CHAPTER 2: UNVEILING ABILITIES
Atsuko Hiroshitu's Point of View
It had been two days since I enrolled at Kenzetu High.
Two days.
And somehow, I had managed to go that long without having a proper conversation with anyone.
Not that I particularly minded being alone. I was used to keeping things to myself. Still, spending two entire days in an unfamiliar school without making a single friend was a little strange, even for me.
I sat near the window in my dormitory, holding a cup of my favorite tea. The warmth spread through my hands as I took a small sip, staring at the scenery outside.
The campus was unusually quiet at this hour. A few lights remained on in the distant buildings, while the surrounding trees stood almost motionless in the darkness.
I had been thinking about my situation for quite some time, but I still couldn't figure out what to do.
Tomorrow was supposed to be the first day of classes.
The problem?
I had no idea which section I belonged to.
The school had already assigned students to their respective sections, and the lists had been posted for everyone to check. I had searched through them more than once, but my name wasn't there.
Not in one section.
Not in another.
Nowhere.
I had completed my enrollment, submitted the necessary requirements, and received confirmation that I was officially a student at Kenzetu High.
So why was my name missing?
I took another sip of tea.
Maybe there had been a mistake.
That was the simplest explanation, but it didn't make much sense. A school like Kenzetu High wasn't supposed to overlook something as basic as assigning a student to a class.
Unless, of course, there was a reason.
I placed my cup on the table and glanced at the wall clock.
10:00 PM.
Great.
The first day of classes was only a few hours away, and I still didn't know where I was supposed to go.
How was I supposed to sleep peacefully with something like that hanging over my head?
I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling.
"This is ridiculous."
I had come to Kenzetu High to understand my abilities and discover the missing piece of my power. I hadn't expected my first real problem to be something as ordinary as finding my classroom.
Then again, this school had never struck me as ordinary.
The bus alone was enough to prove that.
Speaking of the bus...
My thoughts drifted to the guy I had met during the trip.
Kei Akemetsu.
I hadn't seen him since we arrived at the school two days ago.
We had gone our separate ways after getting off the bus. His dormitory was on the second floor of our building, while mine was on the third. We were practically neighbors, yet we hadn't crossed paths since then.
Strange.
I couldn't deny that I was curious about him.
At first, he seemed like the kind of person who didn't take anything seriously. He had that annoying habit of smiling at the wrong moments, and his calm attitude made it difficult to tell what was going through his head.
But beneath that careless behavior, he was surprisingly observant.
His explanation of the bus's spell system had made sense. He had understood how the system worked without needing to consult a book or look anything up.
That alone was enough to make me curious.
He was clearly intelligent, but I still couldn't figure out what kind of ability he possessed.
I remembered his crimson eyes and the way he had reacted when Fihiro threatened him.
He hadn't looked worried.
Not even for a second.
And then there was the strange remark he had made before we parted ways.
I could still remember his exact words.
"People will be killed before someone tries to kill him..."
I frowned.
What was that supposed to mean?
Who was going to be killed? Who was going to do the killing? And who exactly was the person he was talking about?
Was he referring to himself?
Or someone else?
I had no way of knowing.
Maybe his ability was far more complicated than I had assumed. Perhaps I had judged him too quickly.
Whatever the case, Kei Akemetsu was a mystery.
And for some reason, I had a feeling that meeting him hadn't been a coincidence.
I took the last sip of my tea and placed the empty cup on the table.
"Well, I guess I'll find out eventually."
I stood up and walked toward my bed.
There was no point in worrying about something I couldn't solve tonight. I would figure out the section problem tomorrow, one way or another.
I lay down, pulled the blanket over myself, and closed my eyes.
It didn't take long for sleep to catch up with me.
For once, I decided to leave the questions unanswered.
At least until morning.
7:00 AM
My eyes opened.
For a few seconds, I remained still, staring at the ceiling as I tried to shake off the last traces of sleep.
Morning had arrived.
The air coming through the window felt surprisingly fresh. It carried the scent of damp leaves and cool soil, reminding me that Kenzetu High was surrounded by a massive stretch of forest.
Perhaps the school's energy system had something to do with the unusual atmosphere.
Or perhaps the air was simply cleaner here than it had been in the city.
Either way, I wasn't complaining.
Outside my dormitory, the hallway was already filled with activity.
Footsteps echoed against the floor. Students talked among themselves, doors opened and closed, and someone farther down the corridor seemed to be arguing about something.
The school was finally waking up.
I sat up, stretched my arms, and got out of bed.
Fortunately, I had prepared my uniform the night before.
I put on my black trousers, white long-sleeved shirt, and red blazer, which had the Kenzetu High logo embroidered on the upper-left side. I finished the outfit with a red necktie, white socks, and black rubber shoes.
