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A student stepped off the bus and stood in front of a tall gate made of natural rock. This was the gate to the Advanced Nurturing High School.
He had a deadpan expression on his face at the moment. His eyes were half-lidded, looking like he were falling asleep. He would have to fix his presentation if he wanted to blend in, he supposed.
The bright sun warmed the his face and hurt his eyes.
Students poured through the gate with an array of expressions; Some were filled with awe at the school's large expanse, some looked nervous as they stepped through the crowd, some strode in with confidence or indifference, some were busy talking with the new friends they already made, others lingered just behind the school gate before stepping into their new school—Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was one of such people.
Starting today, he would be acquainted with many of these new faces. He'd form relationships he would normally never learn the complexities of. He was sure there will be times of both bliss and despair. Not only that, but he'll experience new things, ones that he never could have gotten otherwise.
Under this school's protection, he'll have the closest thing to freedom. He would learn what it was like to be a normal high school student, have fun with friends, go out to movies, talk about senseless things and cherish every moment…
At least that was his superficial assumption of how students usually live their lives. He wouldn't know a thing about it.
Truthfully, he was surprised to have made it this far. The moment he stepped through the gate, he'd be entering a whole new territory. And more importantly, the White Room won't be able to reach him anymore.
Although he said that it was the closest thing to freedom, it wasn't like this school was going to be perfect. There was also a time limit of 3 years until Ayanokouji would inevitably have to leave this place.
No matter what he learned, what relationships he'd form, the memories he shared, the bliss and despair he watched others feel; No matter what went on within the school grounds, he would ultimately go back to where he started.
There wasn't a single part of him that felt inclined to change. He'd be back standing outside those tall gates, on the path to the White Room.
He can't go anywhere. Whether it was outside this school or an escape from his roots.
Even if he made new friends, had someone special in his life, shared happy moments with some people, it wouldn't mean anything if he didn't change in the end.
The wind blew past him, creating a howling sound in his ears.
But…maybe there was a different future that awaited him. Perhaps the things he would learn going forward would shape him in a way he didn't think possible because of his limited viewpoint.
That was the idea that passed through his mind as he stepped through the gates, into his new high school life. I'll take a deep breath and bring one foot in front of the other with a newfound conviction. This was the new attitude he decided to adopt.
The sun rose high enough to cast a long shadow from the school's tall building. Ayanokouji drew closer to the dark shade.
And as he did, Ayanokouji had another idea, one much more grounded to reality that it lost the whole point of creating a dream.
And that idea was: 3 years from now, when he would graduate from this school, if nothing had changed by then, he decided he would kill himself.