The next day, after school, Kiyotaka sighed discreetly while relaxing his stiff shoulders. He was 'annoyed' at someone.

Karma was also a little annoyed, but didn't show any reaction to it. An unexpected visitor then came over to Kiyotaka without knowing a smidgen of his worries.

" Say, Ayanokouji-kun, are you free today? If you're okay with it, why don't we have tea together on the way back? " Sato ask as she cling herself to Kiyotaka.

Kiyotaka somehow sensed the members of the Ayanokouji Group observing the situation, Karma in particular.

Karma put his chin between his fingers and had a mischievous smile.

" Sorry, Satou. Today's no good. " Kiyotaka declined.

' From morning until the end of school, I've been feeling unpleasant the whole day at the stares I received from time to time. Even now as I'm talking with Satou, that stare remains affixed on me Karma. '

' Chabashira-sensei stayed behind in the classroom after school ended. She's pretending to fill out paperwork but it's obvious she's been staring at us from time to time. Almost as though she wants to approach us. '

Sato let out a hesitant wave before leaving.

Once she left, Kiyotaka grab Karma's arm. Karma didn't bother to care as he knew who's coming to them if they don't escape.

" ...Ayanokouji, Akabane. "

And there she is, Karma let out a smile that didn't reach his eyes. " Do you have business with us? "

Chabashira-sensei stand infront of the two boys, hand on her hip. " Yeah. Follow me. There's something I need to tell you. "

Karma turn his head to Kiyotaka who looked stern, he notice his grip on Karma's arm became tighter as Kiyotaka didn't budge to move.

" That's a tall order. We've got an appointment with Horikita now. " Kiyotaka spoke.

" I don't want to act carelessly as a teacher either, but circumstances are circumstances. "

Karma notice that Chabashira-sensei now has an unusually vulnerable expression on her face. " I've got a bad feeling about this. "

" Unfortunately for you, you don't have the right to refuse. It's an extremely urgent matter. " Chabashira-sensei said.

What is this feeling?

Karma furrow his brows. The atmosphere is strangely deadly, did Kiyotaka had something going on with their sensei?

He felt if he would see Kiyotaka leave with Chabashira-sensei, their link will be distanced.

Karma can picture Kiyotaka walking away from Karma, silently, eyes void from emotion. Karma is almost thankful that Kiyotaka was holding him right now otherwise Karma won't notice his ally is going to be far away from him once he let go.

Where will Chabashira-sensei be taking him?

Karma raise his hand. " I'm coming if it's alright sensei? "

Chabashira can be seen showing a small smile. " Of course, I'm inviting you as well Akabane. "

In the end, they ended up following Chabashira-sensei. They left the student area and finally arrived at this place.

" The reception office? What do you need to talk about that you brought us all the way here? It's still too early for career consultation, right? " Kiyotaka ask from Karma's back.

" You'll understand soon enough. "

Chabashira-sensei knocked on the door to the room.

...........................

" Headmaster. I've brought Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun and Akabane Karma-kun. "

Karma heard a gentle voice, but a dignified one befitting his age.

Chabashira-sensei opened the door to the reception office.

A man roughly in his 60s sat on a sofa. But his expression is not a laidback one but rather, they could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

And there's one more person opposite him.

Seeing the man made Kiyotaka's face harden. ' I'm sure of it now. Of why I was called all the way out here. But... Why did they call Karma...? '

Karma observe the man's features. " This man... he reminds me of... "

" Now then, the three of you can have your conversation...you don't mind, do you? " The headmaster ask.

" Of course not. "

" I'll be taking my leave so please feel free to take your time. If you'll excuse me. " The headmaster said as he turn towards the door.

" Then I'll also excuse myself... "

Chabashira-sensei also bowed before the man and left alongside the headmaster.

As the door closes, the only sound they can hear is the faint sound of the heating system. As they stood still without saying anything, the man quietly said.

