He looked at his legs, hanging, unable to reach the pristine white floor due to how short he was. He felt rather uncomfortable in a room full of people older than he is.
The place is crowded, metal benches lined neatly against the walls. Yomikawa sat beside him, reading on a pamphlet that she found on the bulletin board.
He looked around, listening to the conversations around him. Most of the conversation consisted of classic stuff. School, grades, crushes, etc.
How long they've been waiting here, he couldn't tell. Probably an hour or two, give or take. But the point was that it feels like it has been ages since.
What a horrible experience this is, he thought. He intentionally made his sighs loud enough to attract the attention of Yomikawa, his soon to be legal guardian.
But his efforts seemed to not even have any effect on her, even though she was right next to him. He frowned. He tugged on the sleeve of her tracksuit. He didn't get why she would dare to wear such a thing. Even a 9 year olds like him would've known that that was a very bad idea.
The tug finally got her attention. Yomikawa looked at him, noting the look on his face. "What's up, Hirano-chan? Need to use the bathroom?"
His eyes twitched, he shook his head. "How much longer do we have to wait?" He asked, a bit annoyed.
She looked at the clock on the wall before looking back at him with a smile. "Not much longer." That was a relief to know. His butt is starting to hurt from all the sitting.
And apparently that 'not much longer' turns out to be half an hour more.
"Number 498, please come to desk number 24." A voice from the loudspeakers up above. The boy groaned as Yomikawa got up, leading the way with him tailing right behind.
The person on the desk looks young. His voice is smooth and controlled. But the ring beneath his eyes betrayed the positive impression he tried to give.
Neither of the two points it out. They would ask questions after questions. Mostly to Yomikawa. While that was happening , he was given a paper filled with questions.
All of them were personal questions. His date of birth, place of birth, was he born in or outside of the city, mother and father's name, his current address, his name, such and such.
He left most of them blank. Not long after, he handed it back. The man looks rather puzzled by the blank spaces on the paper.
"Hirano-san. If I may, why are these left empty?" The man points at a few lines down on the paper.
Yomikawa looks over to him. "I don't remember their name, never met them. I can't remember when and where I was born. All I knew was that it was in early September. Maybe late August, I can't be sure."
The man would've asked more, had Yomikawa not whispered something into his ears. For a brief second there, the man's eyes grew sympathetic. He sighed. "I'll... see what I can do.",
He left, talking to some people. The man points towards them. Yomikawa ruffled his messy hair. He walked to the desk.
"Sorry for the delay. Please pass on through."
They had him sitting on a tall chair at the front while a picture of him was taken. He remembers something similar to this. It was ages ago, he recalls.
After that, they have him waiting for several more minutes as they print his new ID card and his report card. Along with it was a new certificate of some sort, which was given to Yomikawa.
He checked the card in his hands on the way out. All of the information that he'd given was typed in. There was a blank spot reserved for his level which was currently empty, those people told him. And then there's a picture of him on the right. He looked weird. Has his hair always been this long? Other than that, the name has him confused. On it was typed, Yomikawa Hirano.
"Why is your name here? Did they make a mistake or something?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at it.
She gave a lighthearted chuckle. "No. It's not a mistake. They put my name in there because I asked them to." He turns at her. She must've noticed, so she continued. "Since I'm now your legal guardian, it basically means that we're family."
"Oh." He didn't know how to react to that. He's never really given much thought about family before. He didn't give many things a thought. Maybe now would be the appropriate time. It did make him feel strange. It did answer most of his questions as well. Leaving only one remaining left to ask.
"Do I have to call you mom from now on?"
That not only shocked her, but left her silent. "That... umm... I... Uhh..." She trailed off with each passing word. She didn't answer his question at all. Not even on the ride back.
If he were to be completely honest with himself, these past few days had been plenty entertaining on its own, even though the majority of it had been spent inside of their apartment. The time they actually went outside was when they'd go and meet someone.
