Room.
At this time.
A mysterious facility in Tadasu no Mori, Kyoto.
The entire facility was enveloped in pure white. Currently, Hikigaya, wearing a white lab coat, was observing the classroom inside through one-way glass.
Inside the classroom.
Twenty students, five or six years old, were buried in their assignments. The one responsible for teaching was none other than Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
And Hikigaya recorded everyone's data, including grading Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's performance.
Just then.
Accompanied by the sound of footsteps, a middle-aged man in a white lab coat walked over, catching Hikigaya's attention.
"Good morning, Teacher Ayanokouji!"
Hikigaya bowed to show respect. The newcomer was the owner of this facility, Ayanokouji Atsuomi.
"Morning."
Ayanokouji Atsuomi walked to his side, and the two observed the classroom.
"Do you know the reason Morishige let you work here?"
Morishige was Chairman Sakayanagi's given name; he was once a student of Ayanokouji Atsuomi.
"I'm not very sure."
Hikigaya shook his head with a smile.
"However, there is likely no one in the country with more educational experience than Teacher Ayanokouji. I presume my father-in-law hoped I could learn from Teacher Ayanokouji's experience, which is why he had me start here."
Judgment.
Even if he didn't think so in his heart, he still said it.
The fact that Ayanokouji Atsuomi had the most educational experience was also true; such flattery wouldn't be off-putting.
However, the main purpose.
Was to signal his attitude of following orders by praising Ayanokouji Atsuomi's experience and wanting to learn.
To put Ayanokouji Atsuomi at ease and avoid having obstacles placed in his way.
"Clever."
Ayanokouji Atsuomi's expression was cold.
"It seems you've learned some pointless things from Morishige."
"There is no need to consider social niceties here. I won't cause you trouble just because you are Morishige's son-in-law."
"In the White Room, ability is everything. Remember that well."
"I will follow your teachings, Teacher."
Hikigaya bowed in acknowledgment, but he didn't take it too much to heart.
Regardless, what he should consider wasn't who was right or wrong, but which side his loyalty should lean toward.
Everything has a price.
Whether it was Chairman Sakayanagi or Ayanokouji Atsuomi.
The paths they chose both had prices they needed to bear.
And all of this.
Clearly didn't escape Ayanokouji Atsuomi's eyes; he felt Hikigaya was completely brainwashed by Chairman Sakayanagi's philosophy.
However.
As an educator.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi was successful, or at least qualified.
He indeed wouldn't cause him trouble because of it; instead, he gave his own insight.
"Morishige let you work here because your background is too ordinary; he hopes you can come into contact with the dark side of this world."
"It seems Morishige is truly grooming you as a successor. Watch well and learn well; if you need anything, you can tell me."
The subtext was that he wasn't trying to drive a wedge between them.
And this was likely Chairman Sakayanagi's true purpose: hoping he would recognize the dark side of this world and make his own judgment.
Hikigaya was well aware of this and turned his gaze back to the classroom.
From birth.
These students lived in this pure white room. From age five, they were forced to learn various courses related to high school and even university.
Needless to say, they had no access to phones or games; even their diet and daily schedule were strictly controlled.
There was no freedom at all, nor any right to choose.
The children whose hearts collapsed because of this had eyes full of despair and deadness.
Hikigaya had already seen many such children.
It was utterly inhumane.
"Then I won't be formal."
Hikigaya said in a heavy voice:
"Teacher Ayanokouji, aren't they already excellent enough? Wouldn't it be better to lower the standards appropriately?"
"It seems you are quite unconvinced?"
Ayanokouji Atsuomi put his hands behind his back and did not respond directly.
"In your opinion, who is the most excellent person here?"
"I've looked at the previous records; it should be Shiro from the fourth generation."
"That kind of cowardly deserter is not what we want."
After speaking.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi turned and left. Hikigaya watched his back, then turned his gaze back to the classroom.
It wasn't until he saw the records of the past that Hikigaya understood.
Everything was merely Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's own choice.
In the fourth generation, which was hailed as the most difficult in history.
Some people's hearts collapsed.
There were those like Shiro who gave up voluntarily.
That wasn't an exam that could make Shiro fail; it only showed that he intentionally held back because he wanted to leave this facility.
From the big data.
Everything could be seen very clearly.
Only Ayanokouji persevered until the end.
No one forced him to make a choice; if he wanted to leave, he just had to fail once on purpose. All of this was Ayanokouji's own choice.
A voracious thirst for knowledge was Ayanokouji's true nature.
Going to Advanced Nurturing was simply because there was nothing more useful to learn in the White Room.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi saw through his son very clearly.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya turned his gaze back to the classroom once more.
It had to be said.
After a few years, his perspective had broadened; he now knew that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's previous thoughts were far too simple.
The dark side went far beyond this.
Whether it was the White Room or Advanced Nurturing, neither could achieve "success."
Even if the cost were reduced a hundredfold, both educational models could not be popularized.
The White Room and Advanced Nurturing.
The value of their existence was merely as political bargaining chips for Chairman Sakayanagi and Ayanokouji Atsuomi; it was just that Advanced Nurturing sounded better and more humane.
All the students of the White Room.
Were the illegitimate children of various zaibatsu and politicians, orphans from various places, and various existences that couldn't be brought to light.
Things like mistresses were just minor issues... they weren't even worth calling problems... at this level, it was all an unspoken consensus.
Though there were people like Ayanokouji Atsuomi who had no interest in women.
But anyone who dared to make a fuss about this would surely die a miserable death.
But even if they were illegitimate children, they were still related by blood.
Household.
Even if they couldn't be seen in public.
They still required high-quality education.
By netting these children, one could radiate influence to various zaibatsu and politicians.
Once these children grew up, they could control these people and influence the entire political arena.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi considered things far more deeply than Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
While Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was still considering whether humans are equal.
The purpose of the White Room was not about education at all, and the same went for Advanced Nurturing.
The experience at Advanced Nurturing.
Was merely a game of "house."
Ayanokouji Atsuomi didn't care about Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's performance.
He merely needed an opportunity to display results to attract the attention of more zaibatsu and politicians; simply put, he was poaching clients.
Because of this.
Even after decades, Advanced Nurturing still couldn't "succeed."
The problems he had considered.
Chairman Sakayanagi had likely already considered them long ago.
To go deeper.
It wasn't that they couldn't succeed, but that they must not succeed.
Even if there were a perfect educational model, and even if it could succeed.
When that time came, they would likely face a situation where everyone would attack them; no one wanted a "shadow" that could control the country to appear.
Until now.
Hikigaya finally understood how terrifying these politicians were.