Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Jin’s POV
   Exam is coming in one month time, and Jin isn’t ready for it at all. Then again, he has never bothered to be ready when it comes to exam. His strategy is simple yet effective: cram until the very last minute. It’s not like he’s going to be prestigious university or have demanding parents to please (at least not any more). As long as he passes all the subjects to avoid taking supplementary exam, he’s happy.

   As he’s sitting on his seat all by himself, he hears Wakaba and Watanabe trying to explain the concept of exam to Estyshana.

   “So it’s a complete waste of time.” the demon concludes after they were done.

   “You didn’t have to say that out loud, Esty.”

   “Well it’s true. We have to spend around six hours each day to learn useless things just so we could puke them all out? Definitely a waste of time.”

   “Girl’s aren’t supposed to say gross things like puke.”

   “Vomit, then.”

   “That’s not any better.”

   “Esty-chan is right, though. It really is a waste of time.” Watanabe says.

   “I bet you’re saying that because you’re in danger of failing at least half of all the exams.”

   “You know me so well. So, the usual after school today?”

   “I guess that’s the only way. Oh, what am I ever going to do with you?”

   “What exactly is the usual?” Estyshana asks them.

   “We gather at my house and study for an entire night.” Wakaba explains.

   “I see. Well, good luck with that.”

   “Why are you talking like you’re not involved in this? You’re in even more danger than Anri, if that’s even possible. You’re joining us at the study session.”

   Jin hears Etyshana groan. “Do I really have to?”

   “Do you want to spend more time after school?”

   “No.”

   “Then I guess you’re joining us for the study session.”

   Estyshana groans again.

   “Don’t worry, Esty-chan. We’ll get through this together.” Watanabe tells her.

   “It’s one whole month, you know? One whole month of getting nagged at by Chifuyu.”

   “...Suddenly, I’m very scared.”

   “I’m glad that you understand.”

   “Can the two of you stop talking like I’m an instructor from hell or something?”

   Well, good for them. Jin just hopes that he’ll be exempted from the study session. After all, he can’t find any reason nor excuse to refuse.

   Wakaba walks over to Jin.

   “We’re going to have a study session at my house after school today, Minase-kun. Would you like to join us?” she invites.

   Drat.

   Even without looking, he could tell that Estyshana is sweating bullets. The figurative gears inside his head are turning gazillion kilometers an hour to get himself and the brainless demon out of this.

   “I would love to, but my apartment is quite far from your house. I’m not really motivated to study if I have to walk a long way.”

   “I see. What if we go somewhere nearer then?”

   “Sounds good. How about a library near our school? Unlike normal libraries, we’re actually allowed to talk there.” he suggests.

   “Oh, there’s actually a library like that nearby? I’ve never heard of it.”

   “Yeah, I found it by complete coincidence.”

   “Well, I guess a library is much better than studying at someone’s house since there are less distraction.”

   “Especially when there are those who’ll constantly get distracted no matter where we are like Von Mantus and Watanabe.” Jin agrees.

   “Hey!”

   “I heard that, Jin!”

   Jin didn’t mind the study session until Wakaba invited a few more of their classmates. Minus Yoshii, Jin has never talked to any of them. This is going to be awkward.

   Once the school is over, those part of the study group leave the school together. Jin then brings all of them to the library he mentioned.

   Jin told Wakaba that he found the place by complete coincidence, but in actuality he was looking for somewhere that offers free air-conditioning during one summer. This was back when he was still living in the small and old apartment unit.

   The library has two storeys, and the receptionist counter is at the first floor. In other words, it’s not that you’re actually allowed to talk in here. It’s just that the librarian on duty could never be bothered to go all the way to the second floor just to chide someone who refuse to keep quiet.

   The group greets the librarian politely, then heads to the second floor. They then choose the biggest table they could find. Majority of the girls are swarming around Yoshii’s seat, while Jin chose a table right next to where everyone else is sitting since there isn’t enough seats for the first table.

   “Okay, let’s begin by telling each other our strongest and weakest subject so that all of us can help each other out onthe things we’re weak at.” Wakaba announces.

