Chapter 1 : The Elusive Two-Party Interview

A LITTLE TIME HAD passed since the survival and elimination special exam ended.

Due to her close position to Sakayanagi, Kamuro becoming a new dropout surprised the second-year students. However, since Kamuro didn't have any close friends from other classes, the shock didn't last long.

But that wasn't the only reason. They were getting used to the feeling. That implication couldn't be ignored.

They were becoming increasingly desensitized to the pain of losing a comrade.

As soon as February came, the date and details of the announced two-person interview were announced.

It was said that they'd talk for about 15 minutes per person over the span of five days. The time needed for the interview was secured by making the afternoon classes self-study and using after-school hours, and students were called to a separate room as needed.

Due to the setting sun, the view outside the classroom window had greatly changed.

Today was the fifth and final day, the day of my two-person interview. I was assigned to the last slot.

While waiting in the classroom, I received instructions from the teacher on my phone to come to the career counseling room, so I decided to go immediately. There were hardly any students left in the school, and the only ones I passed by were students returning from club activities.

When I arrived in front of the career counseling room, I lightly clenched my hand and used the first joint of my finger to gently knock three times. Naturally, I heard a voice from Chabashira-sensei allowing me to enter.

"Excuse me."

When I quietly opened the door, I saw Chabashira-sensei seated at her desk, running her fingertips over her tablet.

"You're finally here. Have a seat."

After a quick glance, she looked back down at her tablet.

"You seem busy."

"As a homeroom teacher, I can't help but be busy during this time. But I feel a little better knowing that the two-person interviews will be over today. It was a good decision to leave the two oddballs for last."

<Illustration >

After answering, she instructed me to sit down, so I sat in the empty seat across the desk.

"Two oddballs, you say?"

"What, are you shocked to be treated on the same level as Kōenji?"

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think anything of it."

Chabashira-sensei laughed and placed her tablet on the desk.

"Do you think Kōenji is more of an oddball? Well, I can understand why you'd think that, but to me, there's not much difference. You're quite the oddball yourself."

It seemed that was how I was perceived from a teacher's perspective. I didn't lack the desire to deny it, but I decided to bear it and let it slide.

"Well, I don't have many opportunities to talk with each student. Before we talk about your future plans, let's talk about your school life. If there's anything you want the school to improve, I'd like to hear it."

"I don't have anything in particular. As an individual, I'm satisfied."

"I see. Do you have any trouble in your relationships with friends, or anything you want to consult about?"

"I don't."

Without hesitation, I continued to respond, and Chabashira-sensei showed a slightly bitter smile.

"Most students give one or two opinions, or at least show some sign of thinking, even if they don't have any. I don't think you're holding back..."

She seemed a little confused by my faster-than-expected response, but there was nothing she could do.

"I actually don't have any complaints."

If I had any requests, I probably would've conveyed them without hesitation.

"Well, if that's the case, it's fine... but you really don't have anything?"

As a homeroom teacher, her concern came forth, and she kept checking over and over.

"There's nothing. I'm satisfied with my school life and there's no particular trouble."

She seemed unable to fully hide her concern, but for now, she seemed to have decided to take her student's words at face value. She began typing that into her tablet.

"Chabashira-sensei, you've changed quite a bit too."

Perhaps she felt that it made sense to her, as she showed a bitter smile along with a sigh.

"I don't think I've changed. But I might've become more honest than before."

The unanimous special exam she experienced as a student herself.

And the unanimous special exam she experienced as a teacher.

What she gained and lost from those two experiences.

At the beginning of the school year, it was nostalgic to think that I couldn't even imagine the teacher in front of me smiling.

"... Anyway. If there's anything you're concerned about in your school life, don't hesitate to tell me."

"Understood."

After I answered, the opening conversation ended shortly thereafter, and we moved on to the main topic of the two-person meeting.

"I'd like to know whether you're hoping to go on to higher education or get a job. If you've made up your mind, please tell me." For high school students, that crossroads was a major turning point in life.

That was why teachers had to show students the right path, so they don't get lost.

However, I probably wouldn't be able to meet Chabashira-sensei's expectations.

"I think my family will decide what to do about my future. I don't think there's anything to discuss here."

"Your family will decide? In other words, you'll follow your father's plan?"

The school data showed that my mother wasn't present.

"Yes."

"I see. It's a rare case, but it's not like there are no students who prioritize their parents' wishes. But usually, they'd inform us in advance whether they wanted to go on to higher education or get a job. This school's always open to communication from parents, and there are many cases where parents actually convey their thoughts to their children. But so far, we haven't received any consultation about going on to higher education or getting a job from your family."

Indeed, it would be strange if I had no set plans, even if I followed my parents.

But for me, who won't go on to higher education or get a job, it would be unnecessary to inform them.

However, it would be impossible for Chabashira-sensei to understand that scenario.

"I think it's fine."

"You say it's fine... but if you want to go on to higher education, you should've already started planning. The effort to take exams at a level that matches the level of the university you want to go to..."

Chabashira-sensei started talking as if she was exasperated, but she stopped mid-sentence.

Then, she straightened her posture and looked me in the eye.

"I don't know much about your past. I think it was wrong of me to pretend to know about it and try to leverage that. But now, as a homeroom teacher, I want to fully understand the abilities of the students I'm in charge of. That's my duty."

"I understand. I have no intention of interfering with that."

I can't see the screen of the tablet well because of reflections, but if she leaves answers blank, Chabashira-sensei will be blamed when she submits it to the school.

