Chapter 3: Kurohoro - Gambling resolve for knowhow

"Stay there and wait a few minutes. And don't say anything. And don't touch anything!"

"Okay."

"I said complete silence!"

"O-okay?"

"Hmpf."

Afternoon, Star cross academy's alchemy lab.

Because the academy is no more than an indoctrination program that tries to create super-soldiers with as little resources as possible, we students are, of course, expected to branch ourselves out on a variety of specialized subjects. We students are also, of course, expected to do this out of our love and loyalty to the corporate benefactor, so it's assumed we'll do this on our own without the academy's input.

There is admittingly a strong variety of facilities for us to use, like a shooting range, a swimming pool, a swordsmith, a fitness room—And the chemistry lab, for shinobi who want to learn more about poisons and acid, stuff like that.

I rarely used any of them, though. My sole focus is to train in martial arts and fighting sports. I'm not really the type of guy to take an interest in unknown hobbies at random.

Stick with what's known, I'd say.

Too bad, that is precisely what got me in this predicament in the first place.

"hmm… Okay."

"Okay?"

"I'm finished." Kurohoro said. She cleaned her hands in the sink before grabbing the flask she had just finished preparing, and walked up to my face to shove the flask right in front of me.

"Drink this."

"...What?"

"What do you mean, 'what?' Drink it, Come on."

"H-hold on, you're the academy's poison expert, right? What are you trying to pull?!"

The girl in front of me is Kurohoro, another member of the Zodiac committee. A third year, so she has almost the same position as Leo. Although she only joined the academy a short while ago, from what I've heard.

Like all members of the zodiac committee, Kurohoro is a school-celebrity. Quite infamous, in fact.

So infamous that the students have already thought up a suitable nickname for her. "The iron maiden." At first I thought it was an unclever, cliché title, but after meeting Kurohoro in person I could see the link.

"Are you trying to kill me?!" I cautiously stepped backwards.

"Come on! Sip it!"

"N-no! Why should I?"

"What reason would I have had for allowing you to enter otherwise?"

"Because I was the one who asked if I could enter, not you!" I said.

"Okay, then let me rephrase myself; what other reason would I've had for letting you in?"

"Are you the devil!?"

Kurohoro sighed, arms crossed. "Fine. What was it you wanted?"

"Why should I tell you now?! You're obviously planning on saying no!"

"Sure am."

"She didn't even defend herself?!"

Not only was Kurohoro specialised in lethal poisons, she was also a pro at venom of the verbal variety.

She and Ginrei must get along just nifty. Or they probably don't get along at all.

"Let me guess. You want me to teach you how to pass the chemistry adept course this semester. That's it, right?"

"Eh... Well..." She was right on the money. Like she could read minds. There are a lot of rumours about Kurohoro's abilities, but mind reading was one of the more unbelievable ones. "How'd you know?"

"Heh. I heard you got sacked for kicking another poor guy's head in. For the third time this week." She chuckled while saying that. It felt in poor taste to me. "Really, all you can do is charge straight at things like some kind of monkey."

"H-hey! How was I supposed to know he wasn't guarding himself?!"

Guess that rumour was already making the rounds…

I got chastised for being too forceful during sparring again. The teachers were all yelling at me about how I was wasting my time training so excessively that not even my seniors could keep up anymore. So, to make sure I wouldn't 'waste my damn time,' they gave me an ultimatum—Get punished, or pass an exam for any other praxis subject by the end of this semester.

They were forcing me to stop training by making me study for the rest of the entire semester, basically.

Seeing this forced diversion as kind of a huge problem, I asked Leo for advice. She was the one who pointed me here and recommended Kurohoro. Leo said she was 'quite the skilled little helper.'

I knew her judgement on people was poor, but not that poor.

Kurohoro narrowed her eyes. "I can see that passing the course is a problem. But what I don't get is why you're asking me."

"Well... You're specialised in poisons and have the highest grades in it, right? So I—"

"So you what? There are multiple sophomore students who're having trouble with this exam. Does that mean that because I have the highest grades, I should help every single one of them?"

"Well, you could help some, at least…"

"Oh, really? And why should that specifically be you? Then I'll go ahead and help someone else."

She called me out for being selfish. And she has a point. Just because she has the highest grades, that doesn't mean she has an obligation to help everyone. But wouldn't that be the morally diligent thing to do?

I mean, with Kurohoro's help, anyone could easily pass the exam, right? With that in mind, refusing to help anyone seemed dishonest.

"Because... They're not that familiar or on terms with you?"

"Oh? And you are?"

"Err—"

I regretted saying that already.

"Ah, yes, yes. I see how it is." Kurohoro mocked a thinking pose. "You think you have the privilege to 'hang out' with the elite team now that you're with Leo, is that right? I get it. Heh."

…receiving another student's help is a privilege now…?

"Do you know why there's a difference between the elite students and you regulars?" Kurohoro asked.

"Us 'regulars?'"

