Classroom of the Elite (LN)

Volume 7, Chapter 2: Notice of Parting and Reunion Part 5

The next day, after school, I sighed discreetly while relaxing my stiff shoulders. The reason my shoulders are stiff would be the actions of a certain classmate of mine whose actions I don't quite comprehend.

An unexpected visitor then came over to me without knowing a smidgen of my worries. Her skirt swaying slightly in the breeze, she stops in front of me.

"Say, Ayanokouji-kun, are you free today?".

The girl speaking to me is Satou from Class D.

"If you're okay with it, why don't we have tea together on the way back?".

She said so while twirling her hair like it's pasta with a finger of her left hand.

How should I put it...a rather bold, aggressive student is how I would have to describe her. This student, Satou, is acting almost like she's confessed to me before. In other words, almost like an invitation to a date.

The dweller beside me, Horikita, paid no heed and after packing her belongings, left the classroom. But I can somehow sense the members of the Ayanokouji Group observing the situation.

Why is a popular girl like Satou talking with Ayanokouji? Is probably what they're thinking. Haruka, in particular, is interested in the circumstances of the other girls.

"Yeah---".

I don't have any plans in mind for today. Our group assemblies aren't mandatory either so that's good too. The stares from the group members are worrying but that's still trivial.

"Was it bad timing?".

Since I didn't give an affirmative reply right away, Satou anxiously asked me.

"Sorry, Satou. Today's no good".

I hesitated a bit but in the end, I turned her down. The reason for that is because my shoulders are feeling stiff.

From morning until the end of school, I've been feeling unpleasant the whole day at the stare I received from time to time. Even now as I'm talking with Satou, that stare remains affixed on me.

Chabashira-sensei stayed behind in the classroom after school ended. She's pretending to fill out paperwork but it's obvious she's been staring at me from time to time.

Almost as though she wants to approach me.

"I-I see. See you later then, Ayanokouji-kun".

I feel bad for Satou's disappointment but it's just bad luck. As though to see Satou off, I walked out into the corridor to go back. And with this, the problem will be resolved...or rather, an immediate danger drew close right off the bat.

Almost simultaneously, Chabashira-sensei left the classroom and approached me. As I suspected, she must have some business with me. Looks like I made the right choice turning Satou down.

I avoided the conspicuous corridor and headed over towards a staircase that leads to the entrance in a roundabout fashion.

"...Ayanokouji".

Since the crowd has thinned, Chabashira closed the distance and called out to me.

"Do you have business with me?".

"Yeah. Follow me. There's something I need to tell you".

"That's a tall order. I've got an appointment with Horikita now".

I made up an excuse to get out of this situation.

"I don't want to act carelessly as a teacher either, but circumstances are circumstances".

Chabashira-sensei, who often doesn't show emotion, now has an unusually vulnerable expression on her face.

"I've got a bad feeling about this".

"Unfortunately for you, you don't have the right to refuse. It's an extremely urgent matter".

I don't really want to follow her but I can't afford to disobey a teacher either, I suppose. What little resistance I put up proved futile, so I ended up following Chabashira-sensei.

We left the student area and finally arrived at this place.

"The reception office? What do you need to talk about that you brought me all the way here? It's still too early for career consultation, right?".

"You'll understand soon enough".

I tried making a joke but it doesn't appear like she's going to answer a student's question. But rather than what's beyond the door, I'm more curious about Chabashira-sensei.

Forget calmness, she seems almost agitated. Even if the person behind that door is the person I think it is, her acting strange this blatantly is still strange.

It'd be a different story if it's a teacher who's usually like this but Chabashira-sensei doesn't belong in that category. And without even realizing the doubts I'm harboring, Chabashira-sensei knocked on the door to the room.

"Headmaster. I've brought Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun".

Headmaster, huh? It should be someone a student like me would have no reason to interact with from enrollment until graduation.

"Please enter".

I heard a gentle voice, but a dignified one befitting his age. And Chabashira-sensei opened the door to the reception office.

A man roughly in his 60s sat on a sofa. I've seen him several times both at the entrance ceremony and the end of semester ceremony but this man is, without a doubt, this school's headmaster. But his expression is not a laidback one but rather, I could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

And there's one more person opposite him. I'm sure of it now. Of why I was called all the way out here.

