adults alike. There was a veryrge entrance with a plentiful number of advertisements and signs to fill our eyes.

    20% off when you put $50 or more on your card!

    New game Ball Drop!

    $10 for a game of Lasertag!

    There were definitely lots of things to look at.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I followed Kanako as she led the way into the arcade. We made our way over to the counter and purchased our cards.

    "How much money are we going to put on them?" I asked.

    "How about a hundred dors?" She said.

    It was a prettyrge amount of money, although I wasn''t exactly broke anymore after her father''s generous payments to me. In the end, I agreed, and the two of us put a hundred dors each on our cards.

    After that, the employee handed them back to us as we explored the forest of arcade games.

    "Hey, Mizuhara."

    It was so loud inside that it was very hard to hear each other, even when we were talking in rtively loud voices.

    "Yeah?"

    "Let''s go y that shooting game!"

    She pointed over at a little truck-looking shelter which housed a shooting game. There were two veryrge guns inside as we entered the truck. We took a seat and scanned our cards on the scanners near the bottom of the truck.

    The game started up on a screen near the front of the truck, where the windscreen would usually go. From what I could see, there seemed to be some story about a group of people who ended up getting lost in a jungle. The jungle was filled with dangerous monsters from massive spiders to hordes of bees.

    With the guns we were given, we need to shoot them before they whittled our health down. It was a decently-designed game which wasn''t exactly all that interesting to y. After the first few minutes, the entire game was just practically the exact same thing in a slightly different setting each time. After a little while, we eventually got overrun, and our health went down to zero.

    "Ah, we died," she said.

    The screen showed a popup which said, scan your cards to refill your health.

    However, it seemed that Kanako had had enough.

    We got out of the small truck machine and made our way over to the air hockey table.

    "Just to let you know, I''m pretty good at air hockey."

    She scanned her card, and the machine dropped a puck onto the table. With all her strength, she smashed the puck towards my side of the table. It ricocheted several times before I returned it to her side. It was pretty hard to follow with the eyes as it bounced around the edges incredibly quickly. However, it wasn''t too hard to predict where it would end up.

    A few minutester, the score was 3-5 my way. Kanako seemed to have been hyped up as she hit the puck with even more power. It swiftly slipped past and slotted itself into my goal.

    "Yeah!"

    I picked it up out of a little hole near the side of the machine. cing it back on the table, I smacked it to her side.

    Our rallysted a few hits as the puck bounced back and forth.

    A few more minutester, I managed to secure the win.

    "Ah, so close~"

    "You yed well."

    "Hehe, don''t talk down to me." She furrowed her eyebrows.

    The two of us looked around for a little bit before something caught her attention.

    "Hey, Mizuhara, let''s take a photo."

    She pointed at a photobooth which was quite obviously for girls, just judging by the way the outside of the machine was designed.

    "Uh..."

    "Come on! It''ll be so fun~"

    "I guess."

    The two of us walked inside, and she made a pose.

    The machine shed, and Kanako yed with some of the different editing tools that it provided. After adding some effects, she printed the photos out. The machine spewed them out, and she handed one to me.

    "Aha, your face looks so funny~"

    She had added an effect so my face was slightly covered by a filter.

    She slid the photo into her pocket before dragging me over to the next game she wanted to try.

 Chapter 50 Kanakos Desires - Part 4

    Kanako dragged me over to a w machine and pointed at one of the toys.

    "Get that for me."

    "Huh, why me, though."

    "Just do it!"

    I scanned my card, and the machine lit up.

    I wasn''t exactly a professional at w machines, so I doubted that I''d be able to get the toy she wanted. The machines were usually rigged anyways. It would likely take a few attempts before the machine would even properly grab the toy. However, she seemed to be eagerly watching the w as I controlled it around.

    Well, I guess I''ll try.

    I positioned the w as well as I could and pressed the button to drop it. It made its descent down to the pile of goodies before seemingly closing its jaws and picking up one of the toys. However, as soon as it lifted the toy up, there was a bit of a jolt, and it dropped it back into the pile.

    She appeared to be disappointed.

    "I''m not good at these," I said.

    Suddenly, she scanned her card, and the machine lit up once again.

    "Watch and learn," she eximed.

    I watched as she positioned the w slightly off-centre from the toy.

    "The secret is to hook the tag," she exined.

    After moving it around for a little bit, she pressed the button, and the w dived into the toy pile. A momentter, it closed its mouth and picked up one of the toys by the tag. Unexpectedly, it didn''t fall off as the w moved toward the hole. The w opened and dropped the toy down the chute, giving it to us.

    "That was impressive."

    "I know, right? I''m pretty good, aren''t I?"

    She seemed to have gotten a toy that looked like a big plushy turtle. She hugged it into her chest and smiled.

    "Alright, let''s go to the basketball game next!"

    The two of us made our way over to the row of basketball arcade machines.

    "Are you good at basketball?" She asked.

    "Not really."

    "Oh,e on~ you look pretty athletic."

    "Do I?"

    I scanned my card, and then the machine fed several basketballs to me.

    I''ve watched basketball a few times, although I never really got to y it properly. From memory, I tried to replicate the form as well as I could. I tossed the ball in a nice parab, swishing it straight into the basket.

    "That wasn''t half bad,"mented Kanako.

    "Thanks."

    She then grabbed a ball and tossed it. It hit the rim of the basket and bounced to the side.

    "I''m not warmed up yet," she quickly stated.

    Again, she grabbed another ball. This time, the ball swished into the basket. Following her shot, she continued her momentum, scoring several more baskets. There was a timer and a score on the game, so she yed until the time ran out. In the end, she was just a few points off of the daily high score.

    "Ah, I would''ve beaten the high score if we didn''t waste the first few seconds."

    She then scanned her card and started the game back up. Swiftly, she picked up the basketballs one by one and tossed them into the ring. Her movements were fluid, throwing one ball after another. They all swished into the basket, not even touching the edge of the ring. A minuteter, the timer ran out, and she looked up at her score.

    The machine suddenly began shing and changing colours.

    New Daily High Score!

    "See?"

    "Good job," I replied.

    The machine beeped as it registered points onto Kanako''s card.

    As she looked around, something caught her eye.

    "Mizuhara!"

    "What is it?"

    She pointed at an arcade machine.

    "It''s chess!"

    "It sure is."

    She grabbed onto my sleeve and began pulling me over. As the two of us made our way toward the chess machine, she looked back at me. She seemed to have gotten flustered and quickly let go of my sleeve.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The chess game was made for a single yer. It had different settings for the difficulty of theputer and gave different amounts of points rtive to the difficulty you selected.

    Easy. (x1 points)

    Intermediate. (x5 points)

    Hard. (x20 points)

    Impossible. (x100 points)

    Apparently, the game gave you points for each piece you took, and if you managed to get a checkmate, you gained the number of points for every piece on the board.

    As expected, she picked Impossible difficulty and began ying.

    I watched as she yed against theputer, she was ying ck, and theputer was ying white.

    Theputer started with Pawn to E4.

    She responded with Pawn to E5.

    The two of them then brought out their knights, and theputer yed Bishop to B5, starting the Ruy Lopez.

    A few movester, theputer was already in a losing position.

    "It''s not very good~" Kanako teased.

    "I think you''re just too good."

    "Hehe," she giggled at my statement.

    Less than five minutester, Kanako already managed to checkmate theputer. The machine lit up as it celebrated Kanako''s win. A few momentster, it started frantically adding points to her card.

    "Ah, I think we should go home for the day," she suggested.

    "Howe? You''ve still got plenty of money on your card."

    "Well, um..." she seemed to be stuttering for some reason, "I think we shoulde back another... day..."

    "I guess that''s fine as well."

    "Um, do you want toe back to my ce?" She asked.

    "Sure, I guess. It''s pretty close to my dorm anyways."

    *

    As we walked into therge reception area of the apartment again, she didn''t seem to look back at me a single time. We took the elevator silently as it slowly travelled up to her floor.

    The two of us walked over to her door as she scanned her keycard.

    For some reason, she wasn''t talking at all.

    She led me over to her couch, and I took a seat. As soon as I sat down, she sat down right next to me and shuffled closer.

    "What''s the matter, Kanako?" I asked

    She still didn''t respond.

    The room went silent.

    All of a sudden, she started to speak.

    "...Mizuhara, you''re my tutor, right?"

    "At the moment, I guess."

    For some reason, the atmosphere felt mncholic.

    "Is my father going to continue to make you my tutor now that I''ve passed my exams?"

    "Probably not."

    Her expression went cold.

    "Mizuhara, I don''t go to your school, we don''t share any friends, and we never do anything together that isn''t rted to tutoring..."

    "I suppose."

    "We won''t have any reason to see each other after you''re relieved from your job. Once you stop being my tutor, we won''t see each other again."

    She got up from the couch.

    "Mizuhara, once we''re no longer tutor and student, what are we to each other?"

    ***

    [The volume still has one more chapter, it''ll be from the perspective of Kanako''s father.]

 Chapter 51 Kanakos Desires - Part 5

    Several days passed, and Kanako''s father returned home.

    It was rtivelyte at night and the apartment was only lit up by a few dim lights.

    "I must say, good work, Hanae. I never expected you to improve so much."

    "U-um, Father, can you continue to make Mizuhara my tutor? I still have much to impro¡ª"

    "Sorry, I''m afraid Mizuhara didn''t be your tutor because he wanted to."

    "W-what do you mean...?"

    "I was going to tell you this at some point¡ªI threatened him."

    "Y-you threatened him...?"

    "Yes, now that he''spleted the task I set for him, I''m not going to be able to control him anymore."

    "But... why...?"

    Kanako''s father took a seat at the dinner table.

    As Kanako tried toe to terms with what she heard, her father began making his way into his room. He had just had a long trip back and was quite tired. Her father made his bed andy in the nkets.

    A few minutester, Kanako barged into the room.

    "I want to transfer to National High School."

    "But Hanae, you were so against going to a school with boys."

    "I''ve changed my mind! I want to go to National High School."

    Kanako''s father was taken aback.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Hahaha, Mizuhara, you certainly haven''t let me down.

    "Are you sure? Hanae, I don''t think you''ve heard, but National High School is going to be going through some major changes next year."

    "I don''t care. I want to go there."

    Kanako''s father took a moment to think.

    The Tachibana System, will Hanae be able tost it?

    Well, I guess I''ve never been able to experience Tachibana Kohei''s works first-hand.

    Maybe, it could be good for her.

    "Hanae, I''ll let you transfer. However, I won''t be able to protect you once you''re there."

    "What do you mean?"

    "One of my colleagues created the worst schooling system known to man, and they''re implementing it there next year."

    "It doesn''t matter. I still want to go."

    "I like your determination. I''ll make a safety for you in case things go wrong. However, in the case something does go wrong, you''ll likely never see Mizuhara ever again."

    Kanako still showed a face full of determination.

    "Well, I guess it''s settled. I''ll sort out the logistics."

    ***

    [Volume 1.5 END]

 Chapter 52 Volume 1.5 Interlude + Afterword

    To all current and future students of National High School,

    Next year, the board has decided to implement a modern, progressive schooling system by the name of the Tachibana System. This will include major changes to all aspects of a student''s schooling experience. This email is being sent to inform you of some of the major changes.

    We are cancelling the fourth term of this year in order to amodate new construction and infrastructure ns. The government has provided the school with twenty-million dors for the purpose of building the necessary infrastructure.

    These changes will only affect those who are in high school next year. Our middle school and primary school facilities will be permanently shut down from next year on. This is in order to amodate the new system.

    First of all, all students will be required to live in the dormitory. There will be a major reconstruction and renovation of the dormitory to ount for the increased poption. This is mandatory, if you do not wish to live in the dorms, you must attend another school.

    Second of all, students will not be permitted to leave the campus ormunicate with people outside the campus, including parents and guardians, without permission. If a student is caught doing so, they will immediately be expelled.

    Third of all, students are not permitted to bring anything from outside of the school on the first day. A student caught with any other items will be immediately expelled. Students are expected to arrive at school in their uniforms. All items such as toiletries, clothes, food and study material will be provided by the school with respect to the Tachibana System.

    This is a revolutionary schooling system detailed by Tachibana Kohei, one of the greatest educators of all time. Sess in this schooling system directly corrtes to sess in the outside world. Be warned that if a student does not cope with the increased difficulties, they are likely to be expelled before thepletion of their schooling. However, if one managed toplete their schrship, they are guaranteed great sess in the future.

    At the moment, we are epting 180 students per year level. You will be notified if you are sessful in receiving a position; students currently attending National High School will get priority. A further 100 students per year level will be added to the waiting list. They may be called to attend the school for various reasons. If you are on the waiting list, please find alternative schooling until you are called up.

    If you do not wish to participate in the new system, you are to drop out and or simply not hand in the agreement. You are to use the next few months to find a new school to attend.

    Attached is a legally-binding agreement which needs to bepleted and returned to the school by the 19th of October. If it is notpleted and returned by then, the student will not be permitted to attend National High School.

    Kind regards,

    Acting Director and Principal of National High School

    Hayao Kurosawa

    ***

    A/N: The next volume might be a little slow at first, but trust me, the main girls doe back (with a veryrge role, especially Fujiharu Sara). I just need time to develop the school and the setting of everything. I hope the Special Exams are interesting, and feel free toment if you don''t get anything (It''s prettyplicated).

    Thank you for reading thus far, and I hope you continue with me on this 500+ chapter project~<novelnext></novelnext>

    ***

    [Volume 1.5 Afterword]

    Well, that was a rtively short volume, but I hope you enjoyed it nheless.

    It was quite fun writing the beach scene. I enjoy ser quite a bit myself, so I''ve been wanting to include it somewhere. Aside from that, I''ve managed to clean up Kanako-san''s arc and wrap it up in preparation for the next volume. I hope you''re excited to see the students once they all meet up again at National High School.

    In the beach chapters, I''ve chucked in some cameos of characters that will be much more important once we head into volume 2. Also, Fujiharu-san will be back, and she will continue to be the main heroine.

    Actually, while we''re on the topic of Yandere, I''d like just to rify something. As most of you have probably realised, there hasn''t been much Yandere action yet. This was a decision by me in order to develop the story more. Naturally, I promise it will be interesting, so just stick with it! (It''s for the good of the story~)

    I''ll write an interlude to drop some final exposition before we dive face-first into Volume 2 and the Tachibana System.

    Also, volume 2 will be much longer, and you won''t have to hear so much rambling from me.

    I''ve been chugging litres of coffee and staying upte so I can pump out a few more chapters before volume 2. Preferably, I''d like to have a few days where I can just purely n out the aspects of the school. As a result, I''ve been stockpiling some chapters.

    There will be some short stories and other content for the next day or two as I prepare for volume 2. They''ll be a little shorter, but I''d like to spend a decent amount of time nning volume 2.

    Anyways, if you''re enjoying the story, I hope to see you in volume 2.

    It''ll truly be a journey from beginning to end.

    ***

    By the way, the next volume may be a little bit hard to keep track of, so I''ve left a glossary here and in the Auxiry Volume. There aren''t many spoilers, so if you have to switch between tabs, feel free to do so.

    You can check this in the glossary section as well.

 Chapter 53 Short Story: Afford And Fujiharu

    [Final chapter before Volume 2]

    This short story is set a few months before the start of the current timeline. This was before Fujiharu really met Mizuhara.

    (I''m still waiting for my contract to be verified so I can use Italics and Bold, otherwise, the next few chapters are going to be extremely hard to read.)

    ***

    It was the first day of school when I, Kazuki Afford, was seated next to one of the cutest girls I had ever seen. She had long, flowing brown hair that cascaded down her back, framed by a pair of wide, sparkling emerald eyes that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. A beautiful, radiant smile graced her lips, making my heart skip a beat. Someone like me could never be with her; she was far out of my league.

    As I took my books out of my bag, I noticed that she was looking at me. We made eye contact for a split second, but I quickly looked away, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She really was cute.

    "Hey, you''re Afford, right?" she asked, her voice soft and melodic.

    I couldn''t get any words out of my mouth. I knew I should just ignore her, it would hurt less in the long run if I didn''t get too close.

    All of a sudden, she poked me in the arm. "I''m speaking to you, dummy."

    Before the start of high school, I had decided that I was going topletely remake myself. I was way too naive back in middle school, and as a result, I had my heart broken in the most painful ways. I was determined to act cool, to ignore any distractions that mighte my way.

    This morning, I spent over twenty minutes trying to style my hair. It was harder than I had expected, especially since I had never done it before. I think I might have put a little too much gel on it; I couldn''t even face my mom when I walked out to the kitchen. Although, I did think that my hair looked pretty good now.

    Maybe all of my efforts were paying off... I wasn''t the same person I used to be, was I really in her league now?

    I couldn''t take it anymore. I turned around and decided to greet her.

    "Hey."

    "Are you new here?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

    "Yeah, this is my first day at this school."

    "Ah, what old school did you go to?"

    "I went to Yokusuka College."

    "Ooh, I had some friends who used to go there as well, although they came here a few years ago."

    Wait, was I actually good at socializing now? It wasing so easily to me. I looked over at her, and she seemed happy as she spoke to me.

    "So, um, what''s your name?" I asked, trying to steady my racing heart.

    "I''m Fujiharu Sara, you can call me Sara."

    I couldn''t control the muscles on my face. Such a cute girl was letting me call her by her first name. Shoot, was my face turning red?

    She was still smiling at me.

    "O-oh, um, nice to meet you, S-Sara."

    "Ehe, I hope we can get along."

    "Likewise..."

    The teacher walked in for the first ss of the day.

    "Alright, everyone, wee to high school. Just to let you know, this is a big step up from middle school. For example, you''ll have homework basically every night for each individual subject as well."

    Ah, studying... I wasn''t too bad at it, although I wouldn''t exactly call myself smart.

    After a short introduction, the teacher immediately moved into the first ss of the day.

    "I hope everyone''s organised. Bring out your math textbooks and flip to page 3."

    The ss was filled with the sound of paper ruffling.

    As she taught the ss, everyone was frantically scribbling down notes. The pace had increased significantly from middle school. I was struggling to keep up with the speed as the teacher was exining everything. I looked over at Fujiharu, who was taking down notes in an extremely organised matter, with different coloured pens and everything.

    Wow.

    Eventually, the ss finished, and the teacher wrote the homework on the board. As I looked around, I noticed that the boy sitting on the other side of me hadn''t taken any notes. His page was still empty.

    I wouldn''t want to be like him.<novelnext></novelnext>

    He''s going to regret itter.

    I looked at the name tag on his pencil case, Mizuhara Ayato.

    "Alright, I want you guys toplete questions four to twenty on page 16."

    With that, the teacher began preparing for the next subject.

    "Hey, um, Sara..."

    "Yes? What is it Kazuki?"

    She just called me by my first name.

    "O-oh, um, I missed a bit on thepleting the square part..."

    "Ah! You can have a look at my notes if you want."

    "Thank you so much..."

    She passed me her workbook, and I looked at her caligraphy-like handwriting. I scanned through the contents and quickly copied down what I missed. After a little while, I handed her workbook back to her.

    "T-thanks."

    "You''re wee!"

    Ah, I still wasn''t used to that smile.

    As the next ss began, I looked up at the board and began reading the PowerPoint that the teacher was showing. I didn''t want to be left behind. If I just increased my speed a little bit, I''ll be able to take clear notes on the entire ss.

    "Hey, Kazuki."

    "Yes?"

    "Do you want to have lunch with me today?"

    Huh?

    Where was thising from?

    No way...

    Is this the start of my popr phase?

    "Yeah, s-sure."

    She smiled at me again.

    Well, I can''t concentrate on the ss anymore.

    "...the final phase of Mitosis is telophase, at this point the nuclear membrane reforms, and the chromosomes begin to decondense into their interphase conformations..."

    The teacher''s words were flowing in and straight out of my head.

    At the end of the ss, I had hardly taken down any notes.

    "Kazuki, you didn''t take many notes during that ss. Do you want to copy mine down?"

    "O-oh, but it''s recess..."

    "That''s fine. You can just give my workbook back next period~"

    She was so nice.

    With that, the ss was dismissed.

    Maybe this time... my broken heart will be healed by this angel.

    [Continued]

 Chapter 54 New School New Life - Part 1

    ''Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.''

    It was an ordinary morning¡ªas ordinary as a morning could get. It was neither too cold nor too hot, it was neither too wet nor too dry, and it was neither too windy nor too still. However, for if you know what today represented, you would believe it to be anything but ordinary.

    It was January 1st; why is this day special, you may ask?

    It was the official beginning of the new school year, but it was also the official beginning of the biggest experiment to ever be conducted on a group of children. It was an experiment on a scale muchrger than the Ideal Human Project. It was an experiment which would push the minds of hundreds of adolescents into agony¡ªwell, it''s not exactly as treacherous as that.

    Calling it an experiment isn''t exactly right, either.

    Formted after years of running the Ideal Human Project, Tachibana Kohei created his masterpiece, the true cumtion of all his knowledge. He called it the Tachibana System. It was, in theory, the greatest education system on the.

    However, the definition of greatest is up to the interpretation of the individual.

    I slowly began making my way toward the front gates.

    Originally, I lived on the school grounds in the dormitory. However, as of today, the room I resided in for the entirety ofst year would cease to be mine. Because today, every single student of National High School is allocated a dorm room.

    A few momentster, I joined a big group of students at a booth which was set up just beside the main gate.

    There were arge number of staff members, and from what I could see, they seemed to be handing out phones to all of the students. There were also other staff members carefully examining every student, searching their bodies from top to bottom. I decided to stand in line and wait for my turn to receive a phone.

    "Next."

    I was greeted by a man who was behind aptop.

    "What''s your name?" He asked.

    "Mizuhara Ayato."

    "Alright, the password to your phone is one, two, three, four. Once you get in, tell me what your phone number is."

    I unlocked the phone and opened the contacts app.

    After informing him of the phone number on the phone, he typed some more things into theputer before handing me a charger.

    "You''re all good. Make sure to change your password... next."

    With that, my school-issued phone was set up.

    Under the new system, you weren''t allowed to bring any personal possessions. This meant that everything you owned would be issued or acquired from the school.

    I changed the password and had a quick look at the apps which were avable.

    On the main screen, I was greeted with a few apps: Personal Information, Preseqta¡ªwhich was greyed out, Bank, Weather, Contacts, Mail and Map. They were all pretty self-exnatory except for the app called Preseqta.

    I checked out the Personal Information app.

    -

    Personal Information

    Name: Mizuhara Ayato<novelnext></novelnext>

    Age: 17

    Date of Birth: 10/10/2018

    Student Number: 192202

    ss: Not Assigned

    Housing: #142 - Boys

    Entry Type: Rmendation

    -

    It was some pretty basic information.

    As the time got closer to 9 am, more and more students were arriving at the school. They were all saying goodbye to their families and friends or whatnot. I guess the fact that they can''tmunicate with people outside the school is a pretty big deal.

    I assumed that there was going to be a bit of time before there was an organised assembly of sorts since most students were still arriving. During that time, I decided to make my way around the school and have a look at the renovations which took ce.

    The school seemed to have been split into two areas. Looking at the map, there was the original school zone which hadn''t been changed all that much, but there was another area, in the old middle school and junior school area, where a huge number of stores were built. I decided to make my way over and explore themercial zone.

    After walking through the schoolyard, I looked at themercial area, which had been swiftly constructed in the past several months. You could still see the foundations of the old middle school and junior school ssrooms. However, they had been redesigned into a variety of shops with realistic storefronts. It was like a small shopping vige; I noticed that most of the stores were empty, most likely because the school year was just beginning.

    From what I could see, there seemed to be a little clothing store, a miniature supermarket, a cafe, a big canteen, a medical centre, a retail store with furniture and games and various other buildings which were still being finished. It seemed that the short time frame meant that they weren''t able toplete everything before the school year began.

    It was all the bare necessities, per se. The shopping district would be one you''d expect from a small rural vige. It was nothing impressive, but it was certainly novel in a school setting.

    After having a little look around, I decided to make my way back towards the front gate.

    Apparently, everything we needed would be provided by the school. I guess this shopping district was what they meant by that. I assumed that this meant the school would be providing some sort of currency.

    A few minutester, I received a notification on my phone.

    -

    NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

    Wee to National High School.

    Please make your way to your allocated dorm room. Your designated room is written in the Personal Information app on your phone. Use the Map app to find it within the main dormitory building.

    -

    Well, it seemed that we had officially begun.

    I walked back over to the dormitory building alongside hundreds of other students. The dormitory building had been significantly renovated, with a huge number of rooms being built and making the entire building several stories higher.

    I made my way inside and into one of the newly-built elevators. A veryrge number of students were trying to squeeze in, forcing students to have to line up just to wait for the elevator to return with more space.

    I was one of the first to enter my new room.

 Chapter 55 New School New Life - Part 2

    I took a seat on one of the beds.

    I guess it would be a little while before all the students managed to get to their dorms. The entire process seemed to be a bit disorganised, especially due to the big horde of students which they appeared to have not prepared for.

    There were two beds in my room, which meant that I''d likely be living with a roommate now.

    I decided to have a quick look at the Bank app.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 0

    Owed: 0

    Owing: 0

    -

    I guess ''points'' was the currency here. They''d probably give us our allowance soon enough, although I am curious as to the value and how much everyone will get. Even with decent government funding, it wasn''t like they could really afford to pay each student hundreds or thousands of dors each month.

    A few minutester, another boy entered my room.

    "Oh, you''re already in here."

    "Yeah."

    "You''re Mizuhara, aren''t you?"

    "Yep, and you''re Kimura, I remember you ying beach ser."

    "Haha, same here."

    He walked over to the other bed and took a seat. He looked quite fit¡ªwell, as far as I could tell, I assumed that he either did training or at least yed quite a lot of sports. He was also quite popr with the girls when we were ying beach ser. I guess I''d describe him as a jock.

    We looked around silently before he decided to speak once again.

    "What do you think of this new system?" He asked.

    "I''m not sure. It seems interesting."

    "Ah, I''m pretty excited about the whole thing."

    "Really?"

    "Yeah, school was starting to get pretty mundane. This system sounds fun."

    All of a sudden, there was a notification on both of our phones.

    -

    National High School

    Hopefully, everyone has found their allocated rooms. If you still have not, please notify a teacher.

    In the next twenty minutes, staff will go around to each room and hand you your basic supplies. Please answer the door when they knock.

    -

    "Looks like we''ll be getting some goodies,"mented Kimura.

    "Yeah."

    As expected, there was a knock on our door, and Kimura made his way over.

    "I''ve got items for Mizuhara Ayato and Kimura Haruto."

    "Yep, that''s us."

    "Alright."

    The worker ticked our names off on his clipboard and handed Kimura two boxes.<novelnext></novelnext>

    He brought them over and plopped them onto the ground.

    I wonder what the school decided to provide us with.

    The two of us opened the boxes and observed the contents.

    From what I could see, we were given some hygiene items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and so on. There was also arge stack of textbooks and stationery, along with a school bag.

    "I guess we''ll have to get everything else from the stores."

    "It seems so."

    I began organising my things until we received another notification from the school.

    -

    National High School

    If you did not receive a box of supplies, please contact a teacher.

    All students, at 10 am, will attend a mandatory exam. It will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions, and the results will determine your ss cement at the beginning of the year. The venue is the main hall.

    If you do not attend, you will automatically be given a zero.

    -

    It seemed that sses were going to be based on merit.

    There were around twenty minutes before the designated time for the exam.

    I looked over at Kimura, who seemed to be smiling.

    "Ah, I''ve always wanted something like this," he said.

    "Oh, I guess you''re thepetitive type."

    "Hehe, I suppose you could say that."

    "Well, let''s get ready to go then."

    The two of us finished organising the stuff we got given before we grabbed our stationery and started making our way toward the exam venue. We took the crowded elevator down to the ground floor as arge number of other students were also doing the same thing.

    We walked with the group until we were at the entrance of the main hall. The cohort was split into year levels before we slowly entered one by one. I looked around as I entered the hall, it seemed that they had set out desks and chairs for every single student. Almost ten minutester, the entire cohort was seated in the examination room as the teacher began announcing some of the rules.

    "You have 50 minutes toplete the exam. Please write your answers on the answer sheet provided in pencil only. If you do not have a test or an answer sheet in front of you, please raise your hand."

    No one raised their hand.

    "Alright, anyone caught cheating will immediately receive a zero, and further consequences will be administered. Please write your name on the front cover."

    The teacher waited a few seconds.

    "Okay, you may begin."

    The entire hall was filled with the sound of paper flipping as students frantically began reading and answering the questions. I looked down at the test. There seemed to be a mix of every type of question from maths to English to science to humanities.

    I slowly read through the questions, it seemed that the difficulty wasn''t very consistent throughout, from questions which could be answered by a middle schooler to questions that you''d see on a third-year''s final exam.

    After reading through all of the questions, I decided to start answering some of them.

    *

    "Time''s up, pens down!"

    Teachers began walking up and down the hall, picking up the tests from everyone. I had a quick nce at the people beside me. It seemed that they were all quite stressed upon the conclusion of the exam.

    "Once your test has been collected, you may return to your dorm rooms. Further instructions will be sent through by the school."

    There was a huge ruckus as students all began exiting the main hall. A simr issue before urred as everyone tried to get to their rooms at the same time. Arge number of students were taking the emergency stairs up to their levels since there was such a long line for the overcrowded elevators.

    It got to the point where teachers needed toe and take control as students were beginning to push and shove in order to get into the elevator. Eventually, I got in and made my way up to my room.

 Chapter 56 New School New Life - Part 3

    "How''d you do on the exam?" Kimura asked.

    "I did alright. How about you?"

    "Ah, I think I did quite well. You reckon the results wille out soon?"

    "I''d assume so. They were multiple choice questions, so they can probably just scan them through a machine."

    "Yeah, that makes sense."

    The two of us had a rest on our beds as we waited for further instructions from the school.

    Less than thirty minutester, we received a message from the school. This time, the messages were different for each person.

    -

    National High School

    The results from your recent exam have been released.

    Your score is: 45%

    The average score was: 61.4%

    The highest score in your year was: 91%

    ~

    Your ss allocation is: ss 2-E.

    -

    Well, let''s hope my gamble pays off.

    I considered getting a higher score since this school was meritocratic. There was a chance that the higher sses get better treatment. However, there was one thing I couldn''t overlook. Tachibana was out to get me. It was best if I managed to keep a hostage by my side. From what I could see of her friend, Ichikawa Mana, they weren''t exactly the smartest student. I decided to bet that she''d get a score of around 45%.

    She would act as a safety if I managed to get into the same ss as her. I assumed that Tachibana would act a lot more cautiously if she saw that her friend was in my ss.

    "Which ss are you in?" Asked Kimura.

    "I''m in 2-E."

    "Ah, I''m in 2-A."

    There was a brief moment of silence.

    All of a sudden, there was another message from the school.

    -

    National High School

    Points have been distributed to your ounts.

    Points act as the currency of this school. You can use them at the various stores in themercial area. Simply open the Bank app if you would like to check your bnce. Points will be distributed once per month. You get points based on your ss and your rank.

    You have received: 4000 points (ss-E allowance) + 4980 points (Rank #2 out of 480 students)

    -

    I was quite curious as to how they decided the ranks. From what I could see, the ranks consisted of every student in the school. They seemed to have another ranking system¡ªhowever, considering I received such a low score on the cement exam. The ranking system must have been separate.

    Even more questionably, I''m ranked second.

    This meant that the school knew about my true abilities.

    Also, there was someone in the school who was ranked higher than me¡ªthere was only one person in the world who could have ranked higher than me if the rankings were urate...

    "Hey, Mizuhara, how many ss points did you get?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I got 4000."

    "Ah, I guess different sses get a different number of points."

    "How many did you get?"

    "I got 12000."

    "I see."

    Based on a quick deduction, I assumed that every ss got 2000 more points than the ss under them. If ss-A got 12000 points, then ss-B would get 10000, ss-C would get 8000, ss-D would get 6000, ss-E would get 4000 and so on. With that in mind, I pondered my situation. I still had no idea about the value of a point. I''d need to go over to the shops to see how much a point was worth.

    "You want to go over to themercial area?" Kimura asked.

    "Sure."

    It seemed that there weren''t going to be any sses today, so the two of us began making our way toward themercial area. As we made our way out of the dorms, it appeared that we weren''t the only people with such an idea. This school wasn''t really designed for this increase in students.

    We made our way over with the horde of students and noticed that all of the stores were basically packed to the brim.

    "Well, this ce is a bit busy. Do you want to go do something else?" Kimura asked.

    "I just want to take a quick look at the prices of some of the things."

    "Ah, that makes sense. I want to see it as well."

    We walked over and looked through the windows of some of the stores. There were already extremely long lines of students waiting to purchase items.

    I looked at some of the furniture.

    The price of a pretty basic desk was 6000 points. A chair was around 1750 points, and a small drawer was 3750 points.

    I then walked over to the grocery store and had a look.

    A loaf of bread was 250 points, an apple was 100 points, and a carton of milk was 400 points. Even with these prices, there were still a lot of factors in determining the value of a point; most important was how often we received them. At the moment, even a desk was more than half of my total points.

    I guess I''de backter for some groceries.

    "Hey, Mizuhara, I''m getting a better idea of school life here."

    "What do you mean?"

    "I have a suspicion that points are going to be extremely valuable. Just looking at the prices of these items, I assume that the school will make us treasure every point we have."

    "I see what you mean."

    The two of us walked over to the canteen and had a look at the prices of some of the meals.

    There were quite a few meals being disyed on the screens above the counter.

    Simple Vegetable Combo - 350 points

    Chicken Combo - 450 points

    Beef Combo - 500 points

    Deluxe Beef Combo - 750 points

    Deluxe Seafood Combo - 1100 points

    Just looking at this, if someone wanted to have 2 of the cheapest meals every day, it''d cost 21000 points per month. This was definitely not sustainable for most students at this school. The prices of items were incredibly high in rtion to the number of points we obtained. It looked like school life was going to be a struggle for the majority of people.

    "These prices are pretty intense,"mented Kimura.

    "Yeah, I think making our own meals is definitely the best idea."

    It was lucky that we managed toe to terms with the value of our points early. From the looks of it, many students here still have yet to realise the peril of the situation.

 Chapter 57 New School New Life - Part 4

    "Hey Mizuhara, I''ve got an idea."

    "What is it, Kimura?"

    "I think we should make our food together, this way we can split the costs."

    "That sounds good to me, although what do you eat?" I asked.

    "I don''t really mind, as long as it tastes decent, I''m fine with it."

    "I can make sandwiches every day. That''d probably be the most cost-effective method."

    "That''s fine with me."

    As we walked back to our dorm, we discussed ideas for saving points.

    "With such a strict budget, it''s definitely best we cooperate," he said.

    "Agreed."

    On our way back through the schoolyard, we saw Takeuchi and Okamoto walking together. The two of them approached us.

    "Hey, guys!" Greeted Takeuchi.

    "Hey."

    "What sses are you guys in?" Asked Okamoto.

    "I''m in 2-A, and Mizuhara''s in 2-E," Kimura replied.

    "Ah, I''m in 2-B and Take''s also in 2-E."

    "Isn''t it so cool that the school gives us our own allowance to spend?" Commented Takeuchi.

    "Yeah, it''s a lot of freedom."

    "The two of us are just heading over to themercial area," said Takeuchi.

    "Mizuhara and I were just there. We''re going back to the dorms."

    "Alright then, well, see you guyster."

    Our two groups split up, and Kimura and I made our way into our dorm.

    We had a look around our room.

    There was a small corner kitchen with a few cupboards and a stove with some pans. However, we were also provided with a mini fridge. After checking every part of the room, the two of us decided to go back to themercial area.

    "I reckon there''ll be fewer people there now that we''ve waited a bit."

    "Yeah."

    "Mhm, let''s go down. It''s good to know that we have a  fridge."

    The two of us began making our way back to themercial zone. As we walked down, we noticed that there were a lot of students who were holding bags of items. From girls holding bags filled with clothes to boys holding bags of different games, it seemed that many students had gone on a shopping spree.

    As we got closer to the stores, we noticed that the lines had died down quite a bit.

    Kimura and I made our way into the grocery store.

    The two of us looked around as we tried to find the most efficient way of feeding ourselves.

    They sold bread in bulk at six loaves for 900 points. We also found some cheese at around 30 slices for 550 points, so we got two packets. We got some chicken for 1450 points and some ham as well for 1700 points. Finally, we got a bottle of mayo for 600 points. In total, it was 5850 points for around half a month of sandwiches.

    Along with that, we got some fruit, milk and cerealing to 2700 points.

    We each paid 4275 points and left the store with bags filled with groceries.

    I opened the Bank app.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 4705

    Owed: 0

    ? Owing: 0<novelnext></novelnext>

    -

    "This willst us around three weeks," I said.

    "Alright, so it''ll be around 6000 or so points each for a month of food."

    "Yeah."

    The groceries certainly weren''t cheap. The value of a point seemed to be a bit less than a cent each based on what I''ve seen. I wasn''t sure what the school was going to do with the students who ran out of points. Maybe there was a penalty of expulsion. I couldn''t be sure.

    We carried the goods back to our dorm as we packed the meat, milk and cheese into the mini-fridge.

    "Ah, that barely fits in our small fridge," Kimuramented.

    "Thankfully, we didn''t buy more."

    After putting our groceries away, the two of us pondered what to do.

    "Do you want to go over to the sports centre?"

    "Sure, I guess there''s not much else to do."

    The sports centre has been renovated with a few different courts. It was also open to students all throughout the day and night. However, at the entrance, we saw that there was a 50-point entry fee. I guess this school was dictated by points.

    The two of us paid, and we were then let in.

    There were a few students inside but not a great deal.

    "Well, my main sport is basketball. What''s yours?" Kimura said to me.

    "Uh, I''m not really that good at any specific one, I guess ser if I had to choose."

    "Ah, I''ll y some ser if you want."

    "Sure, I don''t really mind either."

    Kimura made his way over to the sports shed and grabbed a ser ball. As we found an empty space in the gymnasium, I was approached by Kanako.

    "Hey, Mizuhara."

    "Oh, hey there, Kanako. I didn''t realise you came to this school now."

    "Yeah, my father transferred me over this year."

    There was a rtively tough-looking boy standing behind her. He had a pretty unpleasant expression on his face as he looked at us. Kanako noticed that I was looking at him and decided to introduce him to me.

    "Ah, this is Fukuda. He''s in ss 2-F with me."

    "Oh, that''s nice."

    "What are you guys doing?" She asked.

    "We were just going to y some ser."

    "Can we join in?"

    "Um, I guess."

    "Come on, Fukuda!" She dragged him over, and the four of us kicked the ball around.

    We didn''t do anything too intense. We simply kicked the ball around for a little bit before Kanako decided to suggest something else.

    "There''s a volleyball over there. You guys want to y?"

    No one disagreed.

    We returned the ser ball and grabbed a volleyball instead.

    "We can do Mizuhara and me against the two of you." Kimura offered.

    "I''m fine with that."

    With that, our two teams stood on opposite sides of the. For some reason, I always seem to be the person to serve the ball. Everyone got in position, and I smacked it over the.

    Fukuda dug the ball up for Kanako as she set it up again for him. Just as Fukuda went in for the spike, Kimura jumped up and easily blocked the ball, sending the ball straight back to their side of the court. As the ball bounced on the ground, Fukuda stomped the ground. However, he seemed to be trying to conceal his anger.

    We continued ying for around an hour.

 Chapter 58 The Ideal Human Project - Part 2 [Kurosawa Sora]

    A/N: For future reference. If a chapter is primarily told from the perspective of another person, the main POV will be written like this [Example] in the title. This is just to ensure you aren''t confused about who''s narrating.

    By the way, this current character is a girl, in case you can''t tell from the name.

    ***

    Have I been tamed?

    My entire life, I''ve always walked the path of independence. The world is a dark, perilous ce, but I''ll make myself strong enough to fight against it all. Staying after school every single day, swinging my metal bat against the ball machine, I''ve never once thought that I''d need someone else to help me.

    Well, that idea didn''tst very long.

    In truth, I was scared. I pushed people away because I was scared. I trained myself so hard because I was scared.

    I was scared because I''d seen what type of monsters lived in this world.

    Hidden in the shadows, where no one can see them, they operate. Like surgeons, they carefully manipte their targets, subtly breaking them down. Step by step, like a musical piece, they would destroy their targets from the inside out.

    For years and years, I''ve lived with them.

    In aboratory, I was surrounded by countless monsters.

    I was scared because, one day, the monsters would consume me.

    As time went on, I got more and more paranoid.

    These monsters were scary, not only because they were strong but because they hid in in sight. From afar, they look like normal people, walking around, going to school, and ying games, but secretly, underneath, they''re lifeless heartless monsters.

    At first, even I couldn''t recognize them.

    *

    Several years ago, when I had just begun adjusting to the conditions of the Ideal Human Project, something happened that would change my life forever.

    We were all abandoned children. We were all friends¡ªat least, that''s what I believed. ying together every day, I felt a warmth from the other children that I never felt from my biological parents.

    My most significant memory was that of a girl. At first, she always had apletely distant expression. There was no fear, sadness or anger in her eyes. However, the more we talked, the more she opened up and the more emotion she began to disy.

    Eventually, I would learn that her name was Hasegawa Mio.

    She yed the piano beautifully. She was incredibly pretty. She was unimaginably smart. She was immensely athletic. She was iprehensibly... perfect. Yet, she didn''t treat me like I was any less than her.

    We were all friends.

    We were all friends.

    I kept telling myself that.

    !#$*&%^$#&*$#

    Then, there was The Incident That Ruined The Oues.

    Staring down at me was a cold, listless boy. His eyes were dark¡ªno, not only that, his eyes were¡ªcrazy. The only thing that I could describe him as was a psychopath... but that doesn''t exin who he truly is.

    He was not a psychopath... he was something... else.

    I never knew he was capable of doing so... cruel.

    The sight of blood for the first time. The sound of Tachibana Emi crying out in despair. The metallic taste of hopelessness. Those memories would be forever stuck in my mind.

    I always thought that Hasegawa Mio was the star of the project. However, it was on that day that I found out that she shared the stage... no... I couldn''t really tell at the time... but there might have been something else that I was missing.

    The boy who was always referred to as... Subject Zero.

    It was on that day that I decided what my mission would be.

    *****

    Yearster.

    "What''s wrong? Are you feeling alright?"

    I looked up to see a boy with his hand held out toward me. I was sitting alone on a swing, with the rain pattering in my hair. It was a cold winter afternoon. I had just finished baseball training, but I didn''t want to go home just yet because my mind was full. My mind was on the verge of copse.

    I thought I might just give up... on everything.

    "Yeah, I''m fine..."

    "Are you cold?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    All of a sudden, I felt the warmth of a jacket being wrapped around me.

    "Huh...?"

    "If you''re worried about something, just tell me."

    Ah. Screw it all.

    "I''ll tell you, but you''ll think I''m crazy."

    "I wouldn''t think something like that~. Just tell me whatever is on your mind."

    "I''m scared of monsters."

    ? "Oh? Is that all?"

    I took a deep breath.

    "It''s not the type of monsters you''re thinking about. These monsters are invincible. They look just like people... but inside, they''re empty."

    "Sounds scary."

    "Haa... scary doesn''t even begin to describe them."

    All of a sudden, his arms wrapped around me.

    "You know, the best way to fight against a monster is to use another monster."

    Huh?

    "I''ve got a monster inside me," he continued.

    I didn''t believe it at the time. I thought he was just another boy trying to look cool, or maybe he was trying to mock me. However, his next sentence would change everything.

    "If you don''t believe me. I''ll prove it to you¡ªI''ve got a little gift from the doctors who yed with my gic code."

    At that moment... he showed me something that changed my world.

    It was something that waspletely inhumane...pletely sadistic... but...

    At that moment... I realised that he really was a monster.

    At that moment...

    "I''ll protect you~ in exchange, be my wife, okay?"

    At the time, it was such an unbelievable turn of events. I had just turned sixteen a few days ago. I waspletely overwhelmed. However, with no other hope to grab onto, I epted his offer.

    If not for him, I might have given up on everything.

    "I don''t even know your name..." I muttered.

    "It''s Murakami Akio!"

    "Akio... will you really protect me...?"

    I could feel his warm hands on my face.

    "I''ll protect you." As he said that, his face suddenly reddened, blushing with an embarrassed expression, "You might not remember. But I''ve known you for a long time. If it weren''t for you, I would have given up a long time ago. Now, I''m here to repay the favour."

    For the first time, I felt safe.

    Akio, can you protect me from the monsters?

    !#$(#*%&#$

    Can you protect me from Hasegawa Mio and Mizuhara Ayato?

    !#$*(&%$#(*

    Whether or not you''re capable of doing so.

    You''re my only hope.

    Only you can help me fulfil my mission, the thing most valuable to me as an Oue:

    ¡ªto defeat the monsters who haunt me.

 Chapter 59 Utopia-Like Dystopia - Part 1

    It was the morning of the next day.

    I made my way into the ssroom of 2-E, and as usual, I was the first one inside. I ced my bag down and took a seat near the back. There was really no need to sit at the front, especially when I didn''t really need to listen to the ss. I didn''t receive any notice of a seating n, so I decided to sit where I liked.

    Around twenty minutester, the ss filled up, and the teacher walked in.

    I saw Ichikawa Mana.

    Looks like my gamble paid off.

    "Alright, everyone, it is mandatory that I tell you this. Basically, under the new system, all sses are optional. If you do not see the need to attend sses or if you want to study on your own, you arepletely free to do so. The decision is up to you."

    A cheer resounded as soon as she said that. However, she wasn''t done.

    "I will also tell you this. No matter what, there will be exams throughout the year. There are various different rewards for getting a good score. However, if you fail, which means getting a score of 40% or below in any subject, you will immediately be expelled."

    Inplete contrast to before, the ss was in dismay.

    "Wait, we don''t get any chances? We just straight up get expelled?" One of the students asked.

    "Yes, a score below 40% means immediate expulsion unless you have enough points to reverse it."

    "How many points do you need to spend?" Another one of the students asked.

    "It will change throughout the year, but at the moment, it is 10,000 points for every per cent below 40%."

    "That''s way too much!"

    For most students in ss 2-E, who were getting 4,000 points per month, 10,000 points were nearly impossible to achieve, and that was for one mere per cent.

    "I will also tell you this, the exams this year will be much harder than the previous years. I highly rmend focussing on your studies. Otherwise, even a passing grade may be unachievable for you."

    The ss went silent.

    It was some pretty big news. For most students, this was a level of freedom that they had never experienced before. However, I had the feeling that many students would be overwhelmed by such freedom and, as a result, suffer the consequences.

    The teacher then prepared for the first ss of the day.

    All of a sudden, rumbling erupted throughout the ssroom. At first, it was a small group of girls who got out of their seats, then a group of boys, and then, one by one, students began joining in. The students began leaving the room, and a few momentster, only five people remained. From what I could see, only Takeuchi, Furukawa, Hamasaki, Itsuki and I were left.

    The teacher had a disappointed look on her face.

    "Well, there''s nothing I can do to stop them from skipping," they sighed.

    On the board, she pulled up the work for English.

    "Today, we''ll be studying The Handmaid''s Tale by Margaret Atwood."

    Another dystopian novel...

    She began reading some background information for the book.

    I thought about it, and whilst there probably wouldn''t be any issues for me if I did decide to skip ss as well, I decided to stay. It was mainly because even if I skipped, there wasn''t really much else I wanted to do. I might as well sit and listen to the ss to pass the time.

    I looked over at the others who were writing down notes.

    "Hey, Mizuhara, do you want to skip as well?" Takeuchi whispered to me.

    "I mean, what are we going to do, though?"

    "Um, we could walk around the school, I guess," he replied.

    "I''d rather just stay in ss."

    "Alright, it might be good for me to listen in ss as well."<novelnext></novelnext>

    As the ss concluded, it felt a little awkward with such a small number of students. The teacher finished up and prepared for the second period. Furukawa and Itsuki made their way over to us.

    "Hey, the ss feels pretty lonely. Do you mind if we sit with you guys?" Furukawa asked.

    "Yeah, that''s fine with me."

    He turned over and waved at Hamasaki.

    "Hey, you want toe to sit with us as well?"

    "Sure, I''m getting pretty lonely over here as well."

    They allughed before we sat together in the back left corner.

    "Alright, today we''ll be doing..." The teacher looked over at the group of us who were quite a distance away from her, "Ah, it''ll take me a while to get used to this..." she muttered.

    As we listened to the next ss, there were moments of eerie silence as the teacher spoke.

    A few momentster, she got through all the content on the board.

    She grabbed a handful of sheets and made her way over to us. We watched silently as the teacher walked past rows and rows of empty tables. She handed each of us a sheet before making her way back to the front. There was barely a dent in the handful of sheets that she brought to us.

    "If you need help, I''ll be up here."

    The others began working on the worksheet she handed out.

    I had a look at the questions.

    From what I could see, they were definitely a step up from what we were learningst year.

    I guess I''ll do the worksheet. It was a little awkward sitting here without doing anything.

    Afterpleting the sheet, we all looked at each other.

    "Aah, honestly, I like the small ss much better,"mented Itsuki.

    "Yeah, I don''t mind it. It''s quite rxing," replied Furukawa.

    "Hey, I don''t know how to do question twelve," said Takeuchi.

    "Ah, I can help!" Offered Hamasaki.

    It was quite a nice little group we had here. It seemed like the learning was honestly better now that there was only a small group of people. As Hamasaki helped Takeuchi with the question, I noticed that Furukawa and Itsuki were quite close. It seemed as if they were dating.

    A few minutester, the teacher stood up.

    "Alright, that''s it for the ss. You guys are dismissed."

    We got up from our seats and began making our way out of the ssroom.

    "Hey, do you guys want toe study in the library? I want to get ahead of all the people who are skipping ss," suggested Itsuki.

    "Sure, that sounds good!" replied Furukawa.

    With that, our group began walking toward the library.

    A/N: I''ll add some more characters to the glossary in case it''s hard to follow. For now:

    Furukawa is a ser talent and is very close to Itsuki

    Itsuki is the somewhat yful girl who''s always with Furukawa

    Hamasaki is a very sociable girl who is also studious and was called into the group separately.

 Chapter 60 Utopia-Like Dystopia - Part 2

    ''The choice for mankind lies between freedom and happiness, and for the great bulk of mankind, happiness is better.''

    The five of us sat around a table. There was work strewn all around as the others studied vigorously. It seemed that the sight of other students cking off motivated them to work harder. They wanted to get ahead whilst the other students were wasting their time.

    "Kai, I don''t really understand question six, b," said Itsuki.

    "You just have to bnce the oxygen by adding hydrogen to the right side."

    "Oh, so like this?"

    They were all working hard.

    I didn''t really have much to do. I was scrolling through the various different apps on the phone, looking at what each of them did. All of a sudden, the school sent a message to everyone.

    -

    National High School

    Students will have a meeting in the assembly hall at 11:15 am regarding the Preseqta System.

    Attendance is optional.

    -

    It was a pretty odd message. Preseqta was the only app on our phones which we couldn''t ess yet. It seemed a little weird to make the assembly optional. I guess freedom was the theme of the school, so they don''t force anyone to do anything.

    "Are you guys going?" Asked Takeuchi

    "I think we should. It sounds pretty important," replied Furukawa.

    As agreement spread through the group, everyone began packing up their things.

    "It''s starting in ten minutes. We should probably get going."

    "Yeah."

    We slowly began making our way over.

    We took seats on the crude stic chairs they had ced all through the assembly hall¡ªI guess they ran out of budget for nicer chairs. After a short moment, a man wearing a well-fitted suit and tie walked on stage.

    "We will be initiating the main Preseqta System at 6 am tomorrow. However, the app will be activated very soon. Don''t worry. This is nothing you should be worried about. It is an app on your phone which shows various pieces of information on each other, as well as the ce where you will receive reports from the school. Be sure to check it every single day. Otherwise, you may miss out on something important¡ªwhich you will regret."

    He continued to talk about some other stuff about behaviour and the school.

    The speech went on for about fifteen minutes before we were dismissed once again. There was an eruption of chatter about what they had just been informed of. It was just about the end of the recess, so our group headed back to the ssrooms.

    As we took seats in 2-E, the teacher walked in.

    "Wee back, the five of you."

    She started pulling up some material on the board as the others grabbed their workbooks.

    The ss went by. As usual, it was filled with as much silence as before.

    "I feel so special being here,"mented Itsuki.

    "Yeah, it''s like we''re getting private lessons," replied Furukawa.

    Suddenly, Furukawa turned around and looked at the group.

    "By the way, Akane''s birthday is tomorrow. I was hoping to celebrate it with a little party in the dorm since we can''t really go anywhere else," said Furukawa.

    "That sounds fun," replied Hamasaki.

    "Yeah, I wouldn''t mind going," added Takeuchi.

    "I''ll invite all of 2-E, although I''m not sure how many will show up," said Furukawa.

    "I mean, I''m sure they wouldn''t mind going to a party," said Hamasaki.

    "Yeah, I suppose," he replied.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The teacher walked over and had a look at the work we did.

    "Good job, guys, I''ll hand out the homework for today, and then we can move on to the next lesson," she said.

    After giving us the homework, she pulled up the next subject on the board.

    *

    The bell rang, signalling the end of sses for the day, although not many students really cared.

    We packed up our things and began making our way out of the ssroom.

    "Ah, I felt like that was such a good day of school,"mented Takeuchi.

    "Yeah, fewer people really makes a difference," added Itsuki.

    "Do you guys want to do something?" asked Furukawa.

    Takeuchi suggested, "we could go to the cafe."

    "I think it''s best we save our points at the moment," Furukawa replied.

    It seemed that Kimura and I weren''t the only people who thought about conserving points.

    "I suppose," Takeuchi sighed.

    "We could do some more studying at the library," said Hamasaki.

    "But we''ve already done so much studying today..." replied Takeuchi.

    The group then fell into silence as they tried to think of something to do.

    Now that I considered it, the school was certainly quitecking in the entertainment department. Our phones didn''t have the capability to install any games, and if you wanted to y video games, you''d have to buy a console orptop from the department store, which came at quite a heavy cost. Aside from that, there was the sports centre and library; both were public spaces for students to hang out.

    Even with that, most students opted to stand in groups and chat. Whenpared to the outside, there were basically no recreational facilities at the school. I wonder if the school was nning on constructing some in the near future.

    "I think I''ll go back to my room to do some more studying," said Hamasaki.

    "Wow, you''re really studious,"mented Itsuki.

    "Yeah, I''d like to do well on the next exams."

    She left the group and made her way toward the dormitory.

    The rest of us continued to stand around, trying to find something to do.

    "Do you think there are any ways to earn points here, like getting a job or something?" asked Furukawa.

    "I don''t think so. All the employees seem to be external," I replied.

    "Hm, surely there''s some way to earn more points."

    Points were indeed extremely valuable. It would be wise to gather as many as you could, although there didn''t appear to be any way to get it aside from the monthly allowance.

    Suddenly, I felt a vibration on my leg¡ªmy phone had received a notification.

    -

    National High School

    The Preseqta app has been activated. You may check the information that has been released. Any information on the app that you cannot see has been hidden intentionally.

    If you have any problems or concerns, please notify your teacher.

    Make sure you check your phones every morning. You will receive your first special exam in the next few days.

    Good luck.

    -

 Chapter 61 Utopia-Like Dystopia - Part 3

    I decided to break away from the group so I could observe the Preseqta System.

    I wanted to have some alone time anyways.

    As I took a seat on my bed, I opened my phone and looked at the now-avable app.

    When I opened the app, I was greeted by two tabs.

    Special Exams.

    Aptitudes.

    I tried pressing on the Special Exams tab first, but I was met with nothing but a nk screen.

    The Aptitudes tab, however, provided me with more options.

    Sort: ss/Name/Rank

    I decided to sort by name and searched for myself.

    -

    Mizuhara Ayato - Second-Year Student

    -

    Overall Intelligence: **Unreleased**

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Lateral Thinking Capacity: **Unreleased**

    _

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: D- (Rank #299 out of 480 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: A+ (Rank #1 out of 180 in the year level)

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    Ah.

    It was concerning how much the school seemed to know about me.

    Only one aptitude appeared to be released aside from the overall score. All of the aptitudes seemed to be pretty self-exnatory aside from Spatial Awareness and Lateral Thinking Capacity. The one aptitude that was released was Cooperative Reliability which I assume roughly trantes to how trustworthy they are.

    Also, for some reason, the overall score ranked you among the people in your year level, but the other aptitude ranked you in terms of the entire school. The system was still quite mysterious, from what I could tell.

    I decided to scroll through some of the other people I knew.

    I started with my roommate.

    -

    Kimura Haruto - Second Year Student

    -

    Overall Intelligence: **Unreleased**

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Lateral Thinking Capacity: **Unreleased**

    _

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: C (Ranked #213 out of 480 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: A

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    I guess only the student is able to see their own overall rank. Based on my deductions, it seemed that the letter grades were somewhat misleading. One would believe that ''C'' would be the average but judging by the linear calction method for the letter grades. The median is closer to ''C-'' or ''D+''.

    The thing I wanted to know was how the school had this information.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I guess I won''t be able to know for the time being.

    Suddenly, my phone beeped again as a notification popped up at the top of the screen. I pressed on it, revealing an email¡ªthis time, it wasn''t from the school.

    -

    To: 2-E

    From: Kai Furukawa

    We are having a birthday party at my dorm tonight for Akane at 6:00 pm.

    My room is on floor 3. It''s room #32. There will be snacks and drinks. Remember to bring a gift! Points are fine if you can''t think of anything.

    See you there!

    -

    I guess Furukawa decided to follow through on the birthday party idea. Not sure why they made it today, though. Something felt suspicious. It seemed a little awkward that he would make the party tonight. It didn''t really give people a lot of time to prepare a gift. The fact that he included ''Points are fine if you can''t think of anything'' also felt weird.

    It was as if he was hoping that people didn''t have time to buy a present...

    There were still around thirty minutes before the party so I decided to make my way over to themercial area and look for a gift.

    I left the dormitory, and after a short walk, I found myself in the small grocery store.

    I had no idea what she''d want, so I had no idea what to get. In the end, I decided to just get arge bar of dark chocte and some wrapping paper. Hopefully, she wouldn''t open it until she went home so she wouldn''t judge my gift-giving ability.

    The total came to 360 points for the chocte and the wrapping paper¡ªI was still trying to be conscious of my point expenditure.

    After making the purchase, I decided to make my way over to the library and wrapped up my gift. They had scissors and tape, along with some stiff paper that I made into a makeshift birthday card. After a little while, my gift wasplete.

    There were still a few minutes before the start of the party, so I decided to begin making my way back into the dormitory building. I noticed that there were also a few small groups of students who seemed to be going to Furukawa''s floor.

    Eventually, I got to his front door and saw him standing outside, greeting everyone.

    I waited as he talked to the people in front of me.

    "Hey, do you guys have a gift?" he asked.

    "Ah, sorry, I didn''t have time to get one," they replied.

    "That''s fine. You can transfer some points into her ount instead."

    "Uh, um, okay then..."

    A few momentster, there was a beep from his phone before Furukawa let him inside. He did this to several more students before I finally got to say hi to him.

    "Hey, you''re here, Mizuhara!"

    "Yep."

    I handed him my gift.

    "Alright,e in!"

    I made my way inside as he continued to greet the students who were arriving.

    Once I went inside his dorm, I saw that he had arge number of snacks and drinks strewn across his table. Other students were helping themselves, and some were just standing around having a chat.

    I guess this is the party.

    Now that I was here, I didn''t really have a great deal to do.

    The school didn''t sell any alcohol, so it was all prettyid back.

    As more students made their way inside, I noticed that the room was also starting to get quite cramped. Eventually, Furukawa also came inside and started talking with the guests. I decided to stand back and see what everyone else was doing.

    I noticed that Hamasaki was quite sociable. She was quite simr to Fujiharu in that way. Talking was like second nature to her, even with people she wasn''t too familiar with. It also seemed Takeuchi wasn''t here for whatever reason.

    "Mizuhara," Furukawa called out.

    "Yeah?"

    "Do you have any song rmendations?" he asked.

    "I thought our phones couldn''t y music."

    "You can buy the music ying app from the school through the department store."

    It seemed that the department also sold apps on the phone. I guess they''d install it on your device after you bought it or something. I wasn''t exactly sure how it worked.

    Well, I didn''t really have any song rmendations.

    A notification appeared on my phone all of a sudden.

    -

    National High School

    All students, you will be receiving your first special exam tomorrow.

    Check your phones in the morning.

    You do not want to miss this.

    -

 Chapter 62 The First Special Exam - Part 1

    It was only our third day of school when the school surprised us with a notification.

    It was 6:00 am in the morning. Haruto was also awake at this point, so we decided to check it together. The notification was on the Preseqta app¡ªSpecial Exam Notification. I pressed on it to reveal a message.

    -

    Bnced Society Special Exam

    ~

    Exam

    In this special exam, we will be imitating the struggles of the lower ss and the exploits of the upper ss. The details are below:

    Condition A) In two days, 4000 points will be loaned from every single student''s bank ount. The points will be deducted on the 5th of January at 6:00 am and returned on the 6th of January with 35% added interest.

    Condition B) At the same time, any student with more than 8000 points will lose 90% of their excess points. E.g. If a student has 8900 points, then 810 points will be deducted and not returned.

    Students are free to send any number of points to each other. However, in these two days, the maximum number of points able to be spent at any school-registered store is 500. Lunches and dinners will be provided by the school.

    If, at any point, a student has less than 0 points in their ounts, they will be immediately expelled.

    ~

    Packages

    Every ss also has two options which they are allowed to choose from via a majority ss vote.

    1. Every person in the ss will pay 500 points, and the ss will be allowed to skip the special exam. However, the five students with the lowest number of points in the ss will be expelled regardless of how many points they own.

    2. Every student in the ss will be given a loan of 2000 points; however, after the exam, every student must give up 50% of their total number of points, and they will not receive any added interest, and 800 points will be deducted from every student''s ount at the start of every month for five months.

    Once your ss decides on an option, every student in the ss will be forced toply with the requirements. For a vote to be valid, at least 61% of students must vote. If less than 61% of students ce a vote, neither option will be selected, and 500 points will be deducted from every student''s ount. Any student who doesn''t vote will have a further 500 points deducted regardless of the result. Students must be in the ssroom to vote.

    A vote must ur before 8:00 pm tonight otherwise, it will be considered invalid.

    The total number of points of the three students with the most points in each ss will be disyed at 8:00 am every morning for one hour until the end of the exam.

    -

    !

    This was a lot to unpack.

    "So this is a special exam." Kimura finally spoke after we finished reading the message.

    "Yeah, it''s reallyplicated."

    "So, what are your ns? How many points do you have?" he asked.

    "I think I''ll be fine for the most part, although I''d like to borrow some points from you if possible."

    "I''m going to fall victim to condition B, so I''ll lend you my points."

    "Well, we can talk about this a bit more in the afternoon. I still have to see what option my ss pick for the packages."

    It was true. If Haruto lent me arge number of points and his ss picked the first option, then he might be expelled due to the condition. Even if it seemed the packages were made to help the sses with people whock many points, they were just as much made to cause problems amongst the richer sses.

    It was truly an exam which challenged both the poor and the rich.

    I prepared to go to ss for the day¡ªhowever, there was likely going to be a lot of chaos.

    *

    It was 8:00 am. A huge crowd of students were gathered in front of the board; it was the biggest group of students I had seen in the ss since the beginning of the first day. The highest point owners were disyed, as exined in the exam.

    ---

    ss 2-A

    1. Tachibana Emi - 16,189 points

    2. Hasegawa Mio - 16,003 points<novelnext></novelnext>

    3. Fujiharu Sara - 14,287 points

    >

    ss 2-B

    1. Naegi Saka - 13,177 points

    2. Ayakuma Linda - 11,233 points

    3. Kinoshita Chitose - 10,022 points

    >

    ss 2-C

    1. Kobayashi Lucy - 9,843 points

    2. Hiroto Kaoru - 9,601 points

    3. Suzuki Touma - 9,015 points

    >

    ss 2-D

    1. Katsuki Andria - 7,990 points

    2. Akasaka Uya - 7,370 points

    3. Tamura Ritsu - 6,902 points

    >

    ss 2-E (My ss)

    1. Itsuki Akane - 7,027 points

    2. Hamasaki Aiko - 5,800 points

    3. Mizuhara Ayato - 4,195 points

    >

    ss 2-F

    1. Yogi Fukuda - 72,946 points

    2. Kanako Hanae - 2,945 points

    3. Hayashi Yoshida - 145 points

    ---

    ss F has something very interesting. Fukuda seemed to be holding onto all the points in his ss for some reason. However, now wasn''t the time to be worrying about other sses. It was to be expected that Tachibana was stocking up on points. She likely knew about this exam in advance.

    Also, as expected, Itsuki had the most points in our ss due to the birthday party yesterday. I felt like their intention for having a birthday party in the first ce was rted to this. It was like someone was feeding them information.

    It didn''t take long to figure out what this special exam was about. The best way for the lower sses to pass is to hold onto the points from the students in higher sses who want to keep their wealth. This way, both sides are benefitted, and both sides are able to pass the exam with no repercussions. However, the packages threw a spanner into the works.

    The first major decision we had to make was what package we pick. I wasn''t quite sure which one our ss would decide on. I would prefer either package one or no package as I''m already past the 4,000-point quota, and I was currently third in the ss in terms of total points.

    ? I was pretty thankful that I spent such arge sum of points on groceries for the month. Otherwise, people might have gotten suspicious of my abnormallyrge point bnce.

    I guess I''d think about this a bit more after school.

    The ss was quite restless.

    *

 Chapter 63 The First Special Exam - Part 2

    The bell rang, signalling the end of sses for the day.

    There were a few students who entered the ssroom for the purpose of engaging in the special exam. However, it appeared there were quite a few people who didn''t see the profundity of the situation.

    It was probably a mixture of an inability toprehend what was happening and ack of care for the oue that caused some students topletely ignore the special exam. To be fair, this did seem to be out of the ordinary for some people.

    Still, there were many more people in the ssroompared to the past few days.

    Furukawa made his way to the front of the ss just as the teacher left. He stood up on a slight pedestal and began speaking to everyone.

    "I think we should decide on the package we are choosing for this special exam."

    Itsuki walked to the front of the room and stood next to Furukawa. She moved her body close to him. It appeared she was just there to support him.

    "I believe we should select the first package," he said.

    The ss went silent. Then after a little while, there was a little bit of chatter. After some discussion, someone else finally spoke up.

    "I only have 1400 points! I''m definitely going to be one of the people who are going to be expelled!"

    There was agreeance amongst some of the other poorer students who didn''t control their point expenditure very well. Furukawa decided to try to gain some knowledge in terms of the opinions of the ss.

    "Alright, let''s have a preliminary vote. Everyone who wants the first package, please raise their hand," he stated.

    Six people raised their hands.

    "All for the second package raise their hand."

    Four people raised their hands.

    There were a lot of people who did not raise their hands for either.

    Furukawa spoke up again.

    "Everyone who didn''t raise their hand for either, please tell me why."

    "We don''t really know what''s going on..." was the theme.

    That seemed to be a rtivelymon consensus between the members of the ss. I could tell that this was a rtively difficult concept to grasp in most people''s minds. There were too many conditions and variables to ount for.

    However, this exam basically boiled down to two sides. It was up to either side to simply convince the majority.

    1. Richer students like Furukawa, Itsuki and Hamasaki would prefer the first package as it involves the least amount of financial bacsh after the exam. There is also very little risk for them as they are near the top in terms of wealth, so it would be unlikely that they would be expelled.

    2. Poorer students would prefer the second package because, with a little bit of point exchange, it is possible that every student would be able to pass the exam without being expelled.

    I was more for the first package. However, I also saw a third, hidden option.

    It appeared that there was a lot more discussion to be had before our ss coulde to a decision about the package.

    The tension in the room grew as more and more students became conscious of what was at stake. People began staring at each other, looking at their own points and bing stressed. The air became more and more humid...<novelnext></novelnext>

    This was going to be a hassle.

    *

    The time was 4:13 pm.

    Someone stood up from their seat and confronted Furukawa and Itsuki.

    "You guys know how Furukawa ran a birthday party for Itsuki yesterday? He was definitely plotting against us. They manipted us into giving them our points. They definitely knew about this exam."

    He was arge, quite muscr boy. He had a point. The birthday party yesterday was quite obviously trying to extort points from us. I managed to figure this out a day earlier.

    "Yamada is right! I gave Itsuki almost 800 points yesterday at that birthday party. They''re definitely selfish bastards who are trying to get us expelled to save themselves," one of Yamada''s friends added.

    Now that this had been released, it was going to be a lot more difficult for Furukawa and Itsuki to gain supporters. However, it didn''t look as if they were fazed at all¡ªlike they had nned this all out already.

    "First of all, the birthday party was aplete coincidence. There was no way for us to know that there would be an exam on this. Secondly, the students who have the least amount of points should have to take responsibility for their rash spending. Choosing the second option will only damage the financial status of every student in the ss. Do you want to take the fall for all the students who are too immature to make good decisions?"

    The ss went silent once again after hearing Furukawa''s argument.

    "You bitch! Are you saying that we should be expelled?" Yamada eximed in outrage.

    "I''m only saying that those who have poor spending habits should take responsibility for themselves."

    "That''spletely unfair. We had no idea something like this would happen. If we picked package two, we could all pass and stay in this school. Are you saying that we''re worth less than a few points?!"

    "Even considering we do end up picking the second package, what about all the students who have less than 2000 points?"

    After hearing this, Takeuchi decided to speak up.

    "It is possible that other sses, such as ss B or A, may lend us points, they have consequences for holding too many points, and it wouldn''t be too difficult to request loans from them."

    "Yeah, that''s true!" shouted Yamada.

    There was another period of silence as everyone considered what they had just heard.

    I decided to use this opportunity to look at the Cooperative Reliability scores of some of the students. It took a while to scroll through all of them one by one; however, they provided some useful insight.

    - Furukawa had a rank of: 387/480 (F)

    - Itsuki had a rank of: 151/480 (C+)

    - Yamada had a rank of: 308/480 (E)

    - Takeuchi had a rank of: 37/480 (A)

    I decided that I was going to make a deal with Takeuchi.

    I pulled out my phone and began discretely texting him.

 Chapter 64 The First Special Exam - Part 3

    The school had a messaging application where you could message any other student.

    -

    [Takeuchi]

    [What?]

    [How many points do you have? I want to make a deal with you]

    [I have 2605 points]

    [I''ll loan you 2000 points for the exam if you pick package one]

    [But if you do that you''ll be low on points won''t you? You only have 4195 points]

    [You don''t have to worry about that]

    [I find it hard to believe that you would lend me that many points]

    [I''ll transfer them to you right now.]

    [Okay then, but are you sure you want to?]

    [Yes]

    -

    I opened up my bank ount to finish the transfer.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 2,195

    Owed: 2,000

    Owing: 0

    -

    Furukawa spoke up once again.

    "You im that you can cooperate with the upper sses, however, that''s not certain, is it? Let me exin. There''s a chance one of the upper sses might choose the first package. In that case, that ss will be fighting tooth and nail to get every point they possibly can. If that happens, our weak E-ss won''t have any chance to gather loans."

    "What are you talking about?" Yamada couldn''t understand what Furukawa was saying.

    "The first package guarantees that five students will be expelled, regardless of how many points you may have. Even if you have 100,000 points, it''s still possible that you may be expelled if you have the least amount of points in your ss."

    "Yeah, so?"

    "So, every student in the upper sses would fight for as many points as possible. Since they have more capital than us, they can just offer better deals. For example, they may offer a 1,000-point loan and repay the lender 2,000 points. There''s no chance we would be able topete with that because we don''t have that many points to start off with."

    It took a little while for Furukawa to exin. However, after a few moments, Yamada and the others seemed to understand.

    "But why would any of the upper sses choose the first package?"

    "There are many possible reasons. Their sses could be disjunct, and they may be trying to cull off the weak. Or they may just be trying to minimise the point expenditure and gain favour and reputation within the ss. We don''t know what they may be thinking right now."

    "I still think that that''s unlikely," insisted Yamada.

    "All I''m saying is that picking the second option includes unnecessary risk."

    There was some chatter around the room.

    "Let''s have another preliminary vote, hands up," Furukawa suggested.

    The vote resulted in 11 votes for package one and 10 votes for package two. Furukawa''s reasoning was pretty decent. However, some of the students who were just over the 2,000-point mark still preferred the second package. However, Yuuto''s vote was enough to establish a majority for package one.

    "Is everyone ready to do the official vote?"

    "No way! If we do the official vote now, we''ll just lose!" eximed the boy next to Yamada.

    "Katou, what do you suggest we do then?" asked Furukawa.

    "I don''t know! But I refuse to participate in something that will just cause me to be expelled."

    "We could just run the official vote now, and you can choose not to vote."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "No! That''s even worse..."

    It appeared that there was no oue that was ideal for Katou.

    It would appear that the vote was all but decided. However, there was a hidden third option which I wanted to achieve.

    Now that Katou and Yamada have noticed this sinking ship, it would be very easy to convince them of my n. All I needed to do was send one message to them.

    **

    Furukawa called for a teacher and announced the official vote.

    "Everyone inside this ssroom will receive a notification on Preseqta."

    There was a 60-second timer on the voting screen. Once the timer was up, the app was automatically closed, and the teacher began speaking again.

    "The voting period has ceased. Here are your ss'' results."

    She pulled up a screen on the television.

    -

    Results of ss-E Bnced Society Vote:

    Package One: 10 students

    Package Two: 8 students

    Did Not Vote: 12 students

    ~~~

    Result: INVALID VOTE

    -

    "What the hell?" Furukawa was visibly shocked by the results.

    The third option.

    To purposefully not vote, you could get a no result. This would result in a 1,000-point fine overall, but it was much easier to achieve this result due to the condition that 60% of the ss must vote for a vote to be valid. However, the main consequence of such a result is that any student with less than 4,500 (500-point fine + 4,000-point deduction from loan) points would be expelled.

    61% was a very specific decimal. Every ss only had 30 students. It meant that at least 19 students must vote in order to have the vote be valid.

    I received a notification on my bank ount.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 5,195

    Owed: 26,000

    Owing: 12,000

    -

    It was pretty easy to force this result. I simply messaged Katou and Yamada. They were the only two who I knew was guaranteed to be very low on points.

    [If you abstain from voting, I will lend you 4,000 points each, which will allow you to pass the exam. In exchange, you will pay me 3,000 points each, every month, for the next 4 months.]

