Chapter 1: The Man in the Air

There was nothing special about the Tokyo Tower. At least, that was what Sakuta had thought before he actually visited it. Up close, it was actually kind of cool. Under one of its legs, the criss-crossing beams of red metal overlapped to make an interesting pattern. Plus, the shade from the summer sun was nice.

He thought it was a decent sight, but Kaede, his sister, was having a much stronger reaction.

"Wow, brother, this is amazing!" Her eyes shone as her head craned up. "Quick, let's go up!"

"Sure," Sakuta said. Like many of the other people in the crowd, they headed to the entrance of the elevators.

After a few steps, he came to a stop, staring at the man up by one of the legs.

The man was flying beside it.

Flying. No parachute or jetpack or any other special equipment. That would have been strange but at least understandable. Instead, he was just hovering there without any sign of support, dressed the same as anyone else.

It couldn't be a thin wire either, because the flier looked like he was having fun up there, going in and out between the metal framework repeatedly. If he'd been using a wire, it definitely would have gotten caught and tangled.

Adolescence Syndrome? Sakuta had seen a lot of strange examples of it before, so he guessed this was another, but it had never been like this.

Sakuta looked around at the people around him. Several of them were looking up at the tower, but none were giving the flying guy any special attention.

Could it be like Mai's Syndrome? The people around her hadn't been able to perceive her, maybe this guy had something like that. Although Sakuta wasn't sure how the flying was involved.

"Brother?" Kaede asked. "What's wrong?"

"Kaede, do you see that guy up there?" Sakuta pointed up.

She followed his finger to the flier, who was taking pictures of himself by the tower. "Yes."

Sakuta's eyes widened. "You do?"

"Of course I do, why wouldn't I?"

"Well . . . don't you think that's weird? There's a guy flying up there, which I'm not sure is allowed, and it looks like he's doing it without any machinery."

She shrugged. "What's weird about it? I guess he's lucky that he can get so close to the tower, but he's not bothering anyone. Besides brother, it's rude to stare, let's go."

Sakuta considered it. The flier up there was another case of Adolescence Syndrome, but it didn't look like it was causing him any problems. Maybe if it was a cute girl flying up there he would have been more interested, but not by much. Sakuta was a lowlife, but he was still loyal to Mai.

Then again . . .

Sakuta reached for his chest. The scar was there, under his shirt, what if the flier had something like that too? He should at least make sure he was okay.

"Sorry Kaede, I need to do something," Sakuta said. "Hey, you up there! Hey!" He waved and yelled up to the flier.

"Brother, what are you doing?"

"I just need to talk to him for a little, okay? Just wait." Sakuta turned back up. "Heyyy!"

The flier paused in his ascent and headed down. He'd already flown up a decent height of the tower, so Sakuta was surprised that his voice had reached him.

The flier flew facing down and crossed hundreds of meters in only a few seconds. Then, in the last ten or so meters, he pointed his feet down and landed silently on the ground.

He was a Westerner about Sakuta's age. Handsome and black-haired. Tall too, at least half a head over Sakuta, which put him at around 185 cm. plus or minus a few.

"How do you fly like that?" Sakuta asked.

The flier looked at him curiously and said something in English, the words going by too quickly to recognize anything.

Ugh, time for Sakuta to use his pathetic English knowledge. Even with Mai's tutoring, he didn't do great in the subject.

"How you . . . wooosh?" Sakuta pointed up and mimicked a flying motion.

"_ _ _ how I fly?"

Yes! Okay, there was the word how, and after hearing it Sakuta recognized the English word for flying. He nodded and said. "Yes! Yes! How do you fly?"

"_ _ _ it weird?" He tilted his head and had a pleased smile on his face.

"Yes! Yes! Very weird! I can help."

The flier was confused. He said something, most of it going over Sakuta's head, but he recognized 'don't', and 'help'.

"Let me . . ." Sakuta growled and started to try again.

"Wait," The flier held up a hand and took out his phone. He typed something and showed him the screen. It was an online translator from English to Japanese.

