The Not-So-Sharp Kitagawa Ryo

As mortals who are inferior from birth, no matter what they do, they cannot escape the realm of mortals.

No matter how favorable the environment, a person who is not excellent in their studies will not become a genius.

This is a view that Sakayanagi Arisu has held since childhood, and it is also the reason why she has always rejected this experiment.

This kind of experimentation that creates geniuses is completely contrary to her ideas.

The girl turned her gaze back to the White Room behind her. Reading time was over, and people of similar age to her were completing their daily exercises.

However, they all looked like they were fighting tooth and nail to it.

That's for sure.

Whether in academics or sports, the competition here has surpassed the level of children.

Those that emerge victorious in this competitive environment are referred to as "near-success products"...

"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, I once saw that person playing Go."

Ignoring Ayanokoji's increasingly gloomy expression, Sakayanagi Arisu smiled and handed over the documents, explaining:

"If you think that's the limit of the White Room, the closest one came to a successful product."

"Then I can only say that it's like working in isolation, at best creating a false genius through education."

"If you can't accept that, why don't you try competing against a real genius of his age outside?"

"As far as I know, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka seems to have started receiving systematic Chess training since he was four years old, and even here, there is no one who can be his opponent."

[Kitagawa Ryo, male, 14 years old.]

The first page of the document bore these words. Ayanokoji squinted, her expression shifting between light and shadow.

In fact, Ayanokoji himself cared about the White Room even more than Sakayanagi and the others had imagined; in his words, it was a mechanism powerful enough to change the future of the country.

"Having debuted in the theater industry as a child star and been hailed as the most talented theater Actor of the past decade, he captivated countless audiences in just two years. Last month, he suddenly announced his retirement from the theater industry, sparking widespread discussion and speculation in society."

Looking through the page, you can't even find a single word related to "Chess".

Ayanokoji slightly loosened her grip on the paper with her right hand, finding only one sentence in the small space in the lower right corner that had been hidden by her fingers:

[I started playing Chess two years ago and won the third 'Chess Opening Victory' Cup.]

"This Victory at First Move Cup is an amateur competition organized by a chess game platform."

Sakayanagi Arisu kindly reminded her from the side.

With a cold snort, Ayanokoji crumpled the documents in his hand into a ball of scrap paper, then looked down at the two of them and said:

"Come with me."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

When did I first learn of this name?

Even if I try to recall, I find it difficult to remember the exact date.

However, one thing is certain: this name has been etched into my memory since I can remember.

Anyone who studied in the White Room knew this name.

The reason is simple: he is better than any other student in any cohort, regardless of age.

Because no one can surpass Ayanokoji Kiyotaka of the 4th generation.

As a result, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was enshrined as the perfect example.

Following the teachers' instructions, the children of the fifth cohort filed into an empty classroom. A picture was projected onto the snow-white wall, and sitting in the center of the picture was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had left a deep impression on them.

As the fifth cohort of the White Room, only one year below him, they were among the most deeply influenced by him.

No matter how hard everyone present tried, no matter how outstanding their achievements were, they still didn't receive a single bit of recognition.

All they received was the command to catch up with that unattainable, godlike being.

Under this suffocating pressure, some began to admire their opponent, some began to hate them, and many more longed to defeat them.

A few people even doubted whether the character "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka" really existed, or whether he was just a fictional character created by the instructors to motivate them.

Then one day, the most outstanding children of the Fifth Generation were brought before Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

As a challenger.

The result, naturally, was a complete defeat.

From that day on, many Fifth Generation had the terrifying thought that with the other person around, they would never become number one no matter what.

Those who held this view were eliminated in subsequent tests.

In the end, only those who regarded Ayanokoji Kiyotaka as their rival remained here.

No matter what means are used, it must be proven that "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka" is not invincible.

This is practically the only goal left in my life.

Then, they witnessed the failure of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who was regarded as a "god" and "the closest thing to success" in the "White Room."

On the Chess, the black dragons swept across the white side.

The pure white house seemed to dissolve gradually, like white chess pieces on a chessboard, and the things we had held onto in the past crumbled away in an instant.

The sweetness and purity painted on the pitch-black emotion were wantonly torn apart. The fifth batch of children looked at the projection with burning eyes—no, it should be the white wall, because the instructors had turned it off long ago when the situation turned bad.

Kitagawa Ryo.

Amasawa Ichika remembered the name of the user who played Go against Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

She licked her lips, still savoring the taste.

Chapter 8: Kitagawa Ryo, who doesn't seem very bright

On the first day of the new semester after spring break, Azabu Middle School, one of the most famous junior high schools in Tokyo, was bustling with activity as new students, filled with anticipation and curiosity, looked around at every tree and blade of grass on campus.

At the freshman orientation ceremony, which was filled with new hope and a fresh atmosphere, the school's Chairman's hairline continued to recede as expected, but this could not stop him from passionately looking back on the past, boasting about the present, and envisioning the future. The only regret was that for the freshmen who were applauding in the hall, it was unlikely that many of them would remember the school's glorious history after leaving. After all, no matter how glorious the school's history was, it could not compare to the pleasing sight of the carefully dressed senior students in the recruitment clubs outside the gate square.

The teenagers, just entering puberty, kept turning around restlessly, whispering among themselves.

Thinking of the bright smiles and inspiring slogans of the senior students, they applauded extra enthusiastically after the Chairman's speech, even making the Chairman bow again before leaving the stage, feeling embarrassed.

The club culture at Azabu Middle School has developed quite rapidly in recent decades. Just like the rumors that freshmen had heard before entering the school, the level of several well-known clubs has even surpassed that of the students. Under the leadership of club presidents who can be described as geniuses, many clubs have already broken away from the school's scope and made a name for themselves in the city and even the country.

