Chapter 4: Absolutely Lovely Children: The Reason I Like Middle School (Zettai Karen Children w/Evangelion, DNAngel, Code Geass)
But apparently I hadn't escaped quite yet. The bell had rung and that meant the hall flooded with students eager to leave the classroom and enjoy their mid-morning break, either outside or in a common area. In other words, I walked directly into a stampede. But I grew up in Area 11: avoiding lots of people in a small space is something that I was accustomed to. Weaving my way though the crowds, I happened to spot a strange thing: three red-haired students walking out of one classroom. A stranger thing is that I happened to know each of the students, despite the fact that they are middle school age: Daisuke Niwa, Riku Harada and Asuka Langley Sohru. Daisuke I met through one of the various stairway accidents that I mentioned earlier. Riku was with him on that day and so I met her as well. Asuka I know through Shinji Ikari, the cellist from Music Seminar. She came down to get him one day when they needed to sortie against an Angel. Yes, she is one of the Evangelion pilots. Why it is two children only fourteen years old, I do not know. This school is a remarkable place, as was the classroom I was headed: the Esper classroom.
I mentioned BABEL earlier. Of the many Japanese government entities that were disbanded, BABEL was spared because of the potential of developing human weapons and also its disaster prevention via prognostication. NERV was another one of these organizations because of the threat of Angels, but also because it was an international effort before the conquering of Area 11. But back to BABEL. Despite this being the aim in the mind of the Britannian government, the Espers do not see much use in war, for which I am thankful. Espers are people, like you and me, but they have remarkable powers that can change the world. People see their power and forget the people behind them. Esper powers have large variety but roughly break down into three categories: perceptive, kinetic, synthetic. But before I wander down that road of thought, I am already inside the door.
A normal scene: three middle-school students sitting around desks talking and a teacher taking a breather at his desk. Though, the trick is this: all of them, except the teacher, are espers. Powerful espers. The teacher looks over and sees me, "Yo, Hanashimoto-kun! Are you well today? You look a bit tired." "Impossible! It's only the end of second period!" I say with false confidence, "I'm fine." '"You have no idea how difficult the students in Science of the Metaphysical are" … is what is actually thinking." "HEY!" The girls laugh at the ploy. "Hey Shiho," the teacher scolds, "Remember no powers?" "But it's ok, Minamoto, since we're all on break and he knows. Right, Sei?" This from Kaoru Akashi, the most outgoing of the group. I looked at her smiling and had to give in, "Looks like you got me, Shiho." "And apparently also had something for you," Aoi Nogami broke in, holding a box of Pocky that she had teleported out of my backpack. "Hey, that was supposed to be a surprise!" Shiho smiled but then her expression became mischievous as she put a hand to my backpack. "He didn't bring any for you to," she said. Kaoru's expression changed from a playful smile to an angry one. She cracked her knuckles as she turned on me. It was time for discipline. Instantly, I was pinned to the wall by several g-forces of psychokinetic power as Kaoru unleashed her wrath. "Hey, Sei, when you don't bring something for each of us, we start to think you are up to something." "Sei-han, how impure!" Aoi said, feigning blushing. I struggled against the force to say something but Minamoto came to my aid and pulled out the two other things I had brought: an energy shot for Kaoru (as if she needed it) and a bottle of milk for Aoi (since she has her concerns…).
"Shiho was only joking so can you put Hanashimoto-kun down for now?" Kaoru saw the gifts and released her hold on my. As I said, esper powers can be divided in the three ways. Each of the girls in The Children represents an aspect of those ways: Shiho's psychometry, Kaoru's psychokinesis, and Aoi's teleportation. And now, in a span of less than five minutes, each had been used on me. "Here, let me help you up." I saw a hand in front of me and took hold of it as Minamoto pulled me to my feed. Kouichi Minamoto, the Supervisor of The Children. Also a super-genius first affiliated with the BABEL Science Research department, a kind of position I aspire to have some day.
It was actually with this aim in mind that I sought him out and met The Children. I learned he was an adjunct teacher here from the handbook provided to all students and about his former research position at BABEL from the biography they provided. Having been interested in BABEL and wondering why they could not prevent the outcome of the tragedy with my parents, I desired to work there and uncover the reason for it. A relationship with a former employee seemed like a good place to start. However, it took me a week to get used to my period as a Teacher's Assistant before I had the stamina to keep walking after I left that class.
