"TODAY IS MARCH 11TH. Recorded by Suzukake Tanji."
Suzukake put his cell phone camera in video mode and placed it on his desk. He turned the lens to face himself.
"I've been leading the education in the White Room for a long time now." On this day, Suzukake decided to quietly leave his thoughts on his research stored in his cell phone.
"But the White Room will be stagnant for a while after today. I don't know anything about politics, but it seems that a politician named Naoe has been trying to prevent Ayanokouji-sensei's return. What a hassle. But I've decided to look on the bright side. It's been a long time since I've been on vacation; maybe the stagnancy isn't a bad thing."
Taking a breath, Suzukake turned off the computer monitor.
"Humans are really interesting. As is true with all children, they learn things they are not taught. I noticed this in the first four generations' education and introduced a communication curriculum from the fifth generation onward. Of course, this has led to some inefficiencies. As a result of developing emotions, the rate of increase in ability decreased. Still, the difficulty level of the curriculum slightly exceeds the previous generations, so the students in the fifth generation and onwards have better abilities than the students from the third generation." Punishment should be given, and emotions should simply be considered a bonus.
Suzukake hadn't changed his approach.
"From the ten difficulty levels that we've made, the curriculum that we have prepared for the fifth generation is difficulty level four, and for the sixth generation, difficulty level five. This is probably the limit. The sixth level that we applied to the seventh generation already caused all of them to drop out of the program. Eventually, these children will become ideal adults. They will be able to integrate into the world as one of the world's best."
Suzukake was silent for a moment.
"I guess we can find out about all of this by looking in the files. Though, the reason I decided to document this today is to remember the heat of the run. The White Room has already seen many kids learn and then drop out, but still that kid… Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is a great existence. That child has an uncanny ability to learn, adapt, and apply. His talent continues to amaze me every day, and his reputation never ceases to grow… The researchers in the White Room believe that they can train that child in the same way as the others, but in my opinion, he's the exception. He's even more unique in this distorted environment. A true mutation."
Through the Beta curriculum of his own creation, the product of the most challenging and thorough education was created.
"No… I don't even know if I can call him a product. In any case, there's no way to reproduce it. But even Kiyotaka was imperfect from the beginning. Whether it was studies, karate, or boxing, the first results he showed us were rather unremarkable and ordinary. That's the difference. He's extremely good at absorbing power and sublimating it into his own ability. Once he finished learning the basics, he began developing the skills to deal with what he was exposed to for the first time, using his extraordinary ability to apply what he learned." When he closed his eyes, Kiyotaka's image remained burned into the back of his eyelids.
"By the eighth year, the remaining children were down to five. Considering that there were 74 children at the beginning, the dropout rate was over 93%. The average dropout rate from the first to the third year was 27%, and 30% from the fifth year onward. The curriculum was reckless. At this point, I was afraid that all of them would've dropped out in the middle of their ninth year. No… I was rather hoping that they'd drop out. In the case where there was a child who could stay and continue to follow a curriculum that no human being should ever follow… That child would no longer be human, they'd be a monster. That cannot exist. As if to bring that reality into existence, when the new spring arrived, there was only one child left. But here's the problem. That one remaining child hasn't shown any sign of dropping out after 10, 11, 12 years. On the contrary, he's come to outperform us researchers and leaders. The adults with superficial knowledge left the White Room in less than a few days, holding their heads in their hands. The original purpose of the White Room was to continue education into adulthood, but the thought of six more years... I can't do it. That kid is going to outgrow us in the near future. This isn't a hunch, it's a certainty. And at the same time, I don't know why that's possible. Is it the product of my curriculum or a genetic mutation? I can't prove why he didn't drop out and continued to survive. It's driving me crazy." So—how should the existence of the White Room and Kiyotaka be viewed in the future?
The final decision will be made by Ayanokouji Atsuomi, the head of this facility, but the debate among the researchers will be sharply divided. "The question of whether or not it was possible to create artificial geniuses remained unanswered, but it had been proven that it was possible to create brilliant people through the White Room. However, there's always a ceiling on every child's abilities."