Everything looked neat enough.
My black envelope and phone were already on the table, waiting to be packed.
As I gathered my things, I caught sight of myself in the mirror.
Black hair.
Black phone.
Black envelope.
Black shoes.
I stared at my reflection for a moment.
"...Do I have a favorite color, or is this just a coincidence?"
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to fix the strands that refused to stay in place.
Maybe I really did like black.
I had never given it much thought before.
Then again, there were probably more important things to worry about than the color of my belongings.
Like the fact that I still didn't know my section.
I adjusted my necktie and checked my appearance one last time.
The uniform fit comfortably, and the red blazer gave the outfit a more formal look than the school uniforms I had worn in the city.
Everything was ready.
Except for one small detail.
I had no idea where I was supposed to go.
I picked up my envelope and phone, then headed toward the door.
"All right, Atsuko," I muttered to myself. "You were one of the top students in your previous school. You can handle a missing section assignment."
I paused with my hand on the doorknob.
"Probably."
I opened the door.
Cool morning air greeted me as I stepped into the hallway. Students were walking toward the stairs and the exits, most of them already dressed in their uniforms.
The girls wore red blazers with skirts, while the boys wore the same trousers and blazer combination I had on.
Everyone seemed to know where they were going.
Everyone except me.
I joined the flow of students heading toward the main campus.
As I walked, I tried to remember the school's guidelines.
Kenzetu High wasn't like an ordinary school. It didn't hold a traditional opening ceremony for new students, and there were no elaborate welcome activities scheduled before classes began.
The school seemed to place greater importance on privacy, security, and training.
That made sense, considering the kind of students it accepted.
People with supernatural abilities couldn't always afford to reveal everything about themselves to the outside world. Some powers could be dangerous, while others might attract unwanted attention.
A school like this needed to protect its students.
According to the guidelines, students were allowed to develop their abilities under supervision, but they were still expected to follow the school's rules.
Violations were handled according to their severity, the circumstances involved, and the abilities of the people concerned.
The school also had its own system for dealing with dangerous powers. Under certain conditions, it could restrict or suppress a student's ability as punishment.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how complicated the school's system must be.
Even the campus itself was protected by powerful spells.
The entire territory was surrounded by what the school called spell curtains—magical barriers designed to protect the grounds from external threats.
Any hostile energy directed toward the school would be neutralized before it could cause damage.
At least, that was what the guidelines claimed.
I wasn't sure how powerful those barriers were, but after seeing what the bus could do, I wasn't about to underestimate them.
I passed a noticeboard near the main walkway and stopped to look at it.
Several announcements were posted there, along with reminders about school policies and the locations of different facilities.
A book caught my attention on a nearby shelf.
The History of Kenzetu High.
I picked it up and flipped through a few pages.
The book contained information about the school's origins, its development, and the systems it had established over the years.
There was plenty to read, but I didn't have time to go through everything.
I borrowed the book, intending to look at it later.
For now, finding my classroom was more important.
I continued walking toward the academic buildings, scanning the signs above the entrances.
One building led to another, and each seemed to have its own classrooms and facilities.
I followed the signs as best I could, occasionally checking the room numbers printed beside the doors.
Eventually, I found myself standing in front of a classroom.
I stopped.
The room was already occupied. Through the open doorway, I could see students sitting at their desks, talking while they waited for the lecturer.
I checked the sign beside the door.
Then I looked at the room again.
Was this the right place?
I had no idea why I had stopped here in the first place. Something about the location had simply caught my attention, and I had followed that feeling without thinking too much about it.
Unfortunately, the classroom seemed almost full.
I looked around for a posted section list.
Nothing.
I checked my phone.
Still nothing useful.
"Maybe I should try another building..."
I turned to leave.
"Excuse me."
A deep voice stopped me.
I turned back.
A guy was standing near the classroom entrance, looking directly at me.
He was a little taller than I was, perhaps around five feet ten inches. His black hair was neatly arranged, and his blue eyes stood out against his otherwise calm expression.
There was something unusual about the way he looked at me.
He seemed to know something I didn't.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
He smiled slightly.
For some reason, that smile made me more suspicious than his stare had.
"Why are you smiling?" I asked.
His smile widened just a little.
"Am I not allowed to smile?"
"Not when you're staring at a stranger like that."
He gave a quiet laugh.
I couldn't tell whether he found my response amusing or was simply enjoying the conversation.
He stepped closer, then stopped at a comfortable distance.
"Why are you standing outside instead of entering the classroom?"
I glanced toward the door.
"I'm looking for my section, and I think—"
"—and I think this is your section."
I stopped speaking.
He said it as though the answer were obvious.
I studied his face, looking for any sign that he was joking.
He didn't seem to be.
"We've been waiting for one more student since earlier," he continued. "I believe you're the one we're missing."
