CH 9

——-Arakawa Kouki’s Perspective——

Today, we are having our first test in the academy. depending on how fast we complete this test, the number of hours of lectures we must attend will change.

In this academy, in order to advance in one’s field of expertise, individual curricula are put together.

At the start of every year, students take an examination, and students with high scores in certain subjects will have those subject exempt from their curriculum. For example, Saitou-kun is extremely skilled in electrical engineering so he would be exempt from Mathematics and Computer courses.

As for Alice-chan, since pharmaceuticals are her field of expertise, she would be exempt from taking chemistry, English and German, I think.

By the way, as for me…. ….I have no strong points!

Though with that said, I don’t think I’d be able to keep up with this academy’s classes anyways.

Should I give up gracefully?

No, I’ve finally made some friends, I should try my best.

Recently Alice has been sending me email nearly every night……after all that I don’t want to do something like leaving the academy.

And there’s Saitou-kun too…..

So I studied intensely. I only had Saturday and Sunday, but I pulled out an old textbook and studied it!

And on the first day of testing….

「…………..」

I can’t read the questions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eh? Why are the questions even in English?

If you ask me a math question in English like that, How the hell should I know what to do?!!

What are you, stupid? I’m far from bilingual!

Though it is called the International Language, so I guess if it’d be used anywhere, here would be the place.

Ah, That’s right. this place is called 『International Institute of Technology』Isn’t it? (Formerly translated as State Technology Academy)

That’s right isn’t it, English is obviously the standard isn’t it.

But you know, why aren’t we all using English in normal conversations?

I mean, even in classes shouldn’t the teacher be teaching in English?

Though if they had used it I would have been troubled…..

Having such a thought, I look at the test before me.

「Na, Nah-meh?….. no, name huh」

I probably found where I should write my name, but whether I’m right or not I’m not sure. No, you get me right? For example, when you are trying to access a ‘pink’ site intended for adults, and a link suddenly throws you into a page where everything is written in english!

You wouldn’t quite know what you are supposed to do at that time, right?

That! That’s how I feel right now.

But I can’t use the Browser’s ‘back’ button in this situation, so in the end I am severely troubled.

Looks like I’m gonna have to turn in a blank paper….. I decided.

At lunchtime, I’m sipping ramen in the cafeteria.

Before my eyes, I see Alice eating pasta, making『Mokyu ♪ Mokyu ♪』sound and healing me.

Next to me, Saitou-kun is devouring his pork cutlet as if he were a beast.

Eat more neatly when in front of a lady! Alice-chan suddenly returned my gaze

「What’s wrong? you look like you are thinking about something.」

Somehow she seems to have heard my thoughts, but I’m unable to come up with a proper response.

It’d be fine for Alice-chan to speak in English on a daily basis but for me it’s impossible!

With my inner heart crying, I look at Alice-chan and a thought came to mind: can Saitou-kun use English? When I asked him he replied,

「Don’t make fun of me! Obviously you’d need English to get into this academy.」

Saitou-kun and Alice-chan look at me with faces saying 『What are you even saying?』.

I’m sorry I can’t even do such basic things. I’m depressed because I wasn’t able to face the test this afternoon properly.

—-Roberta-sensei’s Perspective—-

Again…., The test has begun once again, I thought.

And Arakawa-kun, with a difficult face, was folded his arms in front of a blank test.

The test right now’s purpose is just to confirm basic knowledge, so it’s degree of difficulty is not high. And yet he has yet to answer any questions, he hasn’t even written his name.

Since I thought his health might have been bad,  I stopped by him and Arakawa-kun slowly opened his eyes.

「……」

Eh!? He glared at me with piercing eyes, It was as if those eyes were saying:

‘Don’t come near me’

Because of this I avoided looking at Arakawa-kun during the test out of fear.

When the test ended, I went to report this matter to the academy director, and in a hurried confusion the director made a call to someplace, and then turned towards me.

