Volume 16, Chapter 3: Two Teachers, The Fated Special Exam, Part 5

The busy day before the special exam was about to end, it was past 10pm.

As I was on my bed, I received a phone call on my phone which I had been looking at.

The phone number wasn’t registered, but I remembered those 11 digits.

“Hello.”

“I’m very sorry for calling this late, could I please have a little of your time?”

“It’s okay. We haven’t spoken in a while Chairman Sakayanagi.”

Yes, the owner of this phone number is the person who acts as Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School’s chairman.

“I’ve likely made you worry with many things, but it’s resolved now.”

“It’s wonderful that you seem to be fine.”

“It’s been hard for you too right. But, I can’t hide my surprise that you were able to continue staying in this school without incident despite having an extremely disadvantaged conflict.”

“It happened by chance. If he was serious then I wouldn’t be here now.”

It’s obvious without even mentioning his name that he was the man who acted as Chairman Sakayanagi’s substitute, Tsukishiro.

“In the end, I also had a few doubts about his actions… Now, let’s talk about that tonight. Hereafter, I thought to fully follow up on you myself, and I’d like to tell you that as soon as possible.”

With that, Chairman Sakayanagi continued.

“You must have heard that this cultural festival will be unusual and that someone from a political family is invited, right? Being appealed to, I was not able to stop them.”

IF he was notified by someone involved with the government, revoking that would of course be difficult.

“It’s nothing for the chairman to apologize about. I think the students will enjoy it.”

It’s more or less like a special exam now, but the students can still enjoy it.

Though for me, whether or not it will end as a simple cultural festival is a different story.

“About that… the fact is, I haven’t yet announced it, but I thought to tell you beforehand.”

“Why is that?”

“Before the cultural festival, there will be a sports festival similar to it happening on October. First of all, it has recently been anticipated that a certain visitor will come.”

“A visitor to the sports festival.”

I didn’t expect that.

“Originally the sports festival is something that the students’ parents would come to see. The stance that we are to welcome them in that sense is nothing unusual, but…”

“I see.”

Indeed, even looking at the TV, when it comes to functions like sports festivals or exercise meets, there’s an image of families coming with a camera or a bento ready.

“Just from how unprecedented this is, it’s worrying to let visitors to the culture festival roam free in terms of security.”

Since they’re not prepared for the full-blown scale of visitors that will be here, they’re holding a test.

“All of the people being selected are higher-ups. Perhaps sensei will… I cannot deny the possibility that your father will participate. I’ve considered that you may be endangered because of that, so I want to place several people around you to act as guards.”

“I’m happy for your consideration, but I am just one person in this school. I do not wish for this kind of special treatment.”

“Then, what do you intend to do if you meet someone Sensei has sent?”

“I know that it is a difficult problem.”

Of course, I can’t exercise use of force. It would be easier even for me if they come at a place where no one is watching. But if they show themselves as people involved with the school in an environment where friends and acquaintances are around and then order me to come with them, I would have no way to refuse.

You’re assassins sent by that man aren’t you? I can’t ask any questions like that.

“I am convinced that you are that kind of person. However, if you are somehow expelled here… I would definitely come to regret it. I want to avoid the regret of not protecting you because of not doing what I can do.”

“Hypothetically even if I follow Chairman Sakayanagi’s orders, it would be unnatural for people to monitor me.”

“That’s why I want you to absent yourself from the sports festival.”

“Absence… you say.”

I didn’t expect that.

“As for the special exams occuring on the sports festival and the culture festival, I believe you understand that there are times when people absent themselves because of inevitable illnesses.”

“Yes. My class will not be forced with a disadvantage through something like expulsion will it?”

It is one’s own responsibility to take care of their own body, but even so there are times when their condition worsens.

If the scale of the special exam were smaller, then as an emergency measure I could wait for all students per year to participate. But if the whole school is involved then I can’t do that.

“I’d like you to take a sick leave and shut yourself off in your dormitory after having received a medical check. If that will happen then the people I entrust to monitor you can position themselves brazenly outside the building.”

“It’s as you say. If that happens then I may be able to escape that man’s clutches.”

“Of course, there are other risks. As you said, the children enrolled in your class will be participating with an insufficient number of students. They will inevitably be disadvantaged.”

Take a false leave of absence. I can feel the kindness of Chairman Sakayanagi’s follow-up just from that. It’s also appreciated that he does not wish to give me favorable treatment, but to take at least the minimum steps.

It is appreciated, but I have intended to refuse from the second this reached my ears.

But at the same time a new thought appeared inside of me.

“Will you please give me some time to consider?”

“Of course it’s not something I can force on you, so I will trust you with the final decision. However-“

“I understand. I am honestly thinking of choosing to take a sick leave myself.”

“Yes. Please give me your reply one week before the sports festival. I must prepare as well.”

With regards to arranging the human resources, a period of around that length would be the minimum.

After I hung up, I thought about the sports festival that might happen without me.

Of course, I can very well imagine that other people from other classes from other years will take a leave of absence as well. Rather, it’s not easy to hold a test involving all of the students every time.

“No, first I should focus on the special exam in front of me.”

This special exam - may be tougher than the special exams up to this point.

Until now, there have only been tests that had been explained and could be planned for.

But, this special exam doesn’t have a single 『reliable』 strategy.

We should believe in our classmates and unite.

The sports festival and the culture festival. There are new things to worry about that weren’t there last year, but that all depends on us surviving the special exam tomorrow.