"Now then, the two of you can have your conversation.....you don't mind, do you?".

"Of course not".

"I'll be taking my leave so please feel free to take your time. If you'll excuse me".

The man sitting opposite the headmaster is in his 40s. Despite the fact that he's clearly twice this man's age, the headmaster acted in an extremely and thoroughly polite manner and left his territory as though he were fleeing.

"Then I'll also excuse myself.....".

Chabashira-sensei also bowed before the man and left alongside the headmaster.

I didn't overlook the fact that in the last look she gave me, she seemed worried.

As the door closed, the only sound I can hear is the faint sound of the heating system. As I stood still without saying anything, the man quietly said.

"How about you sit down. I’m meeting up with you of my own accord after all."

It’s been one ye-, no……one and a half years since I’ve heard this man’s voice.

His way of speaking and tone hasn’t changed at all.

Not that I specifically wanted him to anyway.

"I’m not planning on holding a long conversation that requires me to sit down, I have planned on meeting some friends later."

"Friends? Don’t make me laugh. You aren’t capable of such things."

He hasn’t even seen how I live, yet still judges his statement to be true.

Believing he is absolutely right, that’s typical of him.

"Whether we talk together now or not will amount to nothing."

"So I can assume that I got a favourable answer? If that’s so, there’s no need to talk anymore. I’m also busy and just got some time in-between to come after all."

He didn’t pay me any attention while arriving at his conclusion.

"I don’t know what the answer you want is."

"I have prepared the papers for you to drop out. I was talking about it with the headmaster earlier. You just have to say "yes", then we can be done with it."

He saw my intention to gloss it over and went directly to the main topic.

"I see no reason why I should."

"That may be so for you, but I do have some on my own"

He looked at me for the first time.

That sharp glance hasn’t withered, in fact, it has seemingly increased with his age.

Pupils like sharpened blade edges, like he could see thorough into the core. Many people have probably felt being assaulted by them. I took them right on.

"You mean a parent, for now, plans on twisting the child’s wishes on his own accord?"

"Parent you say? You have never recognised me as a parent."

"Indeed."

It’s suspicious whether this man has ever considered my his child in the first place. It’s likely we only recognised ourselves as father and son on paper only. Doesn’t matter whether there is a blood relation or not.

"The point is, you were acting on your own accord. I ordered you to remain on standby."

He threw out, forgetting to urge me to sit. Then he continued.

"You defied my orders and entered this school. I’m ordering you to drop out immediately as a matter of fact."

"Your orders were only valid inside the White Room only. Right now, I don’t need to listen to them anymore."

It was simple logic. But of course he wouldn’t be satisfied with that.

"You have become quite talkative since last time I saw you. Influenced by this worthless school I see."

Resting his cheek on his hand, the man looked at me like watching excrements.

"Anyway, let me hear your reply to my last question."

"The meaningless one about you not requiring to listen to me anymore? You are my property. The owner has every right to use it as he fits. I don’t need to tell you this. Whether you live or die is for me to decide."

To honestly being able say that in this country in which law rule prevails, what a wicked person.

"No matter how much you are stuck on it, I don’t plan on leaving this school."

Doesn’t matter what I say, we are just going in circles.

He hates wasting time on useless talk so he should know this. Then what is next? Of course he will strike his next card.

"Aren’t you curious what became of Matsuo who told you about this school and gave you the idea to enroll?"

"Not really."

That’s a name I remember, his face pops up in my mind.

"He was managing you as a butler for a year. In the end, he went against his employer’s orders."

He was talking non-stop, then suddenly stopped. By doing this, he could carve the contents and make the listener conscious of the grave matter this conversation contained. Using a heavy tone and a deep glance, the listener would assume the conversation was about to go in a negative direction, wondering how bad it may have went.

"Teach you how flee from me, about this school’s existence, and then ignoring me, your real parent’s intentions by sending the papers for your enrolment. Truly a foolish thing to do."

He picked up the teacup the school prepared for him and took a slurp.

"That is an inexcusable, unforgivable act. Of course he had to be punished."

It was not a threat, he was just stating the facts without mixing in his feelings on the matter.

