The Odd One Out

By : CJDGOAT

...

SS.1 - SS.3

SS.1 - Ignorance

After my encounter with Ichinose and her friends at the convenience store, I arrived back at the dormitory.

I ate my cup noodles in my room, then I decided to rest on my bed, although I was far from feeling tired.

After a few minutes of staring at the white ceiling, I suddenly decided to check out the school's online forum. I then went to the section dedicated to the first-years.

Most were questions regarding the school, but one in particular caught my attention.

[I can't believe Ayanokouji Kiyotaka goes to our school! Has anyone seen him today, how is he like?](Anonymous User)

Seems like I can't catch a break.

This particular post was extremely popular and received plenty of comments and reactions, all of them from students who decided to hide their identity as anonymous users.

[Someone tell us too! I'm really curious!]

[He's in my class! To be honest, I think he's really cool. Many of us probably had the wrong image of him!]

[He's not in my class but I think the same!]

[Do you guys think the files about him are true?]

[I mean they definitely are true, but whether they accurately represent him is another question]

[Maybe he was just misunderstood?]

[I think we should try and get along with him XD]

[Agreed!]

[Fufufu... seems like he has already become quite the superstar]

[Should we be wary of him though? I mean, the stories about him are scary..."]

[True... but you can put all the blame on him? Look at the conditions he was in, I don't think I would've survived myself!]

[Stop taking the piss kukuku... I'm sure he's not even that scary, I could beat the **** out of him]

[What the hell is fufufu and kukuku, you creeps have weird laughs lol]

[DON'T MAKE FUN OF MY BRO]

[I'm just like Ayanokouji fr fr]

This school is fascinating... to say the least.

It hasn't been long since I've been a student at Tokyo's Advanced Nurturing High School, but I've already come to a simple conclusion regarding the students here.

They are ignorant.

The students here...

They think they know what I've been through.

They think they know what I did in the past.

They think they know about my abilities.

They think they know how I think.

They think they know everything about the Demon of the Fourth Generation.

They think they know everything about the Masterpiece of the White Room.

They think they know everything about me...

But I don't even know everything about myself.

They think they can become friends with me...

But I don't even know what friends are.

They think they can help me...

But I don't need help.

They know nothing about me. Even when they think they know everything, they still don't have a clue about who I truly am.

But that doesn't matter. What they think of me, how they think they can treat me, why they're trying to help me, it all doesn't matter.

After all, it doesn't matter how it's done. It doesn't matter what needs to be sacrificed. In this world, winning is everything. And as long as I win in the end...

That's all that matters.

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SS. 2 - Sakayanagi Arisu: Reunion

I could still recall the scene across the glass screen on that day as if it had occurred only yesterday.

My father took me to a facility located deep within the mountains, its exterior dyed a pure white. No, it wasn't only the exterior.

As far as I could remember, both the corridors and the small rooms we went through were all painted in one single white color.

I placed both my hands on the transparent glass, doing my very best to see what lied beyond. The screen seemed to be some sort of one-way mirror so they couldn't see us from the other side.

I could see children on the other side of the mirror. Children with talent, children without, everyone was partaking in this education program equally. It was a program where the people who start to fall behind would disappear one by one.

When it came to accomplishing the tasks presented to them, every child reflected in my eyes succeeded. However, they were desperate. It was obvious that doing so took all the effort they could muster. Whether it was studying or sports, the level of competition here was far beyond that of a normal child. And yet, amongst them was a single existence exhibiting abnormality.

A certain boy was playing chess and overwhelmingly defeating his opponents, one after the next. Among the children I could see beyond the glass, he was the only existence snatching away my gaze and heart. Seeing this, my father looked somewhat happy yet somewhat sad as he nodded.

"Yes, he is Sensei's son. His name should be... Ayanokouji... Kiyotaka if I remember correctly."

"He's Sensei's child so his DNA must be excellent, right?"

"Who knows. At least, Sensei has never graduated from a top university or possessed outstanding athleticism. His wife is also an ordinary woman. Their parents never showed signs of any talents either. But, Sensei has stronger ambitions than anyone and an unyielding and indomitable fighting spirit, that's it. That's why he has become so great. To the extent that he, at one point in time, could move the country."

"In that case— won't that child be the perfect specimen for this experiment?"

My father nodded with conflicting feelings at my question.

"Well... I think his father would probably feel like that child is perfect for it. But... as I see it, I can't help but feel sorry for him."

"Why is that?"

"From the very moment he was born, he has lived within these facilities. For him, the first thing he saw wasn't his mother nor his father, but the plain white ceiling of this facility. If he had fallen behind earlier, he could've probably lived with his father. Or no, maybe the fact that he continues to stay here had gotten him his father's favor. If so, that's very..."

Simply put, he hadn't ever received any love from his parents. How lonely and desolate such a life must be. His talents aside, there was still a lot to gain and learn through physical contact with other people. I strongly hugged my beloved father, to which he hugged me back.

