Choice (Continued)

Many students were making quiet phone calls, the content of which was largely the same: reporting their schedules, reassuring their families, and promising to do their best in the competition.

A faint melancholy of homesickness and a subtle anticipation of the competition filled the air.

The scenery rushing past the window is a monotonous, repetitive view of highway guardrails.

Tanaka Yukishin felt a little bored, so she started a conversation.

The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for several students from the nearby Kendo Club, including Miyajima Hayata was sitting on the other side of the aisle, to hear.

"Hey everyone, seniors and teammates," he leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the back of the seat in front of him, "I have a question. Once we get to Fukuoka and settle in, what are your personal plans?"

"Personal plans?" A third-year student sitting in front of him turned around, somewhat puzzled. "You mean pre-match activities? Group training or tactical meetings?"

Tanaka Yukishin added.

"Pretty much, but I prefer more personal free time. My personal plan is to take the Shinkansen or bus home after I finish the registration procedures and put my luggage away. After the women's competition, I'll go back to Fukuoka to prepare for the men's competition."

He paused, then asked in a natural tone, "It's rare to live so close to home, don't you... plan to take this opportunity to go home and see your families? Even just for a meal?"

As soon as he said that, several classmates who were on the phone or had just hung up stopped what they were doing.

All eyes turned to him, their gazes filled with an absurd sense of "Are you kidding me?"

Miyajima Hayata turned to the side and looked at him with a serious expression.

"Tanaka, what are you thinking? Of course not! At most, we can only make phone calls like this! Or, during the permitted short breaks, we can have our families come to Fukuoka to get together and act as temporary cheerleaders for us. Leaving the training camp to go home? That's not allowed!"

Several teammates nearby nodded in agreement, their expressions suggesting it was common sense.

"Why?"

Tanaka Yukishin, her face showing genuine confusion.

He leaned back in his chair, relaxed, as if discussing a trivial matter.

"Is the school worried about internal information leaks?"

He speculated on the most likely official reason.

"Yes, that's roughly the idea."

Miyajima Hayato nodded, his expression softening slightly, sensing that Tanaka Yukishin had finally grasped the situation. "To prevent leaks of internal information, the school has established strict rules. During the competition, the movements of participating students are restricted. You see, theoretically, everyone's cell phones can only be used during designated times, and the content of calls will be carefully monitored."

As he spoke, he pointed around.

"Oh?"

Tanaka Yukishin drew out her words, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

He sat up straight, looked at Miyajima Hayata, and then glanced around at his other teammates who were also listening intently.

"I can understand the school's starting point regarding the issue of clothing and other matters."

He changed the subject, a slightly sarcastic smile playing on his lips, "However, considering that many of the school's rules are riddled with loopholes and have too many ambiguities... something like going home to visit family, I think there might be some room for maneuver. It's just a matter of price."

"Price?"

One of the second-year team members didn't react in time.

"Points, senior!"

Tanaka Yukishin tapped the armrest of her chair with her knuckles, her tone somewhat matter-of-fact, "Isn't this the hard currency of our school? S Points can buy everything, isn't that the school's slogan? Since you can buy and sell exam answers, private lessons, and even services, then theoretically, spending a large number of points to buy a temporary personal leave of absence should also be feasible, right?"

At this point, he turned to look at Miyajima Hayata.

"Furthermore, Miyajima-senpai, you just said that phone calls are allowed. Since calls are permitted, wouldn't information have already been leaked if it were going to be leaked? Voice messages, text messages, images—which method can't be leaked? Can the rules prevent that? And another thing..."

He paused, then posed a more pointed question, "Don't those graduating seniors also leak the school's teaching methods and exam content? If someone really intends to spread these things, how meaningful are these confidentiality agreements? They're probably more of a formality and a psychological deterrent, aren't they?"

Tanaka Yukishin's clear and insightful analysis brought a brief silence to the front of the carriage.

The team members, who had initially just been listening out of curiosity, now all wore thoughtful expressions.