"You may have imagined it already. He was fired by me."

"Since you are his employer, that’s a valid reason."

The man who was my butler was close to 60 years old. He was outstandingly good at looking after people, and was easy to like. A man well liked by all children. He married young, but was not blessed with children. He got his first child when he was over 40 years old, but he sadly lost his wife in exchange. His child was about the same age as me. I remember him bragging about his son all the time. I have never met his son, but Matsuo told be he was studying really hard as to repay his father. The smile he had is still burnt inside my memories.

"You must have known about him. Matsuo’s beloved son."

He must've seen me remembering about them, before he added.

"As you enrolled into this school, Matsuo’s son also managed to pass the difficult entrance exam and enrolled into a famous private high school. He surely worked really hard."

He added a pause, then continued.

"But, he has now been expelled."

His words were simple, the meaning clear.

He was avoiding to say it directly, but he had made sure the school retracted his son’s enrolment to punish him.

Because this man had power to do so.

"And so? Did a man such as you only end it with this? So kind you are."

"His son is a strong child. Even after expulsion from his desired school, he didn’t falter. He began enrolment into other schools. But I played my hand with them all. I stopped all his attempt at entering high school and made him give up. Same for Matsuo. Spreading his bad reputation resulted in him not finding any new work. The result, his son lost his course and became unemployed.

It was a speech about how my acts had resulted in Matsuo and his son losing everything. A made-up story it is not, but the truth. If he only meant to report about this petty thing, it was a letdown.

"You are probably not surprised at this point. Since they went against their employer’s orders, some form of compensation must be made. But it seems he didn’t expect one to such a degree. He was responsible, kind man from the very beginning. Losing his wife early, raising his son alone, grieving over that his careless actions had led to him robbing his son of his future. He found only one way to save his son. For reparations he pleaded me to not touch his son anymore, then last month he burned himself to death."

This was the point he wanted to say after his long speak. That my selfish actions was connected to the tragedy of others.

"His son is now working part-time without any guarantee to if he can survive to the next day. No dreams. no hope."

"His family falling into ruins is all your fault. His son must hate you."

"No forgiveness even after death."

As I was about to ask "And then", the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"The man who took care of you, the man who saved you has died and you don’t seem to by paying any attention. Matsuo would have turned in his grave seeing your attitude. The one he bet his own life."

Right or wrong, the reason for Matsuo and his son’s fall to ruins lies with this man. There is no need to feel remorse for dead people. But this man wasn’t trying to stir my feelings of guilt. Nor did he want me to show empathy. He just wanted to state it. That we would show no mercy to those who enraged him. Nothing more than that.

"For the first, I don’t have any evidence that what you told me is true."

"Matsuo’s report of death has been confirmed. If necessary, I will bring you his records."

So ask me anytime, he strongly implied.

"If he really is dead, then all the more the reason for me not to leave this school. As Matsuo helped me enrol despite knowing the consequences, I have to succeed his will."

A joke of a reply to bullshit like this.

"You sure have changed, Kiyotaka."

I can understand why he wanted to say that. I had always followed his… No, more precisely, the White Room’s orders. That was the whole world to me. His greatest failure was probably this blank unknown one year period of mine.

"What happened to you during this one year? What made you decide for this school in the first place?"

And since he already knew, he pursued the topic.

"Certainly, you have provided us with the best education possible. You may have used methods which the public won’t ever acknowledge, but still, I won’t reject the White Room itself. Which is why I’m not planning on speaking about the past to anyone, nor try to put you in a difficult position. However, you are excessively chasing an ideal. The result of that is me, that’s all."

I am a first year high schooler. 16 years old. However, my knowledge far exceeds the amount learnt in a lifetime. I realised it, was made to realise it. That humans have an endless amount of curiosity.

"You taught us a a lot of things. Not only the usual arts and sciences, martial arts and self-defence, wisdom and much more. It is because of that I wanted to learn about the "world" you threw away."

"Does the conclusion, the answer to that have anything to do with why you ran away?"

"Will I be able to learn the same things at this school as staying in the White Room? What freedom is, how is feels to not be bound by anything. I couldn’t have learned that in that place."

