A heavy atmosphere was hanging in the air inside a room of Percival University's research building. Emily was looking down with pale face while her eyes were shaking, Professor Down was holding the girl's hand tightly in kind consideration, at their opposite side was Lizzie who was patting Emily's head.
In this place right now, other than Hendricks, Dennis, and Rod, there were also the remaining members of Down Laboratory whose name were Hessica Cubit, Sam Redman, and Milo Yenny.
Jessica was a female student with relatively light attitude who recently poured her energy into fashion rather than research, but her normally light atmosphere now quietened down and her expression looked grim.
Even Sam who was often told「You are absolutely more suited to be a martial artist rather than researcher」by Dennis and Rod with his muscular body that was taller than 190 cm, and also Milo who was a black person and came from America as transfer student, normally they were youth with bright atmosphere, but now their expression was turning grave.
Inside that heavy air that was catching them into quagmire, a light voice that couldn't read the mood or perhaps it dared to ignore it entirely instead was resounding.
「Well, that's how it is. Missy, you just focus yourself in the research for the antidote alone without worrying about anything. You can look forward for a flawless facility and security there.」
The owner of the voice was an investigator of national security bureau's dangerous drugs countermeasure section――Kimberly Warren.
At the afternoon, he and Hughes came here after receiving the report from Professor Down and questioned everyone about the situation. After that Kimberly remained here in order to guard Emily and others while Hughes finished his report and preparation to lead a team back here.
And then, while Kimberly made arrangements with the dispatched undercover agents and waited for the decision of the concrete planning from here on, finally a communication came from Hughes just now.
According to the communication, the adoption of the protection program was recognized and the team would wait for late night before coming to pick them up. Regarding the protection program, in consideration of the possibility that there was someone among Down classroom aiming for Emily's research, Emily would be protected at another place that had an environment that could be used for research, where she would be asked to endeavor at researching the antidote there. The communication also mentioned that until the antidote was completed, don't mention the members of Down classroom, even her parents wouldn't be able to meet her.「Agent Warren. Is it possible for even just one person, whether it's me or someone among the students to accompany Emily?」
Professor Down argued vehemently at Kimberly who looked like he wasn't mindful at all about Emily's state. However, Kimberly was making an expression as though he was facing an unreasonable kid while saying「Haa?」and curtly rejected the request.
「I'm troubled here if you are saying stupid question like that, professor. In this situation where the culprit is unclear, even all of you are included among the suspects, you should understand that right? There is no way the missy――the doctor can be left together with you.」
「Then, at least, her parents can――」
「Please spare me from your begging. This is the decision from above, it's not something I can do anything about.」
Kimberly scowled feeling that it was really troublesome and looked away while cutting off Professor Down's words.
「Why-. Emily's parents is not related with this! Then――」
「Teacher, it's okay. I'll be okay! I'll finish right away if it's just making something like the antidote!」
Emily stopped Professor Down who stood up with a menacing face looking as though he would grip Kimberly's collar. Emily puffed up her chest while chuckling「Fufufu」to show that she was okay just like she said, but looking from the viewpoint of Down classroom's members who had accompanied her like family until now, it was obvious that she was forcing herself.
The lonely time when Emily first enrolled into university became a little trauma for her. That little girl in an environment where not only she didn't have any acquaintance, on the contrary everyone around her were all far older than her, caused her to be cornered.
That was why, if she was told that in this kind of urgent situation she would be separated not only from her father substitute and her older siblings substitute, but she would also be unable to contact her parents, then even if she understood that it was only for a limited time until she managed to make the antidote, she couldn't help but feel the great tightening in her heart.
「Well, no matter how much you protest here, the decision stands. Just resign yourself and make the antidote right away. You are genius right? Then you will be able to meet them again before long.」
「Someone like you is……the person with you before, Hughes-san wasn't it? Don't you think you should learn a bit from your superior?」
Professor Down shook his head while sighing hearing the careless remark of Kimberly who irresponsibly made light of Emily's brave bluffing. Kimberly grinned broadly in amusement to that and only shrugged at the fierce glare of the professor.
However, as expected when he was glared not just by Professor Down but also by Hendricks and others, he seemed to feel uncomfortable and lifted both his hands as though he was surrendering before exiting the room right away.
「Perhaps the investigator's quality of the country's organization has been really falling these days.」
Professor Down whispered while sighing.
「But, teacher. Wasn't Hughes-san who came with that person looked like a sincere person? He said that he will also assign a female agent for me.」
「But still, Emily. Agent Warren said it right? It's "the decision from above". The one that decided so that Emily is alone is that agent Hughes. Or perhaps it's a person even more above you know?」
「That's……」
The expression of Emily who bluffed by saying「It's okay!」slightly clouded from anxiety as expected from the words of Professor Down.
Even Hendricks, Lizzie, and others were also making dark expression. Amidst them, Professor Down closed his eyes in worry before he moved his gaze to Emily with a determined expression.
「Emily. I have a really bad premonition. No matter how I think about it, it's strange that they are trying to separate you from even your parents. By any chance, perhaps the security bureau has some other objective, something more than merely protecting Emily to have you create the antidote.」
「Teacher……. But, we have already reported to them……」
Finally Emily's bluffing expression fell off and she displayed a face where anxiety was mixed with bewilderment. Professor Down spoke more words to her.
