----Kouki Arakawa Viewpoint


"What to do with my research project...

　A while after being almost blown away by a ballistic missile, the three of us were eating at the academy's cafeteria as usual when Alice said this to me.

''I've decided,''

　Saito-kun, who was devouring the parent-child bowl, wasted no time in answering Alice. Come to think of it, your teacher said something like that to me the other day. As I recall, I thought we were supposed to do one study per person and report back periodically. I'm not involved, but.... I wanted to do the research on the new metals I saw at the institute before, but I don't have enough money or equipment to do that thing. In the first place, when I talked to the head of the institute about the research, he gave me a desperate look and said, 'No need! I was told. But Alice's research, or

You were good at pharmacology and stuff, right? Then have at it.

　For some reason, when I say that, she stares at me gingerly. No, I feel weird when she stares at me like that. Anyway, I look away, not knowing what to do.

Can you help me?

　How could I refuse him if he looked at me like I was a little animal!　It's going to be okay. I'll help you, and you'll do your best to help me, too. When I said that, Alice had a happy look on her face and was writing her research on a printout.　For some reason, Saito was trembling with tears in his eyes as he said, 'It's time for my research,' but I'm sure he was happy to be able to help Alice. In fact, when she thanked me, she was so happy she was stretching the bridge of her nose. After school, we decided to go to Alice's lab to discuss what we were actually going to do.

'I'm going to try to make some improvements to the antibiotics and stuff for now,'

　Hmm, improvement of what we have now..... That would be surprisingly easy to do. But how do we determine how well it works?　Even if I had a cold, it's not my mother, and there's no way I'd be giving myself an injection of a new drug so easily. I'm sure Saito-kun would be willing to be the test subject if I asked him.... Don't tell me you're going to try it yourself?　No, you don't!　I ask a question about that part.

'What about the subjects and stuff?　Isn't that too much to ask for, Saito-kun?

'Huh? How come I'm supposed to do it........ I'll do my best for Alice, but...

　Alice said, ''Oh........'' and froze. And Saito-kun, no matter how much you try to make a good impression and increase your points, I don't think it's a good idea to put your body on the line.

''If it's Arakawa-kun's mother or something, can't we try the samples in the specialized lab?

　Hmmm, Mom. If I ask her, she'll do something about it........ I mean, I can't try it with Saito-kun, I don't want to lose my friend. I replied, ''I don't mind that,'' and Alice looked happy and pleased when I replied, ''That's fine. It's nice to have a pretty girl happy, after all.




What a thought. What was waiting for me was a nightmare........





　From that day onwards, every day after school, it was good that I was going to be doing new research in Alice's lab. However, there was one thing I didn't expect.

'Saito-kun, what are we going to do next with this?'

I'm sure they'll measure the concentration on the paper there. Huh?　Oh my God, it's burned.

　I'm not a fan of that. We want to complain about it, but when she says "I'm sorry" with her moist eyes, I can't say anything strongly enough, so today, instead of her hands and feet, I desperately do what she tells me to do. In fact, Alice herself is working very hard, so we proceed with our work in silence, wanting to show her how good she is.

Arakawa-kun....

　Saito-kun came toward me with a serious look on his face. I had a bad feeling about this, but I just had to ask him what was wrong.

I made a mistake. I doubled the dose.

　What to do.... If we had to start over, we'd have to start all over again, which would be incredibly complicated, but we can handle twice as much.

Saito-kun, nothing happened. You know what?　I'm just tired.

　I said with a straight face, and Saito went back to his work, repeating my words as if to himself. Now, I'm going to start the separation process. If we can get this far, we'll be done for the day.

Arakawa-kun, Arakawa-kun!

　I think I hear a voice calling me, and I wake up with a start. Apparently I've been asleep for a bit... and when I look at the clock, I realize that it's been over 20 minutes. Not good, very bad. I looked at the stationary separator in a panic, and I was almost despairing when I saw that there was an object sitting there that I didn't understand. As I was despairing over the futility of my work, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turn around and see Saito-kun with a straight face.