It was Monday of the second week of classes when I gathered my courage and opened the door. I saw him sitting at his desk with a few students still in the classroom. "Umm… Minamoto-sensei?" All eyes looked toward me though I did not notice. He turned and said, "Yes that's me. What can I do for it?" So I went for it. "My name is Shishiseishin Hanashimoto. Nice to meet you," I said, bowing. When I looked up, the students, they were three girls, all had blank expressions of awkwardness. My name, particularly my first name, has that effect on people. Even Minamoto was taken aback but he replied, "Nice to meet you, though I don't know what a high school student would want with me: a middle school teacher." "You worked at BABEL, right?" I replied fervently, not noticing all of them were on their guard. "What do I have to do to work there? I want to know! Onegaishimasu!"
Minamoto laughed nervously and scratched his head, "You do not know what you are asking for." But seeing my expression, he came over and looked me in the eye, "I see your resolve is strong, so you might make it." "You might want to check if he is an esper first, Minamoto-san." I whirled and saw that the white-haired girl had pulled her hand away from my shoulder. Looking past me, she said to Minamoto, "I cannot read him at all." "Eh? Really?" the black haired girl came over and looked at me through glasses. "If that's the case, he would have to be a storng esper to block out your reading, Shiho," said the red-haired girl. "What? Me, an esper?" I replied, my head whirling. Minamoto became serious and said, "As a Supervisor of BABEL in response to a possible high esper, I am taking you into temporary protective custody until we find out what you are before you do something you cannot control," and snapped a strange looking handcuff on me. The next several minutes were filled with incredible confusion, including a team of commandoes coming from every direction, a teenage boy named Bullet materializing and guarding The Children, another teenage boy named Tim confirming with Minamoto the use of the doubles, and the three girls clinging to me as we rode in an armored vehicle to the massive BABEL building.
I was tested by their doctor, Sakaki (a level 6 psychometer). The Children were disappointed that it was negative, but it still was a huge question to everyone as to the nature of the shield on my mind. With Minamoto's permission, Shiho released her limiter and tried at her full level 7 psychometer powers. Still nothing. Minamoto suggested that I think about one thing intensely but still neither Shiho nor Sakaki could penetrate the barrier. Everyone was troubled by this though Shiho smiled, "I guess it's not a bad thing, since now there is one person with whom I do not have to be restrained. As a psychometer, it is incredibly difficult to hold the ability in check since all it takes is a touch. But you're safe." She took my hand in hers and held it. Everyone smiled at the touching moment, glad to see Shiho at peace. "I guess this makes us friends, right?" I said, smiling, "You can call me Sei, since that is what my friends prefer to call me, okay?" She blushed at first but then her face went serious, "I can read you now." She tried to pull away, but I held her hand. "Try now." I said forcefully, focusing on my full name. Shiho looked back at me, shock in her eyes, "You turned your barrier back on."
Minamoto beat the rest to the punch, "How did you manage it, Sei-kun?" "Apparently, my password is Sei," I explained, "Sei is not only a nickname that relaxes me but is also the name of calm energy. If I relax into that part of my identity, my mind s open to be read but not touched. At least, I think that is how it works." I released my grip on Shiho's hand, but she kept holding it. "What did you see in my mind, Shiho?" She blushed again, "Warm feelings. Warm feelings toward me and also Minamoto-san, Kaoru-chan, and Aoi-chan." "You do not have to worry about reading anything horrible or secretive, Shiho. Anything you read from me will be something I do not mind being read. But, I'll be safe if you need me to be." Looking up to the other two girls, I said, "Well, since I have met The Children and have been brought to BABEL, I really only have one other dream I'd like to fulfill." I turned to Minamoto and asked, "What does teleporting feel like?" Minamoto smiled at Aoi and released the limiter, "I think sending him back to school is an appropriate demonstration." "Understood, but … since school is over," she said grabbing my arm, "We're going out for the day!" "Yosha!" Kaoru yelled. I and the adults responded with, "Eh?" And then I was teleported out of BABEL and flying through the sky in the established Zone of Japan with three girls I never expected to meet in my wildest dreams.
Despite our great escape, Chief Kiritsubo and Minamoto were in conference with Director Fujiko Tsubomi about something I might not escape. "Think about the possibilities!" the Chief exclaimed. "An unreadable person on staff who gets along with Espers and is a Normal. He could easily become a supervisor with his gift!" "I do not doubt his talent or his genuine caring for espers," Minamoto replied, "But Hanashimoto-kun is still a student. He told me that he would like to work here someday. Let him enjoy his student years as long as he can. Do we need to rush the process?" Director Fujiko frowned, "Fujiko finds Hanashimoto-kun's strange ability to have a different advantage: a possible ambassador or information go-between for the government. This would give him a limited role at BABEL but still allow him to go to school." Minamoto shook his head, "No, he is still only a student. Let him graduate first and then we can bring him on board." Fujiko thought again while Captain Kashawagi bit her lip. "We will only ask his aid in desperate circumstances: Level 7 disaster prevention where secret information is necessary," she decided, then smiled. "Be sure to make a friend of Hanashimoto. It seems that The Children have taken a liking to him in a strange way. I'm sure that they'd be disappointed if they didn't see him occasionally."
