I, Kurumi Tokisaki, Am a Wanderer

"Um… could you tell me how to get to this place?"

The girl's jet-black hair was like shadows themselves, her bangs obscuring the left side of her face, leaving only her right eye visible. Her features were so exquisitely refined that they seemed to put others to shame. She raised the map in her hand and asked softly.

Yuki swallowed hard. Oh no… I think I've fallen in love!

My name is Hayatani Yuki, a Level 3 Aerokinesis user. That day… I saw an angel.

"I am a member of Judgment! I came here after receiving a report!"

A girl descended from the sky, gripping the green emblem on her shoulder that marked her as a member of the disciplinary committee. She stumbled slightly upon landing but still shouted with unshakable determination.

"Do not resist!"

Yuki had rushed out of her branch office as soon as the call came in. The report stated that three delinquents had cornered a girl in an alleyway. She knew full well how devastating such an experience could be for a young girl and had even activated an experimental flight assist device to get there as fast as possible.

Her landing was clumsy, her heels smarting from the impact, but she managed to strike a proper pose. She then glanced around the scene… and saw three delinquents sprawled on the ground, twitching and foaming at the mouth.

In the center of the unconscious delinquents stood a refined young lady, smoothing her skirt with a serene smile.

Her red eye was like the most exquisite wine, emanating a faint, intoxicating allure.

Wait… she's a girl?! Yuki thought with a pang of dismay. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest, her cheeks turning crimson.

Bathed in the warm glow of the sunlight, the girl seemed to radiate brilliance. To Yuki, she looked nothing less than divine.

Ignoring the groaning bodies of the alleged delinquents, Yuki paid no mind to the frantic shouts coming from her earpiece. She pressed her lips together, trying her best to appear composed despite her nerves.

"Is… is there anything I can help you with?"

[Vanya's Peerless Radiance - Eterna], the ultimate effect: [Charm +100].

After crossing two worlds, it was finally proving its worth.

A city with a population of 2.3 million, 80% of whom were students—this was Academy City.

Located in the western part of Tokyo, the city covered an area approximately one-third the size of Tokyo and was divided into twenty-three districts. Known as the "City of Schools," it boasted technology decades ahead of the outside world.

Of particular note were the city's famed courses for developing supernatural abilities.

"No need to be so tense, Yuki," Kurumi said with a gentle smile, looking at the nervous girl before her. Though she didn't fully understand the situation, she found it amusing.

How could I not be tense?! Yuki's shoulders quivered uncontrollably. She's looking at me… ahh! She's looking at me! The sensation was like someone clutching her heart with an iron grip.

"Yuki, the map… is upside down." Kurumi covered her mouth as she chuckled lightly, pointing it out.

"S-sorry, Kurumi-senpai!" Yuki exclaimed, bowing hastily before noticing the bright red shield emblem on the map—Nagatenjouki Academy.

Nagatenjouki, huh…

In that case, the downed delinquents made perfect sense.

Her ears flushed all the way to the tips as she caught the faint scent of roses wafting from Kurumi. Leading her to the nearest train station, Yuki's heart continued to race uncontrollably.

"Kurumi-senpai, you just need to ride the train to the 18th District, Nagatenjouki Academy," Yuki said cautiously, carefully returning the map to Kurumi.

"When you get off, the school gates will be right there. If you get lost, just ask someone nearby."

"Got it~" Kurumi replied, taking the map back and leaning in slightly. "Well then, thank you, little Yuki~"

Kurumi-senpai's… hand… so soft.

Yuki stood frozen, stiff as a board, her gaze locked on Kurumi as she walked away.

"Yuki!! You left your post during duty hours, failed to take statements, and let a key witness go! What were you thinking?!"

The loud voice of her branch supervisor barked through her earpiece, the fury palpable even through the static.

"Senpai…" Yuki murmured absentmindedly.

"What?! It's too late for regrets now! Prepare yourself for a written report!"

"I've decided! I'll definitely get into Nagatenjouki Academy!" Yuki declared, clenching her fists tightly.

"Wait, what?!"

The 18th District, home to numerous schools specializing in ability development, was the main rival to the prestigious School Garden.