「I’ll talk to Arakawa-kun, leave this matter to me.」

That’s what he said to me. Even though I’m his home room teacher…….. I’m gradually becoming less confident in myself.

—-Arakawa Kouki’s Perspective—-

During the afternoon test, I was trying to come up with some sort of excuse, but no inspiration came.

And as I was at it, Roberta-sensei came to see my situation.

I hadn’t written a single answer and I was completely silent, but when she saw my face she showed a troubled expression, her eyes became watery and she turned away.

I guess that’s about right, it’s embarrassing for a student to be unable to answer a single question on a test.

I guess being kicked out is for the best. I mean in the first place I’m not suited for this academy anyways. But I’m sorry mother, for not meeting your expectations after you enrolled me here.

I was thinking that sort of thing while unsteadily wandering the academy, and I somehow found myself at the faculty tower.

I guess I’ll go home, and have an honest talk with mother. As I was thinking that, when I tried to turn away,

「1-S, Arakawa Kouki-kun, Please report to the Director’s office as soon as possible.」

A broadcast came. This is as far as it goes huh? Having already given up hope, I knock on the Director’s door that stood before me.

Once I enter the room, the Director seemed surprised at my immediate appearance.

「Please sit over there」

The Director gestures towards a chair. while sitting face-to-face with the Director, I was perplexed over how to break the ice, so I began to speak without sugar-coating my words.

「I think I’m going to quit school. This academy is not suitable for me.」(Fraiziar: Yeah, you totally wont get misunderstood when you phrase it THAT way *rolls eyes*)

After I said that, the Director’s face clearly distorted…… Well that makes sense.

No matter how world-famous a prodigy I am, It’s obvious I entered this academy without having any sort of talent or gift. Such a stain on the academy is unacceptable, and would damage the dignity of the institution.

Although this isn’t a matter that can simply be solved by apologizing, for now I’ll just have to lower my head and leave the academy. …Is what I thought, but the Director spoke.

「I apologize, Arakawa-kun! It’s all because I failed to explain the situation to the person responsible for the advanced department! 」(Fraiziar: I translated 高等部 as ‘Advanced department’ instead of ‘high-class department’ because it sounds better to me.)

She suddenly bowed. I stiffened up from surprise as she continued do list excuses.

「It really wasn’t necessary for you to take the test in the first place. It was an error in communication, the person responsible will immediately be disposed of so I ask you to please forget this ever happened.」

What do you mean I didn’t need to take the test? Rather, what do you mean by disposal!?

「There was a misunderstanding because you didn’t need to take the test. Since you are a special student, I’m fine with you choosing your courses, only ethics classes are mandatory. That’s all the academy asks of you」

Oh I see, That makes sense.

I entered this academy without regards to my grades, and I’m being treated as a scholarship student! That makes sense, it’s not like I’d get into a place called the 『International Institute of Technology』just from my mother’s say so.

It’s such a simple thing now that I think about it, Why didn’t I realize it earlier?

The ethics classes are probably there to tell us『Not to do bad things』, so I guess I have to take it.

Ahhh, I’m relieved.  Now I won’t have to worry my mother,  and I can still meet Alice-chan every day.

And Saitou-kun…… yeah, well whatever. (Fraiziar: Wtf bro, cherish your friends! xD)

yeah, and there isn’t any need to punish the person responsible! Everyone makes mistakes, so please be careful next time. When I said that, the Director’s face was relieved.

「Thank you」

And showed me an amazing smile.

—-Kaoru Yamamoto’s Perspective—

When I heard the story about Arakawa-kun during testing time from Roberta-sensei, I nearly fainted.

To give that 『Arakawa Kouki』the academy exam!

Even though I explained in advance that it wasn’t needed, it seems the message hadn’t been received…..

And yet, Roberta-sensei came and told me that he was acting upset with his arms crossed and a blank answer sheet.

She seemed so frightened by his stare, she was unable to do anything more than report it to me.

