Almost there, I can almost remember…
His brain, fried from being grilled by his teacher and classmates, struggled to reboot.
Before he could respond, she moved.
"Let's settle this!"
Her kick, with agility unbefitting a refined lady, was sharp enough to down an adult. Touma dodged with a half-step, not countering but staying alert.
"…Whoa."
Another kick, swift and cutting, aimed at his head. A brotherly instinct to chide her for such unladylike behavior flickered, but he noticed she wore shorts under her skirt.
He had enough composure to observe that much.
Her kicks were impressive, far better than a certain clumsy Tokiwadai girl, but compared to his sister, trained by a master since middle school, they were amateur. Still, equating a friendly chat with getting kicked as a greeting was absurd.
As she aimed for his temple, Touma stepped back, dodging. She paused, catching her breath.
"You dodge so easily…! Even last time, my lightning didn't faze you!"
Her surprise suggested she'd thought her sudden attack was a critical hit. Panting, she stared at him.
For Touma, constantly ambushed by misfortune from all angles, her straightforward attacks were practically telegraphed.
"Time moves at half-speed around me," he quipped, brushing her off.
"What… really?! You're not a Level 0?!"
"Of course it's a lie."
"…You're mocking me again."
"Before that, don't you think it's weird to just attack a high school guy out of nowhere?"
"How dare you play innocent! My childhood friend…!"
Her legal code seemed to lack the page on "assault," but her brief belief in his lie hinted at a naive streak. Yet, for some reason, she harbored hostility toward him. No clue why, but if she was acting on her sense of justice, dodging her wasn't the answer.
"Take this!"
She gathered strength and launched a powerful front kick into Touma's side. A clean hit. It hurt, but knowing it was coming made it bearable.
Thanks to his family's roughhousing, Touma was tough. His sister vouched for his durability, and he took pride in it. Unfazed, he exhaled, unguarded.
The girl stepped back, her face showing shock and a hint of regret.
As expected.
Touma was used to trouble, so he stayed calm. Compared to being targeted by a Level 5's attackers, this was nothing. The girl, however, was rattled by her own actions.
When he met her gaze, she braced herself but didn't attack again. She wasn't the type to revel in violence—she was a normal girl, quick-tempered but restrained, who'd cooled off after seeing him take her hit without resistance.
If she had a problem with him, he still couldn't recall it.
Brushing off her kick's dirt, he asked, "Feel better now?"
"Huh?"
"I don't know what your deal is, but if you're done, I'm outta here."
As he waved and moved to pass, she hurriedly stopped him.
"Wait! Don't you dare run again!"
Touma sighed, shoulders slumping. "…Again?"
"What do you mean, 'again'!?"
"I'm close to remembering, but…"
"You idiot…! Is your brain a chicken's!?"
She was definitely someone he knew. Her insults were childish, her good nature shining through.
"It's all your fault, you jinx—!"
If this was like before, one hit wouldn't have stopped her—she'd have escalated.
Suppressing a dizzying memory, he continued, "Sorry, I don't count people who kick me as acquaintances."
"You're the one who spoke to me first!"
"…Huh?"
Her fervor deflated his response. Unfortunately, Touma still had no clue what she was talking about. If he'd initiated contact, when was it? He couldn't recall.
If his sister, a Tokiwadai student, were here, this would've been cleared up fast. Frustrated by his slow reaction, the girl snapped, "You acted like we knew each other, but now you don't remember me? I've never forgotten you since then!"
Pointing at his nose, she ignored personal space, her manners long abandoned.
Anyone else might've swatted her hand away, but her earnestness was almost endearing.
Unlike my sister, whose smile alone could terrify…
She was like a kid throwing a tantrum. Touma had no childhood friend flags raised, and Tokiwadai was an all-girls school he'd never visited.
The only scenario where he'd approach a girl like her was…
"Let me be clear: I don't hit on kids like you."
"What…!?"
"Even if you're feisty, hate losing, secretly lonely, serve as the class pet caretaker, and are best friends with a bunny."
"Ngh…!?"
"Thinking a guy's into you just because he talks to you shows you're clueless about guys. A bunny might wag its tail for food, but applying that to humans is a stretch."
"Wha…!?"
"Look, I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea and kept you up at night. My bad."
"Tch…!?"
Touma bowed deeply, his apology sincere.
"There. Problem solved."
"—Don't screw with me!!"
A purple vortex of electricity erupted from her, far beyond a stun gun's power—a Level 5's maximum output. Touma's right hand nullified it, the excess energy scorching the air.
And it jolted his memory.
"I remember now! You're that zappy middle schooler!"
"Too late! And don't call me zappy!"
"Wait, I was just trying to help back then! I didn't mean any harm!"
"No harm? After stalking my sister, you've got some nerve!"
"Sister…?"
Touma realized words wouldn't resolve this. She was beyond reasoning, completely unhinged.
Turning, he bolted.
"Wait!" she shouted, but he didn't stop, sprinting through the alley.
Thus began their fruitless chase.
"Such misfortune!!"
How will Touma escape this electrifying pursuit, and what ties this girl to the Tokiwadai savior?