[Location: Classroom of the Elite - Japan - Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School - Student Dormitories.]
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, a high school student, carefully observed every corner of his new home.
A simple, functional room, void of decorations that might reveal any personality, but sufficient for someone like him.
His ever-analytical eyes scanned the smooth walls, the bed perfectly aligned with the desk, and the window offering a glimpse of a controlled yet pleasant view.
He understood perfectly what his stay here entailed.
Until graduation, he would be completely isolated from the outside world.
There would be no unexpected visitors, no phone calls interrupting his routine, and no responsibilities other than those imposed by the institution.
Far from unsettling him, the thought brought a faint smile to his face.
The school offered privileges many would consider invaluable. A perfectly designed environment, unlimited resources, and opportunities to shape one's future.
But to Kiyotaka, none of those advantages mattered.
What he truly valued was something far more elemental.
Independence.
Now he could decide what he wanted to do, when, and how to do it, free from the chains that had bound him throughout his childhood and adolescence.
This place, with its explicit and implicit rules, was a paradise compared to the prison he had grown up in.
A paradise where, curiously enough, he might experience something he had only ever heard of.
An ordinary high school life.
Without bothering to change out of his clothes or worrying about the uniform, Kiyotaka let himself fall onto the bed.
For a moment, he allowed himself the luxury of closing his eyes and enjoying the silence—one that was not forced, but natural.
The subtle muscle adjustment vanished from his face, replaced by his usual neutral expression.
'A spontaneous emotion...' he thought as his body settled onto the mattress. It was a completely detached observation, as if he were analyzing a natural phenomenon rather than his own feelings.
His gaze fixed on the ceiling, studying it as though it were a blank canvas on which to project his thoughts.
One word lingered in his mind—a word he had been translating across different languages.
'Freedom...' he repeated to himself, letting the word drift through his consciousness.
To others, freedom was an ideal—something to be pursued and protected at all costs.
To Kiyotaka, it was merely another concept, another tool that could be manipulated depending on the context.
In a more extreme sense.
True freedom, he believed, was an illusion; there would always be chains, visible or invisible, limiting one's actions.
He had come to understand this when he learned that even the choice to breathe could be questioned if circumstances demanded it.
In retrospect, the only things he could truly decide were those inherent to being human.
So, rather than chasing something he knew was unattainable, he decided to stop worrying about it.
'First day of school...' he pondered, shifting the direction of his thoughts.
His mind began reviewing every detail of the day.
He recalled the faces of his classmates.
Friendly smiles, curious glances, behaviors calculated to project confidence or superiority.
He recognized patterns and analyzed behavior. Nothing he had seen struck him as extraordinary, yet at the same time, he couldn't quite categorize it.
The initial interactions, the unspoken rules governing the environment, the apparent calm shrouding the place... it all fit into a mold that, at least for now, he would classify as normal.
'A truly curious scenario...' he thought, letting out a soft sigh. It wasn't born of frustration, nor enthusiasm. It was simply an observation.
He closed his eyes once more, letting the darkness envelope him.
For now, he would simply observe.
He would be an ordinary, harmless student who didn't stand out.
Ding!
[What a pity, Icarus. It seems you're aware that the wax holding your wings together will be melted by the sun.]
Suddenly, Kiyotaka heard a strange sound, followed by the appearance of a holographic text window that obscured part of his field of vision.
He observed the window without flinching, maintaining his usual neutral expression. 'What is happening...?'
Although he knew little about consumer technology, Kiyotaka recalled that only video games used similar text windows.
However, those required virtual reality headsets, and even then, there were significant differences.
Furthermore, as far as he knew, current technology had not advanced far enough to project holograms without visible devices.
Analyzing the situation, he considered several possibilities. 'Is this an illusion? Is someone watching me?'
Slowly and silently, he raised his hand, attempting to touch the window. As he had guessed, his hand passed right through it without resistance.
He repeated the motion a few times before stopping. Finally, he sat up on the edge of the bed, analyzing potential scenarios.
