Survival Game, Book 1: The Fool

Act Two: Chapter Fifteen

"You've passed." A hushed mutter spoke up after what seemed like several minutes. Kouji turned to his mentor, hardly hearing what she said. "You've passed." She repeated louder. "The flames were supposed to reflect what's angered you recently. I thought it'd be just the whole classmate incident. I... I didn't know about the other thing. I'm sorry..." At first, Kouji wanted to yell at her, to tell her what he thought of her for all those ridiculous tests. Then he saw her expression, her usual arrogance disappeared and replaced with apologetic sorrow.
"Don't worry about it. You were just doing your job, as extreme as it was. Besides, that was a long time ago anyway. I can't really do anything to change it." Kouji replied, trying to reassure her. "You're a good mentor..." He trailed off, suddenly remembering he never knew her name.
"Yukimura. My name is Satoko Yukimura." She filled in the rest of his sentence. "I should've told you earlier, but I felt no need. Anyway, here you go. The AX drug. You inject it into your bloodstream and in a week, your powers will be activated. What you do with them is none of my business." She tossed the box over to him and he took out the syringe inside. "Unlike most of the AX drugs, yours has no category number. There was a time 10 years ago, when the Grandmasters first began expiramenting, where their supplies were low and they began combining different drugs to meet demand. I dunno how we managed to get two of these, but it is how it is. Yours is one where they combined the drugs for fire and mineral powers. I thought it was the most fitting for you, to remind you that the fire that blazes within you should be confined like the crystals your power resides in. As long as your temper stays at bay, you can grow powerful."
Fire and crystal, huh? Not sure how that'll work, but I guess I'll find out eventually. Kouji thought, looking at the glass syringe that rolled in the palm of his hand. Once Satoko finished, he injected it into the vein in his neck without a second thought, his heart lurching as soon as the last drop was in his bloodstream. "Thank you, Yukimura-sensei." He returned the empty syringe and box back to her.
"Sensei?" She repeated incredulously, the word coming out as more of a shocked laugh. "When did you become so proper? Did my tests mess up your brain or something?" It was the closest she'd came to joking and Kouji didn't know how to respond at first.
"Um... no." He stammered uncertainly. "You're my mentor, so I thought I should show some respect." Is it really so strange? He wondered, though looking at how his classmates took his improper way of speech, he guessed it would look strange. "Anyway, thanks." He repeated once more.
"Yeah, just don't make me regret it." Satoko turned away, the skirt of her dress swaying dramatically with the movement. "There's spare rooms on the fifth floor, along with an infirmary. You can get your cuts looked at and rest until Kimura contacts you. She wants to meet with the four of you before you guys go home. The program isn't over, far from it, but you'll be useless to us for a week and the higher ups wouldn't like to hear that we were sent out without you guys. We were only approved as mentors, nothing more, and if it wasn't for our powers, they'd have never hired us to begin with. We'd be screwed if they found out Kimura was paying us as members alongside you."
So, she is hiring them without permission... Kouji thought as Satoko confirmed his initial guess. He wanted to question her about it, but Satoko was heading towards the elevator, where a man who could only be her brother was waiting for her. She shared some words with him before looking back at Kouji. "Use your powers wisely. I don't want to hear about you getting killed by Noguchi next week. There's a time for everything and now isn't the time." She warned before the elevator door closed, leaving Kouji alone. Now isn't the time... He repeated the words in his mind. I'm aware of that. I haven't tried to kill him yet and my powers won't change that. I need to learn how to use them and fight a few battles first. I'm not at his level, I know that. But when I am... The man's face flashed in his mind, and his words of leading the Grandmasters alongside Yui repeated themselves. I'll destroy your little "empire" before it begins, Noguchi. That much I promise you, even if it kills me.