Miyajima Hayata opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that what the other party said was not entirely unreasonable, and for a moment he was speechless.

"Tanaka... you really do have a unique way of thinking... Since you understand this, then it's easier to explain it to you."

Miyajima Hayata scratched his head and finally sighed.

"You're right, the rules have loopholes, but that's just how reality is!"

His tone turned somewhat somber. "It all depends on the type of club, their past achievements, and their current strength assessment. The best, of course, are like some top-tier clubs, with relatively relaxed freedom of movement. The next best, like our Kendo Club, whose strength is decent but not top-tier, are allowed to make phone calls within a specified time, but that's all. The worst... even making phone calls is strictly restricted. Before departure, our phones are handed out, and shortly after leaving the school gates, they are collected and kept by the accompanying teachers! They can only be used during extremely limited supervised periods."

Tanaka Yukishin looked away, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Huh? Then what's the point of them having their phones if they're in the worst situation?"

"It's taken back as soon as it leaves the school gate, and it can only be used for a short while in between? Why not just not send it at all, to avoid creating anticipation only to disappoint?"

His tone clearly conveyed disapproval and a sense of the absurdity of the rules.

"It's still somewhat useful,"

A third-year team member sitting next to Miyajima Hayata chimed in, his tone tinged with sympathy, "For example, in that short time after receiving the message, you can quickly check if any friends or family have sent you any messages or messages recently. What if there's an emergency at home? Even if you can't reply immediately, at least... you'll know."

"That's so tragic."

Tanaka Yukishin shook her head, her tone calm, but her words carried a heavy weight.

"It's like they're handing out a pitiful right to know."

"Anyway, that's just how cold reality is," Miyajima Hayata concluded, patting Tanaka Yukishin on the shoulder. "These are the rules, we can only abide by them. Focus on the game, don't think about anything else."

Unlike some naive first-year high school students.

Older students have already grasped some things—such as the admissions process relying entirely on the school's internal review, and having nothing to do with your exam scores or interview performance.

But what can they say?

What should I say?

According to the normal requirements of national elite high schools, the vast majority of students are not even qualified for admission.

Now that I've been fortunate enough to be accepted, I'll stay as long as I can.

How could anyone dare to raise any objections?

The school's stance is clear: if you don't agree, you'll be expelled.

But who could bear to part with it?

Even if students from average families don't graduate in Class A, they at least get three years of excellent free education and living resources.

If you come from a well-off family, they would rather you not go to school in the first place.

Don't drop out of school because you're homesick—that's worse than falling behind or being eliminated altogether.

At least that way it's only you who loses face, without dragging your family into becoming the subject of gossip and ridicule.

"Reality..."

Tanaka Yukishin repeated it in a low voice, then raised her head, a relaxed smile suddenly appearing on her face, but her eyes were exceptionally bright and sharp.

"Hmm, that's unexpected. But, Miyajima-senpai, I think... I actually do have a way to get around this reality."

"Oh?"

Miyajima Hayata was taken aback, and the surrounding team members once again cast curious glances his way.

"Tanaka, what legitimate method do you have? Bribing the accompanying teacher? That would cost a fortune, and the risks are too great."

"A proper solution?"

Tanaka Yukishin smiled, a smile that exuded an unbridled sense of freedom.

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone in the front row clearly, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

"Drop out of school."

"Withdraw... withdraw from school?!"

Miyajima Hayata sat bolt upright, his eyes wide as saucers, wondering if he had misheard.

The surrounding team members erupted in an uproar, whispering amongst themselves.

"Tanaka, are you crazy?!"

"Are you kidding me?"

"You're dropping out of school just to go home?"

"That's right," Tanaka Yukishin said calmly, as if discussing the weather, seemingly oblivious to the shock of the crowd. "Your school only regulates students. If I drop out, won't I no longer be a student? Can it still control a free person like me?"

He shrugged, his posture relaxed, a confident smile playing on his lips.

