Behind the Arcade
Ten days ago.
"Hey, lend me some cash, will ya?"
On my way home, I was stopped by the usual suspects and dragged to this spot.
There were three of them.
Ever since the new semester started, they'd had their eyes on me. This wasn't their first rodeo—extortion was their game, and they had it down to a science. One played the heavy, one kept watch, and the third was the ringleader, herding their clueless prey.
"Man, those guys are such hard-asses. All we did was borrow a kid's bag, and they're scouring the place like it's their top priority. So, how's it going on your end?"
"They're still whining about the cash I borrowed last time. I told 'em I'd pay it back when I make it big, but they don't get it. Unlimited, interest-free, no-deadline loans—that's my thing!"
"Like a busted vending machine, this Level 2 'superhuman' only works if you smack it around. Oh, but don't worry, we'll leave you some pocket change."
In this Academy City, scholarships are tied to a student's ability level—the stronger you are, the bigger the payout.
As a Level 2, I get more than a Level 0 nobody, but my powers are barely more than a parlor trick. Useless in daily life, useless in a fight. Against three guys, I'm an easy mark—a perfect cash cow.
Damn it…
What the hell am I doing?!
Where am I even looking?!
Don't you dare overlook a worthless Level 0 like me!!
It's because of your incompetence that I'm in this mess.
Notice me…!!
"So, what do we do with the bag?"
"Dump it. Gotta cover our tracks."
"Probably just some kid's pocket money anyway."
As they prepared to walk off with everything I had, a voice cut through the air—cool, melodic, and rich with inflection.
"To you, it might just be some ordinary bag, but it's a birthday gift from my parents. Could you give it back?"
The three froze, their faces flickering with surprise before twisting into sleazy grins, sizing her up like predators.
"Hey, what's the lookout doing slacking off?"
"Nah, it's not them. Check it—no armband."
"Wait, isn't that a Tokiwadai uniform?"
Tokiwadai. Minimum Level 3—strong espers only. Sheltered, naive heiresses, untouched by violence, easy to intimidate. A better cash cow than me, they probably thought. And since she'd seen them, they'd need to silence her. That's what their exchanged glances suggested.
Whether she sensed their intentions or not, the girl continued, unfazed.
"If you're short on cash, how about I introduce you to a good part-time job? Hina-san was saying she needed three guys for some work. Perfect timing, right?"
After a moment's hesitation, the three began to circle her. Numbed by their own brutality, they saw her as a prize—a rare flower blooming in their barren desert. In this cornered moment, their suppressed urges surfaced, and they loomed over her with menace.
"Yeah, we're strapped for cash, princess. How about you help us out?"
"Use your powers without authorization, and Judgment will have their eyes on you."
"Just play nice with us, and we'll give the kid's precious bag back."
They closed in, their movements synchronized, as if their minds were one. But she didn't waver—not against three-to-one odds, not even slightly intimidated.
The girl stepped forward, closing the distance with the one holding the bag, looking up at him.
"You want to play with me?"
"Yeah, just hang out with us for a bit—"
Her right hand lashed out.
A flick of her wrist grazed his jaw, twisting his face grotesquely as the bone dislocated. He crumpled to the ground, clutching his face in agony, but she didn't spare him a glance. Before the bag could hit the dirt, she caught it.
"I played with you a little. Now I'll take the bag back."
Her voice was ice-cold, and the remaining two didn't dare curse at her.
That single strike hadn't used any powers, yet it silenced the scene with surgical precision. No room for argument, no spark of defiance. Her eyes weren't those of a frail princess—they commanded fear, even without abilities. A bluff wouldn't work on her; she was a mad dog who made even instincts bow.
The two finally understood: they weren't allowed to touch her.
Who is this Tokiwadai girl, and what makes her so untouchable?