Chapter 8

I'm depressed... The other day, my mother suddenly announced a change in my course of study. Why do I have to go to a technical college?! I had planned to go to a school that a middle school teacher recommended, one that I could easily get into, and just go through the motions, coming home to spend my days on the internet and TV. I was looking forward to a blissful high school life, but why do I have to go to a school where geniuses from all over the world gather?! When I told my mother it was impossible, that I hadn't even taken the entrance exam and my academic level wouldn't allow it...

"It's already decided that you'll be enrolled, Kou-chan."

...What? I haven't even taken the exam, and my academic level is nowhere near good enough... I can barely speak a few foreign languages, and even that is only at the level of a first-year student at a special high school. Could it be that my mother used her name to push me through?

This is bad, really bad. I might be resented at the academy, and if they have high expectations for me, I'll definitely disappoint them... Moreover, what's with this...

"You've endured a lot, Kou-chan. From now on, you can do whatever you like without holding back."

...What am I supposed to do with such a profound statement?! If I don't have to hold back, I don't even want to go to the academy. And then, I got a message from Macho:

"I'm glad you're going to a school where you can do what you like. I support you."

...Just die, Macho. What's with this 'I understand' vibe? You don't understand anything, or I'll demote you to a gorilla! And what about the list of required items in the academy's brochure? I can understand a personal terminal with over 280 peta of capacity, but it costs over 800,000 yen. The real problem is the personal power suit. Are you kidding me? A power suit costs over 4 million yen... It's not something you give to a child, even if it's as common as a car. I left everything to my mother, but is it okay...? She has a slightly skewed sense of value, so I hope she didn't buy something weird... No, I should check.

"Yeah, everything you need for your enrollment? It's all here, want to see?"

It seems my mother has already prepared everything. When we went to the warehouse to check, there were items that reflected her skewed values.

"First, this! It's the new personal terminal from Ruin Corporation."

Ah, yeah. I know. It's the one that was just announced this month, right? A personal terminal with over 500 peta of capacity, a 'quantum computing type.' It's not even on the market yet, just announced. It's supposed to be available in about five years. I'm happy to have new things, but...

"Next, this! It's a power suit from Quartet Heavy Industries."

Quartet Corporation is the top company in power suit manufacturing, with the best quality in the world. Do you understand? The best in the world. And the one in front of me is probably the highest level of civilian power suit. How much does it cost...? I'm too scared to ask. It's definitely over a hundred million yen. I can only manage a strained smile.

"Mom, thank you! Let's have dinner now, I'm hungry."

In conclusion, I decided to escape from reality for now.

After dinner, while I was casually operating my terminal, I stumbled upon an article about the academy. I was going to attend it, though I didn't want to. I decided to read it to learn more about the internal affairs. As I read, a certain sentence caught my eye.

"Number one school for handsome boys and beautiful girls" "Annual Academy Festival, Beauty Contest!"

...I have no choice but to go since my mother insists, and I can't ask my school teacher to find another school at this point. I'll just have to give up and go to the academy. It's really unavoidable! I'll go to the academy!

----Principal Yamamoto Ka's Perspective----

I'm depressed... The other day, I received a direct order from the Prime Minister of Japan to enroll a certain boy in the academy, without an exam. I thought it was another politician trying to use the academy to enhance their child's status, so I firmly refused. I hate such power plays, and that's why I was entrusted with the academy. I was about to tell the Prime Minister that the academy is impartial and won't bow to power, but he said:

"This is not just a decision by Japan, but an official decision by the United Nations, and you have no right to refuse. If you refuse, your position as principal could be at risk. I'm sorry, but please understand."

What's going on? This has never happened since the academy was founded. When I asked for the reason, he said:

"The details will be delivered by a representative tomorrow. You can ask them then."

The communication ended. Documents in this day and age? Not data? My doubts were resolved the next day when the representative, who claimed to be from the UN Information Department, arrived. I was still puzzled as to why a spy would be involved. The document he handed me contained the name of the son of the mother of New Quantum Science, Arakawa Kousuke. The son of that genius, but that alone doesn't justify the UN's involvement. As I read on, I found something unbelievable.

At 4 years old, he completed his mother's mathematical theory.

At 5 years old, he designed a new nuclear fusion reactor.

At 6 years old, he successfully designed a next-generation power suit and improved a satellite orbit cannon.

At 7 years old, he started developing a medical pod and simultaneously developed a new variable-wing fighter.

At 10 years old, he successfully developed a new medical pod. In June of the same year, he conducted a chemical weapon dispersal experiment in his backyard, prompting a UN military response.

At 11 years old, he improved the fifth-generation main battle tank to near sixth-generation standards. In March of the same year, he conducted a bacterial eradication drug test in a public swimming pool, prompting a Ground Self-Defense Force response.

At 12 years old, in February, he launched a cruise missile disguised as fireworks from the beach, which was intercepted by a Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine. In August of the same year, he conducted a test launch of an improved cruise missile, which was intercepted by the Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces but failed, and the missile self-destructed 40 km offshore.

At 13 years old, in January, July, and November, he launched rockets disguised as fireworks from his backyard into satellite orbit. In November, the UN Space Force mobilized but lost track of the target.

At 14 years old, he developed a cancer-treatment medical pod, which was test-deployed in small numbers to the public.

At 15 years old, in January, he conducted a test of a military sixth-generation power suit in his backyard.

If all of this is true, Arakawa Kousuke has been operating under his mother's cover. The representative said this is all classified information, and leaking it would result in severe punishment. I would definitely be killed. But does someone with such abilities need to be educated? When I asked, he said:

"Technical education is not necessary. What we need is the education of his ethical values, and the method is up to you, the principal."

I see... According to the information, he seems to act without considering the consequences when he's interested in something. I mean, who launches missiles, especially twice at 12 years old? Was he upset about the first one being intercepted? And what did he launch at 13 years old... I want to know. After the representative left, I thought about how to educate him, but my excited mind couldn't come up with a good plan.

"I'll put him in a special class..."

In conclusion, I decided to escape from reality for now.

----Arakawa Mikiko's Perspective----

My heart is light. We've finally made it this far! I want Kousuke to study as he likes and create whatever he wants. Yes, he did do some ethically questionable things, but he'll understand once he makes friends. We deliberately prevented Kousuke from making friends by pressuring the school, to protect him from kidnapping and unnecessary interference, but it made him lonely. Now, he doesn't have to be lonely anymore. I can finally let him be free, which is why I got a bit carried away when preparing the necessary items for the academy.

The latest personal terminal, the highest-grade power suit, and even the bag and shoes are all top-brand items. Kousuke seemed happy with the personal terminal, but he didn't like the power suit... It's a custom-made suit worth over 300 million yen, but it's still just a civilian model. I'm sure Kousuke wanted to wear the sixth-generation military suit he developed recently, but it's not appropriate for school. I'll have him learn common sense bit by bit, starting from here.

March 1st, editing complete.