He isn't exactly excited to meet new faces, but he'll do it regardless. Especially when these people were the ones responsible for his newfound freedom.
The Anti-skill's department is something that he'd never been into before, but the atmosphere of it, he was akin to notice. It was after all, the same as that when he'd walk into the cafeteria in one of the earliest facilities he's ever been into.
It was heavy, he noted. Everybody is rushing, all working on something. Whatever it is they're doing, they're doing their very best to make sure it went as planned.
They all calmed down a bit though. When I say a bit, I mean exponentially. It was when Yomikawa- I mean, Aiho, entered the source of the madness. It is the most chaotic room he's ever stumbled into.
Papers flying around with people running, shouts across the room as an angry supervisor yells at a certain subordinate. It genuinely looks very comical, like something out of a cartoon or a novel and shit.
The moment they came in, it was like magic. Like a curse lifted, the room went quiet. With all eyes on them, he could feel himself sinking slightly behind Aiho's.
And then boom, an eruption. And he was at the very centre of it all.
They swarmed him like zombies. Thousands upon thousands of questions were flown his way. There was something in their eyes that he could not pinpoint. When did he get into the room? Why is he sitting on a chair? How did he get here? He does not know.
Even worse, his guardian isn't here.
That's what happened on his third day.
The fourth wasn't quite the same, but it's probably just the same. It was rather chaotic, but more short-term.
He was told to take a bath.
He didn't get why, his brain was hardwired to make sure that nothing touches him. His skin is very sensitive, so he has to consciously reflect on things he doesn't like. The latest experiment he'd partook was to turn this into subconscious activity by exploiting his survival instinct into developing his passive ability.
But he did still do it from time to time when he felt uncomfortable from the air touching him. And it just so happens that dust was the primary reason for these, so he didn't really get that dirty.
But he ended up doing so because the woman was giving him one of those 'looks'. She'd prepared a warm bath beforehand anyway, a convenience that he at least finds pleasing.
He shed any article of clothings on him and slowly made his way in.
It was heaven.
He sank in immediately, tension from his shoulders released all of a sudden. A relieved sigh escaped his mouth.
He didn't know that bath was this relaxing. He wondered what it was like to be in a natural hot spring, like that nice pink haired child-adult hybrid said a few nights ago.
He could really sleep in this place, he thought. He hadn't been getting much sleep these past few days, as his fatigue was slowly but surely drained away due to how much he rested.
While in this state of nirvana, a shadow cast over him. He didn't get to glance and see what it was, as suddenly a force from the other side came out of nowhere. It came in a splash, breaking him out of his piece of heaven.
He groaned in irritation. His hairs wet, sticking all over his face, covering most of his eyes. But through the thin threads of hair, he could see Aiho sitting with a mischievous smile on her face.
"Having fun?" She comments. His eyes twitched.
She ended up scrubbing his back and washing his hair. She might've scraped some of his skin, because up until now, he could still feel a stinging pain whenever his shirt made contact with his back.
…
He tried to be helpful sometimes. He felt bad that he was just there while watching her do all the chores. So she made him go buy some groceries and wash the dishes. Occasionally made him sweep the floor and she would mop it.
It was nice being able to move around more. Made him feel alive.
A week in, a change in dynamics happens.
"Sorry, but I can't keep missing work. I'll be back tonight. Do you mind staying alone? Want me to call Yoshikawa over?" Aiho asked one after another as she stood by the doorway.
He shook his head. "Well alright then. Be a good boy and don't make too much of a mess. There's curry in the freezer, you know how to turn on the microwave, right?" She ruffled his hair before departing.
He stands there for a second. He was sure something was about to change.
It's raining. The first of the summer so far.
The apartment seemed unusually quiet to Hirano, the muffled sounds of passing cars outside providing a distant backdrop. Sitting by the window, he watched raindrops race each other down the glass, tracing winding paths like miniature explorers. The air held a hint of spring, teasing the promise of warmer days.
