Chapter 6: Hopelessness and a Way of Life

TOKYO WAS UNUSUALLY HIT by heavy snowfall.

The garden seen from the corridor window was lit up with a scenery of a snowy night.

Kamogawa and I were light on our feet and headed for the appointed location ahead of the others.

On the way, Kamogawa stopped and looked at the snowy landscape. "Do you remember? More than ten years ago, when we were waiting for

Naoe-sensei under the cold weather."

"Yes, it seems like it was only a few days ago."

"That day, Ayanokouji-san took charge of the White Room Project and appointed me as well. It's been a lot of hard work, but we've made it this far."

That's true. There are more than one or two secrets that you can't tell people and must take to your grave.

"You have grown up a lot. I see you've learned the rudiments of politics." "Thank you, Naoe-sensei, Ayanokouji-san... No, working under

Ayanokouji-sensei has been a great step forward for me. The only thing I regret is not being able to report to my father, who passed away last year..."

Kamogawa's father passed away around this time last year after suffering a heart attack.

It had been Kamogawa's goal to tell him directly about the White Room Project's release.

The state should provide institutions that take in and nurture children.

The Advanced Nurturing High School is a pioneer now, but it will go further than that.

An institution that saves the lives of unborn children.

An institution that educates children and produces geniuses.

The White Room Project is what the world will absolutely need in the future.

Lives thrown down the toilet. Lives cut off by abortion. Lives killed by abandonment.

Under the leadership of the government, we will eliminate all of these problems.

It's a plan that will also help to address the problem of declining birthrates. "We're going to achieve results that will reach the heavens. Don't be satisfied

now, Kamogawa."

"Yes, sir."

Today was a special day. Things were different from the time when we were waiting for Naoe-sensei in the cold.

The White Room experiment had been steadily producing results, despite its many twists and turns.

Finally, it was the day I would report to Naoe-sensei in detail and go out on the stage.

The first step toward seeing the light of day was about to begin.

This was something that couldn't have been done without a lot of hard work and perseverance.

We were supposed to take our seats first and wait for Naoe-sensei to appear in the upper section.

I knew it was polite to wait outside, but this was Naoe-sensei's order. In other words, I interpreted it as a sign of appreciation for my hard work.

"With this project's announcement, Naoe-sensei finally stands at the top of the country."

"Prime minister, huh…?"

He was now fully prepared for the forthcoming election.

"He won't just be the prime minister. Not only will he be honored on the front page, but he'll be one or two times more powerful than the previous prime ministers."

In the truest sense of the word, he will be the man at the top of this country.

I'm rarely nervous, but I could feel my heartbeat speeding up slightly.

I put my political life on the line for this project.

I dreamed over and over again of the day when it would pay off.

"Naoe-sensei is here."

After a long, yet short 30 minutes, the news of Naoe-sensei's arrival came. "You arrived earlier than I expected."

He was only ten minutes late from the appointed time.

I had planned to wait an hour or two without worrying about him being late, but I was surprised.

"Is that how interested Naoe-sensei is in you?"

I lightly warned Kamogawa as he happily spoke.

From that point on, we put aside our loose feelings and began a serious discussion with Naoe-sensei.

Before the shoji was opened, we sat on our knees and bowed our heads, rubbing our foreheads against the ground.

I heard Naoe-sensei's dignified, quiet footsteps.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."

Naoe-sensei appeared and apologized for his tardiness.

I couldn't help but feel a strange tugging at my insides when he said those words.

"No, sir, of course not. Thank you for coming all the way here today in the

cold."

As I said this, I shook the unnecessary thoughts out of my head.

I shouldn't worry about it.

I was definitely on my way up the stairs to fulfill my ambitions.

"Just raise your head. We're not getting anywhere."

"Yes—"

Kamogawa and I raised our heads and quickly reached for our glasses to pour Naoe-sensei a beer.

But Naoe-sensei stopped us.

"Before you do that, I need to talk to you," he said.

"I beg your pardon?"

Kamogawa quickly stepped aside and returned to listening to what Sensei had to say.

"I have a few things to tell you. Well, let's start with that."

After a slight pause, Naoe-sensei muttered as if remembering something he forgot.

"As for the next election, I've decided not to run."

"...Huh?"

For a moment, I didn't understand what Naoe-sensei said, and for the first time, I gave a dumb reply.

I guess it was the same for Kamogawa who was sat next to me.

The ringing in my ears was intense in the silence.

"Sensei... That's some kind of a joke, isn't it?"

The words came out naturally from Kamogawa's mouth rather than as a confirmation.

I would've said the same thing even if he hadn't taken the liberty of saying

it.

"It's true. The day after tomorrow, when the candidates will be announced, I will vote for Kijima."

Kijima? Why is Naoe-sensei choosing Kijima-sensei?

No matter how promising he was, Naoe-sensei was in a better position than Kijima-sensei.

"Wait a minute. You've made a lot of preparations for this moment—!" As I leaned forward, I couldn't hold back my emotions.

I knew that becoming the prime minister wasn't everything.

In fact, the Naoe-sensei that was in front of me had his chances in the past, but he remained a fixer in the shadows for many years without sticking to his post.

Still, it was a foregone conclusion that he would be the prime minister this time around.

In fact, if he didn't run for the prime minister's office... He would be practically giving up his prime minister's seat.

Once Kijima-sensei takes over the position, he would surely hold on to it. Naoe-sensei's faction would start to lose its cohesive power and he would

never have the opportunity to become prime minister again.

Considering the fact that he had withdrawn his position, one can't help but think that something bad had happened.

And that could have a huge impact on the White Room.

I had to check because I knew instinctively.

What surprised me the most was that it was Kijima-sensei that Naoe-sensei decided to support.

"Oh, that Kijima-sensei... You're a clear adversary of his... Right?" Kamogawa couldn't help but mention the name.

The number of candidates from the Citizen's Party for the election had been narrowed down to three, both inside and outside the government and in the media. The main candidate was Naoe-sensei, who was right in front of me, and the runners-up were Isomaru-sensei, his rival, and Kijima-sensei, who came a little later. These three were the only candidates who had the ticket to become the prime minister, and Naoe-sensei was definitely the first candidate.

"I had no intention of making him prime minister, but that's no longer the case," he said.

"You think you won't be able to get votes…?"

"That's how it is. The votes for me, Isomaru, and Kijima were nicely divided among the Citizens Party, but now it seems that some of the opposition parties have decided to destroy me. I've calculated that I won't even get 20 to 30 votes."

After trying all the strategies, Naoe-sensei had a resigned smile on his face. "Even if I do well, if I fail, I'll lose a lot of my appeal. If that's the case, I'll

have no choice but to support him instead of running for office while protecting my current position, right? He's still young, but he has momentum and power. I thoroughly fumbled around for scandals, but not a single speck of dust has turned up…"

A politician with no women, no money, and nothing to hide.