   “Let me start. I’m bad at all the subjects and good at none.” Estyshana begins.

   “Same here.” Watanabe agrees.

   Wakaba sighs. “Next.”

   The others take turn to mention their strongest and weakest subjects. Jin waits patiently until it’s finally his turn.

   “I’m kind of bad at Maths. Don’t really have a subject I’m good at.” he tells them.

   And then the study session begins for real. Wakaba and another girl called Ichihara are the busiest ones since their grades are very good, which means that they have to tutor pretty much everyone else. Jin tries his best in troubling them as little as possible. After going at it for a while, he got the hang of pretty much every subject except Math. Man, he just hates Math.

   “Do you have a part that you don’t understand, Minase-kun?” Ichihara asks.

   Whoa. Jin was so engrossed in trying to solve the math equation that he didn’t even notice her approaching.

   “Here. I don’t know which formula to use.” he says while pointing at the said part with his pencil.

   “You use this one.” she uses her own pencil to scribble down a formula. “This one’s a bit tricky, so you do this, and this, and this.”

   “I see.”

   After getting guidance from Ichihara, Jin could solve the equation even though he couldn’t before. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

   “Thanks so much, Ichihara.”

   “You’re welcome. Is there any other part that you don’t get?”

   “No, I think that’s it for now.”

   “Okay. Please don’t hesitate to ask me again if you’re in trouble.”

   “Got it. Thanks once again.”

   Jin decides to stop here for today. He’s not used to study for long hours, and he has zero plan on starting now. Besides, all the maths he did today is giving him severe headache. And right on time too since it’s almost dinner time. Plus, the library is about to close as well.

   “Well, it’s getting late. Let’s stop here for today.” Wakaba announces.

   “For today? Don’t you mean until the test is over?” Watanabe asks.

   “You’re not serious, right? Most of the people here are most probably fine on their own now, but you and Esty? Not happening anytime soon.”

   “Aww.”

   One by one or as groups, all of them leave the library.

   “See you tomorrow, Minase-kun.” Wakaba tells Jin as he’s leaving.

   “You’ll be joining us again, right? Please? Esty-chan and I will die if we can’t divert Chifuyu’s attention even for a bit!” Watanabe says next.

   “Will you stop talking like I’m a demon?”

   “Well, you are.”

   “Am not!”

   “Goodbye, Jin.” Estyshana tells Jin coolly.

   “...Yeah, see you.”

   Jin wastes no time and heads towards his apartment. After walking for a while, he hears footsteps coming from behind him.

   “Please wait up, Minase-kun!” Wakaba calls.

   Jin stops and turns around as she’s approaching him. She’s out of breath, and she spent some time in catching it.

   “I have…something…to ask you…” she wheezes.

   “Sure. Ask away.”

   “Did something happened between you…and Esty?”

   “Nope. Nothing happened at all.”

   “You’re a bad liar just like Esty.” she says after finally getting her breath back.

   “Well I’m telling the truth. What makes you think that something has happened between the two of us?”

   “...You’re seriously asking me that?”

   “Of course I am. Like I said, I have no idea on what you’re talking about.”

   “But, she doesn’t cling to you as much as she did when she first transferred to our class. Or rather, she’s not clinging to you at all.”

   He shrugs. “I guess she got bored with me.”

   “Is that all there is to it?”

   “What else is there?”

   “Whenever I asked her about it, she always told me that there’s nothing wrong, but she also looked sad. I didn’t even know that Esty can be sad over something.”

   “It’s true that she’s too bone-headed to have any other emotions than being overly optimistic.” Jin agrees.

   “Please, you have to tell me! I’m really worried about the two of you. Does it have something to do with the fact that the two of you know each other way before she transferred to our school?”

   He sighs.

   “You’re smart, Wakaba. But be warned. Being too smart may lead to disasters. So will asking too many questions.”

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   “Why do I have the feeling that you’re not joking about that at all?”

   “To be honest, it’s up to you on how to interpret what I just said.”

   “Fair enough, I’ll believe in you and stop asking questions. But let me ask this last one: can the two of you ever make up?”

