‘Now then, what should I do from here?’

Kiyotaka steadily worked through the curriculum while observing Yuki and Shiro.

‘If I don’t take any action from here, Yuki will be eliminated due to lack of ability and Shiro will leave the White Room in pursuit of freedom. In that case what’s necessary is to stay close to Yuki so she doesn’t drop out or to make sure she doesn’t fall into mental instability. As for Shiro, if I continue dialogue with him and guide him toward leaving the White Room together at the timing in my plan, there shouldn’t be a problem.’

Kiyotaka: “Yuki.”

Yuki: “What’s wrong, Kiyotaka?”

Kiyotaka: “From today onward let’s study every day together for the written exams.”

Yuki: “Does that mean Kiyotaka will teach me?”

Kiyotaka: “Yeah, that’s right.”

Yuki: “Yay!”

Kiyotaka: “If we’re doing it anyway, how about Shiro joins too?”

Shiro: “That’s quite a sudden proposal but there’s no reason to refuse so I’ll join.”

Kiyotaka: “Then it’s decided.”

‘Good. If I keep this up the chances of both of them dropping out should be low. Being able to create a point of contact with Shiro is also a big gain.’

* * *

~About two years later~

‘There’s a lot to do this year. In the first run this was when Yuki dropped out, Shiro left and Sakayanagi came to visit. If I’m going to act, this is the only time.’

Kiyotaka: “Yuki, how did the written exam feel?”

Yuki: “Yeah, thanks to you Kiyotaka it was easy!”

Kiyotaka: “That’s good to hear. What about you, Shiro?”

Shiro: “No problems on my end either.”

‘If Yuki has this much leeway at this stage, that’s reassuring for now. It’s about time I tell the two of them part of the plan.’

Kiyotaka: “You two, I have something to talk about.”

Yuki: “What’s wrong?”

Shiro: “Why so formal all of a sudden?”

Kiyotaka: “I don’t want others to hear this. Come a bit closer.”

Yuki, Shiro: “Okay.”

Kiyotaka: “When I turn 13, I plan to leave the White Room. At that time I want the two of you to come with me.”

Yuki: “Eh, that means…”

Shiro: “That’s really sudden.”

Yuki: “Is something like that even possible?”

Kiyotaka: “Of course, I’ve already thought that through.”

Yuki: “If you say so Kiyotaka then I guess it’s possible but…”

Shiro: “More importantly, why that timing? Wouldn’t earlier be better?”

Kiyotaka: “To leave this place I need to demonstrate my ability to my father. That timing is suitable because it’s when we’re closer to having adult bodies.”

Shiro: “I see but do we have a place to live as the three of us? And I don’t think it would be acceptable for just children to live on their own.”

Kiyotaka: “I’ve thought about that as well. At 13, it’s a period of lower secondary education in society. Compared to primary education, you gain more freedom along with responsibility. After that, we can use the excuse of busy parents to maintain appearances.”

Shiro: “…Got it, I’ll go. I was interested in the outside world anyway.”

Yuki: “Of course I’m going too!”

Kiyotaka: “Then it’s settled.”

‘With this I’ve taken the first step of the plan. Next is making contact with Sakayanagi.’

* * *

~During a chess curriculum session on a certain day~

‘That is…’

At the end of his line of sight were a young Sakayanagi Arisu and her father, Sakayanagi Tsunenori, the chairman of Advanced Nurturing High School.

‘In the first run I wasn’t interested so I didn’t notice but it seems Sakayanagi was indeed watching me play chess. If I make contact at this timing it will go more smoothly later.’

At that moment, Kiyotaka spoke to the instructor present.

Kiyotaka: “This is a waste of time.”

Instructor: “What are you saying!”

Kiyotaka: “Someone of your level can’t teach me anything. The same goes for anyone else.”

Instructor: “Watch your mouth!”

Kiyotaka: “Be quiet.”

Instructor: “Hii!”

Leaving behind the instructor who was too intimidated to move, he exited the room and headed toward the Sakayanagi father and daughter.

‘Within this building, there should only be one place for guests to go…’

Thinking that, Kiyotaka arrived at the reception room, knocked on the door three times and entered with polite manners.

Ayanokouji Atsuomi: “Kiyotaka, what are you doing here? More importantly, why are you out of there?”

Ignoring that, he introduced himself to the Sakayanagi father and daughter.

Kiyotaka: “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, son of Ayanokouji Atsuomi.”