I frowned.
"How would you know that?"
He looked at me for a moment.
Then he said something that made me freeze.
"I know what's on your mind, Atsuko."
My expression remained neutral, but my thoughts immediately went into overdrive.
How did he know my name?
I hadn't introduced myself.
I was certain of that.
I looked him over again, trying to remember whether I had seen him before.
Nothing came to mind.
"Have we met?" I asked.
Instead of answering, he glanced toward the classroom.
"Check the list."
Then he turned and walked back inside.
I stood there for a moment, watching him disappear through the doorway.
What was that supposed to mean?
I approached the entrance and looked at the names posted beside it.
There were several students listed under the section name.
SECTION GESMET
I scanned the list.
Then I found my name.
I stopped breathing for a second.
Male Students
Akemetsu, Kei
Atsuko, Hiroshitu
Hidata, Jin
I read the list again.
Then a third time.
My name was there.
Not only that, but Kei Akemetsu was listed directly above me.
And the guy who had just spoken to me was named Jin Hidata.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
So I really did belong here.
But why hadn't my name appeared on the other section lists?
And how had Jin known who I was before I even introduced myself?
I stared at the list, trying to make sense of it.
"Well?"
The same voice came from behind me.
I turned.
Jin was standing beside another student.
A familiar student.
Black hair.
Calm expression.
Crimson eyes.
Kei Akemetsu.
I stared at him.
"...Akemetsu?"
Kei smiled when he saw my reaction.
"Good morning, Atsuko."
I looked from him to Jin, then back at the list.
We were classmates.
Of all the people I could have ended up studying with, I had somehow landed in the same section as the guy who had spent the entire bus ride irritating me.
And apparently, the school had decided to add another mysterious person to the mix.
Wonderful.
Jin pointed toward the classroom.
"Well, are you coming in or not?"
I glanced inside.
Only one seat remained empty.
It was beside Jin.
Of course it was.
I walked into the classroom, trying not to look as annoyed as I felt. A few students glanced at me as I passed, but I ignored them and headed toward the empty seat.
I placed my envelope on the desk and sat down.
Jin turned toward me immediately.
"So, we're classmates now."
He grinned.
"And seatmates!"
I looked at him.
He looked delighted with himself.
I was already beginning to regret coming to this classroom.
"By the way," he continued, brushing his hair back with one hand, "I'm Jin Hidata. Don't forget my name. It represents handsomeness."
I stared at him.
"...What?"
He tilted his head confidently.
"You heard me."
He touched his hair again, looking completely satisfied with himself.
I looked away.
I'd rather consider myself handsome.
I had more important things to worry about anyway.
For example, why Kei and Jin seemed so comfortable around each other.
Were they old friends? Had they known each other before enrolling? Or was there something else connecting them?
I couldn't shake the feeling that both of them knew more about this school than they were letting on.
And I was starting to suspect that my placement in Section Gesmet wasn't an ordinary administrative decision.
Before I could think about it any further, Kei suddenly leaned toward me.
"Atsuko, seeing you again makes my day better than any other."
I glanced at him.
"Yeah, I know."
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he smiled.
That smile again.
I had a bad feeling about this.
"Argh!"
Pain shot through my left arm.
I jerked in my seat.
A knife had appeared through my arm.
For a moment, I couldn't even process what I was seeing.
The blade had pierced my left arm, pinning it against the side of the desk. Blood began running down my skin, staining the white sleeve of my uniform.
I clenched my teeth.
"What the hell?!"
Kei sat beside me, looking completely unbothered.
"I'm happy to see you, Atsuko," he said. "So don't respond with just 'yeah' when I say something nice to you."
I turned toward him in disbelief.
"Are you insane?!"
He tilted his head.
"That's not the response I was looking for."
I tried moving my arm, but the knife held it in place.
Pain spread through the wound whenever I moved.
"Release my arm, Akemetsu!"
Kei simply looked at me.
The blade seemed to press deeper.
More blood slipped down my sleeve.
I could barely believe what was happening.
We had known each other for barely two days, and now he was stabbing me because he didn't like my response to a compliment?
What kind of person did that?
"Kei," Jin said from beside me, his tone noticeably calmer. "You're hurting him."
Kei didn't even look at him.
"I know."
"Then stop."
"No."
I stared at Kei.
You're kidding me.
Jin sighed.
"Seriously, man. Let him go."
Kei finally turned his head toward him.
"Not until he admits something."
I swallowed my frustration and looked back at him.
"What could you possibly want me to admit?"
He smiled.
"That I'm more handsome than you."
Silence.
For a moment, I genuinely wondered whether I had misunderstood him.
"...What?"
"You heard me."
I stared at him, then glanced at the knife embedded in my arm.
