Mission: Experiment

“We’ve got extra time today, so I decided on something different for today,” spoke Takeshi, his voice flat, but the class straightened anyway.

I can use the extra substitution time. This way I can study them.

Many puzzled faces looked at him, but also some just stared at Aimi Tsukamoto. It was her first day after a few weeks of absence. Even in silence, attention followed hierarchy.

She is certainly treated differently than others. Back in the military, we were all the same. Cheer together. Die together. There was no room for things like favoritism.

“Uhm… Sensei? Would you mind explaining what that means?” asked Akio with his usual, perfect smile and a straight posture.

“We’ll conduct an experiment regarding visual perception.”

Takeshi didn’t look at him, his eyes flicked for a second to locate the voice, but in less than a second, he turned his attention back to the class.

A ripple of astonished whispers spread. Some irritated, some full of expectation.

“Mind explaining the rules?” spat Mari, her tone sharp enough to count as protest. She jerked her hand forward, an impatient ‘go-on’ without words.

“I will draw three lines now. Each of them with different lengths.
Then I’ll add another one and you decide which one matches it. We start at the left front row, and everyone tells his answer out loud. No talking until we’re done.”

Light screeching as the chalk finished the last line. The gray sky outside dimmed the room, the lines on the board bathed in a faint, uneven light.

Questioning looks got exchanged between them and some answered with shrugs.

A brief second was needed until the silence settled. The uncertainty and doubt creeped across the floor, like a snake brushing ankles.

Takeshi watched quietly. Pressure spreading, control shifting, just as intended.

“This will affect your grades, if no questions left, let’s begin,” said Takeshi, straighten his posture as if he would observe a test.

I don’t like lying to them. But it’s necessary…

A little screech and the fourth line were on the board. Each of the three original lines were numbered with A to C. The white dust of the chalk stuck to his gloved fingers, a witness of his doings.

Takeshi pointed at the front left row, where a boy sat with short black hair and a loose tie around his neck. He flinched a little but soon recovered.

“Ah… I think C has the same length,” he said with newfound confidence.

The teachers gazed to the next student in line. His head moved like a machine, controlled, without hesitation.

“C”

“It’s C.”

“I think C too.”

Each in a row, the answers came flying at him. Until now, it seemed obvious that C is the correct answer, as there weren’t any other.

Takeshi noticed furring brows and puzzled looks in the back row. Something seemed off. Even though they weren’t allowed to, some began to whisper.

***

Three left until it’s my turn. Ugh… What shall I say? I am sure A is correct, but... but everyone else says it’s C. Or am I just wrong? They must be right. It’s me. I am at fault here.

Ayaka sat in the second row at the window. The overcast light drained her face of color. Even the sky seemed to hide her expression. She wildly fumbled with her fingers and while her head kept low, she tried to sneak a peek at the people around her.

Okay, calm down. Calm down. I’ll look at the board again.

She squeezed her eyes, hoping it would change her perception.

It is still A! Why? I mean, even the class rep said it’s C. It must be true. They can’t all be wrong… right?

Her fingers moved faster, trembling.

“Ikehara-san.”

The voice sliced through her thoughts. Sharp. Cold. Exact. Like a scalpel at work.

“Huh?!”

A shiver went down her spine and every muscle tensed up. She could feel the stares in her neck. The silence was deafening, even her racing heartbeat drummed so loud she could barely hear herself breathe.

I should hurry! Everyone is waiting for my answer… but…

Her eyes wandered over her desk, restless and unable to focus. Until she noticed the faint carvings on the worn, wooden surface. Shallow, uneven lines where it had been cut into the surface. Her fingertips brushed the cold, jagged grooves. Some letters overlapped, carved into the wood by someone who wanted to make sure she would never forget. Every time she saw those, she felt a sting in her back.

Just die!

Disappear!

You criminal!

But then the weight pressing on her shoulders vanished.
She straightened her back, bracing herself for what was to come.

Why do I care? They hate me. I am not part of this class anyway. My answer wouldn’t change anything.

Dry lips parted and a faint whisper left her mouth. Her expression blank and lifeless. Her eyes signaled nothing but indifference as she looked at Takeshi, but as soon as their eyes met, she spoke.

“A…”

Murmurs rippled through the room. The stares grew heavier until Takeshi’s gaze met hers for less than a second. He didn’t react and just nodded, as if he had expected this answer.

Ayaka lowered her head again. Hands shaking, not from fear, but from knowing that nothing she said would change anything.

                                                                                      ***

“Hey Nao-chan, is she dumb? It’s obviously C! I can’t stand her.”

“Yeah, I get you,” Naomi muttered, her tone sharp but a little loud. She wanted everyone to hear. “Always tryin’ to stand out… that bitch. Maybe I should slap some sense into her!”

Behind Naomi sat Mari who leaned forward, whispering something to her friends.

“Guess she wants attention,” snorted Mari with a mocking tone.

“Seems like it,” said Naomi, still staring at Ayaka’s back.

Her fists tightened, something restless flickering in her eyes

“Ah, of course… you’re dumb, arent’cha? Say, do you hope to be special giving another answer than everybody else?” Naomi blurted out load, directly confronting Ayaka.

Ayaka didn’t turn around. Didn’t even flinch. Kameko and Mari giggled behind their hands.

