Chapter 1: Ikari soyoka

From one’s perspective, every life is quite ordinary.

Isn’t that so? Even if the miracle that appeared before my eyes is surprising at first and seems to completely change my life, in the end, I’m bound to adapt to it.

The lives of world-renowned scientists or entrepreneurs might seem glamorous and exceptional to us, but there are also periods where the same day repeats for them.

Yes, adaptation. Humans are inevitably bound to adapt to any situation.

That’s why every life is extremely ordinary, and also has moments of boredom.

That’s why we sometimes seek turning points like travel, or stimulation like new relationships.

Going further from there, one ends up seeking ultimate stimulations like drugs or gambling.

So, if you ask why I’m saying this—

“·······Ikari Soyoka, do you admit your guilt?”

I merely sought new stimulation and tried to make it my daily life.

“I don’t admit it. It’s an overreaction just for reading a few books.”

Don’t you think it’s truly unfair that this situation is the price for that?

I, who had already fully adapted, tossed my long black hair to tidy it and endured the stinging gazes pouring down on me.

Trinity’s court, or more precisely, a place where public interrogations are held.

I stood there in the position of a sinner, standing stiffly with my hands bound.

As if I were a criminal.

“You must know that those books are designated as top-secret forbidden books at Trinity. According to Trinity’s school regulations, touching such forbidden books without the proper review of the highest-ranking clubs is a grave offense, Miss Soyoka.”

“That ‘proper review’ is just them unconditionally rejecting requests for no reason, isn’t it? You can’t even explain why those books are forbidden in the first place, yet you just block them because it’s written in the school regulations… Don’t you think that’s a bit, no, excessively unfair?”

I merely read a few books.

For research purposes.

It was just that they were forbidden books according to school regulations.

‘···········Yet, they can’t even properly interpret them themselves. Why do they still keep them as forbidden books?’

“···There’s no room for remorse, is there? I’ll ask again, Miss Soyoka. Do you admit your crime and promise not to commit the same act in the future?”

“To answer you again, no. I do not admit it, and I cannot promise that.”

“·····In accordance with school regulations, Ikari Soyoka is sentenced to one month in the correctional room. That is all.”

Thud-thud.

Truly, it couldn’t be a more irrational punishment.

At least, that’s what I think.

I merely read a book, and only conducted a little research on it.

As I let the members of the Justice Realization Department, who held my arms, escort me to the correctional room, I quietly pondered to myself.

‘·········No, is researching a bit of ‘Color’ a crime?’