Tada, Sore Dake de Yokattan desu Chapter 5: Biggest Happiness

“I encountered him before.”

The boy was in tears because he faced rejection; this was the extent of Sayo's knowledge. She happened to cross paths with Sugawara during a visit to her hometown. If her recollection served her correctly, it was approximately a month and a half prior to Masaya's self-inflicted death. At this juncture, I hadn't grasped its relevance. Could it be frustration stemming from rejection? How was that a possibility? If that were the case, proper investigations should have been conducted. Primarily, the timeline didn't align. How could a single individual overpower four middle school students, Masaya included? And all this without anyone detecting the bullying? Taku Sugawara was under surveillance. The will, the search queries, the violence, the forced kneeling, the online articles – numerous enigmas persisted. Then there was the notoriously peculiar educational system, the Human Power Test. “But there's only one thing I can do now.” I heard from my mother, Akane Kishitani. She possessed the deepest understanding of the events that transpired after the bullying and was the one who had been keeping watch over Taku Sugawara. My knowledge of Akane Kishitani was quite limited. After completing high school, she embarked on a career as a manager in a small to medium-sized enterprise. During her professional life, she met an older gentleman, and they married when she was twenty-three. On her twenty-sixth birthday, she purchased the home she'd always dreamed of, welcomed her first daughter, and lived a life filled with happiness. It could be said she was living the ideal life. However, six years later, just as her son was about to be born, her husband met his end in an accident. With the support of her parents, she worked diligently and raised both Masaya and me. While her husband's inheritance was more than adequate for our education up to college, it appeared she continued working to fill the emptiness in her heart. Subsequently, my memories formed of her as a typical, exemplary mother – sometimes stern, yet often kind. Fast forward ten years, and I, as the elder daughter, began living independently. Three years elapsed, during which I only returned home for year-end holidays or O-bon. Consequently, I was unaware of the transformations she had undergone. According to Kouta Katou, she had seemingly transformed into a 'monster parent,' perpetually creating issues with the school. I would say that rather than feeling apprehensive about this, I was utterly terrified. Yes, 'terrified' is the most fitting description. This sensation had surfaced several times since I commenced my investigation, but this instance felt distinctly different. Perhaps... Because, maybe… But how could that be? I dispelled my unease with a smile. It's for Masaya's sake; how could I possibly falter now? “Hey, Mom.” I began grinding coffee beans, meticulously preparing two cups. The rich aroma of coffee permeated the room. With a sense of burgeoning resolve, I initiated a conversation with my mother, who was seated before her computer. She glanced back at me, offering a smile. “Oh, what is it?” “I need to ask you something, Mom; please tell me what you truly see. Just set aside the pretense, don't overthink it, and tell me. What did Taku Sugawara do to you, Mom?” My mother's expression instantly solidified. Witnessing this, I couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort. Nevertheless, I compelled myself to suppress the thought, abandoning it entirely. Mom shifted her chair slightly, moving closer to me. My gaze fell upon the words displayed on the monitor. As I had anticipated, it was a proposal for the PTA meeting, emphasizing the necessity of severe penalties to prevent further victims like Masaya. “Do you truly wish to know?” Mom inquired gently. “I am aware of your ongoing investigation. The truth may not prove beneficial to you, Sanae, and might even inflict greater pain. Is this truly acceptable?” “Yes, it doesn’t matter. Just tell me whatever you heard; I will persevere until the very end.” I affirmed, and she responded with a heartfelt smile. “Very well. I shall recount to you the process by which a failure, the devil, tormented the gifted boy, Masaya.” Although I had braced myself mentally, hearing these words directly was enough to shatter my resolve. Masaya was a child possessing a hundred times my talent. Compared to me, Mom harbored a thousand times more expectations for him. I was aware of this. I understood my own imperfections. And so, Mom began her narrative. “In truth, it is the parents' responsibility to discuss such matters, but I've had enough, especially since he is no longer with us. You know Masaya is different from you; he excels in everything. His grades were outstanding, he captained the sports club, and frequently assisted with household chores during his middle school years. The dishes he prepared were exceptionally delicious. He was handsome as well, and the neighborhood aunts were all quite fond of him.” Mom continued her narration, seemingly releasing long-held frustrations. “Ever since my husband passed away, Masaya has been my pillar of support, while you were always absent. You lack any remarkable traits, attend a lower-tier college, fell prey to some dubious man, and were subsequently abandoned. Masaya, in contrast, demonstrated innate talent from a young age compared to you. He could absorb twice what you learned with only half the effort. There is no doubt he was a genius.”

“Of course. Masaya excels at everything.” I added, “Like how he scored double my marks on a math exam…”

“Oh my. For a woman who lost her husband, her children are naturally her priority. I have no particular expectations for your future. Masaya is essentially my entire world.”

“Is that why you’ve been lodging complaints with the school?”

“What about the complaints? Look at his grades; even detached from a parental perspective, he’s recognized as a rare genius not just in Japan, but globally. It’s not solely the responsibility of parents to safeguard such a precious talent; educators have a role too.”

You never felt this way about me.

I had that thought, but naturally, I kept it buried inside and bit my lip.

Was my mother always like this? She’s completely transformed from her former self. That’s right, prior to Masaya starting elementary school, she rarely complained, perhaps only two or three times a year at most.

“I’m not speaking without good reason.” She resumed, “I felt deeply anxious until Masaya entered middle school. I worried he might struggle with the envy his exceptional talent would attract. I feared that being too intelligent might hinder his social integration, among numerous other concerns. But my anxieties were quickly put to rest.”