"Icarus and Daedalus..." he murmured, pausing deliberately. "You might be right. But..." His eyes narrowed slightly. "...I am not Icarus."
Ding!
[I know. So then... Do you want to be truly free?]
[Yes / No]
Another holographic text window overlapped the previous one, this time displaying clear options to select.
'Truly free?' he pondered. Though simple on the surface, the question concealed an obvious trap.
After all, he could now decide what to think, what to say, what to eat, what to wear, and so forth.
And he was content with that.
On the other hand, the fact that he was being offered a choice between "Yes" and "No" was peculiar.
Freedom was never granted without hidden conditions, implicit rules, or unexpected consequences.
'Manipulation...' he concluded. However, he also understood that ignoring this offer could carry repercussions.
Whoever was behind this clearly possessed advanced resources to communicate with him.
Kiyotaka leaned back slightly, resting an elbow on the bed while calmly observing the window.
"What does it mean to be truly free?" he asked, giving the impression of thinking out loud. Whether they answered or not was irrelevant, but perhaps it would elicit a reaction.
Sensing and receiving nothing in return, he turned his attention back to the options.
'By accepting, I might end up losing my independence. And by declining, I might lose a major opportunity...' In both scenarios, he stood to lose.
Put simply, if he was going to end up at a disadvantage either way, he might as well gather a bit more information.
It wasn't as if he were dealing with something paranormal...
Probably.
Finally, he spoke in his usual emotionless tone.
"Very well. This seems interesting..."
'Let's see what your freedom really means.'
With that, he reached out his hand and selected "Yes."
Not because he believed in the offer, but because he wanted to draw out more information from the other party.
That, in theory, was an expression of human freedom.
Ding!
[Great! In that case, welcome to the "Part-Time Workers Group"!]
Kiyotaka felt a slight discomfort upon reading those words.
And then, everything turned white.
_____
[Location: White World - Waiting Room.]
Instantly, Kiyotaka felt changes in his body, though he couldn't pinpoint anything specific.
To be certain, he thoroughly checked himself over before turning his attention to his surroundings.
'This must be one of those distasteful jokes,' he thought as he took in the endless white floor, the endless white sky, the endless white horizon, and an elegant table flanked by armchairs.
While the color white didn't bother him, it was certainly ironic.
He had left one "White Room" only to enter another "White Room".
He acknowledged the abnormality of the situation, but quickly pushed it aside.
Dwelling on it was useless.
A waste of time.
His eyes paused briefly on the tea set and sweets sitting atop the table.
'White armchairs, black armchairs, and a black table in the middle of all this white. Does it hold some kind of meaning?'
Unhurried, he walked calmly toward the table. He assumed the other party wanted him to see this.
Upon reaching it, he stood beside one of the black armchairs, observing the sweets, cups, and teapot without touching them.
'If this is part of a test, they're likely waiting for me to make the first move.'
After a brief analysis, he opted to sit down, leaning back slightly in a stance that was relaxed yet vigilant.
'And if it's some form of entertainment, they're probably observing my reactions...' he thought, closing his eyes for a moment.
He assumed that sooner or later, whoever was behind all this would reveal their purpose.
Calmly, he reached for one of the cups. His fingers wrapped around it firmly yet without haste, as if even this gesture might reveal something more to his enigmatic host.
He lifted the cup and brought the liquid close to his face, letting the aroma filter into his senses. It was a delicate scent, with notes of jasmine and a subtle acidity suggesting high-quality green tea.
'An interesting choice,' he thought.
Elegant, yes, but meaningful. A welcoming gesture meant to convey sophistication without ostentation.
However, before bringing the cup to his lips, he paused.
Out of the corner of his eye, not far from where he sat, he saw another person materialize.
/////
The beginning of the chapter is based on what was mentioned in COTE's light novel. Go read it if you're not convinced. Of course, because the author himself changed Kiyotaka's personality later on, I made my own interpretations.