Saya's hand remained extended, a polite yet firm offering that seemed to momentarily suspend time.
Tetsu looked at her outstretched hand, then shifted his gaze to Saya herself. A flicker of relief washed over him.
Looks like my companion isn't a weirdo at all.
Level 3, huh? he pondered, mentally assessing her strength as he tried to make sense of the situation.
Yet, as he scanned her from head to toe, his thoughts danced around doubt. She seems merely a normal girl. With her average height, bright, inquisitive eyes, and striking orange hair that bounced ever so slightly with each subtle movement, there was nothing overtly intimidating about her. Nothing that screamed "powerful Destroyer."
Just then, his mind flicked to the rumors he had heard about level 3s. Were all of them really capable of such amazing feats?
"I will show you how," came Reiji's voice, cutting through Tetsu's thoughts like a sudden gust of wind.
Then, to Tetsu's utter confusion, Reiji turned to Saya.
"Kamizaki, take off your clothes."
Tetsu's eyes widened, and his heart raced.
"Huh?"
He exclaimed silently, struggling to comprehend the situation. He glanced over at Saya, whose face had turned a crimson shade.
"But. I'm not ready for it yet."
She replied, her voice wavering as if caught between hesitation and resolve.
"It's fine. Just do it."
"Sure. But this is quite embarrassing."
With both determination and shyness, Saya began to remove her uniform, her fingers trembling slightly as she fumbled with the fabric.
Inside, Tetsu screamed.
Wait. Could it be her mission is...?
His imagination spiraled out of control, envisioning Saya in just her underwear, playfully pushing him onto the bed and slowly discarding his own clothes.
He shook his head violently to dispel the imagery.
No, no, no! I can't do that to a girl!
"What does this mean?" he questioned Reiji, a tinge of concern in his tone that bordered on panic.
"She's not even an adult."
Saya shot back from behind, her voice firm and surprisingly confident.
"Are you underestimating me?"
Tetsu realized with a jolt that the uniform had already fallen to the floor.
Tetsu was both confused and doubted.
Was that really all it took for her to disrobe, or was she simply that comfortable in her own skin?
Reiji interjected, his tone casual as if they were discussing the weather.
"Don't worry, Tetsu. She's quite 'skilled' despite her age."
Skilled?
Tetsu thought, his mind veering into indecent territory.
He turned to Saya, closing his eyes momentarily to collect himself and placing both hands on her shoulders.
His heart raced as he scolded gently.
"Idiot."
"You should treasure your body."
"Huh?"
Saya replied, a hint of confusion evident in her voice.
Tetsu felt something unexpected beneath his hands.
Wait. This feeling, it isn't a girl's skin.
Is this fabric?
It dawned on him that, thankfully, she was clad in her Seiryu uniform.
Relief washed over him, but curiosity pricked at his mind.
"I'll be helping you on your mission by disguising as a student there," she explained, her earlier embarrassment forgotten as she spoke with newfound enthusiasm.
Tetsu blinked, realizing that his overactive imagination had led him astray.
Was she really just here to help me?
He felt a wave of shame for his earlier thoughts.
Saya's eyes narrowed, a doubtful expression dancing across her face.
"You were thinking something weird, right?"
Panicking, Tetsu laughed nervously, waving his hands in protest.
"No. Nothing!"
"Sure, keep telling yourself that," she replied.
"She's been here for six months, so she is actually your senior."
Reiji informed him, his voice calm and almost chipper.
"My senior?" Tetsu echoed, incredulous.
"You mean to tell me that this—" he gestured at Saya, still trying to process everything, "—is my senior?"
"Yes, my junior."
Saya said proudly, her cheeks still tinged with embarrassment, making her look all the more endearing.
I can't believe it.
The notion of a younger girl being his senior struck Tetsu as absurd.
"Okay, Ms. Kamizaki," he began, his awkwardness emerging again, his voice faltering for a second before he found his footing.
"My power is Electrokinesis. What about you?"
"M-Ms? Are you trying to say that I'm a MILF woman with that cringe pronoun?"
Saya exclaimed, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.
"I—I didn't mean it like that!"
Tetsu stammered, his face growing warm.
"Then how should I call you?" he asked, genuinely intrigued and wanting to navigate this dynamic carefully.
By the way, where did you learn the word 'MILF'?
"Just call me… Saya," she answered shyly, covering her mouth and looking away, her blush deepening.
Tetsu, caught up in the moment, found himself stammering.
"Sa–Saya."
Her name felt strange on his lips, and he couldn't shake off the absurdity of the situation.
Suddenly, with a burst of mischief, Saya kicked him in the abdomen, her embarrassment translating into a spirited act.
"W-Why did you suddenly call my name?"
Tetsu questioned, frowning in confusion as he felt his balance waver.
"You were telling me to!"
He lost his footing and stumbled on the floor, nearly fainting from the sudden shift.
While he groaned on the ground, Saya extended her hand toward him, her expression softening despite the earlier kick.
"Are you okay?" she asked, genuine concern lighting up her features. Her smile brightened the room, making the atmosphere feel almost magical.
The light from the ceiling shone upon her hair, making it shimmer beautifully, adding to her charm. Tetsu couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth from her presence. My companion is a weirdo, Tetsu mused, shaking his head at his own thoughts, feeling a mix of relief and confusion.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he managed to say, still on the floor.
"Just… give me a moment."
As he stared up at her, an unlikely sense of camaraderie began to build.
I got a weirdo pairing with me!
They might be an odd pairing, but perhaps, just perhaps, they could figure this all out together.
