I reach the place where Ayumu said that Kuriko would be waiting for me
A tall hill in the same forest where the esper camp is located
Trees and greenery covered by the moonlight as far as the eye can see...
But there's no one here
After some time waiting I think about leaving, but Kuriko is not the type to play pranks so I wait and just a few minutes later I feel a presence
It's her, there's no doubt
"Kuriko, show yourself, I can feel your presence"
A brief silence followed by a playful laughter
"Huhuhu, as expected I can't hide myself from you"
She walks from behind a tree and I can see her even though she looks a bit... transparent
"Are you trying to use your invisibility against me? That won't work on espers"
Even if she hides her physical appearance we can still feel her presence and see her spiritual strength
"Sorry, sorry, I was just testing you a little. Just to make sure you are not getting rusty"
I can hear her voice inside my head and she is not moving her lips, as expected, she only talks using telepathy
"I've been travelling around the world for a while, I've been hunting ghosts, youkais and demons, I assure you I'm not rusty"
I reply annoyed by her provocation
She tilts her head with a smile on her face
"Oh, is that so? Good to hear... After all, you are gonna need it"
Need it? Don't tell me...
"Did you called me all the way here to challenge me?"
She laughs at my question
"No, god no, don't worry. I wouldn't lose my time with meaningless things like that, but I did come here to give you a warning"
This doesn't sound good, a warning coming from her?
"About what?"
She sits in one of the several large stones that are laying around the hill and then glares at the nightsky
"Tatseyo, I had a prediction, and it envolved you"
A prediction?!
"Y-you mean you saw the future? My future?"
I already know that one of her many powers is the ability to see into future events, but I never imagined she would ever have a vision about me
"Yes, however, my powers of prediction are limited, it takes in account the relevance and the proximity of the event, but lately I've been receiving visions of an awful event that is drawing closer..."
"Awful event?! What is it?"
I am extremely worried, if it's something that even Kuriko would label as 'awful' then it must be truly serious!
"But it doesn't concern us yet"
She says that waving her hand
"Hey, don't dismiss the subject like that!"
I yell at her but she simply smiles, this girl, I really can't stand her!
"When the time comes, you'll understand. Now about your future..."
There she goes, changing the subject as she pleases!
"...I've seen a dark devil in your future, when you meet it, you'll change your whole view of the world and two paths will open in front of you, after that it's up to your decision."
I'm confused about what she just revealed me
"A dark devil? What are you talking about? I'll have to fight this demon?"
She shakes her head
"My vision won't show me all the details, all I know is that a huge opportunity will present itself to you when you meet this devil, so be prepared."
"You keep talking about future and devils but I don't understand this, which path am I supposed to choose?"
Kuriko closes her eyes
"I told you, it's all up to you, the future is not linear and unchangable, there are plenty of ways one can change the future. Even I can't predict all the ways a human can interfere in it."
I put my hand in my forehead
"So let me see if I got it right: You're telling me you had a prediction that something important is going to happen to me?
She nods
"Exactly!"
"I'll meet a dark devil, as you're calling it, and somehow this will change my life?"
"Precisely!"
"But you don't know which path I'm supposed to choose?"
"Only you can build your future"
"Nice, I get it, and you really won't tell me anything about the awful event you predicted?"
"Evertyhing at it's right time"
As expected, she really won't tell me
"Fufufu, I wonder which kind of future will you build? I'm looking forward to it!"
She's really having fun with me
"So that's it? Nothing else to ad?"
She thinks for a minute before smiling back, I don't like her smile, it doesn't bring me any comfort at all
"Oh yeah, good luck on your new school"
I sigh, so that's just it, don't know why I expected something more useful from her
"Alright, I'm going then"
"Wait a minute Tatseyo!"
I turn back
"What is it?"
A mischievous smile appears on her face
"Your skill, have you found it already?"
I frown and reply annoyed
"You know I haven't"
She then smiles more, removing one of the gloves she constantly wears
"Want me to use my psychometry on you? Maybe we can find out this way"
I'm taken by surprise, this girl is willing to do me a favor?
"W-what? Would you really do it?"
She nods
"Yes, of course, just come here"
I already asked other psychometry users to check me for my skill, but they never found anything useful, but if it's Kuriko, then maybe she'll find it out!
I take a step towards her, but then I stop
"You are not going to ask something weird in exchange are you?"
She puts a on a hurtful expression
"You really think of me so lowly?"
And then starts laughing again
I shrug
"Well, it's you after all..."
She sighs
"Actually Tatseyo, I'm curious about your skill too"
My eyes wide at this confession
"You are too?"
"Yes, my visions didn't show it to me and after what I saw in it I want to know more about your powers, that's all I'm asking."
I see, guess even someone like Kuriko has things she's curious about...
"If it's like that then it's okay..."
I walk up to her and she puts her hand against my forehead
"Now let's begin~~"
She says
Her hand rests on my forehead for a few moments and then...
"Ugh!"
Kuriko's expression changed! A frown emerged on her face and she gritted her teeth
This girl who is always so calm and looking down on others is legitimately nervous right now!
"Ku-Kuriko? What happened?"
She doesn't answer me and instead only removes her hand from my forehead, I can see sweat forming on her face
"I s-see... Like father like son I guess"
Stuttering? Not only speaking out of her own mouth but stuttering too? And what's with this "like father like son"?
"H-hey Kuriko, what did you saw?"
Not only this was one of the rare occasions Kuriko actually spoke, I never in my life imagined Kuriko could make a face like that! It was a panicked expression, like an innocent kid watching a horror movie while it's parents are on a night out.
Kuriko quickly regains her composure and gives a simple answer
"I couldn't see your skill, I'm sorry"
What?! I'm not buying this one!
"There's no way in hell you didn't saw it! Why were you so scared then?"
She replies with an annoyed expression
"It's precisely because I couldn't see it that I showed you something so... unsightly, I'm sorry for that"
Well, I can actually believe in that, for someone as proud in her powers as Kuriko, not being able to do something must have been quite a shock, even if I think she exaggerated a bit
I shake my head
"It's okay, but are you alright?"
"Yes, I am fine now."
She puts her gloves back and stands on top of the rock
"But just because I couldn't see it, doesn't mean you don't have one"
"And what did you mean with 'like father like son'?"
When she said that I was thinking that maybe I had an ability like father's but if it's not that then what did she meant?
A small grin forms on her face
Oh no, I already know what this grin means
"Let me guess: That's up for me to find out?"
The small grin turns into a broad smile
"What would be the fun if I just gave you all the answers?"
Eh, I already knew it, she won't make things easy for me
"Well now, if you don't mind, I have other places to be"
"Aren't you going to join the party?"
Kuriko turns to me with a face that just screams 'you are shitting me, right?' She's definitely that guy's child.
"I'm just kidding, say hi to Kusuo-san and your mother for me alright?"
She nods
"Yeah, I will, father will like to hear about you"
She then disappears completely, teleporting out of this place
...
I don't think she'll them I said hi