CHAPTER 1: AT THE BUS
Atsuko Hiroshitu's Point of View
The school bus had arrived at the station.
Through the window, I could see students gathering their bags and preparing to board. Some were talking excitedly with their friends, while others stood quietly, checking their belongings before getting on the bus.
Everyone seemed ready to leave.
Everyone except me.
I stood a few steps away from the door, staring at the strange figure blocking my way.
A red shadow.
It had appeared out of nowhere, and I had no idea what it wanted. Its body looked like a mixture of smoke and darkness, covered by a faint red glow. It had no clear face, no visible hands, and no features that could help me identify what it was.
Yet, somehow, I could feel its presence.
It wasn't human. It didn't look like any animal I had ever seen, either. Whatever it was, it didn't belong to anything I knew.
And it was standing directly between me and the exit.
I tried moving to the left.
The shadow moved with me.
I stepped to the right.
It blocked me again.
Seriously?
I glanced at the clock, then looked back at the shadow.
The bus wouldn't wait forever. If I missed it, getting to Kenzetu High would become a problem.
And I couldn't afford to miss this opportunity.
For years, I had kept my abilities hidden from everyone. I had learned to live with them, even though I still didn't fully understand how they worked. There was something missing, something I couldn't explain no matter how much I tried to understand my own power.
I believed Kenzetu High held the answer.
That was why I had come this far.
And now, some strange red thing was trying to stop me from leaving.
"What exactly are you?" I asked.
The shadow didn't move.
"Are you going to let me pass, or do I have to find another way out?"
Still nothing.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Who are you? Why are you following me? What do you want from me?"
For a moment, the room became completely quiet.
I waited for an answer, but the shadow remained in front of the door.
It didn't even seem to react to my questions.
"Do you not understand Japanese?"
The thought crossed my mind before I could stop it.
Perhaps it couldn't understand me. Or perhaps it understood every word but had no intention of answering.
Either way, talking to it was getting me nowhere.
I took a step forward.
The shadow remained still, but something about its presence made me hesitate.
I couldn't explain it. There was no physical force pushing me back, yet I had the uncomfortable feeling that getting any closer would be a mistake.
People with abilities like mine were supposed to be careful around unfamiliar energies. I had learned that much through experience.
And this thing was giving off an energy I had never encountered before.
"Fine. Have it your way."
I took another step.
Suddenly, the shadow vanished.
I stopped.
One second, it had been standing in front of me. The next, there was nothing but an empty doorway.
I stared at the space where it had been.
"...What?"
I looked around the room, checking the corners and the area beside the door.
Nothing.
Had it left on its own? Had it been trying to warn me about something? Or was it simply playing some kind of game?
I had no answers.
But at least the way was clear.
I hurried toward the door and reached for the handle.
Then I noticed something strange.
A faint green substance covered part of the doorknob.
It looked like a thin layer of liquid, although it didn't drip or run down the metal. Instead, it clung to the surface as if it were alive.
I pulled my hand away before touching it.
The green residue gave off a disturbing energy. I couldn't tell exactly what it would do, but every instinct I had told me to stay away from it.
For some reason, I felt that touching it could be dangerous enough to make me disappear without leaving anything behind.
I looked back at the empty room.
"That red shadow..."
So it hadn't simply been trying to keep me inside.
At least, that was what I suspected.
I needed to get out, but touching the doorknob was out of the question.
I could try breaking the door.
The problem was that I had never used my mind-command ability to destroy something before. I could influence things through my thoughts, but I was still learning how far that ability could go.
I had no idea whether it would work.
Still, I had to try.
I stepped away from the door and took a deep breath.
First, I needed to calm down.
I closed my eyes and focused on the energy around me. I let the distracting thoughts fade, concentrating on the object in front of me.
The door.
Its frame. Its glass. The handle covered in that strange green substance.
I pictured the door breaking apart.
Then I gave the command.
Break the door.
Nothing happened.
I opened my eyes.
"...Seriously?"
I took another breath and tried again.
