Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner

The assistant didn't understand why the principal wanted to take this extra step. Since the child could answer middle school exam papers, why use elementary school test questions for another assessment?

Doesn't this make the school appear careless?

If even the exam papers can be mixed up, how can the children be educated well?

Of course, this is his fault, and however the principal privately punishes is fine, but how can it be discussed openly?

The assistant hesitated but ultimately said nothing.

Principal Ando took off his glasses and repeatedly wiped them until Sakurako put down her pen, then he put his glasses back on.

The assistant picked up the test paper and calculated the score with Principal Ando.

"Hmm..."

The two exchanged a glance. If they weren't mistaken, the scores for both subjects remained at 60.

Neither more nor less.

Principal Ando adjusted his glasses, confirmed his suspicion, then turned to Fushimi Roku and said, "Could I please ask the parents to step out for a moment? I have a few questions I would like to ask the student alone..."

Fushimi Roku instinctively turned back, looking at Taira Sakurako, and only stood up to say goodbye after seeing the latter gently nod.

Taira Sakurako knew deep down that sooner or later, she would have to leave the protection of Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako, and face strange monsters with dignity and alone... This day came earlier than she expected, but she was mentally prepared.

The assistant also left, closing the meeting room door behind him.

The room was frighteningly quiet, and Taira Sakurako could hear her own heartbeat. In her eyes, Principal Ando's face gradually twisted, but she dared not show fear, so she tensed her body, forcing herself to maintain a rigid posture.

Success or failure depends entirely on one's heart.

Principal Ando tapped his index finger on the test paper on the desk, and asked, "Is Fushimi deliberately controlling your scores? Clearly, you can score perfect marks, yet you consistently keep it at 60." ThelatestchaptersarealwaysavailablefirstonMV5LEMPYR.

Taira Sakurako remained expressionless. She wanted to speak but couldn't open her mouth.

Seeing this, Principal Ando comforted, "Don't be nervous, I'm not trying to criticize you... I'm just very curious, why is Fushimi doing this?"

The other's tone softened, and Taira Sakurako managed to catch her breath slightly.

No matter how turbulent her inner emotions were, she remained calm on the surface, and spoke softly, "I want to be an ordinary person."

Principal Ando realized, only extraordinary people would yearn to be ordinary... But merely saying this was not enough to convince him.

"In our school, geniuses are ordinary people, Fushimi need not worry, high scores won't attract jealousy. Each semester, we announce the top hundred students, and those with outstanding results are revered by classmates..."

He smiled and said, "Besides this, is there any other reason?"

Taira Sakurako thought for a moment and decided to speak the truth, "I find it meaningless."

"What is meaningless?" Principal Ando paused.

"Scoring high is meaningless," Taira Sakurako said.

Principal Ando was stunned, realizing it.

Was it in this child's eyes that a school assessing based on scores was devoid of educational significance?

He thought of rebutting that scores are a measure of one's academic ability, but upon reflection, is education aimed at enhancing students' academic prowess?

No, it isn't.

As the principal, he had forgotten the first part of the school motto: 'Discard ostentation, regard true learning as the foundation,' followed by 'Cultivate talents beneficial to society'!

For so many years, he had been against vanity and formalism, emphasizing utilitarianism and down-to-earth academic atmosphere... Until this moment, he abruptly realized that he'd been using another set of standards on the students.

The girl sitting before him was very clear about what she wanted, understood which type of education she should receive, and had a clear plan for her life's goals.

In her life, chasing scores was not among the pursuits.

Even with excellent grades, she remained grounded, adhering to the concept of practicality. Even during the entrance exam, she kept her scores within the 'just enough' range...

Principal Ando was amazed, realizing this was truly a piece of unrefined jade!

How extraordinary!

Is she really only a seven-year-old child?

Indeed, only a seven-year-old child might act so willfully—controlling scores during entrance exams, which is also a form of childish arrogance, isn't it?

Principal Ando formed a conclusion in his mind but, according to protocol, he still had to ask one final question.

"I see, I roughly understand what Fushimi is thinking..."

"So, may I ask Fushimi, what kind of person do you wish to become in the future?"

...

Principal Ando had heard many answers to this question.

Some children said they wanted to be scientists, some said comic book artists, and others said they wanted to be politicians, musicians, astronauts... Even more, some vaguely planned their future, saying they wanted to become someone like their father or mother.

Many wonder, what can a ten-year-old comprehend? What will their future be like, who can tell?

But actually, it's not like that.

The United Kingdom once made a documentary, interviewing children from lower-class, middle-class, and elite families, asking what plans they had for the future and what education their parents intended to pursue.

Children from lower-class families had vague goals, hoping to make money in the future, while parents ridiculed them saying with those grades, how could they dream of making big money;

Children from middle-class families had no goals, and most parents hoped they were happy and would support and encourage their interests;

The children from elite families have extremely clear goals. Their parents educate them about elite etiquette, conduct, and social rules from an early age, and they decide early on to become elites like their parents.

Twenty years later, the director interviews these three families again, with results that are quite perplexing.

Children from lower-class families have started small businesses. They aren't particularly wealthy, but have at least resolved their basic needs. Children from elite families have inherited their parents' careers and unsurprisingly become industry elites, carrying forward their parents' legacy.

