Chapter 37: Chapter 1 (Volume 2) – 10 Year Old Connection

------------------------------------------------------------Yuka Higashi POV (10 years ago)------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Higashi Workshop is a private prep school founded by my great grandfather. 
He believed that if you train a child at a young enough age when they are blank canvases, they can be molded to become even more exceptional individuals. So enrollment starts at the age of 6 years old and graduation is usually at the age of 16.

The school passed itself off as a regular institute, but when you strip away the wrapping, it is nothing more than a tamer version of a concentration camp designed to peel away a child's individuality and free thinking and then instill thoughts of superiority among the masses.

Of the 100% of the students that are enrolled by parents each year, 90% of them drop out by the first year. Well, it is usually way before that. Each child's parents were aware of the school's conditions, but none of them saw it as an issue because it is just a small price to pay for drawing out their children's full potential. Even so, they still listened to their child and pulled him/her out of the workshop when it became too hard on them. All the parents except for this one student.

We were taught at an early age that emotion is a source of distraction and to suppress it as much as possible whenever we make a decision. During orientation, we were told that tears weren't allowed because it was a sign of weakness. In the classroom, we were constantly pitted against each other, from examinations to even simple children's games. It was constantly drilled into our heads that we needed to be number one. A person who excels, then excels again beyond that

My father, who at the time was in charge of the Higashi Workshop under the watchful eye of my grandfather, was pleased with cycle number 99. The group of students there were said to be the ones with the most potential, surpassing every previous cycle to date, even my own, which was cycle number 100. In that cycle number 99, there was one individual whom my father saw as the one with the greatest potential and his most prized student. The one who stood at the peak while looking down at the others trying to crawl their way to him.

October 31st, 2006.

I had just arrived from a long day at elementary school. My mother and I were on our way to meet my father at his place of employment, which is the educational institution known as the Higashi Workshop. A place praised for developing young minds and setting them on the path to success.

We were waiting in the school front yard when my mother got a phone call and left me to meet my father in his office. The atmosphere of the school felt a whole lot grimmer compared to the light-heartedness of my current school. When I looked around the front yard, I noticed that every student seemed to be having a good time, running around with their friends groups and having fun.

Their uniform was burgundy pants or skirt, white shirt, and burgundy tie. Burgundy was my great grandfather's favorite color, so he made it the official uniform.

Before I left to follow my mother to my father's office. I saw a boy. He is sitting alone on a concrete bench in the shade, holding something with his right index and thumb.

Curiously, I approached the boy and saw that he held a black feather.

Observing him now, he looks my age with jet black hair that hovers right above the helix of his ears and dark blue eyes.

He noticed him approaching him and shifted his fixed gaze from the feather onto me.

There was a look in his eyes, a look that was a mixture of sadness and coldness, but at the same time, it lacked any type of emotion. It was like staring into an abyss while it stared back at you. However, I was the first to blink.

After that, he observed me for a few moments. He then turned his attention back to the feather in his hand.

I mustered up the courage to ask. "Why do you have a feather?"

He stayed silent for a moment, then released his light grip on it. The feather gently fell to the ground.

He then answered my question with another question.

"Why do caged birds, after a certain amount of time, lose their will to fly away even if their cage door is left wide open?"

What the heck does that mean?

I looked at him in a confused manner and said, "Um, I don't know."

He then looked down towards the concrete ground.

"It's because the bird starts to find comfort in restriction."

I then stood completely in front of him and said, "You're weird."

He looked up at my face and stared directly into my eyes, which caused me to instantly look away.

"Do you have something against weird people?" But if that is the case, then you're weird for even talking to a weird person right now."

Huh? Is this weirdo calling me weird?

I lightly stomped my left foot and replied, " I am not weird. What is your name?"

He paused for a moment, then stood up.

Our height difference isn't that noticeable, but only by an inch or so.

"My name is Dante Sato and I assume you must be Yuka Higashi."

I gave him a suspicious look and asked him, "How do you know that?"

He walked a bit closer to me, which caused me to take one step backwards.

"Director Higashi once showed me a picture of you. Something along the lines of you being his pride and joy. Just by his tone of voice, he appears to be genuine when saying that. So it seems that you have a loving family."

I then stood my ground, even though I felt a bit embarrassed.

"Ugh, why would my dad show my picture to such a weirdo?"

Dante gazed at me, "Once again, if I am a weirdo, then so are you."

Ok, this guy is starting to get on my nerves once again.

I pouted my lips then asked, "Will your parents be attending this school's Halloween event tonight?"

With no expression on his face, he said, "Only if you pay them first."

Huh?

"Yuka, it's time to go home."

