Wednesday
Sakurai Saki's morning was far from peaceful.
Although yesterday's Superpower had no side effects and allowed him to sleep soundly, that comfort lasted only until six in the morning—the exact moment before his ability inevitably changed. Unless fortune smiled and he drew a harmless power for two days in a row, Saki would always find himself waking at six sharp.
He treasured the rare chance to sleep in. Just yesterday, he'd lazed in bed until the last possible moment before classes began. But today, luck was clearly not on his side.
[Today's Superpower: Incantation]
Effect: All your words have a probability of coming true.
Side Effect: Your words carry a weak charm effect.
Sakurai Saki sighed. It was obvious—he shouldn't talk at all today.
This power was deceptively simple. Think of it as the Holy Grail: in myths, a sip from it granted eternal life; in games, it acted as a wish-granting device capable of fulfilling anything. Yet in practice, the ability was far less benevolent.
For instance, imagine wishing for world peace. The power interprets this as an Incantation and activates. The result? World destruction.
After all, what was the simplest, most permanent way to eliminate conflict? Erase the world itself. No humans, no war. Problem solved at the root—commendable in a twisted sort of logic.
This wasn't Saki's first brush with Incantation. He wasn't panicked; this time the side effect was significantly weaker.
But he remembered well the original version:
Side Effect: You will become a boastful chatterbox.
Not terrifying on paper, but catastrophic in practice. The last time he triggered it—two years ago—he'd nearly twisted reality beyond repair. Only a special device had kept the world from becoming unrecognizable. Even now, with ghosts, angels, and demons roaming about, Saki sometimes wondered if stranger things still lurked unseen in the dark.
For now, though, he set the new ability aside and carried out his usual routine.
Every morning, he woke at six, prepared a bento, and if time allowed, jogged through the nearby park. After running, he'd wash up, eat breakfast, and head off to school. Day after day, month after month, Saki maintained this self-disciplined lifestyle.
But while he appeared calm, he despised unpredictability. Whether it was Fujiwara Chika's relentless bluntness or the constant surprises his Superpowers forced upon him, unexpected situations were exactly what he wished to avoid.
If he could, Sakurai Saki would live every day in peace. He worked toward that goal earnestly—but it was still far away.
Because recently, he had realized something: new Superpowers were still awakening within him. His potential wasn't exhausted yet. Which meant his "ever-changing" life wasn't ending any time soon.
For Saki, only by mastering every uncontrollable ability could he hope to live normally again. And that would take years.
Weaker abilities took about three randomizations—three days—before he could fully control them. Stronger ones demanded more time. The last time he encountered Existence Erasure, for example, the side effect had nearly erased him entirely. Next time, it should spare him. Probably.
The difficulty of returning to normal life, he thought bitterly, was about the same as making a chicken eat all the rice, a dog lick up all the noodles, or fire burn through an iron lock.
Still, he carried on.
After finishing his morning routine, he packed his bento and schoolbag, then wheeled out his bike. He didn't pedal immediately. Instead, he pulled a notepad from his pocket, flipping it open to make sure he had enough pages.
If he couldn't safely speak, then he would write.
Today, he decided, he would not waste words on unnecessary conversation. It wasn't just the risk of stray sentences turning reality upside down. The so-called weak charm effect worried him even more.
Weak? That was a matter of perspective.
To an elephant, stepping lightly on a rabbit might feel harmless. To the rabbit, however, that step meant instant death. Similarly, even a diluted Superpower could prove overwhelming to ordinary people.
And since today's charm worked on both genders, Saki had no intention of risking embarrassment—or worse.
So, silence it was.
He mounted his bike, rode to the gates of Shuchiin Academy, and rubbed his nose. His hay fever hadn't eased yet; the cherry blossoms still clung stubbornly to their branches.
Passing Miko Iino on the way in, Sakurai Saki said nothing at all.Wednesday (continued)Iino Miko watched Sakurai Saki's back until he disappeared at the bicycle shed, only then tearing her gaze away. She glanced at the school gate, then back again to the spot where he had vanished.