“…How so?”

“It was the Human Power Test. When Masaya ranked third for the year, I truly became convinced he was a unique human gem. It’s a magnificent test. Not only intellectually but also socially, the test results affirmed Masaya's extraordinary capabilities.”

Akane Kishitani continued her proud declaration, her face alight with pure ecstasy as she beamed,

“And then, what shall I discuss next? Ah, yes, that fiend. I wish to speak about that act of violence. When the school contacted me, informing me that ‘Masaya was assaulted by a classmate using a water bottle,’ I almost collapsed. Rushing to the staff room, I learned the full details. Initially, two days prior to the incident, there was an online controversy concerning a bullying case. A middle school student cruelly mistreated four other boys. “Did you write this?” I asked Masaya, and he, bearing visible bruises on his head, silently confirmed, ‘Takayoshi typed it into the computer.’ So he said.”

At this juncture, I inquired tentatively, “And you believed this, Mom?” My mother’s response was unexpectedly composed, stating, “How could that be possible?” With an air of detachment, she added, “I don’t believe Masaya would be bullied. There must be a trick involved; one person bullying four?”

Yet, her expression immediately shifted to one of grim resolve.

“However, I quickly dismissed that notion.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t I mention it? Masaya’s athletic uniform was torn. Most crucially, when I encountered Taku Sugawara in another classroom, he smirked and declared, “I bullied those four. So what?” His face held an utterly repulsive expression.”

“Taku Sugawara admitted to it?”

“Yes. That boy displayed no trace of remorse. Furthermore, he recounted his actions with relish, recounting cherished memories as if narrating them, such as how he forced Masaya to consume slugs and extorted money from the other three. “This is a revolution. The revolution requires sacrifices.” He smiled as he uttered these words.”

That account diverged significantly from Katou’s description of Taku Sugawara. The Taku Sugawara he depicted was utterly unremarkable. The only shared trait was his tendency to disregard others.

Consequently, was this the crucial factor?

Did he elect to exist—as refuse?

I scribbled notes haphazardly in a corner of my notebook, continuing my questioning,

“Was it your suggestion to make him kneel before everyone, Mom? Every day, during the lunch break, in every classroom.”

“Eh? Ah, that.”

For the first time, my mother faltered, her voice trembling slightly.

“Now then, who proposed it? I can’t recall? The other guardians, the principal, and Masaya himself all consented. Sugawara was initially unwilling, but it appears he eventually agreed. Everyone at that time desired retribution against a common enemy, to punish that wicked individual.”

“Was there no opposition? Mother, while Taku Sugawara might indeed be a villain, objectively speaking, this punishment is excessively severe.”

“The prevailing sentiment at the time was influential. Had you been present and witnessed Sugawara’s arrogance, Masaya’s bruised face, and the online revelations, you would have concurred.”

My mother’s words carried no hint of deception.

Still, I felt a sense of unease. It seemed as though an unseen force was orchestrating these events.

“Following that, the majority of the investigation was handled by the school. It was reported that Taku Sugawara was subjected to forced kneeling, and numerous negative rumors began circulating about him.”

“The school did acknowledge Sugawara’s isolation, didn’t they…”

“Indeed. At any rate, Taku Sugawara was finally compelled to yield. He visited our residence multiple times to offer apologies, and not just to us; he also paid visits to the other individuals who were wronged. On each occasion, he arrived unaccompanied. His parents, perpetually engrossed in their work, offered him no attention whatsoever. He is truly a worthless product of his upbringing. Then, he began to beg, ‘Please, stop making me kneel.’ From the moment I saw him, I recognized his pretense, and he grew somewhat aggressive. He let slip his true intentions, saying, ‘Continue to punish me, and I will torment this trash in even more savage ways.’ He clearly underestimates the adults in this vicinity. I meticulously recorded his every word, lodged a complaint with the school, and insisted on an enhanced punishment. Such a scoundrel deserves the harshest judgment.”

With immense force, his mother struck the table once she had finished recounting the events.

“But that’s how it is, Masaya could no longer bear it and took his own life.”

She continued to shout, her voice cracking as if she had lost her sanity.

“I WAS DISTRAUGHT OVER HIM! I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED! MASAYA WAS BEHAVING INCREASINGLY STRANGELY! HE LOST HIS APPETITE, AND HE WOULD EVEN LASH OUT IN HIS ROOM, SCREAMING! MASAYA HAD NO ONE TO CONFIDE IN! HE ENDURED HIS SUFFERING IN SILENCE! I HAD NO IDEA WHY! HOW COULD I POSSIBLY OFFER HIM SUPPORT? I URGED HIM, ‘WHY DON’T YOU SEE A COUNSELOR?’ I DID EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER, AND I TRULY DID!”

Akane seized her own hair and cried out in anguish.

“THAT DEMON MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING! HE CAME TO OUR HOUSE SEVERAL TIMES, OFFERING INSINCERE APOLOGIES! HE MUST HAVE HAD A HAND IN MASAYA’S DEMISE! HE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY THE ONE WHO CAUSED MASAYA’S GIRLFRIEND TO SUFFER A COMA, LEAVING HIM DEVASTATED! THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT TAKU SUGAWARA IS THE ONE WHO DROVE HIM TO DESPAIR! THIS IS UTTERLY UNFORGIVABLE! MASAYA WAS UNDOUBTEDLY AN ANGEL, A BRILLIANT GENIUS WHOSE CHARACTER EARNED UNIVERSAL PRAISE! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THAT DEMON!”

A fit of coughing overtook her, and she collapsed from her chair.

“Mom!”