It was the voice of my mother, who stood in the school's front yard with my father.

Without saying another word to Dante, I rushed over to my parents' and held my mother's soft hand.

Before completely leaving the area, I gave one last look at Dante, who was just standing there before turning around and walking back to the school's dormitory area.

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I tugged on the sleeve of my father's white dress shirt then asked, "Dad, do you know the student I was just speaking to?"

My father looked down at me while we approached the car.

"Yes, his name is Dante Sato, and he is the student here that shows the most promise. Your grandfather and I believe that he will shatter our exceptions before his 10 years are up in this school. I say that because it has only been 61 days since he was enrolled here by his parents and he has already excelled beyond the last cycle. If he keeps this up, then I am not sure what his ceiling might be."

My mother said, "Dear, it seems like you may potentially achieve the dream that you inherited from your father."

My father chuckled a bit, "Having a golden ticket in that child is useful when it comes to speeding up things. The rest of his class, cycle 99, are great as well, but they lack something that sets them apart from each other."

Wanting to be part of the conversation again, I asked. "What's that, dad?"

In a low and serious voice, he replied, "The level of cruelty and manipulation needed to hold your opponent by the throat and crush it."

My mother laughed. "Dear, stop being silly."

My father looked at my mother, " There was this one situation where three students, including him, wanted the back of the classroom's window seat, and instead of getting himself directly involved in who should be the one to get it. He manipulated both students into fighting each other, then took the seat for himself."

My mother paused, then replied. "That sounds like the child's a psychopath."

"I wouldn't say that based on my interactions with his parents. He is just a product of his environment."

I interjected, "But when I spoke to him... he didn't seem bad."

My father patted me on the head and smiled, "Appearances can be deceiving."

Finally, we reached the car, and I opened the backdoor.

A few hours later,

I entered the school's auditorium, which was decorated in a Halloween theme and packed with students and their parents.

All of them were dressed in Halloween costumes.

Even though the Higashi Workshop is a harsh environment. The children are still allowed to enjoy themselves to a certain degree, and that includes bonding with their parents, whom they see only once a month.

I was dressed in a witch outfit complete with the pointy hat and the handy broom, which is believed to be how witches take flight.

Even though I would come to this school on a semi-regular basis to meet my father. I wasn't familiar with any students here, and if I did become familiar with one of them, they would end up dropping out of the school due to the environment.

My father looked at me and said, "Yuka, your mother and I have to entertain the guests. So please socialize a bit with your peers."

I nodded and looked on as they both left to speak with the teachers and parents.

I must have stood in this exact spot for over 15 minutes. I felt like a statue because I couldn't find the courage to walk up to a random child and have a conversation.

After a while, I felt a bit thirsty, so I walked towards the refreshments table, which had an assortment of fruit juice and snacks.

Grabbing a red plastic cup, I poured myself some fruit punch, and as I put the cup to my lips, I saw someone in the corner of my right eye.

It was the same kid who I spoke to earlier in the day.

He stood by himself, leaning against a wall and not interacting with anyone else. He didn't wear a costume or anything along those lines. Just casual clothing, a white t-shirt and jeans to be exact.

Once again, my curiosity is piqued.

So I slowly and awkwardly walked over to him and arrived at the exact spot in approximately 40 seconds.

He noticed my presence but didn't acknowledge it for a moment. Then finally, he looked in my direction and observed my outfit.

In a monotone voice, he said, "Are you here to curse me?"

Huh? What does he mean?

I stuttered, "Hu-h?"

He then shifted his gaze away from me and towards a group of children talking.

"You are supposed to be a witch, and witches hex people or something, along those lines in the story books that I read."

I squinted my light blue eyes at him, "I am a good witch with good intentions."

He laughed a bit and said, "And you call me the weirdo."

I poked him with the wooden handle of my broom in his stomach and replied, "You're not like how I heard my parents describe you. I heard them call you a cruel and manipulative person, but to me, you look like a good guy."

He firmly held the handle of my broom stick and pulled me a bit closer, so we stood face-to-face.

At the same time, the rotating party lights on the ceiling glazed over us and temporarily illuminated the area, properly showing his face.

His eyes were cold and emotionless as I looked into them, but I wasn't intimidated or frightened. I was genuinely interested in this person.

A moment of silence between us passed, and I held my breath during that moment.

With his eyes still fixed on me. He said, "Just remember, appearances can be deceiving, Yuka Higashi."

After saying that, he released his grip and walked away from me.

I stood there silent, with the only thing that was on my mind right then and there was, who is Dante Sato really.

That was the second of many encounters with him over a three-year time span before he left the Higashi Workshop without ever completing it.

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