Freedom

Known as "liberté" in French.

It is the ability to act freely without being bound or constrained by anything and to do as one wishes while having the power and resources to do so.

There are many types of freedom, such as academic freedom, artistic freedom, intellectual freedom, scientific freedom, and economic freedom, to name a few. However, here I am referring to freedom in the context of a teenager still in high school or basically "youth", where I can do as I wish without the restrictions set by a parent in a facility that feels more like a prison, or in a large government-funded high school that just seems like a bigger prison.

Well, at least being a student in it was fun, and it did give me a lot of experience in interacting with people my age and humans in general.

Presently, I am making my way to the cashier, having picked up several types of sanitary products and ingredients for cooking meals at a grocery store in Chiba. This is the type of freedom I desired – to do what I want, whenever I want, and how I want.

You may be wondering why and how I am in Chiba. It all happened a few days ago when Chairman Sakayanagi summoned me to his office...

Flashback:

Currently, it is the second class of the day - Chemistry. Hoshinomiya-Sensei is teaching the students about The Laws of Thermodynamics. Despite attempting to remain engaged, I found myself feeling bored and averted my gaze from Hoshinomiya-Sensei to observe my classmates.

I hoped to find something interesting, but most students appeared focused and were diligently taking notes on the school-given tablets, such as my seatmate Matsushita, as well as honor students like Hirata, Keisei, Mii-Chan, Kushida, and several others. To my surprise, Sudo was also taking notes, which contrasted starkly with his behavior a year ago. Back then, he would have been sleeping soundly at his desk, drool spilling from the corners of his mouth. It seems that the invisible leash that Horikita had set on him was working wonders.

'Love can really change you huh.'

Meanwhile, Koenji remained indifferent to the lecture, nonchalantly filing his nails with his legs propped up on the table.

As I observed my classmates, I returned my attention to the front of the classroom, where Hoshinomiya-Sensei continued to lecture. Although nothing out of the ordinary was happening, I attempted to remain engaged, quietly diving into my thoughts.

It has been two weeks since the last special exam, and it was quite hectic. Due to my perfect score of 100 in math, my name has seemingly become infamous not only among the second-year students, but throughout the entire school. It's understandable, as the second-highest scorer, Sakayanagi, who is widely believed to be the most intelligent student among the second years, scored 91 points.

The fact that I, someone considered mediocre and unremarkable by most students, scored higher than Sakayanagi is a surprise to all.

Speaking of special exams, I wonder what Tsukishiro is up to now. Either way, I must be prepared for the worst. Even though I am the best product of the White Room and am confident in my abilities to fend off attacks from Tsukishiro, the White Room enforcers, and even first-year bounty hunters, one can never be too sure of what the future holds.

"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka from Class 2-D please come to Chairman's office immediately, I repeat Ayanokoji Kiyotaka Fr- "

My thoughts were interrupted by a voice from the speaker. Suddenly, I felt the gazes of all the students on me, and even the usually nonchalant Koenji seemed interested. Some of them had worried expressions. It was to be expected, as one is not called to the Chairman without a serious issue.

I shifted my gaze towards Hoshinomiya-Sensei, who had an expression that appeared suspicious of the situation. Slowly, I rose from my seat and made my way towards the door, feeling stares drilling onto the back of my head.

I departed the classroom and strode down the hallway towards the Chairman's office. While moving towards the office, I tried to make sense of the situation, but so far, nothing added up. Was that man back and still trying to demand that I drop out, or is Tsukishiro trying to give me a new challenge?

'I guess I will find out when I get there.'

I reached the front of the office and gave a few knocks on the door.

"Come in," a voice came from the other side of the door.

I twisted the knob and opened the door, half-expecting to see Tsukishiro sitting in the Chairman's seat. Instead, I was greeted by Chairman Sakayanagi, who was smiling at me, and Tsukishiro, who was seated on the couch with a smile of his own. It was a strange sight… seeing the two of them together. It seemed that the issue with Chairman Sakayanagi had been resolved and he was probably back to being the Chairman of the school. But what about Tsukishiro?

