The front door opened.
"I'm home."
Kenji stepped inside and slipped off his shoes.
Shiori appeared from the living room, holding the television remote.
"Welcome back! Where have you been?"
Kenji paused.
"...Out."
Shiori stared at him.
"That's obvious. You've been gone for a while."
He placed his shoes beside the entrance.
"I had something to take care of."
"Something?"
"Yeah."
Shiori followed him into the living room.
"Does this have anything to do with why you suddenly rushed out earlier?"
Kenji stopped beside the couch.
He'd expected her to ask, but that didn't make answering any easier.
The Black Lotus...
Sayuri's warning returned to his mind.
Don't trust strangers who suddenly show an interest in you.
And don't demonstrate anything unusual you might be capable of.
Kenji glanced at his sister.
I can't involve her in this.
"Nothing important," he said.
Shiori narrowed her eyes.
"You're a terrible liar."
"Hey, I'm not lying."
"Then why are you avoiding my question?"
Kenji scratched his cheek.
"I just went to meet someone."
"Someone?"
"A classmate."
Shiori tilted her head.
"Was it that girl?"
Kenji blinked.
"What girl?"
"The one with the black hair. The girl you were talking about when you came home."
He looked away.
"...Yeah."
Shiori's lips curved slightly.
"Oh?"
"Don't start."
"I didn't say anything!"
"You were about to."
Shiori giggled.
Kenji walked toward the kitchen.
"Anyway, did you eat?"
"Of course. I was waiting for you, but you took forever."
"Sorry."
He opened the refrigerator and reached for a bottle of water.
Shiori leaned against the doorway.
"Big brother?"
"Hm?"
"Are you okay?"
Kenji stopped twisting the bottle cap.
"I'm fine."
"You've been acting strange since yesterday."
He took a drink.
"Maybe I'm just tired."
Shiori watched him for a moment.
Then she stepped closer.
"You're doing that thing again."
Kenji lowered the bottle.
"What thing?"
"Acting like you have to deal with everything yourself."
He stared at her.
Shiori folded her arms.
"You always do that. Whenever something happens, you keep it to yourself and pretend everything's fine."
"That's not true."
"Really? Then why won't you tell me what's going on?"
Kenji looked down at the bottle in his hand.
He wanted to explain.
He wanted to tell her about the flame hounds, Sayuri's sword, and the organization that was apparently interested in him.
But the moment he imagined those creatures appearing in front of her again, his throat tightened.
No. I can't tell her.
He set the bottle on the counter.
"Shiori, listen."
She looked up.
"Whatever happens, I won't let anything happen to you."
Her eyebrows drew together.
"That's not what I asked."
"I know."
"Then stop changing the subject!"
Kenji lowered his head.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Finally, he placed a hand on her head.
"I'm sorry. I just... need to figure some things out first."
Shiori looked at his hand before meeting his eyes.
"You promise you'll tell me if something happens?"
Kenji hesitated.
"...I promise I'll do my best."
She puffed out her cheeks.
"That's not the same as promising."
He gave her a small smile.
"Then I'll make it up to you."
"How?"
"I'll help with dinner."
Shiori's expression immediately changed.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Then you're washing the dishes too!"
"Wait, that's not what I agreed to!"
She laughed and headed toward the kitchen.
"Too late! You already promised!"
Kenji watched her disappear around the corner.
His smile gradually faded.
The Black Lotus...
He looked down at his hands.
What exactly have I gotten myself involved in?
---
The following morning, sunlight streamed through the classroom windows.
Kenji sat at his desk with his notebook open.
His pencil moved across the page, copying the lesson from the blackboard.
At least, that was what he was supposed to be doing.
His eyes drifted toward the window.
Those creatures weren't ordinary animals.
He remembered their glowing eyes and the heat pouring from their mouths.
And Sayuri...
His pencil stopped.
He could still picture her standing in the middle of the street, holding a sword surrounded by flames.
How had she summoned it?
Was it an ability?
And if people like her existed, how many others were there?
Black Lotus...
The name kept returning.
He pressed his pencil against the page.
An organization that searches for people with unusual abilities.
His mind returned to the blonde woman who had grabbed him on his first day.
She said my ability hadn't awakened.
Kenji frowned.
What does that even mean?
"Kenji."
He didn't respond.
"Kenji."
A pencil tapped against his desk.
He blinked and turned.
Yuya leaned toward him.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking notes."
Yuya glanced at his notebook.
The same sentence had been written three times.
"...Right."
Kenji quickly covered the page with his hand.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Just thought I'd let you know you've been writing the same thing for a while."
