Third Person PoV

Arisu waited patiently in the chairman's office. She had paid a visit and was instructed to wait for the chairman's arrival so their discussion may begin.

Instead of having her trusty attendant accompany her like usual, Arisu opted to go alone which had suprised her purple haired companion at first but she was more than glad to have free time for herself, so she had no complaints.

Arisu hummed a small tune to herself. It was a bedtime song that her beloved mother had sung to her ever since she was a little girl.

The door finally opened.

" Ah, my dear daughter!" A voice called, a tone full of warm.

Arisu gazed towards the chairman, a small smile forming on her lips.

" Good morning, papa." She greeted sweetly.

The Chairman approached Arisu and gave her a small embrace, leaving a kiss on her forehead before pulling away.

" Would you like tea?" He asked.

" That's fine. I took the liberty of preparing tea before your arrival." Arisu responded.

Her father chuckled before taking a seat and pouring himself a cup of tea. " As expected of my daughter. Always prepared." He said, proudly.

" Well, you've always told me that the way to success is a difficult road. But with preparation, it'll make things a whole lot easier." Arisu says.

" Yes, indeed. There a lot of factors in being successful, but preparation is the majority among them all. It is the foundation to success." Her father said.

They talked a bit more. Arisu asking about her mother's well-being and her father shooting back questions about her time in school. They rarely see each other nowadays, but their bond is still as close as ever.

" Papa....may we finally begin the actual discussion?" Arisu asked.

" Ah, right. The main topic regarding him, correct?" Her father replied.

Arisu nodded hastily.

" I haven't been seeing Ayanokoji-kun around." She said, she even sent Masumi to go look for him but the search bore no fruit.

" And I've heard rumors that you entered Class D and announced something. Some students were whispering about it, making theories that perhaps you told them a big hint on how to reach Class A." She puffed her cheeks.

" Obviously, I quickly shut those rumors down. So nonsensical. But I want to know the real reason and I have a feeling that....it's related to Ayanokoji-kun's disappearance." She said.

" You're right. It is related to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's disappearance.....I thought I could hide it from you just a little bit longer but since you're my precious daughter, how could I possibly resist myself from spilling the tea." He chuckled. He knew that she knew that he always loved spoiling his little princess.

He was just lucky that Arisu didn't grow up to be a spoiled brat due to his doting nature. If she WAS a spoiled brat, then his wife would kill him.

That thought...that possibility still makes him shiver in fear.

But not now. He had to answer Arisu's questions, since he also has a personal motive in telling her this private information.

" Hm...let's see..." The older Sakaynagi crossed his arms and leaned back on the sofa.

" Do you recall our visits at that facility?" He asked.

" Yes." Arisu quickly recalled back to their visits.

" What were your thoughts about Kiyotaka?" Her father asked, curiously.

" He was amazing." Arisu quickly answered. " I couldn't believe that he could defeat all those masters in chess, solve university level equations, possesses great memory, an expert in multiple fighting styles. At first, I thought he was a natural genius, but then you shattered that idea when you said that he was no genius. That he had no special genes or inheritance. That everything was simply hard work....to become a genius." She said.

" And I do remember you being defiant of that? You wished to prove that natural born geniuses will triumph over false ones?" Her father asked.

Arisu giggles. " I still do. I'm waiting for that day to come.....but..." She paused before her gaze began softening. " I'm satisfied with out friendship. I've realized that I didn't need to fill that particular dream......and now.....I just want to know about his whereabouts." She said.

" ...What else have you observed?" Her father continued to question.

" Hmm...well I have taken note that he was placed as the top product of that place. I assumed that his colleagues developed or held a grudge against him. My basis for that assumption are the looks they give him." She said.

" Anything else?" He pressed on.

Arisu paused for a bit.

' Isn't that all there was?' she wondered. She carefully tried to remember her previous thoughts but she was sure that that was all she thought about when she saw him through the one sided window.

But then it suddenly hit her head.

" He was lonely." She answered.

" Yes, but I'm sure you already know that. What you didn't notice was the feelings that leaked out of the young Kiyotaka when he was ostracized by his peers." Her father said.

Arisu furrowed her brows, her cute face morphing into a slightly puzzled expression.

" Please elaborate..." She said.

Her father exhales a breath.

" It was the looks the young Kiyotaka gave towards them. A look that said, " Why are they so mean to me?" or " Did I do something wrong?" his young mind was confused by the negativity that his peers emanated. " He said.

Arisu felt irritated by that.

" Does it matter? Ayanokoji-kun was just better than them. They were defectives products compared to hi-" but then she was interrupted.

" But Kiyotaka never thought of them like that. At least....that was the case....until Ayanokoji-sensei influenced his way of thinking." He said.

" Wait just a minute. Father, how are you so sure of the fact that Ayanokoji-kun never saw them as that? " She asked.

" That's because....there was a certain student that stuck by him." He said.

" What?" Arisu was suprised. " May I know who?"