We just stared at each other in silence, waiting for someone to speak up. I decided to break the silence and greet them and then ask about the peculiar situation. "Good morning, Chairman Sakayanagi and Acting Director Tsukishiro."

"Good morning, Kiyotaka-Kun," Chairman Sakayanagi responded.

"Good morning, Ayanokoji-Kun. You no longer need to call me Acting Director, as I have been relieved from the position. Chairman Sakayanagi has returned to his previous role," Tsukishiro explained.

I turned to Chairman Sakayanagi for confirmation, and he nodded, understanding the implication of my gaze. However, it didn't make sense to me. How had the Chairman managed to return to his position? Had the man given up on trying to have me expelled from the school? That seemed impossible, as far as I knew, he would never give up until he got what he wanted. He would do anything in his power and use everything at his disposal to achieve his goals.

I am aware that the White Room enforcers may still try to expel me, but their chance of success without Tsukishiro is significantly diminished. Did something happen behind the scenes that I don't know of? Instead of dwelling on it, I decided to ask Chairman Sakayanagi directly.

"What is going Chairman Sakayanagi? This situation seems a bit too good to be true."

"I understand that you are confused Kiyotaka-Kun, but I believe it will be better if Tsukishiro-San explained it to you."

I raised one of my eyebrows and turned towards Tsukishiro, signaling him that I was listening. Tsukishiro began to explain with a slight smile on his lips. "What you're about to hear would be bad news for most people, but from your perspective, I believe it would be good news."

If I was not confused before, I am definitely confused now.

'What on earth is he talking about?'

Noticing my confusion, Tsukishiro continued. "Your Father, Ayanokoji-Sensei has died in a car accident a few days ago."

With this bomb dropped I was shocked. At first, I couldn't believe it. However, after realizing that the chairman was present and not under house arrest, the probability of it being true increased.

"Of Course, you can check the papers of his death if you don't believe me."

I didn't need to check the papers to know that it was true. I couldn't detect any lies behind Tsukishiro's words. I couldn't imagine that man dying in such a manner. Perhaps it was the doing of one of his enemies, but I couldn't be certain.

I didn't know how to feel. I neither liked him nor hated him. I was merely indifferent towards him. But the fact is that man was dead. Does that mean I am free right now? I don't have to go back to the White Room anymore?

"You must be thinking that you don't need to return to the White Room anymore, and yes you are correct. You are a free man right now. Additionally, it was stated in your father's will that all his assets, wealth and properties will be inherited by you if by any chance he perished. All his assets except the White Room that is. It is decided that the government will take control of the white room and continue the experiment in a more humane manner. So, rest assured, if you don't want to, you don't have anything to with the White Room anymore."

"I see."

Wow, that was certainly a lot of information to absorb all at once. I turn towards Chairman Sakayanagi and see him with a sad smile. I suppose he is a bit disappointed that a person he knew has passed away.

Even though their views and policies on education clashed, they still shared the same goal at the end of the day: to cultivate the youth of Japan into excellence and to propel the country towards a bright future.

"Well, I was hoping to get a reaction from you, but it seems that even this news is not enough to crack your stoic expression." Tsukishiro remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "I was just waiting to deliver this news, and by the way, the inheritance papers are already with Chairman Sakayanagi."

"Well, I will be off now. Goodbye, Chairman Sakayanagi, and you too, Ayanokoji-Kun. Let's meet again someday," added Tsukishiro as he stood up from the couch and proceeded towards the door, eventually leaving the room. There was silence for a few seconds before the Chairman spoke up.

