Notice:- Edited on June 30th 2025.
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"So, you can turn invisible, huh?" I question her curiously upon noticing that she won't be making any further moves.
She stares at me for a short while before canceling her invisibility and standing in a more relaxed manner. "No, it isn't invisibility. My power makes it so that one person can't see me, while any bystander can see me normally."
"That's true; all I saw was her attempting to punch you. Only for you to somehow dodge it..." adds Joijiro from the side helpfully.
"Ninja training," I mock.
Now then... that's one stupid and incomplete power to have. It would've been much more amazing if she could make herself completely invisible. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a useless one. After all, if my senses weren't so... inhuman, I would've most likely had to take that punch. In short, it's very useful for one-on-one situations against an opponent that can't deal with it.
"As you might have realized, you aren't the only one with supernatural powers. These powers are considered to be an illness that will disappear in due time, that is, adolescence. Until that happens, I would like you to commute to our school, Hoshinoumi Academy," the girl explains.
"Literally, why?"
"I've already gotten permission from those that have parental authority over you," she adds as-a-matter-of-factly, without answering my question.
Before I could say anything else, she continues, "However, I'm sure you'd be popular with your looks. Did you really need to play the role of a cheater? Though, that did help close the gap between you and that girl you were targeting."
"Stop trying to change the subject," I voice, annoyed, "Why are you doing this?"
Nao remains silent for a moment before she sighs and says, "Your power is too dangerous to be left alone."
"Dangerous?" Five seconds of possession is? I mean, yeah, Yu could've killed that girl with the truck if he didn't push her out of the way in time. Or I could literally have someone commit suicide in various ways. But still...
"Seems like a bit of a reach to me," I say with a sigh, "I just won't possess people anymore. Even if I do, it won't be for illegal or immoral purposes. That fine with you?"
Hearing this, Nao frowns for a moment before she turns her head to face Joijiro. Was she seeking his opinion?
I can sense Joijiro only shakes his head. The heck's that supposed to mean?
"You don't get it. This is for your own good," Nao continues to say as she faces me again.
"Right..." I respond, unconvinced.
Against my expectations, she turns transparent once again and immediately attempts to kick me. I easily block it by grabbing her foot with my left hand. I drag it towards myself and reach out with my other arm to grip her neck, though without putting any actual force. "You've got to stop attacking me randomly. It's not exactly helping your case here."
The next moment, I sense a punch being thrown at me from behind, source being the weirdo with glasses. I let go of Nao and redirect the punch, grab him from under his shoulder, and throw him over my shoulder a few meters away. Following which, he crash-lands and rolls for a few seconds before coming to a stop.
"Too slow," I taunt.
Nao attempts to break free from my grasp but fails to budge any part of me. She peers into my eyes, a hint of trepidation apparent in them. For fuck's sake...
I sigh before letting go of her foot and neck. "Do it again and I won't be so lenient."
Nao steps back a few times before casting a glance at Jojiro, who was recovering from the throw. She then looks towards me, "Please. I sincerely invite you to join our school. We need you as a part of the student council."
The whole attempts at sneak attacking me aside, she does appear to be sincere in her request. But that begs the question - why? Why me? Was this somehow related to what Juno had told me? The thing about predestined events? Maybe this transfer is meant to happen? I mean, being around those with supernatural powers seems... a not so bad thing, now that I think about it. I could use it as a training of sorts for combat - should I ever need to fight in the future.
Besides, I have a history as a cheater thanks to the original owner of this body, making it impossible for me to return to my old school. Running around like a headless chicken won't accomplish much either, especially since I have a little sister to care for. So, I can only hope this school they're talking about isn't some shady organization or something. (Maybe I should hope it is, so I can gain even better combat experience?)
"Also, for that matter, we find people who use their abilities unwisely, such as you and get them to either transfer to our school or stop using their powers."
"Why not the latter for me?" I ask with one brow raised.
"As I said earlier, your power is too dangerous."
"Yeah, like me taking over someone and jump off out of a window a few stories high? Come on, surely there are worse powers out there."
Once again, Nao frowns. Guess she doesn't like me arguing with her.
"Fine, fine. I'll join you guys." I say with a sigh.
At this moment, Jojiro approaches us. He stands in front of me, extends his arm and says, "Welcome to Hoshinoumi Academy. I look forward to working with you."
"Yeah, sure," I say as I take his hand.
------
I finally reached my home in this world. Not bothering with anything else, I unlock the door and step right inside.
"Brother Yu! Welcome back!" A very energetic girl, who just so happens to be my little sister, exclaims.
"Hey, hey. When you were out, we got a super amazing call from uncle! He said that we are going to be transferred to a school that is called... the, uh... what was it? Hoshou- no, no, Hoshi? Ah, Hoshinoumi Academy! Hey, is it true?" She continues exclaiming.
