Chapter 4 — Back to School Season
Time slipped quietly through their fingers. The rumors in the small town gradually faded away, and before they knew it, the back-to-school season had arrived.
The car drove along the highway. Richard held the steering wheel, while Ivan and Jessica sat in the back seat.
The high school they were heading to was located in Queens—there was no high school in their town.
Jessica had become much more cheerful during this period of time. Time truly was the best medicine for sorrow, and of course, part of that was thanks to the comfort and care shown by Ivan's family.
"Ivan, Jessica, once you get to school, make sure you look out for each other," Richard said.
"This is already the fourth time you've told us," Ivan replied helplessly.
"Yes, and I'm saying it again because—oh right—don't ever pick up smoking. Don't let some bad kids talk you into it. Smoking as a minor is illegal."
"Is it okay after becoming an adult?" Jessica suddenly asked.
"Jessica, you're a girl. No matter when, you shouldn't smoke. It ruins your charm," Richard said.
Jessica lowered her head and muttered softly, "But smoking looks really cool…"
"In a bit, I'll give you some money. Go buy stationery and daily necessities. Ivan, try to save your pens this semester. And when you eat in the cafeteria, be careful not to bend someone else's spoon—that'd be hard to explain."
"Got it."
Ivan's understanding of himself was no longer what it used to be. In the past, he didn't know why spoons bent or why doors opened. Now, he understood everything—he knew how to control his psionic energy.
"So there shouldn't be any leakage."
Ivan felt as if he were an ocean of psionic power—if he wasn't careful, a little would spill out.
Townsend Harris High School, a prestigious school in Queens.
For Ivan and Jessica, this place was both beautiful and unfamiliar.
Or perhaps beautiful things were always unfamiliar—because once people became truly accustomed to something, they took it for granted and no longer saw its beauty.
After all the procedures were completed, Richard gave them a few more reminders before saying goodbye. The ranch at home couldn't run without him.
The opening ceremony for the new semester was held in a large auditorium filled with hundreds of teachers and students. The middle-aged principal, Dowling Gray, personally stepped onto the stage to give a speech.
The speech was passionate and stirring, ending with thunderous applause.
"My dear students, thank you for your applause. Thank you for listening to me talk for so long. I hope you'll have a wonderful semester here at Townsend Harris High School. Now—"
Principal Gray paused, then suddenly changed his tone.
"As always, this opening ceremony will feature several exciting performances, including something magical."
As the music began to play, Principal Gray smiled mysteriously and slowly stepped off the stage.
The first performance was instrumental music. The second was a white girl singing. Both were decent enough, but Jessica, sitting beside Ivan, was already yawning repeatedly.
"Jessica, didn't sleep well last night?" Ivan whispered.
"It's too boring," Jessica said. "Her singing makes me sleepy."
"Uh… it's not that bad, right?"
"That's exactly why it's boring. If it were really terrible, I'd be wide awake instead," Jessica replied.
"Fair point."
After the white girl finished and left the stage, the atmosphere changed.
Elegant music with a hint of mystery quietly filled the air, followed by a slightly childish male voice.
"Do you believe in superpowers?"
With that question, a brown-haired boy holding a microphone slowly walked onto the stage, his steps unhurried.
"Do you believe that I, standing here in this school, possess superpowers?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the audience erupted into chatter.
"Hey! That's Superpower Kid! I recognize him! Superpower Kid from Flushing!"
"He's coming to our school too?"
"What? You know him?"
"Oh my god, I can't believe I'm going to the same school as him!"
"Never heard of him."
The boy on stage smiled slightly and raised his voice. "Today, I'll show you. Yes—my performance is superpowers!"
That instantly caught Ivan's attention. This might be closely related to him.
Although Ivan knew how to use his abilities, he still didn't fully understand the principles behind them. If others in this world truly had superpowers, then perhaps many of his questions could finally be answered.
Jessica, sitting beside him, was clearly just as interested in the boy on stage.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Angel Brown. I'm fourteen years old. People in my neighborhood affectionately call me Superpower Kid—because I really am superpowered. I'm a genius. A genius in superpowers."
Angel's face flushed as he looked down at the hundreds of teachers and students below and continued,
"When I was six, I discovered that I was different. I sensed something inside my body that humans aren't supposed to have—psionic energy. That's what I call it. Then I devoted myself to studying it. Eight years have passed. I've broken through again and again, becoming more and more proficient. I started helping my neighbors with various things. Do you believe it? My superpowers are omnipotent—I can even make plants grow faster."
"I grew stronger and stronger. Unmatched talent combined with unmatched effort created—"
As he spoke, Angel raised his left hand. A match lay in his palm. Under his focused gaze, the match slowly lifted off his hand and began to float.
"Who I am today."
The audience burst into cheers. Angel wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and continued,
"You know what? My brother also has superpowers. He works very hard, but he just doesn't have my talent. He can stare at a piece of wire for five minutes and still might not bend it. But I'm different. I'm an unquestionable genius! Please give me a round of applause! I'll continue with an even more difficult performance!"
In the audience, a female teacher frowned and asked the principal, "Principal, is it really okay to do this at an opening ceremony?"
The principal blinked. "Private schools can't afford to be conventional. Do you believe that because of Superpower Kid, lots of kids will dream of coming to our school?"
Applause thundered through the hall. Jessica excitedly clapped along—this was her first time ever seeing someone perform superpowers.
"Ivan, did you see that? I'm so glad our seats are close to the front!" she said while clapping, her eyes fixed on the stage.
"I saw it," Ivan replied.
On stage, Angel spread his arms, basking in the adoration of the crowd.
"Thank you. Next, I'll perform the most difficult feat—object bending."
Angel pulled out a fountain pen from his pocket and held it up for everyone to see.
"See this? It's a pen. The difference between my brother and me is that he only dares to pull out a piece of wire."
He gripped the bottom of the pen with his left hand.
"I say that next, I'll use my superpowers to bend this pen. Do you believe it? Of course you do—because I am—"
As he spoke, his eyes locked onto the pen's body. His left hand began to tremble slightly.
Five seconds. Seven seconds. Twelve seconds.
A bead of sweat formed on Angel's forehead as the pen slowly began to bend.
He clenched his teeth, his face turning red from the strain. The pen bent even further, until it was bent at a ninety-degree angle.
"Because I am a genius! I am Superpower Kid!"
Angel's voice cracked as he shouted. Holding up the pen bent at a perfect right angle, his bloodshot eyes met the audience as he was greeted by deafening applause.