Two days have passed since the first day of school.

My free study, entitled "White Dragon," was selected without question as to the best free study in the class, and the next day it was exhibited as "The Best Work of Class 1 and 2" in the multipurpose hall on the first floor.

My work was popular with all grades, and on the day of the exhibition, many people came to see the dragon.

Even now, two days later, there are still students who come to see my work because of the rumor that it is amazing.

Even now, the White Dragon is still very popular.

I, on the other hand...

"Hey, let's play soccer on the field!"

"Yeah, let's go!"

While most of the students are deepening their relationships with their friends during lunch break, I'm the only one sitting alone in my seat.

Although the event of free research drew a lot of attention, it was only temporary.

Not without change.

From time to time, one of my classmates would ask me how to make a dragon origami, but it was a very difficult project with over 100 steps.

Even when I was in the fifth grade, it took me two months to learn it.

There was no way that these first grade boys, who were probably the most conservative, would be able to do it with just a little instruction.

This is unavoidable, since many first grade boys are selfish and don't know how to be flattering or considerate.

However, I'm not a generous enough person to be convinced by that alone, and I feel irritated.

However, if I were to get angry at the other party for this, I would lose all the results of my free research.

I was still living my life as an outcast, with a lot of anger in my body.

After that day, my reputation among my classmates rose from "just a loner" to "a loner who made something amazing for free research."

But I'm still a loner.

If I don't change this, I'll have to spend the rest of my life at school as the person who made the White Dragon.

I don't want that!

I don't want to end my glorious elementary school life with just one free research!

Damn it, the White Dragon is still popular, but I was only popular for a minute and a half during the presentation.

No, even then, the attention was probably on the White Dragon, not me.

I never thought that my creations would take everything away from me...!

When I completed it, I even had a love for it, but now I hate that White Dragon!

I was still living a lonely school life with an unreasonable hatred towards the white dragon.

――One day.

An incident occurred.

Three days had passed since my free research presentation.

When I arrived at school, as usual, I passed by a crowd of people in the multipurpose hall on the first floor.

Is that white lizard guy becoming popular again?

But it didn't seem to be that way.

Rather than spectators, they were more like onlookers, making a lot of noise.

All eyes were focused on the exhibits, so it must be something related to free research, but I couldn't see the important exhibits because of the crowd.

What the hell is going on?

As I tilted my head from afar.

"Oh, he's here."

"Shouldn't we tell him?"

When the onlookers noticed my presence, their gaze, which had been on the exhibition, shifted to me.

I'm not sure why they're suddenly looking at me.

It's not as if the attention has finally shifted from the white lizard to me!

But that can't be it, I thought calmly.

The fact that they're paying attention to me in this situation means that they're probably on the lookout for something related to my free research.

"Itosaki-kun!"

"Oh, my, Mizui-san..."

As I was being gawked at by the onlookers, my classmate Mizui Hime rushed over to me.

From the way she looked at me, it looked like something was wrong.

"Hey, what's going on? There's a huge onlooker..."

"Actually, Itosaki-kun's free research is in trouble."

"Whi-, the White Dragon?"

I quickly rephrased the name that I had almost misspoken.

I almost said "white lizard". Safe, safe.

"I think it would be faster to have a look at it anyway."

"Ummm...?"

When I was told that, Mizui-san led me towards the exhibit.

The student's onlookers were careful to make way for me as I passed, and I was able to get there without difficulty.

At that time, I got some inexplicable looks from onlookers as if they were looking at something pitiful, and a senior student I didn't know encouraged me "cheer up" for some reason.

Why are they suddenly looking at me so warmly, as if they were looking at a defeated player?

But I knew why as soon as I saw the exhibit.

"......! T-This is......!"

There was no White Dragon as I knew it, but instead the cruelly torn remains of a page from a free book.

The head was cut off, both wings were ripped off, the body was crushed, and the tail was twisted.

There was no longer the original form of the white dragon, only a horribly murdered carcass.

Judging by the way it was killed, it was obvious that it had a strong grudge.

Who the hell is...

............ No, it wasn't me, you know.

Indeed, I didn't think well of this guy in no small part, but I didn't hold a grudge against him to the point of killing him.

I'm the creator of the White Dragon, after all.

I can't do such cruelty to a child.

Besides, I'm not so lowly that I would try to draw attention to myself by acting out such a crime.

Furthermore, I don't want to be noticed as the victim of such an incident.

Please understand that I want to be popular, not to be pitied.

... Who on earth is it?

I was going to speculate on that, but I decided not to.

Let's not look for the culprit. It will only create sadness.

They may have feelings for it, but it's still just a thing. It is said that something tangible will break one day.

I don't want to make a big deal out of this, so I'm going to close the investigation here.

Just like a case doesn't start without a report, it's all over if I, the victim, say that I don't care about it.

I'll take full responsibility for the corpse of the white dragon.

"Hey, should I tell sensei about this?"

"No, I don't think so."

"I know. I mean, it's just awful."

"I mean, it's not too serious."

"That's what we should do! Itosaki-kun will be too pitiful if we don't!"

"No really, I don't mind..."

Against my will, the situation became more and more serious.

Eventually, there were even people who said, "Let's call the police."

Don't use the power of the state for this childish prank!

In fact, this situation doesn't need the police or even a teacher.

It was a simple matter that would be over if I alone was convinced, but the magnitude of the situation kept growing.

The whole school was involved, and the incident, commonly known as the "White Dragon Dismemberment Case," turned into a big deal.

W-What should I do......?