Her mood soured instantly.
Normally, Sakurai-senpai would at least greet her in the morning. Today, however—nothing. Not even a simple "good morning."
Her chest tightened. Miko was upset. No—furious!!
A few minutes later, Hayasaka Ai strolled through the school gates and immediately noticed Miko standing there, looking unusually dejected. Tilting her head, Ai studied her expression.
Those eyes… they reminded her of a puppy abandoned by its owner.
This wouldn't do at all.
"Miko, good morning!" Hayasaka greeted with her usual nonchalance.
Miko lifted her head slightly, replying in a weak voice:
"Good morning, Hayasaka-senpai… who, once again, isn't wearing her uniform properly."
"Mm? Did something unpleasant happen today?" Ai asked with faux concern.
"Sakurai-senpai is acting strange! No—very strange!" Miko exclaimed.
Ai blinked. Strange? But Sakurai Saki was strange every single day.
"He didn't greet me this morning."
"Maybe…" Ai trailed off with a sly smile, "he got tired of it."
"W-What?!" Miko's face flushed. Surely she misheard.
"Nothing, nothing," Ai said, brushing it off casually. "He probably isn't feeling well today."
Miko immediately softened, worry replacing her frustration.
"Then I hope Sakurai-senpai gets better soon…"
As a good, well-meaning girl, she accepted Ai's words without doubt.
Ai patted her on the shoulder, switched into her indoor shoes, and continued to the classroom.
Inside Second Year Class A, Kaguya Shinomiya's gaze drifted toward the window seat. Sakurai Saki sat there, silently scribbling.
What was he doing? Memorizing vocabulary?
Kaguya herself often wrote unfamiliar English words on sticky notes to carry around for review. It was an efficient method—convenient, portable, and subtle. Perhaps Sakurai was doing the same?
But when she looked closer, she realized he wasn't writing words—he was writing sentences.
"Hm? Sakurai, what are you up to?" asked Kazamatsuri Gou, leaning over curiously.
As another transfer student, Gou got along well with both Sakurai and Shirogane.
Sakurai calmly raised his sticky note.
[My throat is uncomfortable today.]
"Throat uncomfortable?" Gou repeated.
[So I decided to communicate this way.]
To sell the excuse, Saki forced a hoarse "Cough~." A single syllable didn't trigger the charm effect, thankfully.
Gou frowned with concern. "What happened yesterday?"
Saki scribbled again.
[I slept with the window open and caught a cold.]
"Ah, makes sense. Take care of yourself." Gou patted his shoulder and left it at that.
A moment later, Hayasaka Ai entered the classroom. Spotting Saki by the window, she walked over with her usual flair.
Without hesitation, she wrapped him in a casual hug.
"Good morning, Sakura-chan!"
Saki froze helplessly in her arms. Ai held on for a few seconds before letting go, satisfied. That daily hug was her self-declared source of Sakura-chan energy.
"Hm? What's this about?" she asked, finally noticing the sticky notes.
Saki flipped through them one by one.
[My throat is uncomfortable today.]
[So I'll be writing instead.]
"Throat uncomfortable, huh?"
Saki responded with another raspy, "Cough cough." He didn't dare speak a full sentence aloud—if the Incantation triggered, he'd really give himself a cold. And having hay fever as a Superpower user was already humiliating enough.
"Want me to grab medicine from the infirmary?" Ai offered.
Saki shook his head quickly.
[No need.]
He added another page.
[Thank you.]
And so, the rumor spread. By the end of the morning, everyone in Class A knew that Sakurai Saki's throat was unwell.
At lunch break, Saki carried his bento to the Student Council Room.
Shirogane Miyuki was already inside.
"Oh, good afternoon, Sakurai. Heard your throat's acting up. I've got some throat lozenges—you can have a few later."
Saki blinked, puzzled at how fast the news had traveled. Sitting down on the sofa, he took out his phone, opened a blank note page, and began typing. Unlike in class, he could use his phone freely here.
