The Advanced Sciences Society

It's now been about a month since my best friend died. No doubt I still miss her but I've long decided to move on. In light of the events which have transpired I have decided to get myself a haircut. I'm going to miss having shoulder length hair but if I want to be useful to my sweetie, I've got to cut off anything that may tie me down. I'm not doing this because he asked me to, he never even asked. I am doing this out of my own volition. Just a week ago I got in contact with the company Doraaki Yona works for, got an interview and now I'm officially a field investigation agent. Heh, looks like my love put in a good word for me after all.

"So, after I'm done with the mission I just report my findings to HQ?"

"Right. Your payment will be delivered via check by mail."

Unlike my previous job, the pay rate and work hours of an investigation agent isn't defined, it's more contractual. To get paid for a job, we look at the board postings and from there we pick a mission we think is within our range of ability to complete, fill in a request and then attempt to complete the task. From what I hear from my co-workers, the payoff for any various mission can range somewhere around 34 thousand yen to 31 million yen, though typically we can expect rewards to be within the range of 90 thousand to 130 thousand yen. That's quite a hefty sum of money, though the amount you'll get paid is also dependent on how thorough and concise your findings are. Additionally, unlike most places of occupation, there are no worker injury compensation, particularly when it comes to Field Agents. It is up to the Field Agents to utilize their own understanding to determine whether or not a situation has become too dangerous for them. Should conflict arise as the result of an investigation, Field agents are permitted to use force, even lethal force should the situation call for it. We're not officers though, we just have a slight advantage when it comes to the ordinary folks, in fact as the result of my new occupation, I'm one of the few teenagers who can legally carry a firearm. Yeah, normally this isn't allowed but through heavy lobbying various groups were able to convince parliament to make a couple of exceptions to the ownership of firearms. Unfortunately, while I am able to legally carry this handgun I'm currently carrying in my holster right now, I can't exactly conceal it. Our permit only allows us to open carry these firearms and because we're carrying these firearms, that means the pressure on whether or not we dealt any physically damaging force will be heightened. It's a payoff.

"Young ma'am. You're not supposed to carry- I see."

Yeah, I get a lot of stares. It is quite unusual for a student to carry a firearm throughout the school. Some of the teachers look apprehensive, though if someone asks, I'll just show them this badge. It's a physical signature of my exemption.

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up?"

"You think you're so tough just because you have a gun?"

"We have you outnumbered."

And I have you outgunned, not that it matters since I don't even know how to use this thing.

"If you boys are done talking I'd like for you to move. I have business to attend to."

"Aw, this chick thinks she's better than us."

"Please get your hands off of me."

"Why don't you make me?"

"Very well."

"Augh!"

"You bitch! Eat this!"

"No! Careful with- Ouwch!"

"Grab her!"

"-ngh! Not in the balls."

Hmm. This could be problematic. I brought this gun so I could defend myself though it appears as though I've become a target. Maybe I shouldn't have brought this gun to school after all.

Log 1257

Ugh. That's 14 groups of hooligans who've tried physically harassing me today. This is way more than I've ever had to experience. I'm currently eating my lunch here by the side of the shed. I just hope he'll show up soon-er, wait. Is that him? Is that Yona with a bunch of girls? What's senpai doing over there? He's.. no. I don't think he's..

"Ladies, ladies. I'd love to stay and chat but I really need to eat my lunch."

Ugh! Are they offering him food? Are they trying to steal him away from me?!

"Senpai, senpai! Come, come. Try my fried calamari I made."

"No, no. Have a bite of my potsticker."

"Eheh, I appreciate the gesture but-"

"Amateurs. Heh, you girls are all amateurs."

"What was that?!"

'Are you talking trash about us? What would you know? You're just an ame-koh."

"Yeah. Who invited you to this table anyways?"

"I invited myself."

"So rude."

"Hmph. If you got a problem with me sitting here, you should take it up with me. Besides, unlike y'all I can cook more than just Asian food."

"Why you-"

"Plus are you trying to impress him? What with that small boob size of yours?"

"Yours is not much bigger than ours."

"It doesn't matter though."

"Huh?"

"Because unlike all of you, I actually have a relationship with him. You're all just a bunch of thirsty fans. I know him personally."

"Wha? Is it true?"

"She's bluffing. There's no way that American could ever hope to have a relationship with senpai."

"Speaking of which, where is senpai?"

Log 1321

Is it true? Is senpai in a personal relationship with that girl?

"Senpai, answer me truthfully. Are you in a relationship with that girl?"

"I thought you wanted to ask me how to use a gun."

"I do, it's just that.."

"There's no need to worry about it. Yeah, there's no point denying it. I'm in a relationship with her."