This is a fact even he can’t deny. The White Room was perhaps the most efficient place in the whole world to raise a human, but you couldn’t learn everything. It was an institution that threw away anything unnecessary to the extremes.

"Matsuo told me, the only place in Japan where you couldn’t reach was this school."

If I didn’t choose this school instead of waiting in standby as per orders, or if I had made a different decision, I would most likely have been returned back to the White Room."

Thus I strongly reject withdrawing from the school.

"There are some parts I can’t understand, but it seems I just have to accept that’s how the situation is. Now I see how temporarily shutting down the institution that time before the completion of the plan was a mistake. To think just one year could set back a plan which had been ongoing for over 16 years. And annoyingly you managed to escape to this school away from my reach."

I know that this temporary shutdown was a heartbreaking memory to him. That is why he so strongly wanted me back. But to make contact after half a year, there must be something else happening behind my back. Is there someone big behind this school?

"I now understand why you came here, but don’t think this is the end of it. As with Matsuo’s son, I can make you quit this school by force you know."

"I don’t believe you can interfere with this school as you are right now since it’s backed by the government."

"What makes you think so? That’s a statement without any proofs to back it up."

"The first one, the bodyguards you always surround yourself with are nowhere to be seen. You are making grudges all around so you shouldn’t be so willing to separate from them. But they are not in this room nor in the hallway as far as I can see."

The man grabbed the cup and drank the now lukewarm tea.

"Why should I need bodyguards just to visit a high school?"

"That’s sloppy considering you always have them guard when you go to the toilet. It seems to me you couldn’t take them with you even if you wanted to. The authorities behind this school didn’t permit it, is what I think."

And if he didn’t adhere, he wouldn’t be allowed to enter."

"You are still lacking evidence."

"Next, If you had the power to make me quit, you would have done so before even counting to 3. But you didn’t do that, instead going out of your way to talk to me face to face and convince me to quit. Something is weird."

For Matsuo’s son, he didn’t need to meet personally, he simply brought down the judgment I believe.

"And there's another thing. If you made your move in an enemy territory like this school and it becomes public, your ambitions… your comeback would forever be a faint dream, isn’t that so?"

"… Is that what Matsuo put inside your head? So even after death he still pesters me."

"I can’t know that just from his mumblings."

I didn’t hear anything detailed from him in the first place, but I can infer the details on my own. This man cannot be stopped halfheartedly, and Matsuo should have known this too.

"Leaving aside the shutdown and its influence, I noticed one more problem. No matter how perfect the discipline is, the so fitting rebellion period will occur in all humans."

A mere 15 years of education cannot possibly win over the DNA, carved from ancient times.

"Let’s put why an individual as you has gone off the paved road as the premise. You know fully well that there is no meaning behind learning about these unnecessary things so why?"

"The satiable curiosity, and to decide my own path. That’s all."

"Nonsense. There is no other path in life other than the one I planned for you. You are the one that one day will exceed myself and rule Japan. Why can’t you realise that?"

"That’s just your own fabricated tale."

"Seems I can’t get through you after all."

"Guess we have the same opinion."

No matter how far, we are always in parallel. We can never compromise on our understanding.

"The White Room has been restarted. This time, it will be perfect. I have also made preparations to make up for lost time."

"In that case you should have several successors who will succeed your will. Why bother with me?"

"Certainly, it is as you say, but there is nobody with the same talent as you yet."

"You cannot lie even to your children, is what you want to say?"

"You think such a worthless lie would reverberate with you?"

That’s true.

"This is my last words, Kiyotaka. Consider your answer carefully before answering. What do you wish for? Leaving this school of your own free will or letting your parent forcibly make you leave?"

Seems he really wants to drag me back no matter what. I don’t know what cards we will use to that sake, but it’s simply not worth listening to.

"… I have no plans to return."

As if slicing through the silence, I quickly gave him my conclusion.

"I don’t know whether there is salvation for you or not, but I have no plans to give up learning. The methods may be different, but it’s true that this school is raising talents. That’s where my expectations are."

"What gibberish. You don’t understand what kind of place this school is. This is nothing more than a shack for the mobs. There should be some in your own class I’m sure. Lowlifes without any chance for salvation."