This time, I concentrated harder. I imagined the force traveling from my mind toward the glass, pushing against it until the surface could no longer withstand the pressure.
A faint cracking sound came from the door.
I froze.
A thin crack had appeared across the glass.
Then another.
And another.
My eyes widened.
It was working.
The cracks spread across the surface, branching in different directions like a spiderweb. At the same time, the green substance on the doorknob began to fade.
I didn't know why it was disappearing, but I wasn't going to waste time finding out.
The glass suddenly shattered.
A loud explosion shook the room, sending fragments scattering across the floor. A cloud of dust and smoke filled the doorway, briefly hiding everything beyond it.
I stepped back, shielding my face with my arm.
For a moment, I could barely see anything.
But I couldn't help smiling.
I had actually done it.
My mind-command ability had worked in a way I had never experienced before.
I had finally pushed it beyond its usual limits.
Unfortunately, celebrating would have to wait.
The bus was leaving.
I rushed out of the room and hurried toward the station, trying to avoid the broken glass and the thick smoke behind me.
By the time I reached the road, the bus was already pulling away.
"No, no, no..."
I watched it move farther down the road.
If I missed that bus, I would have to find another way to reach Kenzetu High. That would cost me time I didn't have.
Worse, I might lose my chance to enroll.
I couldn't let that happen.
I raised my head and focused on the departing vehicle.
There was only one thing left to do.
I took a deep breath.
Stop the bus.
The command left my mind.
Almost immediately, the bus slowed down before coming to a complete stop.
I watched from a distance as the driver tried to move it forward again.
The engine made a strained sound, but the bus didn't move.
He tried once more.
Nothing.
The students inside began looking around, confused by the sudden stop. Some leaned toward the windows, trying to see what was happening outside.
Meanwhile, I started walking toward the bus.
I wasn't going to let a strange shadow ruin everything I had worked for.
As I approached, the teacher standing near the front turned to look at me.
Her expression suggested that she was wondering who I was and why I had arrived so late.
I ignored the look and climbed the steps.
The bus door opened with a soft mechanical sound.
As I stepped inside, I felt the air around me shift. My vision seemed to sharpen, and a faint blue glow appeared in my eyes.
It lasted only a moment.
I didn't pay much attention to it.
There were more important things to worry about.
I walked past the other students and found an empty seat near the middle of the bus. Without saying a word, I sat down and took out my manga.
The students around me continued staring.
I could practically feel their curiosity.
I ignored them.
I wasn't interested in explaining what had happened outside, and I certainly wasn't going to start a conversation with strangers just because they were looking at me.
A few seconds later, the teacher's voice came through the bus's announcement system.
"All students, please fasten your seatbelts. I repeat, everyone must fasten your seatbelts before we continue. Thank you!"
I looked around.
Seatbelts?
I glanced down at the one beside my seat and pulled it across my body.
This was my first time riding a school bus equipped with seatbelts for its passengers.
From what I could see, the vehicle had enough seats for thirty-three students, excluding the front seat.
That was quite a lot for a school bus.
I buckled my seatbelt and returned to my manga.
"Now that everyone's settled, I hope you're all ready for the trip," the teacher said.
She stood near the front, looking around at the students with a somewhat nervous smile.
"I assume everyone here is heading to the same destination?"
A few students nodded. Others continued talking among themselves.
I turned a page.
The bus started moving again.
Outside the window, the buildings gradually became less frequent. The roads grew narrower, and the scenery changed from busy streets to long stretches of trees.
I watched the city disappear behind us.
Soon, thick vegetation surrounded the road. Tall trees stood on both sides, their branches spreading overhead. Sunlight passed through the leaves in scattered patches, creating moving patterns across the pavement.
The farther we traveled, the quieter the surroundings became.
I lowered my manga slightly.
Something about this place felt different.
There was an unusual energy in the air. It wasn't strong enough to make me uncomfortable, but it was noticeable.
I had felt something similar before, although never on this scale.
"Everyone," the teacher began, drawing my attention away from the window. "I know some of you might find our destination a little unusual, so let me explain."
She adjusted her glasses before continuing.