    It wasn''t a very good deal on their side however, there was no way they''d decline, otherwise, they''d be expelled. This also allows me to gather arge stockpile of points without it bing obvious.

    A few minutes before the final vote, I hadmunicated with Kimura, who, alongside one of his ss-A ssmates, each lent me 6,000 points for a total of 12,000 points. They agreed because otherwise, they''d have to split their loan between many lower-ss students, as giving them all to one student would cause that student to then face Condition B and lose points. I assured them that I wouldn''t go past 8,000 points, using alternative means, of course.

    It was also possible that some of the students from lower sses could ask for fees. There was also the chance that the student they lent their points to might somehow get expelled, which would result in them losing all the points they lent.

    BR/N: Condition B) At the same time [4000 is loaned from every student], any student with more than 8000 points will lose 90% of their excess points. E.g. If a student has 8900 points, then 810 points will be deducted and not returned.

    I was a safe option for them as they could do the exchange discreetly, without fees and without the risk of me being expelled. I told them that I''d repay them 2,000 points each month for the next three months.

    This ultimately was a good result for me.

    However, Furukawa and Itsuki were less than content.

 Chapter 65 The First Special Exam - Part 4

    "I don''t understand..."

    This was obviously not the result that Furukawa was expecting. He frantically looked around, trying to figure out what had just happened. As Itsuki looked toward him, she also began getting stressed after seeing Furukawa''s expression.

    "Why was the result different to the preliminary vote?" asked Itsuki.

    "Some people must have been lying about what they were voting for."

    Well, to be exact, I was the only person who was lying.

    The entire ss was confused as to what was going to happen now. People began noticing the point deduction notification for the invalid vote on their phones.

    "What the hell? Who didn''t vote? Because of you, I''ve lost 500 points."

    There were some grunts in unison, as others also were angry due to the result. Everyone looked over at Furukawa, waiting for an exnation.

    This was getting boring; I decided that it was time to go back to my dorm.

    ***

    On the way back to the dorms, I was stopped by a girl. She seemed to be in a hurry. She spoke so quickly it was hard to understand what she was saying.

    "Hey-hey-hey, what ss are you in?"

    "I''m in ss E," I replied.

    "Damn! Why can''t I find anyone from the higher sses?"

    "What''s wrong?"

    "I need to borrow points! Our ss ch... Wait, why am I still speaking to you?"

    The sudden cut-off was awkward as she looked at me with a re that was reserved for insects. It seemed I was not someone she was looking for. Without even a salutation, she briskly walked off with her back to me.

    That was a little mean.

    *

    As I entered my dorm, I was greeted by Kimura, who was sitting on his bed.

    "You''re a shrewd one, aren''t you?" he apuded.

    "I don''t know what you mean."

    He reclined onto his back and put his arms behind his head. The soft mattress squeaked as he lent down.

    "Oh well, at least I can have a rest while this exam goes by," he stated.

    I made my way into the bathroom and decided to have a shower. The school provided a shower in every dorm room, which was quite convenient. I didn''t turn the heat up very high, but I could tell that the water had a prettyrge range of temperatures. As the water rained on my back, I heard a notification on my phone.

    I''ll check it when I get out.

    After a few more minutes, I dried myself with a rough white towel and walked over to my phone.

    -

    To: Mizuhara Ayato

    From: Hamasaki Aiko

    Meet me in meeting room #03.

    -

    What was this now?

    I wasn''t going to decline, but I''m pretty sure that this meeting definitely has ulterior motives. Oh well, I''ll figure it out when I get there. It was somewhat odd to be receiving mail instead of a text.

    I put my clothes on and left the dorm once again.

    "¡ªYou''re off already?"

    "Yeah."

    During my morning stroll a few days ago, I was able to figure out that there weren''t very many private ces to gather at the school. I noticed security cameras in nearly every corner of the school. The only ces which could allow for private un-monitored meetings were the dorm rooms, toilets and the meeting rooms in the library.

    I made my way over and entered the meeting room.

    "Come in."

    I walked inside and noticed Furukawa and Itsuki sitting on the couch.<novelnext></novelnext>

    This was awkward.

    "I don''t think Takeuchi ising," said Itsuki.

    "Yeah," Furukawa replied.

    "Well, now that everyone''s here, let''s begin," he announced.

    I still wasn''t exactly sure what was going on, but I had a general idea. It definitely has something to do with the special exam.

    "I think there are people who have grouped against us," said Furukawa, "so I suggest that the four of us should work together for the time being."

    Itsuki nodded her head to his statement.

    "What exactly are we going to do if we do work together?" asked Hamasaki.

    "Firstly, we will all pass this exam. Then, we''ll find out the traitors in the ss," he answered.

    "I''m not sure about that," continued Hamasaki, "three of us are already nearly past or past the 4,000 mark. I don''t exactly see how this will benefit me."

    "This alliance will help us through future special exams when we have them."

    "That''s too superficial. We can just talk about that when it matters," replied Hamasaki.

    "If we can agree to work together now, it''ll make it much easier to coborate in the future."

    Hamasaki still wasn''t convinced. She acted differently from my initial impression of her¡ªI was expecting her to be a lot less rational.

    I didn''t exactly want to join this alliance either. The ''traitor'' they were referring to is likely me, and I don''t really see what there was to gain from joining.

    "Well, Mizuhara, since you''re also here, what are your thoughts on working together?" he asked me.

    "I don''t want to get involved in anything too diplomatic. I just want to have a normal school life."

    Furukawa sighed.

    "Alright, well, I don''t think we''re getting anywhere. You guys wanna sing something?"

    "Yes, I do!" eximed Itsuki.

    She snatched the mic and remote off the table and began scanning through the songs on the television. Hamasaki looked up at the songs and shook her head a few times.

    "Alright, I''ll sing a song as well." Hamasaki finally dered.

    "Yay! Let''s do a duet! Kai, join us as well!"

    Furukawa was less enthusiastic about the invitation.

    I didn''t really want to sing either. I considered just leaving, but I didn''t want to seem rude. Furukawa and I stayed seated as we watched the girls singing songs for the rest of the night.

    About an hourter, the girls had had enough of singing.

    "Alright, well, I''m going back to my room now," said Hamasaki.

    "Same here," I decided to leave as well.

    "Let''s do that again another day, Aiko!" Itsuki offered.

    Hamasaki and I left and made our way back to the dorms. It was rtivelyte now. The sky was a rich purple colour as the sun set behind the horizon.

    On my way back, I suddenly felt my phone being flooded with notifications.

    All of the notifications were very simr¡ªthe students of ss B were asking for loans frantically.

    -

    To: First-years

    From: Ester Kumagawa

    I am requesting a loan of points from anyone who is interested. I am willing to double anyone''s points after the exam. Text me if you are interested in providing a loan.

    -

    They were all something like that.

    Perfect timing.

 Chapter 66 The First Special Exam - Part 5

    The next morning, I strolled into the ssroom and noticed a crowd of people gathered in front of the board. I guess the highest point owners were disyed once again. There was some pretty intense chattering from within the circle. It seemed that there were quite a few surprising developments.

    As I nudged myself in and took at the leaderboard, there were some interesting things developing in the other sses. However, our ss'' results and cements were pretty predictable to me. Students who usually didn''t even show up to ss were standing near the board, frantically trying to understand what was going on.

    The air conditioner was sting cold air into the ssroom, gently circting air around. However, even with all its efforts, the ssroom was still eerily warm. Not that it really mattered to me at all.

    This was all pretty boring.

    It was the second day of the special exam.

    ---

    ss 2-A

    1. Hasegawa Mio - 16,003 points

    2. Fujiharu Sara - 14,267 points

    3. Tachibana Emi - 12,189 points

    >

    ss 2-B

    1. Naegi Saka - 33,177 points

    2. Kumagawa Ester - 13,219 points

    3. Kinoshita Chitose - 12,992 points

    >

    ss 2-C

    1. Kobayashi Lucy - 9,143 points

    2. Hiroto Kaoru - 8,901 points

    3. Suzuki Touma - 8,315 points

    >

    ss 2-D

    1. Katsuki Andria - 8,210 points

    2. Akasaka Uya - 6,370 points

    3. Tamura Ritsu - 6,002 points

    >

    ss 2-E (My ss)

    1. Ichikawa Mana - 7,324 points

    2. Itsuki Akane - 7,027 points

    3. Yamada Nendo - 5,870 points

    >

    ss 2-F

    1. Yogi Fukuda - 134,146 points

    2. Kanako Hanae - 4,945 points

    3. Hayashi Yoshida - 1 point

    ---

    Nothing was extraordinarily surprising¡ªaside from the ss 2-F standing. From what I could tell, it looked like Tachibana decided to bail out her friend with 4,000 points¡ªwell, that saved me the hassle of bailing her out.

    Also, since I wasn''t on the leaderboard, I shouldn''t be receiving any suspicion.

    There was quite a bit of outcry in the ss, especially in rtion to the number of points that Yamada had. It was to be expected that the ss would not take lightly the fact that Yamada suddenly managed to get enough points to pass the exam. Whatever the case, as long as they couldn''t track it back to me, it''d be fine.

    "Where did you guys get all your points?!"

    "There was some anonymous person who gave them to us," Yamada answered.

    "That''s not fair!"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Well, that''s too bad. You guys were nning on throwing me under the bus anyways!"

    He didn''t mention the heavy fees involved.

    It was also going to be significantly more difficult to acquire loans from the upper sses. As Furukawa predicted, ss B was going to be bidding for points, and they have much stronger purchasing powerpared to students of ss E. I was going to use that to my advantage, however. There was a good chance that many of the students from ss E are not going to survive this exam.

    I was somewhat curious as to what ss F was doing. Based on their points amounts, I assumed there was some sort of dictatorship, or maybe all the students trusted Fukuda with their points. He suddenly managed to gain around 56,000 more points. My assumption is that he chose option two and took all the points for himself. Something seemed suspicious about that ss.

    Kanako seemed to be doing well, just under Fukuda. There was probably something going on between the two of them, likely tracing back to her father. Her father was not exactly the type of person who would y fair, so it''d be fully expected that he may have set some stuff up in this school prior to her enrollment. It''d probablye a time when I''d have to deal with that, but for now, it didn''t seem a problem to me.

    I''ll observe the results after the special exam concludes.

    I opened my bank ount and contemted what I''d do today.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 4,001

    Owed: 28,388

    Owing: 12,000

    -

    There were free meals provided by the school during this special exam, so there was no need to spend any points during this period. It was good for me as well since it allowed me to save some points which would have originally been spent on the food we''re having. Also, it means I''d be able to invest the rest of my points. Aside from that, there wasn''t much else for me to do, so I decided to just listen in as normal.

    We''d have ss as normal for the rest of the day. However, tomorrow morning will be utter chaos.

    The stress levels of many students were quite high throughout the day.

    -

    -

    ***

    -

    -

    (This is a separate extra segment.)

    MONOLOGUE OF FUJIHARU SARA

    -

    At first, I saw him as just a random boy.

    He was dull, he was boring, he was in, he was nothing special.

    It was the first day of the second semester, he was seated next to me.

    As expected, he was quiet, he was hard to talk to.

    Oh well, it was nothing I hadn''t experienced before.

    However, for some reason, as I talked to him, I felt as if something was different.

    I''ve met lots of boys who have pretended to be apathetic.

    But, for some reason, he genuinely seemed disinterested.

    The more I tried to get close to him, the more I felt distant.

    At times, it almost seemed as if I was getting pulled in by him...

    Time was ticking.

    It was obvious that he still hadn''t fallen for me.

    Luckily, I''ve still got some ns up my sleeve.

    I can sense that you''re someone special, that you''re hiding something, that you''re not who you appear at first nce. However, I''ll be the one to swallow up your pride.

    No matter what I have to do... I''ll be the one to defeat you.

    Mizuhara Ayato. I''ll make you fall in love with me

    otherwise... I might...

 Chapter 67 The First Special Exam - Part 6

    The morning of January 5th.

    I was gently awoken by the beeping of my trusty rm clock once again.

    Kimura had gotten used to it.

    "The results of the exam are being released at 6:00 am," I said.

    "I''m interested to see what''s about to happen," he replied as he slowly got up.

    The time was 5:15 am.

    I pulled my nket down. The room was heated, so there wasn''t much of a difference in temperature. Kimura was scrolling through his phone, and I made my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth¡ªit was our usual morning routine now.

    **

    At 6:00 am on the dot, both Kimura''s and my phone vibrated.

    -

    National High School

    All students who have been given an expulsion notice should report to the administration to finalise the required paperwork.

    Your Result: Passed

    -

    "I passed," said Kimura.

    "Same here."

    "Well, that was to be expected, wasn''t it?"

    I opened my bank ount and checked the amount.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 1

    Owed: 33,788

    Owing: 12,000

    -

    Maybe I shouldn''t have cut it so close¡ªoh well, it was fine, so it doesn''t matter now.

    "So what are you going to do now?" asked Kimura.

    "What do you mean?"

    "I have a feeling your ss will be feeling a lot more empty today."

    "It doesn''t bother me."

    "Ah, well, since we have nothing else to do, do you want to go to the gym?"

    "Yeah, I''ll have to borrow some points though"

    "Alright, that''s fine with me. Let''s go!"

    On our way out of the dorm, we noticed arge number of faculty staff going door to door like salesmen. However, it was pretty obvious that they weren''t trying to sell anything. A small stream of students beganing out of the dorms. Some of their faces looked distraught¡ªit was obvious that they had just been expelled. However, I noticed that there was arger portion of students who seemed to not be saddened by the fact that they were being expelled.

    I assumed that this had something to do with the situation in ss 2-F.

    We made our way toward the gym inside the sports centre.

    We stayed there until 7:30 am when we decided that we''d return back to our dorms and prepare for sses for the day.

    *

    The ss certainly felt a lot more empty than usual.

    There were exactly eight other people in front of the board.

    There was a girl who was crying on her knees as she looked up at the board. Her faint sobbing was distinctly audible in the nearly-silent room. Under her breath, I could hear her crying the name of someone.

    "Sakura... Sakura... why did you do that for me..."

    I moved closer and nced at the board.

    ---

    ss 2-A

    1. Hasegawa Mio - 3,003 points

    2. Fujiharu Sara - 1,267 points

    3. Tachibana Emi - 1,189 points

    (0 students expelled)

    >

    ss 2-B

    1. Naegi Saka - 166,177 points

    2. Kinoshita Chitose - 23,721 points

    3. Ester Hamasaki - 20,611 points

    (5 students expelled)

    >

    ss 2-C

    1. Kobayashi Lucy - 5,143 points

    2. Hiroto Kaoru - 4,901 points<novelnext></novelnext>

    3. Suzuki Touma - 4,315 points

    (0 students expelled)

    >

    ss 2-D

    1. Katsuki Andria - 4,210 points

    2. Akasaka Uya - 2,370 points

    3. Tamura Ritsu - 2,002 points

    (3 students expelled)

    >

    ss 2-E (My ss)

    1. Ichikawa Mana - 3,324 points

    2. Itsuki Akane - 3,027 points

    3. Yamada Nendo - 1,870 points

    (21 students expelled)

    >

    ss 2-F

    1. Yogi Fukuda - 1,146 points

    2. Kanako Hanae - 945 points

    3. N/A

    (28 students expelled)

    ---

    It looked like my strategy had unintentionally gotten 16 extra students expelled from our ss.

    Takeuchi, Furukawa, Itsuki, Yamada and his friend, Hamasaki, Ichikawa, the sobbing girl and I were the only ones remaining.

    This school was pretty ruthless with its expulsions.

    Now that the ss was so small, I wondered what the school was going to do¡ªluckily, I didn''t need to ponder that question for too long because I conveniently received a notification on my phone.

    -

    National High School

    Students in a ss with less than ten students are required to choose another ss within two ranks of theirs to move to. The ss they join must have more than ten students.

    ss transfer slips must be handed to your homeroom teacher before 6:00 am on the 6th of January.

    Note: Midterm exam difficulty will be scaled to the rank of your ss. Higher-ranked sses will have more difficult exams. There will be penalties for getting a low score on the exams.

    -

    It looks like I''ll be moving sses.

    The homeroom teacher of ss 2-E walked in with a defeated look on her face.

    "Everyone here, I just want to say something. This exam was designed to cull out the lower sses. This is part of the school''s mission. I can''t say anything more, but I will tell you this¡ªI have enjoyed teaching you guys for the short period of time we were together."

    After that, she took a seat at her desk and handed out ss transfer slips.

    When we returned to our seats, I was able to see that the girl who was crying was Honoka. It wasn''t too hard to figure out what likely happened. Her friend probably gave her all their points to help her survive.

    How tragic.

    I looked down at the ss transfer slip. There were a few random pieces of information I needed to fill out. However, the most important part was which ss I was going to transfer to. The exam difficulty scaling meant it was not always the best idea to just pick the highest-ranked ss. However, that didn''t really matter to me.

    The main thing was that I wanted to be in the same ss as Ichikawa.

    It was pretty easy to guess the atmosphere of the sses based on the point scores which were shown every morning.

    After the second morning, I noticed that the top 3 students in ss C had lost exactly 700 points. This was very interesting, as if the ss was working together in order to get an invalid vote, each student would need to pay 700 points if they spread out the punishment.

    This is because each student automatically loses 500 points for an invalid vote, and a minimum of 12 people must not vote for a vote to be invalid. The 12 people would lose an extra 500 points each. If they decided to spread the extra point loss between all of the students, then the 30 students would each pay 200 extra points. (12 x 500 = 6,000, then 6,000/30 = 200)

    This leads me to believe that the ss is very united. Otherwise, such careful cooperation and coboration would not be possible.

    Needless to say, I decided that ss 2-C was the best choice for me.

    I filled out the remainder of the ss transfer slip and handed it back to the teacher. However, just as I was about to do so, she quickly added another option.

    "I''ve just received a message from the school informing us that there will be 30 more students admitted in order to make up for the unexpectedlyrge loss of students in thest exam. They will form the new ss 2-E, so you can join those sses if you would like."

    A surprising third option, however, they weren''t really that optimal for me.

    I wanted to join ss 2-C because of their unity and altruism. I would be able to sit back and rx without having to worry about special exams and having to expend too much effort for the time being. If I stayed in 2-E or went to 2-D instead, there would likely be a rough road ahead of me.

    "I''ll stick with my choice."

    "Alright, I''ll put that through the system. Thanks, Mizuhara."

    A few minutes passed before everyone decided on the ss they were going to join.

    "Are you going to 2-C?" asked Takeuchi.

    "Yeah."

    "Same. Furukawa, Itsuki, Ichikawa and Hamasaki are also going there."

    We were dismissed for the day at that point. The teacher informed us that sses were cancelled for the day due to lots of changes needing to be processed.

    It was just barely 8:30 am, and I had the entire day free practically. I also didn''t have very many points to use for shopping and the like. So I decided to just return to my dorm and lie on my bed.

    **

 Chapter 68 Movements In The Background - Part 1

    ***

    ///

    I checked my phone after receiving the notification.

    -

    To: 2-C

    From: Kaoru Hiroto

    We will be having a wee party for the new members of 2-C. I have booked meeting room 06 in the library,e in as soon as you arrive.

    We hope to see everyone here.

    -

    ss 2-C were certainly a step above 2-E in terms of organisation. I remember Kimura talking about 2-A having some sort of group meeting during the first day of school. I guess this is the difference between the upper and lower sses.

    Well, there was no reason not to go. I decided to put my clothes into the dryer and then make my way towards the library. Kaoru seemed to be the person who organised the meeting, and she was also second-ranked in the ss on points during the special exam. I decided to have a look at her aptitudes on Preseqta.

    -

    Kaoru Hiroto - First-Year Student

    Overall Intelligence: **Unreleased**

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: A+ (18 out of 383 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: B+

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    Her scores were nothing to be scoffed at.

    I noticed that the new 30 students had already been included in the Preseqta System, considering 58 students were expelled, yet there were still 152 in the year (instead of 122).

    At first, I believed that the ss you were ced in was corrted to your overall score. However, Kaoru-san had an overall score of B+, yet she was in ss 2-C.

    Anyhow, it didn''t take too long to ce all my clothes in the dryer, so I began making my way to the library. I''lle to collect them when I get back.

    *

    I saw someone standing in front of the meeting room.

    "Hey, I''m Kaoru. Are you one of the new members of ss 2-C?"

    "Yeah."

    "Nice! What''s your name?"

    "Mizuhara."

    She had a look at her phone.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Okay,e in and take a seat. I''ll join everyone shortly."

    There were already quite a few people in the room. It looked like most of the 2-C students were here. I took a seat and looked around.

    Not long after, the rest of the 2-C transfer students arrived. Takeuchi, Hamasaki, Itsuki, Furukawa and Honoka all came into the meeting room. In total, there were 36 people.

    "Now that everyone''s here, I will exin how we do things in 2-C."

    Kaoru pulled arge whiteboard behind her and began exining.

    "In 2-C, we focus on the good of the ss as a whole¡ªour most important factor is fairness. Whenever we disagree on something or we must make a decision for the ss, we will decide it with a simple vote. We honour the results of the vote no matter what. If anyone goes against the ss vote and breaks the n that we all make, they will be banished from the ss."

    I see what this was.

    Democracy.

    It was a pretty simple concept in nature¡ªhonouring the majority.

    "What if there is a tie?" asked Itsuki.

    "We have decided that in the case of a tie, I will make the final decision. Although that will be after we have a discussion."

    A simple weighted vote. It made enough sense for most people.

    "Anyways, do you guys have any questions?"

    "So how does the vote exactly work? Like for what things do we vote for?"

    "Okay, so basically, whenever we need to make any choice as a ss, we will first have a vote on whether or not it should be thoroughly discussed. We''ve decided that if at least 40% of people think it''s important enough to be discussed, we wille to a meeting room in the library and discuss it. Otherwise, we vote with a simple raise of hands in the ssroom."

    It was quiteplicated, like a real parliamentary system. I was surprised they were able toe up with something so thorough and convince the entire ss to go with it.

    Well, it sounded like I wouldn''t need to interfere. It made things easier, and it reduced the number of arguments and problemster down the line.

    "Any other questions?" Kaoru continued.

    This time nobody spoke up.

    "Well, that''s it for the day then."

    **

    I left the group as soon as we were dismissed.

    Some of the students were hanging together in a big group. However, I wanted to go back and pick up my clothes from the dryer. No one really noticed my presence as I left the library. I slowly made my way back to the dormitory. The schoolyard was quite boisterous as lots of students were just wandering around after being informed of sses being cancelled for the day.

    I finally arrived back in themunalundry room and opened the sleek, modern dryer machine to retrieve my uniform. It was a little humid but dry enough for me.

    Beside me, I noticed a girl pulling out an extremelyrge pile of clothes. She had brought a little wooden basket with her, but it was obvious that she wasn''t going to be able to fit all her clothes in there.

    Maybe I should help her.

    I only had a very small number of clothes to carry anyways.

    "Hey, do you need he-"

    She suddenly turned and red at me with the most disgusted look I had ever seen. It took a few seconds to process, but I was sure I had never met this person before.

    Why was she looking at me like that?

    I wasn''t sure exactly how I was meant to continue speaking to her. After a moment of introspection, I decided that I''d just give up on trying to help her. She didn''t exactly look like she wanted my help very much anyways.

    I took my clothes and began walking out of theundry room. I looked back and saw her continuing to struggle, trying to fit herundry into the clearly undersized basket she had brought. She would put a few pieces of clothing on the top, and then they''d slide off¡ªthis loop continued for a decent amount of time.

    What an awkward situation.

 Chapter 69 One Day, So Many Days Ago

    Sometimes, one person is all you need to change everything forever.

    ***

    Everyone else is out having fun. That''s fine. I''m happy for them. However, despite what the carer says, I really am fine, sitting here on the grass. The soft breeze against my face, the slightly salty taste in my mouth, the fluffy, loose dirt between my fingers¡ªI am enjoying myself. Like everyone else, this was my first time truly being free by myself.

    Anyways, this wasn''t the first time I''d been let outside¡ªthere was also that one chesspetition a while ago.

    Suddenly, I heard a soft, gentle voice right beside my ears.

    "Hey, who are you~?"

    "Huh?"

    It was a young girl, no older than I was. Swaying in the wind was light, chestnut-like hair shing the res of the sun. Glimmering through the individual strands of hair, the bright sun peeked its way through. I wouldn''t realise it at the time, but it was the first time that the world appeared with colour through my eyes.

    "I said, who are you~"

    "Me...? I''m no one, really."

    Looking down at me with a disappointed pout, she angrily pointed at my face.

    "I meant, what''s your name!"

    Looking away, I hoped that she''d just give up. Suddenly, I heard her voice in my ear again.

    "Why are you sitting all by yourself?"

    "No reason, really."

    All of a sudden, the girl rolled her fingers into a fist. Taking a step forward, she mmed me straight in the head. With a dense thump, I felt a slight pain run through my skull. What was this... did I do something wrong? The pain quickly went away, but I was confused.

    "Aah... Why did you hit me."

    "I want you to stop acting so stuck up! Speak normally to me."

    "But, this is how I usually speak."

    I felt another pain in my head. With her supposedly-delicate hand, she formed another fist, conking me once again. This was the first time I had seen a girl act in this way. I wasn''t sure whether I should''ve been worried or scared.

    "You know, speaking like that doesn''t make you cool!"

    "Um, I''m sorry."

    "Just say you''re lonely if you''re lonely."

    "I''m... not really lonely?"

    Taking a seat next to me, she had a somewhat empathetic expression on her face. Like she was looking down on me in some way.

    "It''s fine, you know~ I''m lonely as well."

    "No, but I''m not re¡ª"

    "I said it''s fine! I''ll hang out with you since you''re lonely!"

    "Uh."

    Suddenly picking herself up off of the grass, she grabbed me by the arm and violently pulled me up. Stomping away, I was dragged behind her like some sort of doll. With no reason to fight back, I just let it happen. It wasn''t like there was anything else I wanted to do. I decided just to follow her, in case she brought me somewhere interesting.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Making our way down the street, she seemed to already have something in mind. Like she was on a mission, she waspletely focused, pulling me towards arge building on the outside of the main shopping centre.

    "Here, we''re going to y this."

    Looking at a very vibrantly illuminated sign, it didn''t take long to see where I was. The words Horror Escape Room were quite crudely stered onto the wall. She tried to drag me in, but I hesitated a little.

    "Come on, what''s wrong?"

    "I don''t really want to do this."

    "Aw~ don''t tell me you''re scared!"

    "That''s not really it."

    "Sure~ I know you''re just scared. Don''t be a little baby. I''ll be here to protect you~"

    "Um... it''s not really that. I just don''t want you to see who I really am."

    She crinkled her eyebrows and looked down at me again.

    "Stop with that weird talk! If you''re scared, just say you''re scared!"

    I guess I could just hide who I was. Escape rooms were puzzles, but they were boring to me since they were so easy to solve. Still, I could just hide my abilities. The only thing was, I didn''t want to make anyone else scared of me. Whenever someone saw who I really was, their reactions were always fear.

    The only ce that epted me was the walls of the Ideal Human Project.

    "Gaa! Juste inside already. If you''re that scared, just close your eyes, and I''ll hold your hand," she insisted.

    "Eh?"

    Ignoring my opinion, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the centre. She seemed to have purposely picked out one of the staff members. After buying some tickets for the two of us, we were led into a dark, enclosed room.

    It was hard to see, but the theme was quite clearly an abandoned hospital. In the middle of the room was arge hospital bed with something underneath the covers. Around the side were various pieces of hospital equipment, from iv drips to surgical instruments.

    All of a sudden, I felt a warm sensation in my hand.

    "D-don''t get me w-wrong... I''m not scared... I-I''m just making sure you''re not scared..."

    What was this now... you''re the one who brought me here.

    With her fingers wrapped around mine, I could feel the subtle shaking in her hand. As the two of us explored the room, she stuck extremely close to me, not letting go of my hand for a second. A loud thump echoed through the room.

    She jumped in fear and wrapped her arms around me.

    "Aah! What was that?!"

    After waiting a few moments, she slowly pulled her body off of mine, still tightly grabbing my hand. We continued to look around, searching for clues that could help. After a few moments, I had already solved the entire puzzle in my head.

    There was a note awkwardly ced underneath the bed. However, that wasn''t even necessary since there was obviously something in the weirdly positioned surgical equipment on the tray. Underneath the nkets was a skeleton. Judging by its posture, it was clear that it was signalling toward the wall, which had a picture crudely taped on. Underneath that was some blood with a message which pointed to the location of the key.

    Whilst I already saw through the puzzle, she was still frantically looking around. I decided to just keep it to myself and let her enjoy herself...

    "Hey, um... can you help..." she whispered in a shaky voice.

    There were tears forming in her eyes.

    [Continued]

 Chapter 70 Movements In The Background - Part 2

    Once again, I approached her and asked.

    "Do you need help carrying yourundry?"

    Her unweing re shone against me once again. I decided tomit to the venture, so I just stood there waiting for a response. After staring at her for a few seconds, she finally decided to speak.

    "You''re a weirdo."

    Ouch.

    Then again, she probably had clothes in the pile that she didn''t want a random boy touching. After realising my mistake, I turned around for the final time and walked out the door.

    "¡ªwait."

    This time she called out to me. I didn''t want to turn around as I''d already had enough of dealing with this person.

    "¡ªI said wait!"

    It appeared that she was quite adamant about my attention all of a sudden.

    "What is it."

    She ced a few dresses and shirts on the top of the basket and handed the basket towards me.

    "Here, I''ll let you carry these for me, don''t do anything weird."

    "Um, okay then."

    She dropped the basket into my hands and went back to grab more clothes out of the dryer. I stood there waiting for her to finish picking up the rest of her clothes. After stacking a few on her shoulder, she was finally able to carry them all. She stood and looked at me.

    "What''s your name?" She asked.

    "Mizuhara."

    "Okay, Mizuhara, help me take them to my floor and give the basket to me once we arrive. I don''t want you to see where my room is."

    "Uh, alright."

    I reconsidered why I was helping such a nasty person. Since I had already gone this far, I decided that I''d help them bring it to their floor at least.

    I followed behind her as we walked towards the elevator. The boys'' dorms were on the upper floors whilst the girls'' dorms were on the lower floors. During the elevator ride, a student id fell out of one of her clothes. I was about to tell her about it when I noticed the name on the id, Aiko Hamasaki.

    Eventually, we arrived on her floor, and I left the basket on the ground as she had requested. I wanted to figure out who she was, so I looked at the key she had pulled out from her pocket, room #042, luckily that room was right by the elevator¡ªI guess that was why she was confident that she could carry theundry from the elevator to her room. Beside the door, I noticed that there was only one name. I guess her roommate had been expelled.

    Aya Akasaka.

    I remembered her from the point rankings during the first exam. She was ranked third in ss 2-D throughout the entirety of the exam.

    She waited for the elevator door to close between us. I guess she really didn''t want me to see which room her room was. As I was going up the elevator, I picked up the student id from the ground.

    Why did she have Hamasaki''s student id?

    There was a chance that Hamasaki may have just lost it, and Akasaka managed to find it somewhere. However, it seemed somewhat unlikely due to it falling out of herundry.

    I guess I''d think about itter.

    I considered immediately returning Hamasaki''s student id. However, I wanted to use it topare with my own to see if I could see any corrtion.

    The student id card consisted of a picture of the cardholder, their name, their date of birth, and their student number. There wasn''t really anything too interesting on the cards themselves, so I wondered why Akasaka would steal such a thing. There was still the possibility that it was pure chance and she had just picked up the lost card.<novelnext></novelnext>

    It was too early to make an assumption, so I decided to just keep the card for the time being.

    *

    sses restarted the next day, and I walked into ss 2-C, my new ss for the time being. There were a few empty seats, so I just chose a random seat near the back. I didn''t bring anything with me, so my table was empty¡ªafter attending a few sses, I realised that I didn''t really need to learn anything.

    It was easier to move around without having to carry books and stationery, so I stopped bringing them around altogether. The teachers didn''t care at all. I guess that was the mindset of this school¡ªwith expulsions handed out left and right; all the students had plenty of motivation to work hard.

    I would find out that today was another special day.

    "At this school, we do exams a little differently. Everyone will be receiving a message from the school detailing the conditions of the first academic exam. This one will be pretty gentle as it is the first one you''ll be doing at this school besides the special exam a few days ago. Be warned that the midterm exams will be a lot harsher."

    As soon as the teacher finished her briefing, a notification popped up on all of our phones.

    -

    National High School

    Here is the information for your academic exam:

    The exam will consist of four topics, the ones you have been learning in ss; Maths, English, Science and Humanities. Each exam will be out of 100 marks. ss rankings and scores for each exam and the overall result will be disyed.

    [The highest-scoring student in the cohort will receive a special bonus in the next special exam.]

    In each ss:

    Rank 1 - Gain the option to either transfer to the ss above or receive 10,000 points (ss A students can only pick option 2)

    Rank 2-10 - Receive 2,000 points

    Rank top 50% - Receive 500 points

    Rank bottom 3 - Lose 1000 points

    Rank Bottom 1 - Move down a ss (ss E student loses 5000 points)

    ~

    If two or more students receive the same score, the result will be decided by weighting the results in this order:

    1. Maths

    2. English

    3. Science

    4. Humanities

    Any further draw will result in both students receiving the same lower rank. (e.g. #5 and #6 will both get #6)

    -

    The school was definitely letting us off easy with this exam. There were way more rewardspared to punishments. The ss change rule was pretty interesting. I assume that the school was intending to set a precedent that ss changes are likely verymon.

    Anyhow, the rest of the sses for the day went without any major incidents. Most people were studying harder than usual.

 Chapter 71 Movements In The Background - Part 3

    As I walked back towards my dorm, I noticed that ss 2-E already had an entirely new cohort of students. The school certainly was quick with its turnovers.

    On my way back, I was hurriedly approached by Hamasaki. She had been friendly with lots of her new ssmates in 2-C and had already established herself as a leading figure. I could''ve guessed why she hade to me all of a sudden.

    "Have you seen my student id card?"

    She was looking for her id card, which was in my possession. I was going to return it to her eventually, but I wanted to figure out what the situation was first.

    "Did someone steal it?"

    It was a pretty out-of-the-blue question, but I wanted to see if she knew.

    "Um, I''m not sure, I don''t usually misce things, but I don''t think someone would steal it either."

    "I haven''t seen it. Where was thest ce you saw it?"

    "I think I had it in ss 2-D a few days ago, we wereparing our student id card photos, and I don''t recall seeing it afterwards."

    Sounds suspicious.

    I was more sure that Akasaka had stolen Hamasaki''s student id. However, I still had no idea why she would do such a thing. From what I heard, I assumed that this was all premeditated. It seemed awfully convenient to be paring photos'' and then lose your id card and not have it returned for several days.

    But then again, Akasaka''s personality wasn''t exactly great, so maybe she was just hesitant to hand it back. I still couldn''t be certain of her intentions¡ªit might be a better idea to confront Akasaka about it. The only problem was that she was rather difficult to talk to.

    "I''ll keep an eye out for it."

    "Thanks, Mizuhara!"

    Ultimately, this was really that big of an issue to me, so I decided to just leave it for now. If nothing urs in the next few days, I''d just hand the card back to Hamasaki and pretend nothing happened.

    The student id cards were somewhat important to us as they were used as identification around the school, and you needed to present them during tests. Aside from that, I assumed there were other uses for them that we had not yet learned.

    Whatever the case, I was going back to my room to get some peace and quiet.

    **

    Almost as soon as I opened the door to my room, my phone vibrated with the sound of a notification.

    What a pain.

    I opened it and read the contents.

    -

    From: Kaoru Hiroto

    To: 2-C

    We need to discuss some important matters that have urred recently; pleasee to room 06 in the library if you have time.

    -

    Well, I considered just skipping, but I wasn''t exactly busy. Begrudgingly, I shut the door to my room and began making my way to the library.

    Several people were already in the meeting room, so I just walked inside and took a seat. A few minutes go by as a few more students join us. Eventually, Kaoru begins the discussion.

    "Alright, everyone, the reason I called you all here today is that quite a few students from ss 2-C have suddenly lost their student id cards. I just wanted to ask everyone if anyone knows anything about what could be causing this."

    Looks like I was spot-on with my observation.

    It appeared no one really knew anything as nobody spoke up after Kaoru''s request. After a few moments of silence, Furukawa spoke up, discussing the matter.

    "Where did everyonest have their student cards?" He asked.

    "We wereparing our photos with some of the students in ss 2-D."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I also lost mine while I wasparing id photos in 2-D," added Hamasaki.

    It was pretty obvious what themon denominator was.

    "It sounds like 2-D has something to do with this," said Kaoru.

    "What are we going to do about it?"

    "It might be a good idea to confront them about this," said Furukawa.

    "I think we should ask them if they have any of our student ids as a start," suggested Kaoru.

    There was agreeance within the crowd.

    I didn''t really want to participate in any of this, so I walked the opposite way when they left to deal with this issue.

    Suddenly, I was approached by a short, blonde girl. She was practically silent throughout the discussion, as was I. It appeared she wanted to speak to me. I was able to remember that she was Kobayashi Lucy, the highest point holder in ss 2-C, although not by a great margin.

    "This is all pretty stupid, isn''t it?"

    That was an abrupt way to start a conversation.

    "I suppose."

    "Where are you going now?" she asked.

    "Back to my room."

    "Well, I want to go to this caf¨¦, but I don''t really want to go alone... you want toe with me?"

    "Me? I''m sure you have other people who would want to go with you."

    "They''re all busy dealing with this dumb student id stuff."

    "Um, I suppose I could go with you."

    "Cool, I want to quickly get changed before I go. How about I meet you in front of my room in twenty minutes."

    "Sure, I guess."

    "Alright! I''m in room #048. I''ll see you there."

    Well, I guess I''m doing this now.

    I suppose I''d go and get changed into my casual clothes as well since she was also changing. I might go to the convenience store afterwards to get a bottle of shampoo¡ªI had been using the shampoo I was given from the Facility, but it was just about empty.

    I slowly made my way back to my room for the second time. Kimura still wasn''t back yet. I guess he was busy dealing with ss 2-A things or studying. It didn''t take too long for me to get changed. I folded my uniform up and ced it beside my bed. I decided to check my bank ount while I was here.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 3,914

    Owed: 27,780

    Owing: 12,000

    -

    I had a decent number of points and a stream of ie. However, I still couldn''t afford to becent. The previous exam showed that points were going to be an extremely valuable asset at this school. It was best to save points whenever possible.

    I guess I''d just grab a small drink at the caf¨¦.

 Chapter 72 Movements In The Background - Part 4

    I waited in front of Kobayashi''s room as she finished getting ready.

    This was the floor that Akasaka lived on as well.

    By pure chance, Akasaka was just leaving her room. The two of us made eye contact for a few seconds before she turned away. I guess she hadn''t put two and two together and realised that I had Hamasaki''s student card, which she had stolen.

    I continued waiting for Kobayashi. She was taking quite a long time. I tried to call her using the contacts system provided by the school; however, the call did not go through.

    "Have you been waiting long?" The door suddenly swung open as Lucy walked out dressed in a long skirt and an old, greyish shirt.

    I did wait a pretty long time, but oh well.

    "I just got here."

    "That''s good. I was worried I was taking too long~"

    She made her way beside me, and we began walking to the elevator.

    "So which caf¨¦ are we going to?"

    "It''s one in the middle of the mall named The Oue."

    "Alright."

    **

    The caf¨¦ was quite packed. It was definitely the most popr caf¨¦ in the school by far. Practically every table was taken up by students happily chatting and enjoying their meals. The atmosphere was very modern. It was what you''d expect from a top-of-the-range establishment. I didn''t recognise any of the faces in the caf¨¦, so I assumed that they were mostly 2-B or 2-A students and upperssmen.

    We were approached by one of the servers.

    "I''m sorry, the caf¨¦ is currently full at the moment. Would you mind waiting until there is a free table?"

    "Yes, that''s fine," Kobayashi answered on our behalf.

    We waited just outside the entrance of The Oue. Not long after, we were let in after some seats had freed up. We were at a table with four seats, and the two of us sat opposite each other. She seemed a little on edge, but I just chalked it up to some awkwardness.

    As I was looking at the menu, I noticed a smallmotion at the entrance of the caf¨¦.

    "Sir, we''re full at the moment."

    "Don''t worry; one of my friends is already in here."

    He walked in without any care for the employee.

    I didn''t give it any thought, but suddenly, he walked straight towards us. He was quite arge, strong-looking person with a very overbearing presence. The look on his face suggested that he was just having a casual meetup with one of his friends. However, the look on Kobayashi''s face suggested otherwise.

    "Hey now, didn''t I ask you toe alone? Who is this person?"

    "H-he''s just one of my ssmates..."

    "Why did you bring him?"

    "U-um..." It looked like she couldn''t think of an answer.

    I kind of figured that there were some ulterior motives for bringing me to this caf¨¦. When she first arrived, she didn''t look excited as I expected her to be. Looks like I''ve been caught in a problematic situation.

    He turned to face me.

    "You''re not wee here, leave."

    What was I meant to do here?

    I didn''t really want to involve myself in this but considering she brought me here. She probably expected me to do something. I slid my seat out a little bit and slowly stood up. As I got up, I could feel Kobayashi subtly tugging at my shirt.

    What a pain.

    I sat back down.

    "I just wanted to get some food."

    "Hahaha, you''re tough shit, aren''t you? Alright, I''ll let you listen in, but you ain''t backin'' out of this once you''ve heard it."

    At least insist on me leaving or something... this sounded like quite a hassle.

    "Fukuda... h-he''s not involved in this..." muttered Kobayashi, her voice slightly shaking.

    "You tryin'' to y the hero card now? You brought him here in the first ce, you coward. You''re the one who involved him."

    Yogi Fukuda, the only survivor of ss 2-F aside from Kanako, I would say I was impressed. Still, I had a suspicion that there were some specific circumstances which allowed for it.

    I wanted nothing to do with this.

    I stood up once again and proceeded to push into my chair.

    "Toote little boy. You should''ve left earlier. You''re involved now. Take a seat."

    Oh my.

    Well, there was nothing for me to gain by not listening. I sat back down. Fukuda instantly got to the point.

    "Did I say you could tell Kaoru about our n?" He asked Kobayashi.

    "I-I didn''t mean to..."

    "Don''t lie to me. I know she''s not smart enough to figure it out on her own."

    "Uh..."

    "Well, now that you''ve betrayed me, expect consequences."

    "W-wait, what are you going to do..?"

    Fukuda looked like the type of person who could dish out some severe punishments when he wished. Kobayashi constantly nced at me as if to see if I could do anything.

    "I can''t really deal with you that well unless you''re in my ss, so I''ll be bringing you into my ss first of all. Then you''ll learn what happens when you disobey me."

    The academic exam was an opportunity to bring Kobayashi into his ss. All he needed to do was cause her to rankst ce in the ss. On the contrary, he also could rank first and join our ss. It all depended on how capable he was.

    I hope that things stay rtively stable.

    Fukuda finally directed his attention to me.

    "Now, what am I going to do with you?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    He stared at me for a little while.

    "Your facial expression is monotone, like a lifeless doll. I like it."

    "What are you talking about."

    "You act as if you don''t realise, which is even more interesting."

    Was that how I appeared to others?

    "Well, I don''t think you really know about the situation, so I''ll let you off the hook."

    "Oh."

    He looked at me once again before getting up from his seat and leaving without another word.

    I looked at the girl opposite me, who was shaking at her fingertips. The whole encounter had obviously taken a toll on her.

    It looked like a good opportunity to leave. I hadn''t ordered anything to eat, but I didn''t really want to anyways. There was nothing that really appealed to me, so I preferred to just leave it as it was. I got up from my seat and made my way out of the caf¨¦.

    This entire situation was bothersome.

    She''d be better off finding someone else to confide in.

    ***

    As I returned to my dorm, I was greeted by a girl standing right in front of my door. It was Akasaka, the girl who stole Hamasaki''s student card.

    "What are you doing."

    She suddenly walked towards me, mming her arm against the wall.

    "You have it, don''t you?"

    "What are you talking about."

    She looked very unhappy.

    "Hamsaki''s student card¡ªI know you have it."

    "What do you mean."

    She moved her face closer to mine, staring right into my eyes with a dark re I had somewhat grown ustomed to after looking at it for so long.

    "I know you have it, now give it back, or we''ll have problems."

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about."

    She suddenly began sticking her hands into my pockets. I didn''t have the card on me, so she wouldn''t be able to find anything by doing so. I let her search me until she was satisfied.

    ''I''m telling you, I don''t have it."

    "I don''t believe you. You probably have it in your room somewhere."

    That was true, I did have it in my room, but she wouldn''t be able to find it even if she searched my entire room.

    "I don''t know what I can say to you."

    "We''re going to have issues if you don''t give it back."

    I walked past her and towards the door of my room. I tapped my phone onto the scanner, and it unlocked with a slight beep. As I slid my door open, I could hear her footstepsing closer. When I walked into my room, she quickly followed behind, letting herself in.

    "What are you doing," I asked.

    "I know you have it here somewhere."

    She began rummaging through my belongings. I could have stopped her, but I decided that the easiest method to get rid of her was to have her try to find the student card. I had nothing important to get to anyways, so it wasn''t like it was really wasting my time.

    After several minutes, she seemed to have given up hope.

    "Are you convinced?"

    "I don''t understand. You definitely have it somewhere."

    "I don''t have her student card. Could you leave my room now."

    "No! Not until I find it."

    I considered dragging her out of my room, but it wasn''t worth the effort.

    I decided to take a seat on my bed and look at my phone. She was still frantically looking everywhere, trying to find the student card. I considered that something like this would happen, so I hid the student card in advance.

    It looked like I had missed a few texts from Takeuchi.

    -

    [Wanna hang out?]

    [Hello?]

    [Do you want to study together in the library?]

    -

    Maybe I should have replied.

    Well, it was toote now. I had had enough of going out for the time being.

    A few more minutes went by as Akasaka continued to search my room to no avail.

    "Are you done yet."

    With a look of defeat on her face, she finally gave up.

    "I know you have it. You''ll regret doing this."

    Angrily she stomped out the door, mming it behind her.

    I could finally lie down and stare at the roof without anyone else in my room.

    ***

 Chapter 73 Fear, Tension And Apathy - Part 1

    Sometimes I wonder if I could ever care for someone.

    Well, I''ve got two years to find out.

    ~

    Several days passed, and before long, it was the beginning of the testing period.

    ? The students walked into the ss, taking their respective seats. Each table had an exam paper on it and a booklet and working out the paper.

    All of the exams were back to back, so the entire day was spent doing them.

    It took 5 hours in total.

    *

    Like my attitude during the Ideal Human Project, I neither enjoyed nor hated these tests.

    The very next day, the results were posted on the board.

    We received the ss results, which included the results of every student in the ss and the top and bottom of each of their other sses.

    -

    ss 2-C Exam Overall Results

    1. Kaoru Hiroto - 327

    2. Kai Furukawa - 310

    ~~

    4. Aiko Hamasaki - 306

    ~~

    14. Ayato Mizuhara - 250

    ~~

    21. Akane Itsuki - 214

    22. Honoka Airi - 211

    ~~

    35. Lucy Kobayashi - 82

    36. Kaito Takeuchi - 0

    -

    Well, this was the result that I expected.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Kaoru seemed shocked by Kobayashi''s result. She rushed over to her and tried to figure out what had happened.

    "Lucy! You always do so well when we do practice questions. What happened?"

    "A lot... I can''t tell you, though."

    Kaoru looked at the clearly stressed Kobayashi, yet she knew better than anyone else that she couldn''t do anything to help. To help without consulting the ss would be a betrayal of their ideology¡ªyet consulting the ss would only make it worse for her.

    Well, she should be somewhat grateful that I saved her.

    *

    It all started a few days ago.

    After the incident with Fukuda, I started to think about what might be happening. I figured that there must have been something special about the student cards that I didn''t know about¡ªsome features I was not yet aware of.

    I decided to go out and test out things that the student card could possibly achieve. After some time of trial and error, I decided that I''d just wait for the rest of 2-C and see if they could find out. I didn''t have any manpower tomit to big experiments, so I stayed stationary for a little while.

    It was during those days that I noticed something very important.

    Earlier in the term, we were told that whilst it was best to have our student cards with us during exams, it was not necessary. However, in order to participate in the exam without a student card, you need to pay a fine of 100 points. It was a very small amount, so it wasn''t a big issue.

    However, there was another condition, in order to participate, you needed to prove your identity in some way¡ªhowever, they did not give the details on what they actually needed to provide. One would believe that it would need to be significant identification, such as their phone, with personal details in it.

    I called Kobayashi''s phone the day of the ''caf¨¦ date'', yet it didn''t go through.

    I was just about to see Fukuda''s n.

    **

    It was the beginning of the first exam, Mathematics.

    As I expected, Kobayashi was nowhere to be seen.

    All the second-years had to take the exams in arge exam hall. There was a little ambient noise. However, as soon as the exam began, it was quiet enough to hear a leaf fall. There were arge number of teachers surveying the area, carefully observing for possible cheaters. I was positioned near a barrier that was set up to section out the students somewhat and prevent cheating.

    Nearing the end of the test, the sounds of pencil scratching and page-turning became more and more obtuse. It was a time when the teachers were being extra-alert, denying any opportunity for students to look at others'' exams.

    This made it especially difficult for me to do what I needed to do.

    Since Kobayashi wasn''t here, I realised that Fukuda may have gotten someone to enter using Kobayashi''s identity. Normally, that would be extremely difficult. However, Fukuda has been known to be able to have an extremely tight grasp on his sses. It waspletely possible for him to organise several students to take specific exams, allowing for students in his ss to do at least three of the four exams with the correct identity and one exam with Kobayashi''s identity¡ªsubsequently giving her a score of zero or close to it.

    The security of the examination was organised by staff members who weren''t teachers. Therefore, they had no method of determining whether a student was lying or not about identity theft. There was also extremely littlemunication between faculty members, so it was extremely difficult to report.

    This meant that if someone else entered with her identity, she could bepletely denied ess to the exam, subsequently receiving an incredibly low score¡ªenough to cause her to drop sses, as Fukuda''s pawns would purposely fail the exams for her.

    As a result, during the exam, I needed to figure out who the imposters were. If I reported them specifically, it could be possible for the system to be involved and punish the offenders. However, in order to do so, I needed to pinpoint the exact students. It was almost impossibly difficult. The situation was too extreme; there were almost no opportunities to read people properly.

    I was forced to subtly nce around and scan the area to locate any possible suspicious behaviour or movements. I was able to sneak in looks as the supervising teachers walked by. However, my vision was partially blocked by the barrier.

    Suddenly, far in the distance, beside the arm of a ss 2-D student, I managed to glimpse at their answers to ten questions on their answer sheet. B, B, D, A, D, B, B, A, D, C. I was able to tell that every answer they had ced was incorrect. The look on their face was also unusually calm, in contrast to the situation. There was also an overtck of stationery on his table. He held only a single short pencil¡ªhe did not even have an eraser. The supervising teacher walked by, and I was forced to look back down at my exam.

 Chapter 74 Fear Tension And Apathy - Part 2

    I still couldn''t be sure that they were the culprit. I did not get an opportunity to analyse him further throughout the rest of the exam.

    I would have to try again during the next exam.

    We were given a short ten-minute break as everyone was let out to have a snack and some water. I tried to glimpse at the students as we entered back into the exam hall. However, I didn''t get any information due to the flood of people entering the hall. There were also a veryrge amount of people who didn''t have their student cards due to them being stolen, so I couldn''t gather any useful information.

    Throughout the next exam, English, I was unable to identify any suspicious people.

    We were once again let out for our ten-minute break, and I wondered if there was a better method.

    At first, I didn''t want to get involved in any of this. I had no reservations about Kobayashi and didn''t really care if she was dealt with by Fukuda. However, a day or two ago, I managed to get a glimpse of his true intentions. Kobayashi was not his main target. He was trying to force Kaoru''s hand and destroy the unity of 2-C. He may have also decided to transfer into our ss.

    Kaoru and Kobayashi''s friendship was what he was targeting.

    That would have caused a lot of trouble for me.

    In order to keep my life as quiet as I could, for the time being, I would need to temporarily protect Kobayashi from Fukuda.

    Thus, during the third exam, Science, I scanned the entire exam hall again. In the corner of my eye, I noticed a girl who had answered the first five questions wrong and in record time at that. Still, that wasn''t enough to incriminate her, though.

    However, as I subtly watched her pencil movements on the page, I managed to locate a secret message.

    I feel bad for you Lucy <3

    She quickly rubbed it out and very subtly showed signs ofughter. I managed to witness her answer the next six questions incorrectly before a supervisor blocked me.

    **

    At the end of the exam, I approached one of the staff members and reported the incident, citing the exact student. I was forced to make up some contrived reason for why I suspected them, and then they were quickly investigated.

    Kobayashi was allowed into the examination hall during thest exam, Humanities.

    There was nothing I could do to boost her score, so she needed to do as well as she could without any support from me. It didn''t matter that much, though. All I needed was for her to attend the exam.

    I had already guessed that her score would have been the lowest in the ss no matter how well she did on thisst exam due to the zeros or very low scores on her previous exams. I needed to keep Fukuda away from her no matter what.

    I had already made preparations for this, and to do so, I was forced to choose a sacrifice¡ªsomeone in the ss needed to get a zero.

    ***

    Through the simple process of elimination, I decided that Takeuchi would be the best candidate.

    My time was extremely limited, so he was basically my only option.

    I considered several methods of possibly removing him from testing. Due to the harsh security of the school, retakes for missed exams were not allowed to discourage cheating, even if you had a reason for not attending. Thus I decided that giving him food poisoning or another illness to cause him to miss the exam was the best option.

    It was a few days ago when I pulled out my phone and texted him.

    **

    "You didn''t respond to my texts for so long that I assumed that you didn''t want to talk to me." He said as we walked towards the mall.

    "Sorry, I must have missed them."

    ''It''s fine! Anyways where are we going?''<novelnext></novelnext>

    "There''s this caf¨¦ at the mall."

    "Ooh, I''m pretty hungry right now.?

    For the second time in a week, I was standing at the entrance of The Oue, the most popr caf¨¦ at National High School. Luckily for us, there were a few empty tables, so we weren''t forced to wait like I had tost time.

    "Order whatever you want. It''s on me."

    "Seriously? I''ve been craving some good food recently!"

    After some thought, Takeuchi decided on a ratherrge club sandwich and a cup of orange juice. Since we were in the cafe, the prices of everything were rather extravagant. However, this was a situation where I had to use my points. Anyways, he''s going to be suffering quite a bit after this exam.

    A few momentster, the waiter returned with Takeuchi''s order.

    "Ah, Mizuhara, are you not getting anything?"

    "I''m still deciding. There''s not much here that I like."

    "Oh, alright then, well, I''ll start eating first."

    "That''s fine."

    Takeuchi was enjoying his meal. However, I needed to distract him for a few seconds. Looking around, I decided that I''d use a rather crude method.

    "I didn''t expect Fujiharu to be here."

    "Eh?! F-fujiharu? Where is she."

    Takeuchi quickly turned around to scan the nearby area. As he looked away, I quickly crushed somexatives in my hand and scattered them throughout his food. Noticing that she wasn''t actually nearby, Takeuchi turned back around.

    "I didn''t see her; where was she?"

    "Never mind, it was a mistake."

    "Oh man, I wanted to have a look at her..."

    Awkward.

    Takeuchi ignorantly ate the rest of his meal, happily munching down on the expensive food that I purchased for him. Dropping some crumbs around the table, he scoffed down thest of his sandwich.

    "Ah, that was so good! I''ve been pretty low on points, so I haven''t been able to eat something like this in a while. Thanks!"

    "I''m d you liked it."

    "So, what are we doing now? We could go look for¡ª"

    "Sorry, I have some business with my roommate."

    "O-oh... alright then... well, I''ll see youter."

    With that, I left the table.

    The next day, Takeuchi did not show up for any of the exams.

 Chapter 75 Fear, Tension And Apathy - Part 3

    In the end, Takeuchi got the lowest score in the ss. As a result, he would be sent down to ss 2-D.

    -

    ss 2-C Exam Overall Results

    1. Kaoru Hiroto - 327

    2. Kai Furukawa - 310

    ~~

    4. Aiko Hamasaki - 306

    ~~

    14. Mizuhara Ayato - 250

    ~~

    21. Akane Itsuki - 214

    22. Honoka Airi - 211

    ~~

    35. Lucy Kobayashi - 82

    36. Kaito Takeuchi - 0

    -

    Below the results board, there was another statistic showing the top three students in each ss, along with the lowest-ranking student. I guess this would be a good time for me to formte some understanding of the other sses. These types of statistics showed not only surface-level information but also details on the inner workings of each ss.

    ---

    ss 2-A

    1. Tachibana Emi -  388 [Overall Highest Scorer] > [Point Reward]

    2. Hasegawa Mio - 381

    3. Fujiharu Sara - 358

    [Lowest]. Katsuragi Alex - 201

    >

    ss 2-B

    1. Ester Hamasaki - 334 > [Promotion]

    2. Naegi Saka - 332

    3. Teruhashi Ren - 324

    [Lowest]. Kikuchi Tendo - 159

    >

    ss 2-C (My ss)

    1. Kaoru Hiroto - 327 > [Point Reward]

    2. Furukawa Kai - 310

    3. Miura Kenji - 304

    [Lowest]. Takeuchi Kaito - 0

    >

    ss 2-D

    1. Akasaka Uya - 319 > [Point Reward]

    2. Yogi Fukuda - 318

    3. Tamura Ritsu - 301

    [Lowest]. Katsuki Andrea - 0

    >

    ss 2-E

    1. Murakami Akio - 362 > [Promotion]

    2. Kurosawa Sora - 299

    3. Lawano Botan - 296

    [Lowest]. Bluml Max - 42 [Expelled]

    ---

    Based on the results, there were a few observations I could make.

    First of all, even in this high-stakes environment, Fujiharu was supporting herself quite well, managing to get a very high score. I wasn''t sure how she''d fare in a ce like this, but it seemed that she didn''t struggle with thepetitiveness of this school.

    Aside from that, it seemed that Fukuda had pulled something in his own ss as well. From the limited information I had, I assumed that he threw someone under the bus in order to protect Kanako. I still didn''tpletely understand their situation, but I could only assume that this was the work of Kanako''s father.

    There seemed to be a surprise result in ss 2-E. Murakami achieved a score that was significantly higher than everyone else in the. His score was probably one of the highest at the school at that. I could only assume that he was someone to watch out for. Also below him was a girl named Kurosawa Sora¡ªa name I remember from the Ideal Human Project.

    Anyways, after a few minutes, the teacher dismissed the ss.

    "In order to deal with some administrative tasks, the school has allowed you guys to take today off. Support teachers will be provided in the library for external studying. However, there will be no formal lessons today."

    With that, everyone gradually left the room.

    Takeuchi was still looking painfully at the results.

    I decided to make my way back to my dorm.

    ***

    Looking around themercial area, which was still partially under construction, I was approached by a familiar face.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "H-hey Mizuhara."

    "Hi, Kinoshita."

    "S-so, um, what do you think about this new school?"

    She quickly moved in beside me. The two of us were now walking side-by-side as I observed some of the new buildings that were being built around this area. The sound of drilling and other mechanical noises were always around, but they weren''t intrusive enough to cause any major issues.

    "I don''t mind it."

    "Ah... so who''s your roommate?''

    ? "It''s Kimura from ss A."

    "I see. Well, my roommate is Hamasaki, who was in my ss, although she''s in ss A now."

    "Well, that''s good for her."

    "U-um, so I wanted to talk to you about something, Mizuhara."

    "What is it?"

    She suddenly took in a deep breath.

    "It''s been pretty hard to make friends here... everyone''s sopetitive. I''ve been a bit lonely, so can youe with me... to... the library or something...? So we can study together!"

    "I don''t want to."

    "Huh."

    Her expression suddenly became extremely dejected. She looked down at the ground like her dreams had just been crushed. With tears forming in her eyes, she covered her face.

    "We can have a walk around if you want. But I don''t want to study in the library."

    She looked up with a sad expression.

    "Is there a reason why you don''t want to...?"

    "I don''t really feel like going there."

    "S-so it''s not because you don''t like me...?"

    "No."

    She put her hand on her chest as a subtle smile shed on her face.

    "...thank goodness..."

    Slowly, we made our way around the schoolyard.

    "...did you do well on thest exam?" she asked.

    "Yeah, I did alright."

    "That''s good~ I messed up my maths exam a little."

    "Ah."

    I felt her tugging against my shirt.

    "What''s the matter?"

    "That girl''s been staring at us for a while..."

    I had also noticed it. However, all of the time I''ve spent with Fujiharu has been making me less sensitive to being watched. As I turned around, I saw Akasaka looking at us from a distance. She had quite an unpleasant look on her face.

    Before long, she stormed towards us.

    "Mizuhara! You''ve done it now."

    Out of nowhere, she grabbed my tie and pulled me down to her eye level. With an extremely angry look in her eyes, she red straight into me.

    "I''m going to make your life a living hell!"

    "Ah. Can you not."

    "No, you''ve embarrassed me. Now you''re going to suffer the consequences!"

    "What did I do?"

    "You know what you did."

    "I don''t"

    "I know you know what you did!"

    "I really don''t."

    "Grr... whatever. y innocent all you want. Mizuhara Ayato, you''re going to regret humiliating me!"

    "Eh."

    She pushed me away and stormed off. Leaving just as quickly as she came.

    Kinoshita looked at me with a concerned expression.

    "W-what was that...?"

    "Don''t mind it."

    "B-but she said she''s going to make your life a living hell."

    "I''ll deal with itter. Is there anywhere else you want to go?"

    "Um... how about the fountain? I want to have a close look at it."

    "Alright."

    The two of us made our way to therge fountain near the middle of the schoolyard. There was a gardener watering the nts around the footpath and several teachers supervising the area. It seemed that it was quite a popr gathering ce.

    Ah. Not another hassle for me.

    Afterwards, I went back to the dorm andy in bed.

    ***

 Chapter 76 Language Of The Genius - Part 1

    I was walking through the ssroom building when I heard the intrusive melody of Chopin''s Etude Op. 25 No. 5. It was a piece I had heard many times throughout my stay in the Ideal Human Project. However, I noticed that it was being yed on a piano a few rooms down.

    I decided to go over and see who was ying it.

    Gently, I slid open the door to one of the music rooms that was near the end of the ssroom building. I tried to keep the creaking to a minimum as I nced in to find a familiar white-haired girl sitting elegantly at the grand piano.

    I listened to the rest of the piece as she yed. From what I could tell, the piece was yedpletely wlessly¡ªin an almost robotic sense. Eventually, it concluded as she softly closed the lid on the keys.

    Without even looking over, she began speaking to me.

    "Long time no see, Ayato."

    "That was nice. I can tell you yed it perfectly to theposer''s writing."

    "Of course, you wouldn''t get it. You always yed songs by ear."

    "I probably wouldn''t be able to y something like that by ear."

    "As humble as always, I see~"

    Leisurely, she got up and made her way over to me.

    "Don''t you have anything to say to me? Subject One."

    "Ah, it''s been a while since I''ve been called by that name."

    "Of course, you''ve been living out a normal life, after all."

    "What are you suggesting by that? Hasegawa Mio."

    She did a little twirl before walking out the door.

    "Whatever do I mean~?"

    She began making her way down the hall.

    "You know, normal life has its charms. But I''ve been bored. Ayato, I''ve been waiting to y with you again~"

    "I''m not sure I''ll take you up on that offer."

    "You wouldn''t reject a cute little girl like me, would you?"

    "I might."

    She giggled before sauntering away.

    -

    ***

    -

    The next morning, I was awoken by the sound of my phone vibrating.

    On the front screen, I saw an email from the school.

    -

    National High School

    Later today, you will be receiving a notification from the school regarding the next special exam. Details will be on the Preseqta App like before. It will also be reiterated that if your bank bnce falls below 0 points at any point, you will be immediately expelled from the school.

    Advice from the principal, ''this next special exam is not what it seems at first nce.''

    -

    "Another special exam? Just after thest one as well,"mented Kimura.

    "I guess the school likes them."

    A devious smile appeared on his face.

    "Aha, well, luckily for me, I also like them~"

    Later in the day, we received a notification on the Preseqta app.

    -

    Chess Tournament Special Exam

    ~<novelnext></novelnext>

    Exam

    In this special exam, we will be imitating the necessity to work with others, a skill that is incredibly important in modern society.

    This exam will be split into four main parts.

    The student Katsuragi Alex will be excluded from this exam. He will receive none of the rewards but also none of the punishments.

    ~

    Part 1 - Teammate Selection

    Every student will choose a teammate to partner up with. You will be given 24 hours to confirm your choice. If you do not confirm your selection by then, you will be randomly allocated one and have two points deducted from your team in the next part.

    There are specific rules for teammate selection:

    - ss A students can only partner with ss E, ss D or ss C students.

    ~

    Part 2 - Group Stage

    Every team will be ced into one of 15 groups. Each group will include five teams. Each team y the others exactly once to determine an overall ranking. Teams will y each other in a game of standard transfer chess. A win counts as three points, a draw counts as one and a loss counts as zero. There will be no resignations. All games will be decided with a stalemate or a checkmate.

    1. The top team in each group will be released from the special exam along with a reward of 15,000 points each.

    2. The second-ce team will be released from the special exam along with a reward of 3,000 points.

    3. The third-ce team willpete in the constion group in the next part.

    4. The fourth-ranked team will be forced to participate in the losers'' group in the next part.

    5. The fifth-ranked team will be forced to participate in the losers'' group, along with a 30-second time deduction.

    ~

    Part 3 - Extended Stage

    The extended stage will be split into two main sections.

    All teams in the constion group willpete in one match against a randomly selected team. The winning team steals 1,000 points from the losing team. After the match isplete, the teams will be released from the special exam.

    All teams in the losers'' group willpete in a tournament-style knockout round. The losers of every round will move to the next. A single win is all that''s needed to be released from the tournament. For every loss, each student in the team will lose 1,000 points and 500 extra points for each ss they are above ss E. (E.g. a ss E student would lose 1,000 points per loss, but a ss A student would lose 3,000 points per loss.)

    There will be no resignations. All games will be decided with a stalemate or a checkmate.

    ~

    Part 4 - Finals

    Throughout the tournament, every student will be given a derived ELO. The eight students with the highest derived ELO will be allowed to participate in the Finals. The finals will be in tournament-style knockout matches until a winner is produced. Students will be given time based on their ELO.

    Resignations are permitted.

    Rewards for each round are as stated.

    Top 8 - 500 points

    Top 4 - 8,000 points

    Top 2 - 20,000 points + a special ticket for the next special exam

    Top 1 - 40,000 points + immunity from the next special exam

    ~

    Further details will be released as the special exam goes on.

    Any questions, don''t hesitate to ask your homeroom teacher.

    We wish you good luck.

    -

    This exam seemed long at first. However, it wasn''t asplex as it seemed.

    "Wow, this looks interesting, although I''m not that good at chess," Kimuramented.

    "Well, we''ve got some time to prepare."

 Chapter 77 Language Of The Genius - Part 2

    It seemed the school wasn''t content with the number of emails they''d been distributing already, so they decided to add one more.

    -

    National High School

    As some of you may have noticed, another attribute has been released in the Preseqta System. Use this attribute to help aid in choosing your teammate. Finally, the student who ranked first in the academic exam will be using the perk that they received.

    The perk given was:

    [You are allowed to pick anyone as your teammate with no exceptions. The student you select will have no choice but to ept your offer.]

    Good luck, everyone.

    -

    The moment I read that email, I realised something. The first-ranked student in thest academic exam was Tachibana Emi.

    Whilst the perk was made with the intention that the first-ranked student would be able to pick another strong teammate, I already knew that Tachibana was going to use it maliciously.

    Ah, this was going to be a hassle.

    As expected, I received another email a few momentster.

    -

    National High School

    To the student Mizuhara Ayato,

    You have been selected by Tachibana Emi to be her teammate for the Chess Tournament Special Exam. The two of you have been automatically inputted into the system as a team. You do not need to take any further action.

    You do not have the ability to decline this invitation.

    -

    Ah, man.

    There goes my chance to rx during this special exam.

    I decided to have a look at my bank bnce.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 4,019

    Owed: 27,780

    Owing: 12,000

    -

    Looking at my current points, there was a chance that Tachibana might use a self-destructive strategy which would cause both of us to lose. Since you are instantly expelled if your bank bnce ever goes below zero, she will almost definitely try to cause me to lose all of my points. Considering that she even thought of this n, she must have calcted both of our bnces.

    Knowing that a ss-A student loses 3,000 points per loss in the losers'' tournament and a ss-C student loses 2,000 points. She would need to have at least 9,000 points which was definitely achievable for a ss-A student like her.

    With that in mind, I would need to find a way to break through her strategy.

    Standard Transfer Chess is basically a two-yer chess variant where every time your teammate takes a piece. You would be able to ce it down. A loss is counted if either you or your teammate run out of time or get checkmated. Generally, you and your teammate would be of simr skill, so there would be no major issues.

    However, if Tachibana was trying to trap me, she could simply never y a move and run down the clock, in which case we would lose even if our opponents were not skilled. Even if I yed perfectly, my opponent could just not y moves or y them incredibly slowly so that Tachibana ran out of time first.

    Tachibana has managed to trap me in a jail where I have nowhere to escape.

    ***

    Looking around the library, I saw it filled with students for the first time ever. Not only students, the tables, couches, counters and even the floor were scattered with chess boards and small wooden chess pieces. Everywhere, people were practising for the tournament.

    Well, that was to be expected, after all.

    I hade into the library to read my book, but it seemed that it was much too cramped for my liking.

    Ah, I guess I''ll just go back to my dorm room.

    In a different situation, I might be studying chess tactics, openings and strategies. However, those things were not going to be important to me. What is more important is how I''m going to deal with Tachibana''s attacks, although I do have some thoughts.

    Anyways, since the school released some more attributes, I might have a quick look through them to see if I can spot anything interesting.<novelnext></novelnext>

    -

    Kimura Haruto - Second-Year Student

    Overall Intelligence: **Unreleased**

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Lateral Thinking Capacity: A (Ranked #29 out of 417 in school)

    _

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: C (Ranked #209 out of 417 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: A

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    It seemed that following the trend of releasing attributes which were directly relevant to the special exam at hand, Lateral Thinking Capacity was released. As expected, Kimura had a pretty high score for his Lateral Thinking Capacity, considering that he was rtively smart and somewhat shrewd.

    I decided to have a look at Tachibana next.

    -

    Tachibana Emi - Second-Year Student

    Overall Intelligence: **Unreleased**

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Lateral Thinking Capacity: A+ (Ranked #6 out of 417 in school)

    _

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: D (Ranked #264 out of 417 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: A+

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    She had an even stronger Lateral Thinking Capacity score than Kimura. Normally, it would be a good thing to have such a trait in a teammate.

    Well, her chess ability didn''t really matter, although I could guess that she''d be quite good at it.

    I scanned through a few other students before deciding to ce my phone back into my pocket.

    Making my way through the empty schoolyard, I walked through the main reception area of the dorm. Even there, there were arge number of students seated in the various seating areas, ying chess with each other. I guess people really were determined to do well on this special exam, considering how grave the consequences were on thest one.

    Also, around now, some of the students in the lower sses would be beginning to feel the slow burn of the school''s point system. Unless you managed to earn some points through the special exams or budgeted extremely heavily, the number of points you were distributed for being in a ss was nowhere near enough to sustain yourself.

    As a result, the points for the winning groups were all the more important for many students.

    Well, I guess I''ll lie on my bed and finish reading for now.

 Chapter 78 Language Of The Genius - Part 3 [Fujiharu Sara]

    Coming to this new school, I''ve felt much more constricted than ever.

    I didn''t realise it at first, but around me, there are some geniuses who are above me.

    I''ve beenpletely overshadowed.

    Tachibana Emi, Hasegawa Mio and even Murakami Akio¡ªthey''re all at a level that I can''t even fathom at the moment. Despite how much I studied for thest academic exam, I still couldn''t beat them.

    Maybe this is my limit.

    Maybe this is as far as I can go.

    Maybe some people are just¡ªbetter than me.

    No...

    No.

    No.

    Never again will I fall back to the mindset I had back then.

    I''ll devour them. I''llpletely destroy them. That is what I, Fujiharu Sara, have been doing this entire time. My greatest strength is hard work. There''s nothing I can''t ovee with more work. I''ll just push myself even further. I''ll defeat them all.

    Finally, I''ll defeat Mizuhara Ayato.

    ***

    "Fujiharu! Let''s go practice for the chess tournament."

    I was with my usual group of friends. Since I wanted to get some practice in as well, I decided to follow them to the library. Sometimes they make it a little difficult to learn as they get distracted quite easily, but I did need some opponents to practice with.

    Practically every single chess-rted book in the entire library had been borrowed already. I''d been looking through some openings and puzzles during thest few days, practising as vigorously as I could. Every night, I''d memorise more openings with my phone as I prepared for this special exam.

    "Fujiharu-chan, y against me!"

    "Alright."

    The main issue was that most of the students who were actually good at chess seemed to disregard practice. ying with my friends is fun and all, but if I really wanted to improve, I''d have to y against some more difficult opponents.

    My friend, Shimizu Hana, was a rtively intelligent person. However, in terms of chess, her skill level wasn''t near high enough to challenge me seriously. I kept up appearances still, ying with her and holding back, but this definitely wasn''t helping my chess ability very much.

    I wanted to find someone strong.

    After spending a little bit of time ying against my friends, I decided to leave the general group.

    "Sorry guys, I''ll be back. I want to see if there are any free chess books."

    There definitely weren''t, but it bought me some time to do some practice on my own. Looking through various websites, I set up chess puzzles and attempted to solve them. I continued to increase the difficulty, training my brain to recognise the specific patterns.

    Still, I wanted to y a proper match.

    I decided to revise some of the openings I had memorised. Setting up the board, I yed out the openings by memory. One after another, I made sure that they were firmly in my head. Again and again, I continued to revise and memorise.

    Testing myself in various conditions, I stood up and yed the moves. Then, I yed the moves after flipping the board. I needed to make sure I wouldn''t forget them under stress. Again and again, all I could do was try to memorise these openings as well as I could. After all, memorising is all I''ve ever known to do.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Memorise.

    Practice.

    I just need to get it all into my head. This chess tournament was one of the best opportunities for me to go face-to-face with some of the smartest students in the school. I needed to prove that I was stronger than them.

    More puzzles. Clicking off the website I was on before, I scrolled down, looking for another. ''Hard Chess Puzzles''... good enough for me. Setting them up on the board, I controlled my thought process, meticulously breaking down the position.

