A Rose-Colored Lie: COTE Reaction

Prologue: Father And Son

"401. What in the world are you doing?"

"Fa-Father, I-"

"You will call me Professor."

"..."

"Were you crying?"

"...!"

"Answer me, 401. Were you crying?"

"I-! No, I-"

"How dare you lie to me? Impertinent child. And you're already six years old... I had expected you to discard such useless things as tears by now. What a disappointment."

"I-I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. Just do better. I won't be nearly so forgiving next time."

"Yes, Professor."

 "It's for your own good. If you go on like this, you'll be crushed, understand?"

"Y-Yes."

"Look me in the eye and say it. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Professor."

"Then get back to work, 401."

"...Kiyotaka..."

"What?"

"...My name... it's Kiyotaka. Not 401."

"..."

"...I- I apologize, I s-spoke out of turn. I-"

Slap.

"Be quiet. You detestable thing."

"...!"

"Your name is what I tell you it is. Your objective is what I tell you it is. You haven't earned the right to be human until you stand at the top. If that's what you want, then I'd suggest you get back to work, 401."

"...Yes... Professor."

---

Have you heard the phrase, "rose-colored lenses"?

It's a popular term in today's vernacular. A book I once read defined it as "a cheerful or optimistic view of things, usually without valid basis". To put it in simpler terms, it refers to people who hope against reason. 

Many people think of these "rose-colored lenses", and those who wear them, in a negative light. People who see things this way are viewed as naïve. The few who have seen a glimpse of my true personality would certainly never associate that attitude with me - someone who approaches everything with ruthless logicality.

But wasn't that its own kind of bias? People who drew conclusions based one viewpoint could also be said to not be viewing things clearly. Their lenses were simply of a different color - one that turned beautiful rose into an ugly shade of brown.

I certainly didn't see it that way. If I had been content only to see the world in shades of white, holding no hope for the outside world, I never would have left that place.

Either way, I had no right to judge. I was just as guilty; my life here was nothing but a rose-colored lie. The freedom I had bought myself with Matsuo's sacrifice already had an expiration date, and my so-called friends knew nothing about me. After these three years ended, I would have no choice but to return to that man's side. Could such a thing truly be called freedom? Had I come all this way only to lock myself into a different cage? Or was I being too greedy?