"As you already know, we're heading to Kenzetu High. It's a prestigious school located far from the city, surrounded by a large forest. The school provides an environment where students can learn about their abilities, understand their limitations, and discover what they're capable of."
Several students exchanged excited looks.
I listened carefully.
A school specifically designed for people with special abilities.
That was exactly what I had been looking for.
The teacher continued.
"At Kenzetu High, you'll have opportunities to explore your abilities in ways that ordinary schools cannot provide. However, that doesn't mean you can use your powers whenever you feel like it."
A male student near the front raised his hand slightly.
"So we can finally use our powers here?"
His voice carried a hint of excitement.
The teacher smiled.
"Not so fast. There are rules you need to understand first."
"But you just said we could explore our abilities freely."
"I said you would have opportunities to develop them. That doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."
The student leaned back in his seat.
"What's the point of coming here if we can't even use our powers?"
The teacher let out a small laugh.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding—"
Before she could finish, the student raised his hand toward the window.
A burst of violet flames erupted around his fingers.
The flames twisted and curled in the air, glowing brightly against the passing greenery. Their unusual color made them look almost unreal, like something pulled straight out of a fantasy manga.
Several students shouted in surprise.
Others immediately moved away from him.
The teacher's smile disappeared.
"Fihiro! What do you think you're doing?"
Fihiro grinned.
"Just testing something."
"Put that out immediately!"
He ignored her.
Instead, he extended his hand farther toward the window, allowing the violet flames to grow.
The temperature inside the bus seemed to rise, and a faint purple light reflected across the nearby seats.
A few students began shouting at him to stop.
I closed my manga.
Great.
I had barely made it onto the bus, and someone was already causing trouble.
Fihiro looked around at the frightened passengers, apparently amused by their reactions.
"What? I'm not even doing anything serious."
"You're endangering everyone!" a girl shouted from her seat.
"Yeah! Do you have any idea what could happen if those flames spread?" another student added.
Fihiro shrugged.
"Then maybe you should sit farther away."
"That's not funny!" the girl snapped.
He laughed.
I watched the flames carefully.
There was something unusual about their energy. It felt heavier than an ordinary fire, carrying a strange pressure that made it difficult to ignore.
I couldn't determine its exact strength, but I knew it wasn't something to take lightly.
If those flames escaped his control, the consequences could be disastrous.
And Fihiro didn't seem particularly concerned.
What an idiot.
I glanced toward the teacher.
She was already preparing to intervene, but Fihiro suddenly turned his attention toward the student sitting beside me.
He pointed at him.
"Hey, you."
The student didn't respond.
He was reading a manga, just as I had been a few minutes earlier.
Fihiro narrowed his eyes.
"Are you ignoring me?"
The student slowly turned a page.
Fihiro's smile faded.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
Still nothing.
I looked between them.
Was this guy serious?
Fihiro was practically waving his power around in a crowded bus, and now he was picking a fight with someone who hadn't even looked at him.
"Why are you here?" Fihiro demanded.
The student beside me finally stopped reading.
He closed his manga, placed it on his lap, and turned to face Fihiro.
"And?"
His response was so calm that it almost sounded like he hadn't heard the question.
Fihiro stared at him for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"What do you mean, 'and'?"
"You asked why I'm here. I answered by asking what you mean."
"Don't get smart with me!"
The violet flames around Fihiro's hand grew brighter.
The students nearby immediately became restless again.
"Fihiro, stop it!" the girl shouted.
"You're making things worse!"
"Just leave him alone!"
Fihiro ignored every warning.
He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the student beside me.
"I'll ask you one more time. Who are you, and why did you come to this school?"
The student looked at him without the slightest hint of fear.
"And what if I don't answer?"
Fihiro's expression darkened.
Before he could respond, the teacher's voice rang through the bus.
"FIHIRO!"
The sudden shout silenced the surrounding conversations.
The teacher stepped forward, her expression now serious.
"I've warned you enough. Stop endangering the other students!"
Fihiro turned toward her.
"Tch. What's your problem?"