At first, I was terrified since it happened so suddenly, the room gone and replaced by empty sky and a city stretched out underneath my feet. But then I felt something holding me up that was almost like wings. I looked at the girls and they all smiled, "So how do you like it?" Aoi winked. "Amazing!" I said, catching my breath. "Well, now it is time to fly," Kaoru said, grabbing my arm, and we were off. It was a feeling I will not soon forget. It is not as if you are shielded from the world when psychokinesis carries you. You are soaring through the air and feeling it rush by you in exhilarating flight. But then we saw a man standing on a tall building that beckoned to the girls. We flew down and a closer look revealed him to be white haired and dressed in a school uniform. "I see you've made another friend, Queen," he smiled, which sent chills up my spine. "Kyosuke," Kaoru said, identifying the man.
Then I recognized him, having followed BABEL fervently since the incident with my parents: Kyosuke Hyoubu: priority target for BABEL and the government, high level 6 Esper, multiple powers. "Kyosuke Hyoubu," I said, fear in my voice. "Heh, looks like you're well informed for a normal," he laughed then looked at me directly with eyes as blue and cold as the Arctic Ocean. "Your name?" "Shishiseishin Hanashimoto." "Seriously?" he said, with an awkward expression. "It has that effect on everyone," I said apologetically. "That strange name aside," he focused on me again, "What is so special about you?" He teleported behind me instantly and instantly had me in a headlock and was using his psychometry. "Sei-san!" "Sei-han!" "Sei!" "Girls!" "What is this?" he said surprised, "I can't read him at all!" He dropped me and looked at his hand. Dissatisfied, he pointed his hand at me and suddenly I was thrown into the air by psychokinesis. Not just teleport and psychometry, but psychokinesis? I thought. I was teleported to somewhere I did not know and was grabbed by the collar of my uniform. Lifted into the air, I looked down an arm and found myself looking directly into Kyosuke's eyes, eyes that spoke a history of hatred. "You are going to forget about The Children of today and when you meet them again, you will fear them like you should." His eyes flashed purple and I felt him inside my mind. I froze in fear but I could not close my eyes. I soon blacked out.
The next day I woke up and went through classes as usual but then when the break between second and third came, I went to the classroom where Minamoto taught a period. "Sei-han! Are you alright?" Aoi asked. "Kyosuke took you away from us but we got you back," Shiho explained. "You were unconscious when we recovered you," Minamoto said, "We decided to leave it until today to see how you were, if everything was normal." "Well, I cannot say everything is normal," I said with a strained expression. Shiho looked at me and touched my hand, "Yes, something is very wrong." "I am trying to fight Hyobu's hypnosis," I explained, voice trembling. "While I cannot forget what happened yesterday like he wants, I am trying my hardest to fight the fear that he suggested to me through his hypnosis."
A drop of sweat trickled from my brow. "Kaoru, hold me here before I run away," I said through gritted teeth. "Understood, psychokinetic leg anchors" she replied, giving a light psychokinesis to anchor my legs in place. I choked back a scream. The terror had increased. I bit my lip and drew blood. All the girls looked at me, shocked at my reaction. "The Children, released!" Their limiters beeped in response to Minamoto's command and they ran over to me. "Don't co- agh!" I bit my lip again to keep from saying it. Shiho took my hand and looked into my mind. Her expression grew dark, "How horrible. The mental tension is threatening to damage him." "How could Kyosuke do this?" Kaoru whimpered. Aoi, frustrated, said, "Sei-han! You are our friend, right? Don't lose to this!" "Sei-san," My eyes were shut but I knew she was looking at my face. "Let me in and I can take this away. Remember what your friends call you?" Through some secret reserve of will, I laughed despite my terror, "Whatever he may try to make me feel, I know you are my friends so keep calling me Sei, alright?" The pressure on my mind eased. "What happened?" Shiho said, "The hypno disappeared! Oh!" She pulled her hand away as I dropped to the floor, spent. She was blushing.
After I had been revived, the bell rang for class. "That would be the way it goes with me," I said, dusting myself off. "Well, see you tomorrow, girls, Minamoto!" and giving a thumbs-up, left the class in a run. Later, they asked Shiho, "Why were you blushing, Shiho?" "Well," she said, blushing at the memory, "he thinks of us in the same way as his little sister. They were warm and comforting feelings he was conveying after the hypno broke." "Sister, eh?" Kaoru became contemplative then smiled, "I guess having a brother wouldn't be too bad."