And it was probably up to the school, but whether a student's future plans came true or not, whether they could go on to a high-level university or job, that can sometimes be linked to a teacher's grades and evaluations.

"So tell me, if your parents want you to go on to higher education, can I assume that you have the ability to do so?"

No matter what I answered, the future wouldn't change.

But it was cruel to unnecessarily lower her evaluation because of a foreign existence like me.

If anything, it was probably best to give Chabashira-sensei a useful answer.

"I think I can pass any university."

"...Really? Normally, I would caution against such a ridiculous statement, but since it's you saying it, it must be true. I can conclude that much."

Chabashira-sensei, who relented without any objection, continued.

"It seems you've received quite an elite education. If you're smart enough to claim that without hesitating, I wish you would contribute more to the class on a regular basis... but let's leave that aside for now."

Having finished typing what we had just talked about on her tablet, Chabashira-sensei looked up.

"I understand the current situation. But Ayanokōji, what's your opinion? I understand that you're considering your parent's wishes, but don't you have a future vision you want to aim for?"

"I don't. Even if I did, unfortunately, I don't have the right to decide."

As far as that goes, it was a pointless discussion to spend time on.

"I'm sorry. That might have been an unpleasant question."

"I don't mind. In fact, I just don't have any dreams or hopes at the moment. If I find something I want to aim for in the future, I'll ask about it."

"I see. So for now, you'll follow your parent's wishes. Then the three-person meeting will take place during the spring break after the third term. Is it okay to officially decide on the plan then?"

"That's right."

However, a three-person meeting involving a parent probably wouldn't happen.

At best, that man's messenger will come and have a meaningless conversation. It was obvious.

There was no way he would bring up anything related to the White Room.

"Your three-person meeting is currently scheduled for April 1st. You'll see your father for the first time in a while. If necessary, we can also take more time. I want you to think of it as a good opportunity to talk freely about your future."

She spoke as if she didn't have a single doubt that my father would come.

No, is that actually the case?

"...Can I ask you something?"

I thought it was unlikely, but I decided to ask because I thought it was worth checking.

"Hmm?"

"Is my father actually coming? Not someone else? Not a proxy?"

Unable to grasp my intention, Chabashira-sensei nodded while looking puzzled.

"Yes, that's what I heard."

"I thought he would've immediately rejected the idea of a three-person meeting?"

While looking puzzled, Chabashira-sensei soon showed some understanding.

"Indeed, when I first informed him of the three-person meeting by email, he replied that he intended to send a proxy due to his busy schedule. In that sense, your statement is correct. However, when I informed him of the specific date for the three-person meeting on that premise, the situation seemed to have changed."

While reconfirming on her tablet just in case, she continued.

"He called me and I received a reply that your father would visit directly. I heard it straight from him; there's no mistaking it."

"...That's unexpected."

What kind of twist is this? That man wouldn't retract his previous response that easily. At least that was the case with us White Room students. Despite declaring that he wouldn't meet me at this school, why would he bother attending a three-person meeting?

From the fact that he initially refused, it should've developed the way I imagined it.

However, he changed his mind and expressed his intention to come himself?

It was impossible not to think there was a catch.

"You said you got a call from my father, what exactly did you talk about?"

"What? We didn't have any deep conversations. He had appointed a proxy, but he said he could attend the three-person meeting because he had time. However, he said he wanted to be informed if there were any changes to the schedule he had been given, even a little. That's not unusual for busy parents, is it?"

"That's right."

Normally, he wouldn't have had time to attend a three-person meeting, but he looked at the set schedule and decided that he could make it, so he contacted the school. It was easy to understand and there was nothing strange about it.

"But... oh no, that isn't something I can just tell you."

Chabashira-sensei started to say something but then stopped.

"But what?"

I was looking for a hint, so I asked for the rest of her sentence.

"It's not a big deal. But I thought it was a bit strange. It's natural to want to be contacted if the schedule changes, but that's usually limited to changes in the date and time of your child's meeting. However, your father said he wanted to be contacted if there was even a slight change in the schedule of the entire class that I was given."

"Even if, for example, the meeting of an unrelated classmate on a different day is switched?"

"That's right. I thought he was being a bit paranoid, but there's no inconvenience in just informing him."

So Chabashira-sensei agreed without thinking too deeply.

However, if that man had a reason to participate in the three-person meeting, there was a motive.

"Could you show me the schedule for the three-party meeting, if possible?"

"The schedule? Well, I suppose there's no harm in showing it."

Chabashira-sensei operated her tablet and turned the screen towards me.

"This is the schedule for the three-party meetings of the entire class. It's basically structured the same way as the two-party meetings. That is, you're scheduled for the last slot."

March 26th, 28th, 30th, and April 1st.

That was the schedule for the three-party meetings that would take place over the span of four days.

As Chabashira-sensei had said, my name was listed at the end of the day on the 1st, at 5 PM.

"There's nothing special to see. Are you done now?"

"Yes, thank you."

Chabashira-sensei turned the screen of the tablet she had been showing me back to herself.

"I won't tell you not to be nervous about your relationship with your parent. I don't know the details, but there's no parent who doesn't love their child. He must've felt like he couldn't leave you alone."

"That might be true."

I answered as such, as there was no point in discussing her thoughts and that man here.

But in reality, I couldn't imagine him showing up for the three-party meeting for such a reason.

Did he want to expel me with his own hands, unable to leave it to others?

Even so, he should've already realized from the previous time that it was pointless to confront me directly.

I still didn't know for what purpose he agreed to attend the three-party meeting.