"My problem is that you're behaving irresponsibly!"
The air around the teacher began to move.
At first, it was only a gentle breeze passing through the aisle. Then the current grew stronger, sweeping loose papers and strands of hair through the air.
A strange energy surrounded her arms.
Flames appeared, but they didn't behave like ordinary fire. They twisted through the moving air, forming streams of light that seemed to combine wind and heat.
Wind flames.
I had heard of abilities that combined different elemental properties, but seeing one in person was another matter.
The teacher raised her hand.
A powerful gust swept across the aisle and struck Fihiro.
He stumbled backward, his violet flames flickering as the force pushed him against his seat.
The teacher lowered her hand.
"Enough."
Fihiro gritted his teeth but didn't continue his attack.
The atmosphere inside the bus gradually settled.
The other students began breathing normally again, although several still watched Fihiro cautiously.
I turned toward the student beside me.
He had picked up his manga and was holding it loosely in one hand.
"Why didn't you fight back?" I asked.
He glanced at me.
"Why would I?"
"That guy was threatening you."
"And?"
I stared at him.
Was everyone on this bus determined to be irritating?
"His flames aren't ordinary," I explained. "The energy coming from them is unusually strong. If he loses control, he could seriously injure someone."
The student listened without interrupting.
"I can't determine the exact amount of energy he's releasing," I continued, "but it feels powerful enough to cause serious damage. If that energy were comparable to the force of several atomic bombs, even a small mistake could be fatal."
He stared at me for a moment.
Then he laughed.
Not a nervous laugh. Not the kind of laugh someone makes when they're trying to hide their fear.
He genuinely found my explanation amusing.
"Several atomic bombs?" he repeated.
I frowned.
"What's so funny?"
He leaned back against his seat.
"Think about what you're saying. If his ability really had the destructive force of several atomic bombs, do you think the teacher would have attacked him inside a moving bus?"
I paused.
"...What?"
"You're assuming his flames can cause unlimited damage. But you haven't considered the environment we're in."
I looked toward the teacher, who was now speaking quietly to another student.
Then I looked back at him.
"What are you talking about?"
He shook his head.
"You're asking the wrong question."
"And what's the right one?"
He gave me a faint smile.
"Why are you asking so many questions?"
I stared at him.
You've got to be kidding me.
He closed his manga again.
"Anyway, my name is Kei Akemetsu."
He extended his hand toward me.
I hesitated for a moment before shaking it.
"Atsuko Hiroshitu."
"Nice to meet you, Atsuko."
He released my hand and turned toward the window.
"Now, let me explain something about this bus."
I followed his gaze.
At first, I didn't understand what he meant. The vehicle looked ordinary enough from the inside. The seats, windows, overhead compartments, and announcement system were all familiar.
But I had already noticed that something about it was unusual.
Kei continued.
"This bus belongs to Kenzetu High. It isn't just an ordinary vehicle. The entire bus is protected by a spell that regulates supernatural energy."
I looked at him more carefully.
"A spell?"
"That's right. It monitors the energy released by passengers and reduces the force of abilities that could cause serious damage."
He pointed toward the aisle.
"That's why the teacher could stop Fihiro without destroying the bus. The spell helps prevent abilities from causing damage beyond what the vehicle can safely handle."
I glanced at Fihiro.
He was sitting quietly now, although he still looked irritated.
"So you're saying the bus weakened his flames?"
"Exactly."
Kei crossed his arms.
"According to the system, around eighty-five percent of an ability's force dissipates when it's released. Another five percent is absorbed by the spell's energy. That leaves only ten percent of the original force."
I considered his explanation.
Eighty-five percent dissipated.
Five percent absorbed.
Ten percent remained.
The numbers added up, but I still had questions.
"And what happens to the remaining ten percent?"
"That depends on the ability. But the energy released into the air gradually weakens. According to the system's measurements, its strength decreases by about 0.01 percent per second."
I looked toward the window again.
So the bus wasn't merely protected by a barrier. It actively regulated supernatural energy.
That was a much more advanced system than I had expected.
Kei continued.