「We can just deny that. Even so, if they still try to take away Emily alone even after that, then that will proof for sure that they have no good thinking in their mind.」
Professor Down then cut off his words, he crossed his arms and closed his eyes, after falling silent for while, he opened his mouth slowly.
「…………Emily, I have an acquaintance that have a research facility.」
「Research facility?」
「Yes. He also has a high social position, and he is reliable too. He should be able to give us shelter while lending us research facility until we finished making the antidote. What do you think? Though as expected, it's impossible for everyone to go, but if it's there then it's possible for me and your parents to come along. Besides, you will also be able to contact Hendricks and others. That's why, before we are separated from each other, before you are isolated alone, won't you evacuate there for the present?」
Emily stared without moving at Professor Down who made an unexpected proposal with a serious expression. Hendricks and others were also sending shocked gaze at Professor Down.
「I know it's strange coming from me who was the one that suggested to report to the security bureau. But it seems that the government cannot be trusted at all. There is no way I can entrust Emily who is already like my important daughter to that kind of place. To say nothing of how you will be alone there……」
「Teacher……」
Emily's gaze wandered around in hesitation. She could be together with everyone――that plan rang really nicely in her ears, it was a tempting proposal for her……however, it was unthinkable for her that the security bureau would overlook them in this abnormal situation where a drug could change human into a berserker and it was urgent for its antidote to be developed, furthermore it was themselves who reported about it.
Naturally, there was a possibility that she would cause much trouble for Professor Down who said he would shelter her, and also his acquaintance that would be the one actually sheltering her. Perhaps all of their social status and prestige could be destroyed because of that.
However, Professor Down who seemed to guess that thinking of Emily grasped the trembling hand of Emily tightly, and then he sent her a gentle gaze just like when he reached out to her the first time.
「Emily, you don't need to worry needlessly. You are a first class researcher, but at the same time you are also still a sixteen years old child. It's mistaken for a good child like you to shoulder everything in this kind of emergency. That's why, it's okay for you to depend on others. No, rather I beg you as someone that is like family to you. Please, I want you to depend on me.」
Emily looked down to hide her expression. It wasn't because she was hesitating, but because if she didn't look down then her welling up emotion would become flowing drops of tear.
「Emily, let's depend on teacher's kindness here. Even we are also unable to let Emily be alone in this current situation.」
「That's right……. If it's Emily, then surely you will be able to make the antidote right away. That's why, let's agree with teacher's proposal okay?」
Starting from Hendricks and Lizzie, the other members also raised voice of agreement with Professor Down's proposal.
Everyone of them was worried for Emily without exception, they were wracking their brains to look for the best possible future for Emily.
She was really blessed. Emily was thinking that from the bottom of her heart while taking a deep breath, then she nodded while firmly looking at Professor Down.
「Great, it's decided then. Everyone, please cooperate with me. Even if we talk to agent Warren about this, he would only stop us. Then, let's ask for his approval only after it's done. I and Emily will head to my acquaintance's place ahead, so can you all distract agent Warren's attention for us?」
「Got it. This is for Emily. We will do it somehow.」
After Hendricks nodded strongly, the other members also nodded with resolve in their face.
「Hahah, who'd ever thought that a time will come where we will think about outrageous thing like outwitting the security bureau agents in active duty like this. Isn't this like in a movie?」
「Rod. Don't get too optimistic. After all you are the one with the highest possibility of making mistake here.」
「What did you say-, Dennis! Ain't you the one who is always getting cold feet at critical time and caused blunder?」
「It's the cliché that normally the guy who is spouting big words is actually the one getting cold feet. Rod, that refers to you.」
「Okay, I rea~lly get it that you are picking fight with me. Let's get outside Dennis. I'll make that glasses get sticky all over with my finger's sweat.」
「Bring it on. I'll perfectly stitch your slovenly chest so that you won't be able to expose it for the second time.」
A small giggle echoed inside the room that had its atmosphere lightened up with Dennis and Rod's usual swearing. When Dennis and Rod turned their gaze there even while their hands were still grasping each other's collar, they found the figure of Emily who leaked out that chuckle from being unable to endure the scene.
Lured by that, Hendricks, Lizzie, Jessica, Sam, Milo, and the Professor Down began to laugh.
Emily made an amazing smile while tears were gathering on the corner of her eyes. With a really lovely smile that was like blooming flower she said……
「Thank you, Dennis-oniichan, Rod-onii-chan.」
「「……」」
Dennis and Rod who were given the greatest present with the designation that was seldom used for them, they silently tidied up their clothes and made a fake cough. And then they sat back quietly with their face dyed red until their ears.
「Now then, with the return of Dennis, Rod, and Emily's smiling face, let's focus on the detail of how we will outwit the security bureau.」
Professor Down's command, as usual it instantly made the students renewed their focus. For the sake of their cute little sister's future, they talked their opinion to each other with an expression that was even more serious than usual when they were at research or lecture.
AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.
Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.
The chapter is short, on top of that it doesn’t progress, I’m sorry.
The writing time is, already……
Forgive me for keeping all of you in suspense but, one thing, it will be a bit more time until that guy crawl from the abyss, so I’m wishing that if all of you reader can possibly wait for it.
The next update will be at 6 P.M Saturday too. There will be no stopping midway next time!
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