The man let out a grunt before motioning his hand towards the seats. " How about you sit down? I'm meeting up with you of my own accord after all. "

" I'm not planning on holding a long conversation that requires us to sit down; we have planned on meeting some friends later. " Kiyotaka spoke in the most dissmissive tone Karma ever heard.

The man snort. " Friends? Don't make me laugh. You aren't capable of such things. "

Karma frown. That man must be.

" I have prepared the papers for you to drop out. I was talking about it with the headmaster earlier. You just have to say "yes", and then we can be done with it. "

" I see no reason why I should. " Kiyotaka replied.

" That may be so for you, but I do have some on my own "

" You mean some parent whose plans on twisting the child's wishes on his own power? " Karma spoke.

Kiyotaka turn his head to Karma.

That man looked at Karma. He didn't even flinch under his sharp gaze.

" You're Akabane Karma, huh? I've heard you've become Kiyotaka's ally. I never thought that he would get one. But... Parents, you say? He has never recognized me as a parent. "

" Indeed. " Kiyotaka whispered.

The man glance at Kiyotaka. " The point is; you were acting on your own accord. I ordered you to remain on standby. You defied my orders and entered this school. I'm ordering you to drop out immediately as a matter of fact. "

" Your orders were only valid inside the White Room only. Right now, I don't need to listen to them anymore. " Kiyotaka state.

That man didn't even react when the 'white room' was mentioned in front of Karma. That could mean that he knew that ally knew about it. Karma didn't doubt he was found out.

" You have become quite talkative since last time I saw you. Influenced by this worthless school I see. " The man boredly said as he rest his head on his fist. " You are my property. The owner has every right to use it as he fits. I don't need to tell you this. Whether you live or die is for me to decide. "

Karma almost snort. ' To honestly be able to say that in this country in which law rule prevails, what a wicked person. '

Kiyotaka stared at his father. " No matter how much you are stuck on it, I don't plan on leaving this school. "

__________________________

Karma can see chains surrounding Kiyotaka, black, sturdy chains grasping tight almost looking like it was going to choke his friend to death.

A rope of a chain then led to another person, Karma turn to the man. The image of that man holding that chain that kept Kiyotaka trapped. Karma's face turned cold.

" Aren't you curious about Matsuo who told you about this school and gave you the idea to enroll? " The man ask. " He was managing you as a butler for a year. In the end, he went against his employer's orders. "

He was talking non-stop, and then suddenly stopped. By doing this, he could carve the contents and make the listener conscious of the grave matter this conversation contained.

" Teach you how to flee from me, about this school's existence, and then ignoring me, your real parent's intentions by sending the papers for your enrollment. Truly a foolish thing to do. "

The man picked up the teacup the school prepared for him and took a slurp. " That is an inexcusable, unforgivable act. Of course he had to be punished. You may have imagined it already. He was fired by me. "

" Since you are his employer, that's a valid reason. " Karma retort.

Kiyotaka looked dazed, thinking the time Matsuo, his butler about almost 60 years old. Being a blessed and bright man he married and live a stable life. He got his first child while losing his wife.

Saying to young Kiyotaka that his son is studying hard trying to repay his father. The smile he had is still burnt inside Kiyotaka's memories.

The man twirl his teacup. " You must have known about him. Matsuo's beloved son. He surely worked really hard... But, he has now been expelled. "

Karma stayed silent as he listened. ' His words were simple, the meaning clear. He was avoiding saying it directly, but he had made sure the school retracted his son's enrollment to punish him. '

" And so? Did a man such as you only end it with this? So kind you are. " Kiyotaka said.

The man did continue. A short summery that Matsuo had suffered plently because of Kiyotaka's father. Playing both him and his son. Robbing Matsuo's son of his future. Spreading bad reputation and making his son fail other schools.

Matsuo once plead to the man to not touch his son anymore, then last month he burned himself to death. No dreams. No hope. His family falling into ruins is Kiyotaka's entire fault, based on the man infront of the boys.