" Hm....well....she was a younger than him. She was from a generation after him. If I recall correctly, she had scarlet hair tied into twin tails. " he chuckles, " I rarely saw them interact with one another, though. But on the few occasions where I have seen them, it was mostly the little girl who blabbered while Kiyotaka seemed confused but listened quietly."

" Then....he wasn't lonely. So he has a friend..." Arisu muttered.

" Hm....I wouldn't say that. I'm sure Kiyotaka at the time, never really considered anyone as a friend because he had trouble understanding the purpose....the feeling....of having friends. And since he was influenced by his father, his inability to socialize properly only increased. After all, Sensei was never one to have faith in friendships." He said.

"...I see.....so that's why he was lonely. And yet, he wasn't able to identify the feeling that he was lonely." Arisu finally understood.

Her father gives a sad smile. " Indeed. He wasn't aware of such feelings....which is why.....that in itself was a problem."

" Problem? "

" ...I can't tell you the specific details. But to put it simply, since Kiyotaka has trouble identifying his own feelings. He'll only end up hurting himself as he tries to understand strong negative feelings.....and that.....is what's likely happening to him right now." he said.

" You're wrong. He's changed, I saw it-"

" He might know the feeling of happiness. But what about the feeling of sadness? the feeling of loss? the feeling of despair? " Her father said.

The chairman sighs. " Right now, as I predicted, Kiyotaka....is probably hurting himself without realizing it."

" But why!" Arisu shouted, which was out of character. " Why would he feel such negative emotions? He's been having a great time in this school. He made friends and he had SMILED. So why are you seemingly trying to imply otherwise!"

" I guess there's no more stalling." He continued, " I will now tell you the reason why I went to D class."

. . .

" Someone....close to him....died?" Arisu slowly repeated the information.

" Yes....that person was important to him, but Kiyotaka, who had never felt remorse,sadness,despair up until now.....he is currently trying to understand these feelings. He must be wondering why it hurts. Things like that." He said.

"....So right now....he's.....suffering?" Arisu said.

" Yes. And if nobody can support him through this.....then I'm afraid..." he paused.

" He'll end up like the rest of those children...."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Kiyopon was sitting on his bed.

Doing nothing.

He still has not slept and it's almost the end of the week.

He had not eaten anything for the past few days.

His water intake had significantly decreased to mere sips.

And his headaches were getting worse, due to the aforementioned dehydration, hunger, and lack of sleep.

He was lost in his thoughts.

All he hears are the repeated screams of Matsuo's voice.

All he thinks about is a way to erase this feeling of pain in his chest,

his mind refuses to allow rational thoughts to enter. Instead, he drowns in bittersweet memories and unidentified remorse.

But suddenly, a knock had interrupted his thoughts.

Kiyopon's eyes slowly looked from the ground towards the door.

Muffled familiar voices were heard beyond his door.

" Kiyopon! " Haruka called.

Kiyopon's eyes widened in recognition.

It was his friend.

A voice he hadn't heard for a short while....

" Kiyopon, you've been absent for the past few days! We're worried!" Haruka yelled through the door.

Worried...? Kiyopon thought.

" Kiyotaka-kun~ we even brought some of your favorite snacks!" Mori singsonged.

" Kiyotaka, you've been ghosting us for the past few days. We don't know what you're going through, but whatever it is, as your friends we are here to help!" Akito also said.

They decided to keep hidden the fact that they knew about the news since it might just make Kiyopon reluctant.

Help? Can they really help? Kiyopon thought as he began to move out of the bed.

He stood on his feet, his head was in a daze, but he tried to focus on the door ahead.

Can they.....make the pain go away? He clutched his chest as he began taking slow steps towards the door.

" Kiyotaka-kun, please let us in!" He heard Airi's voice as well.

" If you can't handle the pain alone, then please share it with us. We're with you on this." Keisei also showed support.

Kiyopon arrived at the door. If he opens the door right now....then his friends can enter.

But for some reason, he was hesitating.

The pain was worsening.

Voices from his father, voices from his former peers.....they all echoed in his mind.

He froze. His hand was just about to unlock the door but the voices stopped him.

Why....why are they so loud....why...why....why.... The pain grew exponentially.

" Ayanokoji-kun, open the door!" Suzune's voice snapped him out of his thoughts for a moment.

" We're worried about you. So either you open that door or we'll bust in. Your choice!" Suzune said.

" E-Eh? Are we really going to bust in?" Airi asked.

" It all depends on whether or not Ayanokoji-kun opens the door," Suzune replied.

".....They can help me..." Kiyopon tried to softly convince himself.

" I need their help...." He whispered softly as he tried to clear away those negative thoughts.

That's why.....I've got to unlock the door...He guides his hand towards the door lock.

But...

He stopped.

It was his fault....

He was close to Matsuo.....and Matsuo was close to him....

The consequence? Matsuo died. Died because of him.

It's my fault he's gone.....His negative thoughts returned and quickly swarmed his mind.