Since I returned to the past, six years have passed!

During that time, the fifth generation couldn't keep up with the brutal curriculum and everyone except Takuya and I ended up dropping out...

'Good grief... they were such pathetic kids...'

I've long since forgotten the names of those who dropped out.

After all... the ones who dropped out were either kids who fell into despair after learning about Kiyotaka-senpai's existence, kids who burned with rivalry toward him but ultimately turned out to be nothing special, or kids who deified Kiyotaka-senpai and gave up trying to become stronger.

There was no point remembering the names of such half-hearted people...

"Hey, Takuya! Let's do our best again today!"

"Yeah! I'll become a man worthy of standing beside you, Ichika."

Lately... I feel like the way Takuya looks at me has changed from friendship into something else...

...But that's probably just Ichika-chan (me) overthinking things, right!?

As a side note, the adults were surprised too.

Me, Ichika-chan—who holds the emotion of Worship toward Ayanokōji Kiyotaka rather than Hatred, yet still hasn't given up on becoming stronger.

And Takuya, who although not as much as me, continues striving every day to become stronger with Kiyotaka-senpai as his goal.

The fact that the only remaining fifth-generation students were the two of us…

* * *

March arrived.

In one month, Takuya and I will finally enroll in Advanced Nurturing High School...

"Amasawa, Yagami... as the two who achieved excellent results among the fifth generation of the White Room, I have an important mission to give you."

"Yes!"

Immediately, Ayanokōji-sensei personally began explaining the situation.

"You will enroll in Advanced Nurturing High School and bring back the greatest masterpiece... Ayanokōji Kiyotaka to the White Room."

Well, just as I expected. I figured this would happen.

"You may ask Tsukishiro, who has been sent there as the acting chairman in place of Sakayanagi, about the full details of Advanced Nurturing High School..."

Leaving those words behind, Ayanokōji-sensei quickly turned to leave.

"Sensei! May I ask a question?"

"Amasawa... what is it?"

"Won't he return to the White Room after graduating high school anyway? Isn't there really any need to bring him back? Do you want him to become the successor of the White Room that badly?"

Ayanokōji-sensei glared at me with a sharp gaze.

As expected of a father and son, his intimidation felt just like Kiyotaka-senpai's.

"After enrolling in that school, Kiyotaka dared to defy me... claiming there were things he could learn there that the White Room could not teach. But in the end, such things are nothing more than childish nonsense. Amasawa... as you said, Kiyotaka, who could become my successor in the future, has no need to remain at that school any longer."

In the future I came from, Kiyotaka-senpai actually decided not to return to the White Room even after graduating.

"Ehh!? There is a benefit though! For example... he could learn about love!"

"Hmph... what nonsense are you talking about... love? What a foolish emotion."

Ayanokōji-sensei dismissed my suggestion immediately.

"Even if that emotion called love could be used to bring him back to the White Room?"

"...What? Explain that in detail."

Oh? The cold Ayanokōji-sensei finally showed interest in what I said.

"In other words, I'll make Ayanokōji Kiyotaka fall in love with me and awaken the emotion of love! At the same time I'll earn his trust..."

"..."

"And in the end, after revealing my true identity, I'll say something that appeals to his sympathy like, 'I'm returning to the White Room, but I want you to live happily.' If he has awakened to the emotion of love, he will surely choose to return to the White Room with me!"

Ayanokōji-sensei seemed to be thinking about my strategy.

...Then he spoke again.

"Normally I would have dismissed this as nonsense. However, you are the most talented student after Kiyotaka. Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to gamble on your plan."

"Does that mean you'll leave it to me!?"

"However... one year. You have one year to accomplish what you described. If you fail, Amasawa... I will discard you without hesitation. Remember that."

"Yaaay!! I did it!"

Well, even if you people discard me...

I have absolutely no attachment to the White Room anyway! I'll just live together with Kiyotaka-senpai!

"By the way, Amasawa... do you like Kiyotaka that much?"

"Haha!! Like him? It's far beyond that! He is everything to me! Both my body and my heart belong to him! Ichika-chan is fulfilled entirely by him! Ahh!"

Even though his expression didn't change, it felt like Ayanokōji-sensei was slightly taken aback by my answer.

"U-um! Sensei! I'll do my best too, so please take care of me!"

"Yagami... you were here... well, just carry out your assigned mission faithfully."

"Yes..."

...Ah! And also... Takuya?

I'm sorry for leaving you out of the conversation halfway through...

But you know? As someone from the same generation, I actually trust you quite a lot.

In this world... let's get along without ever having to part ways, okay?