"So, what are you going to do now, Kiyotaka-kun? As Tsukishiro said, you are a free man now. Since Sensei is no more, your reason for being in this school is gone. You can drop out of the school if you want. In my opinion, if you want to experience a normal teenage high school life, it would be better to transfer to another high school. Alternatively, you can stay in this school until you graduate. It's all up to you, but of course, I would be happy if you stay and graduate from here."

What he said was true. Now that the man was gone, I could just roam around Japan freely without being wary of his every move. I was considering staying in this school, but I was also curious to know how people and teenagers outside of this school live and go about their lives.

I pondered my options for a while but in the end, my curiosity for the outside world and my desire to live a peaceful and normal life took over me, something that can never be guaranteed here, given the chaotic special exams and the S-system.

"I am quite curious to experience the lifestyle of high school students in a typical school setting, so I would appreciate it if I were transferred to another school. Ideally, the school should be prestigious but not too well-known throughout the country, and situated in a less crowded city than Tokyo," I explained to Chairman Sakayanagi.

"I was hoping that you would stay at this school, but ultimately the decision is yours." The chairman appeared disappointed when he said that. "As for your new school, I know just the right one that fits your criteria. It's called 'Sobu High School' located in the city of Chiba, approximately 35 km away from Tokyo. While it's not widely recognized in Japan, it's one of the most prestigious schools in Chiba, with a focus on academic excellence, as it's a college preparatory school. The entrance exam may be difficult, but I am confident that you'll excel. Does that sound good to you?" The Chairman suggested.

I was familiar with Chiba, and it seemed like the perfect location for me, with an area of 271.8 km² and a population of approximately 970,000 people, it was neither too crowded nor too sparsely populated. I made up my mind.

"I accept. And what about my accommodation?" I inquired.

While I was aware that the man, my late father, had a mansion at the outskirts of Tokyo, commuting to Chiba would be too much of a hassle. I preferred to stay in Chiba, near my new school. "I'm afraid it would be quite inconvenient to commute from Tokyo to Chiba every day, so, if possible, I would prefer to live in the vicinity of my new school. Do you have any suggestions?" I asked.

"Don't worry about that," The Chairman assured me. "I happen to own an apartment in a luxurious residential complex in Chiba, which isn't too far from the school. You're welcome to stay there if you'd like."

"I'm sorry Chairman, but I couldn't possibly accept such a generous offer after all that you have done for me. I was simply inquiring if you could help me find an apartment, and I am willing to pay for it with my own funds. By my own funds, I mean the inheritance I will receive once I depart from here."

"I understand. If you prefer, you can purchase the apartment from me instead you know."

I pondered for a while before replying. "That is certainly a better option. I accept your proposal."

Initially, I was hesitant to accept his offer because I didn't want to be indebted to him. But buying the apartment from him seemed like a reasonable choice.

"You may return to your class now. I will finalize the details and paperwork within the next few days. This will also give you time to say goodbye to your friend and acquaintances."

"Ah, yes, of course. Thank you for everything, Chairman." I gave him a respectful bow and expressed my gratitude.

"It was my pleasure, Kiyotaka-Kun. I should be thanking you for putting up with Arisu's schemes."

"Goodbye, Chairman."

"Goodbye, Kiyotaka-Kun."

I turned around and left the room, heading towards my classroom while mentally preparing myself for the inevitable interrogation from my classmates and prepared to share the news of my impending transfer with everyone.

It was difficult to come up with lies and reasons for transferring schools and giving them to everyone. In the end, I simply came up with a simple yet effective reason: "Family matters" which, to be honest, was not entirely untrue. This seemed to satisfy most of them, but some remained suspicious. I only gave the actual reason to Sakayanagi since she would know about it anyway.

I received details about the different bank accounts and assets that the man had. I couldn't believe the amount of money he possessed. All in all, it totaled around 25 billion yen, including the value of physical assets, stocks, and deposits in his various bank accounts. With the chairman's assistance, I was able to transfer all ownership to my name, despite being only 17 years old.