"Do you not like this place, Father?"

"Hmm? ...Who knows? ...I honestly can't cheer it on. If the children here really become superior to everyone else, if this facility becomes the natural thing, then this must just be the misfortunate beginning. That's what I think."

"Rest assured. I will personally smash it for you. I will prove that talent is not decided by education, but from the moment people are born."

"Yes, I'm expecting lots of you, Arisu."

"By the way father. I think I want to start playing chess."

I start high school in precisely a week. I'm not particularly looking forward to it yet, but I hope that changes soon. Though I guess I'm somewhat looking forward to seeing my classmates and the rest of the first-years.

I hope I can meet him.

I've always wanted to meet him.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, a young boy with brown hair and golden eyes.

An artificial genius, they call him?

That's impossible. All people are nothing more than what their DNA allows them to be. There is no such thing as an artificial genius. If you want to create a genius, you'd have to do it at the genetic level.

People who are born ordinary will never escape the realm of the ordinary. No matter how blessed their environment is, if somebody isn't excellent from the beginning, they won't become a genius. That had always been my belief since I was young.

Not long ago, news about the White Room broke out and the entirety of Japan became aware of not only of its existence, but of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's existence.

That's when we all found out about the hidden truth behind the White Room, a place that violated human rights from all angles and perspectives.

Of course, I had visited the White Room with my father when I was small, but being the child that I was, I had no idea about the truth behind the one-way mirrors. I'm not even sure my father knew the real truth.

An artificial genius, a masterpiece, a demon, a monster, those were some of the many names people on the internet started calling him.

That's when I came to a shocking realization.

Ayanokouji-kun never had control over his life. It's as if the path he had followed was already laid out in front of him the very second he entered this world.

Ever since I visited the White Room, I always wanted to smash that facility into pieces. I always wanted to prove to everyone that talent is not decided by education, but from the moment people are born.

I've always wanted to fight against him. I've always wanted to bury the false genius of the White Room. But now, after all the news broke out, after I'm aware of the truth, I'm uncertain about my own feelings. Although one side of me wants to defeat him, the other can't help but admire him for withstanding all those years.

I've asked myself, isn't it selfish of me for wanting to defeat him? Is he even the one I want to defeat?

They say there's a thin line between love and hate.

If so, then I am currently standing on that very thin line myself.

"Arisu, I've brought him to you."

"Thank you, Kamuro, you can leave now. Here, have a seat, Ayanokouji-kun."

I finally got a good look at the person known as Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. He has grown up so much since I first saw him. The only person who caught my attention and my heart when I first visited the White Room.

After he sat down in front of me in the library, we started talking to each other. I reserved this section of the library just so I can have a nice and peaceful talk with him.

"Who are you and what business do you have with me?"

"My, my... no need to rush things, Ayanokouji-kun. After all, it's been exactly 8 years since I first met you. Poetic, isn't it? The first day of high school happened to be exactly 8 years after I saw you for the very first time."

"I don't remember meeting anyone like you during my childhood, Sakayanagi."

"I visited the White Room with my father, Ayanokouji-kun. I observed you with my very own eyes through the one-way mirror as you effortlessly beat all kinds of chess players."

"Oh, I do remember that day. So? Is that all you wanted to tell me? There's more, right?"

"Fufu... as expected, you're quite sharp. Indeed, I have a proposal."

Up until lately, I wanted to face off against Ayanokouji-kun, but I recently realized how selfish and immature I was.

Oh, how blinded I was by the goal I had set for myself without even thinking twice.

The reality is that I've always been against the White Room and its philosophy, but I'm not against the person named Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. The White Room has already shut down, so I decided it's better for me to move on from the past.

Ayanokouji-kun may or may not be an artificial genius, but one thing's for sure, he's not the perfect human. How can a human be perfect when they have no emotions nor feelings? Doesn't that already prove the White Room wrong?

If so, there's no point in trying to defeat him, right? What more do I need to do?

While I somewhat still want to test my abilities against him, I recently realized that I don't have to hate him to want to face off against him. I don't have to unleash all my anger and frustration on him just because he happens to be the best to ever come out of the White Room.

I have decided. I will teach him myself what he hasn't been taught. I want him to experience the warmth that I was lucky enough to experience. I want him to enjoy his life, the way I have been able to enjoy mine. I will give him what he has been missing all this time.

I'll cherish the person I've always secretly admired from the bottom of my heart.

"How about we team up, Ayanokouji-kun? Based on my guesses, you're aiming for Class A, right? Class D alone clearly has no chance of aiming for top spot. Even with you, the chances are slim. Join Class A. With you and I working together as the class leaders, nobody can stop us. I'll teach you all the things you haven't been taught in that place, Ayanokouji-kun. The world is much brighter than you think it is. Without light, there is no darkness, that's why...

I'll be the light to your darkness."

After a few seconds of thinking, Ayanokouji finally spoke up.