"Wha-"

"Mind you, it's only a platonic relationship. We haven't even kissed yet."

"So you're still-"

"Yeah, you can say that."

Whew. What a relief, but still. Why do I get the feeling he's hiding something from me?

Log 1347

3 days have passed since Yona started training me on how to use a firearm. I also finally managed to get that Daito-ryu training I've been interested in. Yona, he's a good teacher and even though he's around my age, he's my senior by only a couple of months, he has a maturity unlike most of my peers, heck even adults.

"So, notice anything?"

"Yes. I don't know if it's just me, but I'm counting way less male students."

"Exactly."

"The question is why is this the case?"
"Some students are known for skipping out. Add the fact that our school has frequent run in with the local street gangs and it's not hard to see why so many students may disappear."

"Yeah, but it doesn't explain why the majority of these disappearing students are male. Why not females?"
"There is another thing. This male population decrease isn't just limited to our school."

"What?"

"Well I'm not sure if it's connected but unless 10's of thousands of Japanese decided to just vacate our city all at once, well still. It's rather unnerving."

"So, mass kidnapping?"

"Let's not jump the gun just yet but from what I've gathered, we should proceed with the notion that if the males aren't leaving en masse on their own accord, then something or rather someone is targeting them."
"But for what purpose?"

"I don't know, and that's why the Organization wants to find out."

"So we don't have any leads-"

"Actually, I do have one."
"What is it?"

"Are you aware of the Advanced Sciences Society club?"

"That wannabe science development club? Why would I pay attention to them? Besides, I thought their club closed a long time ago due to not having enough members."

"That was back then, however that wasn't the only reason why it got closed."

"What was it?"

"There's actually 2 Advanced Sciences Society clubs, or should I say there used to be."

"Huh? Wait. What does this have to do with the conversation?"

What is senpai trying to get at? What's so special about an after school social club to warrant attention from us?

"You see those 2 boys there? They've just joined the Advanced Sciences Society club. I'll bet you anything that by Friday they would have disappeared."

"What makes you think this Advanced Sciences Society club has anything to do with the disappearance of our male population?"
"I don't know. As far as I can tell, all I'm relying on is just correlation."

"I think you're overthinking it."

"Maybe, but it's hard to deny it when 30% of the missing male population had been noted to have joined the Advanced Sciences Society sometime in their past, their most recent past."

"Is that surprising?"

"It's of significant value, a common thread if you will."

"So how are you planning on unraveling this?"

This Society sounds dangerous. I can't believe our school is allowing them to run like this. Something really rotten must be going on around here.
"I'm going to join them."

"What? But that's crazy! What if they truly are behind the male population super decrease? If something were to happen to you, I don't know what I'd do. Isn't there another way?"

That look. He looks determined. Reckless, utterly reckless. What is he thinking? This Society sounds dangerous and he wants to investigate them? Why? If his suspicions are correct, then wouldn't they silence him? I can't let that happen. I've already lost one person important to me and I'm not about to lose another.

"If you're that determined, then I'm going with you."

"Thank you, Aoi."

I don't like this, but I'll do it. In order to secure my happiness I'll go forward with it. He's mine, my precious. I have to protect him. I want to ensure a future where we are together, in harmony, peace, love.

Log 1314

"Hi, is this the registration desk for the Advanced Sciences Society? I've heard you're still accepting new recruits, is this correct?"

Right now senpai and I are talking to the recruiting agent of the Advanced Sciences Society, a teacher with blond hair tied in a bun.

"Yes, are you two interested in joining?"

"Oh certainly. I've heard a lot about the innovations your club has to offer and I just couldn't resist standing in the sidelines any longer. I wish to help improve our understanding of the sciences even further."

"And you ma'am?"

"I'm his girlfriend."

"I see, I see. You know, your boyfriend's quite popular in this school, isn't he? You've got a young lady killer next to you. Best keep an eye on him."

"Eheh, I hope you're not insinuating that I'm some sort of playboy."

"I was just teasing you. By the way,"

"Hm?"

"Do you mind if I ask the two of you how you found out about our Society?"

"I heard it from a friend."

"A friend you say. And would you say this friend of yours is a member of our Society?"

"I honestly don't know. My friend is in plenty of social clubs but they also tend to keep their true membership a secret even from me. My guess is maybe."

She's studying us. I don't like how she's looking at us.

"So when would you like to take the initiation ceremony?"

"The what now?"

"Ah, my bad. Since your friend mentioned about the Advanced Sciences Society to you I only assume they also mentioned about how recruits are accepted."

"Ah no. They mentioned nothing of the sort."

"Very well. You two. Follow me to the teacher's lounge."

This is crazy! Are we really doing this? What does she have in mind for the two of us? I can only hope it's nothing bad.

Log 1321