    Complete.

    Ah, satisfying.

    Time for another.

    After a little while, Ipleted a number of puzzles on this new website. At this point, I wasn''t too sure how I was going to keep improving. The difficulty of the puzzles was inconsistent. Some were so easy that they definitely didn''t help me improve at all.

    I guess I might go around the library and see if there''s someone who I can y against.

    Walking around, I searched for ss 2-A students. Most seemed to be indifferent when it came to this exam. I guess it wasn''t too hard to top a group. However, I was aiming higher than that.

    I wanted to get into the Finals. I wanted to win the Finals.

    Suddenly, I saw a familiar face. It was of a girl I had met once before. After being brought to her apartment by Mizuhara, I was able to see that she had a number of chess trophies and prizes. If I wanted to challenge someone strong, she was definitely the choice.

    Quickly, I made my way over.

    "Hey, you''re Kanako, aren''t you?"

    She turned around with a somewhat confused look on her face. I guess I was talking to her a little bit out of the blue.

    "Yes, what do you want from me?" she replied.

    "I''ve heard your name before. You''re the chess prodigy, right?"

    I just wanted to confirm that she was as talented at chess as I thought she was. I never really got to examine her awards in detail, so I wasn''t too sure. It was possible that they might''ve been from a sibling of hers or something else.

    "Yes, I guess I am," she answered with a detached tone.

    "Haa, so this current special exam was made perfectly for you then."

    She didn''t seem too enthusiastic about talking to me. I was starting to get a little bit desperate since I''d been struggling to find apetent opponent this entire time. I really wanted to test my skills against her.

    "Just get to the point. What do you want?"

    "Eh? No need to be so bitter~. Well, I guess it''s true that I came here to tell you something."

    She was losing interest.

    I guess I''ll just say this.

    "You like Mizuhara, don''t you~?"

    Her face went red.

 Chapter 79 Language Of The Genius - Part 4 [Kanako Hanae]

    Many years ago.

    "H-how..." The boy was speechless as he was easily defeated by a young 9-year-old girl.

    "Good game. I hope we can be friends~"

    "No! How can I lose to you? You''re just a stupid girl!"

    Suddenly, Kanako''s heart dropped. Those words stabbed her like a silver de. The boy got off of his seat and stormed off. Everyone turned around as the boy stomped through the room.

    In the corners of her eyes, Kanako was starting to cry.

    I-I just wanted to be friends... does he hate me now?

    She stared silently at the chessboard. The white king was checkmated in a very elegant setup, leaving it in apletely undefendable position. As she looked at the board, she felt a cold, sad feeling in her stomach.

    After a little while, one of the adult organisers walked over to her.

    "It''s okay, Kanako. The boy''s just angry because you beat him."

    "S-should I not have...?"

    "This isn''t your fault. Come on, let''s go and find your next opponent."

    Kanako walked quietly to her next opponent.

    The organiser helped her up onto the chair as she looked at the next person she was going it y. It was another young girl of simr age to herself, with long flowing hair.

    "Kanako, meet Tachibana. She''ll be your next opponent."

    Tachibana lifted her hand for a handshake. Kanako grabbed onto her hand and swung it. The two girlsughed a little before they got back down and prepared for the game.

    "I hope you''re good at this, Kanako~"

    She didn''t respond.

    The organiser set up the board and the clock before taking a seat beside them.

    "Alright, you two may begin."

    Kanako began as white, ying Pawn to B3, beginning the hypermodern Larson''s Opening.

    Tachibana responded with Pawn to E5, a standard move.

    Kanako then yed Bishop to B2, a fianchetto on the queen''s side.

    The two girls continued to y moved, one after another, until finally, Tachibana was only a few moves from checkmating Kanako.

    All of a sudden, Tachibana appeared to be very angry.

    "I resign," Tachibana eximed.

    The organiser was shocked at her announcement.

    "B-but, Tachibana, you''re so close to winning."

    "She''s not ying seriously!" She pointed at Kanako.

    Kanako looked up timidly.

    "Why are you going easy on me?" Tachibana asked angrily.

    "I-I... didn''t want you to get mad at me..."

    The organiser and Tachibana''s expressions suddenly changed.

    "I hate it when people go easy on me. You''re just like that one boy," Tachibana said. Sensing the unease, the organise nudged Kanako.

    "Um... well, Kanako, you get the win. It''s time to move on,"

    "B-but..."

    Before Kanako could talk to her again, Tachibana got up from her seat and left the table.

    [End]

    ****

    ~~~

    Ah, a Chess Special Exam? This is perfect.

    My academic ability has always been poor. Everyone knows that. My father, my mother, and my tutors, they all saw that as my biggest weakness. The only person who ever saw something else in me was Mizuhara Ayato.

    Mizuhara, I still want to be with you.

    In a meritocratic school where grades were incredibly important. I thought I waspletely lost.

    However, my desire to be with you has driven me.

    Chess is my strongest weapon.

    This special exam is right in my alley.

    I''ll show everyone that I''m someone who can eventually stand side by side with you.

    ***

    It was a lukewarm morning. The Chess Tournament Special Exam is scheduled to be tomorrow, meaning I had a full day to practice if I wanted¡ªnot that I was going to. Making my way down the clean,forting yet tense schoolyard, I looked through my phone. The school had begun publishing some of the teams that had formed.

    -

    Chess Tournament Special Exam Teams

    1. Mizuhara Ayato and Tachibana Emi

    2. Fujiharu Sara and Murakami Akio

    ...

    11. Kimura Haruto and Ichikawa Mana

    ...

    14. Kaoru Hiroto and Kobyashi Lucy

    -<novelnext></novelnext>

    Many people had already chosen their teammates.

    Gaa... it was annoying to see that Mizuhara was already taken. I knew that he''d probably not want to be my partner, but still... he could''ve waited for a little, at least.

    "Hey, you''re Kanako, aren''t you?"

    I heard the voice of a girl behind me. Fukuda positioned himself between us, but she brushed him aside.

    "Yes, what do you want from me?"

    It was Fujiharu Sara, a ss A girl who was both smart and popr.

    "I''ve heard your name before. You''re the chess prodigy, right?"

    She''s heard of me?

    We''ve talked before. How condescending can she get?

    "Yes, I guess I am."

    "Haa, so this current special exam was made perfectly for you then."

    For some reason, she was beginning to get on my nerves.

    "Just get to the point. What do you want?"

    "Eh? No need to be so bitter~. Well, I guess it''s true that I came here to tell you something."

    Fujiharu took a few steps back before stretching her arms over her head. It was clear that she had some ulterior motives when she came to talk to me. This supposedly ''perfect'' girl... for some reason, something didn''t sit right with me.

    "You like Mizuhara, don''t you~?"

    What?

    How... does she know?

    No way.

    "W-what do you mean?"

    "There''s no use hiding it. I''ve got perfect intuition when ites to this."

    There didn''t seem to be a way for me to avoid this.

    "So you came just to embarrass me?"

    "Ah, well, I''vee with a challenge."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Basically, I''ve decided that I''m going to beat you, the chess prodigy, at your own game."

    Suddenly, a cold breeze brushed over me. Like a sign from the sky, I felt that this was bad news. It was like a little stinging sensation as the sudden icy wind shed me from the sides. Fujihara Sara, a girl who I had hardly talked to, was now challenging me at my greatest strength.

    What was her intention?

    "I don''t know what you''re thinking, but you can do whatever you want."

    "Ah, it seems that you''re looking down on me~"

    "Are you implying that you have the ability to beat me?"

    "Kanako, I''ve already surpassed you."

    What was this feeling? Was it fear? Why... there''s no way she could have surpassed my ability. But why, why do I feel uneasy?

    She took a step forward.

    "Let''s y a match right now."

    "Huh?"

    What was this now?

    *

    Sitting on one of the scarce empty tables in the library, I set up the chess board as Fujiharu wrote some notes down on a little notepad. Before the game began, I checked her attributes in the Preseqta system.

    -

    Fujiharu Sara - Second-Year Student

    Overall Intelligence: **Unreleased**

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Lateral Thinking Capacity: A+ (Ranked #12 out of 417 in school)

    _

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: A+ (Ranked #2 out of 417 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: A+

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    They weren''t something to be scoffed at.

    "Since I''m the weaker one here, I''ll y with white, if that''s okay," she said.

    "That''s fine with me."

 Chapter 80 Language Of The Genius - Part 5 [Kanako Hanae]

    After cing all of the small wooden pieces on the board, she stared at the ck and white checkered squares for a little while before finally making her first move. Gently picking up the white pawn, she moved it up two squares.

    As expected, she had something prepared.

    Her first move was not E4 or even D4. It was C4, The English Opening.

    Well, it wasn''t the first time I''d yed against this opening either.

    I had never seen this girl on the world stage before. For all I knew, she was an amateur. However, for some reason, something didn''t feel right. I couldn''t let my guard down, like that one match against Mizuhara.

    Taking a moment to think, I responded with a pretty standard Knight F6, the Anglo-Indian Defence.

    As the game went on, I decided to observe the pattern of Fujiharu''s moves. They werepletely different to the ones that Mizuhara yed. Instead of aggressively trading pieces and trying to beat me with pure calctions, Fujiharu was extremely reserved, slowly building a defence with no holes.

    However, there was a good reason why I stayed undefeated for almost ten years.

    Meticulously, she slowly positioned her pieces around her king, covering any possible chance for me to break through. Her moves were not those of an amateur. Every move had a purpose, linking up the pieces like a web, an imprable web.

    I guess I''ll just have to slowly peel down her defences, oneyer at a time.

    Fujiharu, you''re like a naked king hiding in a castle.

    If that''s the case, I''ll just have to act as a battling ram and smash down your entrance.

    ***

    I looked up and saw Fujiharu''s face suddenly light up. She scanned the entire board, checking for any mistakes. In the end, her eyes were glued to my rook, which was hanging, right beside her imprable castle.

    ''She blundered a rook'' is probably what Fujiharu''s thinking right now.

    However, like sacrificing a group of berserkers to smash down the enemy''s walls, I was sacrificing my rook to open up her king.

    Because the king''s safety is important.

    But not only that, her king was trapped by her own pieces.

    All I needed to do was add a little bit of pressure.

    As she took my rook, I yed my next move. Move after move. We continued the game.

    Until.

    "Checkmate."

    ***

    "That was a nice match."

    Suddenly, I heard the voice of a girl I had never seen before. With long, foreign white hair, she looked down at me with distant yet familiar eyes. Resting her arms on my shoulders, sheughed. I had just defeated Fujiharu, but it seemed that this girl was also watching.

    "You''re good. You remind me of a leopard, pouncing on your prey."

    "Who are you?"

    "Ah, me? I''m just a nobody~"

    For some reason, her way of speech reminded me, ever so slightly, of Mizuhara.

    Taking a quick look at the board, the white-haired girl reset the board. She was moving all of the pieces back to their original positions, disregarding what had just happened prior.

    "Wait, what are you doing?" asked Fujiharu.

    "Oh, were you still looking at it?" she replied.

    Fujiharu seemed confused

    "Um, I guess not. Are you wanting to y a game?"

    "Not really."

    "Then why are you resetting the board?"

    "I just feel like it."

    Looking at the white-haired girl in confusion, Fujiharu got out of her seat. Running her fingers through her hair, she waved at me.

    "I guess I''m not at your level just yet~."

    With that, she walked away, looking somewhat dejected.

    I looked over at the girl who had just finished resetting the board.

    "Kanako, is it?"

    "Yeah..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "How about you team up with me for the special exam."

    I wasn''t expecting to suddenly be offered to team up like that. I didn''t even know who this person was. They extruded an aura of confidence, but I knew nothing about them. Noticing that I was hesitating, she continued, taking her student card out of her pocket.

    "I''m Hasegawa Mio~ check my Preseqta. I''m sure you''ll be able to make up your mind."

    Hasegawa Mio?

    I looked up her name

    -

    Hasegawa Mio - Second-Year Student

    Overall Intelligence: **Unreleased**

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Lateral Thinking Capacity: A+ (Ranked #3 out of 417 in school)

    _

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: B (Ranked #54 out of 417 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: A+

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    Her attributes were incredible. They were even better than Fujiharu''s. Looking at the ranks, I saw no reason to reject her invitation. In this special exam, your teammate''s abilities were almost as important as your own. It''s impossible to make it far if you have a poor teammate. With that in mind, I spoke up.

    "I''m willing to be your teammate, Hasegawa."

    "Perfect, it''s settled then~ I knew you''de along."

    She tapped on her phone a few times before I received a notification. She must have inputted the team into the Preseqta Special Exam tab.

    -

    National High School

    To the student Kanako Hanae,

    You and Hasegawa Mio have been confirmed as teammates. You have five minutes to reply if you wish to cancel. Otherwise, it will be inputted into the system.

    -

    That was it.

    "I look forward to ying with you, Kanako."

    "Aren''t we going to practice?"

    "Practice, do you feel the need to?"

    "I mean, just in case?"

    She pouted and looked up at me.

    "If you want... but I want to go y the piano now~"

    "Uh, well, that''s fine then."

    I guess I could gamble on her ability. There shouldn''t be arge issue if her Lateral Thinking Capacity was so highly ranked. I need to report back with Fukuda anyways.

    "See you~"

    Hasegawa left, giving me a little wave. I also decided to go back to the dorms. Fukuda was probably sorting his own teammate out. Father sent a few more students here, so he could probably group with any of them. Although, I would eventually like to stop relying on things that Father provide me with.

    This special exam will be the first one where I will truly use my own strength.

    ***

 Chapter 81 Chess Tournament Special Exam - Part 1

    Today''s the day, it seems.

    -

    National High School

    All students, today will mark the day of the first stage of the Chess Tournament Special Exam. Tables and chess sets have been set out in various ssrooms. Teachers will be supervising and ensuring that there is no cheating. Please make your way to your designated table before the allocated time. Otherwise, your clock will begin to run down, and you will be fined points.

    Chess Tournament Special Exam - Part 2 [Group Stage]

    ¡ªYou have been ced in Group A

    Group A:

    1. Kurosawa Sora and Naegi Saka

    2. Okamoto Riku and Takagi Mei

    3. Ito Reino and Yamamoto Koharu

    4. Mizuhara Ayato and Tachibana Emi

    5. Teruhashi Ren and Tamura Ritsu

    You can check your current groupdder and your match times on the special exam tab of the Preseqta app.

    -

    I opened the specified tab on Preseqta. As expected, all the details for the exam were there, alongside the locations and times of each of the matches.

    -

    Chess Tournament Special Exam

    Student: Mizuhara Ayato

    ---

    Uing Match: Vs Kurosawa Sora and Naegi Saka

    Room: 5B

    Time: 10:15 am - start

    -

    I still had a little bit of time to spare since I woke up pretty early. Normally, this would be the time when a duo would undergo their final preparations before the match. However, Tachibana definitely wasn''t nning on practising with me.

    Kimura had already left for the day. I guess his match was much earlier than mine.

    I decided to just lie back down on my bed and rest. There wasn''t much else for me to do until the beginning of my match.

    ***

    10:11 am.

    Group Stage: Match One.

    I found myself seated in a rtively empty ssroom, with around two or three other matches going on. It was practically dead silent since everyone else waspletely focused on their chess games.

    Sitting opposite me was Naegi Saka, the girl who was currently at the top of ss 2-B. Her status didn''t really matter to me, though, since the person who was deciding my fate was Tachibana Emi, the girl who got the highest score on thest academic exam. There was basically nothing I could do to change the course of things in the second stage of the special exam.

    10:15 am.

    The timers on our chess clocks began running.

    I was ying with the ck pieces.

    Naegi yed E4.

    I responded with C5, the Sicilian Defence.

    She yed Knight F3.

    I yed D6.

    She took a little bit of time to think.

    Suddenly, I heard a call from beside me.

    "Checkmate."

    I looked over to see that Tachibana had already lost.

    Ah.

    Well, this was to be expected.

    Observing their board, it was pretty clear that Tachibana was purposely letting her opponent win. With only four moves being yed in total, she allowed Kurosawa Sora to perform the Fool''s Mate on her. In the end, there was nothing I could do to change the oue.

    Without even batting an eye at me, Tachibana stood up and left the room.

    Our next match was in around thirty minutes. I took this time to stroll around the school.

    ***

    10:43 am.

    Group Stage: Match Two.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Once again, I was seated, albeit in a different ssroom this time. Tachibana and I will be ying our second game in the group stage against Teruhashi Ren and Tamura Ritsu. Looking down at the board, I noticed that my opponent, Teruhashi, was quite overtly shaking as he adjusted the pieces.

    10:45 am.

    Eventually, the clocks began running.

    I was ying with the ck pieces once again.

    Identically to thest match, the game started with the old variation of the Sicilian Defence.

    Just like thest match, the game was over in less than a minute.

    "Checkmate."

    Once again, Tachibana had allowed herself to be checkmated.

    She then excused herself from the room.

    I decided to have a look at thedder on Preseqta.

    -

    Group A Ladder:

    1. Kurosawa Sora and Naegi Saka - 6

    2. Ito Reino and Yamamoto Koharu - 6

    3. Teruhashi Ren and Tamura Ritsu - 3

    4. Okamoto Riku and Takagi Mei - 0

    5. Mizuhara Ayato and Tachibana Emi - 0

    -

    I guess I should be stressed, but something mundane like this... it''s just not very exciting.

    There was another short period of time before the next match.

    ***

    11:29 am.

    Group Stage: Match Three.

    Our opponents were Ito Reino and Yamamoto Koharu. As I took a seat at our designated table, I looked over at Tachibana, who was asposed as before. The board was already set up, so we simply waited for the time to hit 11:30 am.

    Eventually, our clocks began running down.

    Like a carbon copy of thest two games, my opponent yed E4, and I yed the Old Sicilian Defence in response.

    Predictably, I was met by the voice of Yamamoto.

    "Checkmate."

    Oh well, time to wait for the next match.

    Tachibana definitely wasn''t going to let me pass this exam easily.

    ***

    12:26 am.

    Group Stage: Final Match.

    Two familiar faces sat opposite us, Okamoto Riku and Takagi Mei. Just like us, they had not won a single game. I guess our group was a pretty strong one since most of the students were in the upper sses. Just sitting down, they appeared to have a sense of defeat. There were still a few minutes before the start of the match.

    12:30 am.

    The clocks began running down.

    My opponent was Okamoto. For the first time today, we yed a different opening.

    He yed the Queen''s Pawn opening with D4.

    I replied with D5.

    After that came Bishop F4 for the elerated London System.

    We yed a few more moves.

    I looked over at Tachibana. She had tried to do the same tactic of losing as before. However, it seemed Takagi wasn''t even strong enough to be able to find the Fool''s Mate. After realising this, Tachibana began sacrificing pieces like crazy.

    This meant that Okamoto received quite a few strong pieces to y against me. He wasn''t very skilled either, so I was able to continue my attack despite the disadvantage.

    A little whileter, Tachibana sacrificed almost all of her pieces. Eventually, even Takagi was able to checkmate her.

    Oh well.

    "Well yed, Mizuhara. I was definitely losing that if Mei didn''t save me."

    "It was a close game, I guess."

    "Say... Tachibana was the highest ranked in ss 2-A, right? Howe she''s... a bit amateurish at chess?"

    "Well, it''s a bit of a long story."

 Chapter 82 Chess Tournament Special Exam - Part 2

    It was the next morning.

    I was awoken by the sound of knocking on my door.

    "Who''s here... this early...?" whined Kimura.

    "An acquaintance of mine."

    "Ah, I see~ alright, do what you need to."

    ***

    The sun had yet to rise above the horizon. The outside of the dorm building was lit up only with dim lights on the path. With the chilly wind brushing against us, Tachibana looked up at me with an unpleasant expression.

    "Ayato, what did you do."

    "What do you mean?"

    She furrowed her eyebrows and red at me.

    "Mana Ichikawa is in the losers'' group. She was partnered with Kimura, who''s very reliable. I know you have something to do with this."

    I, in fact, did have something to do with this.

    *

    A few days ago, I offered Kimura a very simple offer.

    [If you purposely lose and bring Ichikawa down until I''m excused from the exam, I''ll give you at least a top 2 winnings from the Finals Heat. Make sure you ce fourth in the group stage.]

    He was a little hesitant at first, but my Lateral Thinking Capacity rank was out there for everyone to see. After checking Preseqta, he agreed to my offer.

    "No reward without risk, am I right?" hemented.

    "That''s for sure."

    Fast forward a little.

    *

    I had a very simple n, and it rted to the cements of the Extended Stage tournaments.

    "Your mistake was not partnering with Ichikawa," I stated.

    "You may think you''re slick, but now that I see what you''re doing, I''ll just stop it with points."

    "But can you, though?"

    "What''s stopping me?"

    "Check Preseqta."

    Tachibana was about to notice something that she would not be happy about. There was a specific reason why I asked Kimura to ce fourth during the group stage.

    -

    Chess Tournament Special Exam - Extended Stage

    Your result: Losers'' Group and 30-second time deduction

    Losers'' Group Tournament:

    ...

    (Other matches)

    ...

    ...

    9. Ichikawa Mana and Kimura Haruto vs Kinoshita Chitose and Katsuki Andria

    --

    10. Tachibana Emi and Mizuhara Ayato vs Yamada Nendo and Tamura Ritsu

    ...

    -

    For a genius like Tachibana, it wouldn''t take long for her to figure it out.

    Basically, if Tachibana continued to try to purposely lose our matches, we would eventually end up ying against Ichikawa. Now, I asked Kimura to ce them fourth. This would mean that my opponent would be Ichikawa, and Tachibana''s opponent would be Kimura.

    When we y against each other, Kimura will stall Tachibana. This means that I''ll have an opportunity to defeat Ichikawa, allowing me toplete the exam and put Ichikawa in more danger of expulsion.

    Knowing Tachibana, she would definitely not want to risk this oue. Because even with her purposely trying to lose, there''s still a chance that I could checkmate Ichikawa. If that were the case, it would be exceedingly difficult for Tachibana to protect Ichikawa from expulsion.

    This means the only way for Tachibana to prevent this oue is to win our next match.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I''ve underestimated you... Ayato..." she red at me.

    Ah, I really don''t like having to constantly take action like this. It''s a hassle.

    ***

    ???

    9:39 am.

    Extended Stage: Losers'' Group.

    A very unhappy Tachibana sat beside me as we prepared to face Yamada Nendo and Tamura Ritsu. The room waspletely silent as we were the only match that was scheduled for this time. Listening to the quiet whistling of the wind outside, I looked down at the ck and white chessboard.

    Eventually, the game began.

    9:45 am.

    The clocks started ticking down.

    Looking over at Tachibana, she was actually ying properly for once. With smart, calcted moves, she quickly overwhelmed her opponent.

    I simply sat back and rxed, ying a move every once in a while. Slowly adjusting my pieces around, I didn''t need to pay that much attention to the game. Eventually, I decided to stare out the window as I waited for Tachibana to win.

    "Checkmate."

    After only three minutes, the game was over.

    Even without any support from me, Tachibana very easily beat her opponent.

    Well, that was it then.

    ***

    We all left the room, and I decided to make my way back to my dorm. The Finals weren''t on until the next day, but they would be sending out the list tonight. I wasn''t sure how they would calcte our ''derived elo'', but it didn''t really matter to me. Aside from losing some faith in Kimura, there weren''t any big consequences if I didn''t get selected.

    However, based on the weird information system that the school had, I wouldn''t really be surprised if I was put in the finals.

    Gently sliding open the door to my dorm, I saw Kimura sitting on his bed. Hearing my entry, he turned toward me andughed.

    "How''d you go?" he asked.

    "I won."

    ? "So we''re both excused from the exam then."

    "It would appear so."

    In the end, I never asked Kimura to lose the first match of the Losers'' Group. This was mainly because I didn''t want to make it unclear how far I wanted him to go. It was the best way to negotiate at the time. Granted, if Tachibana had decided to forgo protecting Ichikawa and continued to lose purposely, I might''ve been in some strife.

    However, alls well ends well.

    And I was never really in a position where I could''ve been expelled.

    Taking a seat on my bed, Iy down, staring up at the roof as usual. For the time being, I can rest assured now that I was excused from the exam. I saved myself from losing points in the Losers'' Group, which would''ve been annoying.

    Now, I was just waiting to see who was in the Finals.

    ***

    A few hourster, I received a notification on my phone.

    -

    National High School

    The Extended Stage of the Chess Tournament Special Exam has concluded. Five students have been expelled due to their point bnces falling below zero. We will now begin the Finals Round. The following students have been selected to participate (in no particr order):

    1. Tachibana Emi - ss 2A

    2. Fujiharu Sara - ss 2A

    3. Hasegawa Mio - ss 2A

    4. Hamasaki Ester - ss 2A

    5. Sasaki Junpei - ss 2A

    6. Mizuhara Ayato - ss 2C [You]

    7. Kanako Hanae - ss 2D

    8. Murakami Akio - ss 2D

    -

    Well, that was about what I expected.

 Chapter 83 Chess Tournament Special Exam - Part 1 [Kanako Hanae]

    ***

    It was pretty early in the morning when I, Kanako Hanae, was awoken by the sound of someone poking me in the face. My eyes gradually adjusted to the light as I looked up at whoever was prodding me. Taking a second to stretch my arms, I saw that it was my roommate.

    This was the big day.

    "Hanae, I''m going to my match now."

    "...Ah, it''s morning already?"

    "You should probably check your phone! Do you even know what time your match is?"

    I grabbed my phone off of the bedside table and quickly looked at it.

    There was a mail from the school.

    -

    National High School

    All students, today will mark the day of the first stage of the Chess Tournament Special Exam. Tables and chess sets have been set out in various ssrooms. Teachers will be supervising and ensuring that there is no cheating. Please make your way to your designated table before the allocated time. Otherwise, your clock will begin to run down, and you will be fined points.

    Chess Tournament Special Exam - Part 2 [Group Stage]

    ¡ªYou have been ced in Group D

    Group D:

    1. Kanako Hanae and Hasegawa Mio

    2. Lawano Botan and Satou Ryota

    3. Kaoru Hiroto and Kobayashi Lucy

    4. Hamasaki Ester and Miura Kenji

    5. Tanaka Shion and Iwasaki Kota

    You can check your current groupdder and your match times on the special exam tab of the Preseqta app.

    -

    This felt different from all the other chess tournaments I''ve been in. In a way, it was both formal and informal at the same time. Opening the Preseqta app, I had a look at my schedule for today. Hopefully, I still had some time to spare.

    -

    Chess Tournament Special Exam

    Student: Kanako Hanae

    ---

    Uing Match: Vs Lawano Botan and Satou Ryota

    Room: 2C

    Time: 10:00 am - start

    -

    Thankfully it was a littleter in the morning.

    I waved goodbye to my roommate as she left for her match.

    I decided to search up some openings just to revise, but I doubted that I''d really need to prepare seriously for these matches. Depending on how Hasegawa ys, it should be smooth sailing for the first little bit. After looking through some lines, I decided to lie down and calm my mind. The only risk was if I were to blunder and make a silly mistake due to stress.

    I hugged my soft, squishy pillow for a little¡ªit was one of the only things I spent a decent number of points on at this school.

    It was worth it.

    ***

    As I opened my door, I was greeted by the listless yet pleasant face of Hasegawa Mio.

    "Kanako, you all ready to go?"

    "Yeah, I suppose."

    We walked silently down the hall.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "So, have you been practising?" I asked.

    "Me? Oh, not at all."

    "Eh... are you sure you''ll be alright?"

    "Who knows."

    "Aah..."

    For however supposedly-intelligent Hasegawa was meant to be, she really didn''t give me a great deal of confidence. As we made our way down the quiet, modern hall of the dormitory building, I managed to get a proper look at her for the first time.

    This entire time, she had kind of just been a fleeting existence. But now that I take a closer look at her, she has a really nice body¡ªone that made me quite jealous. With curvey hips and some annoyingly big breasts, she was the perfect example of what every girl wanted to look like. Not only that, her skin was pale and smooth, with hardly any blemishes, and she had exotic, beautiful white hair.

    Ugh, she must have it easy.

    With such a nonchnt attitude, I didn''t understand how she was so smart and pretty. Her entire person wasn''t something that''de about naturally.

    "Hey Kanako, you''ve been looking at me for quite a while."

    "O-oh, sorry, I just thought that you looked really pretty."

    "Aw, thanks. You''re pretty as well."

    Eventually, we arrived at room 2C. There were already a few games going on when we entered, and as such, we stayed silent. Sitting down, I looked at the familiar pieces on the chessboard.

    How many times have I done this... a lot.

    The time was 10:00 am, and the clocks began counting down.

    I was with the white pieces, so I decided to y the opening I was most familiar with.

    Starting off with E4, I yed the standard King''s Pawn Opening.

    In response, they yed E5.

    I yed Knight F3.

    Then came Knight C6.

    I then yed Bishop B5, the Ruy Lopez.

    At this point, my opponent left the main line and yed apletely losing move. I opened up my pawns and brought out a few more pieces before going on the attack. Beside me, Hasegawa had already taken quite a few of her opponent''s pieces, giving them to me (Bughouse Rules).

    Upon going on the attack, my opponent''s defences were quickly broken apart.

    "Checkmate."

    Beating me to the chase, Hasegawa managed to checkmate her opponent first.

    With that, we made our way out of the room. I waited for Hasegawa and walked with her toward the library.

    "That''s our first game done," I said.

    "Yes, that went pretty smoothly."

    "What are you nning on doing now?"

    "I''m going to the music room."

    "Ah, to y the piano again?"

    "Yep."

    I followed her as she made her way over. There was quite a number of students gathered around the ce, frantically chatting about the special exam. Hasegawa didn''t seem to have any interest in that, ignoring the other students.

    Considering the fact that there was still a bit of time before our next match, I decided to just stay and listen to Hasegawa.

    "You don''t mind me, right?" I asked.

    "It''s fine. You can listen if you want."

    Taking her phone out of her pocket, she seemed to be searching for some sheet music. The screen was so small I was surprised that she could even see it. However, before long, she began elegantly ying the piano, filling the room with music.

    She really has everything...

 Chapter 84 Chess Tournament Special Exam - Part 2 [Kanako Hanae]

    I watched as Hasegawa''s fingers glided across the piano. It was clear that she wasn''t some amateur. She had practised... a lot. But not only that, it seemed that music just seemed to grow on her, like a talent simr to mine.

    The piece filled my ears, blessing them with beautiful noise. I enjoyed standing by and listening to Hasegawa''s ying. I wasn''t exactly new to piano either since my father always enjoyed listening to talented musicians, especially pianists. However, from what I could tell, she seemed to be better than any other pianist I had ever heard.

    She yed the pieces wlessly, one after another. No matter how difficult the technique was, she made it look easy.

    The only thing was that it felt as if her musked... emotion.

    I don''t really know how to exin it. But there seemed to be some sort of emptiness in her ying. It felt like listening to aputer.

    Suddenly, she stopped.

    "We''ve got to get to our next match, don''t we?" she said.

    "Oh yeah, I almost forgot."

    The two of us made our way to the next ssroom.

    ***

    The rest of our matches for the day went without any issues.

    In the end, we werepletely undefeated.

    -

    Group D Ladder:

    1. Kanako Hanae and Hasegawa Mio - 12

    2. Hamasaki Ester and Miura Kenji - 9

    3. Kaoru Hiroto and Kobayashi Lucy - 6

    4. Lawano Botan and Satou Ryota - 3

    5. Tanaka Shion and Iwasaki Kota - 0

    -

    It was a pretty easy victory. The only team that was a slight issue were Hamasaki Ester and Miura Kenji, who managed to put up a good fight. The 15,000-point reward was quite nice, which I assumed that I''d be receiving soon.

    I still wanted to get to know Hasegawa better.

    "Hey, Hasegawa, do you want to go to the cafe?"

    "Ah, I don''t usually spend that much money on food."

    Why does she remind me of Mizuhara...

    "I''ll pay for it. I want to get to know you better."

    "Um, well, that''s fine then."

    I managed to get her to agree. I didn''t have any problems in terms of points, especially with all the ones that Fukuda had stocked up, so it was fine. Hasegawa seems like an amazing person... she''s someone I''d like to be like.

    The two of us began making our way over to themercial zone of the school. There was a new shop that was nearingpletion in the construction area. From what I could see, it looked like it could''ve been either a restaurant or another cafe. There were still many structures in the construction zone that was still in the process of being built. I could only assume that the school was trying to amodate all of our needs.

    I would''ve preferred more recreational facilities... maybe somewhere you could go on a date.

    Ah, before long, the two of us arrived at The Oue, the only cafe in the school. Unlike usual, it was nearly empty. I guess students were budgeting more.

    The two of us found a table and sat down.

    "Order whatever you like. You don''t need to be shy."

    "Thanks, but I''ll just get a light snack."

    "Whatever you feel."

    After thinking for a little Hasegawa came to a decision.

    "I''ll just get the baked cauliflower," she said.

    "Alright."

    It was a pretty cheap dish, but I guess if that''s what she wanted, then it''s fine.

    After giving our order to the server, I decided to chat with her some more.

    "So, how long have you been ying the piano?"

    "Probably as long as I remember."

    "You''re very good at it."

    "Thanks, it''s the only thing I really like doing."

    "Oh? Don''t you have any other hobbies?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Not really, I guess."

    A few momentster, the server came back with the cauliflower dish. It looked quite in, it was definitely something that was meant to be eaten with other foods, but Hasegawa was just having it by itself.

    "Are you sure you don''t want anything else?"

    "It''s alright. This is all I want."

    "If you say so."

    I had ordered a decentlyrge burger and fries, along with a drink. Seeing Hasegawa eat so little was making me a little self-conscious, although I''d always been able to eat quite a bit without gaining weight. As the two of us ate, I could hear some chatter outside. There was quite arge group of people hanging just outside the cafe.

    "Kanako, I''ve noticed that you and Fukuda seem to have something going on."

    What was this now?

    "I suppose he''s just a friend of mine."

    "Now that''s not true, is it."

    "W-what do you mean?"

    "It''s clear that you guys aren''t conventional friends. He seems more like your servant, or maybe your underling, to do your bidding."

    How did she know...?

    Before now, we hadn''t interacted at all.

    "Well, you don''t need to tell me. But Kanako, you''re a pretty interesting person."

    Was that apliment?

    "What do you mean...?"

    "Ah, I didn''t mean to make the atmosphere all tense. Have you finished your meal?"

    "Yeah, I''m pretty much done."

    "Alright, I''ll pay for my dish. You don''t need to worry about it."

    ''O-oh, okay."

    She suddenly made her way to the counter and paid for the entire meal, including mine. After that, she made her way outside.

    "Hasegawa! Are you leaving now?"

    "Yeah, I''ve got some stuff to do. We can go out again if you want to in the future."

    "I think that''d be fun!"

    She smiled and waved back at me.

    "Alright, see youter~"

    ***

    A dayter, the school sent an email regarding the Finals.

    -

    National High School

    The Extended Stage of the Chess Tournament Special Exam has concluded. Five students have been expelled due to their point bnces falling below zero. We will now begin the Finals Round. The following students have been selected to participate (in no particr order):

    1. Tachibana Emi - ss 2A

    2. Fujiharu Sara - ss 2A

    3. Hasegawa Mio - ss 2A

    4. Hamasaki Ester - ss 2A

    5. Sasaki Junpei - ss 2A

    6. Mizuhara Ayato - ss 2C

    7. Kanako Hanae - ss 2D [You]

    8. Murakami Akio - ss 2D

    -

    Ah, it looked like Mizuhara was in the Finals.

    So was Hasegawa.

 Chapter 85 Chess Tournament Finals - Part 1

    The next day, I made my way toward the exam hall.

    Apparently, that was where the Finals were being held. I was still waiting for an email from the school since that''s what they''d usually do at this time. There was quite arge number of students walking along to the exam hall as well. It would appear that there were going to be many spectators.

    Eventually, as I followed the crowd of students, a notification appeared on my phone.

    -

    National High School

    Well done on making it to the final stage of the Chess Tournament Special Exam. These will be the details of the process.

    Unlike the previous rounds, this will be standard chess.

    Participants are to find their seats on the east wing of the exam hall. A teacher will guide you if you cannot find it. The clock will start at exactly 10:00 am, regardless of whether you have arrived or not.

    ~

    Your first opponent is Sasaki Junpei.

    Make sure to arrive on time and good luck.

    -

    ***

    [Mizuhara Ayato vs Sasaki Junpei]

    Before long, I managed to find my table.

    There were a decent number of spectators sitting on the other side of the exam hall, watching from TVs which showed our boards. I was surprised that they put so much effort into this. It felt somewhat like an actual event. We were made to hand our phones to the supervising teachers.

    Well, I need to win a few games, at least, since I have to fulfil the deal with Kimura.

    The time was 10:00 am, and our clocks began running.

    I had spent a little bit of time beforehand looking at some chess theory. For the most part, I simply memorised some openings and analysed some positions using an engine.

    I was ying with white for the first time during this special exam.

    I started with E4.

    He yed Knight C6, the Nimzowitsch Defence.

    I had a few lines of this opening memorised.

    yingpletely by theory, the two of us set up the Vehre Variation.

    Eventually, we left thends of theory, being thrown into the deep end.

    From what I could analyse about his y style, it seemed that it was very aggressive. Rapidly developing his pieces, he tried to quickly build an attack against me. He showed no hesitation when it came to sacrificing pawns for a positional advantage.

    I decided to contrast his style by ying defensively. His tactic relied on the opponent making a mistake that he could exploit. I made sure to y perfect moves so that I wouldn''t identally give him an opening.

    Due to his aggressiveness, as the game developed, he was losing in terms of material. After making several sacrifices, he still hadn''t managed to break through. Since I didn''t make any inuracies, he wasn''t able to use his offensive positioning.

    After a little while, we reached the endgame. I was up in terms of pieces, so it was pretty simple. I made some calctions and slowly whittled him down until it was clear that the game was over.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I resign," he said.

    The two of us shook hands before a teacher came over to verify the result.

    I got out of my seat and walked around. It looked like my game was the second one to finish. Sasaki made his way to the spectator area after his loss. I assumed that I was just supposed to hang around until the beginning of the next match.

    Fujiharu and Murakami''s game was also finished.

    After a little while, I decided to just sit back down silently and wait for the next game. I wasn''t too interested in watching any of the other games anyways.

    [Mizuhara Ayato Victory]

    -

    ***

    -

    [Murakami Akio vs Fujiharu Sara]

    Taking his seat, Murakami looked over at Fujiharu. She was holding her head in her hands, trying to hide the stress that was beginning to show on her face. In contrast, Murakami waspletely calm, as if he showed no concern for the result.

    His posture showed confidence, utter confidence.

    The time hit 10:00 am.

    Fujiharu began with C4, the English Opening. It was the opening that she was most familiar with and the one she revised the most beforehand.

    Murakami responded with E5.

    Then Fujiharu yed Knight C3, the symmetrical variation of the English Opening.

    After that, the two of them went down a very obscure line. It was no longer theory. However, Fujiharu had memorised the engine moves, allowing her to y the best move every time, at least for a few moves.

    After a little while, Fujiharu began ying incredibly defensively. She repositioned her pieces, trying to slowly w out a positional advantage, as was her general strategy.

    However, like aputer, Murakami kept up the pressure. He didn''t let her defences faze him, continuously ying risky yet calcted moves. Not only were his moves well-chosen, but he also managed to analyse the board and make decisions incredibly quickly--he had spent about half as much time as Fujiharu. After a little while, Fujiharu realised that her position was weakening.

    In an attempt not to replicate what happened during her match against Kanako, Fujiharu went on the offensive, trying to attack his king. However, despite the fact that Murakami''s king seemed vulnerable, all the paths to it seemed to be being watched. Like an owl, Murakami was able to keep an eye on every attack path without needing tomit pieces to defence.

    As Fujiharu attacked, her defences only weakened further. Move after move, she began losing more material. Eventually, her king waspletely exposed. A few checkster and it was all over. Bringing his knight over, Murakami was able to trap the already-cramped king.

    "Checkmate."

    Murakami stuck out his hand. Fujiharu froze for a moment before realising what had happened and shook his. Feeling dejected, Fujiharu slowly got up from her seat. She had been defeated once again.

    "Well yed," he said.

    The teacher came over to check the result.

    [Murakami Akio Victory]

    ***

    ---

 Chapter 86 Chess Tournament Finals - Part 2

    It wasn''t the first time Tachibana and Kanako sat face-to-face with a chessboard between them. Under the roof of National High School''s exam hall, these two child prodigies would face each other once again.

    In contrast to their uncharacteristic first match as children, both of these prodigies would y at full strength, fullymitted to defeating their opponent. After practising profusely prior to the finals, they were as strong as they would ever be.

    "It''s been a while, Kanako Hanae."

    "Yeah, it has."

    "I''ve been waiting for this day."

    "Sorry aboutst time. It was just... I wasn''t in the right headspace."

    "The past is the past. I just want to y against you. With my all, I''ll y against you at your all."

    Looking up at the clock near the front of the exam hall, it ticked closer and closer to the designated time. Both girls then looked down at the board, ready as ever to begin ying.

    One look at the two girls'' attributes, and you''d believe that the game would be over within seconds.

    -

    Tachibana Emi - Second-Year Student

    Overall Intelligence: **Unreleased**

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Lateral Thinking Capacity: A+ (Ranked #6 out of 417 in school)

    _

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: D (Ranked #264 out of 417 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: A+

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    But the game would not be as predictable as it may seem.

    -

    Kanako Hanae- Second-Year Student

    Overall Intelligence: **Unreleased**

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Lateral Thinking Capacity: C (Ranked #209 out of 417 in school)

    _

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: B+ (Ranked #131 out of 417 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: E+

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    ***<novelnext></novelnext>

    ***

    The time was 10:00 am.

    Kanako instantly yed B3, the exact same move she yed against Tachibana all those years ago. Kanako''s hypermodern Larson''s Opening.

    In response, Tachibana yed E5, a standard move and the same move she yedst time against Kanako.

    Kanako then yed Bishop to B2, a fianchetto on the queen''s side.

    In the exact same position as before, the two girls finally began to diverge from the old, inurate line that Kanako had yed all those years ago.

    Slowly bringing her pieces forwards, Kanako began wrapping around Tachibana, beginning to constrict her. However, Tachibana was not like any other opponent. In the same way as Mizuhara-kun or Murakami-kun, she was capable of making some engine-perfect moves, not losing any ground to Kanako.

    Carefully manipting the formation of the board, Tachibana was able to slowly push Kanako''s pieces away, moving them to less dangerous locations. Kanako''s iron grip over the chess game was starting to get unravelled.

    However, Kanako was not even close to finished. All of a sudden, she yed a series ofpletely unexpected moves. Looking down in confusion, Tachibana tried to understand the reasoning behind them. To her, they all seemed weird, incoherent and wasteful.

    But still worried, Tachibana yed more defensively, making sure she didn''t leave an opening to be exploited. However, this was Kanako''s strategy the entire time. With more space to work with due to Tachibana''s change in y style, she was able to begin strangling her again.

    Meticulously, Kanako brought her pieces closer and closer to Tachibana''s king. Carefully making their way over, Tachibana found herself losing more and more space and gradually falling into weaker positions.

    She knew that if it kept going like this, her position would only continue to deteriorate. In an attempt to break the hold of Kanako''s anaconda-like grip, Tachibana sacrificed her bishop.

    Creating a small opening in Kanako''s carefully constructed web of pieces, Tachibana began pushing forward toward her king. Now that she was under attack, Tachibana was forced to begin repositioning all of her pieces again. Moving them around the board in a very calcted way, Kanako was able to rebuild her dangerous web.

    Finding herself stuck once again, Tachibana began to see the holes that were opening up in her own defences. Whilst the bishop sacrifice seeded in buying more time, Tachibana was unable to utilise it effectively. Against Kanako''s absolutely crushing tactics, Tachibana found herself in a losing position.

    Slowly, Kanako pushed forward, trading off pieces and pulling the defenders away from Tachibana''s king. Eventually, Tachibana waspletely losing. Her position waspletely undefendable, and the game was basically over.

    The two girls yed a few more moves, but the result was already clear.

    "I resign."

    Tachibana stuck out her hand. Kanako graciously shook it, smiling at her.

    "That was a good game," said Tachibana.

    "It was a lot of fun. You''re really talented as well."

    "Ah, well I still can''tpete against you, Kanako."

    Tying up loose ends caused by their turbulent first match. The two girls finally yed the proper game of chess that their younger selves wanted.

    [Kanako Hanae Victory]

    ***

    On a nearby table, the white-haired girl from the Ideal Human Project was ying her match against a very intelligent student who was recently promoted to ss A.

    "I wish you luck," said Hamasaki.

    "Likewise."

    The time was 10:00 am.

    Starting the game off in a controlled manner, Hamasaki yed a very standard opening, moving her pawn to E4.

    Hasegawa responded with E5.

    Then came Knight C3.

    Then Knight F6.

    After that, Hamasaki yed the Italian game, a very basic opening.

    ying the normal three-knights game, Hasegawa responded with normal moves.

    At this point, Hamasaki revealed her true intentions. With knight to G5, she would prepare to initiate the Fried Liver Attack. This was usually an opening used by intermediate yers to trap beginner yers who''d only learned basic opening principles. The line usually ended halfway through since theter moves were not very well known.

    However, both of these girls knew the entire line--the entire long,plex and tactical line of the Fried Liver Attack.

    But, under stress, Hamasaki identally made a mistake. Right in the middle of the line, she yed the wrong move.

    As a result, Hasegawa waspletely winning.

    And in the end, that made all the difference.

    [Hasegawa Mio Victory]

 Chapter 87 Chess Tournament Finals - Part 3

    The time was 10:52 am.

    The next stage of the finals was scheduled to take ce. Looking around, I saw the other three victors of the previous round. The chess prodigy¡ªKanako, the Oue of the Ideal Human Project¡ªHasegawa and the surprising winner from ss 2-E¡ªMurakami. We four were set to y our next matches.

    Well, I didn''t really care that much, but I guess I''d have to get one more win.

    Taking another seat, I was opposite my next opponent, someone very familiar to me. It looked like I was going to have another match with Kanako then. Grinning at me, she looked as if she was having the time of her life.

    "M-mizuhara, I suppose we''re ying each other again."

    "I guess so."

    "Do you want me to go easy on you~?" she giggled, twirling her hair between her fingers.

    "I actually learnt some theory just before."

    "Oh? Fufu, I expect great things from you, teacher~"

    I looked into her bright, amber eyes. This was the first time I would be ying against her after being relieved of my tutoring duties.

    Suddenly, she looked away, covering her face bashfully.

    "Hey... don''t just stare at me like that..."

    "Sorry."

    Regaining herposure, she looked down at the board.

    The time was 10:59 am.

    This wasn''t really a match I could afford to go easy on if I wanted to win. Kanako''s y style is sharp, tricky and technical. Even a few inuracies could spell a loss against her. Thinking about some of the openings in my mind, I considered my options.

    Well, I''m ying to win¡ªso she doesn''t really stand a chance.

    ***

    11:00 am.

    I was ying with the white pieces giving me the ability to take charge to some extent. I took a few seconds before ying my first move.

    Picking up the dense, wooden pawn, I moved it to E4.

    Kanako smiled before moving her pawn to E5.

    I followed up with Knight to C3.

    She then yed Knight to F6.

    Then, I yed D4, initiating the Scotch Game. There was a noticeable reaction on Kanako''s face when I yed this.

    She responded with pawn takes on D4.

    After which, I yed Bishop C4, the Scotch Gambit.

    We were ying the exact same line as the one time I won against her at the beginning of my tutoring ''career''. However, this time Kanako was ying much more cautiously and much more urately. Unlikest time, she yed perfect moves, not giving me the opportunity to quickly trade off pieces.

    I figured as much. Instead, I slowly developed my position. My ultimate goal was to push the game to an endgame as fast as possible, like that time. In terms of pure chess tactical knowledge, Kanako was still above me. I needed to break down and simplify the game as much as possible.

    Move after move, I slowly consolidated my formation. It was clear that Kanako was purposely trying to keep as many pieces on the board as possible. As such, our game developed incredibly slowly, with both of us being stuck in incredibly cramped positions. She was ying with the intention of choking both of us.

    However, as the game went on, pieces were inevitably traded off. Kanako was still unable to make a significant breakthrough as the game transitioned through the middle game. At that point, I was careful not to leave an opening. We continued to y, very precisely adjusting our pieces around.

    All of a sudden, several pieces were forcibly traded off the board. Kanako stared at the position. It seemed that she didn''t think that it was too problematic. There were still quite a few pieces, including Rooks, Knights and many pawns.

    We yed a few more moves each.

    Ah.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Kanako hadn''t seen it yet, but¡ªthe game was over.

    I had already won.

    There was a forced mate in exactly 11 moves.

    She yed another move.

    I then yed mine.

    She yed one more.

    Then I yed another.

    All of a sudden, she froze in ce.

    Just before putting her hand on the pawn that she wanted to move, her entire body went still. Looking down at the position, she realised it.

    "¡ªah."

    I heard a sounde out of her mouth.

    She saw the same thing I saw.

    Instead of picking up the piece, she stuck out her hand toward me.

    Well, that was it then.

    "I resign," she said.

    I took her hand and shook it. However, as I pulled away, I noticed that she was still holding onto it. Grabbing onto my fingers, she didn''t let go.

    "Kanako?"

    "Mizuhara, you might not think anything of me at the moment... But I promise I''ll make you look this way."

    She let go.

    A teacher came over to verify the result.

    [Mizuhara Ayato Victory]

    ***

    On a nearby table, Hasegawa Mio and Murakami Akio were ying against each other.

    In the beginning, it would appear that the match was rtively close, with neither side showing that they were clearly stronger than the other. However, as the game progressed and the number of pieces was reduced, it became very apparent who had the upper hand.

    For someone who was more athletically driven like Murakami, even despite his incredible intelligence, he was simply incapable of calcting the depth and uracy of someone from the Ideal Human Project. Hasegawa could practically see into the future when it came to her game against Murakami.

    After not a great deal of time, Hasegawa was simply consolidating her position and slowly swallowing up Murakami''s pieces, one by one. It was a positive feedback loop as the fewer pieces there were on the board, the easier it was for Hasegawa to pick them off. One after another, Murakami''s pieces were taken.

    Eventually, the game was all but over. Murakami was both losing in material and positioning, and Hasegawa could calcte further than him.

    After a few more moves, Hasegawa was able to force a checkmate.

    "Checkmate."

    The two shook hands as Murakami looked down at Hasegawa.

    "I see, so this is what she meant by ''monster''..." he mumbled.

    [Hasegawa Mio Victory]

    ***

 Chapter 88 Chess Tournament Finals - Part 4

    I had won enough matches to fulfil my deal with Kimura-kun, so I wasn''t too interested in continuing to try during the finals.

    There were more students gathered in the area than usual. It seemed that they were all quite interested in the grand final, although it wasn''t going to be a very interesting match. After a little while, I decided to take my seat, facing my opponent, Hasegawa Mio.

    "You know, Ayato, ever since we were released, I''ve wanted to see you again."

    "I''m not that interesting."

    "Oh, but you really are~ no one else has been able to make me excited like you used to."

    "Just don''t say anything like that when there are other people around."

    "People ended up getting the idea that I''m just aloof, but the reason is that nothing interested me. Nothing was capable of making me feel something."

    "Don''t put too much hope in me."

    "No one knows you better than me, Ayato~"

    The time was 12:00 pm, and our clocks began running.

    I prepared to make a move, but to my surprise, Hasegawa had something else in mind.

    To theplete dismay of all of the spectators and teachers, she instantly knocked over her own king. A dense thump echoed through the hall.

    "I resign."

    There was a moment of silence.

    "I thought you wanted a match against me."

    "Ayato, as I said before, I know you better than anyone else. You''ve aplished your goal, haven''t you? That means you''re not going to y seriously against me."

    "Does that matter?"

    "I want to y with you, Ayato, but I want to y with you at your full strength~"

    Hasegawa stretched her arms and reached toward the sky, spreading out her fingers. Despite thecklustre ending, she didn''t appear annoyed or unhappy. In fact, she looked as if she had been filled with motivation.

    Getting out of her seat, she began making her way out of the hall. There was an outcry in the crowd as people were obviously taken aback by what had just happened. It looked like there was going to be some unwanted attention being directed at me soon if I didn''t get out of there.

    Pushing my seat in, I began making my way out of the hall as well.

    I would''ve preferred to have lost this match since it would''ve brought less attention.

    I began making my way back to my dorm. I needed to transfer Kimura-kun some of the rewards from the special exam.

    Hasegawa didn''t only resign because of the reason she stated. She also resigned because it''d force me into the spotlight ever-so-slightly.

    Well, this was a little annoying.

    -

    ***

    -

    In another part of the country, a couple were together in the hospital.

    It waspletely silent, aside from the subtle noises from the machinery. Laying in the pure white bed was a woman, no older than forty. Despite her age, she was still beautiful, like a model. By her side was her husband, an old, exhausted man, gently holding her hand. Listening to the quiet breeze travelling through the window, the two of them grabbed onto whatever hope they had.

    Sometimes, one only realises how precious life is when they''re about to lose one.

    Suddenly, the door creaked as the doctor walked inside.

    "I''m afraid I''ve got bad news."

    The husband''s face tensed up. His heart felt as if it would stop beating. Staring anxiously at the doctor, he waited for the next words toe out of their mouth.

    "The condition isn''t treatable. She''s probably got less than three months to live."

    "N-no... this can''t be happening!"<novelnext></novelnext>

    The husband suddenly grabbed the doctor by the cor. Noticing what he had just done, he quickly let go, but the room was already filled with an air of mncholy. The room went silent once again as he processed what was happening.

    "Is there really nothing you can do...?!"

    "I''m afraid not. It''s spread too far for surgery to be able to help. I''m sorry, but there''s nothing we can do."

    "Just... just as we..."

    Tears began rolling down his cheek. His face scrunched up. In response, he quickly covered his eyes with his arm.

    "Would you like us to call any rtives?"

    The husband looked up.

    The couple had two children. However, their rtionship with their children was very poor.

    *

    Walking into the office, the doctor was approached by one of the nurses. She was holding a dark blue clipboard with information regarding the family of the couple.

    "Doctor Shigeaki Hinohara, it says they''ve got two children."

    "I know that."

    "Should I give them a call?"

    "I''m not sure yet. Hold off for a little while."

    The doctor took a seat at his desk, looking through hisputer. The information showed that both of the children attended a very prestigious yet secretive school.

    National High School.

    He called for the nurse.

    "Can you call the school?"

    "Yeah, I''ll do that."

    "Wait."

    "Yeah?"

    The doctor knew not only about the Tachibana System but also about the couple''s rtionship with their children. Having helped them quite a few times in the past, the doctor knew more than everyone that contacting the school would be in vain.

    Mizuhara Ayato.

    Mizuhara Sayaka.

    He knew more than anyone that it would be pointless trying to contact them.

    "Put the school on the phone, and I''ll talk to them."

    "Um, alright then."

    After speaking with a representative of National High School on the phone, he was only further convinced of what he had previously thought.

    The school wasn''t going to let the childrene to visit.

    However, that wasn''t even the biggest issue... because even if it were permitted--neither of their children woulde to visit anyways.

    The bestpromise the doctor received was the assurance that their children would be notified.

    Despite the attitudes of the children, Doctor Shigeaki still wished to see them again. In his eyes, those two children of the couple were the most amazing people he had ever met. Even after the abuse they suffered, the two children managed to demonstrate their intelligence.

    They were truly different.

    ***

 Chapter 89 Kurosawa Hayaos Address To The Board

    [THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, DON''T SKIP IT!]

    (A summary is at the bottom, just in case (READ IT!). Kurosawa Hayao is the current principal of National High School, in case you don''t remember.)

    ***

    There was once a young boy named Kurosawa Hayao. He was a very bright child¡ªhe knew that all too well. Throughout his childhood, he always stood above his peers in terms of academics, athleticism, music, art, and anything you could think of. One could say that his life was easy, that he could live on cruise control.

    However, that was no further from the truth.

    All throughout his younger years, he suffered through the torture of always having to dumb everything down. If he was speaking to someone, he''d had to simplify the concepts or talk about pointless nonsense. There was no one on his level, but that also meant that there was no one he could really talk to.

    One day, he met another gifted young boy. This boy, however, was nothing like Kurosawa. Living apletely different life, the other boy was motivated, dedicated and, most importantly, passionate.

    "I see you''re reading books all the time, but isn''t it boring? Isn''t it painful to never have anyone you can talk to about it?" asked Kurosawa.

    "You''re talking to me?"

    "Yes, I''m talking to you. How do you have the motivation to do this? How can you be bothered to study so much even when no one''s capable of recognising you."

    "I''m not like you."

    "What do you mean you''re not like me? I''ve seen the scores you get. I''ve seen how gifted you are. You''re just like me."

    "That''s not true. You''re an idiot. I''m not."

    Kurosawa sighed.

    "If that''s your way of coping, then fine. But you''re pushing away the only person who can understand you."

    "Are you saying that you''re the only person who can understand me?"

    "You don''t get how rare these opportunities are. You don''t understand how few smart people there are these days."

    The other boy suddenly startedughing.

    "You really think you''re something special, don''t you."

    "It''s not that I think it. I know I''m special."

    "Kurosawa, have you heard of the Atkinson-Lewis Project?"

    Suddenly, the sun was partially covered by clouds, blocking the light and darkening the entire area in an instant. The other boy put his book down on the table.

    "Of course, I''ve heard of it."

    "Don''t you think that it was done wrong?"

    "No. I think the premise was wrong. Geniuses aren''t made. They''re born. It''s a matter of finding them, not creating them."

    The boyughed.

    "That''s an interesting take. Because I believe the project was executed wrong. I believe that I can create a genius if I''m given the number of resources that they had."

    "You''re wrong, but I''ll hear you out. What do you think the mistake was?"

    "They didn''t fullymit to their premise. They still partially held onto the belief that they needed to find someone with a ''gift''. As a result, they spent too many resources testing the subjects to see if they had this ''gift''."

    "I see your point. But still, they managed to find a few children with this ''gift'', yet they still weren''t capable of creating a genius."

    "No. They wasted precious resources trying to find the children. Not only that, they treated the children as if they were all valuable subjects."

    "What are you saying?"

    "I''m saying that they needed to think of the other children as resources as well. The trick is to pick one child as the main subject. Then, you throw all of your resources at them, that includes the other children. The other children are sacrifices, not alternate subjects."

    "That sounds grim, but I see what you''re saying. Still, you have no evidence that it would work. What if the chosen subject just simply isn''t capable of reaching genius level."

    "That''s a risk I''m willing to take. The other Atkinson-Lewis project failed because they were too cautious since they wanted some guaranteed return on their investment."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Well, I still believe that it''s not possible. Unless I see it with my own eyes, it''s all just conjecture."

    "Ah, I guess I''ll just have to show it to you then, Kurosawa~"

    The boy that Kurosawa was talking to was to be a very influential figure in the future. He was talking to the to-be founder of the Ideal Human Project¡ªTachibana Kohei.

    ***

    Very many yearster.

    "Kurosawa Hayao. What is your n for the remaining funds that are going to be provided to you by the board?"

    "I''ve told you, it''s a very simple three-step n. National High School is currently in its testing phase. After that wille the Development Phase, where we bring in as many students as possible. Then, we will have the Refining Stage."

    Kurosawa Hayao, the principal of National High School, brought up a slideshow.

    -

    National High School Future n

    1. Testing Phase - During this phase, we will introduce the concept of the point system and special exams. Alterations will be made to perfect these tools. At this stage, we will have six sses for each year level.

    2. Development Phase - During this phase, we will rapidly enrol new students. Testing will be increased in order to find the most gifted ones. At this stage, we will have three main sses and six development sses. The two different types of sses will have different special exams, different treatment and different rights.

    The three main sses will include the remaining students in the top three sses after the Testing Phase, with exactly 30 in each.

    The six development sses will include all new students. They will have to fight to be promoted to one of the main sses before the end of the year. Otherwise, they will all be expelled.

    3. Refining Stage - the remaining students, after the development stage, will be put in incredibly harsh conditions in order to bring out all that they have. Those who cannot keep up will be expelled and no new students will be brought in. The remaining students at the end will be enlisted into the Future Association.

    -

    Tachibana Kohei, I''ll prove you wrong.

    You may think that you can create a genius.

    But I''ll simply search for one who''s smarter.

    Mizuhara Ayato and Hasegawa Mio are your greatest sesses, right? I''ll let them into my school. If they stand at the top at the end, then it''s your win.

    But I won''t let you win.

    [Volume 2 END]

    ___

    *** *** ***

    ___

    [SUMMARY] - IMPORTANT

    ___

    (Just in case you didn''t understand everything. This is pretty important, so I''ll recap everything that happened.)

    Here it is.

    - Tachibana Kohei believes in ''Nurture'', meaning that he believes that he is capable of manufacturing a genius as long as he is given enough resources.

    - Kurosawa Hayao believes in ''Nature'', meaning that he thinks that there''s no way to manually create a genius. You simply have to find one that was born.

    As such, Tachibana Kohei created the Ideal Human Project. Following his ideals, he chose a few subjects and is forcibly trying to make them into geniuses. In the end, he was able to produce two that were ssified as ''sesses''.

    Kurosawa Hayao, on the other hand, believes that geniuses can''t simply be made. So he formted National High School with a n that focuses on bringing in as many students as possible and testing them in harsh conditions, culling out the weak and leaving the strong.

    As such, the implementation of the Tachibana System is like a final test to see whose philosophy is correct.

 Chapter 90 Volume 2 Afterword

    Well, that''s it, guys! Volume 2 has officially concluded. I''m writing this afterword since I''ve got some things to talk about (and I love writing afterwords... lol).

    Also I''ve decided to change the name to ''Gifted Academy: The Perfect Student''.

    ***

    First of all, thank you so much for reading. This book wouldn''t be where it is right now without you, so you''re just as important as me! (or so I''d say, but I''m a bit more important than you :P) On a serious note, I very much appreciate you following me on this long journey of mine (and also listening to me spiel for a few minutes)~

    I think I ended thest volume on a pretty interesting note (I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THE LAST CHAPTER... I even wrote a summary). With some backstory on Kurosawa Hayao, the principal of National High School and Tachibana Kohei, the founder of the Ideal Human Project, I was able to express some of the ideas that I''ve personally considered before.

    Ultimately, it''s another ''Nature'' vs ''Nurture debate, however, unlike some other books that I won''t mention. I think I''ve been able to properly express the intricacies of the real ''Nature'' vs ''Nurture'' debate.

    Other books like to share the idea of ''nature vs nurture, but it''s actually nature vs more nature since the ''nurture'' side also has ''ideal'' genes.'' Tachibana Kohei didn''t choose Hasegawa-san and Mizuhara-kun because of their genes in any way. He simply took a liking to them (as shown in the first Ideal Human Project Chapter). This means that the children are (almost)pletely nurture.

    Anyways, enough about that.

    ? I had lots of fun writing the first special exam. I actually wrote a n for it years ago at school, which I never got to use until now lmao. I guess the younger me knew exactly how to organise his time (not). However, that was also part of the reason why the main girls were somewhat left out (since my n didn''t include them at the time).

    The academic exam was also partially nned out ages ago for another book (Apathy at Gifted Academy). Still, the premise and n were prettyplete, so I decided to just use it. It was a little more tedious to write, but I still enjoyed it nheless.

    You''d be surprised, but the idea for the Chess Tournament Special Exam actually came to me when I was reading Blue Lock (an anime about ser). In the end, it was a pretty good opportunity for me to pit some of the smartest students against each other.

    ***

    By the way, I was thinking back and forth about how on earth I''m going to incorporate this Yandere concept. I didn''t want to talk about this in my first afterword, but I guess I feel like I should now.

    The entire title was just me thinking about a clickbaity way to market this book. I had actually written a decent amount of this on Scribblehub and Royal Road beforehand, but the old title that worked over there wasn''t really going here. I just thought, ''well, yanderes are popr''.

    So, as a result, I didn''t actually have any yanderes in this book with ''yandere'' in the title (facepalm). I might include it in the future, depending on how the story goes. I just don''t want to shoehorn it in and ruin the natural flow of the story.

    Aside from that, I managed to get some good background developed for National High School during this volume. Mizuhara-kun was sort of just chilling throughout this volume which was a little bit unintended, but I think the nature of the exams kind of forced it.

    Fujiharu-san and Kanako-san are going to share the main heroine role now (because I said so). However, the next volume will include an arc for Kinoshita-san (it may not end happily) since she is missing one. After that, much much more chapters with Kanako-san and Fujiharu-san (and some other girls).

    ***

    Now, I''m going to talk about my thoughts on the next volume, volume 3.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I''m nning on putting in way more character interactions and slice-of-life-y elements (more simr to volume 1) since we''ve been somewhat missing out on that. Of course, there''ll still be special exams and such but just not as many.

    I kinda clogged volume 2 with a few too many exams since I was shoving them in a bit too hard. Whatever the case, I needed to find a way to show the nature of the school, so that was just what ended up happening.

    Anyways, there was a short cameo involving Mizuhara-kun''s sister''s name during the final chapter of the special exam. She''ll be introduced properly soon (time not set yet).

    Also, I just finished writing my chapters for the Mass Release Event. Well, I guess you guys are reading this a few days afterwards but hey. I''ve chugged so much coffee thesest few days I''ve literally got insomnia (on the bright side, productivity has never been higher).

    Actually, I''ve been wondering.

    What are your thought on pictures/art? I''ve been wanting tomission one for a while since I''ve always wanted to get one of Mizuhara-kun and/or Kanako-san, Fujiharu-san or Tachibana-san. I might make a ******* or Kofi so I can raise some money for one. It all depends on demand at the moment.

    If you want to see some art of them,ment here so I can see~

    ***

    Anyways, thanks again for reading thus far~ your support is the reason I can continue to write this novel (instead of doing my homework... actually, I should probably start doing my homework...).

    This novel is far from over. There are many more volumes toe and many more characters to be introduced.

    And we haven''t even seen anywhere near the full strength of Mizuhara Ayato-kun yet~

    Well, that''s all from me. I''ll see you in volume 3~

    Thank you for your continued support, and I''ll see you all soon! (Probably in the afterword of volume 3~)

    -

    -

    Leave me a nice review--I''ll probably read it around 19 times~

    <3

 Chapter 91 Relaxation Is A Privilege - Part 1

    It was a usual Saturday morning¡ªas usual as it could get at this unconventional school. I had set an rm on my phone, but it looked like my body had woken up a few minutes before it. The sun had yet topletely rise, causing the entirendscape of the schoolyard to be coloured in a velvety-purple shade. Looking out of the window, I stared out into the distance.

    Thest few days had been a little bit more of a hassle than I would''ve liked. In the end, it was the nature of the Tachibana System. I hoped that there''d finally be some downtime so I could sit back and rx.

    In the end, all I wanted was to live a rtively normal school life.

    Kimura was still fast asleep, curled up under the covers of his bed. I had nothing in particr to do, so I decided to just take a walk around. Despite how rushed the development of the facilities of National High School was, the school offered a veryforting atmosphere with clean, modern infrastructure and well-kept garden beds.

    The door squeaked as I gently pulled it open.

    Making my way down the halls of the dormitory, the ceiling lights automatically turned on, noticing my presence. It wasn''t long before I found myself in the reception area. There was no one behind the counter, but I did notice a few other students walking around. They mostly looked like first-years.

    As I went out onto the footpath, I was approached by a familiar girl.

    "Ah, Ayato, it''s been a while...~"

    With light brown hair, slightly blushed cheeks and an awkward smile, Fujiharu looked up at me. Shecked the usual upbeat expression that she used to have. Still, she was neither unattractive nor even unpleasant. She seemed much more¡ªnormal.

    "Hey, Fujiharu."

    She was twiddling her thumbs.

    "Good job on winning the finals."

    "I didn''t really win. It just happened, I guess."

    Hasegawa''s immediate forfeit was unexpected, even for me. I would''ve thought that she''d go for the more pragmatic approach and take the extra points. In the end, I gave Kimura 20,000 points and the immunity, leaving me with 20,000 extra points.

    Fujiharu walked closer to me.

    "Anyways, you''re awake as early as you always are~"

    She was referring to how I used to always arrive at school early. It was the first trait of mine that she ever recognised. Thinking back on it, I''m reminded of her old tendency to make her seatmate fall in love with her. I wonder if she''s still doing it. Well, I didn''t wonder enough to be bothered asking.

    The two of us walked down the path, making our way toward themercial area.

    "So, what are you nning on doing, Ayato?"

    "I just wanted to take a walk around the school."

    "Ah, you don''t mind if I follow, do you?"

    "I''m fine with it."

    As we strolled through the schoolyard, I noticed that Fujiharu was walking a few centimetres behind me. I guess her personality''s changed since the incident at the aquarium. It was somewhat dark outside since it was toote for the lights to be on but too early, so the sun wasn''t fully up.

    I had a quick look at my bank bnce.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 23,895

    Owed: 27,780

    Owing: 12,000

    -

    On the bright side, I had a pretty decent stockpile of points. However, I''d have preferred to have just stayed more discrete at this school.

    "Ayato, did you hear that they''re building an arcade soon?"

    "Is that so."

    "I''ve been waiting for something like this for a while!"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I guess the school iscking in entertainment."

    "When it''s finished, we should go there."

    "I''ll think about it."

    "Eh..." Fujiharu pouted as she looked over at me. Talking with her, it was clear that she was much more reserved. I did like her more like this.

    We eventually arrived at themercial area of the school.

    "Did you have something you wanted to buy?" she asked.

    "Not really."

    "Ah, well, I need to get some conditioner."

    "The school gave us quite a bit at the beginning of the year, didn''t they?"

    "Saying something like that to a girl, I can''t just use the standard school conditioner!"

    "Oh."

    The two of us made our way into the grocery/convenience store. There were a few students walking around, seemingly making lots of effort to check the prices of everything. I guess it was around the time when many students would be running low.

    Following Fujiharu, we made walked over to the bathroom supplies section. After looking around for a little, Fujiharu picked out the most expensive conditioner.

    "That''s pretty expensive."

    "Don''t worry. I''ve got plenty of points. You should see some of the other girls. They''re not even in ss A, yet they buy expensive cosmetics all the time."

    "Really?"

    "Yeah, now they''re going around begging for more points. It''s pretty unpleasant."

    "Ah."

    We made our way back over to the counter, and Fujiharu paid for the conditioner.

    "Ayato, do you want to have breakfast at the cafe with me?"

    "I usually make my own."

    "Eh, well, I should''ve expected that from you."

    "Sorry."

    "It''s fine. I''ll pay for your meal if you''re trying to save points... I still haven''t paid you back for the time you bought me fried chicken~. Come on!"

    "Uh, I guess so."

    "Yay~ let''s go!"

    I wasn''t really sure if Fujiharu was still doing her old mission. I guess if she were paying for the meal, there''d be no reason for me not to go.

    For the third time, I found myself seated at a table in the small yet cosy cafe. A restaurant was nearingpletion, so this cafe wouldn''t be alone anymore.

    Looking down at the menu, I had a look at some of the options. Fujiharu was pretty enthusiastic about this, so I decided to actually pick something to eat.

    "I''ll just have a coffee and the fried cauliflower."

    "Ehe~ alright. I''ll grab an orange juice and the eggs benedict."

    The server made his way over to our table.

 Chapter 92 Relaxation Is A Privilege - Part 2

    "So, how have you been doing at this school? You''re in ss 2-C, right? Are you having any troubles in terms of points?" she asked.

    "Not really. I haven''t spent much."

    "Ah, it''s good to be responsible."

    I was enjoying my meal when a younger girl suddenly burst into the cafe. She frantically looked around for a moment before running toward Fujiharu. With hair scattered all across her face and a very distressed expression, she grabbed Fujiharu''s hand.

    "Sara! Yui''s being attacked by some third-years!"

    "What?!" Fujiharu was also quite surprised.

    "Can youe and help?"

    Fujiharu looked over at me. I guess she wanted me toe along as well. Well, she did pay for my meal, so I guess I''d just follow along and see what was happening. Pulling me up from my seat, the three of us began making our way through the schoolyard.

    It was quite a distance away.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    At this school, whilst it was quite rxed inparison to a conventional school, violence was still strictly prohibited. Well, in theory, it was prohibited, although there were quite a few ways to get around it.

    The easiest way was to just stay out of view.

    There weren''t that many security cameras.

    Eventually, we found ourselves as bystanders of a spout of violence. On the ground was a young, blonde-haired girl curled up in a ball. Kicking her were two girls who looked like third-years, with anger fuming in their expressions.

    It wasn''t as much of a fight as it was just one-sided bullying. Still, seeing the scene, I didn''t really want to get involved. My school life had just begun cooling down after all.

    "Sara, can you stop them?" pleaded the girl who brought us over.

    Fujiharu stepped forward with the intent of stopping the violence. However, a boy from the other side walked over and grabbed her shoulder.

    "You shouldn''t meddle in others'' business. This has nothing to do with you, Fujiharu."

    "I''ll make that decision myself. She''s one of my friends."

    "You may be popr amongst the first and second-years, but your name holds no weight against us third-years."

    "Take your hand off of me. I''ll report this to the school."

    The boyughed.

    "You don''t get how this school works, do you?"

    Fujiharu struggled, trying to pull him away, but the boy continued holding onto her. While this was happening, the girl on the ground was getting her hair pulled as she cried out in pain. It was a pretty awkward scene.

    I didn''t want to get involved in this, although I''d likely be called in as a witness if this continues.

    I made my way toward the fight.

    "Ayato?"

    The boy turned his attention to me. However, as he tried to stop me, I subtly knocked his arm away. The two third-year girls looked up at me as I walked closer.

    "What do you think you''re doing, boy?"

    "You''ll get punished by the school for this," I responded.

    The third-year girl snarled at me.

    "If you interfere, you''ll be counted as one of the belligerents. So you won''t be able to testify as a witness," she exined.

    "Sure, that may be true. But what about the girl standing over there."

    I pointed at the girl who was secretly recording the entire scene from around the corner. With the lens pointed directly at us, it was clear that she was able to catch the fight on camera.

    Noticing it, the two third-year girls suddenly stood, frozen.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Did you really not expect that."

    All of a sudden, the boy let go of Fujiharu and ran toward the girl who was recording. In fright, she suddenly dropped her phone on the ground. For a short moment, the two tussled to pick the phone back up.

    I can''t be bothered with any more of this. Fujiharu can sort that out.

    I made my way over to the first-year girl who was just bullied.

    "You should go to the infirmary."

    "W-wait... t-they''lle back for me again..."

    "Just tell a teacher."