He was capable of utilizing his abilities just as he had always been doing. "But in that case, wouldn't it be better to recommend Isomaru-sensei? He may be a rival within the same party, but he must also be an old acquaintance. I

don't think there's any need to recommend Kijima-sensei, who's difficult to handle..."

He would not be thinking so childishly that he doesn't want to let his colleagues have credit where credit is due.

If he decided that it was right for him to be under Isomaru-sensei, there would be no need to hesitate.

"You already know that it's better to be under Kijima, don't you? If we try to force our way onto Isomaru's ship, there's a strong possibility that we'll fall together. There are many voices from our faction saying that Kijima is the best choice between the two."

Even Naoe-sensei was afraid of defection if he tried to force his way into Isomaru-sensei's side.

I had no idea that he had been pushed to this point.

I thought I had been in on the political scene, but it seems that even I hadn't been exposed to the other side of the story.

"Oh, it's too early to give up, Naoe-sensei. We have the White Room Project!"

"Stop it, Kamogawa."

Kamogawa tried to talk back, but I strongly restrained him.

"If you've made that decision, then we will abide by it. But you know that the White Room Project is a different matter, don't you?"

Naoe-sensei's support for Kijima-sensei was promised, of course. In other words, it should be a given that he would receive almost the same post as before. We could safely conclude that it wouldn't have that much of an impact.

However...

"That's what I came to see you about today. I'm sorry for all the work you've done for me over the years, but I'm going to have to ask you to stay quiet for a while."

He spoke what I least wanted to hear, and my cold sweat began to pour out

of me.

"...What do you mean, Naoe-sensei?"

Even though I was beginning to understand the situation, I couldn't admit it. "You know what I mean. I know what you're going to say, but all of that

will only happen if I can maintain my position. You understand that, don't you?"

"...Of course."

"Sure, I've been unofficially promised my next post. But that's not a fort that's been won. It is the last stronghold that I defended in the face of defeat in the factional war. We can't promote the White Room Project, which has the potential to generate controversy here."

If Naoe-sensei were to make a bad move, Kijima-sensei's side won't remain

silent.

It was obvious that we would be suspected of trying to gain more centrality by taking the credit. The logic is quite understandable.

"Ayanokouji. you are an excellent man."

"...Thank you very much."

"You know very well that I don't judge you only by your educational background since I picked you up from the 'have-nots.'"

"In the world of politics, both now and in the past, a specific level of academic background is required, and if it weren't for your way of thinking, you wouldn't have used a man like me."

Naoe-sensei nodded and took a breath.

"For better or worse, people who have been in politics for a long time are all copycats who imitate what the people around them do; they're incompetent people with only their academic backgrounds to them. They come to think that it's enough

to maintain the politician title and a high income. Politicians who aspire to be righteous or aim to be villains are equally engulfed."

Naoe-sensei reached for his empty glass but quickly withdrew his hand. "But Kijima has never changed. He's serious about politics."

I wondered if Naoe-sensei had ever praised his opponent in such a straightforward way.

He was no longer thinking about the battle after it was over.

"I feel the same way about you. You are the same, just in a different way." "...Yes. My beliefs and principles will never change."

"To be the best in the country... That's your goal, isn't it?" "Yes."

"I have no doubts. But that would mean we have to beat Kijima. He's a real piece of work, isn't he?"

"He is. He's got ambition. But if Naoe-sensei supports Kijima-sensei, let me follow suit. From now on, for the sake of Naoe-sensei and Kijima-sensei—"

"—As I said before, you'd better lay low for a while."

Oh, Is that so?

I had a bad feeling about this.

I guess it turned out to be true.

"...I don't understand."

"You've become an eyesore for Kijima. He's heard about all the fancy things you've been doing with the business community over the past few years. Do you understand? I can't have a guy like that working for me."

"That's just what you told me to do. To build a facility beyond the high school, to change this country... Didn't you tell us to do it thoroughly?"

Naoe-sensei's face changed.

"You've been running the White Room enough and amassed quite a bit of money. You've got deep connections to the Yakuza and you're becoming more than just a politician. Ah, aren't I right?. Did I tell you to go that far? You've been going around doing all that fuss to protect yourself. Do you know how many times I've had to put out fires behind the scenes over the last few years?"

His tone of voice changed, and before I knew it, strong reprimands began to

fly.

"So… What are you going to do about the White Room Project?

"It's a done deal. That's a blank piece of paper."

"You can't tell me that… It's a blank piece of paper…"

Kamogawa's expression, which had still been half-joyful earlier, had turned to one of despair.

I remained as firm as a Buddha statue, but there was no denying that I still had a grim look on my face.

The White Room Project—a blank sheet of paper?

Did he know how much effort I put into the project?

I couldn't let that be reduced to a single phrase: a blank paper.

...No, it had always been that way.

With a single word from Naoe-sensei, any case could be moved to the right or to the left.

There was nothing special about it.

If we showed any kind of defiance here, we would only offend Naoe-sensei. He was disrespectful to us young people, and that was why he came up to us

like this.

If we didn't act maturely and calmly, we would be caught flat-footed.

If you were kicked out for being a cocky guy, you would never get a chance to be useful again.

I had enough money to be the envy of others.

Even if Naoe-sensei discarded me, it was possible that I wouldn't encounter any issues living my life.

But as a politician... I could never make a comeback.

Then my ambition won't be realized.

"That's the way it is. No hard feelings."

So this is how it all ends.

Naoe-sensei seemingly has no intention of taking his time eating here.

So at last, I didn't care to even hold my glass.

"When Kijima acknowledges that you don't have fangs, I'll bring you forward again. It's all right."

To survive as a politician.

Throw out the White Room and start over.

It was my only choice.

I know.

I know.

I know—.

"Don't be ridiculous."

This time, I couldn't be as calm and smart as I usually am.

I couldn't have done that.

Did he know how hard I worked for this project?

More than a decade of hard work in order to make it a reality just to end up giving up everything?

I won't let it all go to waste.

"The White Room has received a lot of funding and is still operating. There's no way we can withdraw it now."

"Oh? Who are you talking to, Ayanokouji?"

He was so overbearing that it was hard to believe that he was just an old

man.

He was neither intimidated nor offended by my bluster, but simply turned his dark eyes on me.

For Naoe, who had been in politics for decades, this kind of thing was a common occurrence.

But it would be the same if I pulled out now.

Now that I had drawn my bow, there was no backing out.

"I told you to go back to the drawing board. Bow down and writhe to undo your mistakes. If you can't do that, hang yourself."

"You're telling me this now?"

"What the hell do you expect me to say?"

"I'm not convinced."

"I don't care if you agree with me or not, I said I'm calling it off." "Then what about me? I've only ever been under your tutelage, and I've

given up many benefits for this project. Even if I get to keep my title as a politician, it's useless if I can't do anything."

"You have to be patient for a few years. When it's over, I'll move you on to the next job."

Could I believe that?

