"Make a contract?"
"Yeah."
I got back to the dorms and waited for Kuro to return. It was 9 pm when she returned.
We sat down, facing each other, and I told her about the contract choice.
"Of course, the conditions are up to you. I don't care if they're unfair or anything."
I declared.
She looked slightly dead due to the shadows under her eyes. Kuro put her knees up and put her face into a pillow.
"Why are you doing this?"
I heard her muffled voice say.
"Eh, ah, well, that's because it's you we're talking about."
I answered.
"You're my friend and I don't want anything to happen to you. I mean, if it were for you, then I wouldn't have someone to talk to every day when I come back and wake up."
"I've decided."
She lifted her face. Tears were in her eyes but a strange determined look was on her face.
"I'll make the contract. I'll make it! A contract of equal rights and..."
Kuro threw her pillow and pointed to the door, in a proud pose. Her cat ears and tail appeared too.
"I'll participate in the China vs Japan Branch match!"
"Wait, you'll what?"
"It makes sense, doesn't it?"
She lowered her hand and smiled at me.
No, it doesn't.
"If I become the top six strongest then I'll be able to participate! And if I'm the top six strongest, no one will pester me since they'll be afraid of getting hurt! How about that?!"
Kuro laughed triumphantly.
I couldn't hold myself back. I started laughing alongside her.
What was I thinking?
If something like this can get her motivated, then she'll never be brought down.
"Oh, yeah,"
She stopped laughing and so did I.
Kuro pointed her finger at me.
"You better take part too."
"Eh?"
I froze for a second.
"What? Are you brain-dead or something? I said you better participate too."
I started panicking. I broke into a cold sweat.
"W-w-what do you mean? There's no way I'll be able to get into the top six strongest in the first-years."
"Then I won't sign the contract then."
She turned away with a huff and crossed her arms.
"That's fine. If that's your choice. As long as you're able to pick yourself up."
I said.
Her cheeks slowly turned red.
I don't really care if she signs the contract or not. It's her choice. I'm not going to force her or anything.
Man... I better get some sleep. It's going to be another long day tomorrow.
--
"Now, today, for the first two periods. We'll be doing trials."
Ai-nee announced, in front of the class.
Everyone was in their training uniform since we are currently in an AST lesson.
"Trials? For what?"
Someone asked.
Ai-nee looked surprised.
"Really? Some people don't know? I thought the news spread like wildfire among the first-years. Well, I'll tell the ones who don't know now."
For some reason, instead of being in our groups, we were in pairs. I was with Hikari, the girl who sits next to me. She gave me a slit-eyed look before looking back at Ai-nee.
"Two weeks from now, in June, six of the best first-years will fight first-year students from the China Branch of Altheria."
"When exactly?"
Tatsuya asked.
"June the 1st. Saturday."
Some people started to talk but Ai-nee quickly hushed them.
"The reason we're doing this is because of the attack on the school a few weeks ago."
Anastasia was right.
I could see her look at me victoriously as I slightly turned my head. Calira and Sebastian glared daggers at me. I turned back to the teacher.
"You would've originally gotten your first battle experience after Golden Week but we decided to change things up. The Chinese Branch agreed to a mini tournament."
Maki, my friend, raised his hand.
"Yes, Kaiga."
"What's the point if not all of us can fight?"
That is true.
If we all miss out on our first mission, then how come only six students get to participate? Didn't seem quite fair for the less able students.
"So, what, Kaiga? Are you saying we should bring both schools and have a battle royale? That would cost us money, time and space."
Ai-nee did have a point.
"N-no. But! But, what I'm saying is how comes only six get to participate? Why not thirty or something?"
"It was a condition from the Chinese Branch."
I could hear everyone's questions.
Hikari raised her hand.
Ai-nee nodded at her.
"Is it because of our standing?"
"Yeah. Their principal, Aiguo Lee, is a rotten man to the core. He believes that he can promote his school by beating the Japan Branch with the least numbers possible."
I raised my hand.
"Shoya."
She called.
"Will the theme of the battle be one-on-one?"
"Bingo!"
Some people looked at me suspiciously while others gazed in awe.
I mean, it's not that amazing that I surmised it. We're in pairs and there will be six people on each side meaning six matches.
"Today, you'll be fighting one-on-one. You're wearing special bracelets which measure your performance, so fight as hard as possible if you want a chance at getting into the six."
Before we came out to the training grounds, we did get bracelets. So, they're for measuring performance.
"Who will we be fighting against?"
Anastasia asked, without putting her hand up. The fact that she didn't put her hand up bugged Ai-nee slightly but she ignored it.
"If you want to know that badly."
She sighed.
Ai-nee reached into her pocket and got out a small remote. As she clicked a button on it, a hologram came up, showing the six from the Chinese Branch.
Three boys and three girls.
Something caught my eye.
"Hey, Ms Sasaki, are the Chinese Branch here yet?"
I asked.
"No, they should be arriving next week."
I pointed at the last picture and name.
"Well, then, how comes I saw that guy yesterday?"
The last picture was of a boy. His face wasn't visible due to his thick and long black hair and from the chest downwards couldn't be seen.
The name said:
Qin Zhang.