Suzukake looked at the empty cup that, until a few minutes ago, contained sencha tea. He opened the cap of the brand-new mineral water and put both the cup and bottle cap in his hand.
"This is the size of the educator's talent," Suzukake said. "This small cap is, so to speak, the limit of an ordinary educator's talent. The much larger cup, compared to this cap, can be easily understood as the talent of the educators in the White Room. The children who receive education raised their own limits according to the limits of the educators' talents. If the average person is cap-sized, the education here allows them to develop their talent to the size of this cup." He poured fresh mineral water into the cup.
"Once you hit the limit, there's basically no room for further growth. The water overflows and there's no new information to absorb… No, that isn't the correct expression. Every time we absorb new knowledge, we lose a little of our old talent, and we don't even realize that it's happening."
Suzukake sighed as he watched the water flow over the desk and disperse. "There are many problems ahead. First, there are only a limited number of people with talent the size of this cup. Secondly, even if they have the talent, they don't necessarily have the skills to teach it. Thirdly, it's not always possible to obtain talents of the same magnitude between educators and students. The upper limit is the size of a cup, but some individuals are often one or two times smaller than it. Of course, there are cases of children who are one or two sizes larger than the upper limit, but the probability is less than the former. And then the most important part. The most important part is that the geniuses in this world are not limited to the size of a cup. They're more talented than this bottle of mineral water. There's no one who has such a talent while also having a talent for educating. Even if they did, the children would probably never grow to be bigger than the cup." This was also true of the data from previous studies.
"A generous education that takes care of children, or the exact opposite—a strict education. In either case, both show that there's a limit to a child's potential." The White Room's goal is to create geniuses out of ordinary people and train them to be competitive in the world.
"It's possible to intentionally create people in humanity's top 10%. In this sense, the White Room's an institution that can produce solid results. But it may not be able to create people who are in the top 0.01% to compete with the rest of the world."
A true sense of failure as a researcher.
Suzukake keenly felt that when he thought about the existence of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"At the moment, I can't see the upper limit of talent in that child. He absorbs as much as you teach him. It could be said that he was born as a genius, or that he was the result of his education in the White Room. Both of which I think are correct and incorrect. If Kiyotaka hadn't been educated in the White Room, he probably would've merely been a reasonably competent person. If either component was missing, he wouldn't have been as he is now… And… If Kiyotaka continues his education in the White Room, it's obvious that he'll be an asset to raise new generations' talent ceiling. If Kiyotaka were to stand in my place and nurture these children, they would grow up to be more like plastic bottles than cups. I would love to see that happen."
Angels and demons asked the question in his mind.
If he were to send him out as a leader to lead Japan, instead of just an educator in the small White Room, how much would he accomplish? Which is the more meaningful choice for Japan and for the future? He wasn't the final judge, but he wondered what choice Ayanokouji-sensei would make.
"I'm going to see it all through, and I'm going to be involved in the White Room's education for the rest of my life, regardless of what he chooses to do." He had never had so much fun, and he was filled with a sense of fulfillment unlike when he was forced to flee Japan and go abroad.
"However good Ayanokouji Kiyotaka may be, the question remained as to whether he was a true genius or not. Emotionally, he was far below the average person, and he didn't know what most people did. He may learn by memorization, but it remains to be seen how much of a negative effect that will have on him. He was defective."
As he continued, Suzukake reached for his cell phone and stopped the recording.
"I wonder if that child I created will be… happy at the end of his life…" As a researcher, Suzukake felt a strong reluctance to record such remarks.
■■■
It was a day when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. I left Saitama and returned to Tokyo for the first time in several months.
Instead of my home in Meguro-ku, where I had settled several years ago, I drove to my office, which I hadn't visited for a long time.
"How long has it been since I last came here…?"
I looked up from the window of my car at the soon-to-be-demolished building and gave my orders.
I pulled over to the shoulder of the road, turned on the hazard lights, and got out.
I had been out of politics for a long time, but the time for my return was near.