"Lowlifes? That’s not true. This is a place where I can find out whether people are equal or not. It’s a pretty interesting policy I think."

"So you think even worthless people can grow up to stand in the same ring as geniuses?"

"That’s my wish."

"How much are you going to stray away from my policies?"

"We should end this conversation, you know this won’t go anywhere."

As I was showing him my will to finish up, a knocking sound reverberated inside the reception room.

"Excuse me."

After the door was opened, a man, seemingly in the 40s, appeared from the door. His expression became somewhat wary as he noticed the unexpected visitor.

"It has been a long time, Ayanokouji-sensei."

The man bowed deeply. The scene was like that of a subordinate and his boss.

"…Sakayanagi. What a nostalgic face. It’s been 7, 8 years I presume."

"I guess it has been that long since I succeeded my father’s position as the board chairman. Time sure does fly."

Sakayanagi? I got a little sense of incongruity from the name the board chairman presented himself as.

It can’t be helped that I associated that name with Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A.

"You must be Ayanokouji-sensei’s… Kiyotaka-kun I assume? It is nice to meet you."

As he was talking to the standing me, he tilted his head slightly to the side.

"Thanks for everything. We are done speaking so I’m excusing myself."

"Ah, Could you wait for a bit? I just want to talk a bit to both of you."

I couldn’t possibly refuse that from the third person, at least not from the board chairman of this school.

"Well then, have a seat."

I took my seat following his invitation. The board chairman then sat down beside me.

"I have heard from the principal. It seems you want to make him withdraw from the school?"

If the board chairman yielded in authority, I would perhaps be cornered.

"That’s right. Since his parent is stating so, you should promptly set it into action."

I wonder how the board chairman Sakayanagi would return those words. Having his worries elsewhere, Sakayanagi met the man’s eyes and replied.

"You are mistaken. True, the parents have much to say regarding their child. If the parents strongly desires for it, there are cases where we don’t have to consider the student’s own wishes. Still, that is by considering all facts and reasons. As an example, if they were subjected to vicious bullying etc, it would be worth considering. Does this hold true to you, Kiyotaka-kun?"

"Not at all."

"What a farce. That’s not my problem. I just want him to quit the school he enrolled at without my permission."

"Going to high school isn’t mandatory. Which school to enrol at is up to the student. Naturally, if the parents paid the expenses like tuition or similar, it would be another story. This school has all the expenses covered by the government so money and the materials are not a problem. Thus we will put the students’ autonomy as our first priority."

It was expected but I felt grateful for those words.

And at the same time, I understood. Matsuo once said 'this school will allow you to escape the White Room'. He made that declaration because of this man's existence. He's conversing with my father without the slightest hint of fear. And it's also proving effective.

Completely unlike the headmaster who bowed immediately before authority, this man seemed dependable.

"You've also changed. What happened to the you who used to agree with me?".

"Even now, I admire you, Ayanokouji-sensei. But it's precisely because I agree with the ideals of this school that my father founded that I intend to succeed him. I'm sure you know that best, Ayanokouji-sensei? None of the policies have changed since my father's time".

"I'm not going to reject your way of doing things. You're free to succeed your father's will. But if you're going to do that then why did you even allow Kiyotaka to enroll at this school?".

That man seems to harbor some doubts and so he started interrogating Chairman Sakayanagi.

"Why, you ask? After assessing the results of his interview and exams, I concluded that he qualifies for enrollment".

"Don't dodge the question. I am aware this school operates differently from an ordinary one. In the first place, Kiyotaka should not have even be a candidate for admission. I know the interviews and the exams are a farce".

At those words, the expression of Chairman Sakayanagi changed even though he had a pleasant smile on his face up until now.

"...even though you've already retired from the frontlines, that's very impressive, Ayanokouji-sensei. You're well informed".

"His recommendation to this school should have been submitted in secret. And the moment that was done, his admission to this school had already been decided. Put simply, without a recommendation, even the most excellent student would have been disqualified for entry. Am I wrong?".

It does seem to be a fact that they're talking about things a student like me would never hear otherwise.

"There's no way Kiyotaka could've been a part of the selection. In other words, it's strange that he wasn't disqualified".