I couldn't believe it.

"Under your directions, I have been working solely on this project… This...

I can't allow this absurdity to continue...!"

I could only mourn.

I couldn't help but lament.

"I know how you feel. But you know better. That's the way this world works. And I've given you my full backing. I helped you get reelected so that you could move forward with your project. That's how you got reelected with the least amount of effort. Isn't that right?"

It was true that I entrusted Naoe-sensei with all of the campaigning that would normally be required.

And I owed him a debt of gratitude for getting me elected.

But if he overturned the tables at this point, that favor alone wouldn't be enough.

"I am grateful for that. But—"

"If you get too attached to one project, you'll lose your footing."

Why was I hanging on so tightly?

Perhaps Kamogawa, who was shrinking next to me, had no idea.

It wasn't that I hated the fact that the White Room Project was going to fail, or that I was still obsessed with it. It was because I knew what the future held.

For Naoe-sensei, "I" turned into something to be discarded.

He said he'd give me another chance and leave me with nothing to do until the time of the election, but when the election comes, he'll throw me out without any support.

How many times have I seen politicians cut in front of my eyes in the same

way?

In other words, my fate as a politician was sealed as soon as the White Room was presented as a blank piece of paper.

My instinct was to resist at least until the end, and I chose to fight.

"So I'm the only one who has to cover my tracks... You mean to say I'm the only one who can get muddled?"

"You're still young. Unlike me, you'll get many more chances. But for me, it's now or never. I can't back down now. I'm going to die a politician."

"Sensei…"

"I'm not asking you to quit politics. I'm just asking you to be quiet." "You're not going to cut me off, are you?"

"Of course not. I won't harm you. Kijima was very harsh with you, but he seemed to think highly of you, too. If you keep quiet for a while, your time will come. I'll ask you to show me what you can do then."

I guess it's all over…

"—I understand."

"Okay, that's good."

"You're right, the White Room Project is over with. I will start working on the cleanup tomorrow."

I bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

The Naoe-sensei that was in front of me had already lost all interest in me. Whether I was capable or not was irrelevant. He just won't take advantage of

me anymore. I was cut off in conjunction with the project.

■■■

"...Damn."

In the room where Naoe had disappeared from, only Kamogawa was left in tears and the food was cold.

"Don't joke with me—!"

I shouted out my unexplained thoughts.

"You're going to give me a hand one of these days, huh? Don't make me laugh..."

Once you drop out of politics, it's all over.

Once you try to make a comeback, you'll be crushed.

"What's going to happen to us now? ...Is this the end of everything? I don't know..."

Should I have punched him first...?

No, it would've meant nothing to me if I had punched Naoe right there and then and enjoyed the momentary pleasure of it.

I would be locked up immediately and lose not only my political identity, but everything I've ever done.

In a quarrel between children, it was enough to show one's strength by punching each other.

But in this world, arm strength is only one of many weapons, and they're weak at that.

Naoe, who appeared to be nothing more than an old man, had a myriad of weapons.

"Don't think you can get away with using them all conveniently, Naoe…"

I slammed my fist down on the tatami mat with all the force I could muster and let out my frustration.

In the end, I was just used and discarded.

In the world of politics, once you fall down, it's hopeless to get up. The stakes are high, and that's the end of it.

"I'm finished?"

Even if I put it into words, I would never feel the reality of it.

Did he have any idea how much I've suffered in order to change this country—to rise to the top of this country? How much humiliation, ostracism, and contempt I had suffered?

The man was no longer of any use to me.

But if I tried to make a new move, I'd be crushed.

Naoe and I were two sides of the same coin. If you destroy him on the front end, you automatically destroy me on the other side. Until he retires or even dies, I was completely blocked from coming back.

Then... If he dies, it meant I'd have a chance to get moving again.

Should I call Ohba and have him take care of Naoe?

"I'm an idiot…"

If I make such a request, Ohba would just cut me off.

I don't even need to think about which side would benefit him more. "Kamogawa... you'll have to start all over again tomorrow." "That's... That's the only way... What are you going to do,

Ayanokouji-sensei? You're not going to ignore Naoe-sensei's order, are you?"

"...I'm finished anyway. Stopping my resistance now won't change the way

I'm treated. I'll quit politics and continue to run the White Room."

"Wait a minute! I respect you, Ayanokouji-sensei! I think you'll surpass Naoe-sensei one day, someday! Please don't tell me you're quitting!"

"This is the course of action. I can't overturn it by my own will. But you can still survive. You still have your father's influence. Continue to fight under Naoe as a politician."

"Ayanokouji-sensei…!"

"I'm not giving up the White Room or politics." That was the only way.

"No matter how powerful Naoe is, he can't win against his lifespan. He'll die before we will."

If it has to take so long, so be it.

I'll let him enjoy his short political life to the fullest.

But when it's over, I'm gonna—

I laughed and slapped Kamogawa on the shoulder.

"It's not just Kijima. When I come back to politics, I'll make his son goes up in smokes too."

"Hahaha. When you say it, it doesn't sound like a joke." Kamogawa's cheeks relaxed as he wiped away his tears.

■■■

After I put Kamogawa in a cab and he was taken home, I started walking alone on the dark snowy road.

I was alone now, and I needed to cool my hot head down.

I had to think about the future. I needed to know everything and clear my mind before I do that. I called that man on the cell phone.

It was late at night, but I was sure the call would go through.

"Tsukishiro, answer me. Why did Naoe give up his position to join Kijima?" "That's a funny thing to ask considering you called me." "You know everything, don't you?"

"Naoe-sensei has always prided himself on being the best politician. But now he understands that Kijima-sensei is more than that."

"Foolish."

"Although the two of us have very different philosophies, we have more in common than you might think."

"So... You think I'm gonna buy that?"

"Your involvement in the White Room isn't something Kijima-sensei would appreciate."

"What are you talking about? That guy has ANHS. We could even make the White Room his second maneuver."

"ANHS is certainly one of his main operations. But at the same time, he was working on a similar new plan behind the scenes. In other words, his second maneuver was already in motion. It wouldn't have been desirable for him to have that plan come out in front of the public."

"...That's why Naoe cut me off, huh…?"

"I don't know at what stage he learned of this, but Kijima-sensei heard about the White Room... I can say that he had a discussion with Naoe-sensei and one of the quid pro quo for calling it off was that he was promised a position in the future."

I didn't realize that Kijima was also thinking of a plan very similar to the White Room.

"That's not all. You were much more capable than Naoe-sensei had imagined. In the past few years, he relied on you a lot, but didn't you think you had a lot of unreasonable demands as well?"

"...Yes."

"That's probably because he was afraid of you. Along the way, they came to expect your downfall rather than taking advantage of you. But you didn't fail. No, you never once failed. You managed to cover your tracks and kept a low profile.