Naoe, the fixer who has been lurking in the shadows of Kijima, was now over 80 years old and had been suffering from a serious illness. He was back in politics, ostensibly cured of his illness, but in reality, his life was hanging on by a thread.
The proof was In the sabotage of the White Room and the relentless pressure from Naoe's side on his supporters in the shadows. He decided that he had to get rid of me before his own life was extinguished.
It was a blow to have the White Room temporarily suspended, but I changed my mind, thinking that it would give me just enough time to prepare for a comeback from the situation.
"I'm getting old, same goes for Naoe."
Soon my battle for political office will begin again.
The signs and premonitions… Kamogawa, whom I had not seen since that day when I talked with Naoe at the ryotei, showed up at my doorstep as if to congratulate me.
"It's been a long time, Ayanokouji-sensei. I didn't expect you to come all the way here to pick me up."
"Don't worry about it. How's it going over there?"
We had been talking on the phone, but in recent years, my face-to-face contact with him had become even rarer than with Sakayanagi. I had to be careful not to do anything that would get me caught in Naoe's watchful eye.
"Thanks to you, I'm doing well. Is everything alright with you too, Sensei?" "You're the one who should be called 'sensei' since you keep getting elected."
When I jokingly mentioned this, Kamogawa replied with a very serious face.
"It's true that you're not a politician now, but you've brought in many wealthy people and head the White Room, a well-known educational institution. The rumors never cease."
I've certainly survived the hard times.
Although I was exiled from the political world, I've now taken in many business people from the White Room, and have taken a path that I couldn't have imagined as my own fortune.
Although my title as a politician no longer existed, more people called me "Sensei" than ever before.
"I hear in the White Room that your son is quite brilliant."
"Is it ironic? I've been on the radar so much that I had to shut it down temporarily."
Kamogawa laughed bitterly, but he still had the same look in his eyes as before.
No, he seemed to have grown up once or twice more than before. "I think you already know that. As you can already tell, Naoe-sensei is pulling the strings behind the scenes. I don't think he's going to reveal the White Room to the public since he'll get himself burnt too, but he's starting to use all kinds of methods to try to get rid of it."
"If this wasn't his idea, they would've shut it down by now. He seems to be making it very difficult for them in that respect. What's his next move?" "I don't know at the moment. I've managed to hang on to the Naoe-sensei faction, but I used to work beside you, Ayanokouji-sensei, so he doesn't trust me." It would be difficult to get past Naoe's defenses even if I tried to force Kamogawa to probe.
Rather, it is more essential to keep him concealed inside the faction. "It's just that… his health seems to have been deteriorating a lot lately." Kamogawa muttered in a hushed voice beside me.
"It's a little bit frustrating that I can't bury him with my own hands, but I guess it's best to let the disease bury him."
That's why Naoe is an opponent in the political world who doesn't show any openings that you could take advantage of.
And given his age, he'll be in the spotlight very soon.
"Finally, your return is coming soon, isn't it?"
"Yes. But even if he disappears, it won't make it any easier for me to get to the top of the political world. No, in fact, it will be far more difficult than before." I thought Naoe-sensei was one of the biggest names in politics, but I believe President Kijima, who's keeping control of politics well, will be even bigger than that.
If he continued in this fashion, he'd soon break the record for the longest tenure in office.
He's still in his sixties. Kijima's era will continue for another 10 to 20 years. As a young man, I myself am steadily getting older.
This will be my last chance to make a move.
"That's why I'm going to make sure I'm in the right place at the right time." A temporary pause in the White Room.
Whether it'll be six months or five years, there's no telling how long it'll last, but the last thing I want is for it to be publicized. But it would be a relief to know that Naoe's side is on the same page.
He's surely plotting and scheming to somehow bury the matter in the dark. The car arrived and Tabuchi opened the back seat door.
Kamogawa slowly climbed into the passenger seat.
"Tabuchi, what about the arrangements?"
"As planned, the children will be supervised and managed by a temporary orphanage."
"Right."
"And your son—are you sure about this?"
