As all the screens in the mini movie theater came to the end, Huashin decided to pack up. 

“Sorry for holding you up this long, Araka,” Huashin said. “But to be honest - and no one else will hear about this - I genuinely enjoy the time working with you, and sometimes I even started to think what is my responsibility here.”

“Instructor Huashin, you’re my instructor, right?”

“Of course that’s what it supposed to be,” Huashin said, while turning her eyes toward Araka: “But the longer I mentored you, the more I realized why your mom is so proud of you, and more importantly - I should protect you.”  

Araka didn’t respond. In many ways, for her, Huashin was no longer merely an instructor, but someone who understood her, willing to protect her, and more importantly, shielding her from the worst consequences - things that didn’t make sense months ago. 

—

The first time I met Huashin was after the end of the second day of the entrance exam, when all five of us were invited by Jinlin and some other instructors for dinner inside the SAIR headquarters complex.

“Guess the invigilators are in a good mood,” Jun said while changing into his fresh grey hoodie after a whole day of workout, “for all of us preventing some catastrophe from happening.”

On our way to the complex, Jinlin, who drove us there, said in her typical soft voice: “Don’t worry, make yourself - you’ve already tried your best, and plus, you saved Jinhui.”

As the Dazen SUV pulled over near the gate, we got off - it was very different from the entrances we saw earlier - ground was carpeted in dark blue; the seals of “SAIR 特科院” printed clearly on a glass panel right behind the door; and the lights were glowing softly above the shoulders of the guards.

“This is Gate No.3, where agents of my clearance could enter,” Jinlin said while showing her badge to the guard: “ Zen Jinlin, SAIR North logistics, now bringing the guests in by the request of the SAIR Central instructive team. 

“Wait, you’re a driver?”

“I am the driver. One of the few fully licensed all-mode drivers at SAIR North and here, the federal headquarters.” 

We entered the complex under the guidance of Jinlin. The complex was sprawling with 5 wings, connected in the shape of a pentagon, along with another pentagon shaped building at the centre. 

“The restaurant you’re heading to is at B2 level,” Jinlin smiled and said, “and to be fair, if someone were checking the attires - only Okuri would pass.”

“Of course he’s wearing a school uniform,” Tenka pouted, “if I brought mine, mine would be even cuter.”

As the elevator came to a stop, we finally were able to see the restaurant: instead of a modern, industrial look, this place looked like a movie set of some historical fiction, with sliding window panels, wooden floor, and lanterns with traditional patterns. I didn't know what they meant.

"This place is impressive!" Tenka gasped, as she was impressed by the setting, "I should wear my traditional Zakumiku (着面) costume." 

We arrived at the front of a suite, where Jinlin told us Jinhui and the other guests had already arrived. With Jinlin pulling the door for us, we entered the suite.  

"Good evening, Captain Huashin, Captain Haseku, Captain Anawa, and Director Ninfo, I brought all the guests here," 

In front of us there were four people: a black haired man in his mid middle age wearing a full suit with a long blue tie, along with a pair of glasses; a younger man who was wearing a white shirt and a navy blue tie, with hair spiked up; a young woman with long purple hair and a golden bandana in a white blouse; and finally a young, short-blonde-haired woman with a pair of glasses.

"Good evening. Please, take a seat," it was the middle aged man who responded first, “and also a warm welcome for all of you.”

"Director, shall we start the talk?" The man with spiky hair said. 

The “director” nodded and then turned toward us. “Since everyone’s seated, let’s start our conversation, shall we?” the “director” said after taking a sip of the tea, and everyone nodded.

“Let me introduce myself. My name is Ku Ninfo (顧 寧福), director of SAIR Central Division 2 of Bakju. It is my pleasure to host this meeting between the SAIR and young candidates to our intern programs like you. The reason we, the SAIR Central Division 2 evaluation team, called you in was because we want to learn more about you.” Ninfo then looked toward the purple haired woman, who then gave a nod. “Before the talk, I would first congratulate all of you for making it this far, and all the instructive team here are proud of what you have accomplished. That being said, I would like you to get familiar with the remaining leaderships of Division 2 and its instructive team.”