I’ll complain to the person responsible later, I let Roberta-sensei out and sent a message through the academy’s secret dedicated line that has been prepared since Arakawa-kun’s enrollment

「It’s Yamamoto, There has been an emergency. Is everything prepared on your end?」

On the other end of the conversation was the operator from the self-defense military. (Fraiziar: the Jieitai-「自衛隊」 is the Japanese Self Defense Force in real life, but in this novel 「自衛軍」is used, which roughly translates to self-defense military, or self-defense army, from what I can tell it has a more war-oriented/powerful name, since 隊 sorta means corps, while 軍 means army.)

「Currently, there are three units on standby that are prepared to sortie right away. Please issue your instructions through this line, The advance team will arrive in eight minutes.」

200 fully armed soldiers….., Although it isn’t enough to relieve my worries, I suppose I will have to have faith.

「I’ll leave it to you all. Whatever happens, I thank you for your cooperation」

As I said that, I broke communication. Next, I need to find a way to appease Arakawa-kun…..

「1-S, Arakawa Kouki-kun, Please report to the Director’s office as soon as possible.」

Too fast! I don’t want him over where I am yet! I need to prepare my hear–

Kon, kon (Knock Knock)

Arakawa-kun, why are you here already!? Calmly, respond calmly.

It’s not like he will press some sort of launch button and fire something, right? It’s important we resolve everything through discussion.

「Please sit over there」

I motioned for him to sit in a chair and he quietly sat down.

What do I do?

Before I could say anything, he began speaking.

「I think I’m going to quit school.  This academy is not suitable for me.」

That intense expression, it was as if he was shooting me to death with his gaze. I wonder if he’s thinking 『You think I’ll stay in a place as low-level as this??』.

But that wasn’t the case.

Since early childhood, the abnormal Arakawa-kun has again and again made discoveries and created inventions, so that test earlier was only a formality.

I wanted to shout this out, but I’m sure if I were to say that I’d die…… Rather, the institute itself may be blown away.

I couldn’t keep my face from distorting in despair as I thought about such a thing.

At moment, textual data began to stream into my Contact-model display monitor.(Fraiziar: Contact model, as in it’s a monitor built inside contacts)

『Advanced Team has arrived, Evacuation of students….completed. Students have been told it is an evacuation drill』

Now I can get into full-blown negotiations! Thinking so, I began speaking to Arakawa-kun.

「I apologize, Arakawa-kun! It’s all because I failed to explain the situation to the person responsible for the advanced department! 」

It seems he was willing to lend an ear.

I continue, explaining,

that he doesn’t need to take the test.

That I’ll dispose of the person responsible.

And that I’d like it if he would act as if this had never happened.

After thinking for a moment, he consented and agreed with everything, and he also said that it was unnecessary to dispose of the person responsible.

For that alone, I am truly grateful, since the person in charge was a veteran of the institute who has held a teaching position for many years.

That talented person is very valuable…… I say, coming from the bottom of my heart,

「Thank you」

And I was able to express my thankfulness.

—-Arakawa Kouki’s Perspective—-

Emergency evacuation drills were occurring as I left the office, so I guess Alice-chan and Saitou-kun have already left for today. I guess I’ll go home too, I thought.

I climbed into the usual car that picked me up.

「Welcome back, Kouki-kun」

There was that one skin head from some time ago…….

I tried to get out from the car, but there were already two skinheads sitting on either side of me.

Rather, are the skinheads multiplying!? What? Are they self-propagating?

Recently it had only been women, so I was caught off guard.

Furthermore, Yesterday I was on my personal terminal and tried to look at my favorite file, but without me realizing it, strange data started appearing…. it was like a horror movie!

I was sure I had seen that woman in that swimsuit before somewhere too…

While escaping reality, I trembled and went back home.

(Author’s note that I can’t quite translate properly, but doesn’t seem to be too important since it’s about his release schedule or something, and this note is from 2014)  　活動報告のほうにも書きましたが、隔日投稿がものすごい不評なので今までのように投稿していきます。ですが2話投稿して1日休んだり、長いお話をどんって投稿したりするのでその辺はご容赦ください。