Chapter 147: Chapter 146 - Career Aptitude Test

The announcement had come in a Monday morning.

Which already meant trouble.

Nothing good ever started on Monday.

According to Kuro.

Unfortunately for Kuro, the teachers didn’t care about his opinion.

"Career Counseling Week."

The homeroom teacher wrote the words on the board.

Instantly, half the class lost all interest.

The other half started to panic.

"Now, you’re going to take a career aptitude test."

The teacher continued.

"This isn’t a determination for the rest of your life. Just some tools to determine your strengths and interests."

Akari raised her hand.

"Can it identify greatness?"

"No."

"What about future legends?"

"No."

"And future rulers of the world?"

"Absolutely not."

Akari lowered her hand.

"A biased test."

The teacher ignored her.

Experience gained throughout countless years of teaching.

Meanwhile, Kuro leant against the table.

Career aptitude test.

Future planning.

Goals.

Exactly the topics he tried desperately to avoid during the past week.

Unfortunately for Kuro, the universe hated him.

And apparently worked for the education system.

The tests were distributed.

Several pages worth.

Sections.

Questions about interests.

Personalities.

Skills.

Working environment.

Career plans.

And other things Kuro hated.

And suddenly, he regretted being alive.

Question 1: Do you enjoy leading groups?

"No."

Question 2: People always depend on you?

"...Sadly."

Question 3: You enjoy solving other people’s problems?

Kuro stared blankly.

"...Maybe."

Question 4: Which career attracts your interest the most?

Silence.

There was nothing written yet.

Because he had no idea.

The same went for his future.

Around him, everybody seemed extremely focused.

Even Akari.

Which was frightening.

A little later, everybody submitted their test.

The class ran off to lunch.

And forgot about the test.

Except Kuro, of course.

Three days passed.

The results came.

The teacher entered with a huge pile of envelopes.

Everybody instantly paid attention.

Sitting straight.

Silent conversations.

Anticipation.

"This is your aptitude report."

The teacher clarified.

"Remember. They aren’t absolute facts, just suggestions." Nobody cared.

They just wanted results.

The teacher started to distribute the envelopes.

One-by-one.

First, Aoi received hers.

Research.

Academic Sciences.

Data Analysis.

Programs of advanced study.

Nobody seemed surprised.

Not even the slightest.

Akari leant towards Aoi.

"The test identified you as a scientist."

"It is correct."

And nothing more.

Next, the envelope went to Mina.

Education.

Teaching.

Counseling.

Working with Youth.

A smile grew on her face.

"It fits me perfectly."

All classmates agreed.

Then Rika’s turn.

Creative Arts.

Writing.

Publication.

Visual Storytelling.

Standing in a dramatic pose.

"The machine recognizes genius."

"The machine recognized danger."

Aoi corrected.

Unsurprisingly, Rika ignored her.

Naturally.

Then, it was Akari’s turn.

Suddenly, the entire class got interested.

Even the teacher looked nervous as she handed Akari her envelope.

Akari opened it.

Blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

"...What?"

Everybody instantly gathered around her.

This report made no sense.

Sports.

Leadership.

Entertainment.

Marketing.

Sales.

Performance Art.

Public Relations.

Event management.

There was plenty more.

And plenty more.

The aptitude test gave up.

At the end of the report stated:

"Based on the results, the candidate demonstrated unique aptitudes across multiple areas."

Aoi corrected her glasses.

"They couldn’t contain you."

"A threat even to science."

Akari proudly added.

Nobody argued this point.

They all started to laugh.

Very loud indeed.

Including the teacher.

"Did you see that?"

Mina pointed out.

"Yes."

"Strange results..."

Kuro answered honestly.

Aoi grabbed the report.

Read it twice.

And twice more.

Her eyebrows moved slightly.

An uncommon occurrence.

"There’s something strange about your aptitude."

"What do you mean?"

Akari asked.

Aoi kept on reading.

"The candidate demonstrated strong interpersonal skills while, at the same time, enjoying isolation."

Classmates started to laugh.

Very accurately.

"’The candidate performs well under stress, but hates leading people.’"

Loudness increased.

"’Candidate possesses aptitudes for multiple career paths, but doesn’t demonstrate any particular interests.’"

More laughter.

Now, Kuro wanted to disappear.

Forever.

The teacher also seemed intrigued.

"I’ve never encountered this result."

Kuro wasn’t sure, but this sounded rather insulting.

After the class, Kuro headed back to his seat.

Unfortunately.

The news spread faster than ever before.

Due to the existence of Rika.

"THE INCONCLUSIVE MAN IS BACK!"

Kuro immediately turned around.

"No."

"THE LEGEND!"

"No."

"THE HUMAN QUESTION MARK!"

"No."

Akari was already laughing.

Mina couldn’t resist the urge either.

Failed.

Aoi was rereading the report.

For research purposes

Which sounded even worse.

Soon, the nickname was everywhere in the class.

By evening time.

Everybody was greeting him with the words:

"How’s the future looking for the Inconclusive?"

Kuro wanted to transfer schools.

Yet again.

At the end of classes, Kuro ran to the rooftop.

Survival instinct.

The wind was refreshing.

View of the city.

Silence.

For a moment.

Peace reigned.

Until...

The door of the rooftop opened.

As usual.

Kuro didn’t need to turn around to understand.

"You’re hiding."

Minami commented.

"I prefer the word ’relocating’."