"Sakayanagi, I understand your proposal, and I'm grateful, for that matter. However, I will let you know that I have no intentions of joining Class A..."

Sigh, my embarrassing speech was all for nothing. What a way to humiliate myself.

As he starts to stand up and leave, I was thinking about what I should say to him.

"... yet."

He said to me with his back facing me as he stopped near the exit.

"When the time comes, I hope you'll welcome me in your class, Sakayanagi."

I gave him a smile, even though he didn't look back.

"Of course fufufu... I promise I'll be waiting for you. Also, please call me Arisu from now on, Kiyotaka. After all, we're childhood friends."

"Sure, Arisu. It was nice talking to you." He then left the library, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Next time, I'll challenge him to a chess match.

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SS. 3 - Ichinose Honami: A Fateful Encounter

Like people all around Japan, I became aware of the institution known as the White Room, a dark place that has fortunately shut down ever since news about it broke out.

How can people treat children like that?

Who do they think they are?

I feel stupid for regretting some actions I did in the past. What I did, what I suffered, how I lived, doesn't even compare to what those poor children went through.

Out of all those children, one apparently stood out.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

Apparently, he lived up to the expectations of the White Room instructors effortlessly, even surpassing their expectations by miles, and making exponential progress as he grew up.

He was part of the Fourth Generation. The news reporters called this generation the Demonic Fourth Generation. They said there were three reasons.

First of all, the curriculum was way more difficult that that of the previous three generations.

Second of all, the punishments were much more severe and frequent.

And finally, third of all, a demon came out of this generation. At least that's what they all say. A demon hidden in a human body. A human that has lost all emotions and ability to feel things. That human, was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. It was said that when the other students were being punished, he didn't even bother looking at them, not showing the slightest sign of sympathy. He also scored full marks on every single one of his exams ever since he lost those emotions.

He has hence earned the nickname of "Masterpiece of the White Room".

That has led me to think. Was he always unable to feel things, or did he lose them over the course of his life in the White Room?

Or, even worse, did he intentionally decide to let go of his feelings, so that he could come out on top of his generation?

Yikes...

That last thought scares me, but, actually, I kind of want to meet him. What is he really like? How does he behave? Is he really a demon? A masterpiece? An artificial genius?

Today was the first day of school. I'm attending Tokyo's Advanced Nurturing High School.

This school is amazing. The campus is huge, it contains literally everything one can think of.

However, today, there was only one thing that caught everyone's attention.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is attending this school.

At first, I couldn't believe it. What is someone like him doing here? Then, one of my friends showed me a picture of him. I don't know how she got that picture, since he wasn't even in our class. I must say though, I didn't expect him to look this... handsome.

I'm now at the dormitory, I just got my keycard and I'm now in the elevator alongside another girl, heading for the 11th floor.

I couldn't believe who entered the elevator. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

He was heading for the fourth floor. He stood in front of us, so I stared at him with curiosity, it seems like the other girl did the same. He seems... quite normal. I mean he's human after all, right? What could go wrong if I talk to him?

By the time I was done thinking, the other girl left on the third floor, leaving me alone with him.

Here goes nothing...

"Um... are you Ayanokouji Kiyotaka?"

Is he going to respond?

"Yes."

Wow, he actually responded... Wait, what am I thinking? Of course he responded, Honami, you started talking to him you idiot!

"Um... well, my name is Ichinose Honami from Class B, it's nice to meet you Ayanokouji-kun. I hope we can get along!"

Was that too much? Did I make him uncomfortable?

"Likewise. Pleasure meeting you, Ichinose."

I smiled. It seems like he wasn't that bad. My first impression of him was... good! I really hope we can get along and who knows? Maybe even become friends!

"We'll, I'll see you around, Ayanokouji-kun!"

"Likewise."

He kind of sucks at conversations though.

With that, he left the elevator. My first encounter with him was... a success! Hopefully our relationship starts here, I want to become good friends with him!

I went out with my friends that afternoon and had fun! We decided to stop by the convenience store before parting ways, and, surprisingly, we bumped into Ayanokouji-kun!

My friends Yume and Mako teased me after I started talking to him. It's not like that! How can I already have a crush on someone I just met?

This is Ayanokouji-kun we're talking about. The guy that was all over the news! I mean, he is handsome, and cute, and hot, and smart, and probably athletic, and also handsome... but that's not the point! I just want to be friends with him and help him since he had such a rough childhood! I want to know how he felt, what he was thinking when he was in the White Room.

At first, I was a bit scared of talking to him, but now, after having a nice conversation with him and my friends, I'm convinced I can get along with him. We even exchanged contact information! The past doesn't matter, right? The past is in the past, as they say. I want to enjoy the present, and get to know all sorts of people, including Ayanokouji-kun!

Plus, I'm sure, even if I were to like him though...

He would be unable to have those same feelings for me.

But even so... maybe I want to teach him those feelings.

End of SS.1-SS.3...