Today's classes had been… exhausting. When teachers called on him, he couldn't refuse to answer. But since he'd already established the excuse of a "sore throat," he had to speak in a forced, hoarse tone.
Thankfully, none of his answers had been wrong.
If he had slipped up—even once—then with the Incantation's side effect, tomorrow 1 + 1 might very well equal 3.
But still… he noticed the way his classmates' eyes lingered on him. Not suspicion exactly, but something different. Something curious.
Fortunately, the effect faded after a while. It seemed today's charm wore off naturally with time.
Sakurai Saki let out a silent sigh of relief.Lunch Break — Student Council RoomIf Sakurai Saki could avoid speaking, then he would.
[Thank you. But how did you know, Shirogane?]
Miyuki glanced at his phone screen and replied curtly, "Grapevine."
As everyone knows, all sources of information can be summarized as grapevine. Truly, a term for every occasion.
Saki nodded. Probably another student gossiping. With only six hundred students across three grades, news at Shuchiin spread at lightspeed.
He unwrapped his bento, chopsticks in hand, when hurried footsteps echoed from the hall.
"Saki-kun!! Saki-kun!! Are you in there?!"
The door burst open.
"Phew~ found you! I heard you were sick today!" Fujiwara Chika beamed, then caught sight of Miyuki. "Eh? Shirogane-kun, you look like you're about to die. You should rest more!"
"…I just studied late yesterday," Miyuki explained flatly.
Saki stared at him. He recalled what Amanbou Yume, president of the Supernatural Phenomena Research Club, had said at their last joint meeting: "If you don't rest, you'll suddenly die one day."
Considering her grandfather was ranked Pure—highest of the five divine ranks—that was not advice to take lightly.
Saki typed quickly:
[Shirogane, rest more. Leave Student Council work to Shinomiya-san.]
"I'll adjust myself," Miyuki replied, unbothered. "Work's been lighter recently anyway."
Truth was, he'd stayed up late to catch up on studying after neglecting it for weeks. Still, the worried looks from Sakurai and Chika made him feel faintly guilty.
"But Golden Week is coming soon!" Chika interjected cheerfully. "The President can rest properly then! Oh! Do either of you have plans?"
She plopped down beside Saki and opened her usual luxurious bento.
Saki picked up his chopsticks again, only to freeze when Chika leaned closer.
"Saki-kun, are you sick today?"
"He has a sore throat," Miyuki answered for him.
"…I don't want to talk," Saki rasped hoarsely.
Both Chika and Miyuki blinked. No unusual reaction. Good. Safe.
Except—
Fujiwara Secretary: "…!!"
What's going on?! Sakurai-kun's voice sounds so good today!!
A dangerous spark lit up in her eyes. She wanted more. Needed more.
Her transformation was swift and terrifying. Just as she once devolved into a cat meowing uncontrollably, Fujiwara Chika was now possessed by the overwhelming urge to hear Sakurai Saki's voice.
"Um… could you say a few more words?" she pleaded.
Saki shook his head firmly.
But then Chika looked down at her bento, then at his. Her mind whirred, schemes firing off one after another until—click! The "clever idea" lightbulb lit up.
"Saki-kun~ if you're sick, shouldn't someone else feed you?"
Before he could protest, she snatched the chopsticks from his hand and plucked a piece of fried chicken.
"Ah~"
Saki froze. This… this was couple-feeding territory!
When he had fed her before, he could at least control the situation. But being on the receiving end—with Fujiwara's eyes shining expectantly—his paper-thin defenses crumbled.
"Ah~" she coaxed again, chopsticks poised.
Saki shut his eyes, steeling himself, and obediently opened his mouth.
"…Ah."
The fried chicken vanished down his throat in one bite.
Chika's grin widened. She picked up another piece.
"Ah~"
"…Ah~" Saki complied weakly.
Across from them, Miyuki Shirogane sat with his chopsticks in his mouth, watching this farce unfold.
His expression was blank, but inside he was screaming:
Why aren't these two married already?!
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