The question of how she would commute to her new school remained unanswered, but time continued to march on regardless.
The seasons turned, and August arrived. In the middle of summer vacation—a month filled with free time—this period was a critical juncture for exam takers. For me, it was much the same.
Of course, I had to keep improving my handling of the Force, along with my saber techniques and the use of my "Quirk." Studying was part of that too, but academics had never been an issue for me.
I had always excelled at schoolwork. Ever since my reincarnation, I hadn't scored below 95 on a single test. My mock exam results were consistently at the highest level, so there was no need to worry on that front.
It happened on one such day—specifically, August 7th. My birthday.
This day was always celebrated lavishly by my family, but this year, Toga had joined in. The reason? Quite simply, Toga and I shared the same birthday.
"Kotoha-chan, we have the same birthday?! This must be fate!"
When she learned the truth, Toga had jumped for joy over and over, her whole body bursting with delight.
Life really could be strange. Or perhaps the Force had guided things this way.
Well, it seemed Toga had mainly come to celebrate me rather than herself. In that regard, her priorities hadn't changed at all.
But on this particular birthday, I witnessed something utterly unbelievable. It truly felt like destiny—or perhaps the Force's guidance—had arranged it.
"Toga…? You… don't tell me…"
"Hm? Is something wrong?"
As she stepped up from the entranceway, I stared at her with wide eyes. Toga tilted her head and looked up at me with those large, innocent eyes, but I remained frozen in place, unable to move.
It wasn't that I was captivated by her beauty, nor had I been struck by some Quirk-based attack.
No—the reason for my reaction was far more shocking.
"Wah?! Is there something there?!"
"…! Just as I thought… Anakin, this is—"
"Yeah… no doubt about it. She's sensing the Force."
That's right—there was a clear presence of the Force emanating from Toga!
I had called out to Anakin just in case, and sure enough, she was reacting to him. Anakin, a Force spirit, was visible and perceptible to her.
The form of a Force spirit, composed entirely of the Force, could only be seen by those who were Force-sensitive. The fact that she could see him meant exactly that.
"Wait… hold on. It doesn't seem like she's reached the level of a full Force user yet. She can sense that I'm here, but she can't clearly make out my voice or appearance."
"I-I see… Hey, Toga. Can you see the person here?"
"There's a person? Sorry, I can't really see them… but I do feel something hazy, and I can kind of hear a faint voice."
"Just as Anakin suspected… What's going on here…?"
The Force could not be acquired later in life. The number of midi-chlorians within one's cells—the very foundation of Force sensitivity—was determined at birth and never increased afterward. Whether someone could wield the Force was decided solely by that innate factor.
I had become an exception thanks to my own Quirk, but this was an exception among exceptions. The idea of someone becoming a Force user postnatally was utterly unthinkable according to the common sense of the Republic… or rather, the Jedi Order.
And yet, that impossible thing was happening right now. What on earth was going on?!
"I don't really understand it either! But… maybe it has something to do with my Quirk?"
"Your Quirk? If I remember right, yours is 'Transform,' right?"
"Yes! I can turn into anyone whose blood I drink."