Tokyo Metropolitan Third High School - Special Meeting Room.
Takizawa sat in his month-unwashed black school uniform, his hands resting neatly on his knees and his posture impeccable. Before him sat a cup of fragrant green tea—premium stuff, its aroma soothing but he had no mind to savor it.
Across the tea table, three teachers eyed him like hawks. His homeroom teacher, who'd dragged him here; the kind uncle-like health teacher; and the balding potbellied vice-principal.
"Takizawa-kun, no need to dwell on your absences. The real issue is your academics are slipping. Given your past grades, you don't have the leeway to skip classes at this stage of senior year," The vice-principal adjusting his glasses and shaking his head over Takizawa's transcripts.
"With college entrance exams just a month or two away, what's your plan?"
"I know it's a lost cause," Takizawa said candidly. "So, can I skip the exams?"
"You mean repeat a year?"
Yasukawa Tomoko. His homeroom teacher snapped and clearly displeased.
"That'd go on your permanent record—not exactly a badge of honor. Best to avoid it if possible," The vice-principal setting down the papers and mulling it over.
"Yasukawa-sensei, does your student excel in any subject? Maybe targeted tutoring could get him through the exams and into a decent university."
"His history's decent, but math and such? Pretty dire," Yasukawa replied.
"Really? I used to teach history," The vice-principal perking up and adopting a professorial air. "Let's test you with a few questions."
"…Go ahead," Takizawa clearing his throat.
"Let's try Japanese history. You know Sakamoto Ryoma, right?"
"Big name, of course," Takizawa relieved, ready to toss out some half-remembered anecdotes to skate by.
"Hold on. Ryoma practiced swordsmanship but was notorious for favoring a pistol. During the Terada-ya incident, he defended himself with one. Which company made his gun?" The vice-principal asked eagerly.
"?"
"No clue?" The vice-principal waited a few seconds and mildly disappointed. "It was Smith & Wesson. Too tough? Let's try another."
"You know Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun, right?"
"Sure, and I know Susanoo and Tsukuyomi too!" Takizawa grinned.
"Good, good. Amaterasu had a son, Masakatsu-Akatsu-Katsuhaya-Hi-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto. He and Takuhata-Chiji-Hime-no-Mikoto had a grandson. What's his name?"
"???"
What kind of rap is this?
"Don't know that either? It's Ninigi-no-Mikoto, recorded in the Kojiki. You should know this," The vice-principal said with his face screaming "kids these days."
"One more…" Takizawa rolled up his sleeves, determined to salvage some pride.
"Alright. In mythology, Yamato Takeru, also known as Ousu-no-Mikoto, how did he assassinate the Kumaso brothers?"
"…"
Who the hell are they?!
"He disguised himself as a woman, styling his hair and wearing his aunt's clothes to infiltrate. Japan's first cross-dresser, a classic tale, and you don't know it?"
"???"
"Takizawa-kun, your history knowledge is lacking!" The vice-principal said with pained.
"But do exams actually ask these obscure questions?" Takizawa gaped.
"Of course not," Yasukawa rubbing her forehead. "Director, please stop with the out-of-syllabus trivia."
"Fine. What period are you best at, Takizawa-kun?" The vice-principal relented.
I'm not good at any.
Still, he'd played games like Nobunaga's Ambition and Taiko Risshiden. He had something to work with.
"The Sengoku period, then," Takizawa sitting up straight.
"Uesugi Kenshin—you know him?"
"The Dragon of Echigo? Who doesn't?"
"Why did Kenshin abstain from women his whole life?" The vice-principal asked reluctantly, as if the question insulted his intellect.
"Didn't he become a monk or something and stick to vows?"
"Not the core reason," The vice-principal shook his head.
"…Some, uh, personal health issue?" Takizawa ventured.
The vice-principal blinked with baffled and slamming the table.
"Because Kenshin was a woman! She lived as a man, only discovered at burial, later confirmed by scholars! It's in the textbooks, clear as day!"
His balding pate seemed to quiver with rage.
"You got the gender of such a famous figure wrong, and you call yourself a history buff?"
Takizawa was stunned.
Holy crap, what a twist.
This parallel world must be writed by Nasu! Testing history here is insane!
"So, is King Arthur a girl too?" Takizawa asked while clasping his hands.
"What? Of course he's a man," The vice-principal shot back, then sighed heavily. "Your best subject's this bad? Your future's grim, kid."
"I admit I didn't study this stuff hard, but I don't like hearing that. A test score doesn't define a person's worth, right? You're an educator—you get that," Takizawa pushed back.
"So, you're saying your adaptability, comprehension, and expression are top-notch?"
"Exactly."
"Alright. Here's a lighter. Sell it to Yasukawa-sensei in three minutes to prove yourself."
"She doesn't seem like a smoker."
"Don't complain about the task. I'm the client—can you meet the demand or not? And why'd you assume Yasukawa-sensei wouldn't want a lighter because she doesn't smoke?"