Naoe-sensei didn't raise you to the top. He was expecting your son to be his right-hand man to support him when he becomes a powerful enough man to lead the country in the future. Naoe's eye to see through everything had made only one wrong calculation. Your limitless ambition—that much he didn't seem to understand."

In ten years, even Naoe wouldn't be able to crush me.

So he took steps to prevent that from happening.

Was shutting down the White Room a gift for my son, or a bomb for me who might destroy him?

"Was my answer satisfactory to you?"

"Why were you so honest with me?"

"I wouldn't be talking to you if you were the one to be destroyed here. But my gut tells me otherwise. You will come back to the stage with more power. That's why I told you."

"A wise decision. But of course, you're going to play nice no matter what happens, aren't you?"

"That's a foolish question."

This guy wasn't just on my side. He could be on anyone's side at any time.

If he found me incompetent, he'd cut me off instantaneously.

"You can sell my information to Naoe or anyone you want. In return, I'll receive information from you. It's better for both of us if we can keep an eye on each other at all times."

"I agree."

"We're going to be friends for a long time, Tsukishiro." "I hope so. Ayanokouji-sensei."

Saying this, Tsukishiro hung up the phone.

Yes, I wasn't going to stop here.

I'm going to thoroughly prepare myself and build up my strength to protect my own life in the future.

And at the same time, I'll build up my army in the White Room.[14]

(TL Note: A time skip occurs after this line)[14]

200 meters high, 50 floors above ground.

A banquet on the middle floor of one of the tallest and most prestigious hotels in Tokyo. I arrived a little before the scheduled time and was thinking in the elevator as it started to ascend.

It would cost about 3,000,000 yen for a three-hour private party, just to serve food to about 60 people.

It might sound like a small expense, but considering the bleak financial situation, it wasn't cheap.

The parties were held every year since the facility began operations, and the scale of the parties has gradually increased.

We needed to raise more money than ever before.

Since Naoe had cut me off, the majority of the wealthy supporters turned their backs on me.

The fact that I was down to 60 supporters from the 200 I used to have was a testament to that.

I needed money. I needed to raise hundreds of millions of dollars.

All that was needed here today was one's own skill.

My eyes met my reflection in the huge elevator's full-length glass wall.

I was getting very old.

Looking back, I could calmly reflect on my age.

It was a miracle that I had been able to keep the White Room running.

But I still had a long way to go.

It had been a while since I was ousted from politics, but the fire of my own ambitions hadn't been extinguished but was burning brighter than ever.

I arrived at the floor I wanted to go to, got off the elevator, and went to the waiting room.

I lost my title as a politician, and now I was treated as an ex-politician. Under normal circumstances, my coercive power would be greatly

diminished.

However, my title as head of the White Room operations steadily increased my power.

Otherwise, those so-called wealthy people wouldn't be here.

"Ayanokouji-sensei, it's about time."

"Ah."

I had many thoughts on the matter, but the first priority was to solve the financial issue.

The larger the size of the White Room, the more it costs to maintain it. In order to cover these costs, we needed to generate the money for the necessities, not money to be thrown away.

"Oh, sorry to keep you waiting."

"You're getting restless. How many times do you have to go to the bathroom?"

Tabuchi returned to the waiting room, sat down on a chair, and started to move his left leg up and down in small steps.

"When are you going to get out of this habit of yours?" "I'm sorry, but If I don't get this chance… I'm worried."

Surely, a shortfall in funds would put the White Room project on the brink of a major impasse.

It would be better if it was only a temporary pause, but it would be fatal to end our students' education.

It would be like raising baby birds and then having them die of a disease. "Listen, Tabuchi. We cannot turn our backs on the fact that there's no way out. But that's why we have to take a strong step forward without looking back.

Think about what happens after you fall."

Tabuchi looked up at me as the speed of his shaking left foot slowed. "You're very strong, Ayanokouji-sensei."

"Considering all I've been through, it doesn't matter… Naoe used me, the White Room Project was canceled, and I lost my title as a politician..."

And yet, I never stopped moving forward.

I was proud of the fact that I had been walking on the road of hell all my life—something I couldn't reveal to others.

Aside from people like Naoe and Kijima, it had reached the point where it was no longer easy for a mere politician to gain an audience with me.

I may have lost my title as a politician, but there was no doubt that I had surpassed my former self.

I noticed that Tabuchi's legs had stopped shaking and his fists were clenched. I had to show the people who believed in the White Room what I was

capable of doing, I can't let them regret it.

"Do you think you have a chance in today's battle?"

"Of course. Do you know what the easiest and most powerful weapon that anyone can use is?"

"...What? Is there such a thing?"

"Yes, there is. Of course, it's a risky double-edged sword. It's called lying." "A lie...?"

"Some people have risen through the political world using the strength of a lie. That's how powerful a lie can be."

Of course, a lie was only meaningful if you used it well.

"We'll make full use of this weapon. Tabuchi, this is the moment of truth in the White Room."

"...Yes!"

■■■

The first thing rich people did was dress up in their finest clothes and compete on their outside appearance.

Then they moved on to the competition to display their houses, cars, and companies.

But then they ended up in unexpected places.

Usually, only adults attended these parties, and children were rarely seen. However, when it came to the business world's top echelon, the opposite was true and the number of children attendees immediately increased.

This was because the children were expected to meet each other in the future.

Companies that cooperated with each other. Companies that were rivals. It wasn't always bad to have their successors face-to-face in advance, regardless of their positions.

Above all, the more highly the parents thought of their children, the more often they brought them in.

The parents there would play their unique cards as if they were showing off their prized toys.

That was why the White Room had been accepted by the business world. "Huh..."

Ironic, isn't it? I learned all of this from Naoe.

He may be a detested enemy now, but his power was undeniably top-notch and genuine.

The party had just begun. First of all, I greeted everyone while I showed my face to the whole floor.

"It's been a long time, Ayanokouji-sensei."

A man with a flashy hair color, unbefitting his middle-aged face approached me with a cheerful attitude.

I quickly switched to my business face, turned around, and offered him my right hand.

"It's been a while, President Amasawa. I sent you an invitation, but I was afraid you might not come."

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it last year. My child really wanted to spend her birthday in Hawaii. I've been so busy with work that I just couldn't find the time. So we ended up buying a house in Hawaii and have been there ever since."

"I'm glad to hear that your work and personal life are going well."

He should be a little older than me, but in an unpleasant manner, I didn't feel that way.

He was dressed in a brand favored by young people and wore sandals that didn't suit the occasion.

With that kind of attire, which couldn't even be considered within the dress code, it was no wonder that he'd be turned away at the door if he was greeted by a stranger.

He wasn't normal. He was trying to show that he was a unique and original person.

I didn't like this man's clothes or his way of thinking at all, but I couldn't resent him because he was one of the people who had given a large sum of money to the White Room.

He didn't attend the party last year, but he was able to offer funding for the White Room.

He was a welcome person and should be treated with care.