"It's so that we, as the elite class, don't have to wait or help the other students who would surely fall behind."

"That's morbidly accurate." I deadpanned.

"Actually, next to elite and regular course, there should also be a dunce course just for your sake."

"This is the kind of bullying people kill themselves over, y'know…"

"Hmpf. Whatever. Are you drinking this or what?"

What—Oh, we went back to this topic.

I looked at the flask in her hand.

"Well, now I definitely don't want to drink it..."

"Oh? Because you've thought of someone more adequate for this experiment?"

"No! Because now I know you'd definitely be willing to kill a regular course student!"

"I suppose... But if I did, Leo would probably become mad at me."

"Leo would?"

"The girl is oh so damn protective of you."

"Well, thank god for that!"

Did my girlfriend just unknowingly save me from toxic demise?!

"Well, if you're not going to be of any use, then please close the door on your way out."

—I have better things to do she mumbled to herself right after. Kurohoro simply turned away from me and continued with her own work. She grabbed a glass plate out of the cooler and placed it under a microscope.

It was like she had already forgotten I was even here.

"…"

It shouldn't surprise you, but I've heard that Kurohoro doesn't get along with any of the other students. She says there are other sophomores she can help with chemistry, but I didn't actually believe her. It's mean to say aloud, but I don't think there are many people who're willing to be trained by Kurohoro…

While Ginrei's had a lot of hate and ire, it was mostly just directed towards me and me alone. But Kurohoro seems to have a bone to pick with everyone.

Leo holds her in high regard, though. I'm not sure if that's because of her respect for Kurohoro's character, or something else entirely. Whatever it may be, I found it hard to stand behind.

I may love many things about Leo's character, but her taste in people wasn't one of them.

Even if that ended up being the reason we started dating…

But without Kurohoro's help, I have no clue what other semester course I can take. She's the only person with a high chemistry penchant that I'm able to contact… I just stood there, with my mouth full of teeth.

"…"

"…I don't enjoy wasting my time, Riku. If that's what you were wondering about."

"Eh?"

Kurohoro spoke without looking back at me, still peering into the microscope.

"I can teach. I'd say I'm fairly good at it. And I've already finished all assignments for the elite course, so I'm ahead of time."

…Doesn't that mean that she can easily help a few students out with chemistry? She wouldn't have any excuse not to.

"The problem we're having, however, is that I hate nothing more than wasting my own effort."

"Wasting effort? Am I already deemed hopeless before even starting this subject?"

"No, not that." She sighed. "Or—Well, actually, yeah, sure. Why not, I guess?"

"Don't act so dismissive while you're riffing me off!"

"My point is" She ignored me. "I'm not chancing a situation where I spend hours of my life trying to make you succeed, only for all that time to mean nothing. All those hours that I could've done something productive would be wasted because you suck so much. I hate that feeling."

"So that's your actual reason…"

I took a while before she finally became honest...

I understood her somewhat. As a student, nothing is worse than to spend multiple days of your week studying for an assignment or exam, only to end up failing the entire thing.

But,

Still,

Just because that might happen, doesn't mean you'll decide to not study at all! You can't give up and accept defeat, just because failing might be possible, right?

Right?

"…"

"Unless you could guarantee I wouldn't be wasting my time on you, I won't help. Simple."

"I suppose that is fair..." I mumbled.

"It'd be just as fair if I denied helping you outright. Really, I'm being too good of a person for your sake. I should win an award."

"Are you just incapable of feeling bad for another?"

"Pitying you alone won't rid the world of war."

"Don't be theorising about the world when you can't even save a single human being! Help the sad soul in front of you first! I know you're up to it!"

"For such a small person, you sure have big reactions..." Kurohoro mumbles, unfazed by my accusations.

As I had feared, she wouldn't budge.

Kurohoro will only help if I can guarantee that I'll succeed the exam in the end. But I need her help in the first place to guarantee that success.

It was an impasse.

"You should give up." Kurohoro said to me, already finished with the microscope and sketching a bacterium on a piece of paper. "I've got no interest in helping anyone without assurance, and people never try their hardest unless their life is on the line, anyway."

"I see..."

I guess she wouldn't believe me when I say I'd give it my all.

Only people who put their life on the line for it. Unless they can lose everything they care about, people's motivation will decrease.

That makes sense. It was an extreme perspective, but made a little sense in my mind.

"If that's the case…" I said.

"Hmm? You're still here?"

"You say that you'll help me if I can assure you that I'll give it my hardest try, right?"

Kurohoro looks at me dumbfounded, before glaring holes in my eyes.

"And how do you suppose you would do that?" She scoffs, "Give me your word? Write it down on a contract? Spit in your hand and shake mine?—No, that's not what I was saying, moron."

"And why's that? Why do you refuse to believe that people can hold on to a powerful motivation on their own?"

"What are you on about?" She facepalmed.