Are you saying you want to help me?

Sakuta pointed at it then himself, miming the question of whether it would be okay for him to use it. Seeing the flier's puzzled expression, he gestured that he didn't have a smartphone. The message got through, and the flier handed over his phone for Sakuta to use.

Yes, I want to help you. You're flying and other people are treating it as normal. You have to admit that's weird, and I know the cause. It's called Adolescence Syndrome.

The flier read the message and wrote a few sentences in response.

I agree people treat my flight as normal is weird. I don't know what Adolescence Syndrome is, but you appear to know something if you react this way to me. Help is not needed, but I do want to know what's causing this.

The grammar was wrong in a few parts and the wording was strange, but it was understandable. Sakuta typed out another message.

Are you sure you don't need help? Usually Adolescence Syndrome is caused by teenage angst or discontent.

The flier responded. Thank you, but I'm fine. People looking at me as normal is great. I am interested in hearing what you have to say, but I have made plans with friends to explore Japan. Also, your friend seems unhappy that you're talking to me instead of enjoying yourselves. Can we meet later to discuss?

Sakuta looked over at Kaede. She was pouting, an almost comical display of impatience and annoyance.

Okay. You can contact me at these phone numbers. Sakuta gave him both Mai's number and his home number. He also got the flier's contact information on a note and learned his name. Clark Kent.

"Bye," Clark said in Japanese, it seemed that he knew at least a few phrases. He waved and left the ground, flying towards the east.

Sakuta blinked and checked the crowd for anyone else staring at the sight. Nope, he was still the only one who found it weird.

"Can we go now?" Kaede asked.

"Sure sure, let's enjoy the tower," Sakuta said. It was easy to cheer her up again and they went into the tower, marveling at the glass floor which gave them the same view that Clark must have had. It was kind of scary. No matter how safe it was, the thought of it shattering and them falling down below was always in the back of Sakuta's mind.

They left the tower eventually to explore the rest of the city. While Kaede was having fun, Sakuta found a payphone made a call to Mai.

She picked up after only a few rings, which probably meant she was on break from work. "Hello?"

"Hello, Mai-san. It's me," he said.

"Bad timing Sakuta, I only have a few minutes left. You should have called sooner."

"I'll try better next time." He smiled, but there wasn't time for banter. "I think I've found another case of Adolescence Syndrome and I need your help."

"Really? What is it?"

"I saw a guy flying today. Floating in the air, no wires or anything, and everybody around me is treating it as normal. You know it's weird though, right?"

"Yes. Weird enough for me to doubt you even after all that we've seen."

"Well, it's true. Also, I gave him your number to call. If a guy named Clark Kent speaking only English calls you saying he met me, tell him to wait until we can decide on a time and place to meet together."

She sighed, but he could tell she was only pretending to be annoyed. "You know, you should be more careful about giving out your girlfriend's personal number."

"Sorry," he said in an even voice. "By the way, you're good at English, right?"

"Good enough that I think we'll be able to have a conversation with him. As for when that'll be, I think I can get back home by tonight. What about you?"

"I'm leaving Tokyo this afternoon, so it'll work for me."

"Alright, I have to go."

"Wait!"

"What is it?" she asked, concern in her voice.

"I love you."

"And I love you more. Goodbye."

"Bye."

The call ended, but he wasn't finished yet. He dialed Futaba's number, she always helped him understand the weirdness of different cases of Adolescence Syndrome. This time would hopefully be the same.

She answered and he explained the situation with Clark the flying guy.

"My own experience with Adolescence Syndrome makes me reluctant to dismiss this, but are you telling the truth? A flying man?" she asked.

"It's true. Any idea what's happening, is there some quantum physics thing that explains all this?"

"No, but . . . I suppose the idea of the collective unconscious could be relevant."

"What's that?"

"Basically, it's the idea that all human minds share and recognize certain ideas from our evolutionary history. Like a wise elder or a warm mother. They're supposedly universal innate memories throughout different cultures."