Everyone else kept silent and the air grew thick; you could slice it with a knife.

No reaction followed. Some students had concerned looks on their faces, but no one said anything. Aimi was irritated because she didn’t know the dynamic in this class. It was only her second day at this school.

Why doesn’t she say something? What’s wrong with her!? Just say something!

Anything would have felt better than blank silence. Rhythmically the clock ticked, that was the only noise filling the room. Naomi crossed her arms, impatiently moving her Lollipop from side to side. Her brows were furrowed with a grim expression.

The mood changed and many students seem to hesitate even more while answering. The air still thick and many started to fumble with their fingers.

It was the next students’ turn who answered like the majority. Most of them did. Even Aimi called it out.

“Well, I want to be at everyone side. I go with C too,” she said with a cheerful voice, folding her hand in front of her chest.

“Aaaah… as expected of our princess!” blurted Daisuke so everybody could hear.

“Bro, you’re such an idiot. Hahaha!” commented the guy next to him.

“Hehe. Can’t deny it,” a smile bashed over his face.

Tsk, this idiot… of course he would say that. Everyone loves our little star. So shiny and perfect. Boohoo… she has nothing but looks. Such a pain!

A few minutes went by until…

It’s my turn, huh? Don’t even need to look at the lines. Impossible that everyone makes it wrong. I go with the group.

“C. obviously…” Naomi said with confidence, shrugging.

Kameko joined in with a wide grin.

“Same!”

Kichiro Araki, a slightly chubby, stereotypical nerd was last in line, and his answer threw the class off.

“It’s A. I’m sure about that.”

Murmur went through the class. Some turned around and cold stares fixed on him.

What? Another idiot? Well… what did I expect from this nerd.

Naomi spoke before she noticed it herself.

“Wanna be the same idiot as her? You sure about that?” she said sharply.

Kichrio was a little thrown off, but it didn’t take him long to answer.

“Nah, I just do what I think is right. That’s what heroes do!”

“Yeah, you definitely look like a hero… who are you? Dango-man?”

What a child. Time to grow up, kiddo.

Some giggled while others stared in silence. Kichiro looked like he wouldn’t be affected at all.

“Not the worst. At least every girl would think of me as a snack,” he shot back with a cheeky grin.

Naomi blinked, realizing half a second too late that he’d just turned her insult into a compliment.

…What?

Before she could respond, laughter filled the room.

“Ok… I haven’t expected that!” Daisuke’s eyes were watering as he gasped for air between fits of derisive laughter.

Others joined in his laugh, as if he had enabled the fun in here. Somehow, the uncomfortable feeling seemed to lighten a bit.

She tried to catch a glimpse on her friend but only found them giggling too.

Tsk, this is bullshit…

                                                                              ***

Time to wrap this up.

“Listen up. Everyone has given an answer now. A has the same length as the fourth one.”

Takeshi’s voice was calm, rational and measured. He stood before the class, hands behind his back, scanning the rows.

Many looked irritated, some already knowing and a few in disbelief.

“Eh? But Sensei… do you mean every one of us were wrong?”

“Hey, hey, he said it would affect our grades. Does it mean we failed?”

“Gotta be some trick. Can’t be anything else,” commented another student, turning in his chair to face the class.

“You aren’t wrong about that,” Takeshi nodded admitted, “but not right either.”

The room seemed to grow colder.

I don’t want to keep them in suspense any longer.

“I’ll explain. First: I lied. Your grades aren’t affected. I just wanted you to take this seriously. Second: This wasn’t about visual perception. It was a test on conformity.”

“What?! Why’d you lie? That’s unfair!”

“Yeah, how’re we supposed to get it right when you tricked us?”

He took a deep breath before he continued.

“The goal was never accuracy,” Takeshi said, “I briefed the first fifteen of you before class, told them to give the wrong answer on purpose. The rest followed their lead. And two people didn’t.”

He paused. “You saw what happened to them.”

Takeshi noticed Naomi avoided his gaze. She was staring at the ground, clenching her fists.

“Truth isn’t a matter of consensus. It doesn’t bend under voices or numbers. It simply exists, like it or not. The majority chose wrong. Not out of ignorance, but out of fear. You saw what was right, and yet you followed what was safe.”

Slowly but steady, he walked between the rows like an officer inspecting his unit. His presence carried no weight, no sound and yet, everyone straightened the moment he passed.

“That’s human nature. We seek warmth, even if it means hiding behind lies. We choose comfort over clarity, belonging over truth. But said truth does not care who agrees. It remains what it is, no matter what.”

Everyone clung to his words, no one dared to miss a syllable.

“Conformity feels like harmony. Until it becomes obedience. And obedience, when left unquestioned, has always led humans to ruin.”

His gaze drifted to the window, though it wasn’t focused on anything. He seemed to recall something distant, something that could never be reached.

“Remember this. The moment you stop thinking for yourself, someone else will do it for you. And this rarely ends well. It’s normal to go with the flow. But you can’t blame everyone else because you did.”

I had to learn that myself.

The hard way.

“It is better to learn that beforehand. Think about consequences, and the meaning of a decision. You have to deal with them… and there is no turning back time.”

Turning back time. I wish… I could.