"Good evening, it's our pleasure to meet you in person at this wonderful setting,” the purple haired woman said, “I'm Kou Huashin (高 化星), ID BJ2524AZ. As an instructive agent of the Rescue and Combat Branch of SAIR Central Division 2 in Bakju, I will be mainly responsible for supervising training new agents like you during the intern program.”

“I'm Kakimuri Anawa (開木 波能), ID BJ2233AM, ”the short haired woman said, “I am the instructive captain of the Research Branch of SAIR Central Division 2. Huashin and I will jointly prepare lectures during the intern program. By the way, if you want, you can just call me Anawa.”

"I am Takiyoshi Haseku (明溪 夏世), ID BJ2072BW. I'm the Captain of the Combat and Rescue Branch of SAIR Central Division 2,” the spiky haired man finally introduced himself. He looked toward Huashin, then toward Anawa, and said: “Huashin and Anawa are excellent instructive agents who are known for being friendly with young people like you. Even though most of the time I was not with the instructing team, I will make sure all of you will have a safe internship under SAIR.”

Director Ninfo nodded as Haseku finished his introduction. "From now on, since this is still part of the entrance exam, Huashin and Anawa will take over me and continue the conversation, and I will listen from the sidelines.”

Wait, this was still part of the entrance exam? I thought. So what will this part be about? 

“That being said,” Huashin continued while pulling out a tablet, “before we move on to the next part, I would like to highlight what you have accomplished so far: at least 4 of you had an exceptionally high standing during the exam, and all of you have already acquired the prerequisite for passing the exam; and more importantly, all of you seemed to have known each other quite well despite the assignment was purely based on region.”

"Thank you, instructors,” Sukeo responded, “we’re grateful for your consideration.”

"You’re welcome,” Haseku said, “Since I know you guys must be tired by now, I guess maybe we can start with something casual, shall we?”

"I agree,” Anawa said and then turned toward us: “since we have all of your profiles, we can skip the introduction. But still, since it's the first time we met in person, we want to learn more about you.”

“Wait a second,” Tenka raised her hand: “so does that mean we actually have passed the exam?”

Huashin nodded, then lowered her volume and leaned forward, said: “Pretty much so, and that is why we invited you here - from now on, I will be your instructor, and we will just talk about some casual topics to get a better idea of who you are.”

Haseku nodded: “By the way, this room is actually sound proof, so no one else would overhear the conversation. But still, if you feel uncomfortable to answer, we will not force you.”

“Instructors, how are we sure that the room was indeed sound proof?” Sukeo asked.

Jinlin then slowly stood up and walked behind me: “All of you can take a look here.”

Turned out, the slide door was layered, and until the door slid away, I couldn’t hear anything outside. Meanwhile, Jun looked around and nodded his head. 

“I hope that will answer your concern,” Huashin said, “but still, we will try our best to keep all the topics comfortable and make the whole conversation be a ice breaker. Again, if you feel the question is a bit more complicated, you don’t have to answer.” She then slid her scroll down the tablet: “So I guess we will start with the one with orange hair, or if the profile is correct, Peni Tenka, is my pronunciation correct?”

Tenka nodded. 

"May I ask about what you usually do when you have free time after class?" 

"I do pop dancing when I have free time. I run a Videflax channel, and I publish recordings on it. Our school is quite relax about it - I even tried to start a club about it.”

“So I guess you got subscribers?”

“Several, but not too many.”

“That's very cool,” Anawa commented, “so why do you decide to join the SAIR, as if you have read the qualification for candidacy, you should know that this would make you more occupied and spend less time on hobbies?”

“Because I think it would be so cool if I can save people,” Tenka said, “my dad is a doctor, and he told me the stories about people who were sent to the hospital being grateful that the SAIR saved them.”

All the instructors nodded. 

“Wait a second,” Jun interrupted, “Which school are you from?”

"Ah, I'm from Donzen Academy (東誠書院).”

That’s a well known name - an important school in Bakju that is known for club culture and extracurricular activities. Their track and field team was also a powerhouse - sometimes they produce athletes that are as competitive as me. 

