Chapter 4: Meeting Chairman Sakayanagi

[19th August, 16.26]

[Third Person Pov]

--

On his way to Chairman Sakayanagi's Office, he was attempting to calm his emotions down. 'I'll have to control my emotions, when I talk to him. As much as I would like to directly confront him and ask him what he knows, it's not the appropriate time. I'll have to withstand it for a bit longer. Mother... Father, don't worry, I'll make sure the culprits get what they deserve.'

Kurushima still in thought, heard the noise of the paper documents he had in his left hand being crunched. 

Looking with his eyes at his hands, he saw how he was clenching the document with his hand. 'Haah... I can't believe it. It's far harder to control myself than I thought. But who wouldn't? The mere thought of being in the same room with one of the potential murderers from my family is harder than I thought.'

He quietly sighed. "Calm down, Kaoru," he muttered quietly.

Recomposing himself, he thought of the things he should be careful of. 

'I'll have to make sure to look for any security cameras inside his office. If there are some, I'll have to think of a method to turn them down, when I'll confront him. Either that, or I'll have to confront him somewhere else. 

But going towards that area is even more dangerous. It's guarded with tons of cameras in that area. The place I'm talking about is the Faculty room, where the school staff are residing, including him. In short, it is nearly impossible to break, without anyone noticing. 

And if someone does, my whole plan might fail. I hope he really isn't responsible, because otherwise, I will not know what happens.´ He pondered in thought.

'His apartment or his office? Which one... I wonder? Let's first see how secure his office really is. I can think of the methods later.'

Kurushima walked towards the Chairman's office step by step, observing everything on the floor. 

Right in front of his office, he saw several security cameras, one pointing down to the hallway and one to his office. 'I see. Does that camera perhaps rotate too? Hopefully, that's the case. Otherwise, I might have to think of a method on how to deactivate it or make it malfunction.'

He knocked on the door. "Come in," Chairman Sakayanagi exclaimed.

"Excuse me," said Kurushima, opening the door.

"Ah, it's you, Kurushima. What can I do for you?"

"You know me, Chairman Sakayanagi?"

"Of course. I don't think there is any school staff member who doesn't know you. You've got quite the reputation. Especially, given that you are the first student ever in the school history to achieve 100 points in all the entrance exams. Each entrance exam had one question, and that was that of the university difficulty. You must have learned a lot."

"Kind of. That aside, I've got several documents that need to be immediately signed by you, Chairman Sakayanagi. Manabu-senpai said it was of great urgency. I'm sorry to come here unannounced."

"Don't worry, that's not a problem. I'm here, whenever a student needs help."

Kurushima handed out the documents to Chairman Sakayanagi, and observed the room carefully. 'From what I've seen, there doesn't seem to be a camera inside this room. That's good to know. I think I'll confront him here in the future.'

Within a few seconds, Chairman Sakayanagi was finished signing the documents.

"Here you go."

He said, handing out the documents to him.

"Thank you, Chairman Sakayanagi," he exclaimed, doing a slight bow.

"My pleasure."

Kurushima stood for a couple of seconds in the same location.

"Is everything alright with you, Kurushima?"

"Yes, kind of. I'm sorry, this might come a bit unexpected, but Chairman Sakayanagi, but..."

"Do you happen to have pictures of school years 87, 88, and 89 or know where they might be?"

"Years 87, 88, and 89? May I ask why?"

"My parents attended this school. I don't have much left of them, so if it's possible, I would like to take a couple of pictures with me. Of course, only if it's allowed."

"Oh... I didn't know that. It is allowed. Unfortunately, I don't know precisely where they are." 

"But you might ask the librarian. I think the school pictures should be there. If the school pictures are also not at the library, they might be in the basement. However, it's quite large, and there are tons of cartoons, so the search would take quite a while. Besides, you have to ask for permission first, before entering it. I can notify your homeroom teacher, so it shouldn't be a problem. I hope you find the pictures, Kurushima."

"Thank you, Chairman Sakayanagi. I appreciate your help," he said, making a slight bow before leaving the room.