"I'm not going to give him preferential treatment just because he's my son. But at least as long as he's the best of the best in the White Room, he's entitled to it, to the point it makes me hesitate, but in another sense, that's also meaningful." We drove to our destination and waited for Kiyotaka to leave the clinic. "Even so, it's a counseling clinic… did something happen to Kiyotaka-kun?" "No. I sent him there because there was someone who really wanted to meet Kiyotaka. It's a request from a man who has a considerable amount of money invested in the White Room, so I had no choice."
"They want to see him, huh?"
"It's shallow. They think that's a way to close the wound, but they don't realize that it's counterproductive."
Ishida, who came out of the clinic first, joined me.
"When was the last time you saw Kiyotaka?"
"Well, it's been about five or six years since I last saw your son. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how he's grown up."
"…Are you looking forward to it?"
Ishida, who had just gotten on board, stared at Kamogawa with a suspicious look on his face.
"What? Did I say something strange?
"That thing is a monster. It's not something you should look at with such a carefree mind."
"A monster? That's your son, sir. You shouldn't have said that…"
"Ishida is one of the ones who's been watching over Kiyotaka since the moment he was born."
He was allowed to put it any way he liked.
He was more qualified than I, who was only related to Kiyotaka by blood. He had been trained to such a degree of perfection that it was almost unimaginable for him to be a young boy about to enter the third year of junior high. However, there were many things that were missing in return.
This was probably one of the reasons why Ishida calls him a monster. Kamogawa frowned at Ishida's lack of restraint and looked out the window.
■■■
I've been living in the White Room for well over 14 years now and have completed what was commonly referred to as the second year of junior high. The real world outside was different from the virtual world, but I found myself accepting it more comfortably than I thought I would.
It was unclear whether this was due to the curriculum or some other factor. While I was waiting in an empty room, as instructed by Dr. Ishida, I was approached by a man.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun. Thank you for coming today."
"Who are you?"
I had never seen him before.
His calm face made it hard to believe that he was from the White Room. What caught my attention more was that he was holding a vase of flowers in his hand.
This was also something I had never seen before. Something I had only learned and seen in images.
"There's a girl I really want you to meet, so I asked Ayanokouji-sensei for a favor."
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
"The girl has become so feeble-minded that she can't even go out. She can keep herself relatively calm at home and in this clinic. That's why I asked you to come here."
"Are those… cherry blossoms?"
"They used to hang in this room, but I had to change the water. It's her favorite flower. She should be back from her checkup soon."
He put the vase on the shelf by the window.
"Kiyotaka…!"
As I waited for him to return, the door to the room was opened and my name was shouted.
A girl, about my age I guess, stared at me and her eyes were wide open. "I've wanted to meet you all this time… I've missed you so much!" "You're…"
"Yuki! It's Yuki!"
Yuki. I knew that name. It belonged to a White Room student who had dropped out a long time ago. I've erased the name from my memory, but it was natural to remember some things since I can't intentionally erase them. "Why are you here?"
Even if she didn't really die, the instant she dropped out, everything was over for her.
Facing the dead. It was a strange feeling, but what was the purpose of this meeting?
"My daughter Yuki has been weak ever since she left the Whi— No, the same facility you're in. She's been depressed. She can't go outside and just keeps worrying about you."
The man who was watching from a distance seemed to be Yuki's father. Her smile was a little different from the one she used to show when she was a child.
"It's been a long time. Kiyotaka… were you at that place the whole time?" She looked at me with fear in her eyes as she recalled the past. Judging by her father's reaction, she was scared of the mention of the White Room.
"For 14 years, I've been there. Today is the first time I've been outside." "I knew you were great, Kiyotaka… What about the other kids? Did they leave in the past?"
"Well, they all left so soon. I've been the last one for years now. I don't know."
I never cared about the ones who dropped out, including the kid in front of me.
"Alone… Always in that place…? I-I… I, that, that place… I…!" Yuki's body began to tremble as if the fear she had been suppressing was swelling up.
"Yuki, stop remembering!"
Yuki was distraught as she dug up her memories. Was this how miserable a person who's dropped out of the White Room could be?