"You’re hiding."

"...Maybe."

Minami seated herself beside him.

They stayed there watching the setting sun.

After a little bit of silence.

She broke the silence.

"I heard about your aptitude test results."

Of course she did.

Teachers know everything.

Or, at least, almost everything.

Kuro sighed.

"The report labeled me inconclusive."

She laughed.

An unusual action from her part.

"I saw the report, by the way."

"...Really?"

She nodded.

"And?"

Minami gazed at the horizon.

"The test wasn’t mistaken."

Useless information.

Before he had time to complain.

She kept speaking.

"But I don’t think it’s a bad thing."

He glanced at her.

Surprisingly thoughtful expression.

"Students usually fall into categories."

She continued.

"Research."

"Education."

"Medicine."

"Businesses".

---

Pause.

---

"You don’t belong to those."

---

The sunset was reflected in the windows of the buildings down there.

---

The city was starting to light up.

---

Minami smiled slightly.

---

"Which makes you interesting."

---

Kuro frowned deeply.

---

"That’s the polite way of saying I’m a problem."

---

"It is."

---

"Sensei."

---

She smiled again.

---

But this smile contained a certain thoughtfulness.

---

Because unlike anybody else.

Minami actually was interested.

Not in the test.

In the questions behind the test.

Because Kuro possessed unique abilities.

And nobody could determine which ones.

For the first time.

This mystery became interesting.

And in some ways.

Minami suspected he himself did not realize what he was good at.

As fate would have it, the ordeal did not end there. It never does when Akari lives.

---

The following morning, Kuro went to his classes with high hopes for peaceful mornings.

---

A misguided hope.

---

A grave miscalculation on his part.

---

No sooner had he opened the classroom door than he found Akari atop a chair.

---

With a dramatic gesture, she pointed toward him.

---

"And the Inconclusive One arrives!"

---

The entire classroom erupted into uncontrollable laughter.

---

Without a word, Kuro promptly turned back.

---

"No."

---

"I cannot deny my destiny."

Akari announced.

---

"My destiny is not to have this conversation with you,"

Kuro insisted.

---

"To late,"

Akari said matter-of-factly as Rika joined her from behind, clutching a notebook under her arm. An ominous one at that.

On its front page was written:

Career Options for the Inconclusive Man

---

For the first time ever, Kuro felt actual fear.

---

"What is that?"

---

"Research,"

Rika answered bluntly.

---

"Destroy it."

---

"No."

She shook her head firmly.

At least, until a desperate cry came from him:

"PLEASE!"

Again, no result.

---

"Aoi?"

He pleaded hopefully.

Aoi spared a glance from her book without stopping to read:

"Statistically speaking, the chance of success is close to zero."

---

"Thanks."

Aoi smiled back pleasantly.

---

"You’re welcome."

And went back to reading. Betrayal.

---

While Mina tried not to laugh.

Again.

Failed.

Again.

---

"Sorry."

She said.

---

"Obviously you’re not sorry about it,"

he shot back angrily.

---

"You’re right, I’m not."

She answered sincerely.

---

Thankfully.

Lunch break only made things even worse.

---

They all started discussing what Kuro should do with his life.

---

Which was an absolutely absurd suggestion.

In fact, the most absurd one.

Because, needless to say, everyone got involved.

"So maybe he should become a detective."

One of the students put forward.

---

"Why?"

---

"Because he observes everything,"

came the reply.

Right away, Kuro raised his finger.

"There’s a point to prove it’s totally false."

Another student confirmed quickly:

---

"No, he’s right."

Kuro was silent, frozen.

Akari almost fell out of her chair laughing.

Mina blushed crimson.

Rika hastily scribbled down her notes.

And poor Aoi pretended she was reading her book and paying no attention to what’s going on.

She wasn’t quite doing it.

Kuro, however, ignored the last point made by the classmate.

Experience gained over years helped him decide.

Nevertheless, the debate carried on.

"Teacher!"

No.

Minami promptly replied from the teachers’ room door opening.

---

How long was she standing there nobody knew and nobody dared to ask.

"Counselor."

"No."

"Doctor!"

Just then, Yui appeared right on cue.

"Absolutely not."

"Why not?"

Asked Akari.

Yui met the glance of her beloved.

And remembered that all of the information she ever learned about medicine flew out of her mind at study sessions of hers with Kuro.

"...Trust me."

She had a point there.

---

Fortunately, the bell finally saved him.

From this particular situation, at least.

Sometimes the education system could be useful.

Returning to his seat, Kuro glanced over the aptitude report inside his desk.

Result: inconclusive

---

He should have felt embarrassed and annoyed.

But he was just looking at it.

Thinking about it.

Maybe it was not entirely wrong.

He really didn’t know what he wants to do for living.

However, for the first time.

This realization wasn’t a source of embarrassment anymore.

It was a question.

And he really needed to find an answer.

Looking out of the window, Kuro saw other students passing through the courtyard talking about their university plans.

For all those years, he was watching others go ahead.

Perhaps now was a good time for him to consider his path as well.

Standing in the doorway and watching Kuro reading the report, Minami found her expression thoughtful.

An interesting thought.

Very interesting.

Since others tried to guess what kind of career Kuro will choose,

Minami was beginning to think about something completely different.

What if it was nothing to do with work?

What if the talent he possesses was something that test couldn’t measure?

And this idea stuck with her all throughout the class.