The Unseen Experiment Ayanokoji x Reader

Ch. 21 The White Room

Couple years ago

The room was cold. 

I could always feel the weight of the sterile air of the White Room.  It felt like it was pressing down on me everyday.  It was always the same, harsh, never ending tests designed to make people push beyond an average persons brain capacity.  There was no warmth or kindness, just the sharp sting of failure when expectations were not met in time.

Except I never failed.

I sat still in my seat, my back was straight in the uncomfortable chair as the next test was being explained to me.  The room was pretty empty except for the machines around me the cold metal wires connecting them snaking across the white floor like veins of this lifeless place I call "Home".  They hooked me up to a brainwave monitor and set tasks for me to complete in front of me.  The goal wasn't just for me to complete them, but to surpass my own limits each and every time.  

I was very familiar with this game.  I would finish every task with very calculated precision infact it would be just enough to impress, but not enough to the point where they would expect more.  I would always try to be one step ahead of them, but never show your true strength.  I learned that very well early on.

I have always strived to be smarter than anyone else who lives here.  I had never seen other children surpass me, or atleast not yet.  I have heard a few whispers of someone else, but I do not pay attention to it because they're just doing it to throw me off my game.  To see if I am flawed enough to overreact to such a statement being made.  I looked at one corner of the room where instructors observed me through the usual one-way glass.  I could not see them, but I could feel them watching me.

"Begin," said the voice on the speaker, and with that I started the test.  Various numbers flashed before my eyes, different patterns and puzzles too.  I completed each task methodically it was like my brain was working faster than the machine itself.  The difficulty increased as I answered every question correctly.  The key was to never show weakness, but also never give them more than what they needed.

As I continued, my mind wandered to a conversation I overheard during one of my earlier experiments.  There was a name mentioned, but I didn't catch it.  They did not talk about the other subject, but it was someone trained similar to me.  I am not allowed to ask questions about this place, but I wouldn't have dared to anyway.  Questions to me meant weakness and weakness was unaccepted here.  

Suddenly, a door behind me opened.  I did not turn around but I listened very carefully.  The sound of two men's footsteps echoed through the room.  I could hear them murmuring very quietly.  I recognized one voice, it was none other than my Professor Atsuomi Ayanokoji.  The one who designed this lifeless place.  The other voice was Mr. Sakayanagi.  

"Y/n is progressing a lot faster than we expected," Ayanokoji said in his clinical tone.  "Her ability to mirror emotions and adapt socially is remarkably invaluable. She is beginning to show promise in areas that- " 

His voice suddenly dropped, and I strained to hear the rest of the conversation. I kept my eyes on the test in front of me though my ears were fixed on the conversation.  They kept talking about me like I was just a tool, a knife that would be sharpened.  There wasnt any sort of praise, just a cold harsh analysis.  

"...not like Arisu," Sakayanagi's voice cut through, it was a bit of emotion creeping in.  "Your methods are extreme.  My daughter too, is very smart-"

"This is necessary," Ayanokoji interrupted. "The white room is not for the faint-hearted individuals like your daughter.  She would not survive. These people are different"