"Clarifications, is it?" he asked.
"Well, if it's going to be an inconvenience for you, then please forget I asked."
"Ah-haha. It's quite alright, Ayanokouji-kun. Please tell me your inquiries."
I took another sip of my tea before heading on to my first question.
"Earlier, you said that "you made sure I was admitted" if I pass the entrance exam and interview. I found that strange and incredibly incoherent. Even if you're the chairman of the school, you shouldn't be able to influence the admission of a student if their enrollment was solely based on their entrance exam and interview. That is, unless, they didn't really matter in the first place."
"So you're saying that I was lying about the entrance exam and interview-- that all I needed were my own words to get you admitted? Well, I can understand that. After all, you're a special kind of student."
"It's alright if you don't want to confirm it."
"No, it seems like you already believe it to be the truth, so I'll just admit it. You're right, Ayanokouji-kun. Your entrance exams didn't really matter. When I saw your name in the list of enrollees, I made sure that you can attend this school," he sighed. "It's not like you weren't qualified, anyway."
"Thank you."
"Hahaha, no need to thank me now. I wouldn't neglect your desire to study here just because your origins are different from that of normal people."
"There's one more thing, chairman."
"Oh? What is it?"
"I may be a special case... but the matter of my admission here isn't really special, wasn't it?"
"What do you mean?" He cocked his head.
"A lot of students- no, all of the students in this school were already pre-determined to get admitted, is what I'm trying to say."
After hearing my words, the chairman's eyes narrowed, but his smile didn't break.
"Do you have some evidence to back this claim up?"
"I was placed in Class D, which was deemed to be the collection of defective students. I've always wondered why this type of class existed. This school is popular throughout the entire country and a lot of capable students enroll every year, numbering hundreds, if not thousands, or even tens of thousands," I explained. "However, the population is always 160 freshmen students per year, and I'd believe said system if all of them were the most capable 160 students that have passed both the entrance exam and interview. After attending this school for the past three months, it was pretty obvious that this wasn't the case at all."
The chairman continued listening to my explanation.
"I have classmates with academic abilities so low that average junior high school students would score better than them in our previous midterm exams. Their entrance exam results should've been at the bottom of the barrel, so how were they admitted if their chances of enrollment relied on it? The interviews, perhaps? I have a classmate who wore his personality like a hat. He was a destructive and violent student with little to no patience. His interview results should've been disastrous. Of course, his academic abilities were also atrocious. The only thing he had going for him was his superb athletic abilities."
"Then, wouldn't you conclude that we took note of that and allowed him to pass?" he mused.
"That statement only strengthens my argument. Apart from the mandatory medical tests that we needed to take in order to apply, there weren't any exams involving physical abilities. Your statement also implies that this school and their previous schools were in some sort of contact. After all, you wouldn't normally know much about a student's full capabilities and school history based on their application papers alone."
We stared at each other for a brief moment. Silence enveloped the room but I'm sure neither of us felt any pressure. At this point, Chairman Sakayanagi could only sigh.
"Alright, Ayanokouji-kun. Ever since you asked me about the entrance exams, I knew our conversation would eventually end up in this direction. You don't need to explain any further. After all, it seems like you already have an accurate idea of how the admission works in this school."
"Not really. I'd still want you to clarify everything to me, but since I'm just a student, I can understand if you reject my request."
"No, it's alright. I'll still tell you what I can. After all, I believe that you'll keep everything to yourself."
I nodded. Chairman Sakayanagi took a good long sip of his tea before facing me once more.
"First of all, you were right about the entrance exams and interviews. They're nothing but a farce-- a smokescreen if you will. We conduct surveys throughout the country and identify the most suitable candidates for enrollment. As you suspected, everyone's admission was already pre-determined. It doesn't matter if they get a zero on their entrance exam or insult the interviewer during the interview."
His words weren't that surprising. Students like Ken, Ike, and Yamauchi were admitted for some reason. There should've been a lot of enrollees who were worthier of their slots if we're basing it solely on overall merit.
"But dear lord, Ayanokouji-kun. You really are far above any student of your age. One simple mistake in my words led you to figure everything out... Sensei's education served you well, it seems."