Thus, at such a young age, I find myself exceedingly wealthy. This morning, I bade farewell to my classmates. A few of them, including Kei, Airi, Hiyori, and Ichinose, could not contain their emotions and burst into tears. Kei, in particular, approached me and hugged me tightly, revealing her affections for me. I had already been aware of her feelings, so I rejected her the previous night, hoping that she would not be hung up on me and move on.

Horikita and most of the members of the Ayanokoji group wore grim expressions on their faces, while Hirata and Akito sported sad smiles. Since it was a Sunday, most of them had come to greet me at the school gate. Seeing them, I couldn't help but feel a small smile creeping up on my lips, glad to have people who cared about me. At around 10 am, I left the school grounds in a sleek black SUV.

True to my expectations, Chiba was the perfect city for me, with its beautiful scenery and just the right number of bustling crowds on the streets.

I moved into my new apartment today around noon and quickly set everything up. It wasn't too difficult, as the apartment was already furnished with luxurious amenities. There were two spacious bedrooms, a large living room, a well-equipped kitchen, and two bathrooms. As I planned on potentially having guests over, I decided to turn one of the bedrooms into a guest room.

Tomorrow, I would begin attending my new school. It felt strange to transfer schools in the middle of a semester, but being the chairman of ANHS must have given him enough influence to make it happen. I was even allowed to take my entrance exams for Sobu High at ANHS school grounds.

After finishing up my tasks, I glanced at the clock and realized it was already 4:30 pm. Feeling a bit peckish, I decided to head to a nearby grocery store to purchase some food ingredients and other supplies. And that is how I find myself here now.

"AHH!"

While I was lost in my thoughts, I heard a voice coming from my left. It was a girl who seemed to be about to fall off a stool that she had probably used to reach for a sauce on the top shelf. My reflexes took over, and I dropped my basket to catch her in a princess carry before she hit the ground.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, though I knew she was fine. I tried to soften my voice to put her at ease.

She slowly turned her gaze towards me, and we locked eyes for a few seconds before she looked away, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "I-I am fine," She said.

Realizing that she might be embarrassed by the situation, I gently put her down and helped her stand properly.

As I looked at her closely, I realized that she was quite cute. She was short, around 152 cm tall, with blue eyes and medium-length black hair that reached the middle of her neck. She had a strand of hair that stood straight up from her head, giving her a slightly unique look. Judging by her height, she was probably in middle school.

I turned my attention to the soy sauce she had been reaching for and retrieved it from the shelf, handing it to her. She hesitated for a moment before accepting it with a murmured "thank you."

"Don't be embarrassed," I tried to reassure her "It happens sometimes. You should have just asked for help from someone taller instead of taking such a risk."

"I ju- "

"Komachi! Are you okay? I just heard you scream."

Before she could reply, a boy around my age with an average build, messy medium-length black hair, and an ahoge of his own rushed towards us, crying out to the girl in panic. What was interesting about him were his dead fish-like eyes. From the way he called out to the girl, it was clear that they were probably related.

"I am fine, Onii-chan." The girl replied.

"Are you really okay?" The boy asked, concerned.

"Yes, I am fine, I just fell from the stool, but this man caught me and helped me up."

"I see, thank you ...um." The boy trailed off, prompting me to introduce myself.

"Ayanokoji, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka"

"Yeah, Ayanokoji. Thank you for helping my sister," he said. " But did you try to do anything pervy to my sister!?" He suddenly blurted out, which took me by surprise.

"Stupid Gomii-chan! Not everyone is like you, you know? And um...don't mind my brother Ayanokoji-San. He's just a hopeless sis-con who can't take care of himself and always has to rely on me." The sister interjected.

I was taken aback by the sister's nonchalant insult of her brother in front of a stranger. Although I didn't have siblings myself, I knew that one shouldn't tarnish the reputation of their siblings in front of others, even if they were annoyed with them.