In contrast, the senior members of these clubs' recruitment offices are often the least affected during recruitment, simply sitting behind their desks and casually handing out blank application forms to the throngs of new students.

These applicants are not guaranteed admission to the club, as they will undergo a rigorous internal review process afterward.

For established clubs like literature, painting, and football, the reality is that they select new members, not the other way around.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a girl asked a slightly embarrassed senior from the badminton club:

"Excuse me, senior, where is the Drama Club's recruitment office? I've looked around but can't find it."

As one of the more well-known clubs within the school, the Drama Club has even produced many famous drama Actor. It's understandable that freshmen flock to the Drama Club. The senior members of the badminton club weren't surprised either; they turned to another friend from the badminton club next to them and smiled as they answered:

"Go straight from here, then turn right at the fork in the road, and you'll see it after a while."

"Okay, thank you, senior."

Watching the freshmen bow and run away, the senior from the badminton club shook his head helplessly and grumbled to the student next to him:

"Such a cute girl... tsk, the Drama Club is really charming. But I don't really like drama, it just doesn't feel right..."

"Feeling a little awkward, huh?"

Another person picked up the conversation, casually replying while browsing their phone:

"So you're saying we're just ordinary people, lacking any artistic talent. Don't we even know who the head of the Drama Club is? Although I've heard it's just a figurehead position, Kitagawa's reputation speaks for itself."

However, the freshmen didn't know that Kitagawa rarely went to the Drama Club, let alone the school. But with his abilities, it felt like he could earn enough money in two years to live comfortably for the rest of his life.

"But I heard that Kitagawa quit the Theater Troupe, and even said he would never act again."

The boy commented, shaking his head:

"Look, here you are."

Bring up the news on your phone:

[Genius stage Actor Kitagawa Ryo announces permanent retirement; was his two-year peak merely a flash in the pan?]

The accompanying photo is a curtain call picture: a boy in the center of the stage holds flowers and gives the camera a lukewarm smile.

"Maybe they signed up after finding out about this, probably hoping to get in touch with the other person?"

"Hmph, in the end, these freshmen are just in it for the people. If the Drama Club really admits these clueless newbies, I bet internal conflicts will break out one day."

"Ultimately, clubs are places to enjoy youth, so why are you always thinking about dating?"

The boy raised his badminton racket in his right hand, head held high, with an expression that seemed to celebrate youth.

Ignoring his friend's somewhat sarcastic tone, another senior from the Feather Club shook his head and casually said:

"Hey, our department manager is going to the stadium to check on this year's promising young players. Are you going?"

"Alright, today I'm going to show Mieko what it means to be the badminton ace of our club!"

Once the topic turned to his department's female manager, this senior student, who had just been indignant, started to get animated again.

"Could you repeat what you just said about Kitagawa Ryo?"

A dry, unpolished question came from the right, completely devoid of any polite language. The badminton club senior frowned and turned his head, just in time to see a girl wearing the school's second-year uniform.

He was initially annoyed by the other party's curt attitude, but that thought vanished the moment he saw the girl.

Her long, smooth black hair reached down to her waist, with a simple ribbon bow tied on the left side. A thin braid was left out, and her purplish-red pupils easily left a deep impression on first-time visitors.

Seeing that the other person remained silent and did not answer her question, Horikita Suzune asked again in a cold voice:

"About what I was saying, about Kitagawa Ryo."

"Oh oh."

The boy, who only came to his senses at this moment, scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly, wondering to himself how he had never heard of such a pretty girl in his grade when he had been in this school for a year.

"This student must be a new student who transferred to our school this year."

The other boy was more observant and noticed that the school uniform he was wearing, which was the same style as his own, was completely new. If someone had stayed at the school for a year, no matter how clean it was washed, there would always be some traces left.

"Yes."

Nodding slightly, Horikita Suzune was somewhat displeased that she still hadn't received an answer. If she hadn't heard a somewhat familiar name, she wouldn't have wanted to waste her time here.

After all, for Horikita Suzune, who makes the most of every moment and governs her life with the strictest requirements and self-discipline, every second is precious and has its own value.

Since everyone was in the same grade, the boys in the badminton club naturally didn't put on any airs of seniority. After learning who the other person was, they readily handed over their phones.

"Kitagawa had been the president of our school's Drama Club since he enrolled, but he was busy performing outside to earn money and rarely came to school. However, the school planned to let him pursue the path of an arts student, so they never expelled him."

"But I heard he left the theater industry last month; he's probably going back to school."

After quickly browsing the news on her phone, Horikita Suzune nodded as she listened to the boy's introduction:

"Um."

When was this photo taken?

Horikita Suzune swiped two fingers across the phone screen to zoom in on the accompanying image, seemingly trying to make out the contents of the banner hanging on the stage. Unfortunately, the zoomed-in image was not very high-resolution and appeared quite blurry. Apart from words like "Great Success" and "Highly Praised," nothing else could be discerned.

"Oh, you mean this? I do remember this one. It was a performance at our school. I think the play was called something like 'Russia'..."

"It should be the tragedy 'Oedipus Rex' by the Ancient Greece playwright Sophocles."

Horikita Suzune made her own judgment.

"Yes, that's it. The name is a bit of a mouthful..."

"For students who don't have experience in this field, these vague and ambiguous terms seem quite distant," the boy chuckled.

"Thanks."

Having gotten the answer she wanted, Horikita Suzune felt much better and left after saying thank you.

"Another one who got tricked into going by the Drama Club."

The boys from the badminton club stood there, heartbroken.