The one thing I understand was that she must be the daughter of a wellknown businessman.
All I know is that she was treated with respect after she dropped out. But the fact that she's going to counseling shows that she hasn't healed from the trauma.
And one of the healing methods was to meet with me, who was also in the fourth generation… I guess…
Now that I know what's going on, I have no further use for this place. "I have to go."
"Wa-wait! I finally got to meet you! I want to talk to you more—a lot more!"
"I have nothing to say to you."
If she couldn't talk about the White Room, we couldn't have a conversation.
"Please, Ayanokouji-kun, can you talk with Yuki for a while? Yes, any conversation is fine. A simple, insignificant conversation…"
"What do you mean by 'insignificant conversation'? You do understand that I'm new to the outside world, right?"
"That's…"
"Of course, I can tell her a story that's full of lies if you want. I am willing to force myself to make something up to the best of my knowledge, whether it's about Japan or the rest of the world. But that's not what you want, is it?" "I-I'm fine. I'm fine with talking about the Wh-White-White Room." Yuki grabbed my sleeve, hyperventilating, trying not to let me go. "I don't think you should. You can't talk to me."
"T-that's not true…! I've always wanted to meet you again… Kiyotaka…!" "You should have stopped that feeling. Once you see me like this, you'll only suffer from the difference between your memories and your ideals. If you want to heal your mind, you should continue your treatment here."
That was enough. I'd rather take a look outside than waste my time here. The outside world, at least, still holds the possibility of curiosity.
"Please. Not yet, stay a while longer…"
Yuki's father blocked the exit with open arms.
"Is that an order?"
"No… it's…"
"No, it's not, isn't it? The representative of the White Room didn't give me any specific instructions."
"Indeed. Ayanokouji-sensei only promised to let you and Yuki meet. This is only my personal request."
"Then I decline."
"What?"
"I'm refusing because I think it's what's best for her."
"You don't care about a kid who dropped out?"
"That's right. I don't care about a kid who dropped out."
But this guy made a bad call bringing me in as a counselor.
"Excuse me."
"No! Don't go, Kiyotaka!"
"You're no different than when you dropped out and disappeared." "…!"
"You should be thankful for your parents and focus on your treatment here. The more you expect from me, the more you'll regret it."
"No! I want to talk to you! I want to talk with you more—talk about what we couldn't talk about back then!"
Yuki's spirit, with its terribly childish tone and reactions, had not changed at
All since that time a few years ago.
"Wait! Please!"
"Please move aside."
"Yuki… I'm not the only one who can't reach her. My wife's and second
Daughter's words also cannot reach her. She can't be reached. But… she talks to
You… You don't know how much just that could save her…!"
<Illustration>
"Goodbye. I hope I never see you again. I'll leave you to it."
"No! No! Kiyotaka! Nooo!!"
Her voice crying out and the voice of an adult yelling at her uncontrollably. Neither of them reached the depths of my ears. I wasn't interested. I left the hospital and returned to the waiting car.
A figure came out of the passenger side, waving his hand in the air. "H-Hey, Kiyotaka-kun. Nice to meet you, my name is Kamogawa—" I've seen this face before. I thought so, but didn't say anything back and sat down in the back seat.
"…It's nothing, haha. I hope you'll forget about it."
He smiled, scratched his head, and looked forward.
"Start driving."
"Understood, sir."
I sat alone in the quiet car and looked at the view outside the window. "What's it like to be outside for the first time?"
"Nothing."
It's not that I wasn't curious.
It's just that I don't feel anything, at least nothing that I can call an emotional response to.
"Nothing, huh?"
My father probably had thought so.
That I was looking out the window without emotions.
That I probably couldn't distinguish the difference between virtual world and reality now.
<Illustration>
That was a big mistake.
It's just easier to let people think that everything's under control. At least for now, it's beneficial for me to keep it that way.
There was no need for this man to know that I was always sharpening my fangs.
"You will continue your White Room curriculum with me for a little while. You will return to the facility when the White Room reopens."