"…"

"…Sigh. Anyone can achieve anything they want as long as they keep trying. That's what I believe." She finally answered. "The problem is that they never do. They never want to. Humans are lazy by default."

"Unless the alternative is something they cannot give up, right?"

"Huh?"

"That is what you just said. Unless they put their life on the line. Meaning, if I lose something important if I fail, I'll meet your criteria."

"Ugh. You are desperate about this, aren't you?"

You don't even know, woman!

"…Tch." Kurohoro clicked her tongue. "And who are you to put my own words against me? You think you're so great, don't you?"

"I wasn't saying that! But if you really believe anyone is able to accomplish anything, then placing something important on the line will guarantee my success, right?"

"You're the exception, Riku. You couldn't do shit either way."

"Piss off with the Iron maiden act and get real. Please? Let's say that if I fail the exam, I have to lose something important forever. That means you'd help me, right?"

I'll admit that I felt a little smug coming up with this conclusion.

Kurohoro huffed a tuff of hair out of her eyes, crossing her arms. She hummed as if in deep thought.

"…Okay. Hold on, this might work…"

"Wha—You thought of something?" I said excitingly.

"Yes… yes! You know what, Riku? Maybe I'll lend you a hand after all. In fact, I stand on it! I just came up with something genius."

"R—really? I mean, I'm all for it, but…"

Her change in tone was a little vexing to me…

"How about this?" She slowly pointed a finger up at me. "If you don't succeed the semester exam for chemistry by the end of this semester, then you—

—Will break up with your current girlfriend. That's what she said.

I'm starting to see why Kurohoro suddenly changed her tune with me.

Using her team leader and trusting friend as a bargaining tool; If Leo knew this would happen before recommending Kurohoro to me, then this might all just be an elaborate way of breaking up with me…

"I— That's—" I faltered.

"Take it or leave it."

"…Would you like for me and Leo to break up? Is that why you're doing this?"

"Heh. No, no, Riku. You must've realized during our conversation that I'm absolutely ecstatic about you."

"Point taken…"

"But in truth, I don't really give a damn about your love life as long as Leo is okay with it. It's just beneficial to me; Either you succeed as you theorize, or you don't, and I'll never have to see you again. That would be just as good of an outcome, because if you still fail after I help you, you're absolutely dead to me."

"At least you don't consider me dead yet…"

"Right now, I consider you to be in a persistent vegetive state."

"I might as well be dead after all, then!"

"Also-" Kurohoro's finger came close enough to my eye that she almost poked through it. "No 'but we'll stay friends' either. We're going all in. If you fail, you cut all ties with Leo forever."

"…"

In hindsight, it may have been too irresponsible to continue. It definitely isn't fair to Leo. Using her as a bargaining tool after not even a full semester of dating? But the point of doing this is to ensure I succeed, right? So, doing this means that practically, there's no danger at all, because through this bargain, I will put all my effort into the assessment.

That was my thought-process at the time.

"Alright." I said. "I accept."

I didn't realize it, but there was a good chance I had walked straight into a trap. Kurohoro now had the relationship between me and Leo right in her hands. She could continue to teach me completely wrong facts, ensuring I would fail the assessment.

"Heheh. It seems I'll have my own Guinea pig for this semester."

"Guinea pig?"

"Well, first lesson." Kurohoro said.

"Huh? Wait, already? I mean, sure, but I—"

"Drink this!" She quickly shoved a flask into my hand.

"This entire conversation was just a ploy to kill me after all!"

Kurohoro clicked with her tongue. "Well, if you don't finish the first lesson, then we can't move on to lesson two."

"Are you serious?"

"I'm joking, of course. Teehee."

No, she was dead serious…

I looked at the flask in my hand. The liquid was see-through and didn't smell like anything either. For all I knew, this was just a bottle of water.

"Grrrr—Aaagh! Fine! I'll do it!" I yelled, before chugging down the flask in one succession.

"W- wow! R-riku! Hold on!" Kurohoro suddenly yelled. "I only meant a single sip! You're going through the whole bottle! H-hey, I still need that! Riku!"

"Paah." I exhaled.

"..."

She stared at me with wide eyes. It was the first time I've ever seen Kurohoro concerned, actually.

Wait, that's because of me!

"H-how do you feel?"

"I..."

It surfaced.

Yes, it was definitely going up. All the way back up to my throat.

I suddenly felt everything going very dark. Or, well, I didn't feel anything at all, actually.

But it was fine. I could make my peace. I got what I wanted for today.

I even got a little more than that. A bit too much, really.

"Thunk!"

"Did he just—?! Riku! Get your ass off of my lab's floor! Wake up! Hey!"

"Zzzzz…"

"Don't make me smack you, damnit!"

A good rest might've been exactly what I needed.

I mean, there were also the red handprints stuck on both of my cheeks after I finally woke up, but you get some, you lose some. And whether I would still lose in the end was up to me now.

I'm sure Leo would trust me in such a situation, right?

Right...?