Matsuo would have turned in his grave seeing Kiyotaka, the one he bet his own life on.

Hearing this, was indeed a cruel story.

Karma's blood began to boil. ' This man wasn't trying to stir Ayano-kun's feelings of guilt. Nor did he want him to show empathy. He just wanted to state it. '

" Matsuo's report of death has been confirmed. If necessary, I will bring you his records. " The man said.

Kiyotaka cut in. " If he really is dead, then all the more the reason for me not to leave this school. As Matsuo helped me enroll despite knowing the consequences, I have to succeed. "

The man let out a smirk. " You sure have changed, Kiyotaka. First you find yourself an ally, and now you disobey my orders. What made you decide for this school in the first place? "

" It is because of that I wanted to learn about the "world" you threw away. " Kiyotaka reason in a hoarse tone.

" Does the conclusion, the answer to that, have anything to do with why you ran away? " The man ask again.

" Will I be able to learn the same things at this school as staying in the White Room? What freedom is, how it feels to not be bound by anything. Plus, this school already taught me one thing that White Room could never. "

Kiyotaka then looked at Karma, who looked back at him.

" . "

Those words alone somehow made Karma calm down.

Kiyotaka then faced that man again. " Matsuo told me, the only place in Japan where you couldn't reach was this school. If I didn't choose this school or if I had made a different decision, I would most likely have been returned back to the White Room. "

The man's eyes narrowed. " Like with Matsuo's son, I can make you quit this school by force you know. "

" I don't believe you can interfere with this school as you are right now since it's backed by the government. " Karma pipe up.

" What makes you think so, boy? That's a statement without any proof to back it up. "

" The first one, the bodyguards you always surround yourself with, are nowhere to be seen even outside or from the hallway. "

The man grabbed the cup and drank the now lukewarm tea.

The three then talk more, but it seemed the atmosphere heated up.

Karma joined through the conversation and the more he talk with the man the more he felt familiarity. And it wasn't a pleasant feeling.

" The White Room has been restarted. " The man spoke. " This time, it will be perfect. I have also made preparations to make up for lost time. "

" In that case you should have several successors who will succeed your will. Why bother with us? " Kiyotaka replied seemingly unbothered.

" Certainly, it is as you say, but there is nobody with the same talent as you yet. "

Karma smiled stiffly.

" These are my last words, Kiyotaka. What do you wish for? Leaving this school of your own free will or letting your parents forcibly make you leave? Your ally will not be spared if you choose the second option. "

Kiyotaka looked at Karma, but the latter only smiled and nodded.

Karma smiled internally, there's no one important to him in this world but one person.

' I don't really care what happens to me or my parents. I will face all challenges thrown my way head on. Because facing them will allow Ayano-kun to have his freedom, then so be it. '

Kiyotaka almost look like he knew what Karma is thinking and look grim. " ... I have no plans to return. I have no plans to give up learning. The methods may be different, but it's true that this school is raising talents. That's where my expectations are. "

" What gibberish. You don't understand what kind of place this school is. This is nothing more than a shack for the mobs. Lowlifes without any chance for salvation. "

Karma grip his fist. " Lowlifes? Hah. This is a place where we can find out whether people are equal or not. "

The man raise a brow. " So you think even worthless people can grow up to stand in the same ring as geniuses? "

" That's Ayano-kun's wish. "

" You know Akabane, I truly don't mind you joining our 'reunion' between me and my 'son'. But please, there won't be away he will stray from my policies any longer. "

Karma didn't care as he rub his ear. " Mou!! We should end this talk; you know this won't go anywhere. "

A knocking sound suddenly reverberated inside the reception room.

" Excuse me. "

After the door was opened, a man, seemingly in his 40s, appeared from the door. His expression became somewhat wary as he noticed the unexpected visitor.

" It has been a long time, Ayanokouji-sensei. " The man bowed deeply. The scene was like that of a subordinate and his boss.

