The fluorescent lights buzzed softly.

Ren stood in front of the refrigerated drink section, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the rows of bottled tea, carbonated sodas, and energy drinks. The convenience store was quiet, save for the occasional beep of the register and the soft hum of the AC.

His fingers hovered over a can of black coffee before sighing and grabbing two bottles of green tea instead.

Outside, Nazuna-chan was waiting, leaning against the store's glass window, her cloak draped loosely around her shoulders. She had her hands behind her back, idly kicking at the ground, looking completely at ease—like she hadn't just blackmailed him into becoming her blood donor fifteen minutes ago.

Ren stepped outside and tossed her a bottle.

"Oi."

Nazuna caught it effortlessly. "Oh? You actually bought me something? How sweet~"

"Shut up," Ren muttered, opening his own bottle with a small click.

She giggled, uncapping hers as well. "So, what's the damage?"

"Five hundred yen."

She took a sip, then clicked her tongue. "Tch. You should've made me pay. I don't mind being a sugar mama."

Ren nearly choked on his drink. "Excuse me?"

She grinned. "What? I'm older than you."

Ren wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "You look younger than me"

"Immortality perks~"

Ren shook his head, deciding to drop it. He leaned against the wall beside her, watching as a couple of students biked past on the empty sidewalk. The city had quieted down—most shops closing, streets emptier, leaving only the late-night stragglers behind.

For a while, neither of them said anything. Just drinking. Existing.

Then—

"So," Nazuna said, rolling the bottle in her hands. "Gravity Esper, huh?"."

Ren laughed. "Yeah"

Ren took another sip, his gaze drifting toward the empty street. "…Gravity's weird," he muttered. "It's not as straightforward as people think."

Nazuna hummed, tilting her head. "Yeah?"

"It's not just 'pulling things down.'" Ren's fingers tapped against his bottle. "I can manipulate gravitational force on objects. Change how they interact with the world—make them heavier, lighter, pull them toward a point…"

He exhaled.

"But I can't control my own."

Nazuna blinked. "Wait. At all?"

Ren shook his head. "I can lift boulders. Crush steel. Suspend other people in midair." His grip on the bottle tightened. "But if I try to change my own weight… nothing happens."

Nazuna tilted her head. "…Huh."

"It's like—I can affect everything around me, but not me. Like being locked in place."

Nazuna stared at him for a moment, then took another sip of tea. "…Kinda ironic."

Ren gave her a flat look. "Thanks for the insight."

She grinned. "No, really. A guy who controls gravity but can't free himself? That's tragic. Poetic. Like a bird born without wings."

Ren scoffed. "I hate your wordings"

"But it's accurate, right?"

Ren clicked his tongue but didn't argue. He'd heard similar comparisons from researchers before. 'An esper is bound by the fundamental laws of their ability. Your body is an exception to your own field.'

Didn't change the fact that it sucked.

Nazuna stretched, rocking on her heels. "Welp. Good thing you met me."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "How is that a good thing?"

She grinned, flashing her fangs.

"Because I can fly."

Ren rolled the empty bottle in his hand, staring at the quiet streets of Academy City. The neon glow from vending machines and distant streetlights painted the pavement in a soft blue hue. It was peaceful.

For a city filled with Espers, experiments, and scientific madness, these quiet moments felt rare.

He turned to Nazuna, who was still sipping her tea like they had all the time in the world.

"…That's the plan then," Ren said.

Nazuna tilted her head. "Hmm?"

"You'll fly with me," he said, watching her reaction. "Until I figure out how to control my own gravity and fly by myself."

Nazuna blinked, then grinned. "Oh? You're actually trusting me? i thought we were joking"

"I don't have a choice," Ren muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It's either that, or keep hanging onto you like an idiot."

Nazuna let out a laugh. "Yeah, you were pretty desperate back there."

Ren groaned. "Don't remind me."

She tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Alright, I'll do it. But just so we're clear—you're not my boyfriend, got it?"

Ren nearly choked. "What?!"

Nazuna smirked. "Well, you know… late-night flights, holding onto me for dear life, deep philosophical talks… It's giving 'first love' energy."

Ren glared. "I hate you."

She cackled. "I know."

He sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."

Nazuna hummed, finishing the last of her tea before tossing the bottle into a nearby trash can. "Alright then, student. First lesson: stop thinking so much."

Ren frowned. "That's… not helpful."

She shrugged. "Flying isn't about control—it's about letting go. You're so obsessed with how your powers 'should' work that you haven't considered what happens when you just trust yourself."

Ren leaned against the railing, watching her. "…And what makes you such an expert?"

Nazuna grinned. "Because I'm a vampire."

Ren rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. That's not an answer."

She leaned toward him. "But it is. Vampires don't fly by controlling gravity, or physics, or whatever fancy esper stuff you nerds do." She tapped her temple. "We do it by feeling."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "That's stupid."

Nazuna smirked. "Maybe. But it works."

He exhaled, tilting his head. "So, what? You just decide to float, and it happens?"

"Pretty much," she said, casually lifting a few inches off the ground. "I just let go of the rules. Science says I should fall, but I don't. That's it."

Ren watched her hover effortlessly, her cloak swaying gently. No visible forces. No calculations. No energy output. Just… floating.

It pissed him off a little.

"…Doesn't that break physics?"

Nazuna grinned. "Yup."

Ren sighed. "Espers can't do that."

"Maybe that's why you're stuck."

Ren narrowed his eyes. "…Tch."

Nazuna floated a little higher, flipping midair before lying on her back as if she were lounging on an invisible couch. "Man, you Espers have it rough. Always measuring stuff, proving things, limiting yourselves."

Ren scoffed. "That's how science works."

She shrugged. "Maybe that's why I get to fly, and you don't."

Ren scowled, but deep down, something about her words stuck.

Nazuna stretched lazily, floating just above him. "Welp, you'll figure it out eventually. You're not dumb."

"…Thanks?"

"You're welcome~"

Ren watched her for a moment before shaking his head. "Alright. Since you're my 'teacher' now, I've got some questions."

Nazuna perked up. "Ooh, an interview?"

"More like 'making sure you're not insane.'"

She grinned. "Too late."

Ren sighed. "Fine. First question—if you're a vampire, do you burn in sunlight?"

Nazuna scoffed. "Ugh, stupid movies. That's a myth."

"But you drink blood?"

"Yeah" she said, twirling in the air. "It just tastes really good. Like, imagine the best meal you've ever had—now multiply that by ten."

Ren frowned. " disgusting."

"Sorry to ruin your horror fantasies."

Ren glanced at her. "So, if blood is just a 'treat,' why do you need mine? can't i buy you something from a blood bank?"

Nazuna stopped spinning, then smiled.

"No"

"Why?"

"Because...not telling"

Ren narrowed his eyes. "…Hey, that's cheating?"

Nazuna winked. "Lesson two. Earn the answer."

Ren groaned.

This was going to be a long training arc.