"It seems like you're no longer a politician, however, it doesn't feel that way to me. You're an evil politician no matter which way you look at it."

He smiled pleasantly as he pat my shoulder with the palm of his hand. "So you'll treat me the same way you treat politicians?" "Of course I will. I think highly of you, you know."

As we were having this silly conversation, I was thinking back to what Amasawa had said from the beginning.

This man's married, but it was obvious that the girlfriend he spent time with in Hawaii isn't his spouse.

"Excuse me."

Amasawa, who had been smiling, led me toward the window. "Actually, I have a favor to ask of you, Ayanokouji-sensei." "You're asking me of something? What's going on?"

"Well, my girlfriend in Hawaii is pregnant. She wants to have the baby in Japan and won't listen to me."

"Congratulations, but that's a bit of a problem, isn't it?"

"Right? My wife's also suspicious that I'm cheating on her, and if she finds out that I've been having an affair in secret, there'll be a lot of trouble."

If he was going to mess around, he shouldn't have gotten married in the first place, but that was another matter, wasn't it?

"My girlfriend can't possibly raise a child, but she's also afraid I'll cut ties with her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have insisted on having the baby in Japan, being a Hawaii fanatic."

He shrugged his shoulders in annoyance, but he didn't seem to be in a great

hurry.

"I'm thinking of giving the baby an education in the White Room... What do you think?"

"Would you be okay with that?"

"Yes. She wants me to have a baby with her, that's the goal. She has no intention of becoming a mother and raising a child."

From our view, we welcomed the idea of having more children without taking risks.

However, there were a number of things that needed to be confirmed. "You've already placed your daughter in the White Room." "Would it be a problem to add another child?"

"Of course not, if it's necessary. But is that okay with you?"

"It doesn't matter. She gets to keep the baby, I get to put the kid in the White Room. Everyone is happy."

To this man, the White Room was just a convenient daycare center or something.

It's a good thing for us, as well. We couldn't wish for anything better. "You know what this party is about, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. Of course we'll finance it, I'll make sure of it. Right?"

He raised a finger.

"I'll give you 100 million this year, double what I gave you last year. That's a

small price to pay for security."[15]

(TL Note: The way 100 million is written here is by using the number 1 with

Kanj the Japanese Kanji , hence the "He raised a finger")[15]

"Thank you. Do you know when the baby is due?"

"Oh, just a minute. I'll notify you with the details by text."

I got the hospital and the delivery date from my cell phone and called someone to make the arrangements.

"Well then, I'll get back to you without delay."

"Thank you."

I nodded in satisfaction and accepted two glasses of champagne from a boy walking nearby.

"Here's to hoping for the happiness of my newborn child," he said.

He tipped his glass, clinked it, and downed the champagne in one gulp.

"By the way, President Amasawa, you know the rules of the White Room.

Unless there's a special reason, it's basically impossible for you to see the child.

You'll only be able to see them on a regular basis when they're of age or when they leave the White Room."

"Yeah, yeah. I've heard that before."

"Are you sure about that? There's no exception, even for mothers."

"Of course. I'm sure she'll understand if you send her pictures regularly." I didn't care how he got the money, but we had our own rules of

engagement.

There was one more thing I needed to make sure of.

"President Amasawa… I know it's been a long time since we took custody of your first daughter, but you haven't visited us once to check on her yet. Have you thought about what you'll do in the future?"

It was relatively rare for a parent who entrusted their child to the White Room to not even visit to check on the child's progress.

Most of them come to check up on their children to see how they are doing. "In the first place, she's a baby that was made in a test tube, so I don't even

feel like she's my own child."

Amasawa said disinterestedly that this was just an extension of his free time.

Various children were placed in the White Room.

Some were test-tube babies like Amasawa's child, others were siblings where one of whom was raised separately, and others were actually tested to see how well they were educated in the White Room.

We had to be aware of their circumstances and feelings, and always try to control them in a way that wouldn't offend the children.

"So I'll leave it all to you from here."

"So far, your child has grown to become the second best among the fifth-generation students. As long as she doesn't drop out, she'll be of some use to us."

"Of course. You can do whatever you want with her."

He placed his hand on my shoulder again in a familiar manner and started humming in his good mood.

Some people who amassed billions upon billions of dollars in assets thought their children's lives were worthless.

Although there were very few, Amasawa was one of them.

He didn't believe that his child had any status and was only concerned about himself.

There may be a chance in the future to take another child from Amasawa in this way.

"Well, I'm going home now. I want to enjoy Japan for the first time in a while."

"I'll see you off."

I left Amasawa, who was in a good mood, with my men and saw him off right there.

I was in the mood to take a break, but there was no time to rest.

■■■

I greeted the important figures I needed to talk to in a hurry.

As a result, I succeeded in speaking with several presidents since Amasawa and in getting new loans.

We had not reached our unofficial goal yet, but I'd say we were off to a good

start.

The party had been going on for about an hour.

Here I decided to take a short break for the first time.

My jaw was feeling a little tired from all the talking.

But I didn't waste any time even when standing still.

It was important to keep an eye on the atmosphere and always be on the lookout for signs of life.

As I approached to get a glass of wine from a servant, I felt a slight shock at my feet.

A child that was running in my direction bumped into me and ran off without a word of apology.

I wondered where he was going in such a hurry and noticed him at the corner of the hall.

It seemed that there were several children clustered around there. Most of the parents knew each other from various parties, so it was no surprise that all the children taken to the party were connected to each other. Although the children were somewhat separated from the parents, their

high-pitched voices often echoed through the room, especially when they screamed.

When they were in a group, there was no stopping them.

I approached to warn them, but I realized that they weren't playing with each

other.

They were all boys, including the kid who rushed to the scene. Three of the five boys were surrounding another child, yelling at him and accusing him of something. The remaining one watched from a distance, but there was no fear in his expression. I stopped because I was afraid that the children might've noticed me listening in on their situation if I got any closer.

The children all seemed to be around the same age as Kiyotaka. I have no contact with ordinary children, so it was interesting to compare them with the children in the White Room.

When I slowly approached the children, I could see that they weren't talking in a friendly manner.

Most children don't know when and where the right time to fight is and easily start conflicts.

Usually over unimportant things.

"Did you really ever get Kazuya's autograph?"

The kid who rushed to the scene seemed to be the leader of the group, and he approached the group with his friends and family in tow.

"...Yes, I did."

He replied while averting his gaze.

At first glance, it didn't seem like he was telling the truth. "That's a lie. When I met Kazuya, he said he doesn't usually sign

autographs."

"Really... I'm sure he does…"

"Where did you get him to sign it?"

"He came to my house."

"He came to your house? What? That's a lie. Kazuya told me that I was the first kid he signed an autograph for outside of the venue."

"He really did do it. He signed a soccer ball for me...!"

The conversation seemed to be discussing whether or not they had ever gotten an autograph from a Japanese soccer player named Kazuya who plays overseas.