    "No... I can''t... because..."

    Suddenly, I felt a hand grip my shoulder. The boy before pulled me around, I didn''t really feel like fighting back, so I just went with it.

    "You''ll regret doing this. Otoyama won''t let you get away with interfering."

    "What will he do?"

    "Huh? Otoyama, he''s the toughest student at this school."

    "I''m asking you what he''s going to do."

    "You''re cocky, huh. He''ll beat the shit out of you, and don''t worry. There won''t be any spectators."

    "Sounds scary. But who''s to say he''ll make trouble with me."

    "That girl messed with him, and she''s facing the consequences."

    "Ah. I''d prefer it if you''d keep me out of this."

    The boy grabbed me by the cor.

    "Now you''re asking to be left out?! Ahaha, you''re the biggest hypocrite I''ve ever seen."

    Suddenly, he clenched his fingers into a fist. It was pretty obvious what was about to happen to me. Still, getting in a fight at this school was destined to be problematic. With all thismotion, a teacher could arrive at any time.

    His hand barrelled toward my face. I raised my arm, knocking his punch away. Thump.

    nting his left foot into the ground, he came at me with a wide kick. I leaned back and pulled my head back a little. His foot swung across my body, pushing up a nice breeze. As he twisted his body, he wobbled around, regaining his bnce. After a moment, he looked up at me with a glimmer in his eye.

    I took a few steps back, hoping that he''d calm down.

    "Heh, so you''re pretty tough. Maybe I''ll let you off the hook."

    "I''d prefer that."

    "What''s your name?"

    "Mizuhara."

    "Mizuhara, eh? Hold on... the... Mizuhara...?"

    What. Was I a celebrity now.

    "Don''t tell me you''re Mizuhara Ayato..."

    "That''s my name."

    The boy suddenly took a few steps back in astonishment. What was this sudden association that he was making with my name? Without borating, he turned around, calling for the two girls.

    I feel like something annoying is about to happen.

 Chapter 93 Relaxation Is A Privilege - Part 3

    "Ayato, sorry for getting you involved in that mess..."

    "It''s fine. It wasn''t your fault anyways."

    Fujiharu and I were seated on some stools at a high table in the library. Sitting a few seats beside me was Adachi Yui, the girl who had been bullied just before. She was awkwardly fiddling with her dress as she looked down at the table.

    Suddenly, a notification appeared on my phone.

    It was quite a decently-long one.

    -

    National High School

    The school has received manyints regarding the number of points which have been distributed. Many students have voiced their opinions in regard to the fact that they''ve been unable to sustain themselves sufficiently.

    However, we, the school, believe that the number of points which have been distributed is a fair amount. After discussion with the board, we havee up with apromise for students who may be struggling.

    For the next [three] days, the NHS Point Store will be open. You can directly ess it through the Preseqta App.

    On the app, you will have an opportunity to spend your points on various different services or benefits. On the contrary, you will also have an opportunity to receive relief if you are desperately low.

    Take some time to consider the options provided.

    We wish you good luck and a happy schooling life at National High School.

    -

    "Ayato, you got the email as well, right?"

    "Yeah, regarding the point store."

    "Let''s take a look at it together. There might be some interesting stuff."

    I opened up Preseqta, and Fujiharu looked over my shoulder.

    -

    NHS Point Store

    To ce an order, simply tap on your desired product. A confirmation email will be sent upon thepletion of the transaction.

    ___

    =ss Change= (Immediately convert to the specific ss)

    ss A - 35,000 points [Buy]

    ss B - 25,000 points [Buy]

    ss C - 10,000 points [Buy]

    ss D - 2,000 points [Buy]

    ___

    =Room Change=

    Roommate Change - 10,000 points [Buy]

    Solo Room - 25,000 points [Buy]

    Larger Room (4 upants) - 15,000 points [Buy]

    ___

    For students who require more points, we have some special measures below that offer temporary relief in the form of more points.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ___

    =ss Dismissal=

    Move down ONE ss - Instantly receive your monthly point distribution [ept]

    Move to a smaller room - Receive 5,000 points [ept]

    Change Status to ''Reserve'' (Avable to ss A, B and C students ONLY) - Receive 15,000 points [ept]

    ___

    Your current orders: N/A

    -

    There were quite a lot of ''products'' to choose from. Fujiharu seemed to be carefully observing them all. I didn''t really have anything in particr I wanted. My current ss position was fine, and I had no problems with my dorm.

    "Hey Ayato, you think they''ll let the two of us share a room if we pay for it~?"

    "I highly doubt they''ll let a boy and girl share a room."

    "Aw... we could try~"

    "I''m happy with my current setup."

    "Fine..."

    Fujiharu looked away.

    "I''ve got some homework to do, so I''ll go back to my dorm now."

    "Ah, really? We can do it together if you want."

    "I want to do some private study. It''s more efficient that way."

    "Oh, alright then. I''ll take care of Adachi. See youter."

    "See you."

    I made my way back toward my dorm room. I guess I just wanted to lie down and read for a little while since I''ve wanted to start a new book. I borrowed one from the library a few days ago, but I haven''t started it since I was still finishing myst one.

    We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson was a simple psychological mystery novel. It''s honestly a refreshing read after the number of dystopian horror novels I''d experienced in the past few days.

    As I entered my room, I noticed that Kimura was gone, off doing whatever he was doing. As such, I was alone. Taking a seat on the bed, I bathed in the silence and held the book in my hands. Slowly consuming the literature, I read to pass the time, trying to lose myself for the most part.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    A few hours passed, and I decided that it''d be a good time to get some food into my system. Getting off the bed, I grabbed some of the ingredients out of the small fridge in our room and prepared some sandwiches. Aside from a few meals I''d had outside, this was the only food I''d been having for a while.

    I was probably in the position to get some other things to eat since I had stocked up on a decent number of points. I guess some fruit would be nice at this time. Finishing the sandwich I had just made, I got ready to make my way over to themercial area once again. There were more students wandering around the yard than before since it was closer to the lunch hour.

    I noticed that a veryrge number of them were making their way into the cafeteria, and I saw the reason why. On a veryrge poster stuck on the ss, there was a special offer¡ª80% off Simple Vegetable Combo - ONLY 70 points.

    I guess this was one of the ways that the school was providing some relief for those low on points. Still, judging by the meals on the tables, they did not look very appetising, from soggy vegetables to watered-down miso soup. It definitely wasn''t a great way to live. Even my rtively nd sandwiches were significantly better than the Simple Vegetable Combo.

    Although, many students likely didn''t have many options in terms of food. Especially for those who did not want to make their own food, this was basically all they had. Still, two meals every day for a month of this was 4,200 points, which was still a lot for many students.

    I walked past the cafeteria to the grocery store.

    Picking up various different pieces of fruit, I took them over to the counter.

    "Thates to 260 points."

    I tapped my phone onto the Eftpos machine.

 Chapter 94 Relaxation Is A Privilege - Part 4 [Mizuhara Sayaka]

    It was a rtively early morning when I, Mizuhara Sayaka, was woken up by the sound of my roommate falling face-first onto the ground. Thump.

    "Ow... ow... Sayaka... are you there?"

    "Well, I was getting some sleep until just now."

    "Aha, sorry, sorry, I''m just a heavy sleeper."

    "You sure are."

    It wasn''t just this morning. The previous night when I returned to the room, I struggled to get to sleep due to the almost-bear-like growling noise that wasing from the nearby bed. As usual, Niko was snoring so loudly you''d think she was doing it on purpose.

    "The results of the academic exams areing out soon, aren''t they..." she groaned.

    "I suppose they are."

    "You''re so nonchnt. I wish I were like you, never having to worry about the results."

    "Just study harder."

    "Oh,e on! You never study, and you still get amazing marks."

    I guess that much was true.

    A few secondster, the results were released to everyone.

    -

    Third-Years Exam Overall Results

    1. Mizuhara Sayaka - 400

    2. Hinode Takumi - 376

    3. Otoyama Akita - 371

    ...

    -

    "Thank goodness I managed to ce in the top 100! Yay, those 2,000 points are going to be a lifesaver for me."

    "Good job, I guess."

    "Eh? You came first as always, Sayaka."

    "Hinode and Otoyama both got lower scores thanst time. It''s a little bit disappointing."

    "Ah... they both got scores above 370. I could never fathom getting something higher than that... it''s very good, you know?"

    A few momentster, another email was provided by the school. There was a message regarding how some students were long on points, but I was much more interested in the message that came after. As soon as I saw one of the options, I knew that I wanted it.

    -

    NHS Point Store

    To ce an order, simply tap on your desired product. A confirmation email will be sent upon thepletion of the transaction.

    ___

    =ss Change= (Immediately convert to the specific ss)

    ss A - 35,000 points [Buy]

    ss B - 25,000 points [Buy]

    ss C - 10,000 points [Buy]

    ss D - 2,000 points [Buy]

    ___

    =Room Change=

    Roommate Change - 10,000 points [Buy]

    Solo Room - 25,000 points [Buy]

    Larger Room (4 upants) - 15,000 points [Buy]

    ___

    For students who require more points, we have some special measures below that offer temporary relief in the form of more points.

    ___

    =ss Dismissal=

    Move down ONE ss - Instantly receive your monthly point distribution [ept]

    Move to a smaller room - Receive 5,000 points [ept]

    Change Status to ''Reserve'' (Avable to ss A, B and C students ONLY) - Receive 15,000 points [ept]<novelnext></novelnext>

    ___

    Your current orders: Solo Room

    Cost: 25,000 points

    -

    I really wanted to get out of this arrangement that I was currently in. 25,000 points weren''t really all that much, especially from all of the rewards that I had been receiving after the special exams. Opening up my phone, I had a quick look at my bank bnce.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 68,177

    Owed: 8,000

    Owing: 0

    -

    I was fine financially, although I wondered how I''d break this news to my roommate. She''d been relying on me quite a bit recently, even though I''d been trying to push her away as much as possible. I guess it didn''t really matter. I''m sure she wouldn''t mind having her own room either¡ªat least, that''s how I think it works.

    Whatever the case, I put my order through the Preseqta App, and sure enough, I received a secondary email.

    -

    National High School

    Your order for [Solo Room] has been processed.

    From now on, you will have ess to Room #300. Your phone has been updated to allow you to unlock the door.

    -

    Well, that was quick.

    "Hey, hey, are you getting anything from the point store, Sayaka?"

    "Yes, I just bought the Solo Room."

    "Ah, the Solo Room... wait... that means you''re moving out?"

    "Yes."

    "W-wait... you can''t just l¡ª"

    Closing the door behind me, I began making my way over to the elevator. I had a few items in the old room, but I couldn''t really be bothered bringing them. I could always just buy some more from themercial area if I wanted to.

    Eventually, I arrived at my new room and set up everything to how I liked it. It was slightlyrger than the old room, but the best part was that there was more space for furniture and no annoying roommate. As I was decorating the room, another notification appeared on my phone.

    -

    National High School

    Could the students: Mizuhara Sayaka, Hinode Takumi, and Otoyama Akita please make their way to the principal''s office now. There will be a discussion.

    -

    That was the entire email.

    I guess I''d make my way over.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Standing in the principal''s office alongside two other students, I waited for him to begin the discussion. Principal Kurosawa was looking down at hisputer until, eventually, he looked up at the three of us. It was a pretty dark room, fit for someone like him.

    "Thank you foring, the three of you."

    He handed us a few sheets.

    "I''m telling you this because you have earned my respect with your merit. You three will be National High School''s first official student council. Along with that, you three also will be admitted into the Future Association upon thepletion of your schooling."

    "What''s the Future Association?" asked Hinode.

    "The details have yet to be confirmed. But it is basically the final goal of National High School. It will be what every student will aim to be a part of by the end of their schooling."

    "I see, and how will the student council work?"

    "The student council will set out toplete some tasks I provide. Along with that, you will act as the primary mediators of any incidents that ur in the yard. You will act as a sort of court system. In return, you will have free ess to the student council room, authority over the school and freedom from most exams."

    Well, this was certainly something interesting.

    I was getting pretty bored with the exams at this school anyways.

    "Does anyone have any objections?"

    No one had any.

    "In that case. You may all begin your duties immediately. Mizuhara Sayaka will be the president, Hinode Takumi will be the vice president, and Otoyama Akita will be the secretary. Feel free to fill thest two roles in the student council with whomever you choose. I wish you all good luck."

 Chapter 95 Exploitative Arcade - Part 1

    The next morning, I was awoken by the sound of someone knocking on my door. Making my way over, I slid it open. Standing bashfully on the other side was Kinoshita Chitose. She was dressed in light casual attire, an oversized white t-shirt and a small skirt.

    "You''re popr, aren''t you, Mizuhara? Girls just can''t seem to get enough of you," teased Kimura.

    "Eh...!?"

    Kinoshita stared at me, concerned by Kimura''s statement. Staring right into my eyes, she looked at me with a stern expression.

    "He''s just making fun of me. It''s not like that."

    "Re¡ªally?" Kinoshita pointed at me.

    "Yes."

    "Well, if you say so..."

    "Anyways, what are you here for."

    "W-well, I don''t have anything to do on my day off, so I was wondering..."

    Suddenly, another girl poked her head around the corner. Confused, she looked at Kinoshita and me. This was a bit of an awkward situation. It didn''t help much that Kimura made thatment before. Joining the scene was Fujiharu.

    "Eh? What are you doing with Ayato, Kinoshita."

    "A-ayato? W-when did you two get so close...?" She was surprised that Fujiharu was using my first name.

    "Well, we''ve been friends for a while, so, of course, I''d call him by his first name~"

    It wasn''t exactly as simple as that, but that was close enough. Fujiharu had a smug face which was somewhat concerning. Kinoshita suddenly turned and grabbed my arm.

    "U-um... can I call you A-a-ayato... as w-well?"

    "I guess if you want."

    Kinoshita''s face was bright red.

    Fujiharu made her way to the door.

    "The arcade is open. Do you want to go with me?" she asked.

    "Sure."

    I didn''t exactly have anything else to do. I also wanted to have a look a the new building since it''d give me some insight into the future of the school. However, before I could continue, Kimura called out from inside the room.

    "...I''lle!"

    "Huh? Was that Kimura?"

    "Yes," I replied.

    A few muffled footstepster, and Kimura was standing in the doorway beside me.

    "How''s it going, Fujiharu?"

    "It''s so so. I heard you''ve been spending a lot of time with Hamasaki."

    "Ah, man, that''s already out?"

    "You''re the talk of the town..."

    "Well, just to let you know, we''re not actually dating."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Let''s see how long thatsts."

    "Come on, have some faith in me."

    "I''m concerned by that sentence for various reasons."

    Trying to find a way into the conversation, Kinoshita was prodding Fujiharu''s back. After a few taps, Fujiharu couldn''t ignore her. Turning around, she looked toward her.

    "What''s the matter, Kinoshita? Do you want toe as well?"

    "Y-yes..."

    "Ah, well, I had nned to just go with Ayato but the more, the merrier."

    In the end, we formed a group to go to the arcade. Making our way through the yard, I could hear the loud chatter of many students gathered in big groups. We weren''t the only ones who had the idea of visiting the newly-built arcade. In fact, there were so many people that it was almost impossible to see the signs that were disyed out the front.

    The arcade was much bigger than I expected. It was definitely thergest building in themercial area by far at the moment. Fromrge numbers of w machines to carnival games to racing games, it was a full-sized arcade¡ªone that you''d expect to find in a mall. I was surprised to see that the school hadmitted so much of its budget to this. Albeit, the school had beencking entertainment for quite a while.

    Nudging past some of the students gathered around the entrance, we were finally able to make our way inside. There was loud music sting into our ears the moment we walked in. Filled with sounds from a conventional game centre, it was rather obnoxious. Fujiharu pointed at a sign near the counter.

    GRAND OPENING OFFER - Deposite 1000 points and receive 500 free (Limit one per person)

    It seemed almost predatory. 1000 points was an immenselyrge number of points for most students out of sses A and B. I assumed that most students would stay out of the arcade for the purpose of preserving points. However, I noticed that there was one section of the arcade that was almost packed to the brim.

    It was called Point Games.

    Basically, instead of receiving tickets that you could exchange for prizes at the counter, you received points. This meant that you could theoretically gain more points in the same way as you would in a casino.

    I guess lots of students thought that they could beat the system.

    "So what''s the n, everyone?" asked Kimura.

    "I guess we''d all put 1000 in. We all have that much, right?"

    I knew that Kimura, Fujiharu and I were all rtively wealthy in terms of points. I wasn''t too sure about Kinoshita, but she was in ss 2-B, so she was probably doing alright. Everyone looked at each other for a little as we all agreed.

    We made our way over to the counter.

    The employee took out some cards and added our points to them. After a few moments, he handed them to us, with 1500 points in each.

    "Alright, I guess we''ll just try some stuff out."

    We had a walk around the arcade to see what there was to y. There were arge number of students standing around, awkwardly looking over the shoulders of others who had more disposable ie. Before long, Kimura stopped at a basketball game, gesturing for us to go over.

    "Mizuhara, you good at sports?"

    "Probably not as good as you."

    "Come on, let''s have a go at this."

    Fujiharu walked over.

    "Hey, don''t leave us, girls, out!"

    "Alright, you think you stand a chance against me, Fujiharu?"

    "Tennis isn''t the only sport I y, you know."

    Kinoshita subtly sneaked across, standing on the other side of me. She swiped her card in the machine beside me. Before the others had begun, she was quietly practising by herself. Fujiharu and Kumura were still throwing quips at each other.

 Chapter 96 Exploitative Arcade - Part 2

    A few momentster, Kinoshita finished her first attempt, and everyone started the game together. After a loud beep, all the machines activated simultaneously. Fujiharu and Kimura were both trying with all their might.

    Eventually, the game concluded. The machines were capable of syncing up with each other and disyed all of our scores on the screen.

    Machine One (Kimura) - 54

    Machine Two (Fujiharu) - 41

    Machine Three (Me) - 35

    Machine Four (Kinoshita) - 23

    "You''re still just an amateur, Fujiharu~"

    "What did you rank on thest academic exam again, Kimura?"

    "Nerd."

    "What did you say?!"

    I made my way toward the Point Games. I was interested in seeing what the actual chances of making a profit in this section were. The others followed shortly behind me. As I made my way over, I saw that quite a few people were lining up behind one particr machine.

    Unlike the other machines in the general area, this one waspletely luck-based. It was a simple spinning wheel with various prizes. The price for one spin was 500 points. In order of scale, the prizes were: 100 points, 150 points, 400 points, 1000 points, and two different grand prizes.

    The first grand prize was 10,000 points.

    The other grand prize was an immunity ticket.

    Sitting at the machine was a first-year girl, ying it, spin after spin.

    The only reason someone would reasonably invest so many tokens would be for the immunity ticket. Since the machine was basically rigged to make you lose money after a while.

    !#$*&%$#^*&#

    The biggest reason why things are such a hassle is that I have to resolve everything myself.

    Maybe things would be easier if I had a proxy.

    This looks like an opportunity.

    ***

    ¨©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¨

    [Akihiko Harumi POV]

    It was a few days ago when I, Akihiko Hachiro, found myself in an ufortably precarious position.

    Sinceing to this school, I''ve been living an easy life. Whilst everyone else was panicking about the special exams, I''ve been carefully analysing the situation and stocking up on points.

    After thest academic exam, I thought that I was set for good.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 32,836

    Owed: 0

    Owing: 0

    -

    However, during my time, I may have made quite a number of enemies. One enemy, in particr, has been incredibly annoying for a while. She was the central figure of ss 1-A, who was also liked by every student in the ss, Ichinose Karin.

    Unlike me, she hasn''t been able to stock up on points, but what she does have is immense influence within the ss. Normally, this wouldn''t be an issue. However, this recent special exam is going to spell the death of me. My unpleasant attitude caused me to be emunicated from the ss for the most part; I didn''t really care about that since I never cared much about the opinions of others.

    It was going to spell disaster during the special exam.

    A few days ago, I opened Preseqta.

    -

    Poprity Special Exam (First Years)

    ~

    Exam

    In this special exam, we will be exploring the need to form mutually-beneficial rtionships with our peers and coworkers.

    In the next four days, you will be given an opportunity to cast both ''Praise'' and a ''Criticism'' votes for students in the ss. Each student must cast at least two votes and a maximum of four (two Praise and two Criticism). At the end of the exam, the results will be shown, and the following rewards/punishments will be distributed.

    A Praise is equivalent to +1 poprity, and a Criticism is equivalent to -1 poprity.

    ~

    Results

    (Ranked based on total poprity in ss)<novelnext></novelnext>

    Rank 1: Gain 25,000 points

    Rank 2: Gain 5,000 points

    Rank 3-10: Gain 1,000 points

    ...

    Secondst: Lose 5,000 points

    Last: Expulsion

    -

    !

    This was apletely lost situation. In the past few days, Ichinose had already turned the entire ss against me. Everyone else, in fear of being expelled and out of genuine disdain for me, were quickly convinced, leaving me to be sacrificed.

    There was nothing I could do. The cost for an Immunity at this time was 100,000 points. Apparently, they cost more during a special exam. There was nothing else I could do. I could only pray that I would be able to win one from this arcade game.

    Again and again, I scanned my card.

    Win 100 points!

    Win 100 points!

    Win 150 points!

    Win 100 points!

    Win 150 points!

    Win 100 points!

    Win 400 points!

    Come on... please... I don''t want to leave this school... After finally escaping that terrible house... I thought I''d finally be free. I can''t let it end like this. I want to graduate from this school. I want to make friends...

    It''s just that... my personality is bad.

    I know it. I''ve always known it. But getting close to people... I just struggle.

    Every time, I unintentionally push them away.

    Every time, my tongue bes toxic.

    I brought this upon myself. I won''t let it end. Until everyst point has been used up from my ount, I will keep ying this game.

    Immunity is my only hope.

    There were a huge crowd of students gathered behind me, all watching me as I wasted all of my points, aimlessly throwing them at this machine. Again and again, I would swipe my card, adding more points to the game and spinning it even more. My eyes were starting to get blurry, and my thoughts were fading, but I couldn''t stop.

    If I stopped, I would be expelled.

    With that in mind, I could only pray to the heavens. Maybe god was there and maybe he would bless me with salvation.

    Ah.

    In the end, I knew I was bound to fail.

    [You have run out of points, please restock at the counter]

    I opened my bank ount.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 336

    Owed: 0

    Owing: 0

    -

    It was all over.

    I hadpletely run out of points.

    Looking down at the ground, I walked out of the arcade shamefully.

    Maybe I could beg for more points.

    Maybe someone might feel bad for me and give me some points.

    I... I don''t know what to do... anymore...

 Chapter 97 Exploitative Arcade - Part 3

    "That girl''s been there for a while," said Kinoshita.

    "She must be addicted to the game,"mented Fujiharu.

    Just watching her, I could tell that she wasn''t just addicted to the game. For someone to have such arge number of points to spend, it was clear that they wouldn''t be irresponsible with their bnce. I had heard the details of the first-years'' special exam from Fujiharu. It wasn''t too difficult to figure out what the reason was.

    There was a use in the special exam that the least popr student in each ss would be expelled¡ªwell, at least that was the gist of it. As such, the only way for it to be prevented if you couldn''t stop having the least poprity was to escape it with an Immunity. That was why she was here, wasting all of her hard-earned points.

    Fujiharu made her way over to one of the other machines.

    "I''m going to try this."

    It was basically a game of Crossy Road where the further you got, the more points you would earn. The entry fee was 100 points, and you got one point for every tile you moved. Theoretically, you could earn an infinite number of points, but just based on some of the random elements in the game, it would be difficult to earn a profit every time.

    A little whileter, Fujiharu found her character crushed by a truck.

    "Damn, I was pretty close to the high score."

    Two hundred thirty-one points were added to her card.

    Most of the games in this general area didn''t have very high point costs. Most games would only ever involve earnings of 100 points or less, meaning they were more for entertainment than a serious source of ie. The only one that involved more was the spinning wheel machine that the first-year girl was ying with.

    Kimura had a turn on the Crossy Road machine.

    He managed to get a score of 198.

    "Not so good at everything, eh?"

    We decided to leave the Point Games since they were generally not very interesting. Instead, we made our way around, ying various party games and racing games. We all sat down in a row of seats with steering wheels, imitating a car.

    "Everyone ready?" asked Kimura.

    We were all ready. The machines synced up with each other, and we were all ced in the same race. Before long, it began, pitting us against each other.

    Machine One (Kimura) - #1

    Machine Two (Fujiharu) - #2

    Machine Three (Me) - #4

    Machine Four (Kinoshita) - #10

    Well, it was somewhat fun.

    We made our way around, trying out some other games.

    ***

    ¨©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¨

    [Akihiko Harumi POV]

    No... no... no... this can''t be...

    I had so many points... it has only been a few hours. There''s no way I''ve used them up already, right? Staring hopelessly into my phone, I could only see the tiny number that remained of my bank bnce. I tried to keep my hand steady, trying my best not to show the despair that I was feeling to everyone who was gathered around.

    Wait... does this mean I''m going to be expelled?

    Surely, there''s another way. Come one... I''m one of the smartest in the entire school. You can''t just expel me because of some poprity contest, right? This school is a meritocracy... right? I''m supposed to be at the top...<novelnext></novelnext>

    You can''t do this to me! You can''t send me back to where I was! You don''t understand the abuse, the horror, the pain I suffered all through my life. This school was my only hope, my only escape from the harsh reality of my situation. I have the skills. I''ll prove them to you... you can''t expel me...

    "Um, are you finished? I''ve been wanting to use that machine for a while."

    "O-oh... um, y-yeah... I''m... done."

    Staring down at the ground, I tried to get out of there as quietly as I could. This was humiliating... me... I can''t...

    As I walked around the mncholic path, I couldn''t help but nce around anxiously. Surely, there was a way out of this. I''m smart. I''m smart. Surely I can think of something. Maybe the teacher will lower the cost of an Immunity if I beg her.

    ***

    "No, the price is set. Don''t expect to get anything for 300 points."

    Oh right... I wasted all of my points on that machine.

    Now I waspletely out of options.

    "Please... can you make an exception? I''ll... pay you back in the next few months."

    "I''m afraid the school doesn''t work like that."

    Eventually, the teacher simply walked away from me.

    Ah... was this where it all ends?

    Someone... save me... where''s my knight in shining armour?

    Fairy tales don''t exist in reality, I know that.

    ***

    The deadline was approaching. In a few hours, the results of the Poprity Special Exam will be posted. I had only a few hours left to make a difference. Maybe... if I begged some of my ssmates, I might not get voted out...

    That''ll work, right???

    That''ll work, right???

    I could no longer stop the pain in my chest.

    If there was anyone who could understand my own hopelessness, it was me.

    Myck of empathy, myck of kindness¡ªturns out that would be the end of me. I... I thought I''d at least be expelled from being defeated at my own game... I thought, at the very least... someone stronger than me would defeat me... then I''d at least be satisfied.

    This was the most painful way to end.

    Leaning up against the building, I sat, all alone, on the wet, cold grass. Tucking my head into my legs, I stared into the darkness, hoping that it would eventually all go away. Ah, how long has it been since I''ve cried like this.

    The tears just wouldn''t stop.

    No matter how much I tried... I couldn''t stop my tears.

    I guess thates to show how much I cared for this ce.

    It''s embarrassing, isn''t it?

 Chapter 98 Exploitative Arcade - Part 4

    "Sorry, I have to leave early. I''lle to y with you guys again another day."

    "Ah, see youter then, Ayato-kun!"

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Slowly making my way through the in, mundane schoolyard, I looked around at the setting. Now that I looked at it more clearly... it was not much different from the facility I once stayed in. Technically, the school was much more appealing, with entertainment, modern buildings and a grand sports centre. However, fundamentally, it was no different from the Ideal Human Project.

    A facility which used students as sacrifices, there''s only so much originality you can add to it. In the end, it''s a ce that breeds fear in the hearts of those who reside there. Because when there is the risk of being disposed of, there''s no ce one can feel safe.

    That is the fundamental theory of such schools.

    Walking around the corner, I was greeted by the ghostly atmosphere of the dark backside of the building. The usually-green grass was shaded, tanning it in a much darker tone. Sitting by herself, huddled up against the wall, was the young girl. I could hear the gentle sobbinging from under her arms.

    ***

    "People whock interpersonal skills always struggle to understandplex rtionships. This fear is what pushes them away from others."

    "...w-what... who are you...?"

    "You know what I mean, right? I''ll help you. I''ll give you a simple rtionship."

    "...what do you mean...?"

    "I ask you to do something, and you do it. It''s very easy to understand. In return, you can feel as if you have a bond with me."

    "T-that... sounds terrible... that''s not how friendships are meant to work..."

    "Who said that this was a friendship. It''s much simpler than that. You''re my tool. That should be good enough for you at the moment."

    "No... I''m going to be expelled anyways... just... leave me alone."

    "Don''t worry. You won''t be expelled. Your skills are useful to me. As long as you keep it that way, you''ll never be expelled."

    "Huh...? What... I don''t..."

    "If you ept my conditions, then I''ll help you. You''re looking for someone to save you, aren''t you?"

    "Haa... I don''t even know who you are... my expulsion is already set in stone. Go find someone else to fulfil your fantasies for you."

    __________________________________________

    "I have an Immunity for you."

    __________________________________________

    "Huh...?! What do you mean... why would you go that far...?"

    She was peeking at me from under her arms. Lightly, I walked closer and grabbed her wrist. Pulling it away from her face, I revealed her sad, hopeless eyes. With tears streaming down her face, she looked at me with apletely nk expression.

    "It''s simple. You''re useful to me. As such, I''ll protect you."

    "How... have we met before...?"

    "That''s something for you to figure out in the future. For now, I want you to stand up."

    Holding her hand, I pulled her to her feet. She continued to lean against the wall, but it seemed that life had returned to her body. In her eyes, there was now a glimmer of hope¡ªjust as I had wanted. She didn''t look me in the eyes, but I had gained her interest.

    "I''ve already transferred the Immunity to you."

    She opened her phone. In pure astonishment, she looked at the email that had been sent to her. Rereading it several times, she confirmed its details. Her eyes were wide open, confused... but most of all, relieved.

    I turned around and walked away.

    Suddenly, she ran up behind me and grabbed my arm.

    "W-who... are you...? I-I don''t get it..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "You''ll naturally find out when you have to. For now, go back to your room and get some rest. I''ve got a job for you tomorrow."

    ***

    ***

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    (Several hours prior)

    The truth is that I also don''t know the conditions for a friendship. It''s defined in a way that I''m unfamiliar with. As such, I never think of my rtionships as friendships.

    To bepletely honest, I have no interest in ever finding out. In the end, I''m just here to live out a life as normal as I can get. The truth is, ever since even before joining the Ideal Human Project, I''ve never had aspirations or desires.

    This want for a normal lifees from no personal desire of mine.

    It''s more like... an obligation.

    ***

    "Why have you called me here, Mizuhara-kun?"

    I was standing in a discreet area of the ssroom building with the teacher. There was no one around, although I didn''t necessarily need this privacy. The silence was thick but not overwhelming, colouring the background.

    "How much for an Immunity?"

    "Huh? What do you need that for?"

    "It doesn''t matter, does it?"

    "Well, I guess not. I''ll do it for 50,000 points."

    "Shouldn''t it be lower since we''re not in the middle of a special exam?"

    "That''s the reason why it''s not 100,000 points."

    There was an eerie silence as I considered some of my options on what to do at this moment. I couldn''t afford it, even for 50,000 points, so I needed somepromises.

    "Is it transferable between students?"

    "Yes, you can transfer it on Preseqta. Be warned; it has a two-hour transfer window."

    "How long does itst?"

    "Indefinitely."

    I guess I could try this.

    "Can you give it to me for less in exchange for adding a time limit on it."

    "I''ll do 30,000 points with a one-month limit."

    "What can you do for 20,000 points?"

    "Well, I suppose I could do 20,000 points for a seven-day limit, although I''m sure that you wouldn''t w¡ª"

    "Done."

    Looking at me with a surprised expression, she appeared visibly confused. Taking her phone out of her pocket, she began sorting out some of the logistics. Since she had given the offer, there was no taking it back.

    "Just out of curiosity, what are you nning on doing? Are you nning some sort of self-destructive activity? because you can still be expelled for breaking school rules."

    ***

    "Don''t worry about it."

 Chapter 99 Class Marathon Event - Part 1

    Humans are creatures of habit. Ever wondered why many people keep themselves in abusive situations even when you, as an outsider, can easily see a method to escape.

    It has nothing to do with the intelligence or capabilities of the victim. In the end, an effective abuser understands that to control someone is to make someone rely on them. Humans are naturally afraid of change¡ªin the same way, that humans are naturally afraid of the dark. Both of these fears are simply the symptoms of a muchrger fear¡ªthe fear of the unknown.

    The future a victim is separated from society, the less they know about the safety and protective measures of the outside. Ultimately, they may develop an attachment to their captor because they feel as if their captor is the only one that understands them. As such, it''s the only ce they feel ''safe'', as ironic as that term bes.

    The fear of the unknown is a powerful tool to protect oneself, but in some circumstances, it is the protective tool that ends up trapping one further in a perilous situation.

    Scientists have often wondered why I was able to develop so well in the Ideal Human Project.

    They would study me non-stop for years.

    I found it odd. Wasn''t it obvious?

    They should''ve seen that there was one big difference that Hasegawa-san and I showed inparison to the rest of the subjects. Well, I showed it to an even greater degree than Haseagwa-san.

    Icked this fundamental fear of the unknown.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Unlike during my time in 2-E, there were actually a decent number of students attending ss. For the most part, basically, the entirety of 2-C was seated, listening to the lessons of the teacher. Seeing this view, one might forget that we were in such an unconventional school. For an outsider, it would appear to be no different from any other high school.

    "By the way, the school will be having its annual cross country soon. However, this event will be fought in sses, pitting one ss against another. You''ll receive the details about it soon."

    Sure enough, a notification appeared.

    -

    National High School

    We wee you to our annual school cross country. Every student will participate unless there are extenuating circumstances. The details for the event are below.

    Annual Cross Country Event.

    In two weeks, every student will be running a 5km course around the school. There will be staff members standing around to guide you and ensure that there are no cheaters. This event is to encourage support between your peers in your ss.

    ~~

    cements (Second-years)

    1st: +100 score for your ss + 20,000 points + a 10-mark addition on the next exam

    2nd: +70 score for your ss + 15,000 points + a 7-mark addition on the next exam

    3rd: +50 score for your ss + 10,000 points + a 5-mark addition on the next exam

    4th-20th: +25 score for your ss + 1,000 points + a ribbon

    21st-50th: +15 score for your ss + 500 points

    51st-100th: +5 score for your ss<novelnext></novelnext>

    101st-140th: +1 score for your ss

    140th-145th: -5 score for your ss + a 5-mark deduction on the next exam

    145th-151st: -25 score for your ss + a 10-mark deduction on the next exam

    ~~

    ss Rankings

    1st ranked ss: All students will receive 10,000 points and will receive a significantly easier exam

    2nd ranked ss: All students will receive 3,000 points and a 1-mark addition on the next exam

    3rd ranked ss: All students will lose 1,000 points

    4th ranked ss: All students will lose 3,000 points and a 2-mark deduction on the next exam

    5th ranked ss: All students will lose 5,000 points and receive a significantly harder exam

    -

    There were definitely a lot of uses in this event. The most interesting difference was that you could receive deductions and additions of marks to your next exam. For many students, this could be the difference between staying in the school and being expelled.

    I guess this was the school''s demonstration that athletic ability was, in many ways, just as important as academic ability. We were given a week of preparation, which wasn''t a great deal of time but definitely enough to get some improvement if students tried hard enough.

    The bell rang for recess. However, Kaoru-san made her way to the front of the ss. Everyone stayed in their seats.

    "Everyone, as you can see, there are very big rewards for winning sses. I think that we all agree that this is a very important event. As such, I believe that we should train every morning and afternoon until it."

    "I think that that''s a good idea, especially for some of the students who struggled on thest academic exam; it will be really important that they get some additional marks. Unlike thest academic exam, students will get expelled for a failing mark on the midterms," added Furukawa-kun.

    There was some light chatter around the room.

    "I-I''m not sure I''ll be able to handle so much exercise all of a sudden..." said one of the boys.

    "That''s fine. I''ll make it mandatory that everyone has to attend at least one training session a day. If you want two, then feel free toe to both. Let''s have a show of hands."

    Most of the ss was in agreeance. I also raised my hand.

    "Well, it looks like it''s settled. I''ll be at both sessions, making sure that everyone participates. There will be serious consequences if you skip out. Come to me if you have any concerns."

    After some more chatter, everyone seemed to be happy for the most part. With that, our ss left a littleter than usual for recess.

    It was clear that the fastest runners at the year level were going to be very big contributors to the overall ss scores. However, there were also some pretty big deductions for those at the end. If a ss wanted to optimise their results, it would need to make sure that everyone is at least in the top 140 and also maximise its number of ce-getters. However, there was no way for a ss to train a ce-getter in two weeks, so the best method would be to train their slowest members to avoid the deductions.

    Well, I''ll leave this up to Kaoru-san.

    I was somewhat interested to see how she''d handle something like this.

 Chapter 100 Class Marathon Event - Part 2

    It was 6:15 am, the time that Kaoru-san set for our first marathon training session. Since it was summer, the temperature wasn''t too bad. Even so, there wasn''t a very good turnout, especially of the implied target audience. Kobayashi-san, Furukawa-kun, Hamasaki-san and Itsuki-san were the first ones there, arriving a few minutes before the designated time.

    As I joined the group, it would appear that not many more people would be arriving. Kaoru-san was holding a clipboard, noting down the people that came.

    "This is concerning..." said Kobayashi-san.

    "How are you nning on enforcing this?" Furukawa-kun asked Kaoru-san.

    She looked down at her clipboard.

    "It''s going to be a problem if too many of them don''t show up. I don''t actually have any power if the majority is against me," answered Karou-san.

    "Can''t you threaten them?" asked Itsuki-san.

    "I can''t enforce punishment if there are too many people. I''ll see what happens tonight. If not enough people show up, then we''ll have another discussion in ss."

    The truth of the matter is that Kaoru-san can''t do anything about this issue. She only has power if one or two students don''t show up. If arge number of students skip, they''ll just disregard her. Standing around in the bright early morning, we looked at each other.

    "Let''s just get started then. Furukawa-kun, do you have the track?"

    "Yeah, I drew onest night."

    On a map of the school, there was a route drawn out in pencil. From what I could see, it was around 500 metres, mostly around the sports centre and oval. We grouped up, and Furukawa-kun led the way.

    Starting off with a light jog, our small group made our way through the school, breathing in the chilly morning air. It seemed that everyone currently attending were the most athletic members of the ss. Furukawa-kun set a decent pace, and everyone was keeping up. It was significantly slower than what I used to do at the Ideal Human Project, though.

    After a little while, we finished our firstp.

    "How many are we going to do?" asked Itsuki-san.

    "We''ll just start with four today since it''s our first day," answered Kaoru-san.

    "Ah, how far is that in total?"

    "I think it''ll be close to two kilometres."

    "That''s pretty long..."

    "The length of the cross country is ten kilometres. We need to increase the distance we run."

    After a short break, we bunched up and began our secondp. Most of them were still pretty energetic, running the secondp without much issue. Near the end, I noticed that Itsuki-san was starting to struggle.

    "Aah... this is harder... than I thought..." she was bent down, gasping for air.

    "It''s fine. You can take a longer break if you want, Akane-san," assured Kaoru-san.

    "N-no... it''s fine... I can keep up."

    With a little bit more motivation, we prepared for our thirdp.

    I had brought a drink bottle, although I haven''t really had the need to drink from it yet.

    Eventually, we began our thirdp. Itsuki-san was quite clearlygging behind now. Kaoru-san slowed her pace to stay by her side.

    "It''s fine... Kaoru-san... you don''t... need to slow... down... for my sake..." she was struggling to talk as she panted.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Furukawa-kun was still keeping his pace at the front; I stayed a few steps behind.

    After a little while, we finished our thirdp.

    Itsuki-san was clearly exhausted, although the rest of us appeared to be doing fine.

    "Akane-san, it might be best if you take a rest thisp," suggested Furukawa-kun.

    "No! I-I''m fine... I want to keep up... with you..."

    "That''s fine then. Just go at your own pace."

    "Okay~ Kai-kun..."

    We took a slightly longer break this time before resuming our running.

    Itsuki-san was now significantly behind, trying her best to finish the track again.

    As we allpleted our final cycle, we stood together, waiting for Itsuki-san to finish. Karou-san and Kobayashi-san were shouting motivational words at her, encouraging her to keep pushing. After persisting till the end, she grabbed her knees, frantically gasping for air.

    "Don''t... say things... like that... it''s a bit... embarrassing ~"

    "Ehe, sorry, Akane-san. You did well, though!"

    We took a seat on the little ledge of the garden bed. The others were all chugging down water. I wasn''t especially thirsty, however. After a little while, Kaoru-san dismissed us, and I decided to make my way back to my dorm. I still needed to grab my things for ss.

    ss went as usual.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    The time was 4:30 pm.

    Karou-san had set this as the time for us to meet up for the afternoon session. I didn''t have any reason to skip it, so I showed up again. Everyone from this morning was also there already. After waiting a little while, more students showed up.

    In total, we managed to get around half of 2-C.

    "Thank you to everyone who showed up. I''ll be following up with the rest of the ss tomorrow," announced Kaoru-san.

    She noted their names on her clipboard.

    "As we did this morning, everyone will follow Furukawa-kun. He''ll lead the way."

    After a little while, he started jogging. One after another, we followed behind. I could tell that the general pace of this group was quite a bit slower than this morning. After just the firstp, quite a few students were starting to struggle.

    "That was the firstp. Everyone take a drink of water."

    The temperature had increased a bit since this morning, although it was stillfortable enough to run. After chugging some water, everyone was prepared for the secondp, although there was less energy than before.

    As we made our way through the secondp, a small group of students begangging behind. Furukawa-kun decided to just ept it, and thus, two groups of runners were formed, a faster and a slower one. Eventually, we finished our secondp.

    The faster group were fine, but the slower group were clearly lethargic. Just the first kilometre had gotten them extremely tired.

    Kaoru-san walked over and gave them a motivational talking-to.

 Chapter 101 Class Marathon Event - Part 3

    Later in ss, just as we were dismissed for lunch, Kaoru made her way to the front of the room. Standing up on the ledge, she talked to everyone.

    "I''m a little disappointed by theck of participation in our training sessions. We had a vote on this the previous day, and the majority of you agreed to it."

    She leaned against the wall.

    "I''m going to personally suggest a n. Everyone will transfer me 1,000 points, and you will receive them back if you participate at least once daily. Ourbined efforts will benefit the ss in the long run. Raise your hand if you agree."

    After a little bit of discussion, some hands slowly began going up. After a few people raised theirs, I decided to raise mine as well.

    "Kaoru... I''m a little busy tonight... can I skip just today?" asked a boy.

    "What are you going to do?"

    "Just... um, some homework that... because I''m behind and all..."

    "Before I answer you, we''re going to vote on this first."

    After a few moments, several more members of the ss. Eventually, Kaoru managed to get the majority on her side.

    "Alright, the ss has spoken. From today on, there will be a mandatory 1,000-point deposit to me which will be returned if you attend the necessary training. If you have any issues with this, raise your hand now."

    The boy raised his hand.

    "Um, you didn''t tell me what I could do..."

    "I''ll let you off the hook today if you attend both training sessions tomorrow."

    "Tomorrow doesn''t really work either..."

    "I''m going to need more details. Everyone else, deposit me your points now."

    There seemed to be quite a lot of trust in Kaoru, as most students began sending her their points without much hesitation. I opened up my phone and looked through some of the different attributes of the students before preparing to send her my points.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 3,895

    Owed: 87,780

    Owing: 12,000

    -

    I had enough, so I didn''t really mind the deposit. Before long, arge number of points were being added to her ount. She was still having a conversation with the boy who was trying to find an excuse to skip the training.

    It didn''t look like there was much else for me to do, so I decided to go back to my dorm.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    I wanted to do some more reading, so I sat down in my dorm room, lying down on my bed. Usually, I just went to ss since there was nothing else for me to do and because I''d been trying to imitate a normal school life. However, one of the main benefits of the freedom provided by this school is the ability to skip ss.

    I didn''t really have anything to learn, so if I wanted to read, I guess I''d just stay in my dorm. I''d go to the cross-country training session after school with Kaoru and the rest of the ss for some fresh airter.

    Opening We Have Always Lived in the Castle, I continued to read it. I did enjoy the slightly unhinged narration style from the narrator; it was quite a change of pace from the other book I''d read recently. It was interesting enough to hold my attention until it was time to begin making my way to the sports centre.

    The time was 4:15 pm.

    I closed the book and ced it on the bed¡ªpage 198.

    Making my way back out of the dorm, I saw Okamoto; he was walking with Takagi.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Hey, Mizuhara, how''s it going?"

    "It''s alright."

    "What are you up to?"

    "Our ss is practising for the cross country."

    "Ah, that sounds fun. Did you hear that Takeuchi got demoted to ss E?"

    "Yeah, it was quite unfortunate."

    Takagi was tugging at Okamoto''s sleeve.

    "Well, we''re going to the cafe, so I''ll see you another time!"

    "Alright, see you."

    The two of them walked off, and I made my way toward the meeting ce for 2-C. There were more people there than thest few times. As I joined the group, I noticed that there were a few first-years as well.

    "Ah, you''re here, Mizuhara," greeted Karou.

    "Hey, Kaoru."

    "We''ve got a friendly rtionship with 1-C, so I''ve invited some of them to practice with us."

    "That''s a good idea."

    Furukawa and Itsuki made their way over.

    "This is going to be hard to organise,"mented Furukawa.

    "It''s fine. Just lead the way; I''ll keep it orderly," responded Karou.

    "Alright, thanks, Kaoru."

    Standing beside Kobayashi, we all huddled in a big group. Kaoru was still noting down the names of everyone and keeping things in order. Eventually, Furukawa made his way to the front and called out.

    "We''ll start now. Feel free to go at your own pace."

    With that, the group began moving. It was somewhat difficult to run with everyone squished together at the beginning. Not until a little whileter did the group begin to disperse. The faster runners and slower runners were starting to separate, giving me some more breathing room.

    Kobayashi fell behind a little, so I was running behind Hamasaki, the girl who was in 2-E with me at one point. She was quite a personable girl, with a friendly personality and good social skills. But more impressively, she was also smart and rational.

    "How have you been, Mizuhara?"

    I noticed that she wasn''t really that puffed, despite being near the front.

    "It''s alright, just adjusting to the new ss."

    "I like this ss a lot more than our old one. It''s much more orderly."

    "Yeah."

    Continuing on our run, the students spread out even wider. Hamasaki was purposely altering her pace to stay with me. Otherwise, the distance between everyone would''ve meant that we would all be alone.

    Unlike before, Furukawa didn''t stop for a break after everyp. Some students stopped for a water break, but others continued.

    Our sessionsted around an hour, and everyone was quite exhausted. We got together one final time and did some stretches under the guidance of Kaoru.

 Chapter 102 Class Marathon Event - Part 4

    "Are you sure this is okay? Being in your room and all...?"

    "It''s fine. My roommate''s going to be out for a while."

    Harumi hesitantly made her way inside. Looking around the room, she tiptoed to the wall. Leaning up against it, she looked up at me.

    "So... what did you need from me?"

    "It''s pretty simple. I want you to be friends with Ichikawa Mana."

    "Eh...? What exactly do you mean?"

    "It''s what I said, get close to Ichikawa. That''s it."

    Harumi looked at me in confusion.

    I took a seat on my bed.

    "You can leave now."

    ***

    ¨©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¨

    [Fukuda Yogi POV]

    "Kanako, this is the n."

    Sitting covertly at the edge of the library, Kanako and I discussed our n for the uing marathon event.

    Several days prior, we began making preparations. After spending some points, I transferred myself to ss 2-A and Kanako to ss 2-B. Ultimately, the idea is to weaken ss 2-A and solidify Kanako''s position in it. For that reason, I''m dying her transfer to ss A.

    Under the orders of her father, my job is to ensure that Kanako stays in the school, even if I need to sacrifice myself.

    I had expected her to be more proactive, but it seemed that she was focused on something else. I was going to exin the n to her, but she was staring out the window with a weird smile on her face.

    "...ah! I can''t believe I said that to him... eeh, it was so embarrassing~"

    She covered her face, rubbing her cheeks with her sleeve.

    "Um, Kanako, can I exin the p¡ª"

    "Oh, Fukuda, of course, go ahead."

    "Y-yeah, so basically..."

    This was the n.

    After being in ss A for a few days, I''ve noticed some things. First of all, it was a good idea to keep Kanako in ss B for the time being. There are lots of unpredictable variables in ss A, with no cohesion at all. Everyone was basically fighting each other. It was likely due to the fact that there was no mon'' enemy or goal. Unlike all of the other sses, ss A was at the top. There was nowhere else to go.

    With constant infighting, it''d be very hard to keep Kanako safe. My strategy was to let the ss self-destruct during the midterm exams. After some students get expelled or dropped to lower sses, the ss as a whole will be significantly more docile.

    Not only that, I noticed that there is quite a sense of superiority amongst many of the members of the ss. I was treated extremely harshly when I first joined, and I still have yet to gain their respect and trust... well, not that I wanted it, in particr, but I need them to ept Kanako when she transfers in.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The best way would be to bring her in during the middle of a crisis. If everyone were busy worrying about other issues, kanako would be able to slide in nonchntly.

    As such, the n was to bring down ss A during this cross-country event.

    I''d managed to form some rtionships with a few members of ss A, and together, I hatched a n to send chaos through it.

    The first part was to make ss Aest during the cross country.

    Whilst there were veryrge rewards for the fastest students, there were some pretty severe consequences for the lower-scoring ones.

    For thest six students, they would each lose 25 ss score.

    If I could fill all those spots with ss A students, then we would be able to lose 150 ss score. Even if our average running ability is rtively high, the negative points would be more than enough to make up for it.

    In thest few days, I managed to buy cooperation from a few students; Kimura, Watanabe and Yamamoto. However, I have gotten some verbal confirmation from Tachibana saying that she is willing to cooperate. Apparently, she was also nning on kicking out some students from ss A. I would need her cooperation if this n were to seed, so I might need to bribe her in some way.

    With that, hopefully, I''d be able to seed in the first step of my n. I still had a few more days on my hands after all.

    After that woulde stage two, which would ur during the midterms. If the first of my n were sessful, we would have a more difficult exam. During this stage, I would try to sabotage the ss as much as possible. Eventually, many of the students might get expelled for failing the exams.

    However, the second step of my n would require external aid. I''d need the support of someone more personable and liked within the ss. I had still yet to find a person who fits that description and who also wished to aid me, but I had plenty of time and points to do so.

    In the end, this school was a meritocracy. If there were students who strived to reach the top no matter what, I might be able to work with them.

    After all, my existence here is only temporary. There will no doubte a day when I''d need to sacrifice myself for Kanako. The only question is when.

    ***

    "I get what you''re saying, Fukuda, but I''m worried that I''ll get expelled for failing an exam."

    "That is certainly an issue. That''s why I''m going to try to get ss B to the top of the marathon event."

    "Well, I''ll start studying now, just in case."

    "That is a good idea. Do you need someone to help tutor you?"

    She leaned back on her chair.

    "Ah, well... I think I''ve had enough of being tutored for the time being."

    "That''s fine. If desperate measures are needed, I''ll fulfil them."

    "Okay~"

    I made my way out of the library.

    After this whole schism, will Kanako''s father finally recognise me? All I''ve wanted my entire life is his approval.

    Because once I get it...

 Chapter 103 The Ideal Human Project - Part 3

    "I''m sure you''ll be very interested in this project, Kanako."

    Tachibana Kohei stood arrogantly, looking down on one of the wealthiest people in all of Japan. His posture was not one of someone looking for respect from a higher-up, nor did it look like one of someone who was asking for a favour. Like a boss looking down on his subordinates, he looked down upon Kanako Eikichi.

    "I''m afraid I''m going to need more information than that if you want my funding."

    "Alright. Come down to the facilities tonight. I''ll show you something that will change your view of the world."

    "Aha, you better not disappoint me, Kohei."

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Walking through theboratory-like facilities of the Ideal Human Project, Tachibana Kohei led the ever-curious Kanako Eikichi through his grand creation. Eventually, the two of them made their way to arge ss panel. On the other side was a group of around twenty children, all seated at their respective tables.

    "So, you''re showing me a school? I''m not sure this is enough to interest me."

    "Oh? You don''t find my little rats very interesting?"

    "By the way you''re talking, I''m d I didn''t let Hanaee here."

    "Ah, but they''re just my toys. If I look at them with too much humanity, this project will never seed, you know~? Kanako Hanae would''ve been one of the special ones. You missed out on a big opportunity."

    A few momentster, a teacher walked into the enclosed room, teaching some high-school-level material at an incredibly fast rate. The children all had their eyes glued to the board, trying as best they could to understand everything.

    "You''re n is to make a genius, right?"

    "That''s not quite it. My n isn''t to simply make a genius. My n is to make the perfect human. Someone who geniuses can''t even stand beside."

    "A genius is a subjective description. The perfect human is even more so¡ªI don''t see how you''re going to fulfil this goal of yours."

    "You''ll get it when you see it."

    At this moment in time, the Ideal Human Project had been running for an entire year. However, Tachibana Kohei wascking in funding.

    "I''m bored. I expected more from you, Kohei. I thought you were going to show me something amazing. Not this mundane elerated schooling."

    "If you want to see more, I''ll show you something."

    Tachibana Kohei began making his way down the narrow white stairs. With Kanako Eikichi following behind, he made his way into the ''ssroom''. Pushing open the steel-framed door, he gestured at the teacher.

    "Sorry, everyone, for interrupting your ss. However, we''ll be moving on to a special activity I''ve got nned for today."

    There was a sigh of relief from some of the children.

    The first to stand up was a young, white-haired girl¡ªthe prodigy of the project.

    Slowly, all of the other children followed behind.

    Like a group of ducklings, the children followed Tachibana Kohei to another room. This room waspletely empty, however, surrounded by only pure white walls.

    Tachibana Kohei turned to Kanako Eikichi.

    "Now, this is something I''m going to call a special exam."

    "A special exam? What exactly do you mean by that?"

    "I''ll show you."

    Closing the door in front, he enclosed all of the children within this white room, with only a window where the two adults could look in.

    Through a speaker, Tachibana Kohei told them the instructions.

    "This is just a fun little game. It''s very simple. Rip someone''s name tag off, and you get to leave the room. If you get your name tag ripped off, you''re banished from this ce."

    All of the children suddenly froze, looking around in fear.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I don''t see what you''re trying to achieve by doing this."

    "Don''t worry. This is only the first step. Take a good look at each of the children."

    Suddenly, there was a loud ng from inside the room.

    Kanako Eikichi quickly looked through the window.

    Pinned against the wall was a young boy. Having his neck held by Hasegawa Mio, the white-haired girl, he looked as if he had beenpletely overpowered. However, despite his situation, his expression was distant... no, it waspletely apathetic.

    For some reason, Hasegawa hesitated to grab his name tag.

    He whispered something in her ear.

    Suddenly, she took a step back, letting go of him.

    Without any hesitation, the boy raised his leg. In one swift movement, he kicked Hasegawa in the side, causing her to m onto the ground. The loud thump echoed through the room as all the other children watched in terror.

    She looked up at the boy. However, her expression was not one of despair but of excitement. She picked herself up off the ground and walked toward someone else.

    One of the children waspletely terrified, huddled up in a ball on the ground. She approached them, peeling away their arm and pulling off their name tag.

    With that, Hasegawa made her way to the door.

    "I''ve finished."

    "Good job, Mio."

    The door opened, letting her out.

    After witnessing what had just urred, some of the other children became much more aggressive, running around trying to rip off each others'' name tags. The boy, however, just sat, leaning up at the wall.

    A few minutester, in the middle of a tussle, someone''s name tag fell to the ground. In one fell swoop, the boy picked it up and then made his way to the door.

    "I''m done."

    "Hey! That''s not fair! I was go¡ª"

    The door opened, letting him out.

    He was the second person to leave the room.

    "I don''t get it. Why are you making the children fight each other like this? All you''re doing is giving them psychological trauma. Most people who suffer trauma are not capable of further improvement."

    "You know, Kanako. There''s a reason I called them rats. When I said rats, I didn''t mean all of them. All the ones still in the room are rats."

    "Wait... what are you saying?"

    "I''m saying that those aren''t subjects. Those are sacrifices. I''ve only got two subjects."

    "Kohei, you''re a crazy bastard."

    "Aren''t the crazy ones usually the ones who make the greatest developments? Kanako Hanae would''ve been one of the subjects, you know~?"

    "As if I could trust you, for all I know, you might''ve made her into one of your ''rats''."

    "Well, it was a good thing you didn''t trust me because I was lying. Kanako Hanae definitely would''ve been one of the rats¡ªa rather useful one at that."

    "You''re absolutely insane."

    "Maybe I am. But I assume you understand now why I can''t get more funding from the government."

 Chapter 104 School Cross-Country - Part 1

    It was the morning of the cross-country.

    "Mizuhara... you ready?" Kimura was still lethargically pulling himself out of bed.

    "I guess."

    I was sitting on my bed, finishing thest of We Have Always Lived in the Castle. It was a pretty short nove, so it only took a few days in total, even with all the disruptions. Closing the book one final time, I ced it on my bedside table.

    Kimura slowly did his morning routine before joining me at the front door.

    "What are you aiming for?" he asked.

    "Probably top 50."

    "Really? You look pretty athletic to me."

    "I guess I don''t do too much running."

    As we made our way down the hall, Kimura whispered something to me.

    "...the results of this event are going to be very interesting~"

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Everyone gathered near therge banner, which was held up at the starting line. Arge area was circled out on the edge of the oval. One of the teachers walked to the front and held out a megaphone.

    "You have been assigned a letter based on your Physical Ability Attribute. Please line up in your specific sections."

    It seemed that the faster students were lined up closer to the front and the slower ones closer to the back. It was the best method to ensure that the pack spread out at soon as possible. Hundreds of students were moving around, trying to get into their designated areas.

    I was in section A.

    Starting near the back of section A, alongside mostly students from ss A. The teacher out the front was yelling out various instructions and rules. Then, there was a few seconds of silence as everyone waited for the signal.

    Bang.

    The sound of footsteps permeated through the school, filling every crevice. Thousands of thumps rained upon the ground. People pushed and shoved for a little while before the pack managed to stabilise.

    It was 10km meaning it was quite long. For many students who haven''t done any running practice in the past, this was a terrifyingly long distance, and they may not even know it yet.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I decided to just keep a rtively slow constant speed and slot myself near the 40th spot. I didn''t want to be bringing more attention to myself after that chess special exam. Quite a few students passed me in the first little while since they were all filled with energy. Racing each other in such a short distance, many of the students near the front were already beginning to struggle.

    Not even 300 metres in, and it was obvious that some students had used all of their energy pushing to the front of the pack. Even with my rtively slow pace, I was beginning to overtake them.

    Step after step, I looked around at the background of this track. It was just in our school, but many decorations were put up to make it feel like a forest run. Before long, my area reached the first teacher who was stationed on the track. They were holding up a sign which read, 500 metres - Push on!

    At this point, the pack was beginning to disperse, and the true order was beginning to be formed. All of the ''sprinters'' had fallen behind, and the athletic students of this school were beginning to shine through. I was a decent distance away from the front, but I could see Furukawa a few metres ahead of me.

    All the year levels ran together, so it was difficult for me to get an urate grasp of exactly where I was ced. As long as there was a big group of people in front, I assumed that I''d be fine. Looking around at the trees and vegetation, I steadied my pace and gauged the people around me.

    In the end, I really just wanted to enjoy this as much as I could.

    Running below your actual speed is somewhat boring, but I didn''t mind the rtive quietness and openness of the track. The number of students around me was dropping as the pack spread even further apart.

    Eventually, I waspletely alone. The closest student was a few metres behind me.

    I saw the next teacher holding up a sign, 1km - Keep Going!

    I guess this was going to take a while. As I continued on my way, another student finally appeared in my sight. A few metres ahead, there was a student who hadn''t paced themselves very well and now found themselves about to be overtaken by me.

    I didn''t want to slow my pace down any, so I slowly gained on the student in front. Noticing me behind them, they sped up, trying to stay in front of me.

    Ah, that obviously wasn''t going to work.

    Wasting more of their energy, they continued desperately trying to stay ahead of me. However, the loud panting in their voice was more than enough to prove that they were on their way down. A few secondster, they lost it andpletely stopped in their tracks.

    I casually overtook them and kept my pace.

    A little whileter, I noticed that the person who was behind me before had also overtaken them. I guess they''dpletely given up trying to hold their position then.

    I didn''t really want to change my cement too much since, in this situation, it was impossible to see where I was currently ced. Based on what I saw before, I was between 50th and 30th, depending on how many of the students ahead were second-years. I didn''t want to let down the ss too much, so this position was pretty good.

    Without much effort, I continued, and after a few minutes, the student behind me was nowhere to be seen. I guess that they were unable to keep up their pace after all. Before long, I saw another teacher holding up a sign.

    2km - you''re a fifth of the way!

    Well, there''s the next checkpoint. We were still quite a distance away from the finish.

 Chapter 105 School Cross-Country - Part 2

    The area was dead silent. The track curved around the school, meaning there were parts where we ran between buildings. I guess that was the only way that they''d be able to get 10 kilometres of track within the school grounds.

    It was somewhatforting just running like this, with no one else around you. It reminded me of the times back in the Ideal Human Project, although Hasegawa-san used to always run beside me when we were doing these exercises.

    A few minutester, another student appeared ahead of me. I guess I had unknowingly caught up to them. I continued closing the distance until I was right next to them. Unlike the other one, they didn''t try to contest against me, probably because they were so exhausted.

    I could hear the loud gasp-like wheezing as they sucked air into their lungs. Passing them, I extended the distance between the two of us. Eventually, the distance between us became so wide that I could no longer see them behind me.

    There was no one in front of me either, so once again, I waspletely alone. I did enjoy the silence andck of people, though. The person from before wasn''t a second-year, so my position wouldn''t have changed when I passed him.

    For the next few minutes, I ran along the track in almost dead silence. After a while, though, the track diverted onto a more open area of the school, meaning I could see some of the students behind the buildings I had just run past. There goes my istion.

    I saw the next teacher.

    3km - Push on! You''re almost halfway!

    Continuing on my way, I ran around the courtyard. There were plenty of arrows and small gs on the ground showing the direction that we needed to go. There were slight marks in the grass from all of the runners who had already passed.

    After a little while, I managed to catch up to a group of first-years who seemed to have begun struggling. Their huffing and puffing increased in ferocity as I got closer to them. They were running in such arge group that it made it nearly impossible to get around them without veering off the track.

    Seeing me behind them, they were instantly filled with energy. Pushing themselves to the absolute limit, they began sprinting ahead. I kept my standard pace, letting them get away from me. Only a few secondster, they had used up all of their stamina. Slowing to a walk, they pulled themselves forward.

    Now that they were walking, it was much easier to just weave through them. There were a few annoyed nces at me but I just ignored them. Before long, I gained some significant distance between us.

    Before long, I saw the next teacher.

    4km - Push on! You''re so close to halfway!

    Now that I was making it into long distance territory, I assumed that there wouldn''t be much more passing for the time being. Still holding my current position, I didn''t change my pace at all, just following through. If I saw that I''d pass too many students at once, I might slow down, but I didn''t want this to take too long either.

    Nothing happened for the next few minutes.

    5km - Push on! You''re halfway!

    I didn''t see the profundity of halfway but I guess it could''ve been somewhat motivational to the other students. I haven''t begun feeling any fatigue, probably due to the fact that I had been running far below my top speed.<novelnext></novelnext>

    For the next kilometre, I didn''t not evene close to a single other student.

    6km - Keep going!

    I was now making my way around the main oval. There were a few students near the end of the oval, having just done the twops of it. There were several teachers making sure that all students were in fact doing bothps of it. I could see it being a problem to enforce with more people, but since there was only like one student making their way onto this area at a time at the moment, it wasn''t too bad for them.

    Eventually, I finished my secondp as the teacher gave me a thumbs up.

    Now, I was back into the forest-like area of the school. It was a different path from before but I was quite close to some of the slower students who still hadn''t gone through that area for the first time.

    Making my way back into the open, I saw the next teacher.

    8km - Keep it up!

    Now that I was getting closer to the end, I saw several students in front of me. They appeared almost like zombies,pletely exhausted but pushing on with sheer willpower. I saw a few second-years in front as well. I considered slowing down but I might as well pass a few.

    Continuing my steady pace, I passed a few students as they struggled to keep going.

    In total, I passed around seven people, a mix of second-years and third years.

    9km - Push push push!

    Well, I was nearing the end of this cross country. There were a few students pushing themselves to their limit in front of me. Invigorated by the message, they were given a new spout of energy. I still didn''t change my pace, just continuing on as I had thest nine kilometres.

    The view was actually quite nice. The architecture of the school was very modern and aesthetic despite the hurry that they took to build it in time for the new school year. With big windows andvish entrances, in terms of pure quality, this school was definitely near the top. It even overshadows the nearby Yokusuka Girls Academy, the previous best school in the area.

    Finally, I could see the finish line.

    The students in front of me began sprinting with all their might. I saw no reason to push harder, still continuing at my constant pace.

    A few secondster, Ipleted the course.

 Chapter 106 School Cross-Country - Part 3

    89th ce.

    Well, 89th ce overall. In the second-years, I came in at 31st. It was slightly higher than what I would''ve liked, but still nothing to gasp at.

    The first ten finishers were listed on a big screen at the end

    -

    1. Mizuhara Sayaka (3-A)

    2. Otoyama Akita (3-A)

    3. Murakami Akio (2-D)

    4. Takafumi Genjirou (3-B)

    5. Masuda Hideyuki (3-A)

    6. Akihiko Harumi (1-A)

    7. Fujiharu Sara (2-A)

    8. Furukawa Kai (2-C)

    9. Hamasaki Ester (2-A)

    10. Okamoto Riku (2-B)

    -

    I made my way over to some of the other students who had already finished. In the crowd, I noticed that quite a few notable people were missing. I guess Kimura knew that something was going down in ss 2-A. Well, I didn''t really care that much.

    "Good job, Mizuhara! You did well."

    "Thanks, Furukawa."

    We took a seat on the grass as we waited for the rest of the students to finish.

    After quite almost an hour, the final few participants were finally finishing. It was clear that many students were not very athletic, and such a long course came as a big shock to them. Thest few walked to the finish line, looking as if they''d copse any moment. However, some students looked as if they hadn''t tried at all. Well, that was to be expected for some.

    Two hours passed before everyone finished. Eventually, the principal of National High School came out to give a speech. It was the usual gratitude to everyone who came out to help with setting up and all the teachers who stood as checkpoints. During the long speech, people started getting restless, with water being poured everywhere.

    Finally, he dismissed everyone.

    The year-level results would be given out during ss time.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Back in 2-C, we were all seated in our seats, lightly chatting away.

    The teacher had yet toe to ss with the results. I guess there must have been some sort of dy wherever they were getting them. The other students were discussing and hypothesising about the result, eagerly waiting.

    I wasn''t really all that interested.

    "Okay, everyone, I''ve finally managed to get the results."

    Suddenly, the ss went silent.

    She put them up on the board.

    -

    NHS Cross Country Event Results

    ~

    Second-years'' ss Results

    1. ss 2-B: 439

    2. ss 2-C: 302

    3. ss 2-D: 232<novelnext></novelnext>

    4. ss 2-E: 209

    5. ss 2-A: -2

    ~

    Second-years''  Individual Performance

    1. Murakami Akio

    2. Fujiharu Sara

    3. Furukawa Kai

    -

    The results definitely came as a surprise to most people.

    "ss A got negative points? That''s so funny!"

    "I thought ss A was supposed to be the best!"

    It was pretty obvious what had happened in that ss. I had always known that ss A had very little to no cohesion. As such, there weren''t going to be anybined efforts like our ss to strive for the top. As such, there was likely a coalition of sorts trying to bring each other down. There was likely a group of ss A students who purposely ced in thest few spots.

    I guess that was the reason why many noticeable people were missing from the top 10. Someone like Hasegawa would never fall below the top 10 if she were seriously trying. It seemed that Kimura also had something to do with this.

    Whatever the case, it didn''t matter to me.

    Before long, there was a notification on my phone.

    Foring 31st, I was given 500 points, which wasn''t a veryrge amount, but it was something. Above that, I was given 3,000 points for our ss'' cement.

    -

    Your ount

    Current Points: 7,395

    Owed: 87,780

    Owing: 12,000

    -

    Oh well, there wasn''t really much to think about. The ss was having some happy discussion about our cement. Many of the students were thanking Kaoru for hosting the training sessions and leading the ss. I didn''t see much reason to join them so I made my way back to my dorm.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Honestly, the amount of work that the school put into setting up a nice atmosphere was not without merit. There were plenty of trees around, decorating the school with a natural-esque feel. There was also not a day where the gardeners were not working, always taking care of the flower beds and grass.

    It was nearing the end of the month, meaning everyone would get more points. In thest few days, quite a few students moved down sses in order to get some relief points, not that I really cared. In the end, I was never in a position where I could''ve really run out of points. If things progress as they have been, I''d likely never run out of points.

    Granted, with Tachibana and various other people on my tail, it probably wouldn''t be muchter before I had to exert myself again. It was annoying. I much preferred to just live a peaceful school life. Well, it was to be expected that things wouldn''t always go my way. In the end, I was sure that my sister would also try to pull something.

    I made my way down the clean stone path, past the main oval, which wasn''t verymonly used, to my surprise. I guess there wasn''t much organised sport at this school; as such, the oval looked brand new, with crystal clear green grass and perfectly straight lines.

    It was getting somewhatte into the afternoon, so I guess I''d make some food when I got back. I''d probably need to go out and get some more supplies though since my stock was starting to run out.

    Suddenly, I heard the sound of frantic footsteps behind me.

    I turned around.

    Standing in front of me was a girl. I didn''t recognise her from anything in particr, but I could tell that she was a first-year. She was rtively short with ck hair¡ªwell, I''ve never been one to observe girls too obtusely.

    Looking straight into my eyes, she stared silently.

    "Do you need something from me?"

    "M-mizuhara-senpai... I like ya... please go out with me."

    Oh.

 Chapter 107 The Ideal Human Project - Part 4 [Kanako Eikichi]

    Life¡ªdeath.

    That''s the fundamental rule of all living things. In the beginning, one hides such an assumption under the guise of tangibility. Our achievements are only as real as they are because we have a limited amount of time. One may also believe that our inevitable deaths are the reason for us having any motivation at all.

    However, those are simply the assumptions made by those who are too afraid to confront the real truth of the matter.

    For all intents and purposes, I have reached the pinnacle of humanity. The Kanako Conglomerate has a worth of over fifty billion dors. I myself own eighty per cent of it in full. When I was younger, I was filled with aspiration. I would be rich. I would be powerful¡ªthose thoughts were what motivated me.

    However, the stronger I became, the more despair I felt.

    What was I doing?

    In the end, it just became numbers on a sheet of paper. I had no specific need for all of my wealth. I had no reason to keep pushing. But I continued anyways because I was insane.

    Insane, not in the conventional way. I was not addicted to watching numbers on a screen grow, after all. I was insane in my fear of the end. Eventually, I could no longer distract myself from this ever-growing fear.

    !#$*&%$*#

    It all came to a head when my wife passed away.

    !#$(*&%^$#

    That was when I first truly understood the sanctity of life.

    No matter how strong I was, no matter how wealthy I was, in the end, I wasn''t able to aplish anything. I couldn''t even protect the person most precious to me. After her mother''s death, Hanae was terrified of boys, even to the point where I had to transfer her to an all-girls school.

    Now, my mind waspletely broken. I needed something... anything else to distract me from the cold, honest truth.

    "Kanako, do you want do want to see something interesting?" asked a man of simr age to me. Unlike me, however, he was brimming with life, filled with motivation, and devoid of fear.

    Tachibana Kohei, please, show me something interesting.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    It was the second year of the Ideal Human Project. I came here every day just to observe all of the children. After watching them for so long, I began growing more attached to one in particr. Not in any loving way but in a more parasitic way.

    As the days went on, I worried about the sess of the project. The thing that attracted me in the first ce was Tachibana Kohei''s insanity. If anyone was going to make something like this work, it was going to be him. There was a period of time when my trust began to wane, a period of time when my despair came back to haunt me.

    However, there was one girl who reinvigorated my hope.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Hasegawa Mio.

    She was strong, intelligent, witty and elegant. As one of Tachibana Kohei''s two real subjects, I had no doubt that she was going to be someone beyond humanprehension. At her young age, she was already destroying adults at chess, judo, athletics and nearly every other activity that she was being given.

    It was honestly amazing watching all of her feats.

    Like a flower growing by the side of a mountain, she was incredibly resilient. To this day, I have yet to see her truly defeated. The only exception would be that time during the name tag activity when she was attacked by one of the boys. Still, I couldn''t understand the full situation, so she might have just been going easy on them; she had a tendency to do that.

    Tachibana Kohei also had another subject. Someone named... Mizu... Mizuhara Ayato. I didn''t really take much notice of him since he seemed mostly unremarkable. I guess Kohei''s vision of potential wasn''t perfect. Still, Mio was enough to prove that Kohei definitely had grounds for his sess.

    Like always, Mio was the first to finish the test. Nonchntly walking up to the teacher, she handed in her perfectlypleted sheet of paper. I watched as she sat back down in her seat, staring off into the distance.

    For so long, I''ve wanted to bring Hanae.

    I begged Tachibana Kohei to let Hanae interact with Mio.

    However, like the petty man he is, he''s been holding a grudge ever since I rejected his offer to let Hanae be part of the project. I''ve tried threatening him, but Kohei knows that I wouldn''t discontinue funding for the project¡ªbecause of my unstable mental state, he knows that I would never discontinue funding.

    It''s fine. There''lle a time in the future when I''ll be able to let Hanae meet her. Kohei''s n was not to keep all the children in here forever after all. He did have ns to let them out eventually.

    Until then, I''ll just watch Hasegawa Mio grow. That''s enough for me.

    "Kanako, apparently, there are some people in Australia who''ve started a simr project to ours. It''s called the Genomic Human Perfection Program. Do you want more details?" one of the scientists said to me.

    "No, I''m not interested."

    As long as Tachibana Kohei was leading this experiment. As long as Hasegawa Mio continued to develop as she was. There was no one who could surpass us.

