Alkimia ~the Craft of Love~

20. a partnership (Tokie + Atsushi)

After collecting 10 papers and discussing among themselves based on our option, a senior assigns us our partner and tell us the room number we are allowed to use for our...research.

Just like what is written in great-great-great-aunt's diary, my partner is Atsushi Akari. We exchange a simple nod as a greeting after our name is announced. We will be using room 2900.

Shin and Mikoto Sanada are partnered up in room 2902. So are Tokito and Inari in room 2901. The other two pairs each get room 2093 and 2094.

For today, the schedule only consists of introductions. Tomorrow too, is about introductions, on a larger scale.

After that, we will be left on our device with occasional inspection by seniors regarding our...research. If we don't want to work by ourselves, we are also allowed to request an apprenticeship with one of the seniors we choose.

Most people who come to this research institute seek apprenticeship before starting out on their own. It is also better for newcomers to seek apprenticeship so they won't be dubbed being arrogant by some seniors.

We are allowed to stay here for as long as we want, so long as we contribute to the improvement of this research institute. The pay isn't high, even though this is a government-owned institute, but we are guaranteed to be encouraged in our research.

For people like Tokito and me who are here to invent items for Shin's family, this place is good enough. We can learn and we can also sell what we made as long as it's approved. The royalty of the sale is ours too. If our inventions are good enough, the government will sign a contract with us to mass-produce it.

After a simple explanation about research institute and such, we are given uniforms and some lab clothes.

With this, we are free.

"Tokie, will you be okay?" Tokito immediately comes to ask me such question

Tilting my head, I question him with a confused smile, "What do you mean, Big Brother?"

"That..." Tokito glances at Atsushi Akari who is waiting for us to finish talking

Noticing that Atsushi Akari wants to talk to me, I then pat Tokito's arm to assure him I will be fine. Leaving Tokito's side, I go to greet Atsushi Akari. Smiling cheerfully, an act that doesn't tire me as much as before, I raise a hand in greeting, "Hello! Nice to meet you~ Please take care of me from now on~"

"Same here," despite looking surprised by my energetic greeting, this boy with blazing red hair and bright yellow eyes nods his head and offer his hand, "Feel free to call me Atsushi,"

"Do call me Tokie too!" accepting his hand, I shake it while offering my name

"Let's meet up tomorrow at room 2900 after the introduction to the institute. I think we need to discuss and split assignments," Atsushi glances behind me briefly while giving me an instruction

Seeing no harm in it, I agree. Nodding, he walks away while waving at me. I return the wave while smiling cheerfully. After he has left this meeting room, along with others, I turn to Big Brother and friends.

"Good luck to your start in this wonderful institute!" I exclaim to them while laughing

Shin chuckles, "Do your best, Tokie,"

I give a lot of nods, "Of course!"

"I won't be able to stay here for long. At most, for 2 to 3 years. What about you?" Inari, with his time limit, asks Tokito what he will do once Inari has to leave this research institute to work for his Father

"By that time, I am sure there are other people who will also leave by then," Tokito doesn't glance or says who he means, but we all know he is mocking Shin, "There is a chance I will be given a different partner. In any case, I don't plan to stay here for long either,"