There was nothing to fix nor clean. No dust to sweep and no spots to wipe. His books, sitting on his nightstand, seemed to have lost their charm. His imagination, usually a lively companion, seemed to have taken a short nap. The ticking of the clock echoed in the empty spaces of the apartment, each second stretching longer than the last.
Restlessly, he wandered from room to room, his small steps echoing softly. The familiar surroundings felt strangely unfamiliar, and a sense of boredom settled like a mist around him. He peeked out of the window again, hoping for a glimpse of something exciting. A passing bird, flying planes, anything to break the monotony.
Not seeing anything in the rain, he closed the window and retreated into the confines of his dark apartment, where nothing unusual had happened in the past few hours.
He sat on the wooden flooring, turning on the television. For a moment, his finger kept falling off the channel, but eventually he found a program he liked and settled into a deep funk of boring, mindless entertainment.
It had become all too common for him to sit this way, uninterested in anything. That feeling came over him more often than not, and he couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for himself.
He yawned, the sound of light drizzling outside the window accentuating the rise and fall of his chest. He'd dozed off for a brief moment, and the lack of awareness irritated him. This monotone, everyday life had softened him up. He was usually more alert than this. Wait, no. Now that he thinks about it. When was the last time he actually considered something? He hadn't thought about anything for a while.
He hadn't thought much of anything, because there was nothing for him to think of. The thought was unsettling, but it was the only explanation he could come up with. The pulse of his determination came to life suddenly, the familiar surge of power that followed whenever he allowed his brain to function at full capacity.
He got up and stared out the window. He hummed and walked out onto the living room, opening the door to the balcony. The drizzle lands on his head, his eyes staring into the deluge of water, scattered like a veil covering the whole city. His heart pounds like a drum against his chest, but he pushes the sensation away, kicking away the discomfort with his feet.
The cloud was dark, covering most of the city. But in the distance, some sunlight peeked through. He directs his eyes towards it, stretching his right hand towards it, lost in his thoughts.
Numerical values filled his mind. He could see invisible arrows with exact movements and their direction, like wind. Their quantity was almost impossible to count, but he knew how many there were.
Number and a formula. He visualised an arrow. They all head in one direction. Vectors. He'd studied them since he could walk, and they were his life. He could mould them, transform them, adjust their position, their speed, their angle, their strength. Anywhere he wanted with just the numbers in his head. And he was good with them. He was good with numbers, always has been.
Their directions changed, suiting that he wanted to do, whatever he wanted. The clouds parted, the sunlight exposed, revealing the city below.
His hand lowered. He blinked for a second. This power that he hated, that kept him distant from all the other normal humans, was what kept him alive. He wondered what would happen if he never had it.
He went back inside.
In the absence of the comforting hum of Aiho's presence, the apartment transformed into a vast, unexplored wilderness. Hirano yearned for the vibrant outdoor adventures that usually coloured his days. With a sigh, he sank onto the couch, contemplating the mysteries of the ceiling as the day stretched on, long and seemingly endless.
…
On a highway down below, right at the centre of a traffic jam, a family of three had just recently arrived in the city less than three days ago.
Their car luxurious, an import from a European manufacturer, coloured black with a silver rim. They sat at the back, their only heir sitting at the lap of her mother.
Her short curvy hair swayed as she stared out the window, her palms pressing against the glass. Her eyes were bright in awe. A rainbow had formed right atop of her vehicle. Her parents also noticed.
"Mama, look! The sky just parts!" She exclaimed, pointing at the clouds with such joyous laughter.
Seeing her delighted made them feel happy. Coming here was the right choice after all.
8
The front door opened, Aiho strolled in with plastic bags on her left hand. "Whew, I'm gonna need to get used to that all over again." She utters to nobody but herself.
Hirano lays still, watching her from the couch, his hand raised with a purple light emitting from it. Aiho didn't seem to notice it yet. She took off her shoes. "Did you see how the rain parts this noon, Hirano-chan? An ESP did it, y'know? An analysis came in and said that whoever does it manipulates the earth's atmospheric pressure. We might've discovered a new Level…5… what's that on your hand?"
