At dusk, Morimoto Chiyoda hummed a tune as she returned to her front door.
Her hands were full of bags, and though the key was in her tight pants, she still reached out to press the doorbell.
DING-DONG.
The crisp sound elicited a response from inside, "Is that you, Chitose?"
"Yes, it is."
Morimoto Chiyoda quickly replied, urging, "Hurry up and open the door."
No sooner had she spoken than the door clicked and swung open.
She lowered her eyes to see Aozawa striking an Exorcist pose, and she said with an expression that spoke volumes, "Aren't you tired of this game yet?"
"I'll be tired of it when I feel like being tired of it."
Aozawa answered truthfully.
If he didn't do this, standing up would risk throwing himself at Morimoto Chiyoda again.
He too was helpless against his uncontrollable Superpower.
Morimoto Chiyoda stepped inside, her leather boots tapping on the floor and her designer perfume wafting through the air—a pleasant fragrance, not the acrid smell of cheap perfume.
She hooked the door shut with her foot and laughed, "I bought you pizza, fried chicken, and milk tea today, so we're having Western food tonight."
"Sounds good."
Aozawa was well aware that Saturdays and Sundays were Morimoto Chiyoda's lazy days. On weekends, she wouldn't want to cook and preferred to order takeaway. Five days of balanced meals, two days of indulgent junk food—that was all fine as long as it made her happy. In her words, being happy was the secret to a healthy life.
Aozawa moved closer to the kitchen bar and then slowly stood up to sit on the tall stool.
Morimoto Chiyoda placed the ready pizza, coffee, and iced milk tea on the kitchen bar, while clothes, makeup, skin care products, and perfumes were spread out on the couch.
She had bank savings of ten million Yen and also owned the property. This gave her the financial freedom to spend her monthly salary of four hundred thousand Yen completely on herself. The weekend was her shopping day.
As a retired police superintendent with a stable pension, she didn't need to worry about retirement like the average person. She kept a reserve of ten million Yen in her bank account, just in case of illness. This amount was sufficient to cope with the majority of illnesses. If the costs were to exceed this budget, then there was no point in clinging to life.
Morimoto Chiyoda turned and took a cold beer from the fridge. Placing it in front of herself, she flicked open the tab and said, "How long do you plan to rest?"
"It depends. I might go to school next week if I feel like it," he answered.
"Alright, as long as it's temporary, not permanent shut-in behavior, I have no complaints." She replied, took a swig of beer, then opened the pizza box, unwrapped the fried chicken, and passed Aozawa a pair of plastic gloves. "Let's eat."
Aozawa picked up a slice of pizza, cheese stretching, and tore off a piece of fried chicken, rolling it up in the pizza and taking a big bite. The high calories brought a delicious warmth to his lips and teeth.
「Another day passed.」 Sunday evening left Aozawa tossing and turning, and he finally fell into a restless sleep.
When the alarm he had set on his phone woke him, he took a deep breath and silently prayed.
His eyes slowly opened.
Superpower: X-ray vision.
The text representing a new Ability floated into view before gradually fading in the air.
X-ray vision?
Aozawa stood up from his bed, then fell backward.
At the very moment he was about to hit the ground, he used the Superpower to ensure there would always be a girl to cushion his fall. He immediately felt an invisible force gently supporting him from below.
Unlike before, this Superpower had become active rather than passive, though it was considerably weaker. He felt like he could fall at any moment. But it didn't matter. A problematic Superpower like that? Aozawa didn't care whether he had it or not.
He could finally go out to test how much his Hypnosis Ability had weakened, and then there was this new Superpower: X-ray vision.
Aozawa lowered his head, his eyes focused.
He discovered he could control the intensity of the X-ray Ability himself. Seeing through clothes was a basic operation. He could even see through flesh and blood, viewing the veins, nerves, bones, and flowing blood. If he increased the intensity, he could see through his palm to the floor below, then continue to see through that as well.
He saw the residents living underneath. It was a young couple, full of energy, already riding hard early in the morning. That single ponytail... looked like it would feel good to the touch.And that bobbing black mole... it was especially hard to look away from.Aozawa had to admit, the young guy had some serious stamina.However, the lack of sound left him somewhat disappointed.
Aozawa looked up. His vision could penetrate the wall, allowing him to see Morimoto Chiyoda doing yoga exercises in the living room. If he wanted, he could see through her yoga outfit.A devilish thought arose in Aozawa's mind, but he resolutely quashed it.A man has to have some principles!He didn't plan on using his Superpowers to peep at the people around him. For others, however, he would look if he wanted to. Otherwise, a week later, he might not be able to enjoy such carefree use of his X-ray Superpower.
He looked up, his gaze penetrating the ceiling to see the seventh-floor resident's room decor and a muscular man lifting dumbbells.
Tsk tsk. Galloping downstairs, pumping iron alone upstairs.So it was true that excessive fitness tended to attract the same sex.
Aozawa inwardly snorted. This feeling of peeping into others' privacy was like watching an unauthorized live stream.Compared to last week's Superpower, X-ray vision could be said to be a mid-level Superpower, inferior to Telekinesis and Hypnosis.
He withdrew his X-ray Ability, letting his eyes return to normal. He opened the door and said with a smile, "Good morning, Chitose. I'm heading to school today."
Morimoto Chiyoda was still holding a challenging yoga pose. The Descending Angel Pose fully displayed a woman's flexible beauty for Aozawa to see. The greatest thing about yoga outfits was that they somehow managed to be more appealing than if one wore nothing at all.
Aozawa tilted his head up slightly, a sign of respect for the pose.
He turned and entered the bathroom to begin his daily routine of washing his face and brushing his teeth, already looking forward to the sights along his route.
Ayase Apartment wasn't too far from Brilliant high school, just a kilometer away. Aozawa liked to run to school in the morning, considering it a warm-up. Today was no exception.
He jogged through the cool early morning, using his X-ray Superpower to see street scenes he had never witnessed before. Inside the houses, some people were still sleeping, some were preparing breakfast, and others were gathered around tables, enjoying their meal. The myriad facets of life unfolded before him like scenes in a silent play.
Aozawa slowed his pace as he approached the yard with the pit bull.
WOOF WOOF WOOF!
The pit bull roared fiercely. Aozawa had wanted to try his Hypnosis on the beast, but he unexpectedly discovered Mrs. Ishimura in the yard feeding the dog. He knew her name was Ishimura because of the nameplate on her door.
"Oh, sorry, did he startle you?" Mrs. Ishimura was dressed in a pure white dress, her expression kind.
"No problem."
Aozawa waved his hand, abandoning the idea of hypnotizing the pit bull. On impulse, he glanced at her with his X-ray vision.
HISS... He took a sharp breath. Those words and patterns! Mrs. Ishimura was playing a dangerous game. Definitely not someone to provoke; best to steer clear, just in case she had... issues.
He turned and ran toward the school.