"Understood."
The change of environment was no obstacle for those who'd already mastered the skills they'd acquired in the White Room.
■■■
"It's a shame—all of this—isn't it?"
After unloading the car and taking Kiyotaka out to the compound, I left with Kamogawa alone.
"What is…?"
"There's only one ultimate existence. If we play the right strategy, he'll devote his life to training people and outperform Suzukake in the White Room. If we do that, there's a possibility that eventually more than one person will emerge that's close to Kiyotaka."
"That was the original plan, wasn't it? Isn't that what you were planning to do?"
"My return to politics is becoming a reality here. That's what makes me wonder."
"No way…"
"I had never thought of it that way before."
"Are you going to make him, Kiyotaka-kun, a politician?"
"The strategy to educate the White Room so that they could pass it onto the next generation is what the White Room is supposed to be about. It's an important project that must be undertaken if Japan is to take leadership in the world 50 to 100 years from now. That is inflexible for me."
But…
"But, in order for me to take the top spot in the political world, a strong ally is necessary. The earliest Kiyotaka can become a senator is at 25 years old. I'll be 61 by then. That's cutting it close."
"But for a politician, you're in your time once you've matured." Of course, even if Kiyotaka becomes a parliament member, he won't be able to do anything immediately.
In theory, however, he would have the right to be appointed prime minister at the age of 25.
He has the potential to be of much more use than the usual assortment of mediocre legislators.
"What are you going to do…?"
"I don't have an answer. If Kiyotaka or I were in control of the political world, we could make a big difference in Japan, even if we aren't talking about the next 50 or 100 years. However, it's inevitable that there'll be a delay in the White Room's education. That's why I'm worried."
The most frustrating thing was that he has the title of being my son.
When he comes to politics, the public will think that I just want the next generation to follow in my footsteps.
A big disadvantage, but I think there's a way to make the most of it. And his lack of joy, anger, sadness, and emotion is also a big concern. It's necessary to improve it.
"I'm sure Kiyotaka-kun will be obedient, and I'm tempted to expect a lot from him."
How much control Kiyotaka has over himself, I can't say.
His mind is already far ahead of ours.
He may not have much emotion, but his thoughts are active, and he'll probably surpass us in two or three moves. On the other hand, he's fortunate in his ignorance of the world and naïve in many aspects. He hasn't reached the level of thinking I'm at yet as I'm cautious.
From this stage onward, I was prepared to change my plans.
My will to take over this country was strong and unshakable.
"Today, you're going to have to stay with me a little longer, Kamogawa." No matter what measures we decided to take, first of all, it was necessary to work on Kiyotaka regarding his personality.
"That's fine, but… what are you going to do?"
Then a hand knocked lightly on the car window and Tsukishiro climbed into the vacant driver's seat with a natural ease.
This man not only had contacts in the ruling and opposition parties but also in the business world. His attitude of doing whatever it takes to win made him risky and untrustworthy, but even in his old age, he was still very good at what he did.
"Ayanokouji-san, you seem to be in good health… I see that you're getting along very well with the Peace Party people these days."
"I don't care about that. What about that thing I asked you to do?" "The arrangements have been made. There will be no issues with the background checks."
"Good. And there's one more thing I need you to do for me in the future." I told Tsukishiro and Kamogawa about my future plans.
While Kamogawa was surprised from start to finish, Tsukishiro listened with a smile on his face.
"That sounds like an interesting plan. I'd like to say that I welcome your work, but I'm getting old."
He was humble, but this man didn't take on what he couldn't do. "You're the man for the job. I want to see how far he can go."
"If you'll leave it to me, that's fine. I accept. I will cooperate in the implementation of your plan. We'll need to prepare some pieces that may be missing later."
I motioned for the car to start and had Tsukishiro start the engine. I only told Tsukishiro, whom I didn't trust, about Kiyotaka's future. But that wasn't all I was after. I also wanted to take advantage of Kijima and ANHS, the enemies I'll eventually have to deal with.
A year later, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka decided to enroll in the Advanced Nurturing High School.