   He shakes his head. “No. I don’t think so.”

   “...I see. Well, sorry for bothering you.”

   “It’s fine. You’re just being a good friend.”

   Wakaba looks absolutely heart-broken as she goes back to wherever she came from. What a nice girl she is. If someone like her was in Jin’s life when he was at Ifezan, maybe he wouldn’t end up as a twisted sociopath.

   As for Estyshana…well, Jin isn’t stupid. He knows full well the reason of her sudden change. She realized that she has feelings for him. How does he knows? That’s because he harbors feelings for her too. He had a nagging suspicion ever since they somehow joined the festival in Warthford, and their dance together during their school’s Cultural Festival confirmed it.

   That’s the real reason he was hesitant to tell on her to Sergeant Wakaba. That’s the real reason he didn’t kill her even though she might end up threatening him one day.

   Estyshana probably came to terms with her feelings around the same time as him. They always had this weird chemistry of being able to read each other’s thoughts without actually using any spells, not to mention being able to reach the same conclusion most of the time.

   Estyshana is planning to keep her feelings to herself, and Jin is going to do the same. He’s not so shameless as to actually confess to the daughter of the demon he murdered.

   His melancholy thought is interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Once again, it’s Sergeant Wakaba who called.

   “Is something the matter, sergeant?” he asks.

   “Can you come to the police station right now?” she asks rather hesitantly.

   “Goodness gracious. Did I do something illegal without knowing?”

   “No, it’s not you. Rather, it’s Maebara. He’s the one that got arrested.”

   A pause.

   “I’ll be there after a week.”

   “Why would you wait that long?”

   “He got arrested, right? I’m sure that a week inside a holding cell will do wonders to that twisted personalities of his. Not that I’m in any position to judge, though.”

   “It’s tempting, but I can’t do that. Not even when he’s being arrested. Our policy forbids us.”

   “A shame. And where do I come in in this? I’m sure that he needs a lawyer, not a murdering nutjob.”

   “He told me that he got arrested in order to see you without being suspected.”

   “...Wow, talk about being really discreet and desperate. All right, then. I’ll be heading over right now.”

   Even though Jin said that, he sent his clone in his stead. The real him is hungry, and he bets that Nyri is too. No way he’s going to delay their dinner for Maebara, of all people.

   Jin’s clone arrives at the police station in the usual get-up. It passes by a worg that was being stationed at the side of the entrance and heads inside. He goes straight to the receptionist counter and asks for Sergeant Wakaba. She comes out a few seconds later.

   “So, what exactly did Maebara do to get himself arrested?” Jin asks while he’s being led to the interrogation room.

   “He was vandalizing a wall with spray paints.”

   “A journalist who committed vandalism just to get arrested to on purpose. Now that’s something you don’t hear everyday.”

   The moment Jin’s clone goes inside the room, Maebara stood up from his seat. For obvious reasons, his hands are being cuffed.

   “About time! Do you know how long have I waited for you?” he says to the clone.

   “Well, I’m here now. What do you want?”

   The journalist looks around before he speaks like it’s something really important.

   “Is this room safe from being wire-tapped?” he asks Sergeant Wakaba.

   “Yes, I’m pretty sure. Now sit down.” she tells him.

   Maebara did as he was told and sits down. Sergeant Wakaba sits opposite him. Jin didn’t bother to make the clone sit. It’s not like it’ll get tired.

   “I’ll ask again. What do you want? You even went trough the pain of getting arrested so that you’re not being suspected.”

   “I have some dirt on UCI.” Maebara whispers.

   That got Jin’s attention. Sergeant Wakaba also leans forward.

   “Are you absolutely certain of that?” she asks him.

   “Of course I am. I’m a journalist, for crying out loud. A seeker of truth, if you will.”

   “Tell us everything you know, then.”

   “For starters, they’ve been conducting experiments using kidnapped humans.”

   “I don’t remember getting reports on missing individuals.”

   “Well, it’s obvious that it’s been covered up by them. Besides, they didn’t even use Japanese. They used Americans. CIA agents, to be exact.”

   “CIA agents?”