“Wait, why didn’t you tell me you came from Donzen earlier?” Jun said, “no wonder you have so much time on your hobby.”

"Really? I guess that’s true," Tenka smiled. 

"How about you, Yoiki Sukeo, if I get the name eight? Do you have any hobbies or sports?”

"Mostly I do swimming, and I even swam competitively until recently, since. 

“The eye issue?” Anawa said.

Sukeo nodded: “Even when I asked my doctor, he was uncertain if that could be healed after surgery.”

"Well, I have good news for you,” Anawa smiled and said, “What you have is called the Exposure Shock syndrome, and you will be surprised when you realize how many people also have that. Of course, that’s not your own fault - it’s a genetic-psychological reflex resulting in over-sensitivity in the eyes. Fortunately, we have a machine located in this facility, and if you pass tomorrow’s exam, which I think will likely be so - you will receive this treatment for free.”

"I see. Thank you, instructor,” Sukeo bowed down and said.

"No worries,” Anawa said, “so I was still curious - same question as for everyone else: why do you decide to join the SAIR? After all, you said you’re interested in crime investigations and - wait, scientific research?”

Sukeo took a breath, and said: “Well, I have always been thinking about how I could contribute meaningfully to society. Since I have heard that I could save people using the skills and knowledge I learned during the SAIR internship, I think it’s a perfect match for my extracurricular experiences.”

The instructors nodded. “Well, I’m pretty sure you will find your place here,” Haseku said, “especially the research branch.”         

“So I guess we can move on to the next one,” Huashin said while turning toward Okuri: “Hitakani Okuri, right?”

Okuri nodded.

"So if I remembered correctly, you’re quite good at archery.”

“Of course,” Okuri replied, with his expression just as confident as usual, “Not only that, I also do hiking, swimming, and even some traditional martial arts.”

“Guess we’ll see that during tomorrow's exam,” it seemed Haseku felt enthusiastic from the answer: “You’re doing traditional Shinari archery, Southern archery or the modern Intercontinental type? 

"Actually I do all of them,” Okuri said, “though the best one for me is actually modern archery." 

"I see," Haseku seemed very satisfied with Okuri's answer. "Anyway, since you’re from Saushikou (紹溪口), a town on the foot of the Nanyun Mountain Range, if you enrolled in the internship, you may need to consider for spending several days in Bakju, since we don’t offer internship teaching in Laeshi - all training has to be done at the Bakju complex in this southwestern part of Chuubo.”

"That’s fine,” Okuri said, “as long as you provide me with residence - or even if you don’t - I will come.”

"So why did you decide to join the SAIR?" Anawa asked, “You seemed quite determined for that.”

“Because I want to make sure I could prove myself, that even someone from rural, even remote area, could just be as competent as those from urban areas on complex tasks like search and rescue, using all the skills and knowledge I have.”

“Instructor,” before the instructors could comment, Jun raised his hand, “I still something I didn’t understand fully.”

“Sure,” Huashin let Jun go through, “go ahead.”

“If I remember correctly, our invitation to the entrance exam was predetermined by the SAIR through a background check, right?” Jun said, “if that were the case, then why would you ask us why we want to join if you know we will be very likely to accept the internship? Plus, why would you also bring Araka in if her candidacy wasn’t predetermined?”

Jun’s question led to a pause. I looked at Jun, thinking if Jun was asking the wrong question. 

After a while, Director Ninfo returned to the conversation.

“That’s a very timely question,” Ninfo took a sip of the tea and said: “Here, I would like to clarify several things to make sure you understand where your candidacy came from: we assessed your physical performance, school performance, and personal achievements, of which all of you have something outstanding that we noticed about you; and if you remember, we have talked to your parents about it, and even leaving the final decision of joining in be your own choice.” He then turned toward me: “but still, regards of Araka, or Peni Araka, or Peni Sara, or whatever the name you prefer, we make you in because of a different reason - something more complex that I, as well as Huashin, will explain about it shortly.”

Wait, what was special about me? I thought. Sure, I do get medals at track and field events; even my family is special; but why would they make me in?