Kenji looked down.
"...Oh."
Yuya chuckled.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay? You've been distracted since yesterday."
"I'm fine."
"You're not convincing anyone."
Before Kenji could respond, the teacher turned from the blackboard.
"Mr. Kawamura."
Kenji straightened.
"Yes, sir?"
"Would you care to tell the class what we've been discussing?"
A few students turned toward him.
Kenji glanced at the board.
His eyes moved across the equations.
"...The relationship between the two variables?"
The teacher nodded.
"Correct. Now, perhaps you could explain the next step."
Kenji looked at the board again.
His pencil remained suspended above his notebook.
Yuya lowered his head, trying not to laugh.
Kenji cleared his throat.
"Well..."
The teacher sighed.
"Please pay attention."
"Yes, sir."
A few students chuckled.
Yuya leaned closer.
"Nice recovery."
"Shut up."
Kenji returned his attention to the lesson.
This time, he made a genuine effort to concentrate.
---
The bell rang.
Students began gathering their belongings as conversations filled the classroom.
Yuya stood and stretched.
"Finally! I thought that class would never end."
Kenji closed his notebook.
"You say that every time."
"Because it's true every time."
Yuya slung his bag over his shoulder.
"Come on. Let's head to the cafeteria."
"Yeah, give me a second."
Kenji placed his notebook inside his bag and stood.
As they stepped into the hallway, a sudden metallic crash echoed from the staircase.
Several students turned.
"Look out!"
Kenji followed their gaze.
A metal equipment stand had tipped over near the stairs. Its upper shelves tilted forward, sending several objects sliding toward a girl standing directly beneath it.
Her eyes widened.
She raised her arms.
Kenji's body moved before he could think.
His shoes struck the floor as he rushed forward.
He reached the girl just as the stand fell.
Both hands caught the metal frame.
CLANG!
The impact rattled through his arms.
Several objects bounced off the shelves and rolled across the hallway.
Kenji held the stand steady until another student hurried over and helped push it upright.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
The girl slowly lowered her arms.
"Y-Yes..."
Kenji released the stand.
His fingers tingled from the impact.
That was close.
He looked down at his hands.
How did I get there so quickly?
The girl took a small step forward.
"Thank you..."
Kenji looked at her.
"Hm?"
"I said thank you!"
Her cheeks turned pink.
"Oh. It's nothing. Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"N-No. I'm fine."
A girl came rushing down the hallway.
"Haruna!"
She stopped in front of them, looking from her friend to the fallen equipment.
"Are you okay? I heard something crash!"
Haruna nodded.
"I'm fine, Natsumi."
Natsumi placed both hands on her friend's shoulders.
"Are you sure? That thing nearly fell on you!"
"I'm okay. Really."
Natsumi finally turned toward Kenji.
Then she bowed.
"Thank you for helping her!"
Kenji rubbed the back of his neck.
"Don't worry about it. I just happened to be nearby."
"Still, you saved her."
Haruna glanced at him.
Her cheeks were still pink, and she quickly lowered her eyes when he noticed.
Natsumi looked between them.
A small grin appeared on her face.
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Kenji Kawamura. I'm a third-year."
"Ah! A senpai!"
She pointed toward herself.
"I'm Natsumi Arai. Second-year, Class 2-C."
Then she gestured toward her friend.
"And this is Haruna Fujimoto. She's in my class."
Haruna bowed slightly.
"Nice to meet you, Kawamura-senpai."
"Nice to meet you too."
Natsumi glanced at the clock.
"Hey, since we're all heading to lunch, why don't you eat with us?"
Kenji looked toward Yuya.
But his friend had already started walking away.
Yuya glanced over his shoulder.
"Go ahead, Kenji. I'll see you later!"
"Hey! You're just leaving me?"
Yuya laughed.
"Have fun!"
Kenji watched him disappear into the crowd.
Then he turned back toward the two girls.
"...Well, I guess I can join you."
Natsumi smiled.
"Great! Let's go before the cafeteria gets crowded."
---
The three found a table near the windows.
The cafeteria was already busy. Students moved between tables carrying trays, while conversations mixed with the clatter of utensils.
Natsumi placed her lunch on the table and sat down.
Haruna took the seat beside her.
Kenji sat across from them and opened his lunchbox.
Inside were neatly arranged rice, vegetables, and several golden omelet pieces.
Shiori really went all out today.
He picked up his chopsticks.
"That looks delicious," Natsumi said.
Kenji glanced up.
"My lunch?"
"Yeah! Did you buy it somewhere?"
"No. My younger sister made it this morning."
Natsumi leaned closer.
