"What?!" Renji blurted, eyes wide like they might pop out of their sockets."This… how could that even be real? You're just joking, right?"
He turned to me, facial expression frozen, as if he'd just heard a sci-fi story come to life.
I just shook my head, looking forward with serious eyes."She's not lying. And she's definitely not joking." My voice dropped—no hint of mockery anymore.
"Renji," I looked straight at him, "you saw it—even if just for a moment—her power."
Renji flinched. And for me, visions of that night flashed back—the mangled metal floating in mid-air, the motorcycle launched at the giant robot, and the final blinding flash like a star exploding.
"...Then why didn't you say anything before?" Renji asked softly, hesitation creeping into his eyes.
I exhaled deeply, then replied slowly and clearly:"Because I wanted her to admit her identity and power herself."
My gaze shifted to Misaki, standing across the table. She remained quiet, silently observing—eyes deep as though calculating something.
"I planned this all along," I continued. "All