Chapter 10

Chapter 10: The First Rule of The Three Agreements

Seeing that the time was about right, Tohyama Kanako prepared to head to school. Since her bicycle had been blown to pieces, she planned to walk, but before that, she had something to say to Aria.

“Aria, let’s go separately.”

“Huh? Why?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? You’re a huge celebrity at this school. It would be weird for someone like me, a fringe person, to be associated with you. I don’t want to be stared at with strange looks.” Tohyama Kanako was telling the truth. Although she didn’t know if her efforts to maintain a low profile were useful, it was better than doing nothing.

“No. So what if people notice? I don’t care.”

I care!

‘Why don’t you understand my consideration? Going to school with me would clearly provoke certain girls, like Shiraiyuki, Shiraiyuki, and Shiraiyuki! Don’t come crying back to me when you get targeted!’ Tohyama Kanako ranted inwardly.

“You’re not trying to run away, are you?” Aria looked at her suspiciously.

“Where could I run to? Isn’t your seat right next to mine? Or do you mean I shouldn’t go back to the dorm?” Tohyama Kanako rolled her eyes at Aria.

After much persuasion, Aria finally agreed to go to school separately.

Aria would leave the dorm a bit later by bus, while Tohyama Kanako would set off earlier on foot.

The first through fourth periods at Butei High were the same as at a regular high school, consisting of general subjects like Japanese and Math. Starting from the fifth period were specialized courses.

In specialized courses, students not only needed to learn theoretical knowledge but also had to participate in the course’s practical training.

The methods of practical training varied. Assault Studies had combat training like shooting and fighting, Vehicle Studies had training for driving various vehicles.

Additionally, accepting commissions also counted as a form of practical training.

Based on practical performance and exam scores, students were ranked from high to low into five levels: A through E. Above these was the S-level. Tohyama Kanako was designated as Assault Studies S-level upon enrollment.

After a period of training, first-year high school students could begin accepting civilian commissions—bodyguard duty, searches, infiltration, etc. Butei students could choose based on their own rank.

Before a commission was posted, it would first be assessed by the Academic Affairs Division teachers, who would mark the recommended rank based on difficulty.

When accepting a commission, students needed to register with the Academic Affairs Division, where teachers would review the student accepting the commission.

If the commission difficulty didn’t match the student’s ability, the teacher would not accept the registration, meaning they wouldn’t approve the student taking on that commission.

Whether a commission could be completed concerned the school’s reputation. Clients were willing to post commissions at Butei High based on trust, so the school naturally couldn’t let students act recklessly.

Of course, for their own safety and personal evaluation, Butei students also wouldn’t lightly accept commissions beyond their personal capabilities. Self-awareness was a necessary virtue for a Butei.

Since she had no part-time job scheduled for the afternoon, Tohyama Kanako planned to find a commission to work on, to earn money and credits.

Picking through the bulletin board in the Detective Studies department, she found a decent low-level commission—easy and straightforward, with little danger.

In her normal state, Tohyama Kanako still wanted to avoid resorting to guns and blades, it was too prone to accidents.

Because she didn’t take the final exams last semester, Tohyama Kanako’s current Butei rank was only Detective Studies E-level. Without entering her Hysteria Mode, her combat ability was at most Assault Studies D-level, meaning she could engage one enemy with general soldier training and barely manage to contain two.

If there were three or four enemies, running away was more practical. In this regard, Tohyama Kanako believed she had some insights.

After completing the commission registration at the Academic Affairs Division, Tohyama Kanako took the documents and prepared to leave school for the mission location.

Before she could even exit the Detective Studies specialized building, Aria was already blocking the doorway.

“Don’t you need to participate in Assault Studies combat training?” Tohyama Kanako figured Ran wouldn’t be so easy-going.

“I already have enough credits to graduate. Never mind that…” Aria waved her hand as if brushing something aside, then continued, “You’ve been avoiding me, right? I wanted to have lunch with you, but you vanished as soon as I turned around!”