Sakayanagi Tsunenori: “How polite of you. I am Sakayanagi Tsunenori. This is my daughter, Arisu.”

Sakayanagi Arisu: “I am Sakayanagi Arisu. I look forward to your acquaintance.”

After finishing the introductions, Atsuomi glared at him with an intense expression.

Atsuomi: “I’ll ask again, what are you doing here?”

Kiyotaka: “A negotiation.”

Atsuomi: “Do you think you even have that right?”

Kiyotaka: “Do you really think you can control me?”

Atsuomi: “…Tch …What are you trying to make me acknowledge?”

‘So you’re finally willing to listen.’

The two who were suddenly witnessing a parent-child conflict right in front of them were stunned but leaving Atsuomi alone would affect things later so he continued the negotiation.

Kiyotaka: “My future and the freedom of Yuki and Shiro.”

Atsuomi: “What?”

Kiyotaka: “Specifically, I want you to promise freedom after the age of 13.”

Atsuomi: “Don’t be ridiculous. Setting you aside, those two haven’t even completed the curriculum yet.”

Kiyotaka: “Of course, that can be included as a condition for leaving this place.”

Atsuomi: “That’s obvious. More importantly, why that age?”

Kiyotaka: “You don’t understand? This relates to your plan as well.”

Atsuomi: “What are you getting at?”

Kiyotaka: “You’re planning to make me a politician or the leader of the White Room in the future.”

Atsuomi: “Why would you… know that…”

Kiyotaka: “But those raised here don’t know the outside world. Do you think such a person would be accepted by society? Let alone be entrusted with a country as a politician?”

Atsuomi: “Th-that…”

Kiyotaka: “That’s why I will leave this place with the two of them.”

Atsuomi: “W-wait. Even so there’s no need to go to a secondary education institution and there’s no need to leave at that timing.”

‘This is going exactly as expected. I’ve prepared the card I can play here.’

Kiyotaka: “There are two reasons. If you spend the period called adolescence in this closed environment, it’s impossible to measure what kind of impact it will have on personality formation. Also, I judged that it is a sufficient amount of time for the two of them to complete the curriculum.”

Atsuomi: “Even so you can’t just arbitra—”

Kiyotaka: “I told you this is a negotiation. The card I can offer is that I will become both a politician and a leader.”

Atsuomi: “What!”

Kiyotaka: “It may sound arrogant coming from me but in this environment no one superior to me will be born. And that person—me—is saying I will follow your will as my parent and assist you.”

Atsuomi: “J-just wait. Let me think for a moment.”

‘Doesn’t he understand there’s no room to think? But pushing him here and making him reach a reckless conclusion would be bad.’

After thinking for a while, Atsuomi reluctantly said, “Fine, I’ll accept those conditions.”

Atsuomi: “Kiyotaka, go back immediately.”

Tsunenori: “Ayanokouji-sensei, please wait a moment.”

Atsuomi: “What is it, Sakayanagi.”

Tsunenori: “Since he came while I was here, I thought he might have something to discuss with me. What do you think, Kiyotaka-kun?”

Kiyotaka: “That’s correct.”

Tsunenori: “What is it?”

Kiyotaka: “I would like you to arrange for the three of us to enroll in Advanced Nurturing High School where you serve as chairman.”

Atsuomi: “!!”

‘Atsuomi is surprised but the chairman and Sakayanagi are not. The moment I said I had something to discuss, they must have already guessed to some extent. As expected of Sakayanagi’s father.’

Tsunenori: “Understood. I’ll look forward to that time.”

Kiyotaka: “Thank you very much. There’s one more request, though it may be unreasonable.”

Tsunenori: “What is it?”

Kiyotaka: “At that time, it will be our first time experiencing school life. So I would like you to place us in the same class so we can support each other closely.”

Tsunenori: “That is… understood, I’ll do what I can. However, I recommend that you coordinate to achieve similar scores on the entrance exam.”

Kiyotaka: “Yes, I’ll inform the two of them as well.”

Atsuomi: “Are you done.”

Kiyotaka: “Yeah.”

Atsuomi: “Then get back immediately.”

Kiyotaka: “I know. Sakayanagi-san, let’s meet again in a few years. Arisu, see you.”

Tsunenori: “Kiyotaka-kun, I look forward to your growth.”

Arisu: “Let us meet again, Kiyotaka-kun.”

‘With this, there’s no need for any special moves for a while. All that’s left is to make sure the two of them don’t drop out before 13 and to help them complete the curriculum.’