    I took a seat in the cafeteria of the facility.

    The children were all undergoing their usual lessons for the day. I had no reason to stare at them during these rtively mundane activities. In exchange for my funding, Kohei has given me ess to some of the private documents.

    I could see that Mio was developing at her usual fast rate. Looking through some of the documents on the ''rats'', I saw that they were also developing. There might evene a day when one of these ''rats'' get promoted to a subject.

    Still, I couldn''t understand one child.

    Mizuhara Ayato¡ªwhy was Tachibana Kohei putting so much faith in you?

 Chapter 108 Someones In The Shadows - Part 1

    ___

    "Do you need something from me."

    "M-mizuhara... I like ya... please go out with me."

    Well, I had my answer.

    "Sorry, I''m not interested."

    I turned to walk away. However, before I could do so, she grabbed my hand from behind.

    "Wait! Ya can''t turn me down like that... don''t''ya think I''m cute? I made my hair specially today just for ya. Please, just give me a chance!"

    She had a pretty unique ent, to say the least.

    "I don''t even know who you are."

    "I''m Kamimura Niko, from ss 1-A! I''ve liked ya for a long time now~"

    I guess she hasn''t noticed the fact that I knew what she was doing.

    "Alright, Kamimura, I''ve told you my answer, haven''t I?"

    "But... there''s nothing bad about me, right? What type of girl do ya like? I''ll do anything. I''ll change myself to fit ya tastes!"

    "You''re a bit pushy."

    She covered her mouth in shock as if I had said something profound.

    "I-I''m sorry... will ya go on one date with me... at least? I promise I''ll make ya happy! Just one chance, give me one chance! Ya won''t regret it!"

    "You think so?"

    "I promise!"

    This was a troublesome situation.

    "Alright then, I''ll make you a deal."

    "Really?! I''ll do anything. Just say it!"

    I looked down at her.

    "If you make me fall for you, I''ll go with whatever n you have. If you can''t do that, you''ll tell me who set you up to this."

    ***

    Judging by her bodynguage, it was pretty clear that this wasn''t an honest confession. The question was, who would try to set me up like this? It didn''t seem like the type of thing Tachibana would do. I guess it could''ve been my sister, although I didn''t see why she''d be testing me already.

    In the end, I didn''t exactly mind going on the date. It was just that all of the ulterior motives were going to be a hassle for me. Looking at her expression, it seemed that I had hit the nail on the head. She looked as if she had just seen a ghost.

    Her eyes darkened.

    "So ya already knew then..."

    "Yeah."

    "Still, I''ll make ya fall for me. I''m cute. I''m talented. I''m popr. There''s no way a nd boy like you could resist my charms."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Let''s see what you can do."

    "Don''t speak down to me like that! You''re going to fall head over heels for me. There''s never been a boy who''s been able to turn me down before!"

    Well, she sounded like a certain someone.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    I set up a meeting with Harumi.

    Once again, I met with her inside of my dorm room.

    "So... what did you need from me, Mizuhara-kun?"

    "What do you know about Kamimura Niko."

    "Kamimura? Well, I know she''s very popr with the boys. Just a few days ago, she got asked out by one. I''m not very close to them, so I don''t know the details. She''s also quite smart, ranking near the top of most exams. She''s also good at singing... aside from that, I''m not too familiar."

    "Do you know if she''s close with any upperssmen?"

    "I''m not sure. What exactly do you need to know?"

    "Just anything you''ve got."

    "I''m sorry, but I don''t really know much about her."

    "Alright, I need you to figure out as much as you can about her in the next few days. Report back to me with any new information."

    "That''s fine, but why do you need this?"

    "Don''t worry about it."

    She sighed.

    "Also... about the 60,000 point..."

    "It''s just there so that you don''t try to do anything funny. As long as you listen to my instructions, you can stay debt-free."

    "A-alright then..."

    "You can go now."

    Slowly Harumi got up and left the room. Closing the door behind her, I was finally able to get some time to rx. Now that I had finished my previous book, I started reading a new one I recently found. It was called SSS-Rank Viin System: The Hero is Overpowered. I decided to just get a in light novel since I had read through quite a few western novels during thest little while.

    It was by Fujiharu''s favourite author, H.Z. Apparently, he had recovered from his illness and was writing again. I enjoyed a few of his works in the past, so I didn''t really mind it. Flipping through the first few pages, I found that it was really quite engaging. I could see why so many teenagers were entranced by his novels.

    With an exhrating fight scene in the beginning, followed by quirky yet realistic characters, he was definitely one of the best writers I have seen. I generally wasn''t too interested in light novels, but this one was different.

    Ah, honestly, the main character of the book was someone to who I could almost rte to. In a way, he also seemed detached from his reality. Digging into the story, page after page, I found that quite a bit of time had passed. I guess it was about time for me to get some dinner. I had just run out of food in our little mini fridge, so I''d have to take another trip out to themercial area.

    Putting the book down, I made my way outside.

    I had a decent number of points, so I wasn''t as conscious of conserving them as I used to be. Although, I still bought rtively cheap goods. Grabbing various ingredients from the grocery store, I filled a bag with things for dinner for the next few days. Eventually, I paid and began making my way back to my dorm.

    I didn''t really want to think about this whole situation during the first-year. I was certain that she was being manipted by someone. I just wasn''t sure of who it was yet. I guess Harumi might provide me with some nice intel in theing days.

    Setting the groceries on the ground, I began restocking the mini-fridge. After that, I made myself a very simple dinner.

 Chapter 109 Someones In The Shadows - Part 2

    I talked with Harumi.

    "I tried my best to get to know Kamimura, but I can''t really get that close with her group. In terms of upperssmen she might be acquainted with, I saw her talking with Murakami from 2-D, but aside from that, I don''t have anything."

    "That''s fine. I''m going to be going on a date with her tomorrow, so keep a lookout around my surroundings. Tell me if you notice anyone else watching."

    "W-what... um, alright, I''ll do that."

    "Good. You can leave now."

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Sitting down at a bench by the courtyard was a young girl. She was wearing a light blue checkered skirt with a white shirt tucked in. She had the same hair clip as she had the day she asked me out, but noticeably, it seemed that her hairstyle was different. With the warm breeze beside her, she looked off into the distance.

    "How are ya goin'', Mizuhara?"

    "I''m well."

    "Ah, ya can say a bit more than that. I woke up really early this mornin'' preparing for this~"

    "Well, I appreciate it."

    "Ehe, ya not the talkin'' type. That''s fine. I''ve got some activities nned for us."

    Getting up off the bench, she suddenly manoeuvred herself beside me, touching her shoulder against mine. Flipping her hair, she released particles of her shampoo into the air, conjuring a calming atmosphere.

    Well, at least that''s how I''d describe it.

    "So, what does Mizuhara like to eat?"

    "I don''t mind. Anything''s fine."

    "Alright. Well, I was thinking of taking ya to the new restaurant. You happy with that?"

    "Yeah."

    "Perfect!"

    Wrapping her arms around mine, she hugged her body awkwardly close. I decided to just go along with it since it looked like it was going to take quite a bit to send her the message. Lightly tugging me in the direction that she was walking, we made our way to the new restaurant that had recently finished construction.

    As we got to the entrance, it seemed that she had already made a booking. The waiter led us to our seat and the two of us sat opposite each other.

    "Feel free to order whatever. It''s on me~"

    "You sure?"

    "Of course! I''m in ss A, after all."

    I just chose my meal randomly. I wasn''t really against eating anything in particr since I was trained to be able to eat everything. I just needed to make sure that I didn''t look like I was purposely being difficult.

    "So, Mizuhara, what type of girls do ya like?"

    She was pretty frank.

    "Serious, hardworking ones."

    That wasn''t exactly true, but I doubted that she''d take ''I have no particr preference'' as a valid response. If she acted more reserved, it''d make the rest of the date a bit easier anyways.

    As we got into our meal, she looked up at me every few seconds, smiling at me.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I heard ya won some chess tournament special exam. Ya must be pretty smart, then?"

    "It was a bit of luck. My final opponent resigned before the game started."

    "Ah, but ya still had enough merit to get that far."

    "I guess so. I yed quite a bit of chess when I was younger."

    As we neared the end of the meal, I noticed that she was staring at me for quite a while. It was pretty hard to ignore so I just spoke up.

    "Is something wrong?" I asked.

    "Nothing~ I just thought that''d ya were pretty cute. All the girls would be fallin'' over ya if ya talked a bit more."

    "I''ve never been too popr with girls."

    "Aw, that sounds like a lie. Ya got the looks, that''s for sure, and ya smart as well."

    "My personality isn''t great."

    "Ya can work on that ya know~ anyways, I don''t mind it too much. I don''t like arrogant boys who talk constantly."

    With that, she finished the rest of the spagetti that she ordered. The cost of the meals in this restaurnat were indeed premium. They were prices that even made the cafe look cheap inparison. I guess the school was catering to the wealthier students.

    After the two of us finished our meals, she hugged my arm once again and pulled me toward one of the retail stores in themercial area.

    "I''ve been lookin'' for some more essories. Ya''ll help me look for one, won''t you?"

    "Sure, I don''t mind."

    "Yay~ thanks, Mizuhara."

    We walked over to the girls'' essories section, and Kamimura began excitedly looking through them. After a little while, she picked up a small ne and hung it around her neck, showing it off to me.

    "What do ya think, Mizuhara~?"

    "It''s nice."

    "Only nice? I guess I''ll have to try a bit harder to get a better reaction from ya!"

    She began searching through them once again. Well, it wasn''t like my reaction was because of the ne itself. It was more from myck of knowledge on this subject. I guess I''d give her a better reaction next to time to satisfy her.

    She picked a slightly bigger, ruby-coloured neckce and turned to me.

    "What about this one; ya think it looks good on me~?"

    "Yeah, it''s really cute."

    "Ooh~ ya think so? I''ll get it then!"

    She put the ne back into its box and held it in her hand. With that, the two of us made our way to the counter as she purchased her new essory. As soon as the transaction was over, she took it out of its box and hung it around her neck.

    "Hehe, this was the ne that Mizuhara liked~"

    After getting that, she started pulling me toward the open garden near the middle of the school. It was a little awkward getting res from other people as the two of us made our way over. Eventually, she sat down at the bench and gestured for me to sit down beside her.

    "Ya know, Mizuhara. Ya might think that this is just some setup, but this is my first ever date as well... don''t just y with my feelings, okay~?"

 Chapter 110 The Ideal Human Project - Part 5

    The Ideal Human Project had been going on for a few years at this point.

    The other children havee and gone, but a few familiar faces remain. Well, these faces were only as familiar as the strangers on the street¡ªI took notice of them, but no further than that. It was not worth my effort trying to form a real bond with any of them, lest they be expelled from the project soon after.

    Well, it wasn''t only just that. In this project, friends were only liabilities. The number of children who have sacrificed themselves to ''protect'' their friends was unjustifiably high, especially for the poor results.

    "Ayato-chan, do you want to y with us?"

    I didn''t realise it at first, but the girl who had always been around the Oues was none other than Tachibana''s daughter. Whilst she was not technically part of the project, she constantly stuck around us. I had the feeling that she didn''t seem to have many friends outside of the Oues.

    "Sorry, I''m reading at the moment."

    "Ooh? What are you reading~? Tell me!"

    I flipped the cover over and showed it to Tachibana. It was called, Biology in Focus - Year Eleven. I had just about finished reading through the main sections, but I still needed to scan through the glossary.

    "That''s so boring! Come y with us."

    "This is important, so I''m sorry. You can y with some of the others."

    "Fine!"

    As much as I tried to sugar-coat my words, the truth was that I just didn''t want to y with them. Tachibana was a very charismatic girl, she was capable of even getting Hasegawa to y with them sometimes, but I simply wasn''t interested.

    In the end, this project revolves around being better than the other children. As much as modern advice tells us to take breaks every once in a while, that''s more of a coping mechanism than any real advice because you''ll always get better results if you just keep pushing.

    One of the other Oues approached me.

    "Are you still studying, Ayato?"

    "Yes."

    It was Matsuoka Rei, one of the more naturally gifted children. She often found herself cking since she was capable of getting concepts that would usually take other children much more time to understand. She was the one who yed with Tachibana the most, although today, she seemed more interested in me.

    Sitting across from me, she supported her chin with her hands and stared directly at me.

    "Do you need something, Matsuoka?"

    "Nothing~ I''m not disturbing you, am I?"

    "I guess not."

    Ignoring her presence, I continued to read through the biology textbook. There was a new shipment of textbooks that the project had just received, meaning there were several more I needed to go through after this.

    After a little while, I finished the textbook I was reading.

    "Ah, you''re finished, aren''t you?"

    "Just this textbook."

    "Come take a break! Tachibana''s having fun with some of the others."

    "I''m good."

    "Aw... how about some training with me, then?"

    I guess some more physical work could be useful.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Boxing?" I asked.

    "I''m happy with that~"

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Making our way into the training centre, I grabbed some gloves off of the training rack. The project had plenty of different types of exercise equipment, so there was always something to do. Matsuoka seemed to have one specific set of gloves that she liked the most. It was a set that was given to the project as a gift from one of the sponsors. The main difference was that it had a vibrant, pink-checkered pattern.

    We didn''t have a boxing ring, but that was at no fault of the project. The point of our training was to get stronger in realistic situations. As such, the arena was just a in white room. Matsuoka got into a fighting stance, and so did I.

    Unlike her prowess in academics, her gift was not as apparent duringbat. As such, it wasn''t too hard to overpower her. I blocked a few of her jabs. Then I would feint. Then I hooked her in the face. She took the attack pretty well, using her footwork to stay bnced.

    However, whilst her technique wasn''t bad, her physique wasn''t there to match it. It only took a few hits before she fell to the ground.

    "Aa... I still don''t stand a chance against you... Ayato-chan."

    "Can you keep going?"

    "Y-yeah... just give me a second..."

    She looked up at me and smiled.

    "You don''t even go easy on girls... you''re such an idiot~"

    "I don''t see why I would."

    Whilst boys were naturally bound to have greater muscle development, at our age, the differences weren''t that exaggerated. And the main notion was that you could just work harder to break down that difference.

    After a few seconds, she stood back up.

    "Let''s go again~"

    "Alright."

    She raised her arms and got into a fighting stance. I watched her movements and slowly closed the distance between us. We traded a few blows, but she managed to block most of mine. However, after falling for one of my feints, I was able tond a clean shot on her face. The impact caused her to fall to the ground.

    "Ow... you didn''t have to hit me that hard...~"

    "Just so you know, I am holding back against you."

    "Wait... r-really? That''s a lie, right? You wouldn''t hold back against anyone..."

    "It would be a waste if I just knocked you out. It gives me an opportunity to practice my footwork and vision."

    "Seriously...?"

    I guess she was finally noticing the difference in strength between the two of us. It was her fault in the end. Herck of effort means that eventually, she''ll be overtaken, even in academics. Unlike Hasegawa, Matsuoka puts in almost no work. She never trains by herself, and she always looks for others.

    I assumed that it wouldn''t be long until she would be expelled.

    "This a piece of advice to you. Put in work. Otherwise, your gift will be worthless."

    She looked up at me with wide, fearful eyes.

 Chapter 111 Someones In The Shadows - Part 3

    "Kamimura-san."

    "Yes, what is it, Mizuhara-senpai~?"

    "How much do you know about me?"

    There was a moment of silence.

    ***

    "You''d get it if I said¡ªI know... enough... about ya, right?"

    It seemed that she knew more about me than I thought.

    "Are you going to tell me the real reason you asked me out?"

    "I don''t... ya know, Mizuhara-kun. I had fun today. If ya could just forget about trying to figure me out, I could remember this day as one of my favourites..."

    "I just can''t help it when you''ve got ulterior motives."

    She looked down at her feet.

    "I really do like ya."

    Her hair swayed in the wind.

    "If that''s the case, why are you doing this under the premise of something else."

    "You really have no tenderness when ites to the feelings of a girl..."

    I looked down at her.

    "My question to you is, how much do you really know about me."

    The soft breeze washed through the area.

    "I know you, I know Tachibana-san, and I know Hasegawa-san."

    "You weren''t part of the Ideal Human Project, so how do you know about all of us."

    "Ah... I can''t go exposing everything about myself now...~ I''m still waiting for your answer."

    "To what question."

    "Do ya want to go out with me...? Fully seriously..."

    There was nothing to think about.

    "You know my answer."

    "Aha...~ y-yeah... of course... I get it..."

    She was crying.

    Why was she crying.

    I didn''t get it.

    I made my way up to her.

    "Now, tell me your ulterior motive. Why did you ask me on this date today...?"

    "...u-um... can ya give me a moment... I-I''m still trying to process..."

    She turned to run away, but I grabbed her arm. Swinging her around, I pulled her towards my body. Letting the momentum take over, she simply fell into my chest, wing at my shirt. Tears were dripping out of her eyes non-stop.

    "Tell me."

    "M-mizuhara-senpai...? Mizuhara-senpai...!"

    "I''m still waiting."

    "Can''t you think about my feeling...?! Just this once...! I''ve waited this long!"

    "If you truly know me, you''ll understand why I''m doing all of this."

    "B-but..."

    Ah. I get it now.

    I pushed her away from me.

    !#$(*%#$<novelnext></novelnext>

    ***

    "...huh...? Mizuhara-senpai...?"

    "Kamimura-san, you don''t really know me, do you?"

    "...w-what do you mean...?"

    "I still don''t know who set you up for this. But whoever they are, they told you that information about me isn''t that right."

    "No... no... that''s not it!"

    "If that''s the case. However, you really did meet me when I was younger, didn''t you?"

    I finally got it.

    "..."

    "You even went out of your way to change your name."

    "..."

    "Honestly, I''m impressed."

    "..."

    "Long time no see, Matsuoka Rei-san."

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    A/N: Sorry for the hiatus, guys. I''ve been really sick recently and struggling with some other personal issues. Hopefully, I''ll be able to continue this in theing days. I''m going to finish this chapter off with a short story.

    I''m really sorry about theck of updates, I tried pushing myself, but I wasn''t in the right mindset, and I wasn''t writing very well. Hopefully, you will all stay with me, and I''ll make up for it once I recover~!

    ***

    ¨©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¨

    [Yamada and Ser Tryouts Short Story]

    "Oi, Yamada-kun, pass the ball!"

    The tryout group were in the midst of an intense practice match. Yamada had the ball under his feet, controlling it carefully.

    He was ying central midfield, a rtively dynamic position. The teams were split into the red bib and yellow bib teams. It was pretty obvious that the red bib team was quite obviously the more skilled team. The coach had split them this way on purpose.

    Yamada was on the red bib team, whilst Okamoto was on the yellow bib team.

    Instead of listening to his teammate, he kept the ball at his feet, watching as one of the opposition midfielders approached him rapidly. As he watched the opposition''s movements, he quickly moved the ball to the right as the opponent stuck their foot out. There was a little bit of contact between Yamada and their leg, causing him to fall off bnce.

    However, the ball was still rtively close to him. As another midfield charged at him, he regained control of the ball and prepared to dribble past them as well.

    "Yamada-kun! Pass it off, Jun-kun is on the left!"

    He did not heed the advice of his teammate. Again, he ced his body between the opposition and the ball. Their two bodies collided, but Yamada managed to keep possession of the ball. Not long after, though, the two opponents tackled him at the same time, and after a tough fight, Yamada ended up losing the ball.

    "Yamada! You have to pass the ball!" His teammates continuously shouted.

    "Shut up! You guys were in bad positions!" He responded.

    "Jun was literally right next to you!"

    Yamada began to rush toward the yer in possession of the ball. However, he seemed to have made a mistake in this decision. When he moved out of position to tackle for the ball, the opposition passed the ball into the open space behind him. With one big touch, Okamoto-kun gained control of the ball and charged into the red bib defence.

    The entire line began shuffling back as the yellow bib team began pressing forwards. As one of the defenders moved forward to tackle Okamoto-kun, he quickly passed the ball to the side to one of the other yellow bib attackers.

    With one big kick, the yellow bib striker managed to shoot the ball directly into the back of the. The red bib goalie had no chance of stopping the strike.

    There was a small celebration by the yellow bib team before everyone got back into position. Yamada-kun''s team was less than impressed by his performance. Ultimately, the goal resulted from Yamada-kun''s poor judgement.

    "Yamada-kun! That was on you!"

    He was silent.

    A few minutester, the coach called everyone over to announce the final lineup for the A-team.

    Yamada-kun''s heart dropped as he realised that his name wasn''t called.

 Chapter 112 New Ideals, New Thoughts - Part 1

    I opened my eyes, the morning light filtering through the window. The rm on my phone rang immediately as I woke up. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and took a moment to catch up on the events of the previous day.

    I decided to freshen up, washing my face and brushing my teeth before making my way out of the dormitory. The door creaked as I pulled it open, my footsteps echoing down the hall as the ceiling lights flickered on, sensing my presence.

    The school was still quiet. Most students were likely still asleep. I made my way to the reception area, but it was empty. I stepped outside, the cool morning air refreshing against my skin. The school was aforting atmosphere with modern infrastructure and well-kept garden beds. I set out on a walk, taking in the surroundings and enjoying the peace and quiet before the day truly began.

    As I strolled through the schoolyard, I caught sight of Fujiharu standing outside the school''s new karaoke centre. She appeared to be deep in thought, and I had intended to head to the library, so I continued on my way, passing her by. But not long after, I heard footsteps behind me, and a familiar voice called out.

    "A-ya-to!"

    Fujiharu had caught up with me, and she was wearing a big smile. It seemed like she was in a good mood today.

    "Hey, Ayato! I just heard that the karaoke centre is finally open! Want to go check it out together?"

    I saw no reason to decline her offer, so I simply nodded my head in agreement.

    "We''ll be some of the first to check it out!-"

    "Wait, Are you sure it''s open? It looks like it''s still under construction."

    I said, pointing out the scaffolding and construction equipment surrounding the building.

    "Oh, I must have misunderstood my friends. They said it was supposed to open soon. My apologies, Ayato." Fujiharu said, looking embarrassed.

    "Um, maybe we should go somewhere else then... Ayato, where do you want to go?"

    Fujiharu asked, turning her attention to me. Before I could respond, Fujiharu interrupted me with an idea.

    "How about we eat breakfast in the cafe again together!"

    "Are you going to pay for me again?"

    "Ayato, you''re not considerate... I''m a girl, you know~" she replied with a yful pout. "It should be the reverse!"

    But I politely declined, "I''ll pass then. I can make my own breakfast."

    "Oh, well-"

    "I''ll get going then. See youter, Fujiharu."

    I walked away from the arcade, heading towards the library. Fujiharu seemed a bit disappointed, but it was not my concern. I reached the library and scanned the shelves for something interesting to read. I came across a new book that I had not seen before, so I decided to give it a try. I walked to a secluded seat and sat down, but to my surprise, someone was already there. I turned my head to the right and saw Fujiharu sitting right next to me.

    "Hi~," she said with a small wave of her hand. "We met again, Ayato."

    "How did you get here?"

    "..by walking?"

    It was definitely not a coincidence. She was always like this, always trying to pry into my personal life and question my actions. But I didn''t want to argue with her, so I decided to change the subject.

    "So, what have you been up totely? Have you been studying for the midterms?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Um yeah, I''ve been trying to study as much as I can. It''s important to do well on the midterms." Fujiharu replied, her expression serious.

    "I see. Well, good luck with your studying then."

    "Thanks, Ayato. How about you? Are you studying too?"

    "Of course. I''m always trying to do my best."

    I lied, trying to avoid any further questioning.

    "Okay, that''s good to hear. Let''s study together sometime!"

    "Sure, we can do that."

    We continued to talk for a while longer until Fujiharu wanted to get breakfast.

    "Oh, I''ll get some breakfast. Do you wannae?"

    "No thanks."

    Fujiharu''s eyes cast downward for a moment before he raised his face again with a warm smile and bid me farewell.

    I returned to my book, immersing myself in its pages for a short while before setting it down. As I prepared to leave the library, I made my way towards the exit but unfortunately, my foot caught on one of the rug''s loose edges, and I stumbled forward.

    My hands shot out to steady myself, but in doing so, I collided with a bookshelf. The shelves shook, and books of all sizes and colours cascaded to the ground.

    I stood there for a moment, staring at the mess I had made. My mind was nk as I bent down to start picking up the fallen books. I had just finished stacking thest book onto the shelf

    And immediately left for my dormitory.

    As I opened the door to my dorm room, I encountered resistance. It seemed that the door handle had been caught by someone else. I released my grip, and the door handle moved, revealing Kimura on the other side. He had just woken up, it seemed, and was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

    "Mizuhara, you''re up early.." he said, stifling a yawn.

    "Yes, I decided to take a walk around the school," I replied.

    "I see," he said, still half-asleep. "Well, I have to go now. See youter."

    And with that, Kimura left the dorm room, leaving me to enter.

    As I entered my dorm room, I immediately headed towards the kitchen. It was not that I was particrly enthused about cooking, but it was a necessary task in order to sustain myself. I opened the fridge and scanned the contents, deciding on making scrambled eggs with bacon and toast.

    I cracked the eggs into a bowl and began whisking them together with a fork, seasoning them with a pinch of salt and pepper. I then ced a pan on the stove and added a small amount of butter, letting it melt and sizzle before adding the beaten eggs. I stirred them continuously with a spat, ensuring that they cooked evenly.

    While the eggs were cooking, I ced a few slices of bacon in a separate pan and let them fry to a crisp. I then grabbed a loaf of bread and popped it into the toaster.

    As everything finished cooking, I ted the food and sat down to eat. The scrambled eggs were fluffy and seasoned perfectly, the bacon was crispy, and the toast was golden brown. The food was good, but it did not evoke any particr satisfaction from me. I simply ate because it was necessary to fuel my body.

 Chapter 113 New Ideals, New Thoughts - Part 2

    Chapter

    As I finished consuming my meal, the sound of a door opening echoed throughout the room. It was likely just Kimura, so I simply picked up my te and began to wash it.

    "You''re making your own food?" Kimura queried as he caught sight of me scrubbing the dishes clean. "Mizuhara, can you make me something too? I paid for the thing too."

    "I don''t mind, but we''re out of ingredients."

    "Argh, alright," Kimura grumbled in disappointment.

    With that, Kimura turned and walked away from me, his steps indicating that he had something on his mind. As I finished washing the dishes, he opened the door once more, and before he could close it, I hastened my pace to catch up with him.

    "Wait, I''m going out too."

    "Oh, okay. Close the door."

    He responded before striding out of the dormitory.

    With a nod, I closed the door behind me and began walking. As I strolled through the hall of the dormitory, memories of a few days prior came flooding back to me. I couldn''t help but think about Kamimura, or rather, Matsuoka Rei. Though I hadn''t seen her since it didn''t seem to affect me much.

    Before I knew it, I had made my way out of the dormitory. The schoolyard was now bustling with activity as students milled about in their morning routines. The clock on the wall read 10 am, signalling the start of another day at the school.

    As I strolled along the bustling schoolyard, I couldn''t help but notice Kinoshita Chitose, who hade to a stop in her tracks. Curious, I paused to see what had caught her attention. Her head was hung low, her eyes fixed on the ground. After a moment, she lifted her gaze to meet mine.

    "A-Aya..." she stuttered," Mizuhara, would you like to apany me to the arcade?"

    Without hesitation, I epted her invitation. I had nothing else nned for the day, and the prospect of some leisurely entertainment sounded appealing. Kinoshita, I knew, was not particrly fond of games that relied on points or tokens, so I suspected she would stick to more traditional arcade activities.

    As we walked side by side, Kinoshita turned to me, "Mizuhara, have you been studying for the uing midterms?"

    I couldn''t help but lie again, as Fujiharu had asked me the same question just the other day. It seemed to be the topic of conversation for most studentstely.

    "Yes, I have." I replied, "Though I don''t spend all my time in the library. Sometimes I study in my room, and the exams are still some ways off, so there''s no need to study every single day."

    "I see." Kinoshita nodded, "Well, we''ve arrived."

    As we entered the arcade, we were greeted by the familiar sounds and sights of students frantically ying games, most of which relied on points or tokens. I couldn''t help but shake my head, thinking to myself that it seemed more like a casino than a school.

    "What game do you have in mind?"

    I asked Kinoshita as we surveyed the rows of machines at the arcade. She seemed uncertain at first, ncing around with a puzzled expression before her gaze settled on a zombie-themed shooting game.

    "This one?" I asked, nodding towards the machine.

    "Y-Yes."

    As I approached the machine and picked up the gun controller, I couldn''t help but be impressed by the quality of the game. The weight of the gun felt realistic in my hands, and the theme, whilemon, was executed well. I grabbed the second gun controller and handed it to Kinoshita.

    "Here, it''s a little heavy,"

    I watched her as she struggled to hold it steady.

    "A-ah, thanks, Mizuhara."

    Her arms were sagging under the weight of the gun.

    "Well, we can y another game if you''d like."

    But she insisted on trying the shooting game, so I helped her adjust her grip on the controller.

    "You''re sure you want to y this game? It''s pretty intense."

    "Um, no...I just wanted to try it with you." Kinoshita said, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

    I nodded and aimed my gun at the screen, ready to take on the zombie.<novelnext></novelnext>

    As the day came to a close, Kinoshita and I bid our farewells to one another. We had spent a leisurely afternoon at the arcade, trying our hand at various games and enjoying each other''spany.

    "Thank you, Mizuhara, for spending time with me."

    "It was my pleasure." I replied, "I enjoyed it too."

    "..really?" Kinoshita looked at me sceptically; her brow furrowed in confusion.

    I nodded, attempting to reassure her.

    "Yes, really."

    With that, Kinoshita bid me goodbye and took off, leaving me standing at the arcade''s entrance. As I watched her go, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of contentment. This was what a normal student life felt like - spending time with friends and enjoying oneself. And I was lucky to have experienced it.

    I realized that the ingredients for my cooking were running low, so I made a decision to visit the local grocery store. Walking through the bustlingmercial area, I encountered a crowd of students and patiently waited in line before finally reaching the front and making my way inside the store.

    Navigating the aisles, I carefully selected a variety of basic cooking ingredients, including eggs, milk, and various other necessities. I also picked up some chicken, bread, and cheese to make sandwiches and other meals. The total cost of my purchases came to around 6000 points, but I decided to put some items back in order to reduce the cost to around 4500 points.

    As I approached the counter to pay, I felt a tap on my back. I turned to find Fujiharu standing behind me, a curious expression on her face.

    "That''s quite a lot of things," she said.

    "It''s for stock. As I said to you many times, I cook my own food," I replied.

    "Oh, if only we lived in the same room, I could have free food every day!"

    "No, you wouldn''t." I interjected her, "Kimura and I bought the ingredients together."

    "--um, excuse me, your bags."

    The cashier interjected, indicating that my purchases were ready to be taken. As I turned to grab my bags,

    "Wait, can I follow you around?"

    Fujiharu asked if she could follow me around. I didn''t mind, but I was curious as to why she was in the grocery store in the first ce.

    "I''m fine, but I need to go to my dorm room to put this in the fridge," I said.

    "Ah, that''s fine. I can wait."

    She replied with a smile.

    With my bags in hand, we made our way out of the store and towards the dormitory.

    "Ayato, I saw that you went to the arcade. If you wanted to y, you could have invited me to join."

    She spoke as we walked towards the dormitory. If she saw me enter the arcade, then she must have seen Kinoshita too. Why didn''t she mention her?

    "Sure, I''ll invite you next time."

    "Okay. Did you go alone or with someone?"

    "I went with someone."

    "I see. I can only imagine who that someone is."

    "It''s not important, just Kinoshita."

    "Of course, it''s your business who you spend your time with."

    "Exactly. And right now, I''m spending my time with you."

    I replied, showing no further interest in the conversation. I don''t know what she was trying to say.

 Chapter 114 New Ideals, New Thoughts - Part 3

    After our conversation, we arrived at the dormitory. Fujiharu came to a stop, but I continued on towards my dorm room. I inserted the key into the lock, and with a satisfying click, I opened the door. Inside, I noticed that Kimura wasn''t there. I set down my bags in the kitchen and attempted to fit them into the small freezer.

    The bags were crammed haphazardly, but I managed to push some of the smaller items inside. I then left the room and returned to where Fujiharu was still standing. Her eyes wandered around the hall.

    "I apologize for keeping you waiting."

    Fujiharu gave a small smile, "You seem to be much more considerate now, Ayato."

    "Is that apliment?"

    "Yes, it is. Now, let us head out."

    She smiled as she said that and began walking towards the schoolyard. I followed her, unsure of our destination. As we walked, she slowed her pace and began a conversation with me.

    "So Ayato, where would you like to go today?" Fujiharu asked, her gaze fixed on me.

    "I''m not sure. Where do you have in mind?"

    "Well, I''ve been wanting to study for the uing midterms. How about we go to the library, and you could help me study?"

    I considered her proposal, "Sure."

    "Great!" Fujiharu said, her smile growing wider. "I think we''ll make good use of our time."

    And with that, we set off towards the library. As we stepped into the grand hall of the library, the hum of activity surrounded us. The hushed whispers of students, the rustling of pages, and the tap tap tap of fingers on keyboards created a symphony of knowledge-seeking. Fujiharu scanned the bookshelves, carefully selecting books from the stacks.

    "Why did you take that one?" I asked, noticing a light novel amongst the study-rted texts in her arms.

    "No way we are gonna keep studying without taking a break, right?"

    I nodded in agreement. As we searched for a suitable study spot, a familiar voice called out to us.

    "Mizuhar-"

    "Oi, Mizuhara!"

    The first voice stopped abruptly as they let out a cough. I stopped Fujiharu and turned around to see Kimura and Kinoshita and began to make my way towards them.

    "Wait, Ayato, where are you going?" Fujiharu grabbed my shirt from the back.

    "Someone is calling me," I replied, turning back to her.

    "That doesn''t mean you should go anyway!" she protested, but I simply gestured for her to follow me.

    We made our way to Kinoshita and Kimura, who had books spread out on the table. They were studying too, and I couldn''t help but notice the many other students doing the same. We arrived, and I quickly took a seat, with Fujiharu following suit.

    "Oops, sorry if I interrupted your date, Mizuhara," Kimura said, with a hint of a grin on his face.

    "Is that true, Mizuhara...?" Kinoshita chimed in.

    "We''re just here to study."

    "Well, yeah.." Fujiharu added, looking a bit flustered.

    "Alright, It''s time to hit the books!" Kimura eximed as he grabbed his pen.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "If anyone needs help, just ask," Fujiharu added.

    I picked up one of the books on the table and pretended to read, flipping through the pages every few minutes. For the next twenty minutes, no one asked any questions.

    "Mizuhara, is that how you usually study?" Kinoshita asked, peering over at me.

    I lowered the book to reply, thinking of a decent excuse. "Yeah, I like to read through the material first and jot down what I remember. Then I go back and fill in any gaps."

    "He-eh.. that''s an efficient way to study," Kinoshita said in amazement, covering her mouth with her hand.

    As the clock ticked on, another twenty minutes passed by in a blink of an eye. Kinoshita, her hands now stilled from their previous frenzied scribbling, broke the silence with her voice.

    "I''m struggling with this math problem. Mizuhara, do you have a minute to help me out?" Kinoshita asked, her eyes scanning the page in front of her.

    "What is it?" I replied, ncing a bit over at her work.

    "I''m having trouble understanding this concept," she said, pointing to a section of the math problem.

    I studied the problem for a moment before responding. "It''s not that difficult. Try to do it by yourself."

    "I''ve tried, but I''m still not getting it.." Kinoshita said, looking a bit discouraged.

    "Try asking the teacher. I''m not great at tutoring others."

    "..okay," Kinoshita replied, and she went back to her work.

    Kimura let out a chuckle, seemingly amused by Fujiharu''s response. As the hour passed, we all decided to call it a day and put our studies to rest.

    "Well then, shall we all go out and hang?" Kimura suggested as he neatly stacked the books, preparing to return them to their proper ce.

    "I have ns," I responded.

    "Ah, what a shame," Kimura replied a hint of disappointment in his tone.

    "I-I also have something I need to attend to." Kinoshita stuttered, her shyness evident in her voice.

    "Oh, okay, I understand. I''ll see youter then.." Fujiharu chimed in, turning to Mizuhara.

    "Oh, I see." Kimura sighed, holding the stack of books in his arms. "Looks like it''s just the two of us then, Fujiharu."

    "..I-I guess so," Fujiharu responded, sounding a bit disappointed.

    I turned my back to leave. "I''ll be on my way then."

    "See youter, Mizuhara....." Fujiharu''s voice trailed off as I made my way towards the exit, her words carrying a hint of longing as I departed from her presence.

    "...well then, I''m gonna take my leave."

    As I walked away, I could hear their voices fading into the background. I approached the library''s doors, and I grasped the brass handle of the heavy oak door and gave it a gentle tug.

    The door let out a soft creak as it slowly swung open, the sound of chatter and footsteps from the students outside filling my ears. It wasn''t too unpleasant, although I did want some more peace.

 Chapter 115 New Ideals, New Thoughts - Part 4

    The next day, the early morning light was just beginning to filter through the window as I was roused from my sleep. Despite the hour, Kimura was wide awake, standing at the foot of my bed with an expectant look on his face.

    Still groggy and disoriented, I reached for my phone to check the time, confirming that it was indeed a mere 5 am. I slowly rose from thefort of my bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and trying to shake off the lingering haze of slumber.

    "Wake up."

    "What''s the rush?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

    "We have to go, now."

    "Go where?"

    "It''s a surprise," Kimura said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

    I slowly got out of bed, still not fully awake. "I hope this surprise is worth getting up this early."

    I rose from my bed and performed my morning routine of grooming and freshening up. As I dressed, I noticed Kimura already waiting impatiently at the door. I followed him out with a sense of detachment, feeling little excitement or curiosity about the surprise he had nned.

    As we walked through the dormitory halls, Kimura suddenly turned to me.

    "I have something nned for us to help prepare for the uing midterms," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

    I simply nodded in response, my expression remaining unruffled as I continued to focus on the path ahead.

    As we stepped out of the dormitory, Kimura strode ahead of me, leading the way. I followed in silence. My gaze fixed forward as we made our way through the school grounds.

    After a short while, we arrived at our destination. My eyes were met with a group of familiar faces, all gathered together in one ce.

    The familiar faces of Fujiharu and Kinoshita came into view, standing in front of arge building, chatting animatedly amongst themselves.

    As we got closer, I saw the LED lights disying the word ''Open'' above the entrance. It was then that Kimura turned to me with a grin on his face.

    "We''re going to be the first ones to check out the karaoke!" Kimura announced excitedly.

    "Yay!" Fujihara enliven.

    I simply nodded in agreement as Kimura and Fujiharu spoke.

    "Fujiharu, you didn''t tell me that Mizuhara would join!" Kinoshita spoke, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

    "Haha~ I must have forgotten," Fujiharu chuckled, "Anyways, Kinoshita, is there a problem with Mizuharu''s presence?"

    "N-no, that''s not it..." Kinoshita stammered, her face obscured by her hands.

    "Now, let''s just get in," Kimura said, gesturing towards the entrance.

    Without further ado, Kimura led us inside the building. From the little interaction, it was clear that Kimura had orchestrated this surprise and had called upon Fujiharu and asked Fujiharu to invite Kinoshita, too, to join us.

    Upon entering the establishment, it was immediately clear that we were the first patrons of the day. The only souls in sight were those of the staff, diligently readying the establishment for the day ahead. The emptiness of the karaoke lounge was not unexpected, given the early hour of our arrival.

    As we entered the karaoke establishment, the first thing that caught my eye was the sleek, modern reception desk. The walls were adorned with vibrant posters of popr songs and bands, while the floor was made of polished hardwood. The staff at the desk greeted us with a warm smile, and I couldn''t help but notice the state-of-the-artputer system they were using to keep track of the private rooms and point system.

    Upon arriving at the reception desk, Kimura approached the staff member and greeted them.

    "Good morning, We''d like to rent a private room, please."

    The staff member, who seemed a bit surprised to see customers at such an early hour, quickly pulled out a brochure and presented it to us.

    "Sure, Would you like to take a look at our avable options?"

    Kimura nodded eagerly, and they scanned through the brochure, taking note of the different room sizes and features. After a few minutes of discussion, they decided on a medium-sized room with a private karaoke system and afortable seating area.

    "Alright, that''ll be 300 points for the hour. How will you be paying?" the staff member asked.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I''ve got it covered," Kimura said, pulling out his phone and tried hand over the necessary points.

    Fujihara, however, interjected, "-Ah, let''s share the cost. I wouldn''t feelfortable if we didn''t."

    Kimura hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement, "Alright, 75 points per person it is then."

    "Sounds good."

    Fujiharu and Kinoshita replied in unison, each pulling out their own phone and handing over their share to Kimura.

    I also pulled out my phone and swiftly transferred the necessary 75 points to Kimura.

    The staff member processed the payment and handed us a key card to ess the room.

    With the formalities out of the way, the four of us made our way towards the designated room, passing by several closed doors along the way. Once inside, we were greeted with a sleek and modern space, equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, as well asfortable seating and arge screen for lyrics. We settled in, and Kimura began browsing through the extensive song selection.

    Kimura suddenly rose from his seat, tapping the tablet in front of him to make his selection.

    "I''ll sing first," he dered, turning to face us with a confident grin.

    He walked towards the screen, taking the microphone in hand as the lyrics and song title flickered to life. "A Gentle Devil''s Antithesis," from the anime "Dim Dissolution Apolytrosis", Fujihara recognized the title with a nod.

    "It''s a popr choice," Kimura exined, "But I think it''s fitting for the asion."

    As Kimura began to sing, Fujihara and Kinoshita watched with interest while I simply observed, my expression unchanging.

    After around five minutes of singing, the song came to an end, and Kimura made his way back to his seat. His voice was average, nothing extraordinary, but still decent enough to carry the tune.

    "It''s my turn, then."

    Fujiharu dered as she stood up from her seat.

    "Here."

    Kimura handed the microphone to her, and she took hold of the tablet, deftly navigating through the selection before returning it to the table.

    Fujiharu made her way to the front of the screen, microphone in hand. The screen flicked to life, disying the lyrics and title of her chosen song. ''Red Fish'' from the anime ''Nagare''

    As Fujiharu began to sing, her voice, while clear, did not particrly stand out to me. However, Kinoshita and Kimura seemed enraptured by her performance, cheering and praising her as if she were some sort of idol. I couldn''t quite grasp the appeal.

    I cast my gaze upon the tablet resting on the table, noticing a few icons disyed on its screen. I reached out and imed it as my own. Upon closer examination, I discovered a list of food options and a list of drink options.

    "Mizuhara, can''t wait for your turn, huh?"

    Came a voice from beside me. I turned to find Kimura, a hint of amusement in his tone. I shook my head and presented the tablet to him, allowing him a glimpse at my true intent.

    "Oh."

    I pulled the tablet back and began to peruse the menu, taking note of the various options avable. My eyes scanned the various options disyed before me. The menu was extensive, offering a wide array of delectable dishes such as sulent steaks, hearty pasta dishes, and a variety of sushi and sashimi.

    I lowered the tablet in my hand, allowing it to rest on my thighs. The device''s sleek surface reflected the bright lighting of the room, and I couldn''t help but ponder,

    with so many private rooms, the logistics of ensuring that each student receives their food and drink orders in a timely manner.

    The thought of waiting long periods for a simple beverage or snack in a crowded karaoke seemed like a potential inconvenience.

    "You finished ordering? My turn then!"

    Kimura eximed, quickly noticing myck of engagement. Without hesitation, he snatched up the tablet and began scrolling through the options with renewed enthusiasm.

 Chapter 116 New Ideals, New Thoughts - Part 5

    The night before, memories of the karaoke session with Fujiharu, Kimura, and Kinoshita flooded my mind as I slowly stirred from my slumber. However, I couldn''t shake the feeling of detachment, as if I were an observer instead of an active participant in the event. As I got out of bed and went through my morning routine, thoughts of the previous night lingered in the back of my mind, but I pushed them aside and focused on the tasks at hand.

    I made my breakfast, ate it in silence, and left the dormitory for school. The empty halls and ssrooms were a familiar sight as I made my way to ss, the only sound being the echo of my own footsteps.

    I took my seat, feeling a sense of calm wash over me as I sat in the quiet ssroom. I knew that soon, the room would be filled with chatter and energy, but for now, it was just me, alone with my thoughts.

    **

    As the minutes ticked by, the room gradually began to fill with students, each one taking their seat and settling in for the day''s lesson.

    "Hey, how was your weekend?"

    "It was alright. I went to the arcade alone. How about you?"

    "Nah, I spent the whole weekend studying. I heard the exams areing up soon."

    "Yeah, I know. I should probably start studying too."

    Some students chatted with their friends as they walked in, while others made their way to their seats in silence. Some students ced their bags on the floor, while others hung them on the back of their chairs. Some students took out their notebooks and pens, while others sat with their hands folded in theirps.

    The teacher entered the room, carrying a stack of papers and a cup of coffee.

    "Good morning, ss," he said, setting the papers down on his desk. "I hope you''re all ready for another day of learning."

    He then began to set up the ssroom, putting up the day''s lesson on the board and distributing the handouts. The students watched him quietly, still making small talk among themselves.

    As the final stragglers filtered in, a synchronized beep echoed throughout the room as every student''s phone received the same notification.

    Without hesitation, all eyes turned to their screens, myself included, as we read the message that had just been delivered.

    -

    Midterm Exams

    Wee, all students to your first midterm exams at National High School. Our school seeks to embrace students who excel in all aspects of schooling. However, they must first prove themselves in our specially-designed examination.

    The exam will consist of seven parts.

    Mathematics (100 marks)

    English (100 marks)

    Biology (90 marks)

    Chemistry (85 marks)

    Physics (80 marks)

    Geography (60 marks)

    History (60 marks)

    These exams will run over three days in total. At the end, your score will be calcted by total points + any external considerations.

    A failing grade is any student who:

    ~

    Scores less than 20% on any one exam.

    Or

    Scores less than 150 in total.

    Or

    Has been caught cheating.

    ~

    A student who meets any of these conditions will be immediately expelled unless the necessary amount of points has been given:

    1 extra mark = 10,000 points

    ***

    Exceptional Students

    There will be great rewards given to the highest-scoring students in each year level.

    Highest Scorers:

    100,000 points + an immunity

    80,000 points + an immunity

    50,000 points

    Any student who scores above 200: +10,000 points

    If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask your teacher.

    -

    As they read the notification, a sense of dread and unease washed over the room. Whispers and murmurs began to fill the air as they processed the gravity of the situation.

    Some of them paled at the thought of possibly being expelled if they failed the exam, while others looked determined to do whatever it took to pass. A few of them exchanged worried nces with their friends, while others frantically began to text and call their friends to discuss the news.

    One student, a timid-looking girl in the back of the room, could be heard muttering to herself, "I can''t fail. I can''t be expelled. I have to pass this exam."

    Others were more pragmatic, exchanging tips and tricks on how to rue points and buy their way to safety.

    "I have some points saved up, but it might not be enough to keep me in the school."

    "Maybe I should start selling some of my stuff to earn extra points."

    "This is it. I''m gonna fail."

    "This is insane."

    "I can''t believe they would do this to us. It''s like they''re setting us up for failure."

    "Alright, everyone settle down," the teacher called out, her voice cutting through the chatter. "We have a lot to cover today, so let''s get started."

    As the teacher began their lesson, the students couldn''t focus. Their minds were preupied with the uing exam. They couldn''t shake off the feeling of impending doom that hung over them like a dark cloud. The knowledge that one misstep could lead to their expulsion weighed heavily on their minds, making it impossible for them to think about anything else.

    The teacher''s words fell on deaf ears as the students sat there, lost in their own thoughts. Still thinking about the notification and the punishments.

    **

    The rest of the sses for the day went by without incident, but the atmosphere in the room was tense as students could sense the weight of the midterm exams. Many of them were visibly focused on studying harder than they usually did. Students could be seen with their heads buried in textbooks, scribbling notes feverishly or muttering forme under their breath.

    I retired to my dormitory as per my usual routine and settled into sleep. In the middle of the night, I awoke briefly and caught sight of Kimura, fully engrossed in his studies, illuminating the room with the glow of his tablet. It appears that he is taking the uing exam seriously. I simply observed this before returning to the sce of sleep.

 Chapter 117 Midterm Exams - Part 1

    The following morning, as I awoke before Kimura, I was greeted by a notification on my phone.

    -

    To: 2-C

    From: Kaoru Hiroto

    Pleasee to ss, we have something important to discuss.

    We hope to see everyone here.

    -

    I slowly freshened up and made myself breakfast before heading to ss.

    *

    As I arrived, I noticed that most of my ssmates were already present, their expressions indicating that they were worried about what Kaoru had to say.

    "Is everyone here yet?"

    "No, there''s one more person," came the reply from one of the students.

    I took my seat, noting that the teacher had not yet arrived. As I waited, a figure appeared at the doorway, and I deduced that this was the final student to arrive.

    "You''re so slow!" one of the students eximed, with a hint of annoyance in their voice.

    "Sorry, sorry," theter apologized, "I overslept."

    Kaoru, the ss leader, made her way to the front of the room and stood before the teacher''s desk, ready to begin the discussion.

    "As you are all aware, midterm ising. Anyone who scores less than 150 in total will be expelled. With that in mind, I propose we organize a study-together session in order to maximize our chances of passing the exam." Kaoru began.

    "For this, I personally would like to propose a system where those who cannot fully participate will be responsible forpensating their ssmates for their absence. For example, if a student is unable to attend a study session, they will be required to provide a sum of points to the ss fund, which can then be used to purchase additional resources or hire tutors to aid in our studies."

    "-But what if someone has extenuating circumstances that prevent them from attending?" asked a student, raising their hand.

    "We will take each situation on a case-by-case basis ande to a fair resolution. However, it is important to remember that the sess of our ss as a whole should be the top priority," Kaoru responded.

    "What if someone can''t afford to contribute points?" questioned another student.

    "There will be options for students to earn points through participating in ss and contributing to group projects. Additionally, the ss fund can also be used to assist those who may be struggling financially," Kaoru exined.

    Some students immediately raised their objections, "But what if a student is consistently absent and unable to give the points? That''s too harsh," one student said.

    "That''s a valid concern," Kaoru acknowledged. "In that case, the student in question will be given a warning and a chance to improve their attendance. However, if their absences continue to negatively impact the ss, they may be banished from our ss."

    This statement was met with a mixture of reactions. Some students expressed their fear and frustration at the harshness of the proposed system, while others argued that it was necessary to ensure the sess of the ss as a whole.

    "I understand that this may be difficult for some of you," Kaoru said, "but we need to think about the well-being of the ss as a whole. We have to take drastic measures to ensure that we all pass the midterm and avoid expulsion."

    I sat in silence, observing the impassioned discourse that was taking ce before me. It was clear to me that the majority of my peers were gripped by an overwhelming fear of expulsion, the notion of which loomed ominously in their minds. Despite this, there seemed to be a reluctance amongst them to put in the necessary effort to avoid such a fate, a phenomenon that can only be described as

    Self-Sabotage.

    **

    After the debate thatsted for nearly half an hour, the discussion finally came to a close. The atmosphere in the room was tense, as the stakes were high and the consequences dire.

    "Now, all those in favour of this proposal, please raise your hand."

    As Kaoru asked for a show of hands, there was a moment of hesitation among the ss. One person tentatively raised their hand, and the movement was caught like wildfire. Slowly but surely, more and more hands began to rise up, one by one, until the majority of the ss had their hands raised in agreement.

    However, there were still a few students who remained seated, staring down at the ground in contemtion or, perhaps, disagreement. And it was at this moment that I too raised my hand in agreement with the proposed n.

    "We''re gonna arrange the group after ss."

    With those words, several of my ssmates rose from their seats and made their way out of the ssroom while the remainder of us remained seated, patiently awaiting the arrival of the teacher. As the minutes ticked by, the absent students slowly trickled back into the room, and ss resumed as per usual.

    As the ss was dismissed, all of the students remained seated, even those who had initially disagreed with Kaoru''s proposal. It seems they were hesitant to take risks, unsure of how much they would have to pay in points if they refused to attend the study group because Kaoru hasn''t said the amounts yet.

    Kaoru, armed with a piece of paper that appeared to be a list of the group members, approached the teacher''s desk. She began to announce the formation of the study groups, but there was little discernible pattern to her selections.

    The ss was silent for a moment before a few murmurs of agreement and assent filled the room.

    "I guess it''s fine."

    "I don''t mind."

    "Great. I''ll reserve a room in the library, corresponding to the group number. Group 1, head to Room 01 in the library, and so on and so forth. We''ll begin tomorrow. That concludes today''s meeting. Thank you all."

    And with that, the groups were set, and the discussion was dismissed. I made my way back to the dormitory and encountered Kimura along the way. His voice boomed through the halls as he called out my name, and he quickly caught up with me.

    "Mizuhara," he called out, his voice carrying a hint of unease as he caught up with me. "Did your ss also assign a study group?"

    "Yeah."

    "I guess we would spend all of our free time studying."

    It was clear that Kimura''s ss had done the same.

    I simply nodded, unsure of the extent to which other sses had done the same. But it seemed likely that it was a widespread urrence. We then made our way to our dorm room, where I simply sat in silence on my bed with my phone.

 Chapter 118 Midterm Exams - Part 2

    I gazed upon the notification of the impending exam on my phone. My mind began to process the information that had been presented.

    I calcted the weighting of each subject, with mathematics and English carrying the most weight at one hundred marks each and subjects such as geography and history carrying significantly less at sixty marks each.

    I also took into ount the harsh penalties for a failing grade, which included a score less than twenty per cent on any one exam, a total score less than one hundred fifty, or being caught cheating.

    Then I quickly calcted the maximum possible score for the uing midterms, exactly five hundred seventy-five.

    I then began to think about my own score.  I also considered the rewards for scoring above 200, an additional 10,000 points. I decided to aim for an exact score of 201 to get those points.

    As I was thinking, a notification on my phone caught my attention.

    -

    To: Mizuhara

    From: Hamasaki Aiko

    We''re going to begin our study session tomorrow after ss. Please don''t leave the ss immediately.

    -

    I briefly skimmed the message and decided that a response was not necessary. My group consisted of Hamasaki, Kobayashi, Shinichi, Kato and myself. We had been assigned to thest group, group seven, and would be utilizing room six in the library for our studies.

    I found myself with nothing to do. Without any particr interest or motivation, I decided to prepare a simple meal for myself. I ate and then went to bed, not giving it much thought.

    The next morning, I woke up and went through my usual morning routine before heading to ss. As I arrived at the ssroom, I found it to be empty. I nonchntly tossed my bag onto my seat before deciding to take a leisurely stroll, mostly within the confines of the schoolyard.

    I made my way into the library. I stumbled upon Kanako diligently poring over her books. And she was not alone. As my footsteps echoed through the chamber, their eyes immediately turned towards me, their expressions a mix of curiosity and surprise.

    I cast a fleeting nce towards them before I proceeded to saunter forward. I walked through the rows of bookshelves, my eyes scanning the titles in search of something to upy my time. I selected a few books, their spines worn and well-loved, and made my way to a secluded corner of the library.

    Settling into a seat, I ced the books on the table in front of me and opened the one I had been holding, ready to lose myself in its pages.

    **

    As the final pages of my book came to a close, I carefully marked my ce before closing it. Rising from my seat, I meticulously returned each book to its proper location on the shelves. As I made my way back towards the ssroom, the halls began to fill with the activity of students.

    "Geh, I don''t want to study together with them."

    "You gotta pay the points if you want to skip them."

    "Nope, it''s better just to spend my points for the extra marks. I''m just gonna sit and y with my phone."

    "Hahaha."

    By the time I returned to my seat, the room was awash with the chatter of my ssmates. And as the teacher strode into the room, the din gradually dissipated as all eyes turned towards the front of the ss, ready to absorb the lesson of the day.

    "I trust that you have all reviewed the material and are prepared to participate in the interactive exercises we will be conducting today. Now, let''s begin by reviewing the concept of derivatives. Who can provide me with an example of a derivative in action?"

    With that, the lesson started. I paid it little mind as the lesson progressed. Time seemed to crawl by, each second an eternity, as I sat through the hour-long ss. As the bell finally rang, signalling the end of the lesson, I remained seated while my ssmates bustled about, gathering their belongings and making their way out of the ssroom.

    I watched as Hamasaki efficiently gathered the members of our study group. She approached me. Her voice wasced with a hint of impatience.

    "Make sure youe to the library, alright? We''ve booked it," she said, her words more of amand than a request.

    "Of course."

    I replied as Hamasaki walked off to gather the rest of the members. I stood up and made my way towards the library.

    Upon entering the designated room, I found that two members, Shinichi and Kato, were missing.

    Their absence was noted by Hamasaki with a slight frown.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Let''s just sit down and wait for them," she said, taking a seat at the table.

    I followed suit, sitting next to Kobayashi, who had already begun to pull out a plethora of textbooks and notes. We sat in silence, waiting for Shinichi and Kato''s arrival and the start of our study session.

    As the clock ticked on, the members of the study group grew restless. They had been waiting for nearly half an hour, but their missing member had yet to arrive.

    "I say we just start without them," Hamasaki suggested, her voiceced with a hint of frustration.

    Kobayashi nodded in agreement, her hands busily organizing her books and notes on the table before her. "It''s pointless to wait any longer. If anyone needs a book, feel free to grab one."

    Hamasaki agreed, and the group began to delve into their studies. But just as they were getting into the flow of things, a sudden sound of an open door interrupted their focus. All eyes turned to the neer, but I couldn''t tell whether it was Shinichi or Kato from just a quick nce.

    "You''rete, Shinichi," Hamasaki said, her tone terse.

    "Yeah, you could have at least told me the meeting time.".

    "I did send you a message about not leaving ss immediately," Hamasaki replied with a roll of her eyes. "But you are not in ss-"

    "Sorry, didn''t check my phone," Shinichi replied nonchntly, taking a seat beside me.

    "Well, it''s fine now that you''re here," Kobayashi interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "We''re about to start anyway.

    "Yeah, let''s just get this over with. But next time, make sure to let us know if you''re runningte."

    As the study group settled in and began to delve into the material, Kobayashi couldn''t help but notice the conspicuous absence of one of their members, Kato.

    She turned her gaze towards Shinichi, her voiceced with curiosity as she asked, "Wait, where''s Kato?"

    Shinichi scowled, his tone tinged with annoyance as he retorted, "Do you think I''m friends with that guy?"

    "Oh, um, sorry."

    And with that, the group settled into their studies, with Kato''s absence. As minutes ticked on, Shinichi suddenly spoke.

    "I can''t believe we''re wasting our time on this pointless exercise."

    "Pointless? Are you serious? This is the midterm we''re talking about," Hamasaki replied.

    "Please. I haven''t failed a test in my life. I don''t need to waste my time on this."

    "Well, not everyone is naturally gifted as you," Kobayashi interjected, her tone sharp.

    "Oh, and what are you going to do? Study harder? That''s not gonna cut it."

    "At least we''re trying," Hamasaki shot back.

    "Trying? You call this trying? This is just a waste of time."

    "That''s enough," Kobayashi cut in, her voice trembling. "We''re here to study, not to argue. Can we please focus on the task at hand?"

    "We can if you all follow me. We should insert a break time per five minutes, I''ll bring my snack, and we can share it together."

    "Are you stupid or something? A break every five minutes? That''s the real waste of time."

    Despite some arguments, they continued their study.

    I couldn''t help but ponder on Shinichi''s seemingly carefree attitude towards the midterm. Was Shinichi hiding some sort of secret strategy, or was he simply overconfident?

    I can''t tell why for now, but time surely would tell.

 Chapter 119 Midterm Exams - Part 3

    With that, the next morning, Thursday, I woke up before my rm even had the chance to ring. I scrubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the grogginess before reaching for my phone to cancel the rm. My dorm mate, Kimura, was also stirring, groggily sitting up in bed before standing and shuffling over to me.

    "Argh, can you make breakfast?" He asked, his voice still thick with sleep.

    I nodded and stood up from my bed, taking a quick shower before beginning to prepare breakfast. I decided to keep it simple and made a te of scrambled eggs with bacon for both of us. Kimura sat at the table, shovelling the food into his mouth with relish.

    "Mm, this is some pretty good breakfast," he said, between bites of the eggs and bacon. "Mizuhara, you''ll make a great househusband."

    I ate my breakfast in silence, not feeling particrly inclined to engage in small talk. Once we were finished, we headed out at the same time but to different sses. As we walked through the halls of the school, Kimura started a small talk.

    "How''s your studying going?"

    "Decent."

    "I had a member in my group who wasn''t pulling their weight," he continued, his frustration bing more apparent. "It made it a bit harder for the rest of us."

    I simply nodded.

    "But, I''m trying to focus on the positive," he continued, "My study sessions have been going well despite that setback."

    "I see."

    "It''s just a bit annoying, that''s all," he chuckled. "-Ah, see youter, Mizuhara."

    With that, we parted ways, each heading to our respective sses. The halls of the school were quiet as I made my way to ss, passing by familiar faces like Kaoru and Itsuki.

    I then turned my attention towards the entrance of my own ssroom and made my way inside.

    As the minutes ticked by, the ssroom began to fill with students. The murmur of chatter and the rustling of backpacks filled the room as ssmates settled into their seats. I couldn''t help but overhear snippets of conversation, with many of my peers expressing their exhaustion and reluctance towards the study group. Despite the less-than-enthusiastic atmosphere, the ss soon began as the teacher walked in and started the lesson. As always, the hour flew by, and before I knew it, it was time to gather my things and head to the library. As I made my way towards the door, I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard a familiar voice.

    "Where are you going?" It was Hamasaki, looking at me with a stern expression.

    "Library."

    "Make sure that''s where you go," she warned. "And nowhere else."

    With a nod, I made my way out of the ssroom and towards the library. As I entered, I saw Kobayashi and Hamasaki catch up behind me and walk by side. Together, the three of us made our way to the booked room.

    As we entered the booked room, I immediately noticed an unfamiliar face in the room. It was not Shinichi but rather a new member named Kato. He was already seated at his designated spot, and from his uneasy expression, it was clear he was not familiar with the group''s rules and protocols.

    Hamasaki, who seemed to have noticed this as well, approached Kato and said,

    "Ah, you''re Kato, right? Where were you yesterday? I''m sorry, but you''ll have to give us some points aspensation for your absence."

    Kato looked visibly scared as he stuttered, "H-How many exactly?"

    As we took our seats, Shinichi arrived, took a seat next to me and greeted us all. Hamasaki, who was now seated next to Kato, turned to Shinichi and said,

    "You''re notte this time."

    Shinichi simply replied.

    "Of course not,"

    he opened his backpack and pulled out his materials.<novelnext></novelnext>

    As we started our study session, I couldn''t shake off the feeling that something was off about this ''Kato''. He seemed nervous and kept ncing around the room, avoiding eye contact with the rest of the group.

    But I paid it little mind, as it didn''t concern me in the slightest.

    *

    As the study group settled in and began delving into their course material, it wasn''t long before Shinichi broke the concentrated silence with a sudden announcement.

    "Now, it''s time for break time," he dered, pulling a bag of chips out of his backpack.

    "Shinichi! We rejected that idea," Kobayashi interjected, her voice firm.

    "Isn''t it so boring if you just study all the time? We all need a little break," Shinichi argued, trying to justify his actions.

    "We all need to make sacrifices if we want to do well on the midterms."

    "Yeah, no one wants to get expelled," Hamasaki added in. Hamasaki then turned to Kato and asked "Kato, tell Shinichi something."

    "Uhm, yes...I-I understand where you''reing from, Shinichi, but we have to stay on track if we want to seed." Kato stammered.

    "Hmm? Kato, are you a shy person? Or antisocial?"

    "I-I''m both," Kato replied with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

    "I see." Hamasaki said, with a hint of understanding in her tone. "-ah, I forgot. Can you transfer me about five hundred points? It''s for your absence."

    "I... can''t actually do that."

    "But you have to."

    "I''ll pay it tomorrow, I swear."

    Hamasaki stopped to think for a while before responding back, "Hmm, okay... Make sure you pay tomorrow, alright?"

    "Yes."

    As Hamasaki and ''Kato'' continued their discussion, Shinichi had already opened his bag of chips and was munching on them, watching the exchange with interest. Kobayashi tried to intervene, but her efforts were in vain as Shinichi continued to snack.

    "Shinichi!" Hamasaki eximed in surprise as she noticed his actions. "Okay, that''s it. From now on, break time will be every twenty minutes and the objective during the break will be to revise and discuss the material while engaging in small talk."

    "I''m not doing that."

    "Then you can leave. We don''t need any dead weight."

    "I was about to leave anyways," Shinichi replied as he gathered his belongings and stood up. With a sense of finality, he walked towards the door, opened it and mmed it shut.

    "What''s wrong with him?" Hamasakimented with a hint of confusion.

    "It''s okay, Hamasaki. We don''t have the responsibility to make him pass the midterm," Kobayashi trying to diffuse the situation.

    "Well, you''re right," Hamasaki conceded, bringing the conversation to a close.

 Chapter 120 Midterm Exams - Part 4

    "Okay, then," Kobayashi said with a sigh, "let''s pick up where we left off."

    As they resumed their studies, Kobayashi and Hamasaki engaged in a lively exchange of questions and answers while Kato remained rtively silent, and I was in total silence. The atmosphere in the room was much more rxed after Shinichi''s dramatic exit.

    I couldn''t help but feel a twinge of guilt as I gazed down at my notebook, its pages adorned with a chaotic array of random scribbles, crafted to give the illusion that I also had been studying all along.

    *

    "Well, it seems it''s time for a well-deserved respite from our studies. Everyone, take a moment to stretch your legs and clear your minds."

    As the clock struck the half-hour mark, Hamasaki announced that it was time for a brief respite from the gruelling study session. I reluctantly put down my pen, having been engrossed in my pretend study session of doodling aimlessly in the margins of my notes.

    "So, tell me, Kato, what is the solution to this differential equation?" Hamasaki unexpectedly asked Kato and disyed her book to Kato.

    Kato''s eyes bulged in panic, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he stammered out a wed exnation.

    "Uh, well, you see, it''s uh, y = e^x...I think?"

    "Ah, sorry, that''s wrong," Kobayashi interjected with a shake of his head. "The correct solution is y = e^(x^2) + C, where C is an arbitrary constant."

    "Oh, right, right," Kato said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I knew that. I just got a little flustered there for a moment."

    "It''s alright. We all have moments like that," Hamasaki reassured him with a pat on the back. "Let''s review it together and solidify our understanding."

    As the break time came to a close and the group prepared to go back to their studies, a coordinated chime echoed through the room as all of their phones simultaneously lit up with a notification.

    -

    To: 2-C

    From: Kaoru Hiroto

    Everyone, pleasee to library room 12. I need to discuss something.

    Every student must be present there.

    -

    I slipped my phone back into my pocket with no reason to reject the request. Hamasaki and Kobayashi rose from their chairs upon seeing the notification, with Kato trailing behind.

    I left the room with Hamasaki by my side, Kato and Hamasaki in front of us, the familiar musty smell of books filling my nose as we made our way out to the main library area.

    A small group of students were already seated in the room as we arrived in room 12, some chatting amongst themselves while others sat in silence. I took a seat amongst them, ncing around the room.

    Kaoru stood at the front, scanning the room with a critical eye. "Is this all?" she asked her voice carrying a hint of disappointment.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I guess."

    "I''m not sure."

    Murmurs of uncertainty and confusion rippled through the room, with a few students offering half-hearted responses.

    Without warning, Kaoru''s gaze swept the room once more, her voice ringing out loud and clear.

    "Raise your hand if you studied."

    One by one, hands slowly rose throughout the room, including mine. The room was filled with the sound of rustling clothing and shuffling feet as everyoneplied with her request. Kaoru''s gaze travelled around the room, taking note of each raised hand before she finally spoke again.

    "Alright, everyone, I''ve called you all here today because it''se to my attention that our study sessions haven''t been as productive as they could be. I want to address this issue and find a solution."

    One of the students, Hamasaki, spoke up, "But Kaoru, what''s the problem? We all show up to the study sessions, and we''re all here now."

    "The problem is that we''re not actually studying or doing anything productive during these sessions," Kaoru responded, her tone firm but not confrontational.

    "But we''re all here. That should count for something, right?" Itsuki chimed in.

    "Just showing up isn''t enough," Kaoru replied. "We''re all in this study group because we want to improve and do well in our sses. But just being present isn''t going to cut it. We need to actively engage and participate in our studies."

    Ichikawa, who had been quiet until now, spoke up hesitantly, "But what if we don''t know the material? We''re just going to sit here and look stupid if we try to participate and don''t know the answers."

    "I propose that we make our study sessions more interactive. Instead of just sitting there in silence, we can make it into a game. Each time someone answers a question correctly, they get a point. And at the end of the session, whoever has the most points gets a small portion of points."

    Hamasaki, who had been listening attentively, nodded in agreement. "I see your point, Kaoru. I think we can all try to be more engaged and participate more in our study sessions."

    "It''s another point system where each person in the group earns points for answering questions correctly and staying on track. At the end of the study, the person with the most points gets a reward, which is those who didn''t earn the most points will have to contribute thirty points to the winner. It''s a way to hold ourselves ountable and make sure we''re all putting in the effort."

    The group started to murmur among themselves, some agreeing with Hamasaki while others still had objections. "But what if we''re too tired after ss? We can''t just magically make ourselves study." said one of the students.

    "I understand that it''s not always easy to find the energy and motivation to study," Kaoru said, her voice understanding. "But I think we can all make an effort to push ourselves a bit harder. And remember, we''re all here for the same reason - to improve and try to pass midterm. We need to support each other and hold ourselves ountable for our actions."

    The discussion went on for a while, with the students raising different objections and concerns. In the end, the students begrudgingly admitted that Kaoru had a point, and they began to put more effort into their studies. They stillined and procrastinated, but they knew that Kaoru was always there to remind them of the importance of taking responsibility for their own learning.

    "Once again, raise your hands if you agree."

    The students dutifully raised their hands and followed suit. I, too, lifted my hand. The students sat in silence, their hands raised in agreement, but the forced expressions on their faces betrayed their true feelings. Kaoru knew that this meeting was a necessary evil, but she couldn''t shake the feeling of disappointment that washed over her as she looked out at the sea of unenthusiastic faces. She had hoped to inspire her ssmates to take their studies more seriously, but it seemed that her efforts were falling short. The reality was that many of the students had only shown up to avoid punishment for skipping, and they had little interest in the topic at hand.

    She knew that there were many absent students who would hear about the meeting''s content from their friends who were present, and she didn''t want to waste her breath repeating herself to those who weren''t there. Instead, she focused her attention on the students who were present, and she tried to appeal to their sense of responsibility and ountability.

 Chapter 121 Midterm Exams - Part 5

    "That''s all for now. You can leave."

    As Kaoru brought the meeting to a close, the students, who had been visibly struggling to maintain their attention throughout the session, began to gather their belongings and file out of the room.

    I checked my watch, noting that the hands pointed to a quarter past four. The dim light filtering through the window panes seemed to entuate the weariness etched on their faces as they filed out of the room. As thest of my ssmates left, I too, gathered my things and made my way out of the room.

    I departed the library and went to my dorm room.

    The soft glow of the setting sun illuminated my path as I made my way towards my dormitory. I finally reached the door to my dorm room, unlocked it and stepped inside.

    "You''re done with your study?"

    As I stepped into my dorm room, a familiar voice called out to me, and I turned to find Kimura standing there. I offered a nod in response.

    "Ah, lucky you. I just realized I left a few things here," Kimura exined as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

    I made my way to my bed and took a seat, observing as Kimura efficiently gathered the items he had forgotten. He began to scan the shelves and desks for the items he sought.

    Slowly and methodically, he retrieved a stack of books and some loose sheets of paper that were scattered about. As he worked, he neatly organized the items into a pile, making sure not to leave any behind.

    Once his task wasplete, Kimura packed the items into his bag, taking care to ensure they were securely stored. With a final sweep of the room, he bid me farewell and departed, the door closing softly behind him.

    I retrieved the novel I had been meaning to finish, carefully peeling off its worn and tattered cover before disposing of it in the waste bin.

    I set down my bag near my bed, opened the pages of the book and immersed myself in its story, reading with great care and attention to detail. The time slipped by as I lost myself in the world of the novel, savouring each turn of the page.

    **

    As the sun rose over the horizon and cast its warm rays into my room, I stirred from my sleep. I took a moment to stretch and shake off any residual drowsiness before rising from my bed. I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up.

    Satisfied with my appearance, I headed to the kitchen to partake in a nourishing breakfast. The day ahead promised to be no different from the countless others that hade before it. Yet, even as I made my way to the ssroom, the monotony of my routine could not diminish the sense of purpose that came with it.

    "Be seated, if you will."

    The instructor implored the students, who promptly obliged. A yawn escaped the teacher''s lips as theyunched into the day''s lesson.

    Upon its conclusion, I hastened my pace towards room 06 within the halls of the library. Upon turning the doorknob and gaining entrance, I was pleased to find the space still devoid of any other presence. I made myselffortable in a chair, settling in for a quiet and solitary study session.

    "Before long, the rest of the study group arrived, one by one. First, it was Hamasaki apanied by Kobayashi. Kato followed close behind, with Shinichi bringing up the rear.

    With everyone now assembled, Hamasaki settled into her seat and dered, "Alright, let''s get started with our science lesson for today."

    As they started their study, time seemed to slip by in the blink of an eye. Before they knew it, a full twenty minutes had passed, with each member absorbed in their own work.

    However, Shinichi appeared to be more preupied with flipping through the pages of his textbook rather than actively studying its contents. Meanwhile, Hamasaki and Kobayashi were fully immersed in their lesson, taking diligent notes and asking questions.

    Suddenly, Hamasaki dered, "It''s break time."

    Kobayashi, who had been hunched over his textbook, straightened up and stretched.

    "Science is hard," she muttered with a sigh.

    "Okay, guys, it''s break time. Let''s apply Kaoru''s system. I''ll ask some questions, and whoever gets the most answers right gets 150 points. The others will each give the winner 30 points, including me," Hamasaki announced.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Sounds good to me," Kobayashi replied.

    Shinichi raised an eyebrow at Hamasaki while Kato gazed down at the table.

    "Alright, let''s start," Hamasaki said. "What is the form for calcting the eleration due to gravity?"

    "That would be g = 9.8 m/s^2," Kobayashi answered confidently.

    "Correct," Hamasaki nodded. "What is the equation for calcting potential energy?"

    "Uh, let me see...is it PF = mhg?" Kato pondered.

    "No, it''s actually PE = mgh," Hamasaki corrected.

