For a long time, I've always wondered: is learning important?

I mean, if I've learned and understood the basic material— is that enough?

For now, my answer is yes and no: why?

In the world I live in today, there are so many things that need to be learned. One example is basic math: like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

That's why the answer yes is reserved for my own interests— if I'm really interested in basic math, then I'll develop it. So that makes basic math much more interesting.

Actually, the two answers are almost exactly the same, because the no answer is also for my own interests— if I feel that math is very boring, then I don't need to study it further.

My name is Keichi Yamamoto, or Keichi as he's called by others— as I've discussed earlier, I've always been focused on two things: learning and interest.

According to experts, interest is a drive that causes an individual's attention to be tied to a particular object such as work, study, objects, or people.

So like that, I will do something seriously or not based on the interest that arises in me.

If you think about it, learning and interest are interconnected— without learning anything, I will never be interested. And vice versa— without interest, I would never think of learning anything.

That's it, I overthink it. But if I don't think about it, then I'll get sleepy.

I'm currently in the school hall where the new students are being welcomed by the principal— along with a few other teachers, it looks like the student council president is also welcoming the new students.

The principal gave a speech that was too long, so not many of the new students felt bored and sleepy while listening to his speech— myself included.

"Well, this is all I have to say. Thank you for your attention!"

It was finally over.

Now the student council president took the stage with his dashing body.

After delivering a speech that could be a cure for insomnia, the principal now invited the student council president to give a welcome speech.

I could only hope that the student council president would give a short speech without the need to elaborate.

"Good morning, new students! Before I welcome you all, I have a few things to say."

Ah, here we go— the things to say are bound to be boring.

I don't think I can continue to be here, because I have no interest in these ridiculous speeches from the school.

There's nothing to learn from there, which is why I call it silly.

So, what should I do now?

Of course, the only answer was to leave the school hall and head to the restroom.

I'm sure that I won't get scolded if I get permission to go to the restroom. Even if the teachers told me not to, there were a few threats I could make: one of them being that I would pee in my pants and cause a bad smell from there.

It was just a threat and I wasn't really going to do it. If that fails, then the only option is to sneak around without getting caught.

"Is the student council president the future king?"

"I heard so, he's very talented in all fields!"

Future king?

Student council president?

Just as I was about to turn around and go to the restroom, I overheard the student next to me saying that the student council president is the future king.

That made me a little curious— what is a future king?

No, before knowing that— I actually felt very strange in this world.

Why am I here?

Do I go to school here?

I told him that I wanted to learn a lot of new things— and as a result, I was stranded in this school.

Ah, that's right.

The sheets of paper that were given to me, I answered them happily. Although it was difficult because I had no interest in answering them, I was able to answer them all in the end.

Wait, I seem to have realized something!

That person, who is he?

Why don't I remember him?

Ah, this is really serious.

For some reason, my head hurts a lot right now.

No, not now!

AAGGHH!!!

In the end, I collapsed like an exhausted person from running non-stop.

***

"Keichi, get up!"

Faintly, I heard someone's voice.

"How long are you going to pretend to be asleep?!"

The voice sounded louder and louder, as if it was angry.

No, no!

I'll get beaten up if I don't wake up soon!

I have to wake up immediately!

Eh?

I can't move my body!

What's wrong?

Why is this happening?!

"I TOLD YOU TO GET UP DIDN'T I?!!!"

AHH!!!

Ouch, it hurts!

Please stop!

Several wooden punches flew at my body. Even though I couldn't see them because my eyes were closed, I could still feel the hard blows from the wooden blocks.

Please move, my body!

I tried my hardest to get my body to move and wake up from my short sleep.

Ah, this is it.

After feeling the pain from the multiple blows of the wooden beam— I was finally able to open my eyes, followed by the rest of my body.

When my eyes managed to open, I could see a person wearing a plain white shirt holding a white wooden block. It was certain that he was the one who woke me up this time.

His face looked very angry— while holding the wooden block tightly, he gave me a sharp look.

Of course, I was terrified by it. My body shook violently and I could feel that my tears were coming out a little.

"Stand up!"

Then I was given the order to stand up by him.

I couldn't refuse because he was the ruler in this room, or perhaps it was called the king.

"Maybe it's time. Keichi Yamamoto, you're 16 years old now. Please, become the king of Japan's number one high school: it's called Nihonggo High School."

What was he talking about?

I really don't understand.

Ah, he's approaching!

My body immediately shook more violently as he approached me, but he let go of the wooden block from his hand. Instead, he took out a few pieces of paper from her bag and gave them to me.

Puzzled, I accepted the sheets of paper and read them.

"That paper is your first step to becoming king."

"W-what do you mean?"

I ventured to ask, even though I couldn't look at his face clearly because I was too scared.

"This has already taken too many casualties. I no longer want to do it on the basis of carrying out orders. That's why, Keichi, with the provisions you've prepared from the beginning of your stay here, become the king of Nihonggo High School and expose the depravity of this place!"

He was crying?

What exactly is the point of all this?

He's been torturing me for 16 years, and he's crying in front of me now?

I didn't understand any of this, but he seemed sincere in his words— so I felt that what he said was the truth.

"You want to learn new things, don't you? I think it's the right place."

"Wa-wait!"

Where is she going?

"Wait for me!"

He disappeared just like that along with the bright light that followed him.

"Huh!"

Eh?

Where am I?

I looked around.

"Oh, are you awake?"

"Who are you?"

A woman came up to me, it seemed like she was a teacher who had taken care of me— that meant, I was in the infirmary right now.

Honestly, I still don't understand many things in this world. Therefore, now is a good time to find out by learning through interest.