"Okay, I think I get it, but what does that have to do with this?" Sakuta was still shaky on the concept, but he didn't need to understand it perfectly. He just needed the general idea.

"Well, a flying man wouldn't be one of those shared ideas because humans didn't evolve with members that could fly. If he's somehow affecting the collective unconscious, inserting the idea of a flying man into it, the concept could become familiar and ordinary instead of something strange."

"Alright, but how's he flying in the first place?"

"I don't know, does flying mean something special to him?"

"No, he only speaks English and we weren't able to talk much."

"English, huh? That's unfortunate, I would have liked to ask him a few questions."

"You can come along when Mai and I meet him if you want," Sakuta suggested. Actually, he preferred Futaba there if she could figure out more from talking with him.

"When?"

"Um, I don't exactly know yet, but hopefully tonight."

"That will work for me."

\\\\\

That night, Sakuta, Mai, and Futaba waited at a park for Kent. Kent, not Clark. Sakuta had forgotten that Westerners had their given name first and family name second. Mai had corrected him on that.

Futaba was wearing her lab coat, which meant she was still in the scientific mindset. Sakuta wasn't sure how effective it would be against the bizarreness of Adolescence Syndrome, but then again, she'd helped him understand it before.

The sun had set only a little while ago, so it was still twilight, but none of them noticed Kent until he was right above them. He was early by a few minutes and came down steadily, as if riding in an invisible elevator.

"Hello," he said.

Mai showed some mild surprise, which Sakuta could understand. Even if he'd told her earlier, seeing it was completely different. Futaba on the other hand didn't even bat an eye.

"Hello," Mai said in English. She walked forward and introduced them. "I'm Sakurajima Mai, you've already met Azusagawa Sakuta, and this is our friend Futaba Rio."

Kent smiled. "I recognize you, you're an actress. My friend is a fan of yours. You speak English?"

Mai relayed what he said to them and turned back to Kent. "We take English classes at school, but I'm not very good at it."

"Well it's certainly better than my Japanese."

"Thank you."

"Azusagawa over there said that I had something called Adolescent Affliction?"

Once Mai interpreted, Futaba frowned. "Hold on, since when are we treating this as a case of Adolescence Syndrome?"

Sakuta's eyes widened. "Futaba, we're here because he's flying around and everybody thinks it's normal. That's Adolescence Syndrome, right?"

"No, he's just flying. Why shouldn't people think it's normal?"

Sakuta shared a look with Mai. She was just as worried as he was.

"People can't fly," Sakuta said. "Remember what you told me about the collective unconscious and how he could be making the idea of flying normal?"

"What are you talking about? It is normal." Futaba crossed her arms and looked at him as if he were wasting her time trying to convince her of something ridiculous.

"Futaba-san, people can't fly," Mai said. "At least, people besides him."

"You too, Sakurajima-san?" Futaba looked between the two of them. "What is this, some sort of joke? What you said is true, but nothing noteworthy."

"Yeah, it's a joke," Sakuta said, his tone calm. There was no point, she was affected by Kent's Adolescence Syndrome. "Sorry about that, you can go. I'll find a way to make it up to you."

"There's no need. Just don't waste my time like this again." Futaba walked off.

"Um, did you guys have a fight or something?" Kent asked. During the whole exchange, he'd looked back and forth between them with wide, uncomprehending eyes. Worried but unable to help.

"No, but it looks like she was just affected by your Adolescent Affliction." Mai went on to explain what had happened, which meant they had to use Internet translators again. It took some time, but they communicated how Futaba had said his flight was strange earlier but was treating it as normal now.

Kent nodded.On hisphonescreen, he'd written. That always happens now even if I try to convince someone that I'm strange. No matter what I do, they just accept it and say it's normal.

What kinds of things have you tried? They asked.

He smiled nervously. Well, I can do more than just fly. He picked up a rock from the ground, held it in the palm of his hand, and squeezed it in his fist.