The three of them, including the leader, were suspicious of one timid-looking child.

The suspected child's suspicious behavior must've been felt by the rest of the boys.

It seems that a cheap lie told for the sake of bragging led him into a tight corner.

"Then let's take a majority vote on whether we think he's lying or not." Immediately, the three children raised their hands in unison as they laughed. The boy who had been watching the conversation didn't raise his hand, so of

course he was asked for his stance on the matter.

"Which side are you on, Ryuuji?"

The leader of the group, a kid who called the others by their first names, asked for his opinion.

"...I don't care. I don't need to pick a side."

"What do you mean you don't care? I'm asking you if you also think he's lying?"

"If I'm being objective, I think you're lying. You'd better apologize as soon as possible."

The child called Ryuuji decided that the other boy was lying and urged him to apologize. The difference in the number of people in the group made it less advantageous for one to cover for him.

It's true that the best thing to do would be to apologize right then and there, but that isn't that easy for human beings.

"I'm not lying..."

Ryuuji sighed in exasperation at the child's stubborn refusal to admit that it was a lie.

"Why don't you forgive him already? It's obvious he's lying, so there's no need to go on with this any longer."

"What? I'm going to ask my father to shut down your parents' company if you keep acting like a big shot, okay?"

He flaunted his parents' power as if it was his own and acted like a king… "Nogi-kun, if you make fun of me, you'll get in real trouble." Nogi? The Nogi Pharmaceuticals, huh?

They're one of the most powerful and accomplished of all the wealthy individuals who were attending here today.

It was a ridiculous claim, but it's true that his father has some power.

He seems to have failed miserably in his children's education.

"Then how can you be satisfied? What do you want from Fuji?"

The three of them—Ryuuji, Fuji, and Nogi—were acquainted with each

other's groups.[16]

(TL Note: groups is written with the loanword but it seems to refer

to the companies their parents own.)[16]

"Get on your knees, get on your knees. I'll forgive you if you get on your knees and tell me you're sorry for lying."

That was really cliché. I don't think President Nogi's the kind of person who would normally force people to get down on their knees, but it was understandable for a child to say something like this.

"As I said, I didn't do such a thing as telling a lie."

"Then show me proof. If you can't give me proof or refuse to get down on your knees, I'll beat you up."

Growing increasingly frustrated, Nogi licked his lips in frustration. "You'd better get down on your knees as soon as possible."

Ryuuji kept his attitude, encouraging him to apologize, but Fuji shook his head from side to side.

He continued to insist that he got the autograph, even though he was in tears.

It seems the time had come.

I couldn't let this go on any longer, even if it was just an elongated children's quarrel.

If the situation turned bloody, President Nogi's name would be tarnished.

But the situation seemed to have suddenly changed.

"Fuji isn't lying. At least, I think so."

With the conclusion thought to have already been decided, a sixth child appeared.

All four of them, including the passive Ryuuji, had already decided that he was lying.

The appearance of the one who insisted that he wasn't lying, of course, ended that mood.

"What's wrong with you? Whoever you are, you're defending this guy?" "Do you think there's any advantage for Fuji to keep lying in the face of you strong-looking guys?"

The kid insisted that it was strange for him to be stubborn.

"I don't know whether or not he's your friend, but you're just trying to cover for him, aren't you? You're a liar."

"I'm not covering for him for no reason. I just thought it was true." The child stood in front of the three of them with a nonchalant attitude. "Ishigami…"

"I'm sorry, Fuji. I got stuck while talking to Dad." "What?"

A child called Ishigami gently caressed the arm of the crying child and faced Nogi and the others.

But here was where the savior was unexpectedly confronted.

"I'm sorry, Ishigami, but I think Fuji is lying."

"What makes you think he's lying?"

"There's no evidence to prove that he's lying, but there's no proof that he's telling the truth either. In that case, we can only judge him by his attitude."

"Judging by his attitude? I don't think it's possible to make an impartial judgment when you're surrounded by people like this and forced to half-heartedly admit to a lie. You're just making decisions based on the flow of the situation."

"But Nogi said that Kazuya doesn't usually sign autographs. He said he was the first."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, that's right. That's what Kazuya said when he signed it for me, you

idiot."

"But you don't have any proof that what you say is true, do you?" "What? Look at this! Here's a picture of me and Kazuya!" Nogi showed the screen of his cell phone.

"And? This was taken two months ago. Couldn't Fuji have gotten his autograph after that? And since you have the photo, it must be true that you got him to sign it, but it's not the same as proving that he doesn't usually sign things, right? Weren't you lying because you wanted to boast that you were given special treatment?"

He confronted him with the proof, but it seems that gave him the opportunity to take advantage of Nogi.

"I didn't lie! I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"Stop it, Ishigami. Why are you making such a nonsensical objection? The other day, you didn't even argue when you got into it with a guy in your grade at cram school. Just apologize and things will go peacefully."

"I only did that because I was the only one involved. If you get angry every time someone of a lower level says something, you'll have a hard time. But if your friend's in trouble, that's a different story."

The content of this conversation, at various times, showed that Ishigami was a very talented child.

That's probably why this Ryuuji kid bit back.

"What does your father do? He's better than us, isn't he?"

Of course, it was none of my business, but President Ishigami isn't the president of a big company.

"Parental power has nothing to do with it. What about your own ability?" But in terms of his children's education and talent, he's a cut above the rest. They either carry very good genes or were the results of their education. "I'll beat you up!"

Nogi breathed, swinging his right arm in a broad gesture.

"Wait a minute."

Ishigami, who was about to be hit by Nogi, interrupted.

You'd think that he'd apologize in fear, but that wasn't the case. "When you hit someone, you should grab them by the chest first so they

can't run away. If you miss your strike, you might fall down and end up not looking very cool, right?"

"What...?"

The boy froze, his fists clenched.

"I'm not proud of it, but I've never been in a fight. However, I can at least run away from you, which means we'll end up running around here screaming at each other. You know that the more significant your father is, the more shame you're gonna bring to his name. Am I right?"

The party room was filled with laughter and elegant music was loudly playing.

Though, when a child shouts, it's inevitable that he would be noticed.

"Listen, if you're going to strike me, you'd better grab this area with your left

hand first. That's how they do it on TV and in dramas when they hit people."

Nogi followed his lead and grabbed the collar of his neck with his left hand.

The remaining children surrounded Ishigami so that he couldn't escape. "I'll give you what you want!"

Nogi, at close range, threatened Ishigami.

Then he raised his fist again.

"Now you can't escape!"

"And neither can you!"

"What...?"

Immediately after saying this, Ishigami grabbed the arms that were grabbing him with both hands.

He grabbed his face and didn't let go of his hands.

Then he turned his attention to an adult in the distance.

He glanced at me for a moment, but then he looked away and called out to another adult.

"Please help me! Somebody help me!!"

"Hey—!"