Was this guy actually serious?
"You stabbed me because I didn't agree that you're handsome?"
Kei nodded.
"Exactly."
I had never met anyone so unreasonable in my entire life.
"You're unbelievable."
"That's not an answer."
"KEI, RELEASE MY ARM!"
Several students turned toward us.
A few looked shocked, while others seemed unsure whether they should intervene.
Jin, however, remained remarkably calm.
He reached over and placed his hand gently against my wounded arm.
"All right, that's enough."
The moment his hand touched my skin, something strange happened.
The knife vanished.
There was no flash of light, no loud sound, and no dramatic burst of energy.
One second, the blade was there.
The next, it was gone.
I immediately pulled my arm away from the desk and held it close to my chest.
Then I noticed something even stranger.
The wound was disappearing.
The blood stopped flowing. The torn skin began closing, and the pain faded as though someone were turning down its intensity.
Within seconds, my arm was completely healed.
I rolled up my sleeve and examined the spot where the knife had entered.
Nothing.
Not even a scar.
I stared at my arm.
Then I slowly turned toward Jin.
"...What did you just do?"
He withdrew his hand and smiled proudly.
"You're welcome."
"That doesn't explain anything!"
"Maybe I'll explain it later."
I narrowed my eyes.
Of course.
Another person who enjoyed keeping secrets.
I turned toward Kei.
He was glaring at Jin.
For the first time since I had met him, Kei's expression had changed noticeably. His usual smile had disappeared, replaced by an irritated stare.
Jin, on the other hand, looked completely relaxed.
He even adjusted his hair again.
Are these two always like this?
I looked at my healed arm once more.
The wound had been deep enough to make my blood run down my sleeve, yet Jin had removed the knife and healed the injury almost instantly.
There was no visible effort.
No obvious preparation.
He had simply touched my arm, and everything had returned to normal.
That wasn't ordinary healing.
It was something else.
And Kei's ability was equally strange.
He had produced a knife and controlled its movement without any visible weapon in his hand before the attack. If he could create or manipulate weapons through his mind, his ability might be far more dangerous than I had initially thought.
Neither of them had needed to make any obvious physical preparations.
Their abilities seemed to respond directly to their thoughts.
I looked from Kei to Jin.
Then I glanced around the classroom.
Other students had already returned to their conversations, as if what had happened were nothing unusual.
Was this normal for Kenzetu High?
Did students here casually stab one another over ridiculous arguments?
I sincerely hoped not.
I leaned back in my seat and took a slow breath.
There was something else I couldn't ignore.
My own ability relied on mental commands. I had to concentrate, form an intention, and direct my energy toward the target.
But Kei and Jin seemed to activate their abilities almost instantly.
Kei had summoned the knife and controlled it without giving me enough time to react.
Jin had made the weapon disappear and healed my wound in a matter of seconds.
Their abilities were fast, precise, and seemingly effortless.
Mine wasn't like that.
I could command objects and influence their movements, but I still struggled with the limitations of my power.
I didn't know whether their abilities were naturally faster or whether they had simply trained longer than I had.
Either way, there was a significant difference between what they could do and what I currently understood about my own abilities.
And I couldn't ignore it.
I had come to Kenzetu High because I wanted to discover the missing piece of my power.
Now, after meeting Kei and Jin, I was beginning to realize that understanding my abilities might be more complicated than I had expected.
This school wasn't just a place where students learned how to fight.
It was a place where they studied the nature of their abilities, learned to control them, and developed the intelligence needed to use them effectively.
Strength alone wasn't enough.
A powerful ability could become useless in the hands of someone who didn't understand its limitations.
Likewise, even an ordinary ability could become dangerous when used intelligently.
Power, knowledge, control, and strategy all mattered.
And if I wanted to uncover the truth about myself, I would need to understand all of them.
I looked toward the classroom door.
For a moment, I remembered the red shadow that had followed me before I arrived at Kenzetu High.
I still didn't know what it was.
I didn't know why it had tried to stop me, why it had left that strange residue on the doorknob, or why I had the feeling that it was connected to my missing power.
But now I had another mystery to solve.
Why had the school placed me in Section Gesmet?
Why could its devices supposedly not identify the abilities of students in this section?
And what connected Kei Akemetsu and Jin Hidata to all of this?
I looked at my healed arm one last time.
Then I glanced at Kei, who had already returned to his usual expression, and Jin, who was still acting as though he had just won some kind of beauty contest.
I sighed.
Two days without talking to anyone.
And now I was stuck between these two.
This is going to be a long school year.
Still, I couldn't deny that I was curious.
For the first time since arriving at Kenzetu High, I felt as though I had finally taken a step toward understanding the world I had entered.
I just had to be careful.
Because something told me that the abilities I would encounter here were only the beginning.