After a heartbeat of hesitation, Tetsu and Saya stood in parallel, their surroundings pulsating with tension as she prepared to unveil her powers.
"My ability is called Cordakinesis."
She declared with a gleam in her eye.
"I can conjure and manipulate ropes."
Really? Ropes?
Tetsu thought, skepticism etching his features.
How can a rope be a weapon? You'd suit to be a contortionist.
His internal monologue was interrupted by Reiji, who suddenly chimed in, his tone grave.
"Tetsu."
"Don't underestimate her, or you will regret it."
Tetsu shrugged off the warning, expecting a lackluster display, but to his surprise, Saya's confidence only seemed to intensify.
With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a sturdy leather lasso, spinning it with a deftness that made it seem almost alive. As the rope blurred in the air, he felt a twinge of trepidation.
"Look!" she declared, her voice filled with a mix of pride and challenge.
Tetsu couldn't help but roll his eyes, dismissing her theatrics.
But as the lasso flew from her hand and aimed directly for his leg, reality set in.
His eyes widened, drawn hypnotically to the whip of the rope as it sailed through the air.
In the split second it took to react, the rope coiled around his ankle like a serpent, yanking him off his feet and into the air.
"What the—!"
He gasped, adrenaline spiking through him. Momentum swung him upward, and panic gripped him like a vise.
Determined not to be an easy target, Tetsu drew upon his powers, electricity crackling at his fingertips as he prepared to fire a bolt aimed to sever the lasso.
But just as he gathered energy, he felt a sharp sting in his hand—another rope, summoned by Saya, struck him, dispersing his electric charge into the air with an unsettling zap.
"Not so fast!" she taunted, solidifying her grip on her ability.
With uncanny agility, Saya formed another lasso, grasping both ends with practiced familiarity.
Before he could even regain his balance, she leaped, her movements fluid and purposeful.
His shock kept him frozen as she flew past him, effortlessly wrapping the rope around his neck in a perfectly executed chokehold.
"Checkmate."
Panic surged as he felt the constricting rope close in, each heartbeat echoing louder than the last. Just as desperation threatened to consume him, another rope snaked around his legs, lifting him higher into the air.
"Ugh! This is ridiculous."
He grumbled, frustration mixing with fear as he hung there suspended, completely at her mercy.
With a swift motion, Saya anchored another rope to the wall, her body arching gracefully as she landed.
The show of elegance was almost mocking.
All at once, the ropes vanished, and Tetsu plummeted to the ground with a soft thud.
"Ouch."
He groaned, the world spinning slightly as he blinked up at the ceiling.
How had I underestimated her so thoroughly?
As he pushed himself up, grunting from the impact, Saya walked toward him, her demeanor regained but the chill still evident.
She extended a hand down to him, seemingly unfazed by the display of power she had just showcased.
"Now do you understand my power?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of pride.
Embarrassment flushed through Tetsu as he took her hand, pulling himself back to his feet.
"Yes."
He mumbled, burdened by a cocktail of shame and respect swirling inside him.
"Good demonstration, Kamizaki."
Reiji commented approvingly, cutting through the atmosphere as he assessed the aftermath of the display.
"Now both of you go back to your room and prepare for tomorrow," he instructed with authority.
"Roger that."
Tetsu's eyes lingered on Saya as she struck an understood pose, reminiscent of a soldier or a marine, all confidence and resolve.
Maybe—just maybe—having someone like her as a companion wouldn't be so bad after all.
The next day dawned crisp and bright, a stark contrast to the sweating intensity of yesterday's encounter.
As the helicopter blades whirred to life, a deafening roar enveloped them, drowning out any fleeting thoughts.
Inside the cramped cabin, the air crackled with a different kind of tension.
Tetsu and Saya occupied the back seats, the space between them feeling almost like an impenetrable barrier, an unspoken gulf filled with uncertainty.
Saya sat poised, each of her movements sharp and calculated, legs crossed elegantly over one another.
A book rested in her lap, its pages flipping under her delicate fingers as she absorbed their contents with fierce concentration.
Yet, a chill radiated from her, a stark contrast to the warmth of their previous interactions, making it clear that her mind was far removed from camaraderie.
"Tetsu."
She spoke, her voice slicing through the noise of the rotor blades, cold and commanding.
The way she uttered his name held a weight that sent a shiver rolling down his spine.
Was this the same Saya?
He racked his mind, images of her shy laughter and engaging chatter flickering like dying embers.
"I'm thirsty. Give me the water."
She instructed, never lifting her gaze from the book, her tone an unmistakable command. The order lingered, bold and unyielding, as if it were a royal decree.
Tetsu blinked, confusion swirling within him.
Who is this person sitting beside me?
"Fast," she pressed, impatience creeping into her voice as though he were wasting precious time in her kingdom.
He hesitated for a few moments, feeling lost in an ever-deepening chasm between them, before lunging into his bag, his fingers fumbling with the straps in a nervous rush.
"Here."
He said, thrusting the bottle into her direction with a mix of trepidation and frustration. It felt surreal, as though he was serving an indifferent queen instead of a friend.
Saya accepted the water without a single word of thanks, merely unscrewing the cap and taking a sip, her focus still unwavering from the book. The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable, each second like an eternity as Tetsu battled with this unfamiliar version of her.
What did I do?
What happened to the kind and talkative girl yesterday?
Suddenly, the sound of the helicopter blades drowned his attempts at a connection, and the world outside blurred away.
As shadows danced in the depths of the cabin, he resolved that he wouldn't let her transformation deter him.
He must finish this mission.