   Maebara has Jin’s full attention now.

   “Do you know the names of the agents?” he asks the journalist.

   “Arthur Butler, Ryan Kayden and Priscilla Green.”

   Yup. As he thought, the UCI was behind their modification.

   “Do you know them, Silver Wolf?” Sergeant Wakaba asks Jin.

   “You can say that. I’ll tell you about them later when we have the time.”

   “Fair enough.”

   “You say that you have proof. What exactly are they?” Jin asks Maebara.

   “Oh, security cameras footage, phone conversations, the likes.”

   “And how did you even get your hands on those things?”

   “Um, I can’t really tell you. At least half of the methods I used to gather them are, well, illegal.”

   “...Go on.” Sergeant Wakaba coldly.

   “No, I don’t think I will.”

   “You’re being interrogated right now, Maebara-san. You don’t have a choice in that matter.”

   “I’ll use my right to remain silent then.”

   “You’re seriously testing my patience here.” Sergeant Wakaba grits her teeth frustratingly.

   “Can you at least show us the proof?” Jin requests.

   Maebara reaches into the left pocket of his pants and takes out a phone and a thumb drive.

   “Everything you want is in the two devices.” he tells them.

   “If what you said is true, we can put down Bouchard for good.” Sergeant Wakaba says in a hopeful way.

   “Actually, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”

   “What? Why not?”

   “Because all the evidence are being pointed at a senior Researcher called Tanifuji Taro. There’s no indication that he did everything he did under Bouchard’s order.”

   “Well that’s unfortunate.”

   “At least we could somewhat cripple his operations for a bit, not to mention tarnish his reputation.” Jin says to her.

   “You’re going to find Tanifuji, aren’t you?”

   “Indeed I am. Where’s his station, Maebara?”

   “The branch at Harajuku.”

   “Please try to keep the damage done to a minimum, and don’t kill unless you absolutely have to.” Sergeant Wakaba pleads.

   “No promises, sergeant. Remember who we’re dealing with.”

   “At least spare the innocent ones.” she insists.

   “That I can promise.”

   Jin makes the clone disappears. At the same time, he’s eating dinner at his apartment with Nyri. For now, the dragon is back in her preadolescent form again. Therefore, she’s not eating as many food as she would when she’s in her adult form.

   “I’m heading out.” Jin tells her as he’s finished eating.

   “Again? But you just got back.”

   “Yup. Duty calls. Watch the house for me while I’m gone.”

   “Will do.”

   Jin leaves his apartment and heads to a quiet alley nearby. Once he makes sure that no one saw him going in there, he accesses the Vault and equips his armor. Next, he searches for the location of the UCI lab of the Harajuku branch by using his phone’s GPS. He found it almost immediately. Under the guidance of the GPS, he flies towards the nightmarish place.

   The lab is located at one of the busier part of Harajuku. It’s standing tall along with lots of other buildings. Even so, the lab is still distinguishable from the rest of them from its ominous aura. Jin has always thought that this aura thing only appear in animes and mangas. It would seem that he has much to learn.

   It’s well over office hour. Even so, the lights inside the building are still on, and Jin sees lots of researchers walking around inside. He casually walks towards the automatic doors, and they slide to the side when he approaches.

   A few researchers saw him coming in and stares at him with wide-eyed shock. One or two of them even dropped the things they were holding.

   “Go get Tanifuji Taro for me.” Jin orders the researcher nearest to him.

   “Um, Senior Researcher Tanifuji is kind of occupied right now.” she tells him nervously.

   Jin makes Felfarthen appears at his left hand.

   “Do I look like I care?”

   The researcher gulps audibly and went to do his bidding. While waiting, Jin uses Map, a simple Level 1 Spell that adventurers use when exploring dungeons, crypts and other unexplored areas. As he expected, this lab has ten underground floors, which is way too many for a lab built with the purest intentions.

   A few minutes later, the female researcher returns to where Jin is. Following closely behind her is a male, lab-coat-wearing researcher in his thirties.

   “Are you Tanifuji Taro?” Jin asks.

   “Indeed I am. How may I help you?”

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