"What are you talking about, my precious little sister? I was just worried about you. And do you have to insult me every chance you get?" The boy retorted defensively.

"Ah... it's okay. No need to worry, It's natural for a brother to worry about his sister's safety in such situations. Anyway, it's getting late, and I should be on my way." I intervened.

It was getting dark outside. I had spent around an hour in the store getting my stuff, so the time must have been close to 6 in the evening. I turned around to where my basket lay and bent down to pick up some of the items that had fallen out. After cleaning up the mess, I stood up.

"Um... w-would you like to join us for dinner at our home? You know, for saving me and helping me." The girl stammered while looking away with a blush on her cheeks.

"Won't your parents mind if you just invite a random boy to your home for dinner?" I replied.

"Yeah, Komachi what are you doing? inviting a random stranger for dinner? What will Mom and Dad say?" Asked the brother while furrowing his eyebrows at his sister.

"But Mom and Dad are always late from work so we can probably have dinner before they return home, and they would probably be thinking that you finally made a friend." Retorted the sister.

"I would love to accept your invitation," I replied, "but the thing is, I just moved to Chiba today from Tokyo, and I have to get ready for School tomorrow. But thanks for the invitation anyway." I attempted to smile at the end, but the girl turned away from me and I noticed that her ears had turned red. Meanwhile, the boy was giving me a look of disgust.

"A-ah its o-okay." The girl replied with a meek tone that seemed ... somewhat disappointed? I couldn't help but wonder why she seemed crestfallen, but I decided to bid them goodbye and head back to my apartment.

"Goodbye and thanks again for invitation." I said while walking away and giving them a small wave. The girl smiled and waved back, but the boy still wore a look of disgust on his face. Was my attempt to smile that bad? I guess I have to practice making a few expressions with the help of the internet.

I purchased my items and began making my way towards my new apartment. As I walked along the road, I contemplated whether I should reveal my abilities to the students and teachers at school. I presume that the teachers are already aware of my academic proficiency, as I had tried to answer each question on the entrance exam with precision. But they probably won't reveal my scores to anyone right?

What would happen if I chose to excel in both academics and physical tests at school? I would most probably gain popularity, but I couldn't help but feel as though it might disrupt my peaceful life.

Despite my hesitation, I ultimately decided to showcase my abilities. After all, what harm could a little popularity bring? Doesn't every high school student dream of being well-liked by their peers? I had previously attempted to live my life as an average, unremarkable student, but it only resulted in insults from my classmates. They labeled me as gloomy and uninteresting, and while their opinions didn't affect me much, it still stung my nonexistent heart.

Breaking out of my thoughts, I arrived at the building that housed my apartment. I showed my ID to the security guard and walked in, taking the elevator up to the 16th floor where my apartment was located.

As soon as I entered, I made a beeline for the kitchen to prepare dinner. After taking cooking classes from Horikita and preparing dinner for Amasawa, I had practiced a few dishes. While I wouldn't say my cooking was the best, it was good enough.

For tonight's meal, I decided to make Hainanese chicken rice. This dish originated from Hainan in southern China and consisted of poached chicken and seasoned rice, served with chili sauce and cucumber garnishes.

After sorting the ingredients and placing them in the cupboards and refrigerator, I began preparing dinner. First, I meticulously prepared the chicken, paying close attention to every detail, before moving on to the rice. While the rice was cooking, I carved the chicken and made dipping sauces, including chili sauce, ginger garlic sauce, and soy sauce.

With about 30 minutes left for the rice to finish cooking, I decided to take a shower. Stepping into the bathroom, I entered the shower cabin and set the temperature to 39°C, letting the lukewarm water wash over my body.

As the water washed over me, my thoughts drifted to the curious pair of siblings I had encountered at the grocery store earlier. The siblings' behavior was totally opposite; one looked cheerful and sociable, while the other appeared reserved and protective of their sibling. Come to think of it, I never even got their full names. I only knew the girl was called "Komachi," probably her first name. I made a mental note to ponder about them later.

