Chapter 11: Metal Villain - Ironclad③

"Can’t move, huh? Well, tough luck. Just don’t get reported before I get back."

I teased him like I was willing to hear some last words, but that was just a joke.
Sure, this guy almost killed me—if it weren’t me, he probably would’ve. Still, I don’t hate him enough to just watch him die.

Even if Ironclad’s a criminal, even if Japan’s got the death penalty system, I don’t have the authority to decide that.
I don’t fight for ideology, but if I ever did, it wouldn’t be against heroes or villains—it’d be against humanity itself.

One wrong step, and people with powers really might lose their human rights.
There’s a decent number of folks out there who argue: “People with abilities humans don’t have should be treated as not human.”

I get the logic if we’re talking bears wandering into town or natural disasters or whatever. But if villains lose their human rights, it’s not hard to picture what kind of world that’ll turn into.
Skip the arrests, skip the trials—straight to kill. That’s where it’d go.

Before long, even heroes wouldn’t have rights. People like me, ability-users just trying to live quietly, would never be able to show our faces again.
That sure as hell isn’t the world I want.

If a villain can be saved, they should be.
Even the worst piece of trash has the right to treatment. That’s what human rights are.

No way a frail little girl like me can carry a guy who’s too banged up for an ambulance to move.
So I went back home, grabbed what I needed, and returned to Ironclad.

He was still alive, still charred, still there.
――Well, I just gave a whole speech on human rights, but I’m about to do something pretty sketchy.

Syringe in hand, I started my pitch, loud and clear.

"Pa~rt-time job! How about a clinical trial gig? Payment’s your life, risk’s your life too. You’re probably gonna die anyway, so isn’t it worth a shot?"

"What the hell…"

Compared to earlier, his voice had lost a lot of power. Just goes to show how close to death he is.
I dropped the joking tone so he’d take me seriously. Met Ironclad’s eyes, and explained, honest this time.

"I’m a med student and a mutant with healing powers. This is an experimental treatment drug—made using my own body cells as material. It’s worked in animal trials, but never been used on humans. Thing is, you’re perfect—if my drug kills you, I won’t feel guilty."

My personal rule: only reveal my ability after the second meeting.
This is the first time I’ve talked with Ironclad, but it’s not the first time we’ve met. So it counts.
And since he’s gonna be my lab rat, I’ve got the duty to explain.

I shook the syringe a little, peered at his scorched face.

"Wanna do it?"

"…Do whatever you want."

"Oh my, is that your way of saying ‘I entrust my life to you’? Is this a proposal? Gya-ha-ha!"

"Don’t do comedy bits on a dying villain. Just get it over with, you crazy bitch."

I like guys who can keep up with the banter.
I grabbed his arm and jabbed the syringe in.

Observation phase.
I pulled out my phone, switched to camera mode.

Ironclad grimaced hard, the vertical scar across his left brow twisting.

"Don’t film me."

"Never seen a Hollywood movie? Researchers always record stuff on video. Test subject #1, how’s your condition?"

"Got the urge to kill ‘cause I wanna die anyway."

"So, your energy’s coming back. Looks like success to me."

Ironclad flexed his palm, bent and straightened his elbow, then casually bent a nearby signpost.

Just because you can manipulate metal doesn’t mean you’ve gotta vandalize random stuff, dude.
Being a villain really is second nature to him.

Once Ironclad finally stood up, I stopped recording.
He seemed plenty lively again. Now I just need to check for side effects.

"So, you coming to my place?"

"Hah? And why the hell would I do that?"

"Got anywhere else to go?"

I’d get the advantage of long-term observation. He’d get the advantage of a place to hide out. Not a bad deal.

Sure, sheltering a villain’s basically a crime, but I’ve already crossed the line by testing unapproved drugs on a human subject.
There aren’t any laws about superpowers yet, so I can probably find loopholes.
Hell, if villains lose their rights, what I did will be treated like animal testing anyway. Gya-ha-ha. What a nightmare.

"Your burns weren’t from Inferna’s attack. No other hero with fire powers exists right now besides her. So if it wasn’t a hero, it was a vi–ll–ain. Villains have factions, right? If you lost, you’ve got no place left, huh."

Ironclad stayed silent. Guess I nailed it.
Villain fighting villain… that’s basically a dark hero, isn’t it?

"So, what’s your choice?"

"…Don’t blame me for what happens."

"Is that your way of saying you’ll turn into a wolf on the prowl? Bold of you."

"Move it already, crazy bitch."

So, looks like he’s coming to my place after all.
What a stubborn guy. But he’s a villain, so I guess that’s expected.

Still, I don’t like being called a crazy woman. Crazy is fine, but woman rubs me wrong.

"Katagiri Inori. You can call me Mom if you like."

"Are you stupid or what."

Honestly, this guy gives better straight-man comebacks than Raiden.
Raiden’s the type who piles joke on joke, which is funny too, but then the conversation spins out of control.

Anyway, Ironclad’s too long a name for everyday use.

"Mind if I call you Ai-chan?"

"Like hell you can."

"Then An-chan."

"Kajitani."

He actually gave me his name ‘cause he hated the nicknames that much.

"…So you’re a mom too, huh."

"Jin."

Damn, he even threw in his first name. No sense of privacy at all.
That name makes him sound like some old grandpa. Bet he hates it.

Still, I’m supposed to look like a cute girl, so the fact that he doesn’t enjoy me teasing him just proves he’s a straight-laced guy.

"I just moved out of the dorms. Free to bring guys over whenever I want."

"…If you’ve already got someone, I’m not going."

"You’ll be the first."

"If a second one shows up, I’m out."

"So you do wanna be alone with me. Oh, Jin~♡"

For a split second, I saw genuine murderous intent in Jin’s eyes. Time to shut up.
Like Ironclad, I know when to quit too.