"Yes. That's correct. His name wasn't on the list of students we intend to admit. Normally, when there's an unforeseen application from a student who is not on the list, they are all rejected. As a camouflage for that, we've implemented the interviews and exams. But he's the only one whose admission I approved of based on my own judgement. You may be here to take him back with you but for now, he's a precious student entrusted to us. I have an obligation to protect the students of this school. Even if it's your request, Sensei, there are things I must refuse. As long as he himself does not wish to quit".

Don't fool around, that man spat those words out and turned away from Chairman Sakayanagi to face me.

However, Chairman Sakayanagi continued.

"We will not, of course, disregard the parent's opinion. If you wish for his expulsion then along with Kiyotaka-kun and the school, we will conduct a three way discussion until we reach a consensus".

Which is another way of saying no to expulsion.

It's safe to assume that man no longer has any cards up his sleeve here.

"I certainly cannot force the impossible on your field. However, if that's your answer then all I have to do is change my approach".

"What are you planning on doing? If you intend on doing something extreme---".

"I understand. I have no intention of putting pressure on you".

The fact that this man, who specializes in that aspect, is not going to do so shows that he cannot do so here.

"There should be no problem if Kiyotaka's expulsion occurs using the school's own rules as its basis".

"Yes, I can promise you that. I will not give him special treatment just because he's your son, Sensei".

"Then that'll be all. I'm leaving".

That man stood up from the sofa.

"When shall we meet again?".

"At the very least, we'll never meet again here".

"I'll see you off then".

"Unnecessary".

As that man refused to be sent off, I spoke to him.

"If you call yourself a parent, why not come visit this school a couple of times?".

"A place like this? Once is more than enough".

Leaving those words behind, that man left the reception office.

"Whew. As usual, whenever Sensei's around it's always tense, isn't it? You must've had a tough time too, right?".

"No. Not really".

The only thing that came out was that it's 'as usual'. Since we're now alone, Chairman Sakayanagi calmed down a bit and looked at me warmly.

"You see, I've known you for a long time now. We've never spoken directly but I've always been watching over you from behind the glass. Sensei always praised you, you know?".

"Is that so? So that's how it is".

"What is?...what do you mean by that".

"No. More importantly, Chairman Sakayanagi, about the student allocated to Class A---".

"You're talking about Arisu? She's my daughter".

"So that's how it is".

"Ahh, but it's not because she's my daughter that she's in Class A, ok? I play fair".

"That's not it. I just wanted to ask you".

And with this, the mystery behind how she knows me has been solved. It's not strange if she's this man's daughter.

"I'm fine with only what you're able to explain but---I'm curious about what that man said earlier".

"Could it be about the story behind your admission?".

"Yes".

"Yeah. Like Ayanokouji-sensei said, this school only admits middle school students nationwide who it has already conducted a preliminary survey of and have marked as being qualified. Every year, we work alongside the administrators of each middle school. And the result of that would be the students who have gathered here. The interviews and exams are only a formality. Even if you fool around during the interview or score zero on your exams, your admission has already been determined. Of course, students from all over the country apply for admission so the exams are there as an excuse to cull them".

So even if you get 100% on your exam or ace the interview, you'd still be rejected. There's no way a rejected student could discover the truth either.

This is convincing enough. Students like Sudou, Ike and the others who aren't academically the brightest as well as students like Hirata and Karuizawa who carry problems in their past were able to enroll because of it.

Things like common sense and academic ability are secondary concerns for this school.

"In your case, the moment I decided to admit you, whatever you do will no longer have any effect. Scoring 50% on all written exams won't influence your chances of success or failure any either".

This is truly a unique school.

In all likelihood, this is the first school of its kind in Japan.

"Both you and Ayanokouji-sensei must be wondering. Why this school, regulated by the government, does not admit students based on their overall capability. But that is something you will surely come to understand in the future. What the nurturing policies we hope to achieve are as well as the results of it".

Chairman Sakayanagi is brimming with confidence.

"...I ended up saying too much. But I can't tell you any more than that. Because you're a student enrolled here at this school and I'm the one running it after all".

The fact that he still told me all this must be because I'm in the special position of being targeted by that man.

"As the person in charge of this school, I will protect its students as far as the rules allow. You understand what I'm getting at?".