The adults turned around at the earnest shout and looked at Ishigami, who was grabbed by the collar and surrounded by three kids who were about to beat him up. It was irrelevant whether they were right or wrong.

The only thing that came to mind was a scene of a group of kids who was outnumbering another, ready to commit violence.

Nogi's name was powerful, but of course, it had no other place than in the ramblings of children now.

"What are you doing?!"

Nogi and the others ran away as if they were rabbits. The three remaining were Fuji, Ryuuji, and Ishigami, who were all in tears.

"Kanzaki-kun… you could've done something about those guys."

"...I hate trouble. And beating them up wasn't going to fix it."

"I didn't say you should hit them. I'm saying you should've let them talk it out. I understand that it's easier to just let it go, but by not doing anything, there's a possibility that it will become even more troublesome, especially with someone who tries to wield parental power."

"But he was lying, wasn't he?"

Ryuuji asked for the truth.

Ishigami didn't need to respond to the question. Fuji's expression revealed the answer.

"There are times when I want to keep lying," he said.

"I don't understand... It's a lie with no merit."

"If Fuji had been a friend of yours, Kanzaki-kun, would you have helped him? Or would you still abandon him as well?"

"...I..."

"At least I would help my dear friend if he was in trouble. No matter what it takes."

Compared to the childish, or rather, age-appropriate children, Ryuuji and Ishigami seemed to be able to make relatively calm judgments. However, their way of thinking was different.

Ishigami seems to have done better on this occasion, but it's also true that he actually crossed a dangerous bridge.

If Fuji had admitted to lying and apologized, as Ryuuji said, Nogi and the others might've forgiven him earlier. Of course, he must be prepared to be laughed at.

"Ayanokouji-sensei… I apologize for the delay."

I was just about to finish observing the children when Sakayanagi came walking toward me, slightly out of breath.

"You came, Sakayanagi?"

"Of course I came. Even though we may have started to go in different directions, my respect for you has not changed."

With that, I gently shook hands with Sakayanagi, whom I haven't seen for a long time.

The welcoming party began as the adults started to move about, and there was movement on the children's side as well.

"Good evening, Kanzaki-kun."

"You just arrived, Sakayanagi?"

"Hello. Sorry, I already have to get going, Kanzaki-kun. I'll see you at cram school.

"...Oh."

"You have a rather grim look on your face, what's wrong?"

Ryuuji answered that he was fine and walked away as if to escape from the situation.

"Your daughter has grown a lot in the little time I've been away from you, hasn't she?"

"As a parent, I'm often bewildered by her many precocious ways," he said. Although she seems to be intelligent, she seems to have a long history of

dealing with the disease—her birth handicap.

At one point, I invited him to enroll her into the White Room, but he was right to turn me down.

The facility requires, at a minimum, that you be above average in all aspects. "I know it's a problem for you in your position to be too close to me, but I really appreciate you coming."

"Thank you, Ayanokouji-sensei."

Smiling happily, Sakayanagi took his daughter to greet the others.

"Well—"

I walked over to the boy, Ishigami, who was looking at me from a distance. "What do you want from me?"

"The same goes to you. You've been looking at me. What did you want with

me?"

"You noticed?"

I didn't think he had the time to look around in that situation.

"I have something I want to ask. Why didn't you call out to me when you asked for help from an adult?"

"I was aware that you heard Fuji's call for help from early on, but you remained silent. I couldn't guarantee that you'd be on my side."

There was no denying that if I had turned away while offering a helping hand, the child could've been beaten up in the meantime. So, at that stage, with less than a few seconds to go before he would've been beaten up, Ishigami selected an adult who would surely help Fuji.

"Hey, Kyou! I hope you're not giving any trouble to Ayanokouji-sensei!" With a panicked voice, the chairman of the Ishigami Group appeared.

"I thought you were an exceedingly smart child. You're the son of Chairman Ishigami, aren't you?"

Gorou Ishigami, who was over 60 years old, was still the chairman of the Ishigami Group, yet his power remained strong. He had no children with his ex-wife… Was he a child conceived from another wife whom he married after his bereavement?

"Go eat your dinner over there."

"Okay, father."

Bowing lightly, Chairman Ishigami's son left.

"I hope our Kyou didn't give you any trouble, did he?"

"I've been rather impressed with him."

"That's fine, but since he's old enough to be… my grandson, I'm not too happy about it."

It's understandable that he's so fond of him. But what I appreciated most was his calmness. "You seem to have given him a good upbringing." "Thank you, sir."

He was far superior to me in terms of position, but his manner was soft and

polite.

If he grows up properly, the Ishigami group will be succeeded by that child, and a solid generational transition will be possible.

The only concern is his age.

He will take over in his early twenties at the earliest. If he's going to proceed with caution, he would have to be over 30 years old. By then, President Ishigami would be over 90 years old.

"You're planning to return to politics at some point, aren't you, President Ishigami?"

"Of course I intend to."

"Then, will you have your son by your side someday?" "My son… by my side?"

He thought I was joking but he couldn't see any deception in my expression. "Yes. He seems to be interested in politics. As a parent, I try to understand

my son's feelings as much as I can since he doesn't usually pay much attention to things."

He smiled, wrinkling his cheeks as he said that he was more than happy for him to follow in his footsteps.

"If he wants to go into politics when he grows up, then I will welcome him." They were just a few comments, but I could see a glimpse of talent in the

kid.

Whether or not he's suited for politics is another matter entirely, though.

■■■

The three-hour party was now down to its last 30 minutes.

I was able to secure enough financing to run the party, The party also included a reunion with Sakayanagi.

It was also good to know that there were people who were waiting for my return to politics.

"Ayanokouji-sensei! May I have a moment of your time?" "You are…?"

"I'm Tomohiro Kanzaki of Kanzaki Engineers. It's a great honor to meet

you.."

"Are you President Kanzaki? It's a pleasure to meet you too."

I remember that when the White Room Project was launched and the particulars of the project were passed on to some conglomerates, one of them was willing to invest in the project.

However, since the company didn't have much history as an established company and had little connection with the political world, we eventually rejected the offer for our own reasons. Two years later, however, the same company raised a small amount of money for the project without any interference or guidance from outside parties.

"This is my son, Ryuuj," he said, "Say hello, Ryuuji."

"...My name is Ryuuji Kanzaki."

The child averted his eyes from me and greeted me quietly.

I see… the kid from earlier.

"He seems to be a bright boy."

"I'm very proud of him. I want him to become both a literary and martial artist, so I teach him everything I can at cram schools, private tutoring, etc. Not to mention karate and judo."

"I had a hunch that you were passionate about education, President Kanzaki."

"As for karate, he was recently praised by the head instructor as having the ability to be a black belt at this point in his training."

"Well, he seems to have grown up well."

But if what he said was true, there was something that didn't add up.

I gently focused my attention away from the president and decided to speak with Ryuuji instead.

"I would like to ask you one question... You saw another boy getting into trouble earlier, but you didn't try to help him in any concrete way."

