-185- We are the same

The surrounding air began to feel oppressive.

Nanaya Hori and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka looked at each other, and from each other's eyes, they saw something.

That something was calmness.

Indifference to everything in the world, not lofty, but enough to make others look up to.

The two of them silently stared at each other.

After what seemed like a long time, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka finally spoke.

"I have a question."

Facing Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's question, Nanaya Hori responded without any surprise.

"One question each, then."

This was what Nanaya Hori had said when he and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka delved into topics beyond mortal reach for the first time.

However, at that time, they were discussing the entrance exam for Advanced Nurturing High School.

Now, they were going to discuss each other's past and future.

In this situation, Nanaya Hori was the first to ask.

"Why did you come to this school?"

That was Nanaya Hori's question.

"Although this school is aimed at cultivating outstanding talents, you have already received the most perfect training. Considering the purpose of that man, he wouldn't agree to let his most outstanding work come to such a school to waste time, right?"

So why did Ayanokouji Kiyotaka come to this school, and how was he able to come to this school?

The answer to this question was about to be revealed.

After a moment of silence, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka answered.

"Indeed, in 'that room,' I learned various things, not just pure academic knowledge, but also martial arts, self-defense techniques, social skills, and so on. If I were to list them all, it would be endless."

Without reaching this level, it couldn't be considered the most outstanding.

"But because of this, I want to learn more." Ayanokouji Kiyotaka said, "In 'that room,' although I could learn everything needed to stand out, anything beyond that was deemed unnecessary impurities and was not given the chance to be encountered."

Such as human rights and emotions.

These worldly things were considered unnecessary and meaningless by that man.

So Ayanokouji Kiyotaka didn't learn those things, which is why he ended up with his current emotionless demeanor.

"Now, I want to learn about the 'worldly' things that man abandoned because he found them boring."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka said in a indifferent tone.

"If I continue to stay in 'that room,' I won't be able to learn the same things as I can here at this school, right?"

"What is freedom?"

"What are friends?"

"What does an unfettered life look like?"

"These things are impossible to learn there."

However, it was also almost impossible for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to learn these things.

That man had enormous influence and power in this country. Wherever Ayanokouji Kiyotaka wanted to go, he could find a way to make him feel trapped and return obediently to the White Room.

Except for one exception.

That was this institution established by the country itself to nurture talents.

"That man hasn't completely mastered this country yet, nor does he have the ability to oppose the country itself. This is the only place in this country where he cannot interfere."

Therefore, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka came here to escape.

And he was able to escape smoothly for a simple reason.

"The White Room has currently ceased operations."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka revealed this information.

"About a year ago, the White Room was destroyed, and that man fell from his high pedestal and has now retired."

Thanks to this, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was able to escape.

"Of course, even though he has retired, that man still has great power and is even planning a comeback. Who knows where he is lurking now?"

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka revealed these facts without any concealment.

"Once I leave this school, I will lose the only protection."

At that time, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka would definitely be brought back by that man.

That's why Ayanokouji Kiyotaka absolutely couldn't drop out of school.

"I want freedom."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka revealed his true purpose for coming to this school.

"That teacher grasped this point."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka let out a small sigh.

Perhaps Chabashira Sae knew about Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's situation through some means and used this to threaten him?

"So, what about you?"

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka put away his sigh and asked Nanaya Hori.

"Why did you come to this school?"

What Nanaya Hori asked Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was also what Ayanokouji Kiyotaka wanted to ask Nanaya Hori.

The situations of the two were the same, right?

Having undergone the most perfect training and received the most comprehensive education, if it seemed unnecessary for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to come to this school, then it seemed even more unnecessary for Nanaya Hori to come.

Unless, there was some other reason.

For example, like Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, wanting freedom.

Unfortunately, Nanaya Hori didn't need to come here to seek freedom.

He already had the greatest freedom.

After all...

"Unlike me, who is constrained, you are a figure with the name 'Nanaya,' the future ruler of the Nanaya family. No one can bind you. If you want, even laws and regulations can't control you. You are completely free."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka showed puzzlement for the first time and asked this question.

"In that case, why did you come to this school and follow its rules to seek your own lack of freedom?"

True.

If Ayanokouji Kiyotaka came for freedom, then Nanaya Hori came for lack of freedom.

"We are the same."

Nanaya Hori closed his eyes, as if he found it amusing, curled his lips, and said.

"We both came to learn things we couldn't learn around us."

Didn't Nanaya Hori say the same thing to the chairman before?

"In the clan, I can no longer progress."

Nanaya Hori had already learned everything he needed to learn.

Nanaya Hori came to this school to experience a school life that the clan didn't have.

The only difference is that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka wanted freedom, while Nanaya Hori wanted lack of freedom.

For both of them, this was an experience.

"..."

Upon hearing Nanaya Hori's answer, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka fell silent.

This is truly ironic.

Both of them are evaluated as the most outstanding and perfect talents cultivated by the Nanaya family's system, which has been passed down for thousands of years. Yet their fathers are archenemies. Now, coming to this school, their reasons are almost completely the same, only the results they seek are different.

Of course, Nanaya Hori and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka still have decisive differences.

This difference is only known to those who inherit the name "Nanaya."

Even Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's father probably doesn't know about this, right?

But that's a story for later.

At least, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka wouldn't know about it now.

By the way, there's another thing Ayanokouji Kiyotaka doesn't know.

That is, the person who destroyed the White Room is none other than Nanaya Hori.

It was only after completing that task that Nanaya Hori formally inherited the name "Nanaya."

That is the true reason why Nanaya Hori is related to the White Room.