If I don't follow the rules then he won't be able to help me either.

"Of course, I can imagine what that man will do from this point onwards as well".

His options are very limited if he wants to get me out of this school.

"Then please excuse me".

"Alright. Hang in there".

After he gave me that encouragement, I left the reception office. When I left the reception office, I saw Chabashira-sensei waiting a slight distance away for the conversation to be over.

I gave her a bow and tried to walk past her but she started walking while matching my stride.

"How was your confrontation with your father?".

"It's pointless to try investigating so clumsily. I already understand everything".

"…What do you mean by you have realized everything?".

"Chabashira-sensei. I’m saying that everything you’ve told me are basically lies".

"What are you talking about?".

"You mean be trying to hide your unrest but it's not very subtle".

The way she's looking at me, her speech and the way she's choosing her words. It's only slightly off but still different from the usual her. She's trying to hide her emotions to the best of her ability but it doesn't look like she can hide her unrest entirely.

"That man never contacted you, Chabashira-sensei. Of course, he also didn’t force you to make me quit school".

"No, your father asked me for help. In fact, just like what I told you, I’ve been constantly trying to get you expelled".

My father certainly is giving me pressure to drop out. But judging from his attitude, it's clearly the first time he's set foot in this school. Since I have no solid evidence I can't offer a refutation either but him making contact with a teacher is just a laughable story.

"Stop trying to deceive both of us. Chairman Sakayanagi has told me everything –he told my situation to you the instant my enrollment was decided".

"...the chairman told you everything?".

I laughed thinly.

At that very moment, Chabashira-sensei realized she had made a blunder.

"Ayanokouji, were you probing me......?".

"Yes. The chairman never told me anything about Chabashira-sensei. But I was certain it was related to you, and now this has become very clear".

After seeing Chairman Sakayanagi, who knew about me scoring 50% on all tests, I became convinced of it.

"I'll explain my reasoning now. First I applied for admission to this school and Chairman Sakayanagi, who knew me from way back, acted on his own. And the moment my admission was confirmed, my allocation to Class D was also confirmed. The reason why Class D and not another class is because you, Chabashira-sensei, are a teacher who didn't show much interest in the class conflict. The class teachers I've seen so far have all shown a strong ambition to get their classes promoted, you see".

If I'm allocated to a class where I'd stand out, then the chances of me attracting attention would increase proportionately.

"By the way, Chairman Sakayanagi also made a single miscalculation. It's that the teacher of Class D who holds no love for her class and no drive is the one who secretly wants to rise up to Class A the most".

"..........".

Chabashira-sensei was unable to reply at all and remained silent. Probably because she knew that my arguing back carelessly, she'd end up revealing it instead. That's why I didn't hold back and went all out with my words.

In order to confirm one more thing.

"You're stubbornly hung up on the idea of rising to Class A. But you had no such luck with the students you had so far. That's why you weren't able to bring those feelings to the fore and indifferently spent your days. Am I wrong?".

Unlike before, Chabashira-sensei no longer even looked me in the eye.

"That's just your theory, Ayanokouji".

Chabashira-sensei's words of denial no longer hold any power but rather, they sounded weak.

"By chance, the irregularity that is my existence showed up this year and the situation became different from your usual year. Although there are many students with problematic personalities, the cream of the crop did gather too. Horikita and Kouenji as well as Hirata and Kushida. They're all students who, if properly guided, can aim for the upper classes. That's why you'd end up having expectations. In that case, it wouldn't be strange if the ambition you kept bottled up came surging back out. It's very easy to tell if you think back on the words Hoshinomiya said to you not too long after enrollment".

Hoshinomiya, who was an old friend of hers, knew about her desire to rise to Class A.

'You're aiming to supplant them'. Those words of hers were very telling.

"And now, no matter how rudely I act or what insolent words I speak, the only option you have here is to accept it all. The fact that the Chairman offered to protect me and considering how you want to use me as your weapon to aim for Class A, the only option you have available is to close your eyes to all the abuse going on here".

Like I said, all Chabashira-sensei could do is to listen to all this.

