GIFTED ACADEMY: THE PERFECT STUDENT

"I'm sure you'll be very interested in this project, Kanako."

Tachibana Kohei stood arrogantly, looking down on one of the wealthiest people in all of Japan. His posture was not one of someone looking for respect from a higher-up, nor did it look like one of someone who was asking for a favour. Like a boss looking down on his subordinates, he looked down upon Kanako Eikichi.

"I'm afraid I'm going to need more information than that if you want my funding."

"Alright. Come down to the facilities tonight. I'll show you something that will change your view of the world."

"Aha, you better not disappoint me, Kohei."

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Walking through the laboratory-like facilities of the Ideal Human Project, Tachibana Kohei led the ever-curious Kanako Eikichi through his grand creation. Eventually, the two of them made their way to a large glass panel. On the other side was a group of around twenty children, all seated at their respective tables.

"So, you're showing me a school? I'm not sure this is enough to interest me."

"Oh? You don't find my little rats very interesting?"

"By the way you're talking, I'm glad I didn't let Hanae come here."

"Ah, but they're just my toys. If I look at them with too much humanity, this project will never succeed, you know~? Kanako Hanae would've been one of the special ones. You missed out on a big opportunity."

A few moments later, a teacher walked into the enclosed room, teaching some high-school-level material at an incredibly fast rate. The children all had their eyes glued to the board, trying as best they could to understand everything.

"You're plan is to make a genius, right?"

"That's not quite it. My plan isn't to simply make a genius. My plan is to make the perfect human. Someone who geniuses can't even stand beside."

"A genius is a subjective description. The perfect human is even more so—I don't see how you're going to fulfil this goal of yours."

"You'll get it when you see it."

At this moment in time, the Ideal Human Project had been running for an entire year. However, Tachibana Kohei was lacking in funding.

"I'm bored. I expected more from you, Kohei. I thought you were going to show me something amazing. Not this mundane accelerated schooling."

"If you want to see more, I'll show you something."

Tachibana Kohei began making his way down the narrow white stairs. With Kanako Eikichi following behind, he made his way into the 'classroom'. Pushing open the steel-framed door, he gestured at the teacher.

"Sorry, everyone, for interrupting your class. However, we'll be moving on to a special activity I've got planned for today."

There was a sigh of relief from some of the children.

The first to stand up was a young, white-haired girl—the prodigy of the project.

Slowly, all of the other children followed behind.

Like a group of ducklings, the children followed Tachibana Kohei to another room. This room was completely empty, however, surrounded by only pure white walls.

Tachibana Kohei turned to Kanako Eikichi.

"Now, this is something I'm going to call a special exam."

"A special exam? What exactly do you mean by that?"

"I'll show you."

Closing the door in front, he enclosed all of the children within this white room, with only a window where the two adults could look in.

Through a speaker, Tachibana Kohei told them the instructions.

"This is just a fun little game. It's very simple. Rip someone's name tag off, and you get to leave the room. If you get your name tag ripped off, you're banished from this place."

All of the children suddenly froze, looking around in fear.ραпdα `nᴏνɐ| сom

"I don't see what you're trying to achieve by doing this."

"Don't worry. This is only the first step. Take a good look at each of the children."

Suddenly, there was a loud clang from inside the room.

Kanako Eikichi quickly looked through the window.

Pinned against the wall was a young boy. Having his neck held by Hasegawa Mio, the white-haired girl, he looked as if he had been completely overpowered. However, despite his situation, his expression was distant... no, it was completely apathetic.

For some reason, Hasegawa hesitated to grab his name tag.

He whispered something in her ear.

ƥαṇdα-ηθνε|·ƈθm Suddenly, she took a step back, letting go of him.

Without any hesitation, the boy raised his leg. In one swift movement, he kicked Hasegawa in the side, causing her to slam onto the ground. The loud thump echoed through the room as all the other children watched in terror.

She looked up at the boy. However, her expression was not one of despair but of excitement. She picked herself up off the ground and walked toward someone else.

One of the children was completely terrified, huddled up in a ball on the ground. She approached them, peeling away their arm and pulling off their name tag.

With that, Hasegawa made her way to the door.

"I've finished."

"Good job, Mio."

The door opened, letting her out.

After witnessing what had just occurred, some of the other children became much more aggressive, running around trying to rip off each others' name tags. The boy, however, just sat, leaning up at the wall.

A few minutes later, in the middle of a tussle, someone's name tag fell to the ground. In one fell swoop, the boy picked it up and then made his way to the door.

"I'm done."

"Hey! That's not fair! I was go—"

The door opened, letting him out.

He was the second person to leave the room.

"I don't get it. Why are you making the children fight each other like this? All you're doing is giving them psychological trauma. Most people who suffer trauma are not capable of further improvement."

"You know, Kanako. There's a reason I called them rats. When I said rats, I didn't mean all of them. All the ones still in the room are rats."

"Wait... what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that those aren't subjects. Those are sacrifices. I've only got two subjects."

"Kohei, you're a crazy bastard."

"Aren't the crazy ones usually the ones who make the greatest developments? Kanako Hanae would've been one of the subjects, you know~?"

"As if I could trust you, for all I know, you might've made her into one of your 'rats'."

"Well, it was a good thing you didn't trust me because I was lying. Kanako Hanae definitely would've been one of the rats—a rather useful one at that."

"You're absolutely insane."

"Maybe I am. But I assume you understand now why I can't get more funding from the government."