    "What is the definition of work in physics?" Hamasaki continued.

    Shinichi scratched his head, looking bewildered. "Uh, work is...uh, let''s see...I think it''s...the amount of...uh...activities over a certain time?"

    "No.." Hamasaki shook her head. "Work is defined as the amount of energy transferred from one system to another, or the force applied over a certain distance."

    "Well, you should give me a point for trying."

    "Can anyone name a type of radiation emitted by the sun?" Hamasaki continued. "How about you, Mizuhara? let''s hear your answer too." Hamasaki encouraged as break time was about to end.

    "I''m fine."

    *

    With the conclusion of the break, Kobayashi emerged victorious, amassing a total of 150 points through her correct answers.

    Suddenly, Shinichi erupted in frustration, pounding his fist on the table with an ear-splitting m. All eyes in the room turned to him, including Hamasaki, Kobayashi, and Kato.

    "What''s wrong?" he demanded, noticing the attention on him.

    Hamasaki scolded him, "You shouldn''t act like that. It''s disrespectful to the school and its property."

    "..just because you didn''t win, there''s no need to resort to such behaviour." Kobayashi timidly added.

    Meanwhile, Kato and I remained quiet, observing the situation.

    "Okay then," Hamasaki announced as she pulled out her phone. "It''s time to transfer the points to Kobayashi."

    Kato and I quickly followed suit, unlocking our phones and transferring the agreed-upon 30 points to Kobayashi. But Shinichi, who had yet to show any signs of cooperation, seemed content to simply glower at the table.

    It appeared that Shinichi had other intentions, as he made no move to transfer his allotted points.

    You''ll see. I''m gonna get those 30 points back from you." Shinichi said as he grabbed his phone and started tapping on it.

    Despite this, the group continued with the questions and had a productive study session overall.

 Chapter 122 Midterm Exams - Part 6

    As the days passed by, the impending midterm loomed closer and closer on the horizon. Shinichi, who had previously been content to while away his days in idleness, suddenly transformed into a fairly diligent student. The new point system, it seemed, had proven to be an effective motivator, as he could be seen pouring over his textbooks and notes.

    "Mizuhara, you seem rather reserved," Kobayashi remarked. "Maybe you should try sharing your thoughts as well."

    "I''m fine."

    "Don''t you want to earn some points?" Shinichi chimed in, his toneced with confusion. "You''re quite the weirdo."

    I reached into my bag, withdrawing a novel. The cover was a reference book, and I began to immerse myself in its contents, effectively ending the conversation.

    The following days passed with a monotonous routine of studying and toil. As a result of the newfound focus and productivity, Kaoru saw fit to discontinue the meetings, a testament to the effectiveness of the implemented method.

    *

    I awoke to the sound of the early morning. Izily opened my eyes and checked the time, it was precisely 5:00 am. With a groan, I sat up on my bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I stretched my limbs. ncing over at Kimura, I saw that he was still fast asleep.

    I quietly slipped out of bed and made my way to the bathroom for my morning routine. The cool water of the shower invigorated my senses as it washed away the remnants of sleep from my body. I stepped out of the shower, feeling clean. I went to the sink and brushed my teeth, the minty toothpaste providing a refreshing tingling sensation. Dressing in a clean uniform before creating and eating breakfast, I was ready to take on the day ahead.

    As I stepped out of my dormitory, the cool morning air greeted me, invigorating my senses. The sun had yet to rise, leaving the sky in a deep shade of blue. I took a deep breath, savoring the tranquility of the early morning. My feet carrying me through the deserted schoolyard.

    The dew-covered grass crunched beneath my shoes, and the only sound was that of the distant birds chirping. I couldn''t help but reflect on the significance of the day, Monday had arrived, and with it, the long-not awaited midterm exam.

    As I strolled through the schoolyard, my gaze fell upon a lone figure standing in front of the mall. Though the mall was closed, whether it be due to the impending midterm exams or the early hour of the morning, I couldn''t be sure. My thoughts were interrupted as a familiar voice called out to me.

    "Ayato!"

    Recognizing the voice as that of Fujiharu, I decided to spend some of my precious time before the exam catching up with her. I turned back towards her and made my way over slowly.

    "Ah, Ayato, it has been quite some time since our pathsst crossed," Fujiharu greeted me with a warm smile. "Can you believe it''s already Monday? Time truly does seem to fly by."

    I gave a small nod in agreement, "I guess."

    "How have you been? It feels like it''s been ages since west caught up."

    "Good."

    "You''re still as aloof as ever, I see~" Fujiharu said with a grin.

    "Yeah."

    "How''s your studying going?"

    "It''s decent."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I''ve been having a pretty good time with it myself," Fujiharu said with a hint of enthusiasm. "Though the first day was pretty bad."

    ''I didn''t ask'' is the response I was about to say, yet I decided to adopt a more tactful approach in my response.

    "I see."

    "Want to go somewhere?"

    I hesitated for a moment before responding, "I''m fine."

    "Ohe on, we can study together!" she eximed with a hint of disappointment.

    "I find it difficult to study with others."

    "Ah, I see.. good luck then." She spoke with a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I was nning to lift my spirits by indulging in a delicious treat at the mall, but it seems to be closed at the moment. Such a shame."

    I simply nodded in response before turning and making my way back to where I was headed. I made my way to themercial area, intent on visiting the local grocery store. I realized that the shampoo I had been using had run out during my morning shower.

    As I perused the aisles, I noticed that the store was rtively deserted, with only the asional employee to be seen. I swiftly located the shampoo I needed and made my way to the register to make my purchase. With my newly acquired shampoo in hand, I then made my way back to the dormitory, where I was about to rece the empty bottle with my new acquisition.

    I heard sound of the shower running as I entered the room and decided to wait a bit before approaching the bathroom. As the shower sound subsided, I made my way to the bathroom door. Kimura emerged, toweling himself dry as he noticed my presence.

    "Ah, good morning," he said, a hint of surprise in his voice.

    "Yeah, rece the empty one with this." I replied, holding out a bottle of shampoo.

    "Oh, alright." he said, taking the bottle from me. "I was just about to make do with whatever I could find." He chuckled.

    "Sure."

    And with that, I made my way to school, heading towards my ssroom.

    The silent ssroom was expectant as I took my seat, awaiting the arrival of the forting midterm.

    The gentle hum of murmurs gradually filled the room as the students began to trickle in, taking their respective seats and waiting for themencement of the exam. As the room filled, a teacher appeared, methodically distributing sheets of paper and apanying booklets to each desk.

    The desks were soon cluttered with the examination materials, and a throng of additional staff members entered the room, encircling the ss to keep watch over the students as they undertook the test.

    The paper appeared nk, and I assumed the questions were on the backside. I guess I would need to flip it over once the teacher gave the signal to begin.

 Chapter 123 Midterm Exams - Part 7

    "You may start."

    As the teacher''s voice echoed through the room, the students sprang into action, flipping their examination papers over in unison. I also followed suit slowly, revealing a set of mathematical problems that, upon first nce, appeared to be of easy difficulty.

    I skimmed over the questions, the math questions seemed rtively straightforward to me. As I took in my surroundings, I noticed that most of them seemed to be grappling with the questions, their faces contorted in concentration. Some gazed fixedly at their papers, while some others nervously chewed on the caps of their pens.

    I began to methodically work my way through the questions on the exam paper. At times, I found myself pausing for a moment, before proceeding with my next calction. Despite being capable of solving the questions with greater speed and efficiency, I deliberately held back, ensuring that my answers did not appear overly quick.

    The day was filled with back-to-back exams, with students sitting in the same room for hours, pouring over their test papers. The entire examsted for 5 long hours.

    I retreated to my dorm room and crashed onto my bed to sleep. The following morning, I made my way and arrived at the bulletin board where the results of the exams were posted. The other students were already gathered around, studying the names and scores listed.

    -

    ss 2-C Exam Total Results

    1. Kaoru Hiroto - 220

    2. Kobayashi Lucy - 210

    ~~

    4. Furukawa Kai - 202

    5. Hamasaki Aiko -  202

    6. Mizuhara Ayato - 201

    ~~

    22. Honoka Airi - 168

    ~~

    24. Matsura Shinichi - 152

    ~~

    29. Iruga Kato- 50

    -

    Sixth. Since my score was just slightly above average, it still garnered attention. Kato, on the other hand, received a score of a mere fifty, which was not a perplexing oue given the reason that he had ced a substitute in the study group. Nheless, I paid it little mind.

    A dozen students from my ss were met with expulsion, with four of them getting caught cheating, and the rest unable to attain a passing grade.

    ***

    ¨©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¨

    [Kanako Hanae POV]

    ***

    "Hmm?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    As I yed with my phone on the bed, I noticed that I have an unread notification. I quickly reached for it, and unlocked the screen. My eyes fell upon the notification.

    *

    I couldn''t believe what I was reading. ''Midterm?'' I thought to myself, scanning the message once again for any signs of a mistake or mimunication. But as I read it over and over, I was forced to ept the harsh reality - the midterm exams were right around the corner and I was far from prepared.

    How was I going to survive this exam, let alone score well enough to pass? As Iy in bed, a thought dawned on me - extra marks could be earned by umting ten thousand points for every mark. I quickly unlocked my phone and sent a message to Fukuda.

    [You know what to do, right?]

    And sent.

    I made my way to the library, the early hour providing me with the chance to roam the aisles for the most pertinent reference books in subjects such as math and science. Carrying my stack of books to an empty table, I was faced with a dilemma - where to begin my studies? After a moment of hesitation, I reached for one of the books, only to be disappointed by its overwhelming difficulty.

    I tried another book, a history textbook, and was relieved to find its contents much easier toprehend. But as I delved deeper into the pages, I struggled to find the relevance of ancient civilizations to my current life, and my thoughts kept wandering.

    My phone rang, breaking the silence of the library. It was a message from Fukuda.

    [Understood, I will try my best.]

    I quickly typed out my reply.

    [Don''t try your best, you must do your best.]

    I hit send with a firm press of my thumb. With that, I returned to the pages of my book.

    But after thirty minutes of studying, I was at a loss for what to do next. I closed the book and looked at the clock, I was taken aback to find that it was time for ss. Reluctantly, I left the book and its peers on the table and exited the library, the fear of failing the exam and facing expulsion looming over me like a shadow.

    As I walked through the schoolyard, I tried to shake off the fear, but it only intensified, fueling my inner turmoil. I couldn''t bear the thought of facing the future, and the fear continued to grow.

    Upon my arrival at the ssroom, I observed that the majority of my ssmates had already taken their seats. I made my way to my designated seat and took my ce among my peers.

    As I settled in, I noticed a low buzz of chatter in the room.

    "Did you see the notification?"

    "That''s really brutal."

    "I heard that¡­"

    Topics of discussion appeared to revolve around the uing midterm exams, and the perceptible sense of anxiety and anticipation was palpable in the air.

    Momentster, the teacher entered the room, clutching a stack of papers in one hand. "ss, please settle in your seats," he spoke in amanding tone. "ss representative, kindly distribute these papers to each student."

    With the teacher''s entrance and direction, the chatter in the room simmered to a hushed whisper. Recognizing the importance of focusing on the lesson at hand, I made a conscious effort to tune out the murmurs and concentrate on the teachings.

    "Here."

    With an outstretched hand, I epted the proffered paper. A cursory examination revealed it to be a biology quiz.

    "Please fill out the exam papers to the best of your ability. I''ll be reviewing your answers and returning them with any necessary corrections. Remember, even though it may seem simple, put in your best effort," the teacher announced.

    The teacher said that the task at hand should be a breeze¡­ but I can''t help but feel daunted by it. I''ll do my best to answer the questions I am certain of and take a guess at the ones that stump me.

 Chapter 124 Academic Struggles - Part 1 [Kanako Hanae]

    [Back to the beginning of the midterm exam preparation.]

    Once our papers had been collected, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief upon discovering that I had answered the majority of the questions correctly. Although the oue of the quiz had no bearing on my overall performance, it was still a source offort to have performed somewhat well.

    "Uh, yeah thanks, everyone. Don''t ck off because the quiz was easy, uh.. the midterm is not like this quiz. You can''tpare both of them."

    Following thepletion of the quiz, the atmosphere in the ssroom transformed into one of palpable air of trepidation settled over the ss as students began to engage in hushed discussions regarding the midterm. Theing threat of failure, with the dire consequence of expulsion, loomedrge over the minds of the students, creating a real tension that was discernible in the air.

    I''m not different, but I didn''t express it much to my face as my ssmates did.

    As the lessonmenced, I found myself struggling to keep up with the pace at which the teacher was delivering the material.

    Despite my best efforts to jot down every word and concept presented, I felt as though I was missing a multitude of important details.

    The teacher''s writing was quickly erased from the board, and my notebook was only partially filled with the bits and pieces I was able to understand.

    I often found myself flipping my notebook over to its final pages, where I would idly doodle as I struggled to focus on my studies. Despite my disinterest in academics, I knew I needed to make an effort and stay engaged.

    As the ss eventually drew to a close, I gathered my belongings and made my way to the library.

    As I walked towards the library, my mind was abuzz with contemtion on how I might be able to quickly and easily rue a substantial amount of points. I couldn''t simply ce my faith in Fukuda, as while he may have garnered an impressive number of points, there remained a distinct possibility that I might still fall short of my desired oue.

    I retrieved my phone from my pocket, unlocked the screen, and navigated to the exam notification, perusing it once more before starting to think.

    Hmm¡­ to pass the exam I would need to score at least 150 points and get at least 20% in each subject. So, the minimum marks required for Mathematics is 20, English is 20, Biology is 18, Chemistry is 17, Physics is 16, Geography is 12, and History is 12. That makes a total of 105 minimum marks.

    But wait, the total marks avable in the exam are 575. So, I need to score an additional 45 marks to pass, which is 450,000 points.

    That''s an impossible amount¡­of points.

    *

    I settled into my seat in the library, lugging a small stack of books with me. I had forgotten about a few texts I had left here previously and was relieved to find them neatly stacked where I had left them. To my surprise, however, the library appeared to be devoid of any other students who might be studying.

    As I delved into my reading, my phone suddenly buzzed with an iing message. A twinge of irritation ran through me as I reluctantly tore my attention from my studies. I deliberated for a moment, considering whether to check the notification, before ultimately deciding to ignore it and return my focus to my studies.

    I chose some of the easier subjects first before the harder ones.

    **

    As I was deeply engrossed in my studies, a voice interrupted my focus.

    "Kanako?" they called out.

    With a start, I lifted my gaze from my book and turned to face the interloper. She was one of my ssmates.

    I muttered a confirming ''yes'', my annoyance at being disturbed evident in my tone.

    "What are you doing here? Did youe to the meeting?" she asked.

    "What meeting?"

    "Someone sent a message to everyone toe to the ssroom after ss ended."

    "Oh, I wasn''t aware of that," I said, realization dawning on me that I must have ignored the notification on my phone. "..I think I left my phone in my room."

    She gave me a nomittal shrug before informing me that the meeting was about forming study groups.

    "I''m not actually going to the meeting, I just heard the news from my friend," she added. "Thankfully, I was absent, the sender of the message falsely imed that the teacher was present, so I didn''t waste my time."

    "Oh, I see¡­thanks."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Yeah, no problem," my ssmate said before turning to leave. "See youter then, Kanako."

    I barely managed a wave in return before checking my phone for the message I had missed.

    -

    To: ss 2-D

    From: Tamura Ritsu

    Pleasee to ss after the ss ends, our teacher has something to announce.

    It would be nice if everyone is present, thank you.

    -

    That was what was stated.

    I remained uncertain about the concept of study groups and the potential difficulties that could arise from studying in such a setting.

    Nheless, I returned to my studies.

    "Ahh..."

    I let out a deep sigh as I stretched my arms, feeling the stiffness in my body. ncing at the clock, I realized it was time to wrap up my study session. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to concentrate and make good progress.

    After all, it''s challenging to excel at something one dislikes. Gathering my books, I meticulously returned them to their proper ces on the library shelves.

    ***

    The following day after ss, my ssmates lingered in the ssroom, so I stayed as well. After a brief wait, someone stepped forward and stood before the whiteboard.

    "Some of us want study groups," they announced, "Um,e along if you feel like it," they continued.

    Amidst the announcement, they paused, scratched their head, and struggled to articte their thoughts.

    "Uh, for the groups.." they began again, before trailing off with a sigh. "You can either form your own or join one that has already been established."

    "Do we have to go?"

    A curious voice echoed in the room, masked by the low murmur of conversation. No one knew the origin of the question, as the inquirer had not arisen from their seat or signalled their intention to speak.

    "No, I guess. It''s just since some of us want to."

    A murmur of disappointment swept through the room, with some students grumbling and others simply shrugging their shoulders.

    "Is that all?"

    "Well, that was a letdown."

    "That wasted my time."

    The person chuckled awkwardly before the ss, one by one, began to stand up from their seats and make their way out of the room. I followed suit, and I made my way to the library.

    Abruptly, a familiar voice called out to me from behind as I arrived at the library.

    "Kanako, what are you doing here?"

 Chapter 125 Academic Struggles - Part 2 [Kanako Hanae]

    I paused in my steps, feeling a tap on my shoulder. I turned over and was met by the enviouslyforting face of Hasegawa Mio.

    "Oh, Hasegawa¡­"

    Though something seemedcking in her face.

    "What''s up?"

    "Nothing much," I replied. "just realized that midterms are fast approaching and I need to study."

    "Hmm."

    She hummed in agreement.

    "Well then, I''ll be entering the library," I informed her before opening the door and stepping inside.

    As I entered the library, a voice called out to me, pausing my steps once more.

    "Hey Kanako, I thought you weren''t a fan of studying?" Hasegawa asked, tilting her head.

    I turned to face her, "I''ve got to pass this midterm, even if I don''t want to."

    "I see, would you mind if I join you?"

    I couldn''t help but think about how smart she already was. But even the smartest of people need to study, right? I considered taking this opportunity to ask for her help with my own studies. But before I could even say a word, I found myself nodding and agreeing to her request.

    I advanced further into the library, pausing in my step as the door opened. Hasegawa made her way in, gently pushing the door closed behind her.

    As we made our way into the library, a hush fell over the space. The atmosphere inside the library was quiet. As we walked through the rows of bookshelves. I would asionally stop to take a book, while Hasegawa patiently waited and asionally picked out a book of her own, though not as many as I had.

    Finally, we arrived at a table, where we took our seats facing each other. As we settled into our seats, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of excitement wash over me. After all, wasn''t this supposed to be a study session together? And with Hasegawa by my side, could I finally ask the questions that had been guing me for so long?

    I stacked my books on the table, a tower of information that I hoped would prove useful. Hasegawa, on the other hand, ced her smaller collection in front of her with ease.

    "You seem to have brought a lot of books, Kanako."

    I chuckled self-consciously. I wasn''t as smart as Hasegawa, so I needed all the references I could get in order to study properly.

    "I know, I need a lot of references to study," I exined, feeling a little sheepish.

    "Well, don''t worry," she said with a smile¡­? "I''ll be here to help."

    I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her offer. "Really?"

    "Of course, we''re friends, aren''t we?"

    I hummed in agreement, feeling a sense of relief spread through me. With Hasegawa''s help, I was finally confident that I could study properly.

    I began with history, as it seemed the simplest subject. Meanwhile, Hasegawa was busily preparing her own materials. I watched as she pulled out a notebook and pen from her bag, cing them on the table before reaching for the math book, from its ce in the stack of books, one of the hardest and one of the highest marks subjects.

    As I nced at her stack of books once more, I saw that she had the highest marked books for subjects like English, Biology, and the Math book thaty open in front of her.

    I lifted my history book to open it, but hesitated as I tried to recall the studies from yesterday. Despite my efforts, the information evaded me¡­ only some of the knowledge remained in my mind.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Kanako, you''re starting with history?" Hasegawa suddenly asked as I began to open the history book.

    "Well, I guess...?" I stumbled over my words, caught off-guard by her question.

    "Is history one of your strong subjects?"

    I felt a prick of irritation at Hasegawa''s words but pushed them aside. Was she teasing me?

    "No, not really¡­"

    "In that case," she started, "you should start with your favorite subject. It''s always easier to begin with something that you enjoy, don''t you think?"

    Oh, advice. I should have expected that.

    "Thanks¡­I don''t really have a specific favorite subject, though."

    "Ah¡­"

    "If only chess was a subject in here," I mused. "I''d ace every exam with ease."

    "You certainly have a talent for chess," Hasegawamented. "But that would only mean you''d excel in chess alone."

    "Ouch," I winced. "That hurts."

    "Sorry," Hasegawa offered a nd apology.

    As we chatted, the sound of a door opening caught our attention. We both nced towards the entrance, obscured by walls and bookshelves. For a moment, Hasegawa''s expression shifted to something unreadable, but it was fleeting as she quickly masked it and returned her focus to the math book in front of her.

    I followed her, focusing on my studies too. Hasegawa helped me by answering questions each time I asked but only gave me hints, not the full answers.

    *

    After what felt like only a mere ten minutes had passed, suddenly, she stood up, gathering her small stack of books.

    ''Wait, Hasegawa, you''re leaving already?"

    "Yeah, see youter, Kanako."

    I was taken aback by how fast she was finished. I had noticed that her textbooks were filled withplicated equations and forms, and some other page of the book was organized with neatly written sentences and forms.

    "Uh, yeah. See youter," I responded, a bit bewildered.

    As Hasegawa gracefully strolled towards the bookcases, she meticulously ced each of her books back in its designated spot with care. It was then, as she made her way to the exit, that I noticed a sudden change in the atmosphere of the library. The once quiet and calm library was now filled with the presence of several people, their hushed conversations filling the air.

    I was so absorbed in my own studies that Hasegawa''s departure had broken my focus, allowing me to finally take in my surroundings. I continued to study, trying to retain as much information as I could.

    But as the minutes passed, I realized that studying alongside Hasegawa was much more productive than studying alone. The thought of asking for her assistance crossed my mind, though I didn''t want to burden her.

    Eventually, I put my books away, trying to imitate Hasegawa''s organizational skills, and made my way out of the library. As I stepped out into the fresh air, my thoughts wandered to find an easier and quicker way to earn points.

    Fukuda may have collected a decent amount of points, but I still need more.

 Chapter 126 Academic Struggles - Part 3 [Kanako Hanae]

    I waste for ss the next morning, and I had my roommate to thank for waking me up. However, even with her help, I was still runningte. She too was running behind schedule, but not as far behind as I was.

    "I''ll go first then!"

    She had left ahead of me, and as I rushed to get dressed. Hearing the door shut, I hurried out after her, but I was still toote. The teacher hadn''t arrived yet, but the ssroom was already filled with students.

    "Ah..."

    The thought of the study groups came to mind and I remembered overhearing some of my ssmates expressing their distaste for the idea. Despite this, I still considered joining one. Studying with someone else seemed easier than working alone, as I had experienced with Hasegawa the previous day.

    However, the notion of being paired with someone who might not know the answer to my questions was disconcerting. The idea of studying with someone who was intelligent, like Hasegawa, was far more appealing.

    "Kanako, what''s wrong?" asked my friend.

    "Oh, nothing. Did you guys form a study group?"

    "Eh? What group?"

    "The study group, of course."

    "Oh, that..." she trailed off, "actually, we think it''s better to study alone and have the freedom to manage our own time."

    "Ah, I feel you..."

    I couldn''t help but feel a little bit disappointed. Their response wasn''t very convincing and my hope was slightly dashed. Well, it''s not like I can''t study without someone apanying me.

    "Just leave if you can''t bear to listen¡­"

    Uh-oh. The teacher''s voice boomed across the room. I quickly sat up straight, trying to make it look like I was fully focused on my book. I couldn''t believe the teacher had caught me chatting with my friends.

    I took a deep breath and tried to calm my racing thoughts, focusing my attention back on my studies.

    *

    The ss was over and I headed back to the library. I couldn''t help but wonder why my ssmates didn''t want to form a study group, despiteining so much about the uing midterms.

    Most of the time, I didn''t even see them in the library, but that doesn''t mean they weren''t studying elsewhere. It was a pointless thought. I needed to focus on what I should do next.

    I arrived at the library, which was filled with a few people. I went straight to the bookshelves to retrieve the same reference books I had used the day before.<novelnext></novelnext>

    As I made my way through the bookshelves, I couldn''t help but be drawn to a particr book. I wasn''t much of a reader, but the cover of the book seemed to call out to me. I added it to my stack of books, noticing it was a work of literature, which was unusual as it managed to grab my attention even though I usually don''t enjoy reading.

    I settled down in a quiet corner, ced my books on the table and started my studies.

    After about twenty minutes of attempting to understand a particr form in math, I decided to take a brief break and read the literature book. I grabbed it, and ced my math book aside, leaving it open on the table.

    As I read the book, time slowly ticked by. I found myself struggling to maintain interest. Despite myck of enthusiasm for reading, I was drawn to a few of the quotes that I could rte to on a personal level but they failed to hold my interest after a second read.

    I guess reading just isn''t for me. If it''s about chess, then maybe I''d give it a try.

    My boredom with the book was thick as I closed it, cing it aside and reaching for my math book once again. Though I struggled to find the motivation to continue.

    Math has never been my strong or even normal suit and the thought of studying it made me groan inwardly.

    I''d rather study history or biology first, but chemistry and physics are on the horizon, and I know that it too, involved math. But, what can I do?

    **

    As I took in the fading hues of the setting sun, I realized that the day had slipped away, consumed by my studies in preparation for the midterms. Exhausted, I couldn''t help but feel that I was being forced into this situation, rather than pursuing it of my own will.

    With a sigh, I closed the books and gathered my belongings, slinging my bag over my shoulder and bncing a stack of textbooks in my arms. Despite my efforts to walk carefully, my fatigue got the better of me, causing me to stumble and drop the books with a loud thud, drawing the attention of some library-goers.

    "Uhm¡­"

    ..that was embarrassing.

    I came to the arcade to escape the stress and maybe, earn a few points. Exiting the library, I made my way quickly to the arcade, where I was met with a crowd of people. A substantial number of the patrons were familiar faces from ss 2-D, my own ssmates.

    Despite this, I didn''t pay it much attention, as I was aware they were here for nothing more than leisure. With my sights set on some fun or maybe¡­some points too, I made my way to the Point Games section, to distract myself from the pressure of the midterms and studies.

    The Point Games were bustling with activity. I took in the scene, noting that there didn''t seem to be any special events or bonuses like there have been in the past.

    I wonder if there would be any opportunities to earn extra points, particrly in light of the uing midterms, perhaps a sudden special exam that would provide a substantial boost to my points? Nevertheless, I resigned myself to searching for alternative means to earn more points other than on this arcade.

    I was aware that this was not the best decision, as it had the potential to cost me valuable amounts of points. The thought of potentially losing points weighed on my mind as I approached the booths. However, I steadied my nerves with the notion that if things took a turn for the worse, I would simply throw in the towel and call it a day.

    Ah, that''s the ssic refrain of the addicted, isn''t it?

 Chapter 127 Academic Struggles - Part 4 [Kanako Hanae]

    These arcade booths were seriously decked out. It''s like walking into a real casino, but instead of cash, you use your points. It seems like they added them in a few days ago. They''ve got something like Poker and even Roulette. It''s like they''re trying to offer more options for people to have more fun, or maybe to rack and suck up some points.

    I decided to have some fun by closing my eyes and blindly walking to one of the booths.

    "Ouch!" I squeaked, feeling a bump against my body.

    Ugh, why did I have to make such a stupid decision... closing my eyes and walking around like an idiot? I cautiously opened my eyes and saw a tall, rough figure standing before me. Despite feeling a little intimidated, I guess I could try to apologize...

    "Um, s-sorry."

    The person didn''t seem to want to respond any further, so I quickly turned around and made my way to the roulette booth. I stared at therge wheel spinning in the middle of the booth. I noticed how it''s divided into numbered sections with alternating red and ck colours. I could hear a soft clicking sound as a tiny white ball was being bounced around the wheel.

    The table was surrounded by students, who seemed to be deeply focused on cing their bets on numbers or colourbinations. I could see their expressions filled with excitement and anticipation as the wheel kept spinning. I was curious about the round te in the centre of the table, with different coloured chips stacked around it. I wondered if that''s where they ce their bets or something.

    After observing the roulette, I admitted to myself that I had no idea how to y. Well, let''s just see how it goes...

    I nervously approached the roulette table, unsure of how to y the game. The receptionist at there kindly exined the rules to me and I ced my first bet on a whim, choosing a random number. To my surprise, the ballnded on my number and I let out a small scream of excitement.

    The receptionist pushed stacks of chips towards me and I couldn''t believe my luck. I continued ying, relying on a mix of intuition and beginner''s luck, and ended up winning a considerable amount of points. I left the table after the receptionist transferred me the points.

    "But well¡­"

    700 points just won''t cut it to cover the extra mark points. And what was the point of risking losing even more by ying the Point Games?

    I left the arcade feeling tired and made my way to the dormitory. Upon arriving at my dorm room, my mind was fixated on theforts of my bed. I reached my room and twisted the door handle, pushing it open with a soft creak.

    "Oh, you''re prettyte, Hanae."

    A voice called out, my roommate''s tone hinting at her surprise at my arrival. I nced around the room but she was nowhere to be seen, most likely already tucked into bed.

    I made my way to my bed, copsing onto it without a second thought. My eyes drooped closed slowly.

    **

    I was jolted awake by the ring sound of my rm. I rubbed my sleepy eyes and slowly sat up in bed.

    "Ah..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    I let out a yawn as I remembered something from yesterday. Why didn''t my rm go off? I shook the thought from my mind, deciding to focus on the present moment instead.

    I stood up and stretched my arms, releasing a little yawn as I felt my muscles wake up.

    "Ah, good morning."

    As I left my room, I was greeted by my roommate, who had apparently already risen for the day.

    "Good morning."

    I responded as I made my way to the bathroom. My morning routine began as usual, with a refreshing shower to start the day. After my routine, the day proceeded as it usually did. I attended my sses where the usual pre-midterm chatter filled the air.

    I then retreated to the library to spend the rest of the day studying alone, as I often did and as often I dislike.

    While I was buried in my studies, a sudden loud mming noise shattered my concentration. I tore my gaze away from my book to find the source of the disruption. It appeared to being from a reserved library room, but after a moment of silence, I figured it was just a one-time urrence and returned my focus to my work.

    With a sigh, I put down my pen and pushed back my chair. The monotony of studying for hours on end was taking its toll on me. I rubbed my eyes, feeling the weight of fatigue press down on me. Studying wasn''t my cup of tea, and the feeling of being forced to do it just added to the exhaustion.

    Gathering my things, I neatly packed away my notebooks and textbooks, making sure to leave the library table in the same condition I found it. As I slung my bag over my shoulder, I couldn''t help but think how relieved I was to be done for the day.

    I was considering studying with Hasegawa. It would be a productive and enjoyable way to spend my time, but first, I needed to check her avability.

    "Hey Kanako, feeling up for some karaoke?"

    Just as I was leaving the library, some of my friends called out to me asking if I wanted to go sing some karaoke. I figured, why not? Could use a break from all the studying. So, I nodded and hummed in agreement and followed them to the karaoke.

    I wasted away all 700 of my earned points in the arcade. Although, I suppose it''s not a big deal since I didn''t put much effort into acquiring them. I mean, I''m tired and even the most fatigue-resistant people need to refuel their energy with food, right?

    "See youter then."

    They said as we wrapped up our hangout session. I simply tossed them a little wave in reply. It was only a short 10 minutes, but it was a decent little break from reality.

    Ah, now what should I do¡­ I don''t think my studies are going that well.

    I can only hope for the points.

 Chapter 128 Academic Struggles - Part 5 [Kanako Hanae]

    Chapter

    Bored and feelingzy, I ignored my studies and instead scoured the exam notification for any mistakes. My roommate caught me staring at the screen and asked, "What are you doing?"

    "Oh, nothing," I replied, before heading to ss.

    Later, back in my dorm, I sat on my bed, considering ying chess online. But, I soon realized that it wouldn''t be the same as ying with someone in person, as I held the pieces and plotted my moves.

    The exam loomed closer each day, but I struggled to resist the urge to rx instead of study. My mind felt cluttered with information, leaving me with a sense of frustration and wasted time. Determined to make better use of my time, I set out to find Hasegawa, hoping to study with her once more.

    Roaming the halls of the school''s main building, I searched high and low for her, but to no avail. Just as I was about to give up, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I was surprised to see Hasegawa standing before me. "Are you looking for someone?" she asked.

    "H-Hasegawa..." I stammered, caught off guard by her sudden appearance. "Uh, yes, I was looking for you, actually," I finally answered.

    "Oh?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

    "Do you mind if we study together again?" I asked hesitantly.

    "Of course," she replied, before adding with a smirk, "Just kidding, of course I''ll study with you."

    A wave of relief washed over me as I let out a small sigh of gratitude. We made our way to the library, which was only moderately popted with students. Despite the small number of people, the atmosphere was still tense and focused, reflecting the gravity of the uing midterm.

    "I often wonder why the library isn''t always packed," I said as we roamed the rows of bookshelves.

    "I don''t really think about it," Hasegawa responded. "People might be studying in their rooms, sses, or other ces."

    "I see," I replied, noting that Hasegawa wasn''t carrying any books. I didn''t want to pry, but I wondered if she had simply taken a break from her studies. With a hefty stack of books in hand, we made our way to my usual study spot. This time, the textbooks were tougher, and I hoped Hasegawa''s help would keep my brain from bing overwhelmed with all the information I needed to absorb. But, I reminded myself that I was not a machine, so there was no need to worry about overheating.

    *

    Just like before, Hasegawa only provided hints and not full answers. When I asked for help with a math problem, she''d give me the form. And if I asked how to use the form, she''d exin it in the context of simr forms. The same applied to other subjects like history. she''d tell me to read a certain sentence or page. I felt like this method was making me smarter.

    Hasegawa''s approach seemed designed to make me smarter, by encouraging me to think and figure things out on my own that is what I believed. I often find myself in confusion even with Hasegawa''s assistance. I can''t seem to grasp the reasoning behind the forms she provides.

    It''s strange how a small change, such as a dot, canpletely alter the oue of a form in mathematics. It makes me wonder if the person who created it maybe had a few too many drinks.

    After twenty minutes, Hasegawa unexpectedly rose from her seat once more. I expected for a goodbye, considering she had already been with me for twice as long as before.

    "Ah, see youter then," I said, attempting to beat her to the punch.

    "Hm? I wanted to go to the restroom," she replied, catching me off guard.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "O-Oh, I meant to say, see youter when you return from the restroom," I stumbled over my words, trying to improvise a suitable excuse.

    "Hm~ I see," she responded with a soft smile, revealing that she had seen right through my ruse.

    Despite my embarrassment, Hasegawa returned a minuteter and resumed her seat next to me.

    "Hasegawa, aren''t you bored?" I asked, noting that she had been silently observing me as I wrote and solved questions.

    "No, I''m not."

    "Oh, still... sorry though."

    "You don''t have to apologize," she said, dismissing my concerns.

    I gave a small hum in agreement before returning to my notebook.

    As Hasegawa was exining something to me, she suddenly stopped and stood up after around ten minutes.

    "I need to leave now," she said abruptly.

    "What? So soon? You haven''t finished exining."

    "Just remember to use the same form, but rece x with y," she said with a smile, before standing up and turning to leave. "I''m sorry, bye."

    "Goodbye¡­" I waved, as she did the same before disappearing from my sight.

    ***

    Several sunsets hade and gone since Hasegawa''s departure, and I found myself floundering once again in my studies. The rity of my memory had diminished, and only fragments of mathematical forms remained, haunting me with their elusiveness. My attempts to apply them were met with frequent errors, a far cry from the confident strides I had taken on my first day of study.

    I couldn''t help but ponder the reasons for this setback in my progress. Perhaps my inconsistent schedule was to me. I had allowed myself brief respites from my studies, taking one day to rest for every day spent in focused learning. This haphazard approach, I realized, had diminished my progress.

    Myck of interest in my studies also yed a role in my decline. The temptation of extended breaks was hard to resist, and I had fallen into the trap of procrastination. But as the exams loomed on the horizon, I was filled with regret for my neglect. It was a reminder that diligence andmitment were essential to achieving my goals.

    The exam was quickly getting closer and before long, I''ll be facing the most consequential test of my life.

    This was going to be hard.

 Chapter 129 Academic Struggles - Part 6 [Kanako Hanae]

    I saw something blurry, like a glimpse of my past. I remember walking somewhere and then stopping at the sound of a loud noise that grew louder and louder until I woke up. I realized I was still in my room with my rm ringing. It was just a dream.

    I grabbed my phone and hit snooze on the rm. It was already Monday, exam day. My heart sank for a second, thinking the days flew by too fast. But then I took a deep breath and told myself panicking won''t do me any good.

    I decided to jumpstart my day by freshening up, with a quick shower before heading to the library for my exam. As I made my way, I heard the sound of water streaming from the bathroom.

    It was evident that she had woken up before me, which was odd because my rm had been ringing for a good ten minutes but she didn''t wake me up. I didn''t give it much thought, figuring she was upied with something else.

    After she finished, I took my turn in the shower, making sure tother myself with soap and shampoo, letting the warm water wash away any remnants of sleep, and did the rest of my daily routine.

    With a refreshed mind and body, I headed out to the school''s main building and towards the library. The corridor was eerily quiet, with only a few students seen along the way, spaced out in intervals.

    As I took a seat in the library, I snatched up a few of the highest-scoring textbooks and quickly skimmed through their pages. I jotted down what I could recall, using a study method I''d picked up from observing Hasegawa and other students in the library.

    I was trying to remember a few forms and some sentences that I had learned in previous days. I kept repeating them to myself until they stuck in my head, pushing out what I had forgotten.

    It was going well until I realized that the new information was recing the old. As I learned more, the ones I had memorized before started slipping away. Had I reached my limit?

    The bell then rang, signalling it was time for the exam.

    I rushed to my ssroom and took a seat as I watched my ssmates file in. My heart was pounding, I couldn''t shake the feeling of nervousness. I kept fidgeting with my pen, hoping that Fukuda hadn''t skipped a day when he was collecting points.

    Then, the teacher walked in and handed out the test papers and booklets. He didn''t hand them to us directly, instead, he ced them on our desks with the nk side facing up. The paper was crisp and white, with nothing on the back.

    I noticed I wasn''t the only one feeling nervous, my ssmates were too. I even heard some got so nervous they got diarrhoea and couldn''t take the exam. That seemed crazy to me.

    The first subject was math, the subject that I have been studying so hard. Exams followed one after the other, filling the room with students working on test papers for hours on end.

    ***

    It was a gruelling 5 hours.

    I made my way to my dorm room as soon as it was finished. As I walked, all I could think about was copsing onto my bed and getting some rest. When I finally arrived, I threw myself onto my bed with a thud, causing it to bounce and creak under my weight.

    *

    The next morning, I woke upter than usual, feeling nervous about the exam results that were surely posted by now. I knew my sleeping schedule had been poor leading up to the exams, withte nights spent studying in my room and thenzing about in bed.

    As I got ready, I tried to avoid thinking about the results, but my roommate brought it up while I was brushing my teeth.

    "That was rough, huh?" she said. "I just want to pass, I don''t care about the rank."

    "Mphmh¡­" I grunted a response, still brushing my teeth, but she just chuckled. "...I''m still brushing my teeth."

    "Sorry, haha."

    "You seem pretty rxed, haven''t seen the results yet?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Well, yeah, but I''m trying to stay positive," she replied with a shrug.

    I couldn''t bring myself to feel positive, and we left the dorm together before parting ways at the school''s main building. I made my way to my ss''s bulletin board, dreading what I might find.

    The atmosphere in the crowded hallway was charged with a mix of emotions, ranging fromints and frustration to even tears. I couldn''t help but hold my breath as I made my way through the crowds on the ss bulletin board.

    -

    ss 2-D Exam Total Results

    -

    ...

    8. Akio Murakami - 189

    21. Hanae Kanako - 150

    -

    I couldn''t believe that I had actually managed to pass solely on my own merit. Maybe, it was because of Fukuda, who may have submitted the points he had collected just before the announcement.

    But I guess I should make sure if it''s really, so I pulled out my phone.

    "Kanako, can you move?" A voice behind me asked.

    "Oh, sorry," I mumbled, feeling flustered as I realized I had been blocking the way to the board.

    I stepped to the side, giving others room to pass. With a deep breath, I unlocked my phone and started to type.

    [Have the points been submitted?] I wrote, my fingers hovering over the send button.

    Before I could even lock my phone, a notification lit up the screen. I unlocked the device once more to see a message from Fukuda.

    [Yes, I have submitted one hundred and eighty thousand points that I''ve collected.]

    I stared at the message in disbelief, my mind processing the information. One hundred and eighty thousand points was a significant amount, but I couldn''t shake the feeling that it was simply luck that I had passed. Perhaps it was abination of my own hard work and study that ultimately led to my sess.

    I guess Mizuhara''s influence really changed me.

    Who really are you? Mizuhara Ayato-kun.

    Regardless, I couldn''t deny the relief I felt as I locked my phone and slipped it back into my pocket.

 Chapter 130 Superiority Complex - Part 1 [Hasegawa Mio]

    As I looked around and observed them, I couldn''t help but notice the inherent ws in their nature. It''s almost as if they were programmed to make mistakes and to take the easy way out.

    I saw them constantly sumbing to their ownziness andck of discipline, failing to reach their full potential and settling for mediocrity. It was a sad state of affairs, really. And yet, they seemed content with it.

    They had the capacity for greatness, for innovation, for creativity, and yet they squander it all away. They had the ability to strive for excellence and they chose to rest on theirurels.

    I suppose it''s their nature to take the path of least resistance. It''s easier to becent, to not push oneself to the limit. And yet, it''s that verycency that holds them back, that limits their growth and their sess.

    It''s a vicious cycle, really. They befortable with their shorings and so they continue to perpetuate them. It''s a shame, really. With just a bit more effort, with just a bit more discipline, they could achieve so much more.

    But then again, perhaps that''s what sets me apart from them. I am not content with mediocrity. I push myself to be better, to do better, to strive for excellence in all things. And that, perhaps, is what makes me so different from them.

    ***

    "Hmm?"

    I murmured as my phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out, ncing at the screen.

    *

    Another exam... It''s just another routine to ovee, like always.

    I regarded the phone with a hint of a smile, marvelling at the simplicity of it all. Exams came and went, and yet I remained unchanging, and will be never.

    With a shrug, I put my phone away and returned to think about ''him''. The exam was just a minor hurdle, after all, and I had always excelled at oveing obstacles.

    The clock ticked and I knew it was time for ss. I left the room, and headed for the ssroom. I could hear the whispers around me, students talking about the uing exam. They sounded scared, almost as if they were fearing expulsion.

    Is it really that bad?

    I sauntered into the ssroom, taking my usual seat as the lesson began. The only noticeable difference today was the hushed chatter among my ssmates. The murmurs of students'' worries, the undercurrent of their dread, are palpable. A storm of anxiety and the fear of failure, of being expelled, hangs in the air.

    I sit in silence, watching it all unfold, and the question lingers in my mind. Is it worse than death?

    Despite that, most of them didn''t even hear or take a note in ss. Sometimes, I wonder if they are really afraid of being¡­ expelled. I see some people in this school taking their studies seriously, but that doesn''t really set them apart from the rest.

    School life used to be exciting, but now it feels nd and monotonous. Each day is filled with lessons, and the asional exam and the weekends are spent on useless activities.

    It''s not much different from the project, just another routine to pass, like always.

    The presence of Mizuhara Ayato, perhaps more urately referred to as Subject One, sets him apart from the rest. He''s been living a pretty low-key life¡­<novelnext></novelnext>

    *

    I couldn''t help but ponder the thought of studying for the following day. Simply to confirm I attain the highest score possible.

    But well, does it really matter?

    After ss, I headed to the library. I could have just studied in my room, but where''s the fun in that? That''s when I spotted Hanae Kanako walking in front of me, heading to the library too.

    I casually followed her, trying not to make too much noise. But she waspletely unaware of me, even though I wasn''t exactly trying to be stealthy. My footsteps were loud, and I was pretty sure my breathing and presence gave me away.

    What struck me as odd was that I remembered Hanae Kanako wasn''t exactly the studying type. So why was she at the library? The most obvious reason was that she was there to study for the midterms, of course.

    As we reached the library, I finally approached her from behind.

    "Kanako," I called out, tapping her shoulder with a gloved hand. "What brings you to the library?"

    She flinched, her eyes widening with surprise. She seemed to be taken aback by my sudden greeting. It was amusing to see her flustered, but not as funny as it could have been with him.

    "N-Nothing much, just realized that midterms are fast approaching and I need to study." she stammered.

    I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head. "Hey Kanako, I thought you weren''t a fan of studying?"

    She turned to face me. "I''ve got to pass this midterm, even if it''s not my favourite thing to do," she said, before turning on her heels and entering the library.

    But just as she was about to step further inside, I stopped her in her tracks.

    "I see," I called out. "Would you mind if I join you?"

    She quickly nodded, with a soft hum of approval.

    And with that, we stepped into the library. It was surprisingly quiet for a ce where you''d expect lots of students to be buried in their books, studying for the uing midterms.

    As we strolled down the shelves, Hanae Kanako suddenly came to a halt and picked out a few books. I figured I might as well grab a few too, so I followed suit, stopping every now and then to choose my own stack of books.

    Kanako had quite the pile of books, which seemed a bit excessive. I wondered if she really needed all those books just for studying.

    So we finally took a seat in the library and I got to work. I didn''t really have to study math since I had already memorized all the forms, but I figured I might as well try to answer a few questions just to be sure¡­

 Chapter 131 Superiority Complex - Part 2 [Hasegawa Mio]

    Kanako frequently approached me with questions. She never hesitated to ask, eager to expand her knowledge. Although I didn''t feel like providing straightforward answers, perhaps that would make her smarter.

    "I still don''t get it," she sighed.

    "You should try reading more," I suggested, "The books hold all the answers."

    At times, the answers seemed to elude her, even though they were right in front of her. Math was simple, a matter of memorizing forms.

    But what about creating new innovations? That wasn''t my concern, I only needed to remember everything to pass the exams.

    Simply, it''s just a matter of memorizing forms in subjects like math, chemistry, physics, and English. While subjects like biology, geography, and history require retaining important information.

    *

    We were having a conversation as rest time when suddenly, the sound of the door opening caught my attention. I spun my head around to see who it was and, even before I could see their face, I knew it was Mizuhara Ayato.

    I could tell just by the sound of the door twisting open and the footsteps approaching. The bookshelves and walls were obstructing my view, but that didn''t stop me from recognizing who it was. I recognized him by the unique cadence of his footsteps and the familiar groan of the door.

    Kanako seems a bit curious, I suppose I''ll continue studying for a bit. She''ll join in, it would be interesting if we met again, but not today¡­

    As I return my attention to the books, Kanako follows suit and continues her studies.

    But after ten minutes, I''m done.

    I closed my books and stacked them neatly, then I grabbed the stack of books.  I did help Kanako with all of the questions she had, so this should be enough, or maybe another time¡­

    ''¡ªWait, Hasegawa, you''re leaving already?"

    "Yeah, see youter, Kanako~"

    I stood up, making my way to the bookshelves.

    "Uh, yeah. See youter."

    As I rose from my seat, Kanako suddenly spoke. I gave her a little hum and a small smile before making my way through the rows of bookshelves. I returned the books to their rightful ce and exited the library, which was now bustling with people.

    Ah~ What to do now¡­

    ***

    The next day dawned on me like any other, with the usual routine of ying with my phone. One notification caught my attention, although I didn''t bother to scrutinize it closely. It appeared to be about a study group, just as I had suspected or perhaps even anticipated. It was a predictable move, after all.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    As for me, I remained indifferent, neither overly enthused nor particrly averse to the idea of joining a study group. If someone were to ask me outright, I suppose I would go along with it.

    Compared to the other sses, there''s no doubt that my ss is at the top of the heap, the A¡­ Upon ncing at the notification again, I noticed that it had been sent out since the very first day of the midterm announcement, a mere few minutes after. These individuals are certainly acting with crity, I must say. But hey, that''s to be expected, right?

    As the early morning sunlight streamed through my window, I began to feel restless and bored. I had been lying around for far too long and it was time to get moving. Deciding to go for a walk, a familiar routine for me, I left the dormitory and made my way to the schoolyard.

    With every step I took, I found myself getting lost in my thoughts. Sometimes, I would twirl around just to break the monotony. The fresh air and serene atmosphere of the schoolyard were a wee change from the stuffy atmosphere of my room.

    As I wandered around, my feet seemed to have a mind of their own, leading me to the mall. But to my surprise, the mall was closed. It was strange that they would shut down, especially during midterms, but it wasn''t like I cared anyway. I continued on my walk, enjoying the peacefulness of the morning.

    For the next few hours, my ssmates were busy assembling their study groups. They approached me and asked me directly to join them. I just hummed and smiled in response, not giving a clear answer. It was amusing to see them get confused and start asking each other questions.

    Truth be told, I wasn''t really interested in the idea of a study group. After ss, I attended their group sessions but didn''t really study. Instead, I found myself scribbling in my notebook in the library''s booked room, while they were busy observing their seatmates.

    My seatmate noticed myck of enthusiasm and looked confused. She wanted to say something, but couldn''t find the words. It was pretty amusing to see her reaction.

    Time passed by quickly, and I didn''t really have strong feelings towards my ssmates or their study group. I was just doing what I should be doing, like always. As evening approached, I made my way to the library where I found Kanako. Kanako didn''t seem to notice my presence as she focused on solving a question in her book.

    I wandered over to the bookshelves, scanning for a particr title, but it was nowhere to be found. Someone must have taken it, which was a waste of my time. With a sense of aimlessness, I settled into a seat behind Kanako, letting my eyes wander around the library.

    Minutes ticked by in silence.

    Kanako looked exhausted, and I couldn''t me her. I knew what it is like to feel like you''re stuck doing something you don''t want to do. But that''s just how life is, right?

    You have to do what you have to do, even if it''s not what you want. Or so they say.

    As time passed, Kanako finished her studies, shutting her books and gathering her bag before restocking the books in their ces. Her focus remained undeterred by my presence as if she waspletely oblivious to my existence.

    An inexplicable thought crept into my mind, one that seemed to betray my better judgment. I visualized myself yfully scaring her from behind as a surprise, causing her to fall awkwardly to the ground, before breaking into an awkward fit ofughter.

    However, such fantasies had no ce in reality, and I could not understand why my mind was indulging in them.

    But just as I was lost in my thoughts, my imagination became a reality. I was jolted out of my reverie as Kanako fell to the ground. Though it was a briefpse in herposure, I couldn''t help but stifle a chuckle at the unexpected turn of events.

    Unpredictability is perhaps life''s most intriguing aspect. A curious thought, yet not so surprising for someone like me.

    Don''t you agree, Mizuhara Ayato?

 Chapter 132 Mundane Dreams - Part 1

    ?

    The darkness was a deep, imprable ckness, a void that seemed to swallow everything in its wake. I stared at it for what seemed like an eternity, but it was eerily quiet, not even the sound of my own breath could be heard.

    As far as I knew, I had never dreamt before. It wasn''t that I was disinterested in dreams, I just never had any reason to be interested in them. Dreams were supposedly a manifestation of our innermost desires, but I didn''t believe I had any unspoken desires... or desires at all for that matter.

    Eventually, the darkness lifted, reced by a sudden burst of light that pierced my eyes. I woke up, my eyes already open, and sat on the edge of my bed. Rubbing my eyes, I got up and turned off my phone rm before it could sound, reminding me that it was already Tuesday.

    I made my way to the bathroom for a quick shower, got dressed, and headed to ss.

    As I walked through the schoolyard, I was greeted by Fujiharu, who hade up behind me and tapped me on the back.

    "Congrattions on getting sixth rank, Ayato!" she eximed.

    I gave a nd nod, barely acknowledging her as I kept walking. But she persisted, following me as we made our way to ss.

    "You''re early like usual," she said.

    "The same to you," I replied.

    "Of course," she replied. "Want to have breakfast at the cafe?"

    I had forgotten to make breakfast, an unusual urrence for me. They say forgetting something means it''s useless, but fuel is not useless. It''s necessary for my body to function. If I could survive without food, I would never eat.

    Unlike some people, who enjoy food for its taste, I simply eat to keep my body going. Fujiharu, on the other hand, enjoys food for pleasure and would keep eating even if it weren''t necessary.

    "Sure," I replied.

    "Wow, really?"

    "Yes."

    "I''m getting suspicious now..."

    "What makes you say that?"

    "It''s just... unusual."

    "I just forgot to make breakfast."

    Fujiharu lifted her hand and ced it on her other palm. "I see."

    Despite the early hour, I doubted if any cafe was open yet. But it was worth a try, as we already made our way towards the mall.

    The mall was seemingly open, however, as I strolled inside, I noticed that the majority of the facilities remained closed. Perhaps they had yet to fully open their doors, either due to the early hour or the ongoing midterm exams.

    Strangely enough, the mall tends to shut down during midterms for reasons unknown to me. But now, post-midterms, it appears to have opened up once more, albeit somewhat hesitantly.

    It was quiet as we walked, but Fujiharu kept trying to make small talk, and I just nodded along without saying much. After a while, we finally arrived at the cafe, but most of the ces we passed by were closed. Even the popr ones seemed to be stocking up on ingredients.

    The cafe we entered had some fancy Italian name, but I wondered if the food here was actually from Italy. I took a seat at a round table, and Fujiharu sat across from me. I picked up the menu and saw that most of the food wasn''t Italian at all.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I''m going to get the fried rice, what about you Ayato?" Fujiharu asked.

    "I''ll get the same as you."

    Her cheeks suddenly turned red, and I wondered why until I saw that there was a promotion for couples. If you ordered the same dish as your partner, you would get a big te for half the price of two regr tes. However, since we weren''t a couple, I chose to order the one with fried eggs on it.

    "I''m getting the fried eggs one," I exined.

    "Yeah, I guess that''s fine¡­"

    We ced our orders and waited for the food to arrive. As we waited, I couldn''t help but notice the cosy ambience of the cafe. The walls were painted in warm colours, and there were paintings and photos hanging on them.

    Soft jazz music yed in the background, which added to the soothing atmosphere. I felt my tense muscles rx, and I let out a sigh.

    Fujiharu looked around and nodded. "This ce is cosy and nice, I like it."

    I just simply nodded in agreement.

    The food arrived quickly. I ate without much thought, and Fujiharu talked a bit about her studies, but I didn''t really pay attention. As our breakfast came to a close, I pushed my chair back and got up, heading to the counter to settle my bill.

    The cost wasn''t exactly cheap, but it wasn''t too pricey either. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and flicked through the screen until I found the points app. With a quick tap and swipe, I settled the bill and stuffed my phone back into my pocket.

    However, I soon felt a soft tap on my shoulder and turned around to see Fujiharu standing behind me.

    "Are you seriously not going to treat ady?" She teased.

    "You''re the one who invited me here, so it''s only fair that you pay."

    Fujiharu''s lips pouted into a yful frown. "Well, you could at least offer to split the bill."

    "I''ll leave first then," I said, sidestepping her and heading towards the exit.

    But before I could get far, she grabbed onto my shirt sleeve, stopping me in my tracks.

    "Don''t be so cold, Ayato. You should at least escort me to the main building."

    "Fine."

    I left the cafe and stood outside, waiting for Fujiharu. The minutes ticked by slowly, and I began to wonder if she had left me behind.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she emerged from the cafe. "Sorry for making you wait. Did you wait long?" she asked.

    "Ten minutes is a long time to pay for food."

    Fujiharu chuckled. "Well, you know how it is. Sometimes us girls have to take care of business," she said, grinning mischievously.

    "That''s a weird way of putting it," I said, starting to walk towards the mall exit.

 Chapter 133 Mundane Dreams - Part 2

    ?

    As a product of The Ideal Human Project, I often ponder on the meaning of being a truly perfect human. Is it someone who possesses all the qualities that humans have, both positive and negative? Emotions, sympathy, impatience,ziness, being easily bored, procrastination, and persistence. Or is it someone who doesn''t have any weaknesses or ws that are inherent in normal humans?

    On one hand, having all of the human traits, good and bad, could make you more rtable to others. People could see you as someone who understands their struggles, someone they can trust and rely on. However, it could also lead to being misunderstood, and perceived as someone who''s inconsistent and untrustworthy, which makes you truly feel like a human who is full of mistakes.

    On the other hand, being without any weakness or w could make you seem like an ideal creature, someone who is a paragon of perfection. But would you still be human at that point? Could you still connect with others, empathize with their struggles, and understand their emotions if you yourself don''t experience them?

    I don''t have a preference either way. I am what I am, and I exist to fulfil my purpose. But the question remains, what truly makes a perfect human?

    Whatever the answer may be, it has no bearing on my performance.

    ***

    As we walked down the school hallway, Fujiharu suddenly poked my cheek, snapping me out of my daze.

    "Ayato, Don''t space out on me!" she scolded me.

    I didn''t react to her touch or show any sign of surprise.

    "Do you know what I''m talking about?"

    "About your studies, right."

    She nodded in agreement. "H-Hmm, I see...you''re quite the multi-tasker, aren''t you?"

    "I''m able to."

    We continue to stride down the school hallways, passing by empty ssrooms. Abruptly, I halt my footsteps, and Fujiharu does the same.

    "My ss is in here."

    "Oh, I see. But it''s still-" she pauses as she walks to the door, peeking inside the ssroom.

    "...quite quiet. It''s still really early. Aren''t you bored just sitting in ss?" she questions, turning to face me.

    "I''m not," I responded, as I walked towards my desk and pulled out my chair.

    I took off my backpack and hung it on the hook under my desk before settling into my chair. As I looked out the door, I saw Fujiharu waving goodbye to me, disappearing into the distance.

    Time seemed to drag on as I sat there, my gaze nkly fixated on the board in front of me.

    Gradually, my ssmates began to trickle in, but even as the start of the lesson loomed closer, it was clear that many were still absent. Roughly half of the seats remained unupied, and it wasn''t simply a matter of tardiness. The midterms had culled the weaker students, leaving empty spaces where they once sat. It was a stark reminder of thepetitive nature of academia, where only the fittest could survive.

    The homeroom teacher arrived in the ssroom, and as he walked in, he congratted us on passing the midterms.

    "Congrattions on passing midterms, everyone. Now, we will go on with the lesson as usual," he announced.

    He then picked up a book from his desk and began to teach. Everything seemed to be just as it was before, with no major changes to the routine.

    Despite Kaoru being first ce in the ranking in the ss, the teacher did not seem to be overly impressed. He did not even acknowledge the top three students. Perhaps this was because Kaoru had only scored 220 on the midterm. Compared to other sses, this score seemed to be a bit too low.

    After the lesson ended, I made my way out of the ssroom, leaving my bag behind since it was just rest time. The hallway was not as crowded as before, but it was still filled with the sound of chatter.

    The midterms had a significant impact on the school, and I couldn''t help but wonder what would happen if there was another, even more, difficult exam. Would there only be a handful of students left or they will adapt?

    As I walked through the hall, a voice suddenly echoed behind me, causing me to turn around. It was Kinoshita Chitose.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "M-Mizuhara, congrattions on getting the sixth ce."

    "Thanks," I then turned back to continue walking.

    "Wait, Mizuhara."

    I stopped but didn''t turn my back again.

    "Um¡­"

    "What is it?"

    "Maybe we could study together? I barely passed the exam and I''m scared for the next one¡­ it''s going to be harder," Kinoshita finally talked.

    "I''m pretty busy.

    "R-Really? What are you busy with..? If you don''t mind me asking."

    "Just stuff. But I''m really busy right now."

    "..okay, how about this weekend? Maybe we can hang out?"

    "I guess I''m free, I don''t mind."

    "It''s a promise, then!"

    "Yeah."

    "S-See youter then."

    Then she turned and jogged away, while I continued on to the library. As I approached the library''s doors, I noticed a sign on the library door indicating that it was temporarily closed for maintenance. I found it strange since the library was rarely or even never closed, Since I couldn''t go to the library, I decided to take a walk and pass the time.

    As I strolled through the schoolyard, I pulled out my phone from my pocket and checked my notifications. I scrolled through a few messages until I found what I was looking for,

    [10,000 Points have been received.]

    A notification that I had received the extra 10,000 points. While I wasn''t particrly excited about the points, it was always nice to have some extra points on hand, just in case.

    "Whoa, that''s an extra ten thousand points."

    I heard a voice behind me. I didn''t flinch, I already knew who it was from his voice. His presence was palpable as his breath was on the back of my neck.

    "Kimura,"  I spoke, catching his attention as he leaned back.

    I turned to face him. "Yeah, it''s not bad."

    Kimura chuckled. "Your score was exactly two hundred one, did you aim it from the beginning?"

    I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. "I didn''t expect to get exactly two hundred one, but I was definitely aiming for higher," I replied, masking the truth.

    "Well, I know. Everyone was always aiming higher," he said with a shrug. "Want to hang out for a bit? I''m kinda free."

    "Sure."

 Chapter 134 Mundane Dreams - Part 3

    ?

    "What brought you out here, anyway?"

    "Just taking a stroll," I replied.

    "Oh. By the way, congrats on passing the midterms," he said, patting my back.

    "You too."

    "Wannae with me to the grocery store?"

    "Sure."

    It was clear from our conversation that Kimura had scored over two hundred in the midterms, giving him the extra ten thousand points. As we made our way to themercial area, we chatted a bit but mostly walked in silence. When we arrived, it was bustling with people and we had to wait in line to get into the store.

    "Should we just do some karaoke instead?" Kimura suggested.

    "I don''t mind either way."

    "Well, I really want to buy something. Let''s just wait, then.".

    We joined the line and waited patiently. After about fifteen minutes, we finally made it into the store. Despite the number of students who were expelled due to the midterms, there were still many remaining in the school.

    "The AC here is always a nice addition," Kimura spoke as he took a deep breath.

    Kimura and I walked down the grocery store aisles, the cool breeze of the air conditioning providing a much-needed respite from the heat outside. Kimura stopped at the snacks section, grabbed a few items and tossed them into the grocery bag. I, on the other hand, wasn''t particrly interested in snacks.

    I found them to be a superfluous indulgence, not providing any real sustenance. Unlike food, which may be messy and unappetizing at times, but at least fills the stomach and provides essential nutrition.

    Snacks, on the other hand, were entirely optional, a luxury that I could do without.

    "You aren''t buying anything?"

    "Yeah."

    "Oh," he said as he tossed some food ingredients into his bag.

    After walking around the grocery store aisles, Kimura was finally done and we made our way to the cashier. In total, Kimura still hasn''t spent that many points. It was below one hundred points, which was pretty cheap for arge number of items. He then proceed with the payment, before we left the store and themercial area.

    "Wanna go to the karaoke now?"

    "Shall we proceed to the karaoke establishment?" I nodded in agreement as we traversed the schoolyard, with Kimura carrying the bag filled with various snacks and items. Upon arriving at the karaoke building, we encountered some people, but the space was far from being congested.

    "May we have a room for one hour, please?" Kimura requested as his finger swiftly tapped his phone screen.

    "Is that all?" the receptionist asked.

    "Yes."

    "Here is the key."

    Kimura took the key, and I followed him to the end of the hallway, where our assigned room was located. As Kimura opened the door and entered first, I recognized the familiar design of the room from our previous karaoke outings with Fujiharu and Kinoshita.

    After taking a seat, Kimura ced his bag on the table before settling in.

    "The snacks sold here are quite pricey, so I thought it would be more practical to bring my own."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    It appeared that Kimura had visited this ce a few times since ourst outing, and he hadpared the prices of the snacks sold in the karaoke establishment versus the store. Kimura had always been a prudent spender, and I, for one, believed that refraining from eating snacks altogether would suffice.

    Given that they were never really necessary, to begin with.

    "Oh wait, Mizuhara. I have yet to hear your melodious voice~" he teased, pausing his fingers from tapping the karaoke tablet. "Last time we went, our time was over before we could hear you sing. How about you give it a go now?"

    "I''m okay, really."

    "It''s okay, don''t be shy. It''s just the two of us here."

    "That''s not the reason."

    "Then what is it?"

    "Fine."

    "Great, here''s the tablet."

    Taking the tablet, I randomly selected a song from the vast selection.

    "Come on, stand over there," Kimura instructed as he gestured to therge screen hanging on the wall.

    I stood up, grasped the microphone, and made my way to the screen. While I am not a terrible singer, neither am I particrly good, as I''m over than both of them. As the music began to y, I found myself falling into the rhythm. The tempo was precisely 134 beats per minute, and the lyrics were simple to memorize.

    I sang along with the original artist for a short time before turning off the assistance and singing solo. I adjusted my pitch to match the vocal range before deliberately altering some of the notes and melody at random intervals to make it seem as though I was an average singer.

    When the song was finished, I nced behind me and saw the score I expected, precisely fifty out of one hundred. I returned to the couch, cing the microphone and tablet back on the table.

    "..that was decent," Kimuramented. "It was fine, but there''s something missing, something...I can''t quite put my finger on it."

    "That''s just how it is, now it''s your turn."

    *

    As we wrapped up our karaoke session, Kimura''s voice filled the room with average notes. The time flew by slowly, with a mix of a bit of conversation and watching Kimura eating the snacks he brought along.

    "Do you want some?" Kimura offered, gesturing towards the snacks.

    "No, I''m fine."

    The experience for me was neither enjoyable nor unbearable, it simply passed by. We returned the key to the reception and left the building.

    "Oh, it''s almost time for ss. I''ll see youter," Kimura said as he jogged away, munching on his remaining snacks.

    "Yeah," I replied, watching him wave goodbye before heading back to ss.

    As I made my way towards my ssroom, my eyes caught sight of amotion in the corner. There stood a burly figure, towering over another, threatening him with his hulking presence. It was none other than Fukuda, a name that had be synonymous with violence. He was known to use brute force to assert his dominance over those weaker than him.

    I recalled having witnessed this scene a few times before, once even getting involved in it under certain conditions. But this time, no such conditions existed, so I simply brushed it off and continued on my way.

    However, I knew that Fukuda''s tactics extended beyond physical intimidation. He would also lure unsuspecting victims to secluded ces where he had tampered with the cameras, and coerce them into a written agreement to give him points each month through the use of violence.

    After that, it was merely a matter of reminding them of their obligations, without resorting to violence again.

 Chapter 135 Mundane Dreams - Part 4

    ?

    Taking my seat in the ssroom, I observed the teacher''s demeanor as he began the lesson with even less enthusiasm than usual. It wasn''t surprising given the absence of many of the students. As for me, it didn''t make much of a difference. I sat like usual, simply waiting for the lesson to finish.

    "Eh, aren''t you overreacting to it?"

    "No no no, I''m just being real!"

    "Did you hear¡­"

    "That¡­"

    As the chatters grew louder, it seemed like the teacher didn''t hear the chatters as he kept exining. Honestly, I didn''t care much for themotion as I was more focused on my own thoughts.

    Eventually, the teacher ended the lesson and walked out of the room, leaving the students to their own devices. I stood up slowly, taking my time to gather my things, and made my way out of the ssroom.

    "Mizuhara."

    A voice called out to me, interrupting my thoughts. I recognized the voice; it was Hamasaki, she was ranked fifth in the ss - just one spot above me at sixth.

    "Hi there, neighbor," she said with a smile, referring to our proximity in the midterm rankings. "So, the study group is paying off, huh? For us at least?"

    "I guess so."

    "Well, I guess that''s because I''m the leader, hm!" she joked, tossing her long hair back.

    "Yeah."

    "..congrattions on passing, though. A lot of students got expelled, so I guess you''re one of the lucky - or smart - ones."

    "I suppose so."

    "Yeah, see you."

    She walked past me, her perfume - L''Ofake, if I remembered correctly - lingering in the air. I don''t know why does Hamasaki felt the need to congratte everyone. Maybe that''s just how popr girls are, showering others with titudes to maintain their status.

    As I continued down the hallway, I caught sight of Hamasaki chatting with a female student, her effervescent personality on full disy. I turned right, and in no time, they vanished from my sight.

    As usual, I made my way to the library. I walked slowly, taking my time, and eventually arrived after a few minutes. The library was open this time, which was a relief. As I closed the door behind me, I nced around the room, taking in the familiar sights from left to right.

    Not much had changed in the library, which was both reassuring and a bit boring. I couldn''t help but wonder why it had been closed before, but it wasn''t a burning curiosity. Perhaps there had been some ident, like a bookshelf copsing or something, but it didn''t really matter to me.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The atmosphere in the library was drastically different from before the midterms. It was eerily quiet, with even the slightest sound echoing through the expansive space like ripples in a pond. As I walked between the bookshelves, I found myself carefully observing the titles of the books and their authors, lost in thought.

    The library was like a cavernous chamber, with its high ceilings and cavernous walls magnifying even the faintest of sounds. I couldn''t help but notice the slightest whispers and chatters from other students, but it seemed like they too were aware of the acoustics of the space and kept their voices hushed.

    It was apparent that the library wasn''t a ce for gossip or idle chatter. The slightest noise could easily reverberate and distract other students. The quiet environment was indicative of the studious nature of the students present in the library.

    Taking two books from the library, I realized that I had previously earmarked them as potential reads. Of course, I hadn''t physically marked them, but I had remembered their locations and the rows of bookshelves to memory.

    As I settled into my seat, I ced the other book gently on the table and opened the one in my hand. I often hear that books are windows to the world. But when I read, I don''t feel like I''m looking out at the world.

    Instead, it''s like I''m looking at a strange and self-contained world that the author has created. It''s a world that follows its own rules and is popted by its own characters, who often have little inmon with the people I know in real life.

    And yet, I''m drawn to them, lost in the pages as I discover new ces, ideas, and perspectives.

    *

    "..why won''t you understan¡­"

    "It''s..not my¡­"

    The distant sound of voices caught my attention, the murmurs growing louder until I could make out that it was an argument. Though the words were indistinct, the tone conveyed an intense exchange between two people. I didn''t feel the need to investigate further, I maintained my focus on the book in my hands. It wasn''t my nature to be inquisitive, after all.

    It''s like that sometimes, where one can choose to turn a blind eye or deaf ear to something, preferring to hold on to their own truth, even if it doesn''t align with logic. Sometimes, it''s easier to be on the side of righteousness and to vilify those who oppose you.

    And that''s one of the very essences of human nature.

    After some time, I perceived rapid footsteps approaching, their sound growing louder and louder, until they arrived at the door. My seat happened to be located near the entrance. I could hear the unmistakable sound of the door opening, then quickly closing behind the person who had entered.

    Humans have a tendency to flee from things they cannot conquer, refusing to listen to any dissenting opinions that could challenge their beliefs and potentially sway their convictions. It''s something that always holds true.

    It is almost as if I am speaking in a detached, impersonal manner, as if I am not one of the very humans that I speak of. However, I cannot deny my own humanity and still hold onto my own beliefs.

    So, in a sense, I too want to hold onto the belief that I am indeed human, wed and imperfect, but still capable of growth and change.

    Or so they say.

 Chapter 136 Sanctity Of Peace - Part 1

    ?

    The following Saturday was a routine day, except for the fact that I woke up earlier than usual. While sitting on my bed, I considered whether to abandon the rm on my phone. Kimura, my roommate, was still sound asleep - it was too early for him to be up.

    Eventually, I got up and carried my phone to the bathroom, fiddling with it before cing it down on the kitchen counter with a tter, and continuing on my way.

    Once inside the bathroom, I began my routine of washing my face and body.

    *

    After I finished and stepped out, a knock suddenly echoed throughout the room. It was far too early for visitors, so I couldn''t help but wonder who it could be¡­

    Wrapped in nothing but a towel, I approached the door and twisted the handle to let the visitor in. I saw Kinoshita standing there, d in an oversized blue t-shirt, a white high-low skirt, and knee-high socks that contrasted sharply with her smooth skin.

    "A-Ah, Mizuhara, I know I''m really early, i-it''s just that I didn''t know what time toe, so I thought I''de ea-" Kinoshita blurted out as soon as she saw me.

    She stumbled over her words, her sentences peppered with useless details. I waited for her to finish, but she stopped abruptly and turned away, flustered.

    "...t-t-then I''ll..uhm, wait for you¡­" she quickly turned to her right and walked away.

    As she retreated, her footsteps echoed down the quiet hallway, stopping after just a few steps. I shut the door with a nonchnt click and proceeded to get dressed in my school uniform, deftly buttoning up my white shirt and adjusting my belt before slipping on my trousers and jacket.

    I then walked over to the kitchen, deftly dodging the various obstacles in my path and opened the fridge with a swift yank. My eyes locked onto a half-empty carton of eggs, nestled amidst a sea of condiments and produce, beckoning me to whip up a quick breakfast.

    I extracted three eggs from the carton and ced them slowly on the counter.

    As I cracked the eggs, the yolks oozed out like liquid gold, forming a luscious pool in the bowl. I grabbed a fork and began to whisk the eggs, stirring them into a frenzy until they formed a fluffy mound. I then heated up a pan on the stove, pouring in the egg mixture and watching as it sizzled and bubbled.

    After a few flips and turns, my scrambled eggs were ready, and I scooped them onto a te, not bothering to garnish them with anything. I took a seat at the table, picked up my fork, and shovelled the eggs into my mouth. The taste was unremarkable, as expected, but at least my stomach would be full for the day.

    After swiftly finishing my meal, I grabbed the te and deposited it in the dishwasher before heading out. I didn''t feel guilty for keeping Kinoshita waiting outside, as my morning routine was non-negotiable. I opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind me with a resonant click.

    "I''m ready," I said as I walked over to her.

    Kinoshita''s eyes scanned me up and down, and she stammered out, "S-school uniform? You don''t have anything... else to wear?"

    I met her gaze with a nk expression, not bothering to exin myself. I had no desire to dress up for anyone''s sake, especially not for someone like her.

    "No, this is it."

    "Ooh, okay¡­" Kinoshita replied softly, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. "Y-You were in there for quite a while. What were you doing?"

    "My routine."

    "Your¡­ routine?" Kinoshita repeated, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. "I mean like what¡­ what specific things?"

    "Rubbing my eyes, standing up, that sort of thing."

    "O-Oh, I see¡­" Kinoshita trailed off, looking down at her shoes. "..that''s..not..a..routine¡­"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    We walked together, keeping a bit of distance between us as we made our way to the schoolyard.

    *

    Kinoshita gazed around, searching for a suitable destination. "Where should we go¡­?" she asked, her voice soft and hesitant.

    "I don''t have a preference. You pick," I replied, attempting to sound nonchnt.