Nagatenjouki Academy, one of Academy City's top five elite schools, was located here.

Because it was the weekend, the train was relatively empty.

Those with money had gone to the 15th District for leisure and entertainment, while those without were either at their affiliated research labs or working part-time in the 16th District.

Leaning against the train window, Kurumi twirled a strand of her jet-black hair with a pensive expression.

"Tanabata? What kind of hint is that?"

"I thought it might be something like the Tree Diagram."

Upon disembarking at the designated station, the grand sight of Nagatenjouki Academy loomed in the distance. The deep crimson, shield-shaped emblem stood out prominently.

With an elegant stride, Kurumi approached the academy.

Her strikingly refined features and slightly unusual outfit drew the attention of passing students.

Still… someone dressed this formally, evoking a mix of Sword Art Online and vintage aristocracy, was definitely a first.

Perhaps because bold self-expression was common among the academy's students, the stares soon dissipated, and everyone returned to their routines.

"I've seen people not wearing uniforms… and people altering their uniforms… but showing up wearing the uniform of another school? You're the first."

A senior lazily lounging in the reception office spoke through a mouthful of crepe stick, teasing Kurumi.

"What, they didn't give you a Nagatenjouki uniform to wear?"

"Well, come to think of it, what even is this Raizen High School? Is that even a school in Academy City?"

Halfheartedly handling Kurumi's paperwork, the senior continued complaining.

"Attend classes if you want, skip them if you don't. But you'd better show up for ability tests, no exceptions."

"You're a Level 4 Advanced Ability User, right? If you've got issues, talk to a teacher—but not me."

"Uh… 'Nightmare'? What kind of ability is that? Giving people bad dreams?" She snapped her crepe stick in half with an audible crunch, shoving the completed paperwork toward Kurumi. "Don't get me wrong. I'm just mouthy. I don't actually care about your ability."

The dormitories at Nagatenjouki Academy were mostly single or double rooms.

However, since the semester had already started two months ago, Kurumi had no choice but to share a room.

Raising her eyebrows, she examined the documents in her hands.

"Nunotaba Shinobu?" Kurumi murmured, savoring the name.

There was something oddly familiar about it.

The photo showed a girl with unsettling eyes, staring directly ahead.

"Level 6 Shift…"

Kurumi recalled where she had seen that name before.

—

"Sigh… Why hasn't she arrived yet?"

The girl raised a cream-colored ragdoll cat above her head, her crescent-shaped eyes reflecting a hint of distress.

She had notified her main body about this half a day ago, yet there was still no sign of her arriving.

It wasn't as though it truly mattered whether the main body joined her for cat-petting or not.

But… but there was a rather significant, glaring issue bothering her right now.

——The main body hadn't sent her any allowance.

"Senpai, it's already 6:30," a girl in an elegant maid uniform approached cautiously, trying to imply the situation.

The senpai seemed to be enjoying herself a lot… but the shop manager had already started urging her to wrap up.

To comply with the curfew policies against night outings, most of Academy City's trains and buses stopped running their final routes around 6:30 PM, which aligned with school dismissal times.

Typically, the shop stopped accepting customers after 6 PM.

Kurumi shifted her gaze forward, and the maid's shoulders trembled slightly.

But… such a reaction was only natural. After all, Kurumi Tokisaki's crimson right eye, adorned with long lashes like a vivid gem, was fixed on her.

Without betraying any emotion, this version of Kurumi gently placed the cat down. Her heart thumped steadily in her chest.

Her owner still hadn't shown up.

There was no helping it… She would have to resort to that. With an apologetic smile, this Kurumi spoke up.

"I'm terribly sorry… In my rush, I forgot to bring my wallet."

The maid's heart skipped a beat. Situations like this were always the trickiest.

"It's all right… If you explain the situation to the manager, it should be fine to come back and pay tomorrow," she said, her gaze drifting briefly to the badge on Kurumi's chest.

Raizen High School… She hadn't heard of that before. Was this senpai from a different district?

Then, to the maid's astonishment, the elegant senpai before her extended a coin resembling a cracker-sized gold mon.

"Here. If it's acceptable, may I use this to pay?"

