IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Regarding Exclusive Original Images, please read the auxilliary chapter "Exclusive Images and Tiers"
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Kazuho and Melissa walked out of the mall, carrying shopping bags in their hands.
"This was fun!" Kazuho exclaimed. "It feels like it's been ages since I bought something for myself."
People kept secretly glancing at the patch on her left eye.
There were even those who stared at something else, too…
Kazuho was wearing a blue top over black jeans. With her pink hair out, she looked nothing short of a model. The patch on her eye didn't embellish her beauty at all, instead giving her a mysterious, curious aura.
It wasn't just the random passersby who noticed that, but Melissa, too.
Melissa was many years younger than Kazuho, both in age and experience. However, after becoming a Beyonder, she had realized she shared one crucial thing with Kazuho — a smothered ambition before it was revived by Dr. Blessed.
That realization had brought the two Apostles even closer.
After they had secretly planted the leader in his bedroom that night, Melissa hadn't returned to the Headquarters with Mushroom-nimi, choosing to stay on the mainland for the time being instead.
First, there was too much upheaval in the country.
Without the leader guiding them with Mr. Fool's help, they couldn't figure out what Conformity and Singularity were up to.
In such a case, for one of them to remain alone at the Headquarters, where all the stolen Nomus were, seemed counterproductive.
Not to mention, no matter how roundabout a way Mushroom-nimi went back to the island, there were chances of someone finding out.
At first, they had a clear plan to return to the Headquarters using the Leader's teleportation Quirk.
But then he went insane…
Melissa smiled away the nervousness of that night, finally sensing the eyes on her, too.
The eighteen-year-old Seer was wearing a yellow crop top over denim shorts, her blond hair sprawled openly on her shoulders.
As they walked among the crowd, the two beauties looked breathtaking, to say the least.
"It's weird…" Melissa pointed out. "After digesting most of my Potion that night, I have become overly aware of my surroundings."
Kazuho nodded. "I know the feeling…" she replied. "It can be a little overwhelming. Our Spirituality automatically triggers when someone is observing us. But you can control… No. Mmm… teach your Spirituality to ignore some of the harmless ones through cogitation. I think, other than letting a Beyonder access Spirit Vision earlier, the best ability the Seer Pathway has to offer is the Danger Intuition, especially for us girls."
Melissa smiled, feeling blessed that she had Kazuho to guide her.
However, she didn't agree with the older Apostle on the Danger Intuition being the best ability of a Seer's because she was enjoying Divination even more.
With the Seer Potion enhancing her memory, combined with the Spirit Pendulum Divination, Melissa was finding it much easier to pursue her engineering studies, research, and experiments.
"Is the rate of Spirituality Dampening the same for Sequence 8 as it is in Sequence 9?" Melissa asked.
Kazuho's lips twitched.
That's what you get with two scientists in the group, she thought inwardly.
Spirituality Dampening was a term Melissa had coined for the process of Beyonders losing their abilities with time. To regain their abilities, they needed to pray to Mr. Fool and get another Potion from the leader to reignite the Corruption within.
Or, it was so at least until they digested that particular Sequence's Potion thoroughly.
"It depends on how much, and how fast, you consume your Spirituality," Kazuho tried to explain. She didn't think she had become nearly the expert in this matter to teach Melissa. Mr. Iwao was a much better teacher when it came to managing Spirituality. "If you don't use it at all, then it's a touch slower… but not too much."
Melissa nodded in understanding. "So, basically, as we progress, we get better at holding onto our Spirituality. Got it."
Kazuho's lips twitched again.
Not clearing the misunderstanding, and enjoying the big sister energy instead, Kazuho began humming a tune.
"You seem in a good mood," Melissa pointed out, smiling. "To be honest, I thought…"
Kazuho had already told her about her past with Skycrawler, Captain Celebrity's Sidekick. But, as he had already left a few days ago, along with that walking disaster named Alexander Becking, Melissa hadn't wanted to bring the topic up.
A gentle, silly smile surfaced on Kazuho's face, with a blush. "It's… alright. We will meet again… I am sure of it."
Melissa raised her eyebrows, unwillingly reading Kazuho's emotions.
In the next moment, her entire face reddened as a heavy blush took over her cheeks, too.
Kazuho put a finger on her lips, smiling meaningfully. "Let's keep it between ourselves, yeah?"
Melissa nodded several times, her face only reddening even more.
Suddenly, a large screen, running the entire length of a multi-storied building, caught her attention, taking her mind off the adult things.
The screen showed two All Mights, one young and the other old, standing with their backs against each other.
They still haven't figured out what exactly happened that night.
It was clear that their leader had helped All Might secure a win over All For One, but… how?
There were many questions that Melissa wanted the answers to.
Questions like… Was leader's young age related to All Might's brief younger appearance? A Quirk-related experiment gone wrong perhaps? That would explain Dr. Blessed's immense knowledge, but it would also raise even more questions.
There was one question whose answer she already knew, though. Almost.
"Has All Might…" Melissa asked, her blue eyes gaining a glint. "… truly lost his Quirk?"
Kazuho, who was also eyeing the giant screen, nodded. "It's possible…" she said, before her eyes widened. "Wait! you are not suggesting…"
Melissa and Kazuho's eyes matched, but both left the words bubbling in their minds unsaid, their hearts beating loudly in their chests.
"The Villains are still out there," Melissa said as they began walking again after a while. "We would need help…"
Kazuho kept quiet for some time.
Without the leader with them, she dared not discuss such a sensitive topic.
Then, letting out a sigh, Kazuho smiled. "Let's work on ourselves, first," she said. "We all have already secured enough Credits. It's just a matter of time before the leader comes back and helps us advance to the next Sequence."
Smiling broadly at that, Melissa nodded. "Umu. Ice cream?"
"Didn't know you could misdirect thoughts, too?" Kazuho joked, sharing a chuckle with her fellow Apostle.
Meanwhile, at the Saionji Mansion, a CRACK deafened ears —
— a bolt of lightning landing right on top of Luke's head!
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Note: Original Image of Kazuho and Melissa is available