"Brother, Mochizuki heard about it."
On the way home from school, Mochizuki's eyes curved into little moons as she looked at James with a teasing smile.
"Heard about what?" James asked casually.
"Onii-sama showed off Kamui in the practical class, and the other students present were stunned!"
"Ah, that? I don't think it's a big deal. But I'm curious—how did you find out so fast?"
"Eh? Because someone already posted it on the school forum. It's the number one trending post right now!"
Mochizuki pulled her phone from her handbag, unlocked it, and handed it to James.
"Shocking! James's strength is actually this high?!"
That was the title of the top post, clearly written by someone from the Department of Drama. How could it not be trending?
Clicking into it, the author explained that classes 1, 4, 7, and 19 had shared the venue for practical class that afternoon, and he was one of the students present.
"To prove I was there: this happened right before the second sparring match. Now, here's what matters."
"James and Shido Kazuhikari had a real combat confrontation. The result wasn't surprising—James won. What was surprising was that James began instructing Shido in swordsmanship!"
"We all know that to defeat someone in technique, you just need to be slightly better. But to teach someone? You must be leagues ahead."
"Also, I have it on good authority—yes, confirmed—that James has already entered the rank! He even admitted it himself! This explains why he never took Shinomiya Saki or Karita Koji seriously before."
While the post wasn't inaccurate, it was definitely exaggerated.
James read the comments. Many students were tagging Shido Kazuhikari, asking him to confirm it, but Shido remained silent. Smart move. He clearly understood that speaking out without James's consent might cross a line.
James returned the phone to Mochizuki, whose eyes sparkled.
"Brother, is all of that true?"
He gently patted her head. "More or less."
"You're so cool! Mochizuki is going to cook a feast today!"
"Alright, alright, whatever you say. Oh, by the way, Mochizuki—I need to buy a phone. Can you come with me?"
James realized that his obsession with training had kept him from buying modern essentials. He now saw the need—especially for quick communication.
"Really? Yay!" Mochizuki was visibly thrilled. She'd been waiting for this moment.
They chatted as they strolled toward the city center in search of a phone store. James marveled at the city's prosperity—arcades, luxury shops, and ads for personal training aids for extraordinary people.
After some browsing, they entered a mobile phone store with the largest storefront.
Pineapple Mobile Store.
"Brother, this brand is native to Tianshui County. It's run by the Shinomiya family."
Ah, no wonder.
A store attendant greeted them with a warm smile.
"Welcome! How can I help you today?"
"I'd like to buy a mobile phone," James said.
The attendant led them to a row of sleek display cases showcasing phones rotating elegantly.
"You two are from No. 1 Junior High School, right? These are the most popular models among your peers. See anything you like?"
James picked one at random. "This one."
Technology in this world was ahead of Earth's in some aspects. Most smartphones didn't even require charging—they ran for years, and when their batteries wore out, users simply replaced them.
The chosen phone was wrapped in a luxurious gift box and handed over.
"That will be 10,000 Sakura coins. Would you prefer facial scan or card payment?"
Sakura coins were the kingdom's official currency. Since cash payments were obsolete, everything was digitized.
James winced. That amount could sustain both him and Mochizuki for months. They were truly living on a tight budget.
Mochizuki didn't bat an eye. It was worth every coin if it helped her brother adapt to modern life.
"Facial scan."
The attendant's badge blinked. A notification popped on Mochizuki's phone confirming the payment.
"Thank you for your purchase. Please come again."
The service was smooth, respectful, and professional—no intrusive chatter, just efficiency.
As they left the store, James couldn't help but think: The Shinomiya family really is powerful.
...
Back home, after dinner and a shower, James opened the phone box and examined his new gadget.
Why don't they have brain chips yet? he mused. Then again, maybe they do. I'm just not privileged enough to know.
Later that night, Mochizuki entered his room without knocking. Her hair was freshly blow-dried, her white nightgown loose and flowing. Her slender legs padded softly across the floor.
She sat in James's lap, patiently guiding him.
"Brother, this is the power button. Press here to turn it on. The first boot-up will scan your face and register your data. After that, all unlocking is facial recognition."
She walked him through downloading the most essential apps: "Que Tori," the world's largest messaging app; "Weidou," the most popular video platform; and the First Junior High School's own campus forum.
Mochizuki then guided him step-by-step through setup and registration.
When the forum app opened, the same post about James was still the hottest topic.
"I think I've got it now. Thanks, Mochizuki."
"It's nothing, Brother."
While James explored the phone, Mochizuki curled up in his arms, quiet.
He opened the messaging app. He had only one contact: Mochizuki. No group chats. Nothing else.
Then he browsed the video platform. It had many features and categories. Filtering by region, he found mostly lifestyle and entertainment content in Tianshui County. Videos about extraordinary individuals were rare—mostly official announcements or organizational transfers.
He powered off the phone. Mochizuki had fallen asleep in his arms. He considered carrying her back to her room, but—
"I want to sleep with Brother tonight..."
She pinched the hem of his shirt lightly.
"Aren't you a little too old for that?"
Still, James didn't blame her. He'd changed so much recently, it probably made her feel uneasy.
"Alright, you can. But there are some rules..."
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)