" ...Sakayanagi. What a nostalgic face. It's been 7, 8 years I presume. " Kiyotaka's father hummed.

" I guess it has been that long since I succeeded my father's position as the board chairman. Time sure does fly. "

The man then turn to the two boys. " You must be Ayanokouji-sensei's... Kiyotaka-kun I assume? And you're Akabane-kun, right? It is nice to meet you. "

Kiyotaka fix his uniform as he trace his glance. " Thanks for everything. We are done speaking so we're excusing ourselves. "

" Ah, Could you wait for a bit? I just want to talk a bit to the three of you. Well then, have a seat. "

They took their seats following his invitation. The board chairman then sat down beside the duo.

" I have heard from the principal. It seems you want to make him withdraw from the school? "

" That's right. Since his parents are stating so, you should promptly set it into action. "

" You are mistaken. True, the parents have much to say regarding their child. If the parents strongly desire for it, there are cases where we don't have to consider the student's own wishes. Does this hold true to you, Kiyotaka-kun? " The board chairman ask.

Karma held his smile. " I've been with Ayano-kun since the start of the school, and I know that it's not at all. "

" What a farce. That's not my problem. I just want him to quit the school he enrolled at without my permission. " Kiyotaka's father said.

" Going to high school isn't mandatory. Which school to enroll at is up to the student. This school has all the expenses covered by the government so money and the materials are not a problem. Thus we will put the students' autonomy as our first priority. "

Kiyotaka felt grateful for those words. Karma was also grateful, because there was someone who could protect his friend in this school.

Kiyotaka's father furrow his brows. " You've also changed. What happened to you who used to agree with me? "

The board chairman politely explain. " Even now, I admire you, Ayanokouji-sensei. But it's precisely because I agree with the ideals of this school that my father founded that I intend to succeed him. "

" Don't fool around. "

" If you wish for his expulsion then along with Kiyotaka-kun and the school, we will conduct a three way discussion until we reach a general agreement. "

Kiyotaka's father sigh. " I certainly cannot force the impossible on your field. However, if that's your answer then all I have to do is change my approach. "

" What are you planning on doing? If you intend on doing something extreme— "

" I understand. I have no intention of putting pressure on you. There should be no problem if Kiyotaka's explosion occurs using the school's own rules as its basis"

" Yes, I can promise you that. I will not give him special treatment just because he's your son, Sensei. "

" Then that'll be all. I'm leaving. "

" When shall we meet again? "

" At the very least, we'll never meet again here. "

" I'll see you off then. "

" Unnecessary. "

Kiyotaka then spoke up between the adults. " If you call yourself a parent, why not come visit this school a couple of times? "

" A place like this? Once is more than enough. But... "

" That man then looked at Karma. "

" I've understood why Kiyotaka chose you as an ally, Akabane Karma. Even though you're not from the 'White Room', I'll acknowledge one fact...

Karma then smiled at that man, but it held a deadly edge. " . "

Karma felt a little concerned, he remembered of Asano now.

The fact his father is the link of this kid's destruction. He can see Kiyotaka standing with a barrier around him.

The glass heart with a crack was shown inside Kiyotaka, about to break.

Kiyotaka is his priority now.

After hearing Karma's last sentence the man left the reception office, but he closed the door with force, making Karma's smile wider.

The chariman chuckled nervously. " Whew. As usual, whenever Sensei's around it's always tense, isn't it? You must've had a tough time too, right? "

" No. " Kiyotaka replied nonchalantly.

" Not really. " Karma said. ' When your teacher is a monster with a speed of 20 mah, you get used to it. '

The man pace his distance. " Sensei always praised you, you know? "

" Is that so? So that's how it is. " Kiyotaka murmured.

" What is? What do you mean by that? "

" No. More importantly, Chairman Sakayanagi, about the student allocated to Class A— "

" You're talking about Arisu? She's my daughter. "

' Oh, so that's how it is. How Sakayanagi knows about Ayano-kun. '