'When I appeared before him, he didn't seem to have a guilty consciousness. I wonder... Is he really innocent? Or perhaps... Does he know something, but is not affiliated with the death of my family? Either way, he's the only clue I have. Based on my father's diary, he must know something about Project WR, which I believe is responsible for their deaths. 

No matter how kind he is right now, he's being quiet. He won't talk, unless I give him a good reason. She is really the solution to obtaining that information, huh? I see... I'll start with my plans soon. But not now. Around December, it should be the perfect time. Around that time, she'll get her medications from outside, for her congenital heart disease, so I've calculated.'

Kurushima walked back to the Student Council. "Here, Manabu-senpai."

"Thank you," he exclaimed.

"Then, I'll be excusing myself. Until tomorrow."

He looked slightly at Tachibana, pointing his thumbs up.

She blushed, looking at the ground.

'I hope she was somehow able to get closer to him. They would be a good couple. That being said... Is love really such a beautiful thing, as everyone says? I wonder...?'

He walked to the library. But there, he encountered someone familiar.

"Kaoru? Are you here to borrow a book?"

Based on the fact that it was 18:40 o'clock and the library would be closing at 20, it was fair to assume that he would be borrowing a book.

"Not today. I am here regarding another matter."

He was quiet for a while until she spoke up.

"Is it a class affair matter?"

He shakes his head. "No, it's a private matter. I..."

"You don't have to tell it to me, if you don't want to. But you can always speak to me, if there is something troubling your mind. I will always be there for you."

"Thank you. Unfortunately, I can't tell it to you right now. Soon enough... I'll tell you everything about me."

"Kaoru, can we speak... tomorrow? I want to tell you something."

He nods his head. "Sure, that's fine with me."

She covered her cheeks, walking away embarrassingly. 

"Goodbye, Kaoru!"

"Goodbye, Hiyori!"

He clenched his chest with his hand.

'Just why... Why is my heart beating like crazy whenever I see her? Is it... No, we're just friends, right? But why... do I feel so disappointed then?'

'I... should focus on my original matter again. Yeah, that's right. I... will get my hand on the pictures, no matter what. Other than that, I have only small things left from them.'

He walked to the school librarian, shaking his head several times. "Excuse me, I have a question."

The librarian nodded her head. "Go ahead."

"Do you know if there are school pictures of the school years 88, 89, and 90?"

"87, 88, and 89? Hmm, one moment, please."

Immediately, the librarian began on tipping on the computer, searching per the school register to see if there was anything listed from these three school years.

She shakes her head. "Unfortunately, I don't get any results regarding school years 87, 88, and 89 in the register. Have you already asked the Chairman? He might know it."

He nodded. "I already did. Chairman Sakayanagi also doesn't precisely know where the school pictures from that year are. But thank you, nonetheless. There's still one place Chairman Sakayanagi suggested me, so I'll look if it's there."

"Good luck."

Kurushima nodded his head and walked towards the dormitory. It was already 19 o'clock, so it was kind of obvious he wouldn't search today further.

He'll ask Chabashira-sensei tomorrow regarding the key to the basement.

Once Kurushima left the building, he gave a deep frown. "Haah."

"It seems like it won't be that easy to get the school pictures... I wonder, when did you two become a pair? You two never told me anything regarding your high school time. I only figured it out a few years ago, when I entered your room for the... first time since your death."

Walking with his hands in his pockets, Kurushima wondered whether he should buy something.

"Shopping, huh? I actually have a dozen pairs of clothes already. Aoki packed my luggage with quite a lot. I wonder... Will he be disappointed when he gets to know I voluntarily dropped out of school?"

'Yeah, he was the one who encouraged me to attend school and enjoy it, since I rarely visited middle school, and couldn't feel the joy students should 'have'. Haaah, why didn't I just change into a public middle school? I wasted 10 Million Yen per year by attending it. But I guess it was somehow worth it. 

They had a huge library, with countless books for University. Besides, a lot of children from influential families went there. Despite myself not being often there, I had made various contacts and got to know a few crucial secrets of politicians and other influential figures. I guess it was somehow worth it.