Good heavens… Where on earth did this lady come from?

In the end… another customer ended up paying Kurumi's bill.

It was a petite girl with narrow shoulders, carrying a hint of youthful innocence.

What stood out the most, however, was the girl's headpiece—an assortment of hibiscus, peacock flowers, snow-in-summer, and various floral designs nestled in her short, playful black hair, resembling a vase.

The girl had a cute, childlike frame and didn't seem particularly wealthy. Her expression clearly showed her pain when settling the bill.

Yet, as if empowered by some form of faith, she resolutely opened her wallet and paid.

"Are you a student at Nagatenjouki Academy, senpai?" the girl asked while leading Kurumi toward the train station. There should still be time to catch the last train.

When they had first met in the café, she had seemed confident and high-spirited. But now, after leaving, she appeared shy and reserved, clearly uneasy.

Her voice, however, was quite pleasant—sweet and syrupy, like it was coated in sugar.

Hearing her call out something like "Onee-chan, Onee-chan" in that voice, combined with her petite figure, might just give certain individuals an instant heart attack.

But that certainly didn't include Kurumi herself. Hand on her heart, she swore she was absolutely nothing like her main body. No way was she a lolicon.

"Ara, ara… maybe so," Kurumi replied.

"M-Maybe?" The girl blinked in confusion. Was that even a valid answer?

To be honest, she had been sneaking glances at Kurumi for a while now. That dignified and graceful demeanor—it was exactly like the rich young ladies she admired.

Good thing her own... peculiar friend wasn't here, or she would surely mock her for being starstruck.

"Well… maybe. After all, I only transferred there today."

"Oh, I see."

Having reached the station, the girl led Kurumi toward the platform for the train heading to the 18th District.

"P-Pleased to meet you. I'm a student at Sakugawa Middle School…"

"Uiharu Kazari," Kurumi interrupted, her smile curving upward as the girl stared at her in shock.

"Wha… how does Senpai know that?" Uiharu inspected herself carefully. She wasn't wearing a name tag or anything. "Could it be… Senpai is a telepath?"

"Not at all," Kurumi explained. "Let's just say… you're somewhat famous."

"Famous? Me?" The shy girl's cheeks flushed as she stammered, lowering her gaze—only to notice a pale hand extending toward her.

"Here, take this. It should cover the cost of the bill," Kurumi said, pressing the gold mon coin into Uiharu's hand as she stepped onto the train.

"We'll meet again."

Kurumi raised her hand in farewell before turning away.

By the time Uiharu tried to follow, Kurumi was already gone—vanishing into the shadows without a trace.

"I didn't even… get Senpai's name," Uiharu muttered in frustration.

"Never mind… I'll just look it up later."

—

Her new roommate was likely the type who hardly stayed in the dorms. Even though the sun had already set, she hadn't returned yet.

The most plausible explanation was that she was still holed up in some research facility, continuing her work.

Kurumi reclined in the bathtub, lazily blowing bubbles while lightly kicking her legs. Her pale, delicate feet emerged from the water, reflecting the dim bathroom light.

She had a nagging feeling that she'd forgotten something, though it probably wasn't anything important.

Gazing at the quartz clock hanging on the wall, its face blurred by the steamy haze, Kurumi narrowed her eyes like a contented cat.

Nunotaba Shinobu.

A former researcher for the "Mass-Produced Esper Project," and the supervisor for the "Learning Device" in the "Level 6 Shift Project."

As fragments of information about the girl resurfaced in her mind, Kurumi's brow furrowed slightly.

It was already the first weekend of June. Based on the timeline, that experiment should currently be underway at the research facility.

Curling a strand of her damp hair around her finger, Kurumi gently licked her lips.

Wait… what was it she had forgotten again?

Her lips curled into a mischievous smile.

—

In all of Academy City, there were only seven Level 5 Espers.

While Tokiwadai Middle School in the 7th District boasted two Level 5 Espers—No. 3 "Railgun" and No. 5 "Mental Out"—along with 47 Level 4 Espers, earning its reputation as a star academy, it was Nagatenjouki Academy, home to the No. 1 "Accelerator," that had solidified its place as the leader in ability development for consecutive years.