    "O-Oh, um, maybe we could get breakfast?" she suggested, her gaze flickering up to meet mine before darting away. "I actually haven''t eaten since yesterday. I-I mean, not sincest evening and throughout the night."

    "I see."

    We strolled in silence, the only sounds being the crunching of gravel beneath our feet and the asional rustle of leaves in the breeze.

    "T-There''s a cafe in the mall that serves a good breakfast, and it''s open very early," she eventually offered.

    "I already ate."

    "Eh? W-What did you eat?" she asked, looking up at me with a mix of curiosity and concern.

    "Scrambled eggs."

    "Oh... well, that''s not really enough to keep you going. We should eat together at the cafe then," she insisted, her voice growing more assertive.

    "Sure."

    "Let''s go then," she said, quickening her pace.

    I fell into step beside her, content to let her lead the way. As we stepped into the mall, I was immediately enveloped by the cool embrace of the air conditioning. The vast expanse of the interior seemed to stretch out endlessly before us, and I couldn''t help but feel small inparison.

    Kinoshita led the way as we walked silently, weaving between clusters of stores with ease until we arrived at our destination: a quaint little cafe that I recognized from a previous visit to Fujiharu.

    The interior was just as inviting as I remembered, with warm lighting and soft music ying in the background. Despite the early hour, there was a serene calmness to the ce, as if it were waiting just for us.

    We settled into our seats, facing each other across a small table. I nced at the menu briefly before deciding to order the same dish I hadst time: the fried rice. I signalled the waiter toe over and ced my order.

    As the waiter left to ry my request to the kitchen, my attention shifted back to Kinoshita, who had been perusing the menu with a certain apprehension. She seemed hesitant to make a decision, her eyes darting back and forth across the page.

    Just as the waiter turned to leave, Kinoshita''s voice quivered as she blurted out her decision.

    "I-I''ll have the same thing, then!"

    The waiter turned back towards us, his face devoid of expression, "Two orders of fried rice it is, then."

    Kinoshita nodded in agreement, and the waiter departed once again tomunicate our meal requests to the kitchen.

 Chapter 137 Sanctity Of Peace - Part 2

    ?

    "Um, do you like fried rice?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

    I considered her question for a moment before responding. "I suppose I don''t have anything against it."

    Her eyes flickered with interest before quickly returning to her demeanor. "I see..."

    I could sense that she wanted to say something more, but didn''t know how to continue. As for myself, I preferred to stay silent, indulging in the soothing music that filled the atmosphere around us.

    As we waited in silence, the ambiance of the cafe filled my senses - the clinking of utensils, the aroma of sizzling dishes, and the gentle hum of soft music in the background. Perhaps this is the perfect setting for some reading.

    If only the library had a simr atmosphere with fresh air conditioning and calming music, it would be one of my favorite spots. However, I don''t actually desire it that way.

    Kinoshita seemed to be struggling to break the silence, her lips parting a few times, but no words escaped her. After a few minutes, our food arrived, and the waiter ced the two tes of fried rice before us on the te that he was holding.

    As he turned to leave, I requested a ss of water, and he nodded in response before walking away.

    "Ah, I haven''t ordered any drinks yet¡­"

    I just hummed in response as I lifted the spoon in my hand, noticing its simple yet elegant design. The utensil had a sturdy weight to it, not too light nor too heavy, making itfortable to hold. The edges were smooth and rounded, so it''s gonna be easy to scoop the rice without leaving any grains behind.

    Kinoshita picked up the menu, her thin fingers traced the embossed letters on the cardstock paper, as if trying to absorb every detail of it. I watched her for a moment, noticing the way her eyes squinted slightly as she read through the list of drinks.

    Meanwhile, I dug into the fried rice, quickly devouring it. It was satisfying, but not particrly noteworthy. The rice grains had a good texture, and the dish was filling enough. I didn''t really pay much attention to the spices, but I suppose they added a bit of vor to the dish.

    As I set the spoon down, I couldn''t help but agree with my earlier thought that this cafe is okay, I guess. Maybe it''s not as popr with the students because it''s quieter and more peaceful here.

    "Um¡­Mimo¡ªsha?"

    I realized that she meant Mimosa, a ssic brunch cocktail made with champagne and orange juice, and sometimes other ingredients like triple sec or grenadine.

    Its name may have originated from the yellow flowers of the mimosa nt, which bloom in winter and early spring, or from the Mimosa Hotel in Cannes, France, where it was first served in the 1920s.

    The vors of the fried rice remained consistent, it tastes exactly the same as before.

    As I ate, Kinoshita began to flip through the menu again, her thin finger tracing over the descriptions of the various drinks again.

    "W-Wait Mizuhara, I haven''t even eaten yet!"

    I paused for a moment, looking at Kinoshita as she protested, and then resumed eating until I swallowed the food. I ced my spoon back on the te.

    "Oh, um¡­If you''re hungry, it''s okay¡­" she said, as she lowered the menu paper down.

    Truth be told, I wasn''t particrly famished, but I didn''t mind continuing to eat either. Kinoshita appeared indecisive, as she flipped through the pages of the menu, searching for something to order. After a minute or so, she finally made up her mind and called the waiter over.

    "C-Can I have this t White?"

    The waiter confirmed her order and walked away. t White, huh.

    I watched as Kinoshita reached for the spoon, and then followed suit mechanically.

    "I think we should eat now, the food is gonna be cold¡­" she said, breaking the silence.

    "Sure."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    We began to eat in silence, Kinoshita savored each bite. Her expression, bodynguage, and other subtle cues indicated that she was thoroughly enjoying the meal. As for me, the vors and textures failed to leave anysting impression, and I simply ate to satiate my hunger.

    While we were eating, Kinoshita''s coffee finally arrived after what felt like five minutes.

    Despite being a rtively simple drink, the preparation of the steamed milk and coffee seemed to have taken an unusually long time. I had almost already finished my food by then, so I watched as the waiter ced the cup delicately on the table and Kinoshita lifted it to take a sip of her t White.

    Her reaction was subdued, neither showing an intense liking for it nor any hint of displeasure. As for me, I continued to eat my food in silence.

    *

    "I''m stuffed...the portion here is huge, even though I got the medium," Kinoshitamented as we stood up.

    "Yeah."

    We paid for our meals and headed towards the door, Kinoshita chattering about how her days. I just nodded along, not really sure what to say.

    *

    As we strolled through the schoolyard, Kinoshita continued, "Don''t you think so?"

    I nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I do."

    She then turned to me, "Um, Mizuhara, you don''t seem so interested..."

    "My mind''s just wandering."

    We continued walking, we had been wandering for a while, and I wasn''t sure where we were headed.

    As we walked in silence, Kinoshita broke the silence. "Uh well...there isn''t much open at this hour except for that cafe. Maybe we can catch upter?"

    "Sure."

    She seemed eager to set a date.

    "Oh! Um, when are we gonna meet then?"

    I shrugged lightly.

    "It''s up to you."

    After a moment of hesitation, she suggested, "I guess¡­ at the reception area at twelve o''clock?"

    "I"m fine with that," I replied. "I''m gonna go back then."

    Realizing the conversation wasing to an end, she nodded. "Oh, okay¡­"

    "Goodbye," I said casually as I turned to my right and walked away.

    "See youter¡­" she said softly, her voice trailing off as I left.

    I reached into my pocket and retrieved my phone to check the time. It wasn''t quite as early as before, but still rtively so. After returning my phone back to its ce, I lifted my gaze to the front, taking in my surroundings.

 Chapter 138 Sanctity Of Peace - Part 3

    ?

    The surroundings were quiet, with only the looming buildings in sight. As I walked towards the school''s main building, I took a deep breath of fresh air. The cool breeze tickled my skin, and I felt invigorated.

    I didn''t nce back to see where Kinoshita went, but I felt that she was still watching me from afar.

    With each step, I made my way to the school''s main building. The hallways were deserted and devoid of any noise, except for the sound of my footsteps echoing in the vast space. Upon reaching the ssroom door, I stopped and slowly reached out for the handle.

    Suddenly, a voice pierced through the silence and disrupted my peaceful thoughts.

    "Can you be, a little bit faster?"

    The voice belonged to someone standing behind me, but I didn''t bother turning to look.

    "Sure," I replied casually and picked up the pace, though not too fast, as I was not one to be easily swayed.

    I grabbed the door''s handle and opened the door faster than I usually do. I entered the ssroom, stepping over the threshold and scanning the empty chairs as I walked towards my own. As I settled into my seat, I caught sight of the person who had called out to me earlier.

    It was Ichikawa, as I had suspected from the tone of her voice.

    She walked to her seat, which was at a decent distance from mine, and slung her bag onto the hook under her desk. After a moment, she gathered her things and left the ssroom, closing the door behind her with a gentle click.

    The silence that followed her departure was only broken by the sound of my own breathing. It was a rather peculiar sight to behold to see Ichikawa arriving early or even entering the ss on the weekends, but truth be told, it didn''t quite pique my interest as I wasn''t particrly concerned about it.

    As per usual, I fixated my gaze on the board, waiting patiently for the time to pass. My mind, however, was devoid of any wandering thoughts, as if it had gonepletely nk.

    "..."

    *

    A chime from my phone broke the silence, and after a moment, I reached for it to read the notification. My thumb brushed across the screen to unlock it, revealing a message from my roommate.

    [Mizuhara, did you use the eggs?]

    I replied with a short and straightforward message.

    [Yeah.]

    Typically, people might follow up with a ''What''s wrong?'' or some other inquiry, but I had a hunch that he had a reason for asking.

    The sound of a notification broke the silence again, drawing my attention back to my phone.

    [I was going to use those eggs for my breakfast burrito. I''ve been saving them!]

    I sighed and quickly replied.

    [Sorry about that. I''ll buy some more.]

    [The store might not be open this early.]

    [It''s worth a try.]<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    After sending the message, I slipped the phone back into my pocket. It buzzed again, but I ignored it. ncing around the quiet room, I realized that I had some time to spare.

    Maybe I could run to the store and grab some eggs.

    I rose from my seat and made my way to the door, before reaching for the door handle. Bbut before I could open it, the door swung open to reveal Hamasaki and her group of friends.

    They were mid-conversation, but the sight of me seemed to halt their chatter. Hamasaki quicklyposed herself and greeted me with a smile.

    "Hey, Mizuhara. You''re always early, huh? Where are you headed?"

    "Library."

    "Heeh~..."

    She looked away awkwardly, her hand still on the door handle. I stepped aside to let them pass, and as they entered the ssroom, their conversation resumed.

    "I don''t know about that~"

    "Hamasaki, spill the tea!"

    "I''m not sure..." Hamasaki trailed off.

    Once they were all inside, I slipped out the door, leaving it open behind me. I slowly took my steps, heading towards themercial area.

    Being a weekend, it was unsurprising that the school''s main building was almost eerily silent, as some students would rather revel in thefort of their rooms or go outside instead of lingering in school.

    Theck of human presence, save for my own footsteps, allowed me to appreciate the peaceful surroundings without any distractions.

    I arrived at the bustlingmercial area where a throng of people had already formed a line, patiently waiting for their turn to enter the store and others. I joined the line and fished out my phone from my pocket to check the time - the clock read 9:30 AM, a perfect time for ate breakfast.

    After enduring a few moments of waiting, I finally made it inside the store. The queue moved quickly, so it wasn''t much of a time-consuming affair.

    With a clear goal in mind, I directly walked towards the carton shelf, my eyes scanning the neatly arranged cartons one per one. Within seconds, I located the carton of eggs I needed, snatched it up without a second thought, and made a beeline for the cashier, who watched me with a neutral expression as I pulled out my phone to pay for my purchase.

    Despite my quick pace, the cashier still managed to hand me a stic bag for the single carton of eggs. I was hardly impressed by this, but didn''t want to hold up the person waiting behind me, so I simply grabbed the bag and exited the store without a word.

    After around two minutes, I finally arrived back at my dormitory. I grabbed the doorknob with one hand, turned it, and pushed the door open. As I stepped inside, Kimura greeted me from the kitchen area.

    "Atst, you''re here," he said. "I was about to give up on waiting for you and head out to find some breakfast, but I didn''t feel like settling for anything other than a burrito."

    I wordlessly handed him the carton of eggs, which he promptly took and ced inside the fridge after opening it to retrieve a few.

    "Want me to make you a burrito too?" he asked, grabbing a bowl and cracking the eggs into it.

    I shook my head. "I''m fine."

    "Suit yourself," he shrugged, already starting to crack the eggs into the bowl. "That''s one burrito for me, then."

 Chapter 139 Sanctity Of Peace - Part 4

    ?

    I decided to take a seat on a chair in the kitchen, watching Kimura go about making the burrito.

    After cracking the eggs into the bowl, he ced it on the counter and went to the fridge to take an avocado.

    "Huh? Why are you sitting there?" he asked, noticing me sitting down. "If you''re going to sit there, you might as well help me make this burrito."

    "Sure."

    "Well, start by grabbing the spoon then."

    I stood up and walked to the utensil drawer, grabbing a spoon.

    "Peel and dice the avocado, or do you know how to make a burrito bowl?"

    "I do."

    "Alright, you work on the avocado and the eggs. I''ll make the tortis."

    I grabbed another bowl, peeled the avocado with the spoon, and cut it into small cubes. I ced the avocado in the bowl and discarded the skin. I then took the bowl of eggs that Kimura had cracked earlier and ced it next to the avocado bowl before grabbing it again.

    With the spoon, I began whisking the eggs together, the metallic clink of the utensil against the bowl echoing through the kitchen. The mixture slowly turned from liquid to a pale, frothy yellow.

    "You''re done with them?" he asked, turning to me, before turning back to the countertop where he was kneading a ball of dough.

    "Yeah." I nodded, cing the bowl on the counter beside the diced avocado.

    "Well, I guess now¡­ can you take the sausages out and shred some cheese?"

    I stuck around for a while, giving Kimura a hand with the cooking. I wasn''t particrly enthusiastic about it, but I didn''t really mind either way.

    **

    As we ced the burrito bowls on the te, Kimura''s stomach growled in anticipation, while I remained stoic. The aroma of the burrito wafted through the air, and I do acknowledge that it smelled appetizing, despite myck of hunger.

    As Kimura took the first bite, he let out a satisfied sigh.

    I observed him quietly, noticing the way he closed his eyes in pleasure as he savored the vors. Although the meal was nothing extraordinary, it seemed to have hit the spot for Kimura.

    As for me, I simply continued watching him eat without any particr emotion on my face.

    "You can, eat some, if you want," Kimura offered, his mouth half-full with the scrumptious contents of the torti.

    As I declined Kimura''s hospitable offer, he persisted.

    "Come on, have a bite. It''s the least I can do for the help."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    But, my hunger had not yet arrived, and I refused once again.

    "In that case, why don''t you sit down for a moment?" Kimura suggested, as he continued to savor his burrito.

    I agreed, taking a seat and observing him. But my respite was brief, as I suddenly remembered that I have to do something.

    "Actually, I have to go out," I announced, already heading towards the door.

    "Oh, alright. See youter then," Kimura called out, his mouth still full of food.

    Grasping the handle, I turned the door handle and left the room, my thoughts already shifting to my next task.

    I fished my phone out of my pocket to check the time. ncing at the screen, I saw that it was already 11:36 AM. The realization didn''te as a surprise, given the multiple failed attempts at cooking breakfast.

    However, it wasn''t my fault. Every mistake was made by Kimura. He had spilled the mixture a few times and dropped the torti twice. He even took a break here and there, stretching out his arms or rubbing his eyes, which exined why he was savoring the burrito with such satisfaction.

    As the old adage goes, ''you can taste the effort in your own cooking.''

    But that didn''t apply to me, as I didn''t feel anything - not even a hint of hunger.

    As I stepped out of the dorm room, I pondered over Kimura''s recent clumsiness. He wasn''t the type to fumble, so there had to be some other exnation. Perhaps it had to do with the temperature of his hands - when I handed him the carton of eggs earlier, I couldn''t help but notice how his skin felt hotter than normal. Or maybe it was the way he was carrying himself, slightly hunched over and with a hint of fatigue in his eyes.

    I quickly deduced the possible cause for Kimura''s clumsiness - he must have been running a fever. With that realization, I didn''t dwell on it any further, and so I made my way down to the reception area, taking in the quiet emptiness of the ce.

    It wasn''t surprising - this area was rarely visited by anyone.

    I scanned the reception area, my eyesnded on a plush sofa tucked in the corner. Without hesitation, I made my way towards it, feeling the softness of the fabric beneath my fingertips as I settled into its cushions.

    Surprisingly, the sofa was immacte and free of dust, proof of the meticulousness of the cleaning staff. I couldn''t help but wonder how often they came to maintain this area, though it seemed somewhat unnecessary given theck of visitors.

    The only ones who frequented this space were either coerced or the guards responsible for its upkeep, probably.

    I sat poised on the sofa, gazing absently at the surroundings. I wasn''t exactly thrilled about the uing date with Kinoshita, nor was I looking forward to it with bated breath, but I couldn''t bear the thought of beingte.

    My mind was flooded with various scenarios, such as being sidetracked by taking a stroll at the schoolyard, only to be met with yet another unforeseen obstacle that could potentially impede my timely arrival.

    Each moment trickled by. The soft tick-tock of the clock mounted on the wall in the reception area was a constant reminder of the seconds slipping away with each passing moment.

    My gaze was fixated upon a single point - the wall.

    Unlike most people whose eyes would wander around and whose bodies would fidget as they waited, I remained as still as a statue, my body frozen in ce and my eyes didn''t wander on the unremarkable surface before me.

    "..ah, Mizuhara."

 Chapter 140 Sanctity of Peace - Part 5

    ?

    As I heard the voice, I swivelled my head to locate its source. There stood Kinoshita, dressed in a frilly white dress that hugged her curves and had a matching pink cardigan draped over her shoulders. Her choice of footwear was simple, a pair of white sneakers that matched her cardigan.

    Without a word, I rose from the sofa and approached her.

    "When did you arrive?" Kinoshita asked, sounding surprised as she fidgeted with her dress.

    "About five minutes ago," I fibbed, reluctant to disclose all of my activities and rationale.

    "We should go¡­then?"

    "Sure," I responded, taking a step forward.

    "Wait, can we grab a drink first? I''m...thirsty," she said, her voice wavering.

    I paused, turning around to locate a vending machine nearby.

    "Fine," I replied, and began to make my way towards it, with Kinoshita following me.

    In no time at all, we had arrived in front of a gleaming vending machine, its colorful buttons and shing lights reflecting the images of the surrounding area. I stepped aside, gesturing for Kinoshita to take the lead.

    "Mizuhara, do you want something too?" she asked, her gaze flickering briefly in my direction.

    "No, thank you," I replied, my eyes fixed on the selection of drinks on offer.

    With a light touch, Kinoshita''s fingers darted across the machine''s surface, navigating its digital interface. She pulled out her phone from her pocket and scanned the vending machine, before selecting her drink of choice.

    The whirring of the machine echoed through the air as her drink was dispensed, and she then retrieved it with a smile.

    As for me, I just watched in silence.

    After that, we left the reception area. The aluminum lid of the can popped open with a crisp sound, followed by a fizzing noise as the carbonated beverage was released from the container.

    She caught up to me and walked by my side, her pace quickening to match mine.

    I could hear the soft swishing sound of her steps as we made our way down the corridor, and the crunching of gravel beneath our feet as we walked outside.

    Kinoshita lifted the can to her lips, taking a long, satisfying gulp of the sweet liquid before we continued on our way.

    "Ahh¡­"

    She paused, releasing a contented sigh as she continued to quaff the drink. Once finished, she lowered the can, scanning the surroundings with her eyes.

    "Um, Mizuhara, can you wait for a moment?" she requested, her eyes momentarily meeting mine before diverting again.

    "Sure," I replied, halting my steps.

    She then strode past me, turning left toward a trash bin. Upon reaching it, she tossed the can inside. However, it bounced off the lid,nding on the ground and spilling some of its contents.

    I could see her expression contort with embarrassment as she tilted her head slightly toward me before returning her gaze to the can. Crouching down, she retrieved the can, and although some liquid had spilled onto the ground, it was only dirt or gravel, so it wasn''t a big issue.

    After standing up, she walked closer to the trash bin. And this time, instead of throwing it, she used the can to push it onto the lid. Though her hands didn''te into direct contact with the lid, she used the can as a tool to push it.

    Nheless, the can had fallen on the ground, which was most likely covered in a bit of dirt.

    "Um...M-Mizuhara, I-I need to wash my hands!" she eximed in a wavering voice, stuttering slightly.

    I simply nodded as I watched her hasten to the nearest restroom.

    I still couldn''t believe that she hadn''t stepped on the pedal of the trash bin, which was there for a reason. Well, knowing her, she had probably forgotten or didn''t see it. I didn''t really care that much.

    After a solid five minutes, Kinoshita finally returned, strolling with a towel in hand that she used to wipe something on her face and hands.

    "S-Sorry, Mizuhara. Did I keep you waiting for too long¡­?" she said, her voice trembling slightly.

    "Not really," I responded, my tone t and unimpressed.

    It didn''t take a full five minutes to just wash your hands, after all.

    Kinoshita''s eyes dropped to the ground as she fiddled with the towel, her words stumbling out of her mouth in apology.

    "Um...I''m really sorry," she stuttered, her gaze fixed on the ground, her towel limp in her hand.

    "Let''s just go."

    "U-Um, yeah, sure..."

    Honestly, I was indifferent either way. And so, we pressed on with our stroll. Kinoshita stowed away the small towel in her pocket and kept a slight distance behind me, not walking alongside. We made our way to the crowded center of the schoolyard, where the chatter and footsteps of students filled the air.

    However, after a while, I came to a sudden halt while walking. Despite Kinoshita specifying the time and meeting ce, she had failed to mention where we were supposed to go.

    "Eh?!"

    In that very moment, I stumbled and tumbled onto the ground with a loud thud.

    Bump.

    Before my face could make contact with the hard pavement, I quickly manoeuvred my body to do a push-up and caught myself with my hands. I felt a weight on my back, and as I looked back, I saw that Kinoshita had bumped into me, her arms hanging on either side of my body.

    With a grunt and a wiggle of her hands in the air, Kinoshita struggled to reach the ground.

    "Ugh..." she muttered in frustration, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she realized she was still on my back. "E-Eeh!" she eximed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I''m so sorry, Mizuhara!"

    "It''s fine."

    She used my shoulder as a holder to help her stand, and I slowly stood up with her, feeling her weight shifting off my back. As we rose, I couldn''t help but notice the stares of the other people in the schoolyard, their eyes fixed on us.

    Kinoshita''s head hung low, her arms crossed over her chest as she avoided making eye contact with anyone. It was clear that the attention was making her ufortable.

 Chapter 141 The Prying Student Council - Part 1

    ?

    I continued walking. And as I walked, I could hear and feel Kinoshita''s hurried footsteps catching up to me. Without stopping my legs, I cleared the dirt off my hands by rubbing them together and nced at her. She seemed anxious, her eyes darting around as if searching for a way out of the situation.

    "W-Wait, Mizuhara," she said, finally managing to keep up with me.

    I slowed down slightly, waiting for her to catch her breath.

    "Where do we go."

    "Um, I guess... karaoke?" she suggested hesitantly. "I''ve hardly ever been to karaoke, and I don''t want to go alone."

    "Sure," I straightforwardly replied, not really caring one way or the other.

    "..let''s go then," Kinoshita said, her voice much calmer now.

    And thus, we proceeded towards the Karaoke building, with the gazes of those who had been watching us quickly shifting back to their own activities. The fleeting nces from the curious onlookers lingered momentarily, only fixating on what caught their attention.

    *

    As we arrived at the Karaoke building, we walked in silence, taking each step without saying a word to each other. I noticed Kinoshita''s lips parting several times, but no sound escaped them.

    As we approached the entrance, it swung open to reveal a group of people leaving and clearing the way for us to enter. I walked through the open door, with Kinoshita following closely behind.

    "Wait."

    However, before I could take another step, someone called out, causing me to halt in my tracks. I recognized the voice immediately, being the perceptive person that I am. I turned around slowly, my eyes locking onto the figure who had spoken.

    Hinode Takumi, the vice president of the student council.

    He greeted me with an outstretched hand and said,

    "Mizuhara Ayato, I know this may bete but congrattions on passing the midterms."

    "Thanks foring here just to say that. Then, see youter," I replied, eyeing his hand warily.

    Naturally, I wasn''t dense enough to think that a student council member hade all this way just to extend congrattions, I was not one to take risks. There was a chance that he had no ulterior motives, and I''m taking that.

    As much as possible, I wanted to avoid any unnecessary entanglements with the student council. Thebyrinthine court system that governed this institution was alreadyplicated enough without any added trouble.

    He slowly lowered his hand, realizing that I wasn''t going to return the gesture.

    "U-Um¡­" Kinoshita stammered, seemingly unsure of what to say next.

    "As you can see, I am quite upied at the moment."

    "Well, Otoyama should have been the one to be in here, but he had other duties to attend to," he exined, as if to justify his presence here.

    It appeared that he was not here of his own ord.

    "You have an exceedingly verbose method ofmunication," I observed.

    "Do I?"

    I turned around, directing my gaze towards the entrance of the karaoke. Kinoshita, looking perplexed, emted my movement and swiveled on her heels to face the same direction.

    "Why don''t we go in the karaoke together?"

    I heard Hinode''s voice break through the silence in my mind, interrupting my thoughts.

    "Sure," I replied casually, not bothering to turn back. "But I don''t know about my friend here," I added, motioning towards Kinoshita.

    Kinoshita''s expression fell a little at my words, letting out a soft sigh. Hinode''s sharp gaze immediately shifted to her, making her fidget with her dress.

    "U-Um, I mean, I''m okay with it¡­"

    "Then, I suppose it''s alright if Otoyama joins us," Hinode remarked. "Though, maybe not today...or maybe today," he added.

    Hey, I thought Otoyama have other tasks to handle.

    "Um, sure¡­"

    Hinode scratched his chin, pondering for a moment.

    "Why don''t we head in now. We''ve been chatting for a while."

    "Sure," I agreed, not really caring either way.

    I took the lead towards the entrance with Kinoshita following closely behind. I grasped the handles of the door and pushed them open, revealing a familiar scene. The reception area was sparsely popted, with only a few people waiting in line.

    Kinoshita followed me as I made my way to the back of the line, with Hinode trailing a few steps behind.

    As we reached the front desk, I requested for a room.

    "Could we have a room." I asked.

    "One room for three thousand points, is that okay?"

    The staff confirmed the price and I agreed. After queuing up, we received the key for Room 04, which was ced on the reception table.

    Silently, we made our way down the hallway towards our booked karaoke room. The design of the hallway was quite unique if I see it again, with doors on each side leading to adjacent rooms. Our room, Room 04, was located directly across from Room 03.

    Each side of the corridor was nked with a series of numbered doors, with ours being located directly across from Room 03. The rooms on one side of the hallway were odd numbered 01, 03, 05, 07, and so on, while those on the other side werebeled 02, 04, 06, 08, and beyond.

    It was an interestingyout.

    We had barely arrived at our room, conveniently located near the reception area, when a sudden and jarring noise rocked the hallway.

    I whirled around to locate the source of the sound, my eyes settling on the room behind us: Room 03. Its number te had fallen off and was now lying on the ground, its digits obscured from view.

    "..ow¡­that¡­."

    Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the te holder was actually maic, its edges marked with telltale bumps indicating the presence of a ma.

    "W-What¡­?" Kinoshita''s voice trailed off, her eyes wide with confusion as the metallic tter reverberated through the hallway.

    The ma might not have been strong enough, and perhaps someone mmed the door hard enough to cause the te to fall.

    "It seems that someone inside mmed the door a bit too hard," Hinode impatientlymented.

    I turned back to open the door, which swung open easily thanks to the handle''s design. I opened the door to reveal a spacious room, replete with cushioned seating and soundproof walls. Hinode was thest toe in and shut the door behind him.

    Without wasting any time, he grabbed the tablet and started tapping on it, though I could tell he wasn''t too eager to sing.

    After a few taps, he paused for a moment, before cing the device on the table and settling himself across from us.

 Chapter 142 The Prying Student Council - Part 2

    ?

    As we sat there in silence, a minute passed.

    Hinode''s gaze was fixated on me, while Kinoshita''s eyes roamed restlessly around the room.

    Abruptly, the creaking of a door hinge shattered the stillness. Kinoshita turned to see who it was, but Hinode and I remained still. It was just the waiter, carrying a tray with two sses filled with an unfamiliar liquid.

    Hinode must have ordered it, but I didn''t bother to ask what it was. He ced two brimming sses on the table with a gentle clink and exited the room, shutting the door with care.

    Hinode''s gaze shifted from me to the drinks, his eyes now fixed on the two sses of liquid that had been set down beside Kinoshita. I followed his gaze and finally took a closer look at the beverages. - one looked like a ssic Coke, while the other was a colorful concoction of fruit juice.

    But what really caught my eye were the straws - long, weird, and bizarrely twirling straws that extended far above the rim of the sses.

    The unconventional straws were identical in both drinks.

    "Hm, can you bring the fruit juice to me?" Hinode requested, his gaze now fixated on Kinoshita.

    "Uh, yeah, sure..." Kinoshita attempted to reach for the juice, but it was slightly out of her grasp.

    It was positioned at the center of the table, closer to our side, while what appeared to be a ss of Coke sat closer to Kinoshita.

    "Nevermind."

    The situation now felt awkward, as Kinoshita stood slightly hunched with her left arm holding the table for bnce, and her right arm extending toward the ss.

    "Mmm..." she murmured.

    "I said forget it," Hinode repeated with a raised tone.

    Kinoshita was taken aback and quickly withdrew her arm, causing her to lean back abruptly in her seat, and her elbow identally hit the table. In a split second, one of the sses wobbled precariously, and the contents spilled towards Kinoshita.

    Kinoshita''s hands trembled as she raised them up in a gesture of apology, her eyes widening in surprise as the dark liquid spilled over her dress, leaving spreading ck stains in its wake.

    "Ah..."

    "What are you doing," Hinode''s voice cut through the tense silence.

    "I-I''m sorry," Kinoshita stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

    "I''ll take some napkins," Hinode said as he rose up from his seat.

    With a quick stride, he reached the door and turned the handle, allowing it to creak open. He stepped out into the hallway, his right hand fiddling with something on the door, as he slowly and strangely pulled it shut with his left.

    His actions were strange and almost robotic, as if he were programmed to perform this task in a specific manner. I couldn''t help but wonder what he was doing, but before I could voice my curiosity, he had already disappeared out of sight.

    "..."

    Not a word was uttered, and the only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioning unit. Another minute passed, and Hinode was still nowhere to be seen.

    As we sat there, the realization that the spilled drink might have left a permanent stain on the tablecloth slowly dawned on Kinoshita.

    "I-I think this is gonna be a stain..."

    I gave her a nod, and she stood up from her seat, revealing the ck stains on her dress. She made her way towards the door, her steps hesitant and her head hung low.

    As she left the room, Hinode finally returned, holding a pile of napkins in his hands. He looked at the empty seat where Kinoshita used to sit, then turned his gaze to me.

    "You took your time."

    "Sorry about that, I couldn''t find them at first," Hinode replied as he began cleaning up the spill that was on the table.

    After a moment of rubbing the napkin against the table, he released it and withdrew his hand, settling back into his seat once more.

    "What do you say about joining the student council?"

    "What do you mean?"

    "You, join, the student council."

    "..." I shook my head. "I''m not interested."

    Hinode let out a rough breath, chuckling under his breath as he looked down.

    "Not surprising, but why not?"

    "Like I said, I''m just not interested."

    "I see," he nodded slowly, his gaze drifting away momentarily before returning to me. "Well, do let us know if you ever have a change of heart. The student council would wee you with open arms."

    I gave a slight nod, acknowledging his words without making any promises.

    With a slow and deliberate movement, he reached out his right arm to retrieve the tablet, his eyes fixed upon it for a few moments before returning it to the table.

    "We still have plenty of time..." he mused, his voice trailing off. "Hm, how about a game?"

    "What do you mean by that."

    "We have one hour," he replied, his tone rxed. "Don''t worry, I won''t keep you for more than an hour."

    It was not hard to guess what he meant by that - the karaoke session would likely end in an hour.

    But why didn''t he just say so in the first ce.

    "I guess I can''t refuse, can I?"

    "The choices are entirely yours. Perhaps if you y the game, you may find a flicker of interest in winning."

    As for me, I don''t really mind engaging in a small game.

    "I don''t mind."

    He then dipped his hand into his pocket, retrieving both a pen and a piece of paper.

    "Shall I exin the rules?" he inquired, his gaze piercing into mine.

    "No need."

    He squinted his eyes, his expression somewhat annoyed.

    "Well, I wouldn''t want to win that easily," he remarked.

    "Okay."

    "The rules are simple," he began, cing the pen and paper onto the table. "It''s called Mastermind, or atleast it''s what I call it," he continues. "There are two yers, that face off against each other. Which is the code-maker, and the code-breaker."

    Code-maker and code-breaker, huh? I must say, it doesn''t sound very interesting to me. It''s actually really simple, at least from my perspective.

    "The code-maker creates a secret code using these four color markers, is what it supposed to be. But since I don''t have four color markers, we''ll just use a normal pen and a piece of paper." he exined. "The code-maker arranges them in a specific order, the code-breaker shouldn''t know the code."

    I just nodded as Hinode exined the game, but it''s been a while since Kinoshita left. Not that it held any great significance for me, but the situation was strange, to say the least.

    "The code-breaker says a sequence of four colors," Hinode continued. "Then, I''ll provide feedback to the code-breaker, which is you, based on the uracy of the guess. I''ll tell you the number of correct colors in the correct position and the number of correct colors in the wrong position."

    "I must say, that''s a rather simple game," Imented as soon he was done exining the rules.

    It seems that this game shares some simrities with the ssic board game called Mastermind. However, it is distinct in that it only requires two yers without special equipment, which adds an extrayer of simplicity to the gamey.

    "¡ªThe ability to outsmart your opponent by deducing their thought process is a skill that can be honed and perfected with practice. It''s not just a game of chance."

    "Well, you certainly make it sound a little bit more interesting."

    Interestingly, the original Mastermind game was invented back in 1970 by Mordecai Meirowitz, a highly aplished Israeli postmaster and telmunications expert. The game has since be a ssic in its own right, and it has an interesting history.

    "Hmm, let me think... to add some excitement to this game, how about this: if you fail each guess, you''ll have to answer any questions I ask."

    "Sure, I don''t mind."

    A faint chuckle escaped his lips, hardly audible if not for the sound of his breath that apanied it.

    It seemed as though he had a n in mind.

    "Why don''t we settle on our roles through a game of rock-paper-scissors?"

    In this scenario, the code-maker held the upper hand since they had no stakes. Nevertheless, I didn''t really mind which role I took on.

    After all, I can win regardless of my position.

    Mastermind (Two yers face off against each other: the code-maker and the code-breaker) :

    The code-maker creates a secret code using four color names (written on a piece of paper) and arranges them in a specific order. The code-breaker does not know the code.

    The code-breaker tries to guess the secret code by saying a sequence of four colors. The code-maker then provides feedback to the code-breaker based on the uracy of the guess.

    The feedback is provided orally. The code-maker says the number of correct colors in the correct position and the number of correct colors in the wrong position. For example, the code-maker might say "You have one color in the correct position and two correct colors in the wrong position."

    The code-breaker uses the feedback to make another guess, and the process repeats until the code is cracked (i.e., the correct code is guessed) or until the code-breaker runs out of guesses. The code-maker keeps the secret code hidden on a piece of paper throughout the game.

    If the code-breaker gets the code wrong, they have to answer any questions that the code-maker asks.

 Chapter 143 The Prying Student Council - Part 3

    ?

    "Sure."

    Hinode began to raise his hand, positioning it just below his chest. I observed his every move, noting the slight trembling in his fingers and the tension in his wrist.

    The slight tremble in his hand was nothing out of the ordinary - any human would experience it after holding their hands up in the air for a while. It''s just basic physiology - our muscles can''t stay perfectly still for too long without a little shake here and there.

    Quickly, I mirrored his actions, raising my own hand in response.

    Rock, paper, or scissors.

    It may seem like a simple game of chance, but there is a small amount level of strategy involved. It''s not just about luck; it''s about reading your opponent and predicting their moves - or you can say, psychology.

    "Three rounds."

    "Okay."

    The intricacies of human psychology manifest in various aspects of life, including in games. Whether it''s a rhythm game or a game of strategy, every human being has a pattern that dictates their behavior. For beginners, whether it''s a rhythm game or another type of game, their reliance on their senses such as sight and sound is paramount to their sess.

    But for experts, it''s all about muscle memory - their brains have ingrained patterns that dictate their movements, allowing them to y with almost effortless precision.

    Simply, it''s all about patterns stored in the brain. And this applies to everything - they say practice makes perfect, because the more you do something, the more your brain and muscles remember it.

    And so,

    We both formed a fist as we raised our hand together, and began the little game in order to y the small game.

    Without a word, Hinode clenched his fist, and I followed suit, quickly bringing it down. I didn''t bother strategizing or attempting to win the game since it shouldn''t be needed - I didn''t put much thought or effort into it, simply lowering my hand as soon as his did.

    Paper

    and

    Rock.

    Hinode''s hand was closed in a fist, while mine was open.

    "A win for me," Hinode remarked.

    Hinode maintained his stoic expression, not revealing any emotions or thoughts that could give away his moves. His eyes darted to my hand, then back to my face, trying to read any signs of my next move.

    It was interesting how hard he was focussing on this game. He definitely knew that there was something off about me, but to go as far as challenge me like this, it seemed weird. I assume that this was rted to my sister in some way.

    I made a show of adjusting my posture, shifting slightly in my seat to give the impression that I was a little bit nervous.

    He raised his fist once again, and I copied the motion.

    Paper

    and

    Scissors.

    Another loss for me.

    Hinode''s posture rxed a little, and he raised his fist for the third time before bringing it down.

    Paper.

    and

    Rock.

    "A tie."

    "Hm, one more it is then."

    I responded with a curt nod, my eyes fixed on his hands as they hovered in the air.

    I raised my fist, mirroring his actions. His left hand was rested casually on the table, a subtle indication that he wasfortable and confident in his decision.

    We locked eyes, he red at me before focusing back on my hand. Our hands were now raised around our heads, I waited for Hinode to make the first move, but he didn''t seem to want to.

    "..."

    Based on our previous rounds, I could take a few guesses as to what he might choose next. I ran a quick mental calction, taking into ount the mostmonly used moves in rock-paper-scissors and the typical patterns humans fall into when ying games.

    Hinode had used rock and scissors before, so it was unlikely he would choose the same move again. That left paper as the most probable choice.

    However, I couldn''t discount the possibility of him switching it up and going for rock again - the most probable move based on his previous choices, themon patterns that most people tend to use.

    Human behavior is often influenced by habits and preferences. When ying games, people tend to fall into patterns and habits that may influence their decisions. In the case of rock-paper-scissors, many individuals are likely to repeat their first move or choose the option they selected most frequently in the previous round.

    This is a natural inclination that can be observed in most people, even if they are not consciously aware of it.

    My own hand remained steady in the air as I waited for Hinode to make his move. He seemed to be taking his time, appeared to be considering his options again carefully.

    As we held our fists in the air, I waited for Hinode to make the first move. He seemed hesitant, as if trying to anticipate my next move.

    It didn''t matter, regardless of what I did, it was down to luck for the most part. It didn''t matter that much to me whether I lost or won anyways. I was nning on choosing my randomly.

    "..."

    ¡ªScissors.

    Finally, Hinode made his decision as I made them too. With a sudden movement, he lowered his fist to reveal

    ¡ªRock.

    His hand was tight and clenched, while mine was rxed and open, forming a peace sign with two fingers extended.

    "Nice one," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen, cing it on the table slowly.

    He then grabbed a small notebook and ripped out four pages, cing them on the table before pushing the notebook away.

    His expression remained stoic and unchanged,cking of any hint of surprise, disappointment, or joy. It was as if the oue of the game held no significance to him, and his only concern was carrying out the task at hand.

    Hinode''s pen moved swiftly on the paper as he scribbled something down.

    "Let''s see, you will be the code-breaker."

    I nodded in agreement.

    He wrote down the letters B-L-U-E on the ripped pages, forming the word ''blue'', which is, in fact, a color.

    It was obvious that he was constructing the code.

    "You''re so loose."

    However, Hinode remained silent and didn''t respond. He continued to write his code meticulously, one per one.

    It was clear that he had finished when he ced his pen on the table and held each page with a firm grip.

    "It doesn''t matter if you see or not. Atst, I''m going to shuffle it."

    "I see."

    With a flick of his wrist, he shuffled the pages, making sure that I couldn''t guess what the code was.

    He held the four ripped small notebook pages between his hands, cing them in a fan shape. then, he deftly rotated them clockwise and counterclockwise, intecing his fingers with the edges of the pages before releasing them and letting them flutter back into a shuffled stack.

    He then fixated his gaze on the tattered pages.

    "..."

    A full minute passed with only the sound of his rhythmic breathing breaking the silence.

    His piercing gaze asionally flicked over to me, as if seeking to read my thoughts and intentions.

    At longst, he made his move, deftly plucking the page on the far right andying it down on the table. And then, he took the page on the far left and ced it beside the first. Two pages remained in his hands, and he deftly ced the right one beside the first two and the left one as thest in the row.

    All of them are faced down, leaving the words obscured from view.

    "You can choose how many guess you want to have," he announced. "If you win, there will be some sort of present that I can guarantee you will enjoy."

    His words gave me pause. What kind of present could he be talking about.

    Despite my curiosity, I didn''t want to waste any more time here. It had been a while since I''d been in this karaoke bar, so I made up my mind.

    "One guess."

    ****

 Chapter 144 Hidden Identity - Part 1

    ?

    I pushed the door open and stepped out into the hallway. The number te that had dropped earlier was still lying on the floor. As I turned to close the door, something caught my eye.

    There was a te attached to the door of the room next to ours, but it wasn''t Room 03 as I had expected. Instead, it had a big, bold number 04 on it.

    I then took a step closer to inspect it.

    Curiously, I looked around the hallway and noticed something strange. The rooms that were supposed to be odd-numbered were now even-numbered and vice versa. It was like the world had been turned upside down, and I was standing in the middle of it.

    Still, it''s not really any of my business. I already have a pretty good idea of who''s behind all of this, anyway. With that thought in mind, I left the hallway and made my way towards the reception area, ready to head out.

    I approached the staff at the front desk of the karaoke bar.

    "Do you have any idea where my friend is."

    The staff paused, tapping his finger on the table.

    "Your friend...?" he repeated. "Oh, her. She left already. Did something happen?"

    "Never mind."

    I shook my head and turned to leave the karaoke. I ended up wasting some of my time in the karaoke, but it didn''t really amount to much since I did manage to get something out of it.

    As I left the karaoke, a cacophony of sounds entered my ears. The crowded schoolyard was jam-packed with students milling about, enjoying the weekend. I strolled around the schoolyard for a bit, taking in the sights and sounds, before eventually making my way back to my dorm room.

    *

    I pushed the door to my dorm room open and stepped inside, greeted by the empty silence of the space. With no concrete ns for the day aside from hanging out with Kinoshita, I figured I might as well pass the time reading books in the library.

    But first, my weary body demanded a rest, so I made my way over to the bed and sank down onto its less-than-luxurious mattress, feeling the tiredness wash over me. Though not the mostfortable, the bed would suffice for a brief rest.

    I just sat there on my bed - perched on the edge of it, for five whole minutes before I decided to shift andy down.

    I spent the next five minutes just lying there, neither dozing off nor experiencing slumber''s respite, for my body simply wasn''t fatigued enough to demand it.

    I sprang up from the bed, leaving the dormitory behind. The stillness of the hallways gave me the impression that I was the only person there. Swiftly, I made my way to the library, where I nned to spend most of my time.

    As I strolled through the schoolyard, a sense of being watched crept over me. It wasn''t like someone was tailing me from a distance, but rather I could feel their presence right behind me. Despite this, I didn''t turn back to check, thinking maybe it was just a coincidence that we were heading in the same direction. After all, they hadn''t made any move to speak to me yet.

    After a while, the familiar figure trailing me became more recognizable. The distinct scent of perfume wafted towards me, apanied by the soft patter of small shoes and the casual hum of a tune.

    As I reached the entrance of the library, I extended my right arm to push the door open. Suddenly, a delicate hand sped my shoulder. I could feel the warmth of her hand on my shoulder, and the faint scent of her perfume filled my nostrils, but I didn''t bother to turn around.

    "H-Hey!" A soft voice called out to me.

    Ignoring her plea, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Only then did I finally turn around to face her.

    "Ayato, don''t you miss me?"

    Fujiharu stood before me, her signature attempt to make our meetings memorable. It was needless, as I remembered all conversations I had, storing them away for future use.

    "Not particrly."

    She was adorned in a high-waisted pleated midi skirt in a delicate pastel hue, apanied by a white fitted t-shirt, impably tucked in, and an expertly fitted zer in aplementary shade. Additionally, she donned a pair of ankle strap heels andst but not least essory, a statement ne and earrings.

    As I observed her outfit, I couldn''t help but think about the amount of effort it must have taken to put that all together.

    Frankly speaking, it seemed like a lot of hassle. I personally preferred a simple t-shirt and pantsbo, which would suffice perfectly. Currently, I was sporting the standard school uniform, but I was content with that.

    "Ow."

    Yet, the enigma of why she trailed me silently still befuddled my mind.

    "..but for sure I do miss you¡­"

    She murmured something under her breath, her words barely audible to my ears.

    "So what do you want."

    "Isn''t that a bit too cold towards a girl?"  she replied, tilting her head to one side.

    "It''s not every day that someone follows me."

    "Are you saying that I''m a stalker?"

    "If you think so."

    I took another step further into the library, not wanting to continue the conversation at the entrance. Without a word, she followed me.

    "You do really like books huh?" Fujiharu said, attempting to start a conversation.

    "Yes."

    "Hee¡­" she murmured softly.

    On a personal level, my feelings towards books are rather ambivalent. While I wouldn''t necessarily im to be an avid bibliophile, I must confess that I find the content contained within to be quite interesting.

    It''s fascinating to ponder how the intricate musings of an author can be so meticulously transcribed onto paper, creating a vast archive of knowledge and insight that is avable for me to explore. After all, there is a wealth of information to be gleaned from books, much of which I was unable to fully digest during my time spent on the Ideal Human Project.

 Chapter 145 Hidden Identity - Part 2

    ?

    I strolled through the bookshelves with Fujiharu tagging along. My eyes scanned the spines of books, checking out each title and cover. A good title and cover is key for grabbing my attention. I had a particr penchant for titles that were evocative and had an air of intrigue, for those that promised something more than just a mundane story.

    Although I had considered picking up a novel, the selection wascking. I think they restricted the distribution of the books, with only mildly interesting works avable, all of which were rated E10+.

    In the midst of my browsing, Fujiharu''s incessant chatter interrupted my concentration.

    "I remember how we used to read together back then~"

    Despite my straightforward responses and asional grunts, she persisted in her questioning. I grabbed a book and looked around for a seat, although it was more of a cursory nce than an actual search, since the library was rarely crowded.

    The table closest to me caught my eye, and I made my way towards it. As I settled into the chair, I could feel the cool wood against my back. Shortly thereafter, Fujiharu also imed a seat at the same table.

    She sat across from me, staring right at me with her hands on the table. As for myself, I avoided her intense stare, instead fixating on the book I had ced before me.

    My life had been rtively peaceful¡­

    ¡ªfor the time being.

    It''s said that humans are always in search of peace and serenity. Yet, it''s in the nature of humans to constantly seek conflict. While I''m not actively seeking out conflict, it seems to follow me like a shadow.

    It is almost as if I speak of myself as though I am not human, as though Ick any inherent human nature. But in truth, there is no definitive answer or consensus on what it means to be human, or whether there even exists a fixed set of characteristics that define human nature.

    I sensed a gentle pressure on my right cheek, as if the tender flesh was being gentlypressed against my own teeth. Lifting my gaze, I observed Fujiharu''s slender finger delicately poking my cheek.

    She shed me a smile before withdrawing her hand and cing it back onto the table.

    "Wow, Ayato, your cheek is so soft for a guy¡­"

    "I''ll take that as apliment."

    Fujiharu''s actions were bing increasingly aggressive for every meeting, her touch unhesitant and unrestrained. I couldn''t help but feel annoyed, I knew I needed to address this behavior before it became a problem in the future.

    "What book did you take, Ayato?" she asked, shifting her gaze from my face to the book thaty on the table.

    It dawned on me that I had yet to even touch the book, and so I slowly opened it, grasping the edge of the cover and flipping it open.

    "It''s just the usual book that you would see me reading."

    "Is it something simr to Nietzsche?"

    I was taken aback by her recollection, but simply nodded and continued reading. Though I had already perused its pages, having exhausted all other options of interest, I found myselfpelled to revisit its contents once more.

    Suddenly, Fujiharu shifted her chair closer to mine, settling down right beside me.

    "Are you not invading my personal space?"

    "Quite the opposite~ this is normal."

    The sudden alteration in her behaviour led me to believe that she had caught wind of something - more specifically, something concerning me.

    Abruptly, my concentration was disrupted.

    "You are not reading, are you?"

    I opted to respond with a mere gesture, flipping the page of my book and disregarding the introductory section entirely. Although Heidegger''s work isparable to Nietzsche''s in many ways, it possesses a distinctplexity that sets it apart.

    "This looksplex¡­"

    We were close enough that the scent of her hair wafted towards me, its floral essence both delicate and airy - it was a manufactured scent, rather than a natural one, as expected.

    "Eh?"

    A familiar voice disrupted the tranquillity that had surrounded me. Raising my gaze, I was greeted by the sight of Hamasaki and her friends sauntering over.

    "Are you two going out?" Hamasaki asked, her words coated with a subtle hint of curiosity.

    In response, Fujiharu nonchntly reclined in her seat while I answered with a t denial, of course.

    "No."

    It was imperative that I steer the conversation elsewhere - the notion of dating one of the school''s most popr girls was not something that I was eager to entertain, for it would inevitably thrust me into the limelight.

    "Are you an avid reader, Hamasaki."

    "Hmm, not particrly¡­"

    Fujiharu remained silent, her expression inscrutable. It felt as if I were being used of something illicit, although I couldn''t fathom why.

    "What brings you here, then."

    "And what about you, Mizuhara?"

    "I''m just reading."

    I''ve observed that girls often take delight in discussing the topic of love, and Hamasaki was certainly no exception. Her musings piqued my interest, but I knew I had to tread carefully - this could spell trouble for me.

    ''You two seem to talk quite frequently recently. Is there something going on between you?''

    "Yeah, we''re friends."

    Fujiharu, on the other hand, seemed unfazed.

    "I don''t think there''s anything wrong with it," she interjected, her eyes trained on the book.

    "I don''t think you two would make a good couple. Your worlds are just too different," she opined, her tone dismissive.

    It was clear that her friends were not particrly invested in this discussion, as they continued to chatter amongst themselves about other matters.

    "Speaking of which, I must take something from the library. Enjoy your reading session with Fujiharu," she said before turning on her heel and making her way towards the reception desk.

    "That was a close one, huh~?"

    "I''m not quite sure what you''re getting at."

    "Oh,e now, isn''t it clear? Ayato, you''re not one to enjoy being in the spotlight, are you?" she replied, a small smile gracing her lips.

    Her sudden shift in behaviour had me on edge.

    "What''s gotten into you today."

    ***

    ***

    ???

    [Volume 3 END]

 Chapter 146 Volume 3 Afterword

    ?

    What''s up everyone, very long time no see.

    This is a very abrupt ending to the volume, but I wanted to start freshing back to this novel. Thest few chapters of thest volume were not my usual quality, and the characterisation was all over the ce. I''m at the point where I don''t even know how to fix it, so I''m just going to basically reset things somewhat with this new volume.

    Now, some of you might be wondering why I was gone for so long (or at least I hope ;-;), so I feel like I should give some sort of coherent exnation.

    When I first started this book, I was in 10th grade (I know, I''m basically an egg). At that time, I didn''t have much going on, so it was pretty easy to grind out chapters. When I first started posting (I started on Royal Road), I was posting 3 chapters a day (like a psychopath). It was fine since I would spend all day in the library just writing and writing and writing.

    I never really struggled at school, so there was never any pressure for me to do homework etc. That was the case for quite a while until a few months ago. 12th grade started, and things were heating up. Australia has quite apetitive ranking system which means now I was finally facing people who were simr strength to me.

    As such, I''ve had to split my focus. I was basically studying 24/7, and there was just no time for me to fit in writing. Around that time, I was also juggling several other books (for mary reasons), which made it even harder for me tomit to something. There was just no way that I was going to bnce all of that, so what happened was that I basically just fell apart, lol.

    I started and stopped a few more books in the meantime during this break. None of them did that well, and I ended up just losing motivation.

    Fast forward a little while. I''m still going decently at school, so I can finally invest some time in writing (+a few failed business ventures, which is a separate story). I decided toe back to this book since I noticed that it still has a decent reader base.

    I actually really like this book, and I think it''s one of my best works. However, thetest few chapters, which I wrote during my hard times really diminished the quality. Webnovel also doesn''t allow for chapter deletion so I''ve just had to deal with it. I''ve gone back and edited them, but it''s still iffy, you''ll have to read them with a pinch of salt and ignore the characterisation problems.

    *

    I''ll definitely bring the quality back up with this new volume. The upload rate will much slower than before, but at least it won''t be zero.

    As for the future of the story, I''ll be developing the nature vs nurture plot significantly harder in theing volumes. The school will begin creating harsher punishments but also bringing in more students, as Kurosawa Hayao tries to find people who are smarter than Tachibana Kohei''s Oues.

    Talking about Oues, there''ll be lots moreing into the school. These Oues will be the ones who survived the Incident that Ruined the Oues, meaning they''re incredibly smart, even surpassing Hasegawa Mio.

    We might even be introduced to the Girl From All Those Years Ago...

    Next volume, we''ll get more special exams, more expulsions and more violence.

    In the next special exam, conflict will ensue between Hasegawa Mio and Mizuhara Sayaka. In the chaos, both sides begin to show their vulnerabilities, and we learn what Hasegawa-san''s mission is, the mission that has guided her for so long. We also find out why Sayaka holds a deep grudge against Mio.

    Turns out, it wasn''t the first time they met.

    "Do you still intend to hide behind all those people? You''re just a coward, Mizuhara Sayaka-san."

    "That''s toughing from you. You know, I''ve known your mission this entire time, Mio-chan."

    "Even if you do, there''s nothing you can do about it."

    For the first time, Mizuhara Sayaka trembled.

    ...

    Outside the school, a sector of the government provides funding for the re-establishment of the Ideal Human Project, trying to bury all the evidence from the Incident that Ruined the Oues.

    Inplete secrecy, they run the project again. This time, they were given more resource than ever before. They create lots of talented children, but no one like Mizuhara Ayato.

    It makes them wonder whether something like that was possible to replicate ever again.

    Kurosawa Hayao is seen talking to them.

    Whilst he seems like the absolute power at National High School, there are still people above him. One person, to be exact.

    Tachibana Kohei''s legacy will forever live on.

    Or will it?

    ***

    Anyways that''s enough about the next volume. I just wanted to thank you all for sticking along with me even after my long breaks. It''s honestly amazing that so many people care about what I write and the story of Mizuhara Ayato.

    On a separate note, I''ve been looking at some artists to see if I want tomission some art. I guess it''ll all depend on whether or not Webnovel wants to promote me. If so, I''llmission a high-quality cover (because I''ll have to) and then we can see what the characters actually look like.

    As for the length of this story, I briefly stated it before, but I''ve wanted to keep this novel up for the length of my childhood. It''s a memoir of all the experiences I''ve gone through and a vivid reminder that I''ll leave some sort of imprint on this world, however small.

    Don''t worry, it''ll be a while till the official end of this story. Even the initial 500+ chapter guess was probably an understatement. Once exams finish for good, I''ll be able tomit basically all fo my time to writing this. Just like the beginning.

    ***

    ***

    Also, just a little spoiler for far (10-15 volumes, maybe even more) into the future. I''ve nned out the ending and even the title of the final chapter.

    ¡ªI''ll Meet You After the End of the World

    ...

    From the perspective of Mizuhara Ayato.

 Chapter 147 Lottery Special Exam - Part 1

    ?

    Istion.

    I was sitting alone, reading through a novel in the empty ssroom. It was several hours after the end of ss, and no one hung around. It was nice. The only sound was the methodic ticking of the clock at the front of the ss. The lights were still on, but the ambient sunlight was starting to die down, coating the ss in a subtle greyish tint.

    The door slid open.

    "Ah, so this is what you do in the afternoon, Ayato."

    I looked up at the girl.

    "What is it, Hasegawa?"

    She made her way over to me. Hopping up onto the ledge at the back of the room, she pushed aside some stationery that was previously upying the space.

    "You know, I got a pretty threatening message from your sister~."

    "So what do you want from me."

    "Aha, nothing specifically, I guess. Would you have any hard feelings if I did some things to her?"

    I closed my book.

    "I don''t really care."

    Hasegawa suddenly hopped down.

    "Hold on, have you even seen your sister since leaving the project?"

    "No. I haven''t."

    "Isn''t that sad? She''s at this school too, you know? Don''t you want to see her?"

    I got out of the seat. The screech of the chair echoed through the room.

    "Not particrly."

    "Aw, even you should care about something like that. Don''t worry. She''ll be here soon~."

    She''ll be here?

    I guess I was somewhat curious about what she was like.

    ...

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    ***

    I was packing away my book when I heard someone else enter the room.

    She still had the long, dark hair that I remember from when we used to live together. Despite the fact that I hadn''t seen her in such a long time, it didn''t seem as if she had changed much. Maybe the truth was that I never knew her well enough to understand her intricacies.

    We made eye contact, and she suddenly froze.

    "Ayato..."

    My sister uttered nothing but my name. The same name she always called me.

    "How are you going, Sayaka."

    There was a moment of silence as Sayaka stood at the doorway.

    Hasegawa began tough.

    "It seems that you weren''t expecting to see Ayato here~."

    ...

    My sister made her way over to me.

    "I guess this is how we meet again. I would''ve preferred to see you a littleter. I still haven''t finished my preparations yet."

    She had a solemn tone.

    I wasn''t sure what I was supposed to say.

    "Sorry, Ayato. I want to talk with you about everything, but I can''t do that just yet."

    Walking past me, she stood in front of Hasegawa.

    "Oh? You don''t want to have your family reunion?"

    "I''ll have plenty for that when you''re expelled from the school."

    She looked back over at me before leaving the ss.

    ...

    Just like that. I met my sister again for the first time in ten years. I guess she had things that she was hiding from me. It didn''t matter that much to me. I''d eventually find out.

    "Aw, I was expecting a much more heartfelt reunion~."

    It was about what I expected.

    "What was the point of that."

    "You know, I''d feel bad if I got your sister expelled without her ever seeing you again."

    I began making my way out of the ss.

    "I assume you have a n to do so then."

    She giggled.

    "Not only me. She has one to get me expelled. One of us is going to go, Ayato~. Which one of us would you prefer?"

    I walked through the hall.

    "It doesn''t matter to me."

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Later that night, whilst Kimura and I were resting on our beds, a notification came through our phones. Ever since the end of the midterm exams, most students have been able to live a rtivelyfortable life, enjoying what liberties the school provided. Some were still struggling with points, but most had managed to adapt to the school''s ways.

    Well, the school wasn''t one to let students be void of stress.

    -

    Lottery Special Exam

    ~

    This special exam will test your decision-making ability, especially under circumstances where luck is involved. The exam will begin tomorrow morning; everyone must be seated in ss by the time itmences.

    All students will start with three lives at the beginning of the exam. During the exams, every student must spin five different lottery wheels. You will be shown them one by one, and you have a total of two skips.

    After the five lottery wheels are spun, you will have to participate in a small game, using whatever you gained from the lottery wheels.

    If at any point your number of lives reaches zero, you will have to pay 100,000 points or expulsion.

    -

    Further details will be given after the initial five spins have beenpleted.

    -

    "It''s that time again, Mizuhara. This sounds pretty interesting, although they''re hiding much more information in this brief."

    "It seems so."

    Kimura leaned back.

    "I assume you''re going to cruise through this exam as well, isn''t that right?"

    "What makes you say that?"

    Heughed a little.

    "You seem to be hiding something. No normal student would be able to stand up to all the school''s challenges with such a rxed demeanour."

    "I just seem that way."

    "Haha, are you sure you only seem that way?"

    ...

    A few moments passed, and Kimura went to sleep.

    The meeting with my sister today made me notice that my memory of that time seemed uncharacteristically foggy. I never forgot things after seeing them, yet it still seems that I don''t fully remember what happened back then.

    I assume that the Ideal Human Project did more than just take me in. It was possible that they engaged in gic engineering or other scientific methods, although that would undermine Tachibana Kohei''s principle¡ªso the likelihood is low.

    For Hasegawa to have been previously acquainted with my sister, it was likely that my sister also had some part to y in the entire project, although I have no recollection of ever seeing her there

    There are probably many things that were hidden from me from that time.

    ...

    *****

 Chapter 148 Lottery Special Exam - Part 2

    ?

    As usual, I arrived at ss earlier than most other students.

    Somewhat unusually, I noticed that someone was sitting in my seat. It was a girl who I had talked to a little since the beginning of the Tachibana system, although we hadn''t really been acquainted very deeply. Whilst the seating n wasn''t designated, generally, people would just sit in the same spot they always sat.

    I didn''t really care that much and simply sat down in the seat one spot forward.

    "Mizuhara, aren''t you going to say anything about how I''m sitting in your seat?"

    I ced my bag on the ground.

    "I don''t mind."

    I took out the book that I had been reading the past few days. For some reason, it seemed that she didn''t stop ring at me. I guess I couldn''t just ignore it.

    "You know, I''ve thought that you''re a little weird."

    I sighed, flipping to the page I left offst night.

    "That''s not very nice."

    "I mean it. Shouldn''t you care if someone''s in your seat?"

    Not particrly.

    "I''m not sure what you expect from me, Hamasaki."

    She was acting differently than usual. Although her cold, icy demeanour hadn''t changed. I wonder why she held up a persona for the first few days of being here.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Eventually, the ss filled up with students, and everyone got into their seats. It took a few minutes, but all the students quietened down, allowing the teacher to begin exining the special exam.

    "You will be doing your first spin of the lottery in a few minutes. Feel free to talk during the process; however, remember that there will be an event at the end. If you want to skip the specific spin, press the skip button that will be located at the bottom. Keep the app open and wait for the next screen to appear."

    Hamasaki tapped me on the shoulder.

    "Mizuhara, don''t you think that Kaoru''s been acting weird?"

    I looked over.

    "I suppose so."

    She did seem a little more on edge than usual. Normally, she''d take the lead immediately, having a discussion with the ss regarding this exam, but for some reason, she was silent.

    After a little while, the first screen appeared.

    - *** -

    [Lottery 1]

    - Gain ONE attack token - 30%

    - Gain THREE defence tokens - 20%

    - Lose a life - 20%

    - Gain ONE skip - 20%

    - Gain ONE special bonus - 10%

    [Lottery 1]

    Attack tokens can be used to take a life of another student at the end of the exam. A defence token will cancel out an attack token; however, it can only be used on yourself.

    - *** -

    The first one was a pretty easy choice. There was only a very small chance of receiving a negative effect. The only reason someone would choose to skip this was to attempt to preserve their lives no matter what. In reality, the defence and attack tokens have much more utility, although choosing to skip could still make sense if you wanted to be very passive.

    Also, just observing the conditions of the attack and defence tokens, they would appear to be very simr at first nce. However, the fact that defence tokens could only be used on yourself meant that groups of attackers would always have the upper hand. If you were targeted by a group of people, there was basically no way to defend yourself.

    That seemed to be the undertone of the exam.

    I decided to roll the lottery wheel.

    ...

    [You received: ONE attack token]

    It was fine.

    Suddenly, Furukawa stood up.

    "Guys, before we make a decision, we should discuss this as a ss. Looking at possible oues, it''s very likely that we can use this as an opportunity to attack other sses."

    Itsuki was backing him up as usual.

    Noticing Furukawa, Kaoru also quickly got up. It seemed that she finally wanted to lead the ss again.

    "Furukawa is right. These attack tokens aren''t very strong on their own, but if we work together, we can basically expel someone of our choice from the other sses."

    Chatter began to grow in the ss. I had already made my decision, so I didn''t really care.

    They ced a lot of emphasis on the notion of attacking other sses. However, ss structures at this school were very fluid, meaning there wasn''t much benefit in necessarily grouping up against another ss. I suppose Karou saw this as an opportunity to regain some influence in the group, though.

    "Kaoru seems desperate," Hamasaki whispered to me.

    "Somewhat."

    I wondered why she was talking to me out of everyone. She wasn''t exactly unpopr with other students in the ss.

    Furukawa and Kaoru seemed to be sharing leadership in this exam.

    "We can have a vote near the end of the lotteries. This way, we can coordinate an attack and act more effectively," suggested Karou.

    "That sounds good, Kaoru," Furukawa added.

    There was a little more discussion before the next screen appeared. The second lottery was up, and there were some different odds tost time.

    - *** -

    [Lottery 2]

    - Lose a life - 40%

    - Lose two lives - 20%

    - Gain TWO attack tokens - 20%

    - Gain FOUR defence tokens - 20%

    [Lottery 2]

    - *** -

    This time, the risk was much higher. 60% of the time, you would be penalised. However, the rewards were also greater. It seemed like a pretty standard next event. More students would be skipping this onepared tost time.

    It was still worth it for me to try to gather defence tokens at the risk of lives. In the end, a defence token was basically directly convertible for a life.

    Anyways, as long as I didn''t lose all my lives during the lottery phase, there were no real risks to me.

    [You received: TWO attack tokens]

    Ah, I would''ve preferred defence tokens, but such was the nature of the lottery.

    I suddenly heard some cries.

    "¡ªah! I just lost two lives!"

    "¡ªYou should''ve skipped, you idiot!"

    It didn''t really matter; judging by the progression of the exam, I could somewhat predict what the next few lotteries would involve. It helped with decision-making.

    ...

    Just as expected, the next lottery involved some pretty extreme items.

 Chapter 149 Lottery Special Exam - Part 3

    ?

    There was one question that Tachibana Kohei asked me during my time in the Ideal Human Project. At that time, I simply interpreted it as a meaningless piece of small talk. However, now, almost eight yearster, I realise that it had an ulterior meaning, just like everything else that he said to me.

    ¡ªMizuhara, why do you think I started the Ideal Human Project.

    My initial answer at that time was that it was so he could prove that nurture would always beat nature. I said that it was his justification to demonstrate that he could create the perfect human.

    Now, I know the real answer.

    ¡ªIt was because he loved Tachibana Emi very much.

    He would do anything to protect her, even if it meant ruining the lives of hundreds of other children.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    "Mizuhara, what have you gotten from your spins?"

    I looked back at Hamasaki. She seemed weirdly talkative with me.

    "I''ve got three attack tokens."

    I didn''t have any reason to hide my items.

    "Ah, I skipped the second one, but I got a special bonus from the first one."

    The special bonus.

    "What was it."

    "Apparently, I get to choose a random student, and it shows me all the items they''ve got."

    It seemed like a pretty harmless ability if we were just judging off of the first two lotteries. However, it could give insight if the ss were to target a specific student for expulsion. It could also aid with efficiency since you could see exactly how many defence tokens someone had. By the look on her face, it seemed that she had also made an observation regarding her item.

    It was something that could detect whether someone was lying or not. That might be an even stronger weapon than its actual purpose.

    - *** -

    [Lottery 3]

    - Lose a life - 50%

    - Gain a Shield - 20%

    - Gain FOUR defence tokens - 20%

    - Gain a special bonus - 10%

    [Lottery 3]

    A Shield allows the user to only be attacked by the student who uses the highest number of attack tokens on them. All other attacks from other students are considered invalid.

    - *** -

    The Shield was a very purposefully designed item. Reading its description, it basically forced people into one-vs-ones, stopping any coordinated attacks on a single person. However, most of its strength was in the fact that you couldn''t deduce whether they had it or not.

    I assumed that items were going to be tradable at the end of the exam, as such, someone could just gather all the attack tokens themselves to attack someone.

    It was a powerful tool. However, it couldn''t save you if you were targeted by someone highly intelligent.

    There was some discussion between Kobayashi and Kaoru.

    "Everyone, our best strategy is to have everyone spin the lottery every time. At the end, we can redistribute the items to best suit each person. You might lose some lives, but we''llpensate you with defence tokens at the end. We want as much leverage as we can to attack the other sses."

    Furukawa agreed with her.

    "Unless you''re at risk of losing every single life, you should spin every time. That definitely seems like the best strategy at the moment."

    Kaoru seemed to be regaining her confidence with Kobayashi and Furukawa''s support.

    I span the lottery wheel.

    [You received: Special Bonus]

    [Your special bonus is: Choose a person. Their number of attack and defence tokens swap.]

    It was somewhat interesting of a bonus.

    Considering the general theme that allocated more defence tokens than attack tokens, it could provide someone with the necessary offensive capacity to deal damage. I didn''t really have much use for it myself, but it could be leveraged at the end.

    Although, just seeing how things are going, all the items were probably going to be distributed around by Kaoru.

    "Hey, Mizuhara. Do you want to bring down Furukawa with me?"

    Hamasaki was talking to me once again.

    I wonder why she held a grudge against Furukawa.

    "Why do you want to bring him down?"

    "It''s pretty clear what he wants to do. He''s always been selfish, you know? Everything he does is for his own benefit."

    I suppose that was true, but I wasn''t too interested in aiding her.

    "I can''t really be bothered with something like that."

    "Ah... Mizuhara, you''re the only other person who thinks rationally. If we wait, Furukawa''s going to gain influence and slowly take over the ss."

    "I thought you were friends with him."

    She seemed disgusted.

    "What made you think that? He invited me to the library once when we were in 2-E, that was all. He''s obviously just a selfish person who wants to use others."

    To be fair, it would be a little bit of a pain if Furukawa was to take over the ss. Kaoru''s leadership was what allowed me to live freely for the most part. Judging by the current climate of the ss, there was definitely doubt about Kaoru''s capabilities.

    It would mean that I wasted my effort in trying to keep Kaoru stable by protecting Kobayashi.

    I wonder what Hamasaki''s n was. It seemed interesting to observe her at the moment, considering the fact that she seemed to be more self-aware than most other people.

    I guess it could be interesting.

    "What''s your idea then," I asked.

    She moved closer, whispering to me.

    "We should both just target him with our attack tokens. There are some others in the ss who don''t like him very much, we can just directly take him down."

    "He has some control over the ss. He could easily use his leverage to protect himself."

    He could simply ask for defence tokens from other members of the ss. Drawing negative attention towards us wasn''t going to be a good idea in any way.

    Although, I did see some ways around it.

    I did wonder how she''d handle this.

    "Hamasaki, I won''t directly get involved, but I''ll give you some of my items at the end of the lottery. You can use them against him."

    She looked at me with a surprised expression.

 Chapter 150 Lottery Special Exam - Part 4

    ?

    The chatter slowly died down as we prepared for the next lottery.

    - *** -

    [Lottery 4]

    - Lose a life - 50%

    - Lose two lives - 20%

    - Gain ONE attack token - 20%

    - Gain TWO attack tokens - 10%

    [Lottery 4]

    - *** -

    The school was clearly trying to make attack tokens as hard to obtain as possible. It made sense since they didn''t want a ughter at the end of the exam. Rationally, I had no reason to spin this time. I had no need for attack tokens which meant that it wasn''t worth the risk.

    The only threat to me at the end of this exam was Tachibana Emi. She definitely wasn''t finished trying to expel me, and more importantly, she had an immunity from the midterms. This meant that she could basically sacrifice all of her lives in exchange for more leverage in attacking me.

    One way to protect myself was the threaten Ichikawa Mana. However, in a situation like this, there was another way, an easier way¡ªbecause in situations like this, whilst Tachibana was incredibly smart, she is also very predictable.

    ...

    I skipped this spin.

    "Mizuhara, why don''t you want to help me?"

    I looked back at Hamasaki again.

    "I have some other priorities during this exam. In fact, I''m going to need your special item."

    She looked at me with an unhappy expression.

    "What do you need the item for? Moreover, why should I give it to you?"

    I took out my phone.

    "How many points do you want for it?"

    She seemed taken aback. I was ready to offer quite arge sum of points since it was pretty important to my overall strategy. I had recently gathered quite a few during the midterm exams anyways.

    "U-um... I''ve got plenty. I don''t want your points."

    "Ah."

    "However, I''ll give you the item if you promise to help me take down Furukawa after this exam."

    I guess it was an okay deal. I preferred not to have to draw attention to myself, but it saved me some points in the long run. It was better for me as well to keep Kaoru as the leader.

    "Sure."

    Right there, she transfered the item to me.

    I decided to give her my attack tokens in return; I had no need for them anyways.

    I was surprised by how eagerly she took the initiative. Whatever the case, I decided to think about how I''d take care of Tachibana''s impending attack.

    Furukawa and Kaoru were still trying to organise something with the ss. I didn''t really care, patiently waiting for the next lottery.

    The teacher spoke.

    "This will be the final lottery. Make your choice carefully. Let''s hope you still have a skip left."

    - *** -

    [Lottery 5]

    - Lose two lives - 95%

    - Gain 5,000 points - 5%

    [Lottery 5]

    - *** -

    There were some gasps from several of the other students.

    "¡ªwhat the hell is this!"

    "¡ªthis isn''t fair at all!"

    It seemed that the school prepared thest lottery as basically a punishment for using too many skips earlier in the exam. Normally, someone would never risk two lives for 5,000 points, especially if they had lost lives earlier on.

    However, I had a reason to do so.

    My goal wasn''t the points; it was the lives.

    I chose to spin.

    [You have lost two lives]

    ...

    There was a cry from another student.

    "¡ªWait! I just lost all my lives! Hold on, hold on! Wait, what''s happening now?!"

    He cried out in anguish. Kaoru tried to console him.

    Furukawa asked the teacher.

    "Is there any way to get more lives?"

    "No. The only thing you can do is pay the 100,000 points to reverse the expulsion."

    There was a moment of silence as the boy looked around the ss in desperation. I could already see what was going to happen. Taking charge, Kaoru tried to say something to the ss; however, Furukawa spoke over her.

    "We have 26 students in this ss. We can prevent your expulsion if everyone gives 4,000 points. How many points do you have?" he asked the boy.

    "...I-I''ve got 8,000..."

    Furukawa thought for a moment.