"For someone like you who desires to reach Class A and being stuck with teaching Class D every year, this is a chance you cannot afford to lose. You even used the lie that my father made contact with you to try and make use of my existence after all. That's the reason you approached me and Horikita was only a pawn you used for that purpose. By the way, things aren't so simple".

I never had much ambition and held no interest in Class A in the first place. Not knowing how to control me, who never took much action, she ended up firing the first shot during our first special exam on that uninhabited island.

"If, by the time the special exams start, we're still unable to hold a candle to the other classes then we'd never be able to catch up. That's why you panicked and ended up using what the Chairman told you to keep secret. I suppose you could call it desperate measures".

After that, things went favorably for Class D to a certain degree.

However, a miscalculation occurred. That's my father making contact with this school at last. And today at this very moment, all truths and lies are laid bare.

"You probably intended to shut me down but on the contrary, you're the one being shut down now".

"...I see. The Chairman is probably giving you special consideration. Your abilities are beyond that of a 1st year high school student. You're wiser beyond your years, is how it is, huh?".

She took a breath, nodded and admitted it.

"...I'll confess. I don't know your father".

The attitude she tried so hard to maintain up until now collapsed.

"However, what are you going to do about the fact that if I ever feel like it, I can actually get you expelled? I can say you committed a serious breach of the rules and inform the school of it. Expulsion is the thing you want to avoid the most, correct?".

To think she came so far only to threaten me now.

"Regardless of the process, the result won't change, is what you're getting at".

"Exactly".

"How unfortunate, I'm already sure of it. That you can't get me expelled".

"...allow me to ask what led you to that conclusion?".

I calmed myself down from that agitated tone.

Of course, in the first place I wasn't actually agitated at all. I had only acted agitated to draw out Chabashira-sensei's true intentions.

"The current situation speaks for itself. Right now, Class D's performed better than it has in most years. Horikita and the other students too, are slowly beginning to put their strengths to good use. Even if I no longer aid them, it's not like they won't rise to Class A anymore".

So far, Class D's catching up to the upper classes and is on the brink of overtaking Class C. No, at this current moment, our positions have already been internally reversed.

But if an expulsion were to occur, the destination will naturally become distant. What it means is that Chabashira-sensei is stuck in a situation where she cannot do anything.

"Even after I've stepped off the stage, the fight will continue as long as Chabashira-sensei holds out hope".

It's impossible for people to discard their hopes with their own hands.

"And with that, I shall have you release me".

"Now that you know everything, are you going to stop aiming for Class A?".

Of course I'm going to stop. The teacher who tried to use me to get to Class A by pretending to be affiliated with my father will no longer hold any sway. In other words, it's no longer necessary.

"At the very least, I think my turn's up".

But I didn't deny it entirely.

People will keep going as long as there's still hope. Even if they know the possibility of it is close to zero they will still want to believe in that possibility.

Chabashira-sensei stopped walking.

"For now, please just watch obediently. If you continue to approach me based on your personal feelings any more than you already have, it'll just be a hindrance to the students".

I emphasized that.

"If I still refuse to release you despite it being reckless, what will you do?".

"Then you'll die holding onto those ambitions of yours, is what that choice would lead to. Not a very wise choice to make".

"Allow me to change the question then. Don't you think there's no guarantee I won't drag you down with me if I ever lose hope?".

"Yes, there's the possibility that the class points will plummet in the future. If so, you'll lose all hope. In that case, I don't mind. If you're going to attack then, please feel free".

She wouldn't stop just because I asked her to so let her do whatever she wants.

"But I'd also like to remind you that your position as teacher isn't a guaranteed one either".

That's just a threat but at the very least, it would affect Chabashira-sensei, who knows the details, to a certain degree.

Looks like she no longer has anything left to say to me as I walked off. There's nothing happy about my reunion with my father but I did gain a lot today.

I no longer need to help out in aiming for Class A, is what it means. Whatever Ryuuen does from now on, I no longer need to get involved for Class D.

On top of that, I won't suffer any backlash no matter what happens to Karuizawa.

Of course, if Karuizawa either gets caught or decides to betray me then my identity would be revealed but that's all. Even if Ryuuen decides to come after me, as long as I don't do anything for the sake of Class D from now on, it'll just end with a close, ambiguous decision.