"That's why I wasn't worried when Fihiro threatened me. His attack was being regulated by the bus's spell."
He paused, then added, "Besides, reducing someone's offensive power doesn't necessarily mean their defensive abilities are weakened in the same way."
I turned toward him.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning I can protect myself if someone attacks me."
He said it so casually that I couldn't tell whether he was being honest or simply trying to sound impressive.
Still, his explanation made sense.
At least, most of it did.
The bus's spell could weaken supernatural attacks, while certain defensive abilities might remain effective.
It was an interesting system.
But something still bothered me.
I had stopped the bus using my mind-command ability.
If the vehicle automatically regulated dangerous supernatural energy, why hadn't it stopped me?
Why had my ability worked when the bus was supposedly designed to prevent unauthorized powers from causing harm?
I looked down at my hands.
I hadn't felt any resistance when I issued the command.
The bus had simply stopped.
What exactly did I do?
I tried to remember the sensation I had felt when I used my ability. The energy had responded almost immediately, as if the bus had no way to resist my command.
That shouldn't have been possible.
At least, not according to Kei's explanation.
I glanced at him.
"Hey, Kei."
He looked at me.
"What?"
"Does the bus's spell work on every kind of ability?"
His expression remained calm.
"Why do you ask?"
I narrowed my eyes.
There he goes again.
"Just answer the question."
He smiled faintly.
"Normally, yes. The spell is designed to regulate supernatural energy released inside and around the bus. But that doesn't mean every ability behaves in exactly the same way."
I waited for him to explain further.
He didn't.
"...That's it?"
"That's it."
I stared at him.
He was definitely doing this on purpose.
Before I could question him again, the teacher's voice came through the announcement system.
"Everyone, we're here! Welcome to Kenzetu High!"
I turned toward the window.
And froze.
This wasn't what I had expected.
I had imagined an old school hidden deep in the forest, perhaps a massive building with ancient stone walls, towering gates, and a long history of supernatural secrets.
Instead, a modern campus stood before us.
Large glass windows reflected the sunlight. The buildings had clean, geometric designs, with wide walkways connecting different sections of the campus. Beyond them, I could see what looked like a sports facility, several open courtyards, and more buildings stretching farther into the forest.
Everything looked organized and surprisingly modern.
Yet something about the place felt different from an ordinary school.
I could sense energy in the air.
It wasn't concentrated in one particular spot. It seemed to spread throughout the campus, surrounding the buildings and the trees alike.
The feeling was subtle, but unmistakable.
Whatever kind of school Kenzetu High was, its secrets went far beyond its appearance.
The bus rolled to a stop near the entrance.
Students began gathering their bags and preparing to leave.
I picked up my manga and stood.
"Let's go, Atsuko," Kei said.
Before I could respond, he placed a hand on my shoulder and started guiding me toward the exit.
I stopped walking.
Then I slowly turned my head toward him.
"...What do you think you're doing?"
Kei looked at me.
"What?"
"Take your hand off my shoulder."
He glanced down as if he had only just noticed where his hand was.
Then he removed it.
"Fine."
He walked ahead without another word.
As he passed me, he muttered something under his breath.
"Idiot."
I stared at his back.
Did he seriously just call me an idiot?
My fingers tightened around my manga.
I had barely met this guy, and he was already acting like we were old friends.
Unbelievable.
I took a deep breath and stepped off the bus.
The moment my feet touched the pavement, I felt that strange energy again.
Stronger this time.
I looked toward the school buildings, trying to understand where it was coming from.
Then, for a brief moment, I thought I saw something red move between the trees beyond the campus.
I stopped.
A shadow.
The same color.
The same unsettling presence.
I blinked and looked again.
Nothing.
The trees stood quietly in the distance, their leaves moving gently in the wind.
Perhaps I had imagined it.
Or perhaps it had followed me all the way here.
I lowered my gaze and continued walking toward the school entrance.
Whatever that thing was, I would find out eventually.
I had come to Kenzetu High to discover the truth about my powers.
And I wasn't leaving until I found the answers I was looking for.