COTE One-Shots

Secrets unfolding

April. The day of the entrance ceremony. I was on my way to school on a bus that jolted uncomfortably over every bump in the road. And while admiring the change of landscape behind the glass, the number of passengers continued to increase.

Most of them wore school uniforms. There was also a lone not particularly successful office worker. Maybe he's a pervert, trying, as if by chance, to snuggle up to someone in a crowded bus?

And right in front of me stood an elderly woman, swaying on unsteady legs, as if she was about to fall. Most likely, the poor old woman will have to stand like that until the very stop.And yet, in vain I went by bus. I managed to get a good seat, but the cold wind blew right in my face, and the bus was completely overcrowded.

The sight of clear clear skies is relaxing. It seems that I can fall asleep right there. But my peace and tranquility were suddenly destroyed ...

"Have you heard of the White Room?"

I widened my eyes in shock. My rest was interrupted in the most cruel way. It's impossible! It is unlikely that there are other things with this name. How do they know about this place? Any civilian who finds out about this will not live a day. But how can a simple office worker know about this!? I tried to control the slight panic that had washed over me.

"Are you talking about yesterday's news? I was shocked when I found out about it! How can you do such atrocities to children?!"

The old woman answered the office lady, the passengers listened with interest to the conversation with gloomy faces, no one began to ask about the standing old woman and offer to give her a seat. My suspicions were confirmed, it was about the same place. Even the blond in the priority seat got rid of his smirk and looked at me when they started talking about this place. Did he see my reaction and understand what I had to do with it? His observation is impressive.

However, this place has been revealed!? But why didn't I know about it? I didn't watch the news yesterday because I was too excited about school life. This was my mistake. Do they know about me? In a normal situation, they would have kept the names of the victims under wraps. While I don't consider myself a victim, technically I had no choice about participating in this program.

"...Ayanokouji Kiyotaka..."

I heard snippets of other people's conversations from behind, and with that, my hopes for my anonymity floated away.

"The owner of this hell enrolled his own son in this program, what kind of monster would do that!? I think his son's name was... Ayanokouji Kiyotaka... I hope this child finally gets a peaceful life... We cried as a family when we learned about what was done to him."

The old woman continued her indignation. My peaceful life disappeared when you decided to reveal my name to the public! What should I do? Should I drop out of this school? Inevitably, I will be recognized sooner or later. However, if I do so, there may be those who decide to eliminate me for various reasons. Until things calm down, I have to stay at this school. I wonder how parents will react when they find out that their children are studying with a being like me. It will be incredibly troublesome.

"I agree with you! This is very cruel, even now I want to cry ... "

A beautiful girl with short beige hair intervened. Where did these few words come from so much compassion and sadness? Rarely do you find such sincerity.

Looking back, I saw most of them nodding at her statement. The black-haired girl also listened, although she did not join in the conversation. She gave me an annoyed look, as if to say not to stare. I averted my eyes.