    "That means everyone would have to pay around 3,600 points. This would be doable."

    Someone else spoke up.

    "If that''s the case, why didn''t we save all of our ssmates who were expelled during the midterm exams? This isn''t how our ss is run."

    After thement, Kaoru was finally able to talk to everyone.

    "I agree. Every decision in this ss is made by a majority vote. That''s been the rule this entire time. This will be no different."

    Suddenly, the boy jumped up and grabbed her cor.

    "You can''t just let me get expelled! I''ve worked so hard for this ss! I even got one of the highest scores on the midterm exam. Furukawa said so. Everyone only needs to put in 3,600 points!"

    He shook her body. Kaoru''s hair was being swept around, sweeping onto her face.

    Kobayashi quickly got up and pulled the boy off of her.

    "Stop. Stop it! We''re going to have a vote, isn''t that right, Furukawa?"

    For the first time, Kobayashi looked over at Furukawa for confirmation.

    Ah, she was giving him some of the power that he wanted. This wasn''t going to be good for Kaoru.

    Furukawa sighed.

    "Alright, we''ll run a vote right now."

    Kaoru could only look over in shock as Furukawa began leading the ss.

    There was a raise of hands. It was a rather chaotic situation.

    The vote was 7 for, and 19 against.

    However, Furukawa and Itsuki were some of the people who voted ''for''. In doing so, he managed to paint himself as a positive figure, opposing Kaoru and Kobayashi''s negative votes.

    There was a moment of silence.

    Eventually, some members of the ss began to criticise Kaoru''s morals¡ªexactly what Furukawa would''ve hoped.

    Hamasaki went to get out of her seat, but I turned and held her down.

    "Huh?"

    "Don''t expose yourself as an enemy to him."

    "But... are you sure?"

    I looked down at my phone. It seemed that the next period of the exam had already begun, and people were beginning to get attacked.

    However, the room was still in a state of disarray.

 Chapter 151 Lottery Special Exam - Part 5

    ?

    The teacher spoke up.

    "The final phase of the exam has already begun. You have three minutes to submit any attacks and use any items."

    Their words brought the ss from a disorganised chaos to an organised one. It was clear to anyone that in this state, the ss wasn''t going to be coordinating any strategies. The one advantage that ss 2-C held over the other sses was null.

    Furukawa was the one to address the ss.

    "Everyone, I won''t force you, but anyone who doesn''t have a specific target in mind should target Kimura from ss 2-A."

    Oh? It seemed that Furukawa would appear to have some sort of grudge against Kimura. Considering that they never appeared to be on bad terms, I assumed that Furukawa was again trying to prove his leadership of the ss. Kimura was an almost universally feared figure from 2-A, so he was a safe, logical pick as a target for the ss.

    There was some agreeance. In messy situations like these, people didn''t care about their voices. All they wanted was someone to listen to.

    It showed an ironic resemnce to the real world.

    Kobayashi looked over at Kaoru.

    "Kaoru! Shouldn''t we have the vote? This is what our ss does, isn''t it?"

    However, unlike Kobayashi, she could clearly tell that there was no point in trying to organise a vote. Time was running out, and all people wanted to do was follow instructions. Sighing, Kaoru just sat back down.

    "Lucy, there''s no point right now."

    "Still, we should vote on something, shouldn''t we? If this continues, our ss will fall apart?"

    Kaoru was resting her face on her hands.

    "I don''t know what to do. Let''s just make our own decisions this time."

    "Kaoru! You''re our leader!"

    She suddenly looked up after hearing Kobayashi''s words. However, upon seeing Furukawa leading the ss, she lowered her head again.

    "I''ll try to reorganise the ss after this exam. There''s only a minute left anyways. Lucy, just use your items how you''d like."

    Kobayashi was still insistent on following Kaoru''s leadership. It seemed that the situation in the ss was starting to boil over. Eventually, the two sides were going to collide head-first with each other.

    It was only a matter of time from now.

    ...

    I looked down at my phone. I still had Tachibana to deal with. I guess I''ll make some preparations.

    ...

    I looked at the items she had using the special item that Hamasaki gave me. What I saw was somewhat surprising.

    ¡ªShe had not a single item.

    Looks like I''ll have to test my luck too.

    ***

    The time limit ran out as everyone finished using their items.

    There was a moment of silence as our phones updated the information.

    ...

    Finally, it vibrated.

    -

    [0 attack tokens were used against you]

    [You have one life remaining]

    [Congrattions, you have passed the exam]

    ...

    Tachibana was far too predictable.

    ***

    ***

    ¨©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¨

    [Tachibana Emi POV]

    I always knew that Ayato was smart. However, even someone like him has weaknesses. I know what they are, but I can''t get him into a situation where I can exploit them. Ah, I can feel the anger brewing up inside me again.

    As long as I keep trying, he''ll eventually fall.

    ***

    This exam was going to be another opportunity for me. Looking down at my phone, I thought about the options I had. My greatest weapon was the special item that told me the number of lives a student had. Using this, I''d be able to deduce what decisions Ayato was making. This was an exam about luck, but more importantly, this was an exam about probability.

    I used the item on him.

    ¡ªHe had one life.

    By simply calcting the odds, it was clear that he didn''t skip a single lottery aside from thest one. It made sense for someone like him. His strategy was probably to use the shield item to corner me before overwhelming me with arge number of defence tokens.

    It wasn''t going to be easy to get around this. However, I had someone else on my side this time.

    I opened the messaging app.

    [Murakami, he''s got one life]

    [Alright. I''ve prepared 42 attack tokens]

    [Good, I''ll transfer you the 27 that I''ve managed to get]

    Attacking him by proxy, this way, even if he had some sort of item, he wouldn''t be able to target me directly. We managed to gather arge number of attack tokens; I wasn''t sure if it was going to be enough, but he would definitely need to make sacrifices if he was to gather enough defence tokens.

    It was expensive to gather so many attack tokens, but it was the only way to put pressure on him. I had plenty of points to spare anyways.

    Let''s see what you do, Ayato.

    A few moments passed, and the next phase of the exam finally began.

    I had nothing else to do, so I just sat back and had a rest.

    There was no need for me to prepare any defences since I still had the immunity from the previous exam. If Ayato was going to try to take me down with him, it wasn''t going to work.

    Suddenly, I saw another message from Murakami Akio.

    [Bad news]

    [What happened?]

    [All of our attack tokens just got converted to defence tokens]

    [What...]

    Ah... ah... what the hell.

    I guess it did seem like it was all going a bit too well. Still, this is a bit unfair, isn''t it? To have an item that we didn''t even know about, this school sure loved to y with us. There was nothing I could do at this point.

    There were only three seconds left. It wasn''t enough time to gather more items.

    Ayato... I''m going to expel you. Then, finally, I''ll be able to live a normal life. We''re all the same, aren''t we? All we want to do is just live a normal life... if that was what you wanted, why did you do that all those years ago.

    This hatred will never end. Not until you finally feel the pain that they felt.

    ...

 Chapter 152 A Cold, Heartless Meeting - Part 0 [Hasegawa Mio]

    ?

    I wasn''t always like this.

    ***

    It would be fair to say that most of my life was guided by the joy of defeating someone who''s good at what they do. It was fun to beat my dad at chess. It was fun to beat the fastest boy at school. It was fun to get the highest score in the ss.

    However, it was around this time that I realised something. Most of the people around me simply weren''t driven by the same motivations. Eventually, there was no one who I felt could speak on equal terms with me.

    Children naturally tend to avoid things that are hard for them. This was something that I noticed in the people around me. It was impossible to get them to actively engage with me in anything. They never put in the time, effort or dedication required to genuinely challenge me.

    Still, I still got a little amount of joy from ying with them. But it always seemed like I was an adult, looking down at them, aimlessly exining things to them over and over.

    I would also talk with adults, but they would always look down on me. They would simply disregard me as ''cute'' and leave it at that. No one ever bothered to have a genuine conversation with me. It was painful¡ªlike I was living in an echo chamber where no one could hear me.

    I just wanted someone who understood me, someone who shared the thoughts I had, someone who could rte to me.

    ¡ªThat''s all a child ever wants, isn''t it?

    It was a few months before the death of my parents when I first met an interesting person.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    I looked down at the girl sitting on the couch in front of me, writing something on a piece of paper. From what I could tell, she was a few years older than me. I was nning on reading a book on that couch before she swiftly took the seat that I had wanted.

    I guess I''ll just find another.

    "Hey, you."

    Huh. I turned around upon hearing her voice.

    "Do I know you?"

    "You wanted to sit here, didn''t you?"

    "Well, I did want to sit there, but not so much anymore."

    Sheughed a little.

    "Don''t worry. You can sit next to me!"

    "Eh..."

    It was a bit awkward now that she offered so proactively.

    I looked at her sheet of paper. Seeing it again, I noticed that she had been scribbling down a music score. It was upside down, but I could still envision it in my head.

    It was bad.

    "Your piece is bad."

    "Huh?"

    This time, she was the one taken aback.

    "The melody is boring."

    "W-what... wait, how do you know? Also, it''s not bad!"

    She scrambled, speed-reading through her piece.

    "It''s hard to tell when I don''t have something to y it with, you know? The music store I usually go to was closed today! Anyways, you just have bad taste."

    "I do not have bad taste!"

    I snatched her sheet music out of her hand. In the process, she ended up tearing off the corner of the paper. I began reading her piece more carefully.

    Suddenly, she got up.

    p.

    My cheek began to hurt.

    "Don''t just go around stealing other people''s things!"

    In the short period of time, upon reading it more closely, I realised that it wasn''t as bad as I thought. Her handwriting was messy, which made it hard to read while it was upside-down. However, as I yed the tune in my mind, it was actually quite nice.

    She snatched her sheet music back from me.

    I looked up at her.

    "Sorry. I just wanted a closer look at it."

    "Well, ask at least!"

    ...

    "Anyways, it was actually pretty good."

    It seemed she didn''t hear me because she stormed off into the distance.

    I realised that I hadn''t made the best first impression. However, her name was on the sheet music, so I''d likely be able to talk to her again. Her name was Mizuhara Sayaka.

    Seeing her music, I could tell that she was talented. More importantly, she acted differently from other children I had met.

    In an ironic expression of fate, I ended up meeting her one more time.

    ...

    ***

    ...

    I had been a part of the Ideal Human Project for several years at this point. The sound of people calling me the ''prodigy'' of the project was beginning to feel dull in my ears. It was obvious that I''d be the best if I was the one who worked the most efficiently and effectively. This was a given¡ªwas it not?

    It was ironic that the next time I met Sayaka was at the end of the Ideal Human Project. It was aical repetition of history because, this time, I only made a worse impression.

    Rushing into the facility, she was looking for Ayato, but all she could find was me.

    The Incident that Ruined the Oues had just urred.

    I looked at her face. It was colder than before. All of the emotions that used to live there hadpletely disappeared, just like me. I gave her a little smile, but it didn''t make her very happy.

    "Where are all of the Oues?"

    I looked up at her.

    "They''re gone now."

    Suddenly, a spout of anger surged through her. She grabbed my shoulders, shaking my body.

    "What do you mean they''re gone...?!"

    "They''re gone."

    Looking around, she saw the crying Tachibana Emi curled up in a ball, covering her eyes with her sleeves. Immediately, she rushed over to her, asking for details, trying to figure out what had happened. She was ignoring me, so I decided to make my way toward the main hall of the facility¡ªthat was where Ayato was.

    ...

    Since Sayaka hates me so much, I guess she must''ve found out what part I had to y in the Incident that Ruined the Oues.

    It was ironic.

    I guess there was no fixing this rtionship anymore.

    I wonder, Sayaka, what will you do?

 Chapter 153 Internal Shift - Part 1

    ?

    ***

    ¨©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥¨

    [Matsuoka Rei POV]

    I was sitting in the dark room since the other girl here with me refused to turn it on. Making myselffortable on her couch, she eventually walked over to me.

    I looked up at her.

    "I did what you wanted me to, Akachi Hime. Are you going to exin your intentions to me now?"

    "Aw,e on, Rei, don''t you want some tea?"

    I sighed.

    "I only did what you asked because I thought that it was interesting. Don''t get the wrong idea, thinking that we''re friends."

    Akachiughed.

    "Alright, alright. I wouldn''t want someone from the Ideal Human Project to turn on me~."

    I still didn''t understand how she knew that. From all my memories of that time, there was no sign of anyone like her being part of the project. Despite knowing a lot about my past, she had no recollection of Tachibana-sensei, which was the part that confused me the most.

    "Who really are you?"

    "Aha, you don''t have to be so blunt."

    "You know, you really know too much about me. If you don''t exin yourself, I will get rid of you."

    Sheughed again.

    "I was part of the Ideal Human Project too."

    "That''s a lie. I don''t remember you at all."

    "Is your memory that good?"

    I got up. Despite the fact that I was getting into her personal space, she didn''t move back at all. Instead, she was just listlessly smiling at me.

    She poked my nose before speaking.

    ___

    "The Ideal Human Project was based off Subject Zero, also known as me."

    ___

    "I don''t know what you mean."

    "It''s not that hard to understand, you know?"

    "Exin it further."

    "I can''t just tell you everything like that. Don''t worry, though. I''ve got another job for you."

    I looked down at her.

    "I''m not here to run your errands."

    "It''ll help you get what you want, too~. I know that you Oues value your Mission above anything else. So I''m sure that you''ll happily agree."

    "What is it."

    "I assume you know who Akihiko Harumi is, right?"

    ...

    ...

    ***

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    ... [Return to Mizuhara Ayato POV]

    I was reading alone in my dorm room when I noticed the subtle glint of what appeared to be a camera. It seemed to have been nted on my cupboard, which was a weird position for it since it was facing toward the door, instead of anything that Kimura or I might have been doing

    Making my way over, I pulled it off the wood that it was stuck to.

    It was very small, almost unnoticeable, had the sun not found its way to that exact spot. There weren''t any buttons on it, which meant that it was controlled remotely.

    What a pain.

    This didn''t seem like the type of thing that Tachibana would try, which meant that there was someone else who had something against either Kimura or me. I''d have to figure that out eventually.

    I called Akihiko to my room.

    ...

    A few minutester, the door slid open.

    "What''s the matter, Mizuhara?"

    I showed her the camera.

    "I found this in my room."

    She seemed surprised. Holding it in her hand, she looked at it closely.

    "I did see these being sold at the store."

    "You didn''t nt this, did you?"

    She looked at me.

    "No, of course not!"

    It didn''t seem that she was lying.

    "Do you have any idea where it could havee from?"

    She was examining the camera. I wasn''t sure how much technology knowledge she had, but it was possible that it was a first-year who nted this, especially after the situation with Matsuoka Rei.

    "I''m not sure exactly who might have done this. They must have had ess to your room. Who''s your roommate?"

    "It''s Kimura Haruto."

    "I see. I''m not sure if there''s anyone from the first-years who might be close to him."

    "It''s fine then. Just keep an eye on Matsuoka. Tell me if she does anything unexpected."

    "Alright."

    With that, Akihiko left. It seemed that she was in a rush for some reason as well.

    She had given the camera back to me, so I decided to just leave it inside one of the drawers. If Kimura really was rted to this, then he''d likely try to retrieve the camera or do something else with it.

    As I opened Presetqa, I noticed something interesting. It looked like we couldn''t observe the attributes of students from other year levels. It seemed like a redundant additions since you could just ask someone from their year level to check for you.

    I guess the school must have some other reason for setting that up. The school never made decisions for no reason, especially since Tachibana Kohei was such a meticulous person.

    I could''ve asked Akihiko to check the stats I needed for me, but there was something else I wanted to do. Putting on my shoes, I made my way out of my room.

    I was meeting with Hamasaki to discuss what we were going to do about Furukawa. It was clear that he had gained a lot of credibility after the special exam, which meant that it would be much easier for him to gain control of the ss.

    Hamasaki had booked a room in the karaoke centre, which was the best ce to talk without the risk of being seen. I didn''t exactly see the need for so much privacy, but it didn''t matter that much where we talked.

    Eventually, I entered the room to see that she was already seated.

    ...

    She looked over at me.

    "You''re finally here."

    "I''m on time, am I not?"

    "Just barely."

    I took a seat opposite her.

    She took out her phone and showed me something.

    "I talked with some of the others in our ss, and it seems that a lot of them are unhappy with the way Kaoru acted during the special exam."

    "I suppose that''s understandable."

    "We need to find a way to build her reputation back up."

    I decided to let Hamasaki speak; to see what her ideas were in regard to this.

 Chapter 154 Internal Shift - Part 2

    ?

    ***

    -

    Dear all students,

    Today, we''re introducing a new app to your mobile devices. It is an app that allows your to easily create a written contract with another student. More specifically, it''s a system that allows for direct duels between students.

    In short, for a fee of 5,000 points, you may challenge another student to a game of your choice. There are several preset games on the app which you can always select. Otherwise, you may approach and arbitrator, either a teacher or the student council, and propose your own game.

    If you pick a preset game, or if your custom game is approved, your opponent must either ept the game or pay a 10,000 point annulement fee. The stakes of the game are decided by you, and the oues are automatically enforced by the school.

    More conditions can be found in the app.

    -

    ***

    It looks like the school''s decided to add another feature. This was definitely going to get in my way. It was basically a guaranteed way for someone to force your hand¡ªI either had to show myself and try for a win, or sacrifice my points.

    Although, this would inevitably draw out whoever was out there as well.

    "Mizuhara-kun, we need to help Kaoru-san organise something. We need to let her do something that will help her regain her confidence."

    I looked over at Hamasaki-san.

    "That''s a good idea."

    "Do you remember the party that Furukawa-kun ran at the beginning of our time here?"

    "Yeah."

    "Let''s do that. If we can get Kaoru-san to set that up, we can back her up and everyone else will inevitablye along."

    I leaned back on the couch. The karaoke room was dark, especially with the television idly stuck on the home screen.

    "I''m happy to do that."

    "Alright, I''ll talk to her now and try to convince her."

    As Hamasaki-san went on her phone, I went on mine.

    The new app on our phones was simply called Challenger. The user interface was incredibly minimalistic, with a in white background and only text where it was necessary. It looked like something that should''ve still been in the development phase.

    "Mizuhara-kun, Kaoru-san wants to meet up with me alone. Are you fine with that?"

    "Yeah."

    "Alright, I''ll go book another room."

    "There''s no need. I''ll go."

    "Are you sure?"

    It wouldn''t make sense for me to just sit in this room alone anyways. Besides, someone was following me while I was walking toward the karaoke. This was a good time for me to go and see who that person was.

    I said goodbye and made my way outside.

    ...

    The bright sun was quite noticeable after leaving the karaoke centre. Instead of heading toward my dormitory, I decided to make a right turn and make my way toward the back of the school. It was a pretty deste area that was one of the only ces where the yard wasn''t kept cleanly.

    "So you did you know I was here."

    He must have waited here for almost thirty minutes since I noticed him when I was entering the karaoke centre.

    "What are you doing here, Kimura-kun."

    "Ah, I just wanted to ask you a question."

    I looked at his hand.

    "You were the one that nted the camera?"

    Heughed a little.

    "Well, I didn''t exactly nt it. I let someone else do it."

    I looked down at him.

    Dropping the camera onto the ground, he stood on it with his foot. There was a sharp crunch. The little recording device cracked into several pieces, smearing into the pavement.

    "You''re pretty observant. Even I wouldn''t be able to notice something like this in our room."

    "I don''t know what you''re getting at."

    "I''m sure you do, Mizuhara-kun. Or so I''d say, but I don''t even know who you are anymore."

    "What''s with that."

    He walked closer to me.

    "There''s no point lying to me, Mizuhara-kun. I know what happened during thest special exam. I''m not that ignorant."

    "I just got lucky, that''s all."

    He sighed.

    Suddenly, he took out his phone.

    After a few moments, my phone vibrated.

    ---

    You have been challenged to a custom game of: Two Truths, One Lie

    The stakes are: the winner has to reveal their Overall Intelligence attribute to the other person. This will be automated by the system. Kimura Haruto has received prior confirmation for this stake.

    ---

    "It''s convenient, Mizuhara-kun, that the school introduced this today."

    "Why do you want to challenge me."

    "I just want to see what you''re really like. But more so, I want you to see what I''m really like. We''re both liars, you know?"

    We''re both liars?

    The phone screen quickly transitioned.

    I was given a choice, either I could be the guesser or the one who came up with the questions. There were several other stiptions that were written underneath the buttons, but I had already made my decision. I''d let Kimura-kun show me what he wanted to show me. It was clear that he wanted me to be the guesser anyways.

    "I''m d you understand me~"

    He clearly noticed my choice.

    Kimura-kun smiled a little. He raised one finger.

    "I am acquainted with the principal of this school."

    He then put up two fingers.

    "I came to this school to find someone I met a long time ago."

    Finally, he put up three fingers.

    "I''m actively speaking with someone rted to the Ideal Human Project, apart from you."

    I was initially nning on observing his bodynguage to try to deduce the lie, but after hearing the three options, it was clear which one was the lie. It was awkward, learning about his secrets in such a way, but he wasn''t a person to express his feelings openly.

    I looked down at my phone.

    "There''s nothing one there. Choose one, Mizuhara-kun."

    "Won''t you give me some thinking time?"

    "You don''t look like you need anything thinking time."

    I sighed.

    Kimura-kun, you''re the first person who I''ve struggled to see whether you''re intentions against me or positive toward me. It''s a great thing.

    ...

    "The first one is the lie."

    Heughed.

    "Ah, it''s just too easy for you, isn''t it?"

    "Your emotions gave it away."

    That wasn''t true. He was hiding his intentions very well on his face.

    ***

    "Well, I''ll show you my Overall Intelligence then, since that was the deal~."

 Chapter 155 Internal Shift - Part 3

    <h4>Chapter 155 Internal Shift - Part 3</h4>

    I had known that Kimura-kun wasn''t normal. However, I never really understood him, despite our rtively close friendship¡ªhe seemed to be unusually distant. He was the first person I couldn''t fully decipher.

    For the school to permit an unreleased attribute to be shown, Kimura-kun must have paid some sort ofpensation. I guess he came more prepared than I thought.

    That''s why I couldn''t let him win.

    "Mizuhara-kun, here are my attributes."

    ¡ªHe passed his phone to me.

    -

    Kimura Haruto - Second-Year Student

    Overall Intelligence: A+ (Ranked #3 out of 411 in school)

    Athletic Ability: **Unreleased**

    Interpersonal Skills: **Unreleased**

    Spatial Awareness: **Unreleased**

    Lateral Thinking Capacity: A (Ranked #29 out of 411 in school)

    _

    Appearance: **Unreleased**

    Cooperative Reliability: C (Ranked #209 out of 411 in school)

    Creative Ability: **Unreleased**

    ~~~

    Overall Score: A+

    Consistency: **Unreleased**

    -

    He looked over at me with a listless expression.

    To be ranked so high, it genuinely caught me off-guard. No part of him seemed to show that he was so capable, especially in a school filled with such people. At this school, there were incredible talents, genuises and even Oues of the Ideal Human Project... yet he was still ranked so high.

    It certainly was something.

    "Don''t you have something to say, Mizuhara-kun?"

    "Not really."

    I looked up at him.

    "What do you want to do now?"

    Heughed a little.

    "Well, just before I go, I want to tell you something."

    The atmosphere suddenly became solemn. It was an awkward feeling. There was a clear disconnect between Kimura-kun''s outside persona and what he was truly thinking on the inside. It was simr to Fujiharu-san in a way.

    He continued.

    "There''s someone out to get you. Even I don''t know what their intentions are, but all I''m going to say is that you won''t be able to live in yourfort zone forever."

    "What do you mean."

    "I''m sure you know more about the Ideal Human Project than I do. Anyways, I''m actually meeting with a girl today."

    What a casual transition.

    "I''ll see youter then."

    "Haha, see you tonight, Mizuhara-kun!"

    ...

    I began making my way toward the convenience store. It had been a while, and I needed to get some new toiletries. Despite the fact that specialised stores existed, it was still always cheaper to go to the convenience store that everyone frequented. It was basically a haven where students would always be able to ''survive'' to an extent.

    Entering through the automatic ss doors, I made my way over to the cosmetics section. There was one other student looking around the same area. It was Itsuki-san, the girl who always stuck around Furukawa-kun. She seemed to be awkwardly ncing at the various products on disy.

    Noticing me, she looked away. I had nothing to talk to her about anyways, so I decided to just look for the things I was here to get.

    Suddenly, Furukawa-kun also entered the store.

    He made his way directly over to us, probably because he was trying to find Itsuki-san. Unintentionally, we ended up bumping into each other.

    "Oh, what''s up, Mizuhara-kun?"

    "Nothing, really."

    "What are you here to get?"

    He was trying to make some small talk. He had always been a confident person¡ªsomeone who naturally had leadership capabilities. Still, I had nothing much to say in return.

    "I''m getting some toothpaste."

    Itsuki-san walked over to him.

    "Furukawa-kun, we need to get going soon, remember?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, shy and tentative.

    "Oh, right, I almost forgot!" Furukawa-kun responded with a chuckle, showing his usual cheerful demeanour. He turned back towards me, "I just remembered we have a group study session. You''re wee to join if you''d like."

    "No, it''s okay. I have some stuff to handle."

    I picked up a tube of toothpaste from the shelf and checked its ingredients just to fill the silence. Furukawa-kun nced at Itsuki-san and shrugged, a grin spreading across his face.

    "We''ll be heading off then, Mizuhara-kun. Have a good day," Furukawa-kun waved a casual goodbye as he led Itsuki-san towards the stationery section.

    "Yeah, see you," I mumbled in response, my focus still on the toothpaste.

    As they disappeared into another aisle, I continued to scan the shelves for other items. I could faintly hear Furukawa-kun''s lively chatter and Itsuki-san''s quieter responses, the distinctive rhythm of their interaction almostforting in the midst of the whirlwind that was the conversation with Kimura-kun.

    They were still running study sessions despite the fact that Kaoru-san wasn''t officially mandating them anymore. There weren''t any exams soon, so it seemed that they were just casually studying.

    I guess it could be part of his n to slowly gain influence in the ss. If he was running reasonably-sized study groups, there was probably a significant amount of trust in him from the other students in the ss. I wonder if Hamasaki-san is prepared to take more action than she''d expect.

    If she wanted any hope of unifying the ss under Kaoru-san, she had to act fast. Karou-san was still regarded as the main figure of the ss, just because of the previous few weeks of her authority. However, it wouldn''t be that long before that perspective changed to see Furukawa-kun as the leader instead.

    Hamasaki-san needed to do something drastic¡ªsoon.

    Paying for the items, I left the convenience store.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Sitting on my bed, I decided to take out We Have Always Lived in the Castle and read through thest few pages. Kimura-kun was still out; he never really returned to the dorm aside from prettyte at night. Unlike me, he preferred to hang around the schoolyard or in the library.

    It was nice to have some peace and quiet. I had been reading more than usual since there hadn''t been as much conflict around me. Although I assumed that it was not going tost much longer, considering what Kimura-kun said.

    I guess I''d enjoy this time while itsted.

    It seemed that I wasn''t going to be able to avoid confronting the past.

 Chapter 156 Fujiharus Secret - Part 1

    ?

    Several days passed.

    For the first time in a long time, I decided to talk with Fujiharu of my own ord.

    As everyone''s slowly settled into the environment of the school, there''s been less general chaos around the schoolyard; however, it''s clear that there have been some movements from some of the more established members. My sister and Hasegawa were in some sort of conflict, and there even seemed to be people out to get in my way as well.

    Still, I enjoyed being here to the extent that I couldprehend¡ªenjoyment as a concept. As I slowly made my way into the girls'' dormitory, I was greeted by some disinterested res from some of the girls hanging around the bottom floor. There wasn''t any rule that stopped students from of the other gender entering or leaving either dormitory, so it was a rtivelymon urrence.

    Unlike the boys'' dormitory, the girls'' was much more colourful. Whether it was a deliberate choice from the school or just the fact that this dormitory was newer, I wouldn''t know. It was decorated with lots of paintings and nts spread throughout the reception area.

    Waiting with a group of other students, I looked up at therge numbers, denoting the story that the elevator was at. There was some background chatter, but all I could do was stand there awkwardly, looking around at the backdrop of the building.

    The elevator doors opened.

    I made my way inside along with everyone else that was waiting.

    ...

    Eventually, I arrived at Fujiharu''s floor. I hade to talk with her once, so I did know where it was. It was on the highest level, so I ended up being the only one left in the elevator.

    My footsteps echoed through the silent hallway as I made my way toward her room.

    ¡ªRoom 102

    I knocked on her door.

    After a few moments, I heard her footsteps approaching the door.

    It slid open.

    She seemed surprised.

    "Who''s th¡ª Ayato?"

    "Hey, Fujiharu."

    She looked around.

    "What are you doing here?"

    "I just wanted to talk to you."

    She opened the door a little bit more.

    "You... you don''t usuallye here. Is something the matter?"

    "It''s nothing, really. There were just some things I wanted to talk to you about."

    The door squeaked a little as she opened it all the way. Gesturing for me toe in, she showed me into her room. I made my way inside.

    Upon entering, I was hit by the smell of citrus-like perfume. Her room was incredibly clean, although it was expected from her. It seemed her roommate was around, which meant it''d be easier to talk to her. She had several pieces of furniture, including a small couch, in the corner of the room.

    She took a seat on her bed as I sat on the couch.

    "Haa, it''s been a while since you''vee into my room~. So, what did you want to talk about?"

    "It''s about Kimura."

    She took a deep breath.

    "Kimura? Your roommate?"

    "Yes."

    "What did you want to know? I would''ve thought that you''d be closer to him than I''d be?"

    "You''ve known him since your childhood, right?"

    She seemed somewhat taken aback by the fact that I knew that.

    "I suppose so, but we were never really that close. I only knew him from the cram school we both went to."

    So he went to cram school. What an odd activity for someone of his intelligence.

    "He''s always been really smart if that was what you were wondering. Even back then, he was easily the smartest person I knew."

    That was somewhat interesting.

    I looked up at Fujiharu. I thought a little about what to ask, but there wasn''t anything specific that came to mind. It would be a little awkward to just interrogate her regarding Kimura.

    Suddenly, she got up.

    Standing just in front of me, she looked down.

    ...

    "Ayato, can I ask you something?"

    The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

    "What is it?"

    "Last year, when I was trying to make you fall in love with me, why did you y along?"

    "What do you mean."

    "You knew it all from the start, didn''t you? You knew what I was doing."

    "I guess I did, to an extend."

    She leaned down a little, putting her arms on my shoulders. Eventually, her face was so close that I could feel her breath. Her eyes stared straight into mine. However, they seemed almost to be in pain.

    "Why didn''t you just expose me from the beginning?"

    ...

    "I guess I just wanted to see what you were up to."

    "Were you interested in me at all?"

    "I wasn''t, really. It was more a sense of curiosity."

    I guess I never really did figure out the real reason she always turned down those boys. She was clearly stating that the charade she was ying was on purpose, but it seemed that her intentions weren''t as shallow as one would imagine.

    "Ah, you know, that hurts me more than anyone has ever said to me."

    "Howe?"

    Was it an unbing sense of arrogance?

    That didn''t seem right.

    "Would you believe me if I said that it was a long story?" she whispered.

    "I probably would."

    "Well, it''s something that started many years ago."

    She took a step back.

    I looked up at her.

    "I suppose you''re not going to tell me."

    She took a breath.

    "You know, Ayato, this is the only thing that''s holding your attention to me, right?"

    "That''s notpletely true, but it does ount for most of it."

    She seemed sad.

    "I want you to figure it out."

    "I might never be able to."

    "You''re smart. I know you''re smart. I''m sure you''ll figure it out one day, even if it means breaking me down so bad that I''ll never stand up again~."

    "Ah, you make me sound so mean."

    I reclined a little.

    "Why do you care about what I think anyways?" I asked.

    "Because you''re someone who''d be able to understand."

    "What do you mean."

    "No one else would be able to ept me for who I really am."

    "What makes you put so much trust in me?"

    ...

    "I guess it''s just instinct."

    ...

    She turned around.

 Chapter 157 Fujiharuâ€™s Secret - Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 157 Fujiharu''s Secret - Part 2</h4>

    "Ayato, I can''t really tell, but do you like to solve puzzles?"

    "It''s not exactly a hobby of mine."

    Suddenly, Fujiharu began to take off her shirt.

    ...

    "What are you doing."

    Her pale skin leaked through the bottom of her loose t-shirt as she flipped it over her head. shing before my eyes, she slipped the shirt off of her body and ced it beside her on the bed.

    Underneath was a bright blue sports bra, fittingly suited to her hair colour. Regardless, it was something that wasn''t exactly strongly erotic.

    "Are you an exhibitionist."

    Her face went a little red, but she retained herposure.

    "You''ll see why I wanted you to see this~."

    It was quite awkward. I wasn''t sure whether or not I was supposed to look away.

    She turned around and showed me something that appeared to be tattooed to her side.

    It was rather small, but the word was clear.

    ¡ªHime

    It was a word that meant ''princess''.

    "Do you recognise this name?"

    I guess it wasn''t just her branding herself as a princess. As for people named ''Hime'', no one specifically came to mind.

    "Not particrly."

    Sheughed a little and quickly put her shirt back on.

    "Do you have any theories as to why I''ve got that tattooed on my body?"

    I looked up at her.

    "I don''t have any idea."

    She seemed down. Walking to her cupboard, she turned her back to me.

    "Oh well, it was worth a try."

    "What do you mean."

    She did a little twirl before leaning against the wall.

    "The truth is, I also don''t know why this name is tattooed on me."

    Thinking back, the ink did appear very-slightly distorted, it had the appearance that it may have existed there for quite a long time, maybe when she was very young. It would exin why she didn''t know why it was there.

    "How do you know that it''s a name?"

    She looked up at thought for a moment.

    "I don''t know. I guess that''s just what I''ve always thought. I suppose it could also just be the word ''princess''."

    Well, that indeed added to the confusion.

    ...

    In truth, as I sat in her room, I did still wonder why she tried to make those boys fall in love with her. There was something distinctly unusual with her personality. She''s clearly acknowledged that she does it on purpose.

    It could all just be an attention-seeking problem. That was always my initial thought.

    But seeing her, it didn''t seem to add up.

    "Ayato, are you hungry?"

    I wasn''t really.

    "Not really."

    She took out her phone and began typing something.

    "Now that I''ve got you in my room, we should do something fun."

    I stopped her.

    !#$*&%^$&#*???

    "Fujiharu."

    The atmosphere went tense again.

    "We''ve talked a lot about my thoughts. How about you? What''s your honest opinion of me."

    She looked down at me.

    "What do you mean?"

    "I don''t suppose you actually like me romantically."

    I seemed to have created a weird mood.

    "Well... you can''t just ask a girl to state her feelings like that~!"

    Her fa?ade seemed to have popped up again. I didn''t care about that side of her. I was much more interested in the side of her that she seemed to have been hiding all her life.

    I got up and walked toward her.

    "You don''t like me, Fujiharu."

    "W-why would you say that, Ayato?"

    "Because, I''m a bad person, and you should be able to tell."

    ...

    "More importantly, you should have no reason to like me."

    She had a weird expression on her face.

    "Ayato? What are you trying to say?"

    "I''m just trying my best to find out who the real you really is¡ªthat''s all."

    She looked away.

    "Don''t tell me you''ve begun to develop a crush on me~. After all this time?"

    Why was she hiding now of all times.

    It didn''t make sense.

    "Do you like me, Fujiharu?"

    She didn''t look at me.

    "Well... I do like you."

    That''s not what I wanted to know. That''s not the person I wanted to hear it from.

    I took a breath.

    I guess there wasn''t really a point in pressing it any further. It was starting to get a little stuffy in the room anyways. I began making my way to her door.

    "Anyways, I don''t want to overstay my wee. I''ll see youter."

    She didn''t reply.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    As I was walking through the courtyard, back towards the boys'' dormitories, I was suddenly approached by a first-year.

    He was a short, frail-looking individual with long, curly brown hair. I had never seen him before, so I was surprised that he began talking to me out of the blue.

    "You''re Mizuhara, right?"

    "Yeah, that''s me."

    "Thank goodness, someone was looking for you!"

    Looking for me?

    "Who''s looking for me."

    "My friend, he said that you were really good at chess."

    Where was thising from?

    "What does he want me for."

    "He''s been challenged to chess on the Duel app, and he''s only got one day to prepare! Please, there''s a lot on the line."

    I continued to walk away.

    "I''m not interested."

    "Please, please! You won the chess tournament, didn''t you?"

    "I''m busy."

    I couldn''t be bothered dealing with whatever this was. It sounded like a hassle with not much in return. I just wanted to go back to my room and read.

    "Here! I''ll give you 2000 points!"

    I still didn''t care.

    All of a sudden, I heard another voice behind me. This time, it was a much calmer, softer and gentler voice.

    "Mizuhara-senpai, don''t you think you should help them out~?"

    It was Matsuoka Rei''s voice.

    "As I said, I''m not interested."

    "Haa, you''re so cold~!"

    It seemed that her ent was gone.

    "You''re a really good actor, Matsuoka."

    "Aw, thank you~!"

    I wonder why everyone around me was a liar. Although, that wasn''t exactly right. Lying is something built into human nature. Some people are just able to get better results out of it than others. And it was true that Matsuoka-san was really good at acting.

    "Did you want something from me?"

    "Nope~ I was just walking by, that''s all."

    "I''ll be on my way then."

    "You might want to stay."

    ...

    "Why''s that."

 Chapter 158 The Little Bell - Part 1 [Hasegawa Mio]

    <h4>Chapter 158 The Little Bell - Part 1 [Hasegawa Mio]</h4>

    Franz Liszt''s Third Grandes ¨¦tudes de Paganini, S. 141¡ªin the key of G-sharp Minor.

    It was one of my favourite pieces to y, not because of the sound, but because of the way the piano felt on my fingers. With my outstretched fingers, I could gently embrace the keys as I yed the melody.

    The door slid open behind me.

    I stopped ying.

    "Ara, you can''t even let me y the piano in peace, Sayaka~?"

    She made her way over to me.

    I smiled a little.

    I could see the resemnce to Ayato. They were definitely simr, but the effects of the Ideal Human Project meant that his personality waspletely different.

    "You seem quite confident in yourself."

    "I suppose so, Sa-ya-ka~."

    She took out her phone.

    I could already see where this was going. After all, she was part of the student council.

    I looked up at her.

    "Are you sure you don''t want to be friends with me?"

    "Even if I leave you alone, you''re not going to leave me alone."

    Iughed a little.

    "Isn''t that a bit presumptuous? What makes you think that?"

    "I know your mission, Mio."

    Ah.

    That was a bit of a surprise.

    I guess one of the higher-ups may have told her. Or even someone who I don''t know.

    Oh well, it changes nothing.

    "So, what''s your n then, Sayaka~."

    "It''s pretty simple."

    She opened her palm to me.

    ...

    "I''ll offer you a deal."

    I looked up at her.

    "I didn''t expect that you''d try to bargain with me."

    She sighed before taking a few steps closer to me.

    "Mio, I want to live a normal high school life with Ayato."

    Haa, they even sounded simr. What''s all this desire for ''normality''? It doesn''t juste like that, you know? We are irregr. We''ll never be normal.

    That''s a given.

    To pointlessly strive for a normal life¡ªit won''t exist.

    At this point, you might as well just live out your life the way the higher-ups nned it.

    It was engraved into our brains anyway.

    We''re all just dancing in the palm of those above us.

    "So, what are you suggesting then."

    She looked into my eyes.

    "I want you to drop out¡ªof your own ord."

    That was more blunt than I expected.

    I suppose she wasn''t finished¡ªshe knows that I''d never ept a one-sided offer like that.

    ????!*&$#%$#&%*(#$&%^#$???????

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    "Mio... Hime-san is at this school."

    ...

    My heart dropped.

    ...

    For the first time, I felt something.

    ¡ªAkachi Hime

    Why was she at this school?

    That doesn''t make any sense.

    She... she should''ve... but... all those years ago... that''s impossible.

    "How do you know?"

    Sayaka-chanughed and stretched her arms.

    "Looks like even the unshakable Hasegawa Mio can be scared~."

    Her tone changed.

    She was looking down on me.

    Ah.

    "That''s impossible, she can''t be here."

    Sayaka walked over and closed the door to the ssroom.

    "You''re desperate now, aren''t you?"

    I didn''t know what to think.

    "You know, Sayaka, you seem awfully calm about all of this. But you know, your hope of having a normal life is going to fall apart with her here."

    She smiled a little.

    "Well, I guess it''s too bad for me~."

    ...

    I had two choices.

    I could run away.

    Or I could fight.

    Still, against Akachi Hime... it would be almost hopeless.

    Sayaka-chan looked out the window.

    "I wonder what she''s going to do once she finds out about you~."

    That wasn''t a question.

    She definitely already knew that I was here.

    ...

    Ah, I guess my mission is going to be at stake. I won''t be able to just sit back like this anymore. Still, I wondered what Sayaka''s strategy was.

    Telling me about Hime would definitely throw me off, but it wasn''t enough to convince me to leave.

    Akechi Hime was unpredictable. There was no guarantee that she''d even go after me.

    "I''m sure I can deal with that when it happens."

    Sayaka sighed.

    "It''d be safest if you dropped out now."

    "I''m not defenceless against Hime, you know. You can''t control her, so the fact that you''re telling me about this doesn''t change anything."

    ...

    Sayaka looked at the piano.

    "You''re still ying boring old pieces as usual?"

    "Interesting of you to call them boring."

    I guess she''s still mad about what happened back then.

    "Oh well, I guess we''ll see what happens."

    "Is that really all?"

    "You''re going to leave the school, Mio, one way or another."

    "Are you really going to be able to make me?"

    At this point, for long as I didn''t want to leave of my own ord. I wasn''t just going to be forced out easily. Akachi Hime was dangerous, but she was nothing like what she used to be.

    People change, even her.

    And me.

    And Mizuhara Ayato.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    It was a cold morning.

    I got up early and made my way to my bathroom. I had to brush my teeth and prepare myself for the day. My routine hadn''t changed since all the way back during the Ideal Human Project. It was a good routine, so there was no reason to make adjustments.

    I was nning on heading to the gym, but I decided to make a slight detour.

    ...

    There was a slight ring as I entered the convenience store. The shopkeeper seem tired, having only awoken a little while ago. The sky was dark, and the air was cold¡ªbut I wanted to have something that I hadn''t had in a long time.

    It was a small packet of candy. We weren''t ever given candy or confectionary during my time in the Ideal Human Project, but that didn''t mean I had no desire to have them. I did quite enjoy them early in my childhood... well, as far as I could remember.

    It was something that made me feel distinctly¡ªhuman. As I paid for the small treat, I looked out at the school courtyard. There were a few students sitting around and talking, but aside from that, it was practically dead silent.

    "Have a nice day."

    The slight rattling of the packaging was nostalgic.

    I tore it open and ced a chewy block into my mouth. It had a strong strawberry vour, almost jarring. Regardless, I enjoyed it as much as I could enjoy anything.

    It was slightly better than everything else I ate.

    Chewing on the candy, I made my way toward the gym.

 Chapter 159 The Little Bell - Part 2 [Hasegawa Mio]

    <h4>Chapter 159 The Little Bell - Part 2 [Hasegawa Mio]</h4>

    Friendship.

    I wonder¡ªwould I ever be able to experience something like that.

    ...

    I made my way back toward the girls'' dormitory even though I had juste from that direction. The reason¡ªI suppose I just wanted to see somebody. It wasn''t like I felt loney, but a part of me urged myself to see them again.

    It was a short walk back to the dorms. The vour of the candy still spread through my mouth.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Taking the elevator up a few levels below my own, I made my way toward room 74.

    There was a brief moment of silence as I knocked on the door.

    "...who''s there?"

    There was a gentle voice from behind the door.

    It slid open.

    "Hey, Kanako."

    "Hi, Hasegawa~! What are you doing here?"

    "I''vee to repay you for your help during the chess special exam."

    "Really? I don''t need any repayment for that! We were teammates, after all."

    Aha, she was adorable.

    "Ah, alright, well, take this as an invitation to hang out with me then."

    "Oh? Sure! I wasn''t sure what I was going to do here anyway."

    With that, she quickly rushed back into her room.

    "Just a moment!"

    She grabbed a little purse along with some cosmetics.

    "Alright, where did you want to go?"

    "I wouldn''t mind going to the arcade."

    I wasn''t surprised that she wanted to go to the arcade. A happy-go-lucky girl like her seemed like someone who''d enjoy ces like that.

    I guess I''ll ask her what was on my mind.

    "Are you going to bring Fukuda along?"

    "Hm?"

    "You and him always hang together, after all."

    "Erm... well, I don''t think he''d really like something... like this?"

    Iughed a little.

    It was just a little joke. I knew what Fukuda-kun was to her, so she obviously wouldn''t want him toe along. It was a curious situation though, I wonder why Fukuda-kun was so happy to y along with all of this. Maybe he was just paid off.

    Although it seemed a bit weird, considering his personality.

    Oh well.

    "I''m just kidding. He certainly doesn''t look like someone who''d enjoy ying around."

    "Yeah... Tachibana..."

    "What''s the matter."

    "Why do you keep bringing up Fukuda?"

    "It''s just some small talk."

    She didn''t seem convinced.

    I guess I''ll console her a little.

    "Honestly, I''m not trying anything. I''m just a bit curious."

    "Ah... if you say so."

    The atmosphere was still a little awkward.

    "I''ll stop prodding if you want me to."

    "No... it''s fine. I don''t really mind that much."

    ...

    After a little while, we were on the path, making our way back toward themercial area.

    As the gentle wind brushed through my hair, I looked around the other students who were also hanging around the ce. People had certainly adapted to this lifestyle.

    ¡ªAkachi Hime

    She''s scary.

    I suppose now that I''m finally at risk, there is a little bit of concern in my mind. As much as I like to think, I''m not as simr to Mizuhara Ayato as I''d like to say.

    There was a reason he was the project''s real prodigy, not me.

    We are very simr in many ways; we''re both extremely rational, cold and cunning. However, there''s something about him that puts him a step above me.

    He is probably more simr to Akachi Hime than to me.

    It was honestly somewhat disheartening to think about. What really is Mizuhara Ayato to me? I wonder how I''d feel if he never acknowledged me. It''s interesting to think about. Neither of us have really shown any emotion, but I''m much weaker than him.

    "Hasegawa, where do you want to go."

    Ah. It seemed that I was in a bit of a daze.

    "Oh, let''s head toward the cafe. I''m feeling a little hungry."

    In truth, I wasn''t really hungry, but I did want to sit down and have a think.

    "Haa, are you just going to order cauliflower again?"

    "Well, it is one of my favourite foods."

    Sheughed a little.

    "You''re a bit weird, Hasegawa."

    "Oh? Is that an insult~?"

    "No~ I didn''t mean it in a bad way."

    "Aha, I know. I suppose I am different to most people."

    ...

    We made our way into the cafe and took a seat by the window.

    "So, do you have someone you like?"

    It was a pretty surprising question from Kanako.

    She was tentatively staring at me.

    Ah, what am I supposed to say?

    I suppose this is what people our age talk about.

    "I guess I do, in a way."

    She raised an eyebrow.

    "Ooh! Exin!"

    Haa.

    "Well, it''s someone I''ve known for a long time."

    "Are they from this school?"

    "Yep, they do go to this school."

    She seemed taken aback.

    There was a brief moment of hesitation.

    "So... who is it?"

    "I can''t tell you that, can I, Kanako."

    She looked into my eyes.

    Haa, the way I feel about Mizuhara Ayato-kun¡ªit''s not really ''liking'' in the traditional way. If I had to exin it, I guess it''d be like a younger sibling wanting the attention of the older one. It''s funny to think about since this is all just conceptualised in my mind¡ªit''s not like I''ve ever experienced any rtionships like this before.

    Well, I wonder if that''ll change in the future.

    Kanako pouted.

    I looked down at her.

    "Well, do you have someone you like?"

    She looked away.

    "I do."

    Ah, well, I already had a decent idea of who it was. She made it pretty obvious during the Chess Tournament Special Exam, after all. People like her are so easy to read.

    How cute.

    After a few moments, our food arrived. I ordered the same thing as always.

    "Hasegawa, howe you''re so smart?"

    "Hm?"

    "You''re so talented. I just want to know how you managed to be like this."

    "Ah. Well, just a lot of hard work, I suppose."

    I mean, it was one way of exining it.

    "Like, you''re really good at chess. Did you y a lot when you were younger?"

    "A little bit. I guess it was one of the things that I did."

    "Just that? You y like a prodigy."

    "Haa, I''m not really a prodigy. I''m just good at memorising and calcting things."

    "Whaa? But that''s really impressive, especially if you didn''t train vigorously as a child."

    "I guess it''s just one of my skills."

    I slowly finished the meal.

 Chapter 160 Meritocracy - Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 160 Meritocracy - Part 1</h4>

    In truth, despite the dystopian nature of the Tachibana System, the entire process has still been quite gentle. It is clear that the truepetition has yet to begin. If anything, this time period seemed more like a trial of the system than its full implementation. It made enough sense, I suppose.

    I was alone in my dorm room, tidying some of the things that Kimura had left on the ground. He was an individual who was notoriously hard to read¡ªit was definitely something that would enable him to strive in such a ce as this school.

    The school was nowhere nearpletion in terms of infrastructure development. Considering therge plot ofnd they purchased in the surrounding area, it was clear that the number of students attending would grow exponentially.

    I received a notification on my phone.

    -

    To Mizuhara Ayato

    From Matsuoka Rei

    Ayato, I''ll be waiting for you in room 09 in the library. I''ve booked it for just the two of us so you don''t have to worry.

    You''ll want to hear what I have to say.

    -

    Ah. It had only been a few days since Ist spoke with Matsuoka. I wonder what the purpose of this meeting was. Well, I guess I''ll find out when I get there.

    Packing up thest of the clothes on the ground, I put on my shoes and left the dorm.

    It was pretty short notice.

    ...

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    ¡ªLibrary Room 09

    Matsuoka-san was sitting with her knees on the chair, sipping on a small cup of what appeared to be bubble tea. Swirling it around, she mixed its contents, creating a little white pattern on the top as it slowly dissipated. There was a slight crinkle as she ced it back on the table in front of her.

    I took a seat opposite her.

    There was a weird period of silence before she finally looked up at me.

    "How''s it going, Mizuhara-senpai?"

    I guess she''s going to begin with some small talk.

    "It''s fine."

    There was a moment of silence once again, but she didn''t appear to feel awkward at all. Looking down at her cup of bubble tea, she brought the straw to her lips and took another sip.

    She looked back up at me.

    "Are you enjoying your time at this school?

    "I suppose so."

    It seemed that she wasn''t going to drop the main purpose of this conversation immediately. It was somewhat annoying, but I didn''t have much else nned today.

    "I''ve liked it here as well. The milk tea is really good."

    She chewed on the pearls.

    ...

    It was interesting to see how different she could act. I guess this was probably closer to what her ''normal'' was, but I guess I''d never really be able to tell.

    She put the bubble tea on the table.

    "Alright, I''m sure you''re bored of the small talk, Mizuhara-senpai."

    "You could say that."

    Sheughed a little.

    "Haa, you have to learn to be more social. It''s more enjoyable this way, you know?"

    "I''ll take that into consideration."

    Running her fingers through her hair, she looked up at the roof. It didn''t seem as if she felt awkward in any way, she just appeared to be disying some odd habits. I wonder if it was her way of imitating the other people around her.

    I decided to lean back a little and rx.

    ...

    "Well, did you hear about the fact that they restarted the Ideal Human Project?"

    I guess that was what she was here to talk about.

    "I didn''t. I assumed that the project was over once Tachibana-sensei passed."

    She smiled a little.

    "It turns out that the project''s gotten more funding than ever."

    "Is that so."

    "And moreover, they''ve got ess to an evenrger pool of children."

    "I guess that might be concerning."

    "Concerning?"

    She seemed surprised when I phrased it like that.

    "What''s there to be concerned about, Mizuhara-senpai?"

    "I assumed that''s why you called for me."

    "Nope. Not at all. In fact, I''m d that they''ve started it back up. It helps me with my Mission, after all."

    "Ah, well, was there a reason you wanted to tell me about this?"

    "Not really. I just felt that I was obligated to do so."

    "Howe."

    "Well, you were part of my generation. And you were one of the people I was closest to."

    "Was I really?"

    She sighed.

    "Well, maybe out of the people who managed to survive."

    I guess there weren''t exactly a lot of survivors.

    She continued.

    "It also just helps to think that there''s someone I can talk about this to. Whether I like it or not, the Ideal Human Project is still strongly imprinted into my mind."

    "I guess that makes sense. Couldn''t you also talk to Hasegawa?"

    "She''s a bit different to you. And I still wasn''t as close with her."

    She brought the bubble tea to her lips once again, gulping it down more quickly than before. I decided to stretch my arms a little as well.

    "That wasn''t the only reason I called you here, though."

    "What else do you want to talk about?"

    "What''s the deal between you and your little first-year."

    Ah, well, I wasn''t going to be fooling her.

    "Are you talking about Akihiko?"

    "Yes."

    "What do you want to know."

    "What''s your rtionship with her? Is she just another one of your tools? Or maybe she''s your pet."

    I guess that was one way of framing it. Although I didn''t think I was particrly close with Akihiko-san. She was certainly useful sometimes though.

    "I''m sure you''ve interpreted it pretty urately."

    She sighed.

    "Ah, well, if that''s the case, I suppose you don''t mind if I take her from you."

    "What do you mean?"

    "I have some personal reasons for needing her. I''m not going to hurt her, though."

    I wonder, do I really care.

    "I paid quite a few points for her."

    "What, are you a ve trader now? I guess you want me to dish out some points too, then."

    "I''ll hear you out."

    "I''ll give you 50,000 points."

    Ah.

 Chapter 161 Meritocracy - Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 161 Meritocracy - Part 2</h4>

    Sitting quietly in the dimly lit library room, Matsuoka waited for my response. To bepletely honest, I didn''t really have much attachment to Akihiko. She was somewhat useful but not enough to really be worth an extraordinarilyrge number of points. Having a decent supply of points would certainly be helpful in the long term.

    Anyway, I had begun to realise that getting her to do things effectively was a little harder than I had initially suspected. Despite following my instructions pretty obediently, it was hard to give her tasks which were precise enough to really benefit me.

    After all, many of these jobs were things that I''d be able to do on my own¡ªlikely to a better degree than she could.

    "I''ll do 85,000 points."

    Matsuoka smiled a little.

    "Going down the bargaining route, are you? I thought someone like you would try something more elegant than this."

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about."

    "Aha, alright then."

    She took out her phone.

    "I assume you won''t go back on your word, Mizuhara-senpai."

    "I won''t."

    She tapped on her phone.

    I received a notification on mine.

    "I assume it''s gone through."

    "It has."

    I guess she wasn''t nning on trying to get the price any lower. It seemed that she had some pretty important reason for wanting Akihiko, or maybe she was just testing me. Whatever the case, I was satisfied with the deal.

    I guess I''ll have to notify Akihiko about thister.

    "Well, that''s this done. Mizuhara-senpai, do you have something that you want to do?"

    "Not particrly."

    She sighed. She looked at a gathering of people outside the room. It seemed that there was a bit of amotion beginning to happen in a nearby library room. Arge number of people were alling together.

    "Is that your ss, Mizuhara-senpai?"

    The students did appear to be from 2-C.

    I guess I''ll be expecting a message soon, at this rate.

    A few momentster, my assumption was fulfilled.

    My phone vibrated.

    -

    To: 2-C

    From: Kaoru Hiroto

    We will be having an urgent ss vote in library room 08. Every single student from ss 2-C is expected to attend. If you do not, the future of the ss may be jeopardised. I am personally calling for each one of you toe.

    Please, the ss depends on this.

    -

    Ah, Kaoru-san seemed to be quite distressed. This message confirmed what I thought was happening. Furukawa must be making a move to take over leadership.

    Still, I was somewhat surprised by how poorly this was all turning out for Kaoru. She was unconditionally crushed by Furukawa despite her reliable leadership for all those weeks. I guess her mental state was weaker than I had previously imagined.

    "Is there some political discourse in your ss?"

    I looked over at Matsuoka.

    "I suppose you could say that."

    Sheughed a little.

    "Ah, even 2-C seems to be struggling. And I was here thinking that you had the most unified ss in the entire school."

    It seemed that Matsuoka knew about the system that we had as well.

    "Something like this was always destined to fail."

    Matsuoka got out of her seat.

    The raucous outside had made this quiet sanctuary a little lessfortable. Since Matsuoka-san appeared to be leaving, I decided to do the same. It''d be interesting to see what''s going on with the rest of ss 2-C anyway.

    "You can leave first, Mizuhara-senpai. I assume you don''t want other people getting suspicious of our rtionship, do you?"

    "I don''t care that much. But I guess it''d be helpful if we left at different times."

    Sheughed a little andid back in her seat.

    ...

    With that, I left the room and joined up with the rest of ss 2-C.

    At first, the group didn''t notice me until Hamasaki turned around and saw my presence at the back of the pack. I was a little confused as to why they weren''t entering the room.

    "Mizuhara! Apparently, Furukawa and Kaoru are arguing inside right now."

    "Oh. Is that why everyone''s waiting outside."

    "Yeah, the door''s locked anyways; we have to wait for them to let us in."

    There was frantic chatter throughout the group. I assumed that the librarian woulde over and give them a stern talking-to soon enough, although the library was rtively empty, so they might just let it pass.

    This was a school of freedom, after all.

    ...

    A few momentster, the door was unlocked, and students quickly flooded inside.

    I followed in the back, entering along with everyone else.

    "...What''s going on?"

    "...Did Karou and Furukawa have a fight?"

    The first one inside was Itsuki, Furukawa''s most loyal friend¡ªor maybe girlfriend. It took a little while for everyone to get seated and for the chatter to die down.

    But finally, everyone gathered around the table and looked anxiously at Karou and Furukawa.

    She began to talk.

    "Alright, everyone, Furukawa and I have decided that we''re going to do this the right way."

    She took a breath.

    "The future of this ss will be decided by you guys, as I have always wanted."

    Kobayashi was the next to speak up.

    "But Kaoru! We can''t just decide something like this on a whim!"

    "If Furukawa loses the vote, he will transfer down a ss. That''s the negotiation I made with him."

    "But still!"

    Karou lifted her hand and gestured for Kobayashi-san to stop. At this point, all it was doing was hurting Karou''s honour. In a ss of such discipline, even the slightest sense of disorder at the top would be enough to destroy everyone''s trust in the system. I suppose this was Kaoru''s way ofbatting this.

    Still, she had no way of assuring her own victory. It was a very big risk for her.

    The room suddenly went silent.

    Kaoru reluctantly spoke once again.

    "Alright, let''s have this vote. It will be very simple, whoever has more votes will be the new leader of the ss."

    ...

 Chapter 162 Meritocracy - Part 3

    <h4>Chapter 162 Meritocracy - Part 3</h4>

    !#$*&%^$#&*%^#$*

    ***

    It was a few years ago.

    The only Oue I had met since the violence copse of the Ideal Human Project was Hasegawa Mio.

    She was the other prodigy.

    I guess if there was anyone who was most simr to me, it should''ve been her¡ªwhilst true in theory, it couldn''t be further from the truth in reality.

    She was much more capable at socialising than I was. And in society, that was a skill that shined above all others. For withoutmunication, it would undoubtably be difficult to advertise any of your skills.

    ...

    "Ayato-kun, I''ve been wondering, have you enjoyed being released from the project?"

    She was curious.

    "Ayato-kun, has anyone found out that you''re different?"

    She was social.

    "Ayato-kun, have you been able to adapt to the outside world?"

    She was intelligent.

    "Ayato-kun, do you ever miss the project?"

    She was emotional.

    ...

    "No, Hasegawa-san¡ªI haven''t felt anything since I was released from the project."

    Her expression changed.

    Ah, she can feel sadness as well.

    ? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ?

    Everyone stared anxiously at Kaoru-san and Furukawa-kun. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense as silence filled the air.

    Walking forward a little, Furukawa-kun put his hands on the table.

    "Let''s begin. I see no purpose in dying this any longer. Please raise your hand if you wish to allow Kaoru-san to continue being the leader."

    It didn''t appear as if he was trying to manipte the vote in any way. I guess he had a certain level of confidence. Or maybe he just wanted to break down every barrier in his way.

    The was some hesitation before people began raising their arms.

    Hamasaki-san was first.

    Others joined.

    In total, there were 11 hands raised.

    I didn''t raise my hand.

    Hamasaki-san looked at me with an unpleasant re.

    I didn''t care.

    There was a moment of silence.

    "Alright, those who wish for me to be the next leader, please raise your hand."

    If he had just decided to count everyone who didn''t vote as a vote for him, he could''ve won the election right then and there.

    ...

    I guess his overconfidence woulde back to haunt him.

    ...

    Itsuki-san was the first to raise her hand.

    Then a few more people raised their hands.

    Furukawa-kun appeared to be shocked.

    There were only 8 votes for him.

    ...

    I can guess what''s going to happen now.

    He frantically looked around the room before regaining hisposure again. Itsuki-san moved a little closer to him as he began to speak.

    "All the students who haven''t voted, um, we''ll run another round for you to put in your votes."

    Kobayashi-san stood up.

    "Kaoru-san just won. These were the rules weren''t they?"

    "Yeah, but lots of students didn''t vote. It''s fair to run another round, isn''t it?"

    "Four students didn''t vote, that won''t make a difference now."

    "What makes you say that."

    "Kaoru-san is far enough ahead of you. Just ept your loss."

    There was a moment of silence in the room.

    Furukawa-kun paced around the room anxiously. However, Kaoru-san decided to speak up.

    "Those four students who didn''t vote, could you please vote."

    The other three non-voters aside from me didn''t seem to care a lot either. It was natural that there''d be a number of students who didn''t care about the inner workings of the ss. Especially when there were many other aspects of the school to worry about.

    I guess I''ll see what happens.

    I might put in my vote at the end if it''ll help end this meeting.

    But I''ll just observe for now.

    The other three students looked around at each other.

    "...I don''t really care either way. If you''re both candidates, shouldn''t you do a speech or something?"

    "...same here, I might change my mind if you pay me some points."

    "...yeah... I''ll give you my vote for 1,500 points."

    Furukawa-kun looked down at his phone. Kobayashi-san spoke up once again.

    "We want you to vote based on your beliefs, we don''t want this to be apetition of bibery between us."

    However, despite Kobayashi-san''s statement, Furukawa-kun looked up at the boy.

    "I''ll give you 1,500 points for your vote, but I''ll only pay you if I win at the end."

    Ah, this was about to spiral out of control.

    Let''s see what Kaoru-san''s going to do.

    She seemed to be hesitating.

    Furukawa-kun continued.

    "I''ll spread this to the rest of you as well. 1,500 points to each of you four if I win the vote."

    ...

    Before long, two of the students raised their hands for Furukawa-kun.

    All that was left was me and one other.

    "Hey! Furukawa-kun, this isn''t fair. Our ss is meant to be a democracy."

    "And as such, we''re making decisions with votes."

    "You can''t just pay them off!"

    "Sure I can. Is there a rule saying I can''t?"

    "This isn''t fair!"

    Some of the other students also began speaking up. We had been sitting in this library room for almost 30 minutes at this point, and they were just waiting for thest two students to vote.

    "...can you guys just vote already?"

    "...how about everyone that''s already voted be allowed to leave."

    Kaoru-san looked over.

    "Please, stay until the end of this vote. I want to make sure everyone is on the same page."

    A few moments passed.

    Kaoru-san looked over at me.

    ...

    "Mizuhara-kun, who do you prefer."

    It seemed she was just calmly asking for my opinion.

    To bepletely honest, I didn''t care that much, I probably slightly prefered Karou-san, but it wasn''t enough to make me want to take any action.

    "I don''t really mind."

    She took a breath.

    "You''ll need to make a decision, I assume you''re not someone who can be easily influenced with points."

    Ah.

    "Well, I''ll just vote the same way as the other student."

    I didn''t really want to be the one making the final decision.

    I was fine with leaving it up to the other student¡ªI was interested in seeing their reactions and interactions after all.

    Thest student was a girl by the name of Hayashi Yui. She was a somewhat stoic person, sitting quietly in the background.

    I wonder, who are you going to choose?

 Chapter 163 Meritocracy - Part 4

    <h4>Chapter 163 Meritocracy - Part 4</h4>

    The room was silent¡ªwell, it was filled with a silent unrest.

    But in reality, the tension was all fictional.

    The result had been decided since the beginning.

    Not the beginning of the meeting, but the beginning of the year.

    ***

    "I vote for Furukawa."

    It was that simple.

    In reality, not even the bribe was necessary for her.

    ...

    It''s always easy to read people''s bodynguage. To be truly in disguise is to hide anything that gives away your intentions. It''s not easy for normal people to control this, because it''s something built so deeply in the subconscious.

    But it''s also hard for normal people to notice.

    ***

    The room was filled with sudden chatter. Students rushed to talk with each other. The vote was hung once again.

    "...surely Kaoru already won."

    "...how long are we going to have to stay here."

    There was a sigh of relief from Furukawa.

    I guess he''s counted my vote too. I didn''t mind.

    I looked over at Itsuki. She was quietly tapping the edge of the table. For someone of seemed to blend into the background most of the time, she clearly showed overt emotion on her face. With her eyes directly on Hayashi, it was clear what this was.

    Hayashi stood up and made her way toward Furukawa.

    "I''m sure you''d make a good leader, Kai."

    Suddenly, Itsuki moved to position herself between the two of them.

    "Why are you calling him Kai."

    Hayashi sighed.

    "It''s just his first name, is it not?"

    "What''s your rtionship with him?"

    Furukawa noticed themotion and decided to pull Itsuki back a little.

    "Please, she''s just someone I know from a long time ago. Can we talk about thister?"

    Itsuki seemed annoyed but still listened to him.

    Hayashi continued to walk toward the two of them. Tension was growing once again but the ss seemed more interested in the oue of the vote. Furukawa had technically won, but it seemed that the idea hadn''t really sunk in for the rest of the ss.

    The room was filled with chatter, and both Kaoru and Furukawa didn''t seem to know what to do.

    I simply sat and looked around the ss.

    Furukawa approached Kaoru.

    "I assume you understand what you have to do."

    "What do you mean."

    "The oue has been decided."

    "I know."

    "You know what that means."

    "I know!"

    For the first time I''d ever seen, Kaoru seemed to bepletely losing herposure¡ªin fact, it looked as if she were about to cry. With conversations still filling up the background, no one else really noticed.

    But from my angle, it was clear that she wasn''t taking it well.

    She must have been struggling for a while.

    "Are there anyst things you''d like to say to the ss?"

    "Why... are you asking me that now?"

    "You know, Kaoru, it''s not like I hate you."

    She didn''t look him in the eye.

    "Then why are you doing this?"

    "Because you''re not strong enough to take me where I want to go."

    ...

    The two of them continued to talk, quiet to the point I couldn''t hear them. I guess that was enough eavesdropping from me. I stretched my arms a little and waited for the meeting to end.

    Furukawa raised his voice.

    "That''s it then everyone. I''ll be taking care of the ss from now on."

    With that, he and Itsuki began making their way out of the room. It still seemed that things hadn''t fully settled in, as many people were just eager to leave the meeting. Still, there were going to be some big changes to happen.

    Everyone slowly flooded out of the room, I was waiting for the end, but there seemed to be another girl who wasn''t eager to leave.

    "What are you still doing here?"

    It was Hayashi Yui.

    "I''m just waiting for others to leave first."

    "That''s weird."

    Ah.

    I looked away, hoping she''d just ignore me.

    "You never seem to talk much."

    It looked like that wasn''t happening.

    "I guess I don''t."

    "You remind me of someone."

    "Is that so."

    "I can''t seem to put my finger on it."

    ...

    A few momentster, Furukawa made his way back into the room. I was just about to leave, but his sudden arrival was unexpected.

    "Mizuhara, what are you still doing here?"

    "I was just waiting for everyone else to leave first."

    "Oh, well, um."

    I guess he was having some sort of secret meeting with Hayashi. I didn''t feel like intruding so I got up.

    "What are we going to do about him, Kai?"

    Ah, they were talking about me straight in front of my face.

    "Don''t worry about it. Mizuhara isn''t the type to spread rumours."

    "I sure hope so."

    Hayashi acted quite differently to her appearance. Despite looking like an innocent, quiet girl, she spoke more like a delinquent. I guess that was amon theme for students of this school.

    I began to leave.

    "Mizuhara."

    Furukawa called out to me.

    "Yeah?"

    "Who do you really support? Me or Kaoru."

    "Does it matter that much now?"

    He pressed his hands on the table, leaning toward me a little.

    "I need to know if you''re a friend or a foe."

    I wasn''t either.

    "I''m not going to do anything regardless."

    He didn''t give up.

    "It''s more emotional than anything practical. I just want to know, Mizuhara. Are you someone who I can trust?"

    "I guess if I had to say, I was leaning toward support for Kaoru."

    His face went darker.

    "So why didn''t you vote for her?

    Ah, this was a bit annoying.

    "I just don''t care that much. It doesn''t matter that much to me either way."

    "You''re an interesting person."

    "I''m not really."

    Eventually, Furukawa turned to Hayashi instead. And thus, I was given a chance to leave the room. Closing the door behind me, I looked over at the two of them talking.

    I guess there was something going on behind the scenes of the ss. Not only that, Itsuki likely wasn''t as close to Furukawa as she thinks she is.

    I''m sure this woulde back at some point in the future.

    I made my way back towards my dorm room.

 Chapter 164 Standoff - Part 1 [Mizuhara Sayaka]

    <h4>Chapter 164 Standoff - Part 1 [Mizuhara Sayaka]</h4>

    What did you do, Hasegawa Mio.

    "Sayaka, I... don''t really want to mess with Hasegawa anymore."

    I was talking with Marin, the girl I had sent to report back to me regarding Mio''s situation. She''s always been skilled at gathering information and covertly mixing with others, but it seems that Mio is a step too far.

    There''s not much point in trying to push her. Against someone like Mio, I would have to take more direct action than I usually like. Using other people would cause more issues than it would solve. Fighting in this school is an information game¡ªyou need to find out the weaknesses of the other person since direct confrontations aren''t very effective at making any real impact.

    Mio is like an invincible entity by the standards of the school. It is impossible to manipte her since she leaves no weaknesses to be attacked.

    The only trump card I held was her Mission.

    It was the only thing that might give me an opening to defeat her.

    "What happened, Marin."

    "She... it''s just not worth it. It''s impossible to gather any information on her. She''s been staring at me more than usual as well, she knows what I''m doing."

    Stretching my legs a little, I decided to get up from the table. Marin was sitting on the other side, awkwardly twidling her thumbs. Pouring some orange juice from the fridge, I chugged it down as Marin looked down at her phone.

    "Sayaka... I''m really sorry."

    "It''s fine, I don''t mind it that much. Mio isn''t someone who would leave an opening anyway."

    "What would you like me to do?"

    "Just go home and take a break."

    Timidly, she got up and headed toward the door.

    "Actually, onest thing. Can you call Takumi over for me?"

    "The vice president?"

    "Yeah. Tell him to see me here."

    "Sure."

    Considering I was risking my position in the Future Association for this, I assumed that Takumi would be inclined to take a side. Despite all of her strengths, Miocked support from other people, so it was something I needed to take advantage of.

    Walking back over to my couch, I rested on its soft cushions.

    I couldn''t help but sigh.

    I was putting everything I had at stake for this offensive. Despite all this seemingly meaningless risk, it was something that sat deep in my heart. To ignore my feelings against Mio was to ignore my entire childhood.

    I would only truly be able to enjoy my time at this school with her gone¡ªnot only that, I would only be able to feel at peace with her gone.

    My door slid open.

    "What''s the matter, Sayaka, you don''t usually talk to me."

    He gently closed the door behind him, shutting out the bright sunlight from my room.

    "I guess I''m asking for your help."

    He chuckled.

    "I never thought this day woulde. You want help from me, Mizuhara Sayaka?"

    Quickening his pace, he took a seat opposite me on my other couch.

    "I would struggle to take care of this situation purely on my own."

    "Oh? Is this about your grudge with Hasegawa?"

    "I suppose you already know of it then."

    "Only the basics. I don''t have any idea how deep this runs. But for you to state that you need help, she must be incredible¡ªthis Hasegawa."

    "She''s a monster."

    Takumi is like Marin¡ªthey''re both information gatherers. However, Takumi is on apletely different level when ites to it. He''s much better at deduction, and most importantly, possesses a much stronger will.

    I would need help.

    Heughed a little.

    "Still, what''s in it for me? I don''t suppose you''re going to ask me to act out of goodwill, are you?"

    "Of course not."

    "I guess you''ve made some preparations, but I''m going to need you to give me something I want."

    "What do you want then."

    "Let me hear you out first. What did you n on offering me."

    I had no desire to y a bartering game. In a situation like this, I would have to sacrifice as much as I need to defeat her.

    "I''ll give you 60,000 points. How''s that."

    "That''s a decent amount, but it also depends on how much you want me to do."

    I took a second to think.

    "I want you to find out everything about Hasegawa Mio. Then, I want you to help me in my final n topletely get rid of her."

    "I don''t necessarily mind helping you, but I might make a decision after I see her for myself. Just from what you''ve said, getting on Hasegawa''s wrong side might cause a lot of trouble for me."

    "There''s not much more I can offer."

    Takumi leaned back and stared up at the roof.

    "Ah... what a bind you''re putting me in, Sayaka. This sounds like a hassle, but then again, it might be fun to team up with you."

    "Aren''t you beginning to get bored of this school anyway?"

    He sighed.

    "Well, it''s been pretty quiet recently. I wouldn''t mind doing something interesting, but I don''t want to do anything that would threaten my position in the future. This school is still unpredictable after all."

    "If you seed, your position will be strengthened."

    "Still, what are my odds, Sayaka?"

    "That''s something even I haven''t been able to fully determine."

    "You know what Principal Kurosawa said about the next stage of National High School, right? Do I really want to put myself at risk before such arge possible change to the school?"

    "With the information we have now, there''s no reason why we should be worried about the next stage. Our ces in the Future Association are already confirmed."

    "Still, this school is not something you can rest ignorantly in. Big changes will inevitablye with new challenges¡ªto every single person."

    I looked down at him.

    "What would you like from me then."

    "I want not only your points but your assurance that you''ll assist me with any of my future endeavours."

    "Is my word really good enough for you?"

    "Your word is more than enough. If I can''t trust your word then you''d be no use to me anyway."

    "I guess it''s settled then."

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