"Because he does," Yasukawa said dryly.
"Note that. We'll address it later," The vice-principal muttered.
"…Director, can I skip the exams? Honestly, my dreams aren't grand. A high school diploma's enough," Takizawa said earnestly.
"That's your choice. The school can't force you. But to graduate, you can't miss more classes. That's why we're having this three-on-one talk."
The vice-principal absently touched his thinning hair.
"For students with real struggles, we're flexible. I've looked into your situation, Takizawa-kun. Given its nature and impact, it could easily qualify as school bullying. To support your mental health, I brought in Niimura-sensei."
"I worked at a top firm and hold a psychology degree and certification. You can trust my judgment."
Niimura-sensei. The uncle-like health teacher said with a charming smile, speaking for the first time.
"Why settle for being a health room gatekeeper here?" Takizawa asked with puzzled.
"Our school's cheerleading squad is famous citywide."
"?"
"Relax, Takizawa-kun. Answer a few questions," Niimura picking up a pen and paper. "How's your quality of life lately? Appetite? Heart palpitations? Sudden crying?"
"Nope. I don't even dream. I drink warm milk and do light stretches before bed."
"Can you share what you've been up to while absent?"
"I sent out some job applications."
"Oh? What sparked this sudden independence and drive to join society?" Niimura raised an eyebrow.
"Money's tight."
"Care to elaborate?"
"My dad passed away. My mom remarried, and while I get some support, I don't want to lean on her forever."
That was the honest truth. It felt wrong to keep asking Takizawa's mom for cash, especially with a new stepfamily and a little sister—she had enough on her plate.
"I see," Niimura said, his face growing serious as he jotted notes. He placed a photo on the table. "What do you think when you see this?"
Takizawa leaned in.
"Just a regular class photo."
Niimura pointed at a girl with his pen.
"What about her?"
Takizawa shook his head, still lost.
"Thanks for cooperating. I've got a preliminary assessment," Niimura said.
"What's the verdict, Niimura-sensei?" The vice-principal asked gravely.
"It's not good," Niimura said with his lips tight and his tone become heavy. "He's likely got mild depression, severe psychological issues, and it's starting to affect his cognition and memory."
"You got all that from a few questions?!" Takizawa's eyes widened.
"Don't get worked up. Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and I'll explain," Niimura said softly as if soothing a volatile toddler.
"Your family situation is deeply fractured. Your father's death, your mother's new family and child—you've been abandoned, physically and emotionally. For a sensitive teen, that's a massive blow."
"I looked into your file. You're low-profile in class, an outsider. No clubs, but plenty of part-time job requests. Long-term isolation has left you detached from life."
"Your crush being exposed was just the trigger. You went home and threw yourself into job hunting to prove you're mature, reliable—subconsciously trying to fight years of loneliness and inadequacy with a tough front."
"That's pure speculation!" Takizawa protested, raising his hands. "If I had a fever, you'd at least take my temperature."
"Your cognition's already impaired, and your memory's slipping. That's the proof. I've been watching—you're visibly distant and guarded," Niimura sighed.
"The director's last question about Kenshin? Anyone with basic history knowledge wouldn't botch it."
"I just read too many rumors and didn't correct myself in time…"
"And when you looked at this photo, I studied your micro-expressions. Not a flicker," Niimura held up the picture. "These are the classmates who bullied you. You forgot?"
"Let bygones be bygones," Takizawa said after a pause and feigning magnanimity.
"But you don't even recognize her," Niimura pointing at the girl again.
A bolt of clarity hit Takizawa. He saw the psychological trap and smirked.
"That's Keika, the girl I liked. Hah, how could I forget her?"
He slipped into the role of a heartbroken teen, voice wavering with calculated emotion.
"I don't blame her. I hate myself more. If I'd been better, she might've liked me back. If I'd handled people better, my classmates wouldn't have laughed—they'd have cheered us on, maybe even helped make it a classic school romance."
"Now it's all awkward, and I'm ashamed!"
Takizawa bowed his head, sneaking a glance at their reactions.
The homeroom teacher, vice-principal, and health teacher all wore somber expressions.
He reveled in his acting chops and quick thinking.
After a heavy silence, Niimura spoke, breaking the wave of pity.
"Patients often cling to their delusions, convincing themselves their lies are true, no matter how much guidance they get."
Niimura slowly shifted his pen.
"Takizawa-kun, this girl's just your desk neighbor. The third one over is Keika, your crush."
Takizawa froze, his victorious smirk vanishing.
A scream echoed in his head.
He'd been played.
His trap had been trapped.
What the hell! Why!
Can't they play fair?!
"He's still a kid, and his mind's already this muddled. What's he going to do?" The vice-principal said mournfully.
"I knew something was off," Yasukawa said while wiping her eyes.
"I think I can still—" Takizawa started.
"There's still time to help," Niimura nodded.
"I mean I can explain!"
***
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