Nothing happened. Fine, nothing happened.

He appeals to me like a spell. Well nothing else has happened, I continue to work while repeating those words. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I'm sure it's not a bad idea.

'Sorry!　I found something that doesn't work here, so I made some chemicals to mix over there. By the way, is the one I asked you to make ready?

　When I handed her the medicine that had become a different object from the one she was in charge of at first, Alice hugged it carefully and said

'Thank you so much. Now we can finally make a prototype!

He was happy to hear that. Apart from Alice, who was getting excited, we watched the mixing process, unable to hide our inevitable guilt.

''Saito-kun, do you think that will work?''

I don't think so.

　Still, I couldn't bring myself to mention it now, so it was decided to keep this matter a secret as a promise between men. Alice, who was in a good mood after completing the medicine, told me

Give this to Arakawa-kun's mother and tell her to try a sample of anything she wants.

And while bringing back the ampoule that was entrusted to me, I was struck with an inexplicable feeling of weakness.




---- Arakawa Miki Viewpoint----


　I had come to the virus laboratory with the ampoule that Gongju had given me last night. Gongju explained to me that it was an antiviral drug that he and his friends at the institute had made together. At any rate, he told me to try it against a sample, but I don't know what sample to try it against.

It can't be a normal sample because it's that girl.

　I decided to start using it in the Safety Level 3 class for starters. But to no avail. I think about it for a while and use it on a level 4 class sample.

"Neither smallpox nor Ebola virus...

　Which sample of the product should I use to get the best results?　I'd like to go all out and check from the level 1 class, but unfortunately, there's no such amount in this ampoule. Is this a failure?　You could call it a failure with equipment that is at the level of the academy, but the last time I met Gongju's friends, they were all very good kids.
　And then a thought occurred to me. And at the same time, I was excited, if my idea was right, the textbook would be rewritten.

'Miss Arakawa, it's dangerous!　That thing is not something that humans can handle!

　The researchers working in this lab tried to stop me, but I wasn't going to listen to them. I enter a special quarantine room on the eighth basement floor, protected by a special two-meter-thick door that will incinerate the entire human being inside if I'm not careful. I then carefully removed the sample and used the contents of the ampoule.

''I didn't expect.......that it would really work.

　I can't believe what's happening in front of me right now. I've checked multiple times with all the few remaining contents and the results are all the same.








　The only virus I tried and got the effect of the ampoule was the virus that caused the 'European Tragedy' which is the only one on the planet with a level 5 class designation.







----Alice Alford's perspective----



　We're in big trouble!　It turns out that the drug we made is effective against that 'European tragedy'. That's why my lab at the institute has been closed since yesterday. But there was a good thing. My father, who is usually quiet and strict, but who I respected as the beginning of my studies in pharmacy, was very complimentary. As he held me in his arms.

You've done well. I'm so proud of you.

He said. My father's grandfather died in The Tragedy of Europe, I believe. He had told me once that he had become a researcher because of it, and I was worried that he had taken away my father's research, so I asked him a question.

'What are you saying? You've done what I couldn't, and you should be proud.

　I was so happy and happy that I couldn't help but cry in my father's chest. I thanked Mr. Arakawa and Mr. Saito for their help.

I really didn't do anything!

And they both try to give me credit for the achievement. I can't do that!　For some reason, they are smiling bitterly and not looking at me when I say that. In the end, I could only repay my merit by at least announcing their names as co-researchers....
　I wonder if the day will come when I can repay them for their kindness?　I would help them in whatever way I could at that time, I decided.










In 2102, the WHO announced in an official statement the cure for The Tragedy of Europe. The three developers were Alice Alford, Shingo Saito and Kouki Arakawa, all of whom were enrolled in the International Institute of Science and Technology.