"The priority is to notify your mother. Going through this without family support is just too painful," The vice-principal said, his words radiating moral conviction.
"I'll rally the school for a 'love donation' drive. Together, we can cover most of your treatment costs. And I'll bend my educator's principles to convince Keika to visit you in the hospital. I don't condone young love, but romance can be a miraculous cure. You'll snap out of it!"
"Please stick to your principles," Takizawa interjected with sweating. "Better yet, break up every flirty couple you see. I'm totally fine with that."
"He's got emotional trauma, can't stand seeing others happy. It might even escalate into an aggressive personality," Niimura whispered.
"Says the guy who ditched a high-paying job to guard the health room for the cheerleading squad…" Takizawa muttered.
"No need to worry, Takizawa-kun. Your symptoms are manageable at this stage. Recovery's just a matter of time, but you're in no shape for college exams," Niimura ignoring the jab and offering measured advice.
"With your current rollercoaster intelligence, staying in school's pointless. Focus on rest, physical health, and mental well-being."
"You've been personally attacking me this whole time. I forgot a classmate and flubbed a few history questions—does that really warrant questioning my sanity?" Takizawa said in an annoyed tone.
"Your condition makes you believe you're right. It's a hallmark of mental disorders, a warped self-defense mechanism. Normal people learn from mistakes and gradually understand the world," Niimura adopting a clinical tone.
"For example, the name of Amaterasu's grandson from earlier. Can you repeat it accurately now?"
"Ninigi-no-Mikoto," Takizawa said smoothly without a hitch.
"?" Niimura blinked.
"?" The vice-principal stared.
"?" Yasukawa froze.
Takizawa paused, stunned himself. It had rolled off his tongue effortlessly.
"Niimura-sensei, what do you make of this?" The vice principal asked hesitantly.
"Young people love these dramatic names. A bit of sensitivity is normal," Niimura said with a calm smile. "More tests to rule out flukes—that's the scientific way."
"Niimura-sensei, can you repeat Amaterasu's grandson's name right now?" Takizawa asked, curious.
Niimura kept smiling silently.
What? A name like a keyboard smash is supposed to stick after hearing it twice?
"My ability to absorb and correct knowledge surpasses even yours. Case closed," Takizawa said triumphantly.
"Something's off here," Niimura scratching his head.
"You're clinging to being right, rejecting guidance. That's a mental disorder's self-defense mechanism," Takizawa said, shaking his head.
"…"
"How can this be?" The vice-principal said incredulous. "Can doctors really not heal themselves?"
"Director, don't just label me a patient too," Niimura said while covering his face.
"One of us is definitely hiding a real condition," Takizawa declared. "Niimura-sensei revealed his psych credentials and tested me first, but I countered, and he's speechless. He's the prime suspect. I say we take him out next round."
"This is just a cheap tactic. I'm the doctor, well-versed in history. I won't fall for it."
"I'm the vice-principal, the biggest authority here, with the power to end this. My credentials were vetted before I joined—clean as a whistle," The vice-principal speaking deliberately.
"That leaves player four in the hot seat. Let's hear her clear her name."
All three turned in unison to Yasukawa Tomoko.
The homeroom teacher's lips twitched, her sharp face brimming with rising anger. She slammed the table, making it wobble, her Kansai accent bursting out.
"What are you, three-year-olds?!"
Yasukawa Tomoko, Japanese literature teacher and honorary karate club advisor.
Pray for the table.
The scolded trio fell silent, sipping tea to mask their nerves.
"So, what's the deal with Takizawa? What's the school's plan? Spill it!" Yasukawa demanded.
"I've said we need more observation," Niimura setting down his cup. "Takizawa-kun's been composed, articulate, but there are clear cognitive errors… It's contradictory."
"Just a broken heart, tough to face, that's all," Takizawa waving it off.
"Let's do more cognitive and memory tests," Niimura nodding to the vice-principal to set questions.
"Hold up!" Takizawa cut in.
"What?"
"Testing new material would be more convincing."
"Fair enough," Niimura pulling a deck from his white coat. "Let's keep it simple—memorize suits and card order."
"You're carrying gambling gear at school? Director, look at this guy!" Takizawa gleefully stirring the pot.
"Who said it's poker?"
Niimura spread the cards on the table—various idol characters in flashy outfits striking poses.
"These are limited-edition Tokyo Idol Project cards. We'll start easy, six cards, two seconds to look, I cover them, you repeat."
"Got it."
Niimura shuffled, drew the top six, and flashed them. Less than two seconds later, he flipped them down.
"Spade sailor suit 6, diamond bloomers 3, diamond bunny girl K, heart bikini 8, spade apron 2, club knee-high socks A," Takizawa said slowly, then blinked. "…Wait, isn't this still poker?"
Niimura, ignoring the quip, looked stunned, flipping the cards back. Exactly as Takizawa said.
"This kid's brain's sharp. How could he forget Kenshin was a woman?" The vice-principal grumbled.
"Let's try twelve," Niimura holding six cards in each hand.
Takizawa scratched his head and nailed it again.
"Add six more," Niimura panted and drawing cards. The vice-principal helped hold them when Niimura's hands got full.
Ten seconds later.
"Six more—no, twelve!"
Twenty seconds later.
"Draw again!"
…
Minutes later, three supposed pillars of education, meant to nurture the nation's future, were holding up a deck's worth of scantily clad, provocatively posed idol cards in front of a shy high school boy.
"…Spade fishnet stockings Q, heart bodysuit 10, spade wedding dress 9, diamond denim shorts J, diamond ballerina outfit 4, joker kabuki, heart shrine maiden A, spade ceremonial uniform 2—God, finally done!"
Niimura had gone all in and using the entire deck.
Takizawa recited the whole stack with his throat dry.
Niimura fell silent floored.
Yasukawa checked the cards for cheat marks.
The vice-principal studied them too, though he seemed more interested in the artwork.
"How'd you do that?" Niimura asked awestruck.
"I just… remembered," Takizawa said with dazed and still processing.
If he had this kind of memory back then, would he have settled for community college?
Even Takizawa's homeroom teacher, who knew him well was stunned.
Pulling memories felt like flipping through a notebook—swift, precise, effortless.
But it seemed like an active skill, requiring deliberate recall, like opening a folder to check history logs.
…Otherwise, how'd he forget his teacher was coming today?
Takizawa tilted his head, feeling thoughts surge, an invisible hand weaving through his nerves like a fish, dredging up faded experiences, vivid and alive.
Memories were files, reels of tape.
Everything this soul had seen, heard, and felt since birth was there.
Just retrieve. Just watch.
A jolt hit Takizawa, unearthing a childhood snippet.
"Let's roam the world, live free and bold, gallop together through life's splendor~?"
…He was hearing music.
Forget phones on long trips—he'd replay classic shows and movies from memory.
"With this power, I'm a human card-counter, unbeatable at card games," Takizawa brimming with confidence.
"With this power, you're a walking textbook, acing closed-book exams!" The vice-principal sai with his eyes alight. "Takizawa-kun, aim for University of Tokyo ! Our school's zero-admit record ends with you this year!"
"No way. Top schools like that aren't just about rote memory," Takizawa keeping his ego in check.
"The principal's been dying for a breakthrough. If you pull it off, the school's got a hefty reward!"
"Life's about learning, striving, growing. Knowledge is endless, a boat through the sea of struggle. More knowledge, broader horizons, vaster skies—I want to touch that sky."
Takizawa bowed his head.
"Director, guide me."
***
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