<Illustration>

"...That was..."

"Of course, they outnumbered you, but President Kanzaki told me that you're very good at what you do. You could've come up with any number of ways to deal with them, couldn't you?"

Pretending to be ignorant of the circumstances, I asked him this question.

"It was none of my business."

He looked away awkwardly.

"It's true that you weren't the one who started the conflict. But if you had helped, the other party would've been in your debt. A debt that you could potentially make use of in the future."

"..."

"If you don't have the power to help, you can run away or ignore it. But if

you have the power and don't use it, you are a fool."[17]

(TL Note: This quote is taken directly from Kanzaki's monologue in

Y2V8)[17]

I had no interest in this child, but I spoke passionately and put my hand on the boy's head.

"Think hard, worry hard, and become a good adult. Be a man who can help others. Support your father, and eventually, you'll be able to lead the company yourself."

If I preached this in front of President Kanzaki, he wouldn't be able to be rude to me and he'd have a hard time withdrawing his investment. There's nothing better than pulling in as much money as you can.

"...Thank you very much for your time... I'll see what I can do." Impressed by my words, he bowed his head happily, this was very much

unlike his stiff expression at the beginning of our conversation.

■■■

After the party ended, I went into the waiting room and leaned back in my chair, not bothering to hide my tiredness.

"I'm sorry to be looking like this. I was so shaken that I lost my nerve." "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you haven't had a good night's sleep in the

last few days."

"Seems like you've seen through me."

"You aren't afraid of pushing yourself to the very limits, am I right, Ayanokouji-sensei? Besides, this is a time of great crisis for the White Room. I expected that you'd remain calm until the end, no matter what the situation. I'm truly amazed at your mental strength."

I faintly waved Sakayanagi off and told him to stop with the pleasantries. "Tell me why you came here. I'm sure you didn't just come here to say goodbye."

"I've spoken with my father and he's agreed to let me be the president of the Advanced Nurturing High School in the near future."

"Oh? You're finally taking the stage. You've seen it all, and your final choice is to follow in your father's footsteps. It's not a very interesting ending, but it's just like you, Sakayanagi."

"Thank you very much. I'm grateful to have been able to study under you for so many years, Ayanokouji-sensei."

He didn't look happy, but I guess that was because of what I was going to tell him next.

Now that he turned out to be the successor, it wasn't necessary to speculate on the reasons for this.

"It would be very problematic for the president of a high school if it became known that he was cooperating with a man like me. It's a good time to break off the relationship."

"Although we have different views, I hold you in the highest regard, Ayanokouji-sensei… I was really surprised when you defied Naoe-sensei, but it made me realize how genuine your passion for the White Room is. That's why...

It's a shame that we have to keep our distance."

It was a bit of a cliché line, but it's the kind of thing Sakayanagi would say. "I'm not obsessed with the White Room. I'm a have-not. I just know that if I didn't resist Naoe, he would've taken it all away from me. Even if I survive as a politician, there would be no hope for my career. Japan is too tied to the seniority system. No matter how capable you are, if you're young, you'll be sifted out. Or if you try to force your way out, they'll try to cut off your wings. But if you look around the world, you'll see that it's becoming increasingly common for people in their twenties to be in important positions and some in their thirties at the top of their countries."

No matter how hard I try to restrain myself, my ambition is inexhaustible. "How can we leave the world of politics any longer in the hands of a bunch

of old fools who have only a short time left to live? They think it's enough if they're able to secure themselves for the time they have left to live out the rest of their lives. They're willing to give up the flesh and blood of their country to protect themselves for the next 10 or 20 years. Then what will happen 30 years from now? And 40 years from now?"

Japan will be devoured by other nations, and there won't be anything left to salvage.

If I judge people to be competent, I will hire and use them.

Of course, there will be a lot of ambitious people who will come to take advantage of me in my sleep or people who will do things in the dark under someone else's orders, but as long as they're competent, I will use them.

Otherwise, the corrupted blood in the political world won't be replaced and will remain stagnant forever.

Fighting for one's own position doesn't do any good to the nation. "Indeed, that's what I'm wondering, too… You're only qualified to be the head of a country when you're in your 60s or 70s. I can understand why you might be suspicious of that."

"We will make the White Room firm and resolute, then send in enough people to rewrite this country's organizational system. We're going to overhaul the system from the ground up."

It may be mocked as a pipe dream, but I'm going to get there in the end.

"It's a grand plan. It may take more than 10 or 20 years to complete."

"I know. It may take more than my generation to change everything. For this, we will need someone to take over the White Room. It's also important to create 'educators' who can create more perfect human beings than we have now."

Some of the children are already performing beyond the scope of Suzukake's curriculum.

"But I would still rather stand in front of the next generation, if at all possible. My ambition has never waned. Once a man steps up to great power, it is impossible for him to go back to where he first started. As long as Naoe-sensei is in the Civic Party, my seat will never be taken."

"To my understanding, the opposition has approached you several times."

"You're a well-informed person, aren't you? You certainly know a lot of things. I'm sure the opposition parties would love to have me. But if I join the party, I'll only be used. Unless things change, I have to wait. That's where my fight starts. I have to build up the children's strength to get the White Room students elected. By then, my obstacles—my superiors—will be dead or retired."

"It's really a daunting story, isn't it?"

I have a firm belief in my own successes and failures through my experiences.

That is, I don't imitate successful people.

If you could succeed by imitating successful people, no one would have any trouble.

Then what do you do? That is, don't do what unsuccessful people do. Most people in this world aren't successful. Observe them and try not to

make the same mistake.

This is not the same thing as imitating the successful. I think it's a very important point of view and I've been putting it into practice.

"Good luck, Sakayanagi… I'll see you again someday."

I shook hands with Sakayanagi and said goodbye.

After seeing Sakayanagi off at the entrance, I gazed silently at the cityscape below.

In this world, there's a phrase: "merits and demerits."

It means "achievement and transgression." It's a useful word that encapsulates both good and bad.

The phrase "merits and demerits" is often used and appropriate for many famous politicians.

On the surface, they succeed in various reforms, but behind the scenes, they're just fattening their pockets to an enormous extent.

The problem is that these achievements and transgressions aren't equal. In the eyes of others, five transgressions are more important than ten achievements.

In other words, if you save ten people but let five people die, you're evil.

That's what the masses would say.

Save ten people and allow no one to be unhappy.

Save a hundred people and allow no one to be unhappy.

If you save a thousand people but make one person unhappy, you're evil.

This is the psychology of the masses.

Of course, a few will say, "You saved a thousand people, so you should be willing to sacrifice a little."

But there's another trick here.

It's that those who criticize others are very loud.

When about 10% of the population voices complaints, the media picks up the voices of criticism with joy.

This creates the illusion that the whole country is criticizing you.

Such a feeling of wanting to criticize someone rather than praising them attracts people's attention.

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