Still, Nagatenjouki had its share of unspoken troubles.

After all, their "star student" was practically a ghost, a name that existed only on paper. Attending classes? Hardly. Sightings of him were so rare they bordered on mythical.

But fortune smiled on the academy in June when the General Board of Directors mandated the transfer of a new student.

Selected by the Tree Diagram itself, she was considered the closest Level 4 Esper to achieving Level 5 status—a prodigy theoretically capable of crossing into the ranks of Level 5 at any time.

Her photo revealed an extraordinarily poised and refined girl, raising hopes that Nagatenjouki Academy might finally begin its transformation into a true star institution.

It was a stroke of luck she hadn't opted to enroll at the neighboring Kirigaoka Girls' Academy.

To emphasize the school's commitment, Nagatenjouki issued a notification of an ability assessment just one day after her transfer.

"An unfamiliar ceiling. No… I should say, there's finally a ceiling now, isn't there?"

Lazily turning over, Kurumi nudged aside the shadow clone that was persistently snuggling against her.

The delicate straps of her nightgown slipped off, exposing an expanse of soft, tantalizingly smooth skin. The light pink fabric had shifted from the hem, revealing her alluring legs, bare against the cool morning air.

For someone with the elegance of a young lady, her sleeping posture was far from graceful.

To think, last night, when that thing crawled onto the bed, she'd nearly kicked it off with a well-aimed strike.

But now that she was awake, the makeshift body pillow had outlived its usefulness.

"Ugh! Ugh!!"

Dozens of slender arms extended from the shadows, dragging the curled-up intruder back into the darkness.

Pulling open the curtains, Kurumi let the soft morning light pour into the room.

"Today… is full of possibilities."

Nagatenjouki Academy conducted regular ability assessments, akin to the "monthly exams" of ordinary schools.

The strength of an ability was fundamental to one's standing in this city. The power and rarity of an esper's abilities could directly influence the allocation of scholarships.

Level 5 Espers could live a life of luxury on scholarship money alone, akin to royalty, while Level 0 Espers had to rely on part-time jobs to make ends meet.

Nagatenjouki Academy's sudden announcement of an ability test felt like an impromptu exam, leaving many students irritated.

"Next up, Rika Hito."

A girl who had just been chatting and complaining with her friend clenched her fists instinctively. Taking a deep breath, she activated her ability and stepped up to the testing area.

Personal Reality was the foundation of ability use. Through the processes of ability development, an individual's perception of reality was essentially "severed" and reshaped. Thus, theoretically, no two abilities were identical.

Even among Level 3 Wind Manipulators, one might specialize in "updrafts" capable of flipping skirts, while another controlled a gentle "whispering breeze."

Following the guidelines from the Tree Diagram, each student was assigned a personalized testing method tailored to their unique abilities.

"Next up, Rika Hito!"

Even though the girl stood directly before the examiners, they continued to call her name. Five minutes of repeated summons later, one of the instructors finally spoke in exasperation.

"Rika Hito didn't show up? Then this will be marked as an unexcused absence."

Yet, the friend who had just been chatting with Rika moments earlier raised her hand with a confused look and said, "I'll call her right away!"

The girl sighed and deactivated her ability.

"Duration of concealment: over five minutes… Stealth capability sufficient to fool machinery," muttered the teacher monitoring the AIM diffusion field detector as they jotted down notes.

"Rika Hito! Congratulations! Your 'Akarin' ability has been promoted to Level 4! From today onward, you are officially a Level 4 Esper!"

It was good news. So why didn't she feel happy at all?

"Next up… Kurumi Tokisaki."

"Huh?!" Rika Hito froze in place. Normally, she was always the last one to be called.

It was already June. Was there seriously a new transfer student?

"Next up… Kurumi Tokisaki." The instructor called out again. This test had been arranged specifically for the new transfer student. Missing this would be unacceptable.

Tick… Tock…

Seconds turned into minutes, and the instructor couldn't shake the creeping sense of foreboding.

This scenario felt eerily familiar.

Back in October of the previous year, when No. 1 had transferred in, the same thing had happened.

Could it be… that this transfer was also just a name on paper?

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