Just by his fingertips, was a ball of purple plasma. Created by controlling the vibration around it to heat up to an immense temperature. There was so much energy on it, it would've exploded had he not kept them stable and stationary.
"Plasma." He answered a bit later. He puts his hands away, snuffing it in an instant as he gets up from his position. Aiho stared in awe. "Did you get more of those things?" He spoke, looking at the bags on her hand.
"Umm… no. I didn't." He hummed in disappointment as he deflated a little. She shook herself from the surprise. The boy was kept away from the others for a reason. His unique power must've been the cause of it all. "I'll get some tomorrow."
He kept quiet for a second. She walked over to the kitchen and placed the bags over at the counter. "You broke rule 4, y'know? I'll think nothing of it since it is your first time breaking the rules. But don't think you can get away next time, alright?" She felt a tingling at the back of her neck.
She turned around to see him standing near the couch. "Is… something wrong?" That doesn't appear to be the issue, she noted. There was no reaction whatsoever.
Instead of answering or even responding, he just headed straight for his bedroom, quietly closing the door. Yomikawa Aiho doesn't know what's going on, but she is adamant on finding out. Because it's affecting her ward very badly.
Sorting through the bag quickly and putting them into the fridge, she went over towards his door, not even bothering to change her clothes. Knocking before entering, she finds the room to still be lit.
He was burying his face on his pillow. Her heart sank a little. Did she do something? She slowly approached the bedside and sat. The shift caught his attention, moving his head slightly to reveal his face.
"Is something bothering you?" She asked with the softest voice she could muster.
There was a pause. "Can I come with you tomorrow?" Her eyes might be fooling her. She could've sworn that she saw him appearing embarrassed for a second there.
She tilted her head. The worry suddenly disappears. "Why?"
He didn't immediately answer. He averted his gaze a bit, she could see a faint shade of red on his cheeks. This really has her surprised. "I'm… lonely. I guess."
She kept a smile at bay. But it appears that she isn't doing that well at it, because the blush was gone. Leaving in its wake was his trademark scowl. "I'm just bored."
She giggled. "Alright, it's okay, I get it." She waits until it settles down before continuing. "I would love to bring you. Though, I don't think it would be a good idea. We were conducting raids daily and… you get the idea."
He hesitated for a second before nodding. "Komoe-chan wouldn't mind taking you for the day. But she was only free during the weekends. Yoshikawa-san also just got a job…" She scratched the side of her head, trying to think of someone. Or an idea.
There was one solution to this. But whether he would be willing to take it or not, she's not entirely sure yet. Well, then again, she hasn't asked him at all.
"Ne, Hirano-chan," he looks at her. "What do you think of going to school?"
"School?"
She affirmed with a nod. "Y'know? School? A place to learn with other kids and stuff?" He doesn't seem to understand. "Let's just say that you won't ever get bored because there's always something to do. And you could also make friends so you won't feel lonely as well! What'd you say?"
He thought about it for a moment. It's not like he has any other choices. Going out on his own without any destination in mind doesn't sound bad, but eventually he'll get bored of it. He might as well do it, for now. At least he'll have a new constant until he fully understands the surrounding districts.
He nods. "Great! We'll get some supplies first thing in the morning. We'll see if there is an ESP evaluation office nearby the area first. There won't be anything to do until 1 at noon in the department anyway!"
She bids him goodnight, walking into her own room with a newfound sense of excitement. She didn't know how much she needed these kinds of things until the opportunity revealed itself to her.
She dialled a certain number just outside his room. She briefly talked to the person on the other side of the line before explaining her situation. After getting her confirmation, she thanked them and hung up.
She was fast asleep that night.
I did a drawing for the bath scene, too bad I don't know how to bind a picture over in FFN. So... that's that...
Anyways, New Chapter Next Week!