The problem lies with the middle-class family, where the brother has become a vagabond, wandering outside all day, while the sister works in a strip club, living day by day.

In Ando Metaro's view, if there is no clear goal for the future, no true passion for an ideal, one is like a rootless duckweed, never able to grow into a towering tree.

No matter how talented, arrogance will lead to wasted time.

Faced with this problem, Taira Sakurako does not ponder deeply; she blurts out, "I want to be strong and gentle."

Principal Ando asks, "Isn't that too vague? Can't you be more specific?"

"Are 'strong' and 'gentle' vague words?"

"By 'specific,' I mean a profession or something like that."

"I might consider becoming a police officer or a lawyer."

"Is that so…" Principal Ando becomes increasingly curious, "Why do you aspire to be strong and gentle? Have you encountered such a person in your life?"

"No," Taira Sakurako says. "No reason, just want to."

Actually, she conceals the truth: only by being strong can one protect cherished people; only by being gentle can one care for cherished people—this reason is unspeakable, not at all like a normal child, and rather embarrassing.

Principal Ando nods, revealing a gratified smile.

He invites Fushimi Roku in and directly announces the results, without even needing a parent interview: "Firstly, congratulations to Fushimi for passing the written and oral exams… Secondly, welcome to our school."

The teaching assistant claps in celebration;

Fushimi Roku feigns a surprised expression and shakes hands with the principal.

"To enroll, you need to submit application materials, first fill out the enrollment intention form, attach the household register copy, health diagnosis certificate, but no need for grade proof. For elementary students, you need to provide a statement of family education philosophy,"

The teaching assistant rattles on, roughly meaning that if Fushimi Roku has no objections, try to complete enrollment procedures on the first day, purchase uniforms, textbooks, sportswear and other study supplies on the second day, and formally attend classes on the third.

Fushimi Roku nods repeatedly, and the teaching assistant asks if he needs to write it down. He says no—this is Taira Sakurako's matter, he can't be bothered to remember.

With everything settled, Fushimi Roku swipes his card to pay a 10,000-yen consultation fee and a 30,000-yen registration fee, stating he'll have the materials ready tomorrow to complete school procedures, and then leaves with Taira Sakurako.

The siblings descend the stairs one after the other, pass through the bustling playground, and exit the school gate.

"It's so hot, it's sweltering today."

Fushimi Roku plops back into his wheelchair, letting Taira Sakurako push him from behind. He stretches lazily and says, "I didn't expect it to be so easy… hmm, good performance, I'll reward you with a pudding."

Taira Sakurako with a stern face, pushes the wheelchair forcefully; she has noted the materials that need to be prepared, among which one item is rather tricky: "What's easy… How about the health diagnosis certificate?"

"It's not like they're checking medical records, what are you worried about?" Fushimi Roku is unconcerned.

"Aren't medical records and health diagnosis certificates the same thing?" Taira Sakurako asks as she pushes.

"Of course they're not the same thing, a health diagnosis certificate can be obtained from any hospital with a routine check, mainly confirming whether you have contagious diseases or physical defects, no need to spend big money on an MRI scan of the brain."

Fushimi Roku is quite familiar with this, as the court often requires such documents; medical records have legal validity and can be presented as evidence, while health diagnosis certificates are basically supplementary evidence, just need to show no illness to get it.

"Oh… I see."

"Push me to the ATM on the way, I want to check how much money is left in my card."

Fushimi Roku remembers he only has over 10,000 left in this card. He had only prepared the consultation fee before coming; who would have thought a prestigious school like Waseda would be so easy to handle, and the principal seemed afraid they'd leave, proactively asking for the registration fee—he couldn't retract then and planned to use the credit card, later supplement with an allowance, unexpectedly, the assistant successfully paid with a POS machine.

Now it even shakes Fushimi Roku's confidence.

Exactly how much money is left in the card?

Taira Sakurako pushes him into the ATM machine, he inserts the bank card, clicks query balance, and a long string of zeros appears.

—"22,470,900"

Why so much money?

Fushimi Roku slightly recalls, then remembers after the "Link and See" trial ended, the broadcast announced the prize pool accumulated to 45 million yen, to be shared evenly among survivors, its half is 22.5 million… didn't expect the arbitrator really transferred the money into his card.

Wait, doesn't this mean Minamoto Tamako also has 22.5 million in her card?

Fushimi Roku touches his chin, bows his head in meditation.

"Your smile looks really sinister." Taira Sakurako suddenly says.

"I'm happy for you, you know! Your tuition is secured!" Fushimi Roku eagerly taps the wheelchair armrest, asking Taira Sakurako to push him into the bank hall: "Quick, push me to inquire the source of funds, I want to apply for another bank card…"

Taira Sakurako looks helpless, despite Fushimi Roku helping her scout the school while injured, paying for her tuition, helping push the wheelchair isn't a loss; rather, it's things the sister should do.

The scorching sun bakes the earth, the high temperature distorting the asphalt road.

She pushes Fushimi Roku out of the ATM machine, the blinding sunlight pours down. Entering the bank door, she inadvertently glances at the faint black mark under Fushimi Roku's collar, which seems a bit lighter.

Hmm…

What exactly is that thing?

A tattoo?

Looks like Fushimi Roku has also reached his rebellious phase.