The Fated Backyard

-To live well in this world, keep working hard~

Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School was a special school dedicated to training the talent who would support the future of Japanese society. It was famous for its state-of-the-art facilities and 100% college acceptance rate,

Today, the enormous campus in Tokyo, which extended out into the sea to form an island of its own, welcomed a visitor. A low-key yet luxurious black car passed through the gate after a slow inspection. A young man in black casual clothes stepped out alongside his butler, and the school's principal personally came to escort him,

The principal wore a warm smile and spread his arms in welcome to the young man from a powerful family:

"I never expected that young master Sakamoto would be interested in Advanced Nurturing High School. As it happens, I've met your father a few times. I've always been curious what the offspring of such an outstanding man would be like." The principal's eyes shone with approval as he praised him again:

"You're just as outstanding as your father." The slightly portly principal extended a friendly hand toward Sakamoto.

No wonder the family that truly held the lifelines of Japan in its grasp commanded such respect. Even a principal who had never met me treated me with such deference because I was a "Sakamoto." Perhaps he thought my arrival meant the Sakamoto Family intended to invest in Advanced Nurturing High School.

With the powerful Sakamoto Family's support, the plan that had begun more than twenty years ago could go even further. Sakamoto... What an interesting surname.

Sakamoto found himself thinking this, and for the first time, he felt a flicker of interest in the "game" that was Advanced Nurturing.

That's right. Sakamoto Shunichi, outwardly the son of a wealthy conglomerate, had a soul that came from another world—a citizen of an ancient country with a history stretching back five thousand years.

In that country, Sakamoto was an extremely famous top player in the gaming scene. He had been the first to successfully beat a story-driven simulation game called Classroom of the Elite.

"Hello, Principal. I'm looking forward to seeing what your school has to offer..."

Sakamoto extended a slender hand and gently shook the principal's, returning the goodwill he'd been shown with perfect courtesy.

After a brief greeting,

the two headed toward an office deep within the school, led by the principal.

Their small talk soon came to an end. A refined wooden door appeared before them.

The principal knocked on it with a touch of deference:

"Chairman Sakayanagi, your guest has arrived."

"Come in."

The principal straightened his clothes, then gave Sakamoto another standard smile.

"I'll take my leave, then. Please go in, young master Sakayanagi."

"Of course."

Though this was his host's territory, Sakamoto acted as if he owned the place, watching the principal leave.

Then he stepped into the room.

Unlike a traditional Japanese layout, the office had a simple Western style.

A delicate, modern incense burner sat on the spacious desk, releasing a faint fragrance. Several calligraphy scrolls hung on the walls around the room.

Straight ahead sat a man in formal attire: Sakayanagi Narumori, the special chairman of Advanced Nurturing High School.

"Please sit, young master Shunichi." Sakayanagi showed none of the arrogance of a powerful man. He simply smiled as he spoke.

Sakamoto's smile never wavered as he sat in a leather chair. Beside him, a burly butler with a head of white hair stood silently.

"Uncle Sakayanagi, I trust you've been well."

As if it were a code phrase, Sakamoto's longtime butler immediately opened the briefcase they had brought from the car. He took out an item wrapped in silk and placed it before Sakayanagi.

After completing the task with meticulous care, the butler returned to his earlier solemn demeanor.

"Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Tian."

Sakamoto gave a slight nod, maintaining the elegance expected of a young master from a conglomerate. Then he began introducing the item taken from the briefcase. With a graceful gesture, he removed the silk, revealing a piece of calligraphy. The bold, powerful characters gave the pristine white scroll a striking, spirited presence.

Sakayanagi's eyes lit up as he studied the calligraphy.

"Is this Inscription on the Wall of Xilin, written by Mr. Sakamoto himself?"

"Yes. My father told me that when you traveled to Mount Lu in China together, you saw its wondrous scenery and told him you wanted to see the work of the poet who had visited the mountain and left behind a verse that would be remembered for generations."

"That was probably just a passing remark at the time. The original works of the ancients may well have been lost to the passage of time. I never expected Mr. Sakamoto to remember."

The influential chairman's face now wore a broad smile. He handed Sakamoto some tea, and the atmosphere between them was relaxed.

"How is Mr. Sakamoto's health?"

"My father is as healthy as ever."

"Yes. A powerful man like Mr. Sakamoto would never let his health get in the way. I suspect he realized that long ago and started exercising."

Sakamoto could tell that Sakayanagi Narumori deeply respected his father. Unfortunately, Sakamoto had only just arrived in this world and had never met the man himself. He existed only in Sakamoto's memories.

"Come to think of it, people who don't know the truth might assume young master Shunichi came to Ikusei because Mr. Sakamoto asked him to."

Sakamoto maintained his elegant posture.

"But after meeting you, young master Shunichi, I can tell clearly that this must have been your own idea."

Sakamoto didn't answer. Instead, his eyes settled on the calligraphy on the desk.

"Uncle Sakayanagi, you've read Inscription on the Wall of Xilin, haven't you?"

"Yes. I read that timeless masterpiece after returning from my trip to Mount Lu."

"Then you should understand the meaning of the poem. I think the answer is already clear."

"So that's what you mean. When Su Shi gazed at Mount Lu, he felt that he was 'only unable to see its true face because he was in the mountain.' He felt small because he couldn't fully grasp the mountain's entirety. That's why we can't look at things from just one perspective.

"The same is true of the Advanced Nurturing project. To some people, it's nothing but a parasite wasting the nation's resources. Of course, they can't deny its contribution to Japanese society, either. (The school was established to train talent who would support Japanese society.)

"You must be curious about it too, young master Shunichi. Since you can't see the whole picture, why not experience it for yourself?

"By the time you graduate from this school, I'm sure you'll become an influential figure in Japanese society."

When older people spoke with the younger generation, they couldn't help slipping into a lecturing tone. Sakamoto neither denied nor responded to it.

"So, young master Shunichi, are you certain you want to attend Advanced Nurturing High School?"

"Of course. The master will support young master Shunichi's decision as well."

Before Sakamoto could speak, the butler beside him answered on his behalf. His role was to represent the Sakamoto Family, accompany their young master to meet Sakayanagi, do his duty as a butler, and then leave.

The tea set out for the guests hadn't even cooled completely.

By then, Sakayanagi had risen to his feet. His tone sounded more like a confirmation than a question:

"From now on, young master Shunichi, you'll be attending Class 1-A at Advanced Nurturing High School."

Chapter 1: The Fated Backyard