When he opened his fingers, dust came out, leaving Sakuta and Mai open-mouthed.

"I'm very strong," he said. Then, he turned around, and in a blur of motion he raced off. The grass whooshed from the breeze and in a moment he traveled around the park. "And very fast."

"That's . . . impressive," Sakuta said, because really, what else could he say? Futaba had cloned herself and Mai and her sister had transformed into each other, but this just seemed different. For one, Kent seemed completely relaxed with what he could do.

"Mai-san, we need to ask him if there's anything that he thinks would have caused his Adolescence Syndrome to do this to him."

She nodded. "Alright, but we need to explain Adolescence Syndrome to him first."

And they did, Internet translators working at full capacity to explain the concept. A long, awkward process, but they didn't have an alternative.

So you're saying that this urban myth about strange occurrences, this Adolescence Syndrome, is real and the cause of this? Kent asked.

"Yes," Mai said.

I'm not sure I can believe that, but the fact that you two react to me has me think that I should at least consider it.

Alright, they'd gotten that far. Now to ask him about for clues on the origin on his Adolescence Syndrome.

He reacted to the question with confusion. I've been like this since I was a child. The only thing this Adolescence Syndrome has changed is how people react to me.

Wait, he'd been like this since he was younger? Able to fly, crush rocks, and flash across large distances?

Mai laughed, amused. "Well, this isn't what I expected. You certainly know how to get involved in strange events, Sakuta."

Sakuta rubbed his forehead. Man, normally Futaba would have been all over Kent with scientific questions. He felt out of his depth here as well, but even with what Kent had said, this was still a case of Adolescence Syndrome. They should focus on that.

Your Adolescence Syndrome has to be changing people's minds, then. Making them think that you're normal. Do you have any idea why?

Kent, who'd been open and helpful the entire time, lost his smile. His eyes travelled between Mai and Sakuta as if debating whether to tell them.

I think so. After all, you wouldn't want people to see you as a freak, correct? It's natural to want people to accept me, even if I'm different and can do a lot of things other people can't. I guess if it's possible for feelings like that to cause these effects, that must be why.

"I feel a bit offended," Sakuta said. "I've lived these past few years of high school happily as a freak."

Mai gave him a light slap on the chest. "Not helpful, Sakuta."

"Sorry. We seem to have worked out why this started, now we need to know how to make it stop."

They asked Kent for ideas, but he shook his head.

I don't want to stop it. It's not causing problems for anyone, and it's a huge relief for me. I don't have to hide or keep my abilities secret anymore.

"He does have a point," Sakuta said to Mai. "It isn't hurting anyone, and he seems to like it."

"I think so too. He seems to have lucked into an incredibly convenient Adolescence Syndrome."

That was true. Strange, had it ever worked out this way before? There might have been a couple convenient things about other syndromes if they could have controlled it. Futaba might have been able to work out a convenient arrangement with her clone and Mai could have gone around without people noticing her, but that was just too convenient.

Would Kent's escalate to that degree? Maybe they should keep an eye on him just in case.

Sakuta used the translator to warn him that it might get worse, but Kent didn't seem to believe it.

I'll remember that, but so far it's been great. Thank you for telling me and trying to help me.

Sakuta supposed that was the most they could do right now, and Mai agreed.

Clark asked them a question. Can I ask what you two think of me and my abilities? Are you afraid of me?

Sakuta and Mai shook their heads. No way. He was extraordinary, but he wasn't scary or a freak.

That answer got the widest smile out of him so far.

"Thank you. Oh, before you go, is it okay if I can get an autograph?" Kent asked Mai. He reached into his bag and got out a pen and paper.

Mai accepted them and began writing.

"Can you make it out to Lana?"

"Of course." Mai wrote a short message and signed her name.

Kent thanked her. "You know, I haven't been staying in one place for long these past few weeks, since I've been travelling all over. I'll stop by from time to time though and give you updates on this Adolescent Affliction."

Mai just finished translating when Kent went up to the air and left.