"As for ability... I don't necessarily need that guaranteed job or recommendation for admission after graduating from Class A to establish myself in society. I don't need that reward. Dropping out of school, for me, the loss... doesn't seem to be as great as I imagined?"

"You... you..." Miyajima Hayata pointed at Tanaka Yukishin, his face filled with indescribable surprise, "Isn't that too unrestrained?! It's simply reckless and willful."

He couldn't find a more suitable word to describe this insane way of thinking.

The teammates around her were completely stunned, staring at Tanaka Yukishin as if she were an alien.

"Don't rush," Tanaka Yukishin even casually shifted into a more comfortable sitting position. "Anyway, the withdrawal procedures can't be completed immediately. According to the process, we have to wait until we finish the Gyokuryuki and return to school before we can officially apply for the relevant procedures." His eyes became serious as he looked at Miyajima Hayata and the other team members. "Don't worry, I, Tanaka Yukishin, keep my word. In the Gyokuryuki competition, before I officially leave, I will still do my best to ensure that our club wins the final victory! This is my promise."

"Guaranteed victory..."

Miyajima Hayata was somewhat dizzy from Tanaka Yukishin's leaps in thought and her strong self-confidence.

If he could, he wouldn't want to stay in this cramped school that restricts his freedom.

They were all tricked into enrolling without knowing the details beforehand.

Otherwise, given his good family background, he would be living a very carefree life outside.

But if I drop out of school and go home, my grandfather will probably hang me up and beat me.

The family doesn't lack the benefits that come from graduating from the so-called Class A.

It's mainly embarrassing.

His thoughts were a jumbled mess. He took a deep breath and vigorously wiped his face.

He gestured towards the front of the carriage with his lip.

"Fine! You're amazing! I'm impressed! Go ahead then!"

"Go talk to the accompanying instructor and Hashimoto sitting in front! Tell them about your free time plans! See what they say!"

His expression at that moment was filled with a complex emotion of "Let's see how you get out of this."

"Good idea."

Tanaka Yukishin actually nodded, her face showing no sign of joking or hesitation.

He unbuckled his seatbelt, stood up under the incredulous gazes of everyone, and calmly walked towards the front of the bus.

In the front row of two seats sat Takeuchi, the senior coach of the Kendo Club, and Hashimoto, the grade director in charge of managing this trip.

The two were discussing something in hushed tones.

Tanaka Yukishin stopped in the aisle next to their seats.

"Coach Takeuchi, Hashimoto, excuse me. I have something I'd like to ask you."

Tanaka Yukishin's tone was calm and polite.

Coach Takeuchi and Hashimoto turned around at the same time and saw that it was Tanaka Yukishin. Coach Takeuchi nodded.

"Tanaka -kun? Is something the matter? Is it about the match arrangements?"

Hashimoto adjusted his glasses, gesturing for him to speak plainly.

"It's a personal request regarding my travel arrangements," Tanaka Yukishin stated bluntly. "My plan is to wait until I arrive in Fukuoka, complete my registration and accommodation arrangements, and then request a temporary leave of absence to travel back to my hometown. I will return to Fukuoka to participate in the men's competition after the women's competition concludes."

Seeing the fleeting surprise and impending denial on the two teachers' faces, he calmly added, "However, Club President Miyajima just clearly told me that this is not allowed. Making a phone call is already the highest privilege currently permitted by the Kendo Club. Even buying it with points is not allowed."

"Of course not!" Hashimoto frowned immediately, his tone stern. "Tanaka, this is a team activity, concerning competition discipline and safety! Leaving the team without permission is a serious violation of the rules! Don't even think about it!"

"As for points... you can only buy everything that's available under your current privileges. You should understand what that means, right?"

Coach Takeuchi added a comment, nodding in agreement with a serious expression.

Tanaka Yukishin seemed to have anticipated their reaction.

There was no disappointment or argument on his face; instead, he wore a faint, somewhat relieved smile.

He looked at the two teachers.