Besides, unlike other schools, this school's prestige was quite important. As long as I scored 100 points, they didn't mind if I learned something else. And... I had to ensure myself getting accepted into ANHS, which is why I took this school, which was lenient to me and didn't bother me at all. It was convenient for both parties.

Just 4 more years and 62 days. Please hold on that long, Aoki. Until I officially become an adult. After that, please enjoy your life in the best possible way. You were there for us for 49 years.'

Kurushima walked while being completely immersed in his thoughts. He didn't seem to notice that he was already at the Shopping Mall. 

"Well, let's head in. I guess I can spend a few hundred thousand."

[Kurushima Kaoru:]

[Private Points: 9.438.784]

'Should I try to acquire more Private Points? I could buy them from Upperclassmen, or I'll expel a couple of people, and out of goodwill, they'll hand me over their Private Points? No, I'll buy them rather. I don't really need them to be expelled. It's just a few individuals.

Either way, I already suggested to my class the allotment of more Private Points, which they agreed to, as we are now in Class A, with corresponding benefits. Since we've now got 1027 Class Points, the amount that will be allotted to us is 102,700 Private Points. The new amount is 45,000 Private Points per month. The fact that we're in Class A now is essentially the reason, everyone is willing to give that much.

In short, per month, it'll be 1,800,000 Private Points. No, I mean 1,755,000 Private Points, since Koenji did not agree.'

After checking a few stores, he bought himself a couple of clothes. He didn't have many casual clothes, so he bought himself a variety of them. He had mostly formal clothes, even those that Aoki put in his luggage. 

--

[1 hour later]

--

"Hah, I guess I went a bit overkill."

[Kurushima Kaoru:]

[Private Points: 9.387.756]

With tons of bags, he walked further. 

"Hah, I really have a problem with managing Private Points." 

With a painful smile, he walked towards the dormitory. 

While he was walking, he saw a certain group.

A troublesome one.

He glanced at them, and took a left turn.

He would rather wait than encounter them. 

"Oi, oi, Kurushima."

Unfortunately, the leader seemed to have recognized him.

He walked towards him. "You make me sad! Why the rush?"

"Ryūen. What do you want?"

He smirked. "Nothing in particular. Just know, once Sakayanagi is down, you'll be the next."

"Unfortunately, you'll have to work together with her at the Sports Festival. I wonder... Will you two sabotage each other? You two can't stand each other. But I think, moreover, you two would make quite a dangerous threat."

"Kukuku, is that so? I feel honored, Kurushima. Let me say this: I think you'll really make a great opponent. But the better the opponent, the more I'll have fun crushing you."

"I guess so. If I were you, I wouldn't want to fight against myself. Are you sure you want this?"

He smirked, approaching Kurushima, until not even 20 centimeters were between the two. "You're quite confident, I see. What did someone like you do initially in Class D?"

"Who knows. If Class D is the class of defectives, what is my defect? I certainly have one. That's for sure."

Kurushima said, walking away.

"You just let him walk away like that?"

Ryūen pointed towards something.

"The moment he took a turn left, he proceeded to head towards an area with one security camera. If we do something, he'll use this chance to his advantage. Theft or assault, he could choose to report that to the teacher's. In the end, he might as well blackmail us for Private Points for him being quiet about this. Ibuki, don't underestimate him at any cost."

--

A/N: Well, those three chapters will be all for now. that I'm uploading. As for the next chapters, I split them into 3 Parts, as it's a Chapter with 11.000 Words. 

These Three Split Up Chapters are with Hiyori. Also, I'm trying on doing AI Art, so occasionally, I'll make them for characters. Whether it might be for SS Chapters, or something completely else. 

Since I gained quite the motivation lately, I'll be writing this fanfic further. After the Hiyori Chapters, there'll be a couple of explanations what Kurushima intends to do for the future. 

I'm still like priory, completely fashioned by riddles and mysteries, so I'll do them too. Once I'll have an idea, I'll give some kind of hints, I guess.

That aside, if you have any suggestions for the story, please tell me them. 

That'll be all from me. 

Thanks for reading this chapter of mine.

I'm certainly not a good author, so I appreciate it.