"Your younger sister?"
"Yeah. She insisted on making lunch for me."
"That's so nice!"
Kenji smiled faintly.
"She likes cooking."
Haruna looked at the lunchbox.
"Your sister must be good at it."
"She is. Although she sometimes makes too much."
Kenji picked up a piece of omelet.
Before he could eat it, another pair of chopsticks appeared.
Natsumi swiftly took the piece from his lunchbox.
"Hey!"
She placed it in her mouth.
"Mmm..."
Kenji stared at her.
"Did you just steal my food?"
Natsumi chewed and swallowed.
"Don't be stingy, senpai. Sharing is good."
"That's not sharing! You didn't even ask!"
She picked up another piece.
"Well, I'm asking now."
"That's not how it works!"
Haruna covered her mouth.
A quiet giggle escaped her.
Natsumi ignored Kenji's complaints and took another bite.
"Mmm... It's actually good."
Kenji narrowed his eyes.
"Give that back."
"It's already in my stomach."
"Then give me something in return."
Natsumi tilted her head.
"Something in return?"
Kenji reached toward her lunchbox and picked up one of her rice balls.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
He took a bite.
Natsumi's eyes widened.
"That's mine!"
Kenji continued chewing.
"Mmm..."
He swallowed.
"Not bad."
"Not bad?! That's a special rice ball!"
He looked down at it.
"Then why did you put it in your lunchbox?"
"Because I was going to eat it!"
"You ate my omelet."
"One piece!"
"You took two!"
"That's different!"
"How?"
Natsumi pointed her chopsticks at him.
"That rice ball is worth way more than one egg!"
Kenji raised an eyebrow.
"Then you should've protected it better."
"Senpai!"
Haruna suddenly burst into laughter.
Both of them stopped.
Natsumi turned toward her.
"Haruna?"
Haruna lowered her head, trying to cover her mouth, but another laugh slipped out.
"Sorry! You two just..."
She couldn't finish her sentence.
Kenji looked at Natsumi.
Natsumi looked back at him.
Then they both started laughing.
"Well, I guess we're even," Kenji said.
"Absolutely not! You still owe me a rice ball!"
"You owe me two pieces of omelet!"
"One and a half!"
"How am I supposed to give you half an omelet?"
"Figure it out!"
Haruna laughed again.
For the next few minutes, the three continued eating while trading jokes and arguing over whose lunch was better.
Eventually, Natsumi leaned back in her chair.
"So, Kawamura-senpai, do you have any hobbies?"
"Not really. I usually spend my free time with my sister."
"You're pretty close, huh?"
"Yeah. It's just the two of us living together."
Haruna glanced at him.
"That must be nice."
Kenji looked up.
"What about you two?"
"We've been friends since our first year," Haruna answered.
Natsumi nodded.
"And I've had to put up with her ever since."
"You're the one who always causes trouble."
"Hey!"
Kenji chuckled.
Their conversation continued until the bell rang.
Natsumi gathered her things.
"Well, we should get going. We have class soon."
Haruna stood and picked up her lunchbox.
"Thank you again for earlier, Kawamura-senpai."
Kenji waved his hand.
"You've thanked me enough already."
"Still..."
She lowered her eyes.
"I really appreciate it."
Natsumi placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Don't worry. We'll make sure to thank him properly next time."
Kenji raised an eyebrow.
"Next time?"
Natsumi smiled.
"Of course! We're friends now, aren't we?"
Kenji paused.
Then he smiled.
"I guess we are."
Haruna's lips curved upward.
"Then... see you later, senpai."
"Yeah. See you."
The two girls headed toward the cafeteria entrance.
Natsumi waved over her shoulder.
"Don't forget! You still owe me a rice ball!"
Kenji shook his head.
"You're not getting another one!"
Their voices faded into the crowd.
He looked down at his lunchbox.
Only one piece of omelet remained.
"...Shiori's going to be disappointed."
He closed the lid.
Near the cafeteria entrance, Madoka Nakano stood quietly.
Her blue hair fell beside her cheeks as she watched Kenji from a distance.
She had seen the entire exchange.
The falling equipment.
Kenji's sudden movement.
And the way he'd caught the metal stand before it struck the girl.
Her gaze lowered to her hand.
A thin layer of frost formed across her fingertips.
She slowly closed her fist.
That movement...
Kenji was still sitting at the table, gathering his belongings.
She turned away and walked down the empty corridor.
The wall beside the staircase began to freeze.
Frost spread across its surface, covering the paint and creeping toward the ceiling.
Madoka stopped.
She glanced at the ice.
Then she continued walking.