"Probably."
"Will you be alright? Other students or even teachers would start getting suspicious of your origins if you continue showing your abilities," he asked.
"I've taken that into account, Chairman Sakayanagi. Unless they get the answer out of me directly, they wouldn't able to guess the existence of a place such as the White Room. I don't intend to get my father in trouble or anything," I answered.
The chairman's next words earned my attention.
"I see... Well, your father has already contacted the school a bunch of times," he said.
"That much is to be expected."
"Yes, he wanted you to drop out immediately. Of course, the school didn't agree with this."
"As expected of an institution ran by the government."
"Sensei is a powerful man. He won't stop until he gets you back."
"The only thing I can do is not agree with him. The legal matters are on your hands, Chairman Sakayanagi."
"Yes, I'll be sure to deliver. After all, you're a student of this school," he said. "I'm sure you still have some questions, but that's all I can tell you right now. In the end, you're still just a student. In time, you'll understand the kind of nurturing policy we strive for, and the effect we hope it will produce."
I finally stood up and prepared to leave.
"Thank you for today, Chairman Sakayanagi," I bowed.
"I expect great things from you in this school, Ayanokouji-kun. I'm sure you'll have fun trying to overtake Class A," he said before chuckling.
"Is there someone in particular that I'm supposed to be worried about?" I asked.
"I'm not sure how she'll fare against you, but my daughter is quite capable," he smiled.
"Your daughter is in Class A?"
"Hahaha, don't worry. Her placement wasn't biased or anything. She was evaluated using the same set of rules."
"I didn't think that at all. I was merely interested."
"I'm sure you two will get along. She knows about your identity as someone from the White Room, after all."
That statement put a crack in my composure.
"I see..." I said as my eyes narrowed.
Fundamentally, our classes were still enemies. Depending on what kind of person the chairman's daughter is, she can use her knowledge about me as leverage. Of course, it wouldn't really cause any real threats. If she's smart, she wouldn't expose her knowledge of the White Room to outsiders. What I'm worried about is a completely different thing.
"You don't have to be too cautious, Ayanokouji-kun. My daughter will fight you fair and square."
I won't heed his words this time. I should be careful in dealing with this daughter of his...
"Alright, you may leave now. Please keep doing your best from now on."
"Please excuse me," I bowed once more.
As I stepped out of the reception office, I saw Chabashira-sensei waiting for me some distance away.
"How did it go?" she asked with a smirk.
"The chairman really did a mistake, huh?" I said.
"What?" Chabashira-sensei was visibly confused by my sudden words.
"He intended to help me live a life of obscurity because he judged that I didn't want to stand out. Class D, it's subpar students, and a teacher like you would've been the perfect place for that."
"A teacher like me?" Chabashira-sensei turned with a glare.
"Yeah, you were someone who looked indifferently towards the class standings. You didn't pressure your students into performing better. At least, that's what it seemed like on the surface. If I really decided to hide my abilities, I'm sure you would've done something to urge me into helping. After all, you're aware that I'm more than what I'd seem. And of course, you desire Class A more than anyone," I explained.
Chabashira-sensei seemed displeased with my words, but I couldn't care less.
"Hmph, I wouldn't deny that, Ayanokouji. But you've made the right decision. I'm looking forward to your journey towards Class A."
"I want to make some things clear, Chabashira-sensei." I stopped walking, prompting her to turn back and look at me.
This time, I looked at Chabashira-sensei with cold piercing eyes.
"You may be using me as your ticket to Class A, but to me, your desire is nothing more than a byproduct of my goals. Since I'm already doing you a favor, please make sure that you can be of use to me, as well."
"Heh, those words aren't necessarily the most respectful, especially towards a teacher," she scoffed. "But sure. You've been giving me better results than I could ever expect. Buying the explanation on the S-System and getting those old test questions? Based on those feats alone, it's obvious that you're not an ordinary kid."
I thought I acted inconspicuously, but she still found out about the old test questions.
"I'm not against a symbiotic relationship."
"The true Ayanokouji Kiyotaka amuses me," she laughed before glaring back at me.
I walked in the opposite direction and never looked back.