Nao sure wasn't kidding when she said she has already gotten permission... That aside... this girl is rather adorable. Her height barely reaches my chin. She has long, silky, purple hair that reaches where her tailbone would be. Her violet eyes appear to be glistening, and every single motion of hers exudes energy and chaotic cuteness.
Caught off guard by the cuteness, I grin and slowly approach her and before patting her head. "It's true. Still, shouldn't you be sad? You're going to be transferring schools, which means leaving your current friends and classmates behind, you know?"
She closes her eyes and listens to me earnestly, and once I'm done, replies, "I know, but that's what smartphones are for! I can call my friends and we can see each other's faces! Also, I can make new friends!"
I chuckle lightly, a little amused by her response.
It's an odd situation. Just a day ago, I woke up to having gained a twin sister. Now, I am in a whole other world and have gained an adorable little sister. Yu Otosaka's memories have assimilated with my own to the point that I genuinely see her as my little sister.
Yu Otosaka is me and I am Yu Otosaka. We are now one and the same. This is what it means to arrogate into someone in a Platform.
Focusing back on Ayumi, I consider something: With how cute she is, I would've cherished her even if there had been no familial bond between us.
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After being told to sit at the table by Ayumi, I do so and watch as she heads to the kitchen, grabs a plate, and places it in front of me on the table.
"It's Brother Yu's favorite, Omelette Rice!" she exclaims.
Hoh... According to Yu's memories, he had said that the food was his favorite when they were younger, and she thinks it still is, even though she has been told time and time again it isn't.
I take my spoon and take a good portion of the steamy food and eat it. Sweet. Too sweet.
Oh, right... She uses pizza sauce as a "secret ingredient", making it extremely sweet...
As we continue to eat, Ayumi begins talking about some random stuff related to our family members.
"Hey. Ayu sometimes thinks that there was one more person somewhere..." She speaks. Apparently, she refers to herself as "Ayu".
According to the memories I've received from this body, there is no such person. However, before I can say that, she continues, "It's a weird feeling, but I know it's true."
Well, even if true it doesn't really matter, does it? I fail to see the importance of this person existing or not. Unless it's some kind of weird ass event straight out of a drama, such as us losing memories of him or her due to an accident or something. Considering everything that's happened recently, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.
------
Our futons (mattresses) have been laid down on the floor. I am currently lying on mine and staring at the ceiling while pondering about a variety of stuff. I notice that Ayumi is stargazing through a telescope rather than trying to sleep.
"You should sleep now. You have to wake up early tomorrow for school." I voice.
"Just a little more!" she responds in a quick and upbeat manner.
Letting out a small sigh, I get up from the futon and move behind her, before lifting her up by her armpits. Ayumi lets out a cute yelp as I take a seat near the telescope and place her on my lap. I pull the telescope closer to us and take a quick glance at the starry sky.
I know about constellations. Or rather, I know about the term constellation and zodiacs. Shifting through both Haruka's and Yu's memories, I am unable to find any information related to the layout of the stars.
But then, I get an odd feeling. A feeling that lets me know that I know. I know what the layout of the zodiac constellations looks like. Is this an oddity related to the lost memories of my previous life?
"Hey, take a look over there. Do you see those four small stars that form the English letter 'y' with three other stars above the open end?"
She looks for it but struggles for a little, probably because it's a little dim, but after while she says, "Yes! I see it!"
"That's a constellation. A constellation is formed by stars that make certain shapes that we recognize and are named. This one belongs to a group called the Zodiac constellations, and it's called Cancer," I explain.
"Cancer?" she asks while cutely tilting her head to one side.
"Yeah. There twelve others aside from it.
"I see..." she mutters with a thoughtful look on her face.
And so, I continue telling her about constellations and point out a few others to her. After a while, I inform her that it's time to sleep.
"Come here," I beckon to her while patting the pillow to my side on the futon I am lying on.
"Roger that!" she replies as she practically jumps over and lies down beside me.
Some time passes, and just when I think that she has fallen asleep, I hear her softly whisper excitedly, "Hey, Brother Yu, today you were super nice to Ayu! I want us to be together forever and ever!"
I find myself smiling at her antics. Reaching out with my arms so that I can pull her into an embrace, I whisper back, "Of course. I have such a cute little sister, how could I not spoil you?"
She giggles a little before closing her eyes and snuggling into my chest. I move my head slightly before kissing the top of her head, wishing her goodnight.
This... is not bad in its own way. With all the... confusion around me recently, getting to enjoy a moment of peace with this adorable girl is quite nice.
Though, skimming through my memories of Yu Otosaka, I find his attitude towards her to be unacceptable. Did he even have a heart?
Setting those thoughts aside, I relax and close my eyes. Soon, I drift off.