Chapter 557 - The Point of No Return
For all students, going to school is fundamentally a voluntary act.
Sure, some may be prompted by parents, friends, or even teachers due to various circumstances. But at its core, it's something you do 'for yourself.'
That's why this situation was probably an incredibly rare experience on a global scale.
"Thank you for taking the time to come."
"N-No, not at all, it's my pleasure..."
Being asked to come to school by the very top of the academic institution—the chairwoman of the board herself. What a completely baffling situation.
Today was Monday. A day I was supposed to be here anyway, whether I was asked or not.
So, I was already prepared for school before I received the call. Normally, I would be in a lecture hall right now, diligently studying, not in the chairwoman's office...
"I'm so sorry to take up your time when you're so busy. Something urgent came up that required your immediate attention... Ah, some sweets. Please, have some."
Why was I, right now, being offered some fancy confectionary I didn't recognize by a royal-looking madam?
"Oh, uh, yes. Thank you, I will..."
As I went through a series of interactions I vaguely remembered from before, the ever-smiling Chairwoman Kunori glanced to her side.
Her gaze fell upon the university president, who, like last time, was standing beside her. He too was beaming—and, well, how should I put this?
As a young man who has seen a fair number of people in his time, I pride myself on having honed my ability to discern the 'types' of smiles people wear.
So, I felt like I could faintly grasp the meaning behind these two individuals' smiles... but honestly, I couldn't sense an ounce of malice or ulterior motive.
They seemed to be genuinely praising me, or rather, there was an atmosphere of almost unconditional approval. It truly felt like they saw me as their 'superior'...
Frankly, at this point, it was just plain scary.
I'm aware that I'm steadily straying from the path of an ordinary person, but at my core, I'm still just an introverted eighteen-year-old guy who has lived over ninety percent of his life thinking he was average.
I really wish they'd cut me some slack. I was so intimidated I felt like I was about to lose the ability to speak.
This was leagues beyond dealing with the 'rankers' in the virtual world. These were 'the top brass of the university I attend.' The reality of it was so potent that there was no escaping the tension—
While I was lost in my thoughts, trying to escape reality, Chairwoman Kunori nodded once to the president, who seemed to understand her silent instruction. He placed a small box on the table with a soft thud. It was a rectangular case of high-quality texture, slightly thick.
"Um...?"
"This is a gift for you, from an anonymous party."
"...................."
Here we go again, another weird and scary development. I barely managed to stop myself from sighing and looking up at the ceiling.
"...An anonymous party."
Who could that be?
For a certain reason, I swallowed the question that was about to reflexively slip out.
It wasn't that I yielded to the gazes of the two people prompting me. I simply followed a sense of resignation that there was 'no escape.' I took the proffered box and opened it with a blank mind.
For the past two months, I've been using a similarly sized case quite often. Perhaps because of that, I had a vague idea of the contents even before opening it—ah, just as I thought.
They looked just like the glasses my friends had picked out for me as a disguise.
Swallowing a mix of emotions for what felt like the umpteenth time, I put them on and said one thing.
"—Do they suit me?"
"Yes, absolutely—you look like a completely different person."
Chairwoman Kunori smiled, looking both satisfied and somewhat relieved. The president, nodding repeatedly, seemed to share her opinion... which meant it was just as I'd thought.
I'd heard a similar story somewhere just recently, after all.
"...I saw the video that was uploaded at midnight this morning."
"Is that so..."
She was quick on the uptake, or rather, quick to see. Perhaps she'd been gathering information all night and pulled an all-nighter?
If so, her stamina was on par with my friends, who had worked non-stop to finish the 'video' in a single day. I hope she takes care of her health.
As for me, I've already disconnected from the internet.
So I'm out of the loop regarding public reaction and whatnot, but judging by her demeanor... and considering the fact that this was sent to me by a certain someone...
"Considering the level of attention from the public, and from the world... I suppose such 'magic' will become necessary from now on, won't it?"
"...Haha."
It seemed this 'step' I had taken had reached far and wide, just like the steps of the heavenly storm.
"Let me take this opportunity to state this clearly. To be involved with you is an honor for us as well—provided, of course, that this is what you wish, Kasuga-san."
"........."
"If you need anything, please rely on us. We promise to offer our even more unstinting cooperation."
"...........................Thank you. I look forward to working with you."
I suppose this means I've truly crossed the point of no return.
...Then again, is it too late for that?
Yeah, well—it's been too late for a long time now.
It's been too late for like, three hundred chapters.
I'll touch on the details of the glasses in the main story after the interlude, so please wait. As for why a top player is being praised this much, and all the other things, that will all be in Chapter 5, so please wait.
Please read this as 'a relaxing chapter that I originally had no plans to write'.