“Oh my, you’re such a joker. I just came to the Detective Studies building early to preview the lesson content, that’s all. After all, I’m an E-level student, so I have to work hard. I’m not avoiding anyone.” Tohyama Kanako responded with a laugh, her words half-truths, half-lies.

After the morning general classes came lunch break, and the fifth period specialized class was scheduled right after. Tohyama Kanako did come to the Detective Studies building very early, but not to preview—she ate lunch and rested to pass the time. It was true she was avoiding Aria.

‘Who wants to hang around with such a conspicuous person all the time? It doesn’t fit the persona I’m trying hard to maintain,’ Tohyama Kanako thought.

Aria looked at Tohyama Kanako with an “I don’t believe you” expression, deeply suspicious, but she couldn’t pinpoint anything. So she didn’t dwell on it and changed the subject.

“That’s commission documents in your hand, right? What commission did you take?” Aria inquired.

“Just a commission suitable for an E-level Butei,” Tohyama Kanako regretted not putting the commission documents away. She originally planned to familiarize herself with the details on the way, never expecting Aria to intercept her halfway.

“You’re E-level now?”

“Haven’t you already investigated? I didn’t take the exams last semester, so the school gave me an E-level. But it doesn’t matter, it’s not important to me.” Tohyama Kanako was already planning to transfer schools, so E-level wasn’t bad. At least she wouldn’t be asked by teachers to handle incidents.

“I also think rankings are useless… By the way, what commission did you take?” Aria pressed.

“Why should I tell you?”

“Want a hole?” Seeing Tohyama Kanako repeatedly defy her, Aria grew impatient, her right hand moving towards her gun.

“Violence is prohibited, unless you want me to put something in your food.” Tohyama Kanako immediately countered.

Though saying “put something” wasn’t literally about drugs, just mixing incompatible foods for Aria to eat could give her stomach trouble. While researching Chinese cuisine online, Tohyama Kanako had come across the concept of food incompatibility.

Tohyama Kanako figured Aria, coming from the culinary wasteland of England, definitely wouldn’t know about food incompatibility.

“You wouldn’t dare?” Aria let go of her gun, glaring displeased at Tohyama Kanako.

“See if I dare. I can tell you the commission details, but I have conditions.” Tohyama Kanako knew if she didn’t tell, Aria would definitely follow her wherever she went. Might as well use this chance to negotiate terms.

“Speak!”

“Since you’re now my tenant, we need to establish three rules. The first is to prohibit using violence against me. Of course, I won’t use violence against you either.” Tohyama Kanako seized the opportunity to propose her demand.

During classes today, Tohyama Kanako had been thinking about how to constrain Aria. After all, this pink-haired girl seemed quite irritable and hot-tempered.

Living with a lion, Tohyama Kanako felt it was a significant threat to her personal safety, so a metaphorical collar was necessary.

There were two main methods of constraint: physical force and negotiation.

Suppressing Aria through physical force was unrealistic, not to mention that she herself was a source of physical force.

Even if Tohyama Kanako entered Hysteria Mode, without having fought Aria before, she didn’t know what the outcome would be.

Fortunately, Aria was at least a mentally normal human being. Since she was normal, she could be communicated with, allowing problems to be solved through negotiation.

However, Tohyama Kanako didn’t expect the opportunity for negotiation to come so quickly.

“Fine!” Aria agreed without a second thought.

Tohyama Kanako was a bit surprised, then thought, ‘Maybe this is a concession on her part to make me become her partner sooner?’

“No going back on your word. If you violate it, I have the right to evict you. I haven’t thought of the others yet, I’ll add them later.”

“What if you violate it?”

“How could I? I’m still a Butei, I’ll keep my promises properly. If I violate it, I’ll return your rent.” Tohyama Kanako scoffed, thinking, ‘Don’t you understand the concept of non-violent non-cooperation? Resistance doesn’t necessarily have to be violent. Aren’t you English, Aria? Don’t you know about Gandhi’s deeds?’

“Tell me about your commission!”

“Just looking for a cat, that’s all.”

[To Be Continued.]

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