After finishing my shower, I dressed in a plain black polo T-shirt and white shorts before returning to the kitchen. I served myself the dinner I had prepared and sat down at the table to begin eating.

"Itadakimasu." I muttered silently.

As I picked up a chicken piece and dipped it in one of the sauces before taking a bite, an explosion of flavors attacked my taste buds. The taste was delightful, and the chicken and rice were seasoned perfectly - not too bland, nor too overpowering. Slowly but surely, I finished my dinner. It was one of the best meals I'd had in a while, though it didn't quite top Horikita's cooking. I knew I still had a long way to get there.

It was already 8:30 pm, and I had two more hours before bed. I found myself at a loss for what to do. With a lack of options at hand, I took out my phone and began researching the new school. The sudden turn of events in the past few days had caused me to overlook the importance of gathering information about the new school.

As I sifted through information, I realized that my device was not fit for such a task- I needed to invest in a new laptop for this kind of work, as well as a new phone since the current one was provided by ANHS last year. I started by checking the reviews from current students and their parents, followed by browsing the school's official webpage for more information.

After spending about an hour gathering information, I felt like I had gained a good understanding of the school.

"So, this school is really a big deal here, huh?" I muttered to myself.

According to the information I obtained, it was just as Chairman Sakayanagi had said - those who wish to gain admission are required to score highly on the entrance exams or receive a recommendation from a good junior high school. The entrance exams are held on a single day in February every year.

The school has a total of 30 classes, with 10 for each grade. It offers courses in Japanese, Mathematics, English, Social Sciences, and Sciences (Biology, Physics, Chemistry). Additionally, there are various forms of Art, Sports, Music, and Home Economics classes, totaling nine in all.

Second-year students are required to fill out a career survey to assist with their future course choices. Later, they will choose either Liberal Arts or Sciences to focus on for their third-year classes. As for myself, I will deal with it when it is given to me.

There are also many clubs in the school, with the most famous ones being the soccer club, basketball club, Judo club, and other athletic clubs.

As I closed my phone, a sudden realization dawned on me - I would have to introduce myself to my new class tomorrow. I was determined not to stumble through the introduction as I had in the past. I wondered what I should say and thought about copying someone from among my previous classmates.

How did Hirata do it again? He started with greetings and pleasantries, followed by his name and hobbies. I guess I should follow suit, but with a personal twist. First, introduce myself, and then mention my hobbies, such as reading, playing chess, and playing the piano. I believe my other qualities will speak for themselves when I showcase my abilities. But, I feel like I'm missing something…... something important.

…

..

.

Ah, it's all about my smile. I remember, my smile can be a bit unsettling to some. The memory of the grocery store incident where I had unintentionally creeped out that girl with my smile played vividly in my mind. Wanting to avoid such awkward situations, I went to the bedroom and stood in front of the mirror, practicing my smile until it looked natural.

Once I felt satisfied, I ended my practice for the night, as it was already 10:30 pm. I needed to wake up at 6 am for my morning routine and to get ready for school. Homeroom started at 8:30 am, but I had to arrive at the school gate half an hour early.

Bedtime had arrived, so I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and perform my night routine. I crawled into my new large bed, feeling anything but tired. In fact, I was excited for my new life at a new school with new people. As I drifted off to sleep, I eagerly anticipated the the adventures that awaited me in the coming days. I couldn't help but wonder what the new day would bring.

Author's notes:

Hello, this is my first time writing a fanfic, so I would greatly appreciate it if you could point out any mistakes and parts you didn't like.

I know it's a common thing to say, but English is not my first language. Writing this fanfic was quite challenging, and it took me over 10 hours to complete the 5000-word. My respect for writers out there has grown immensely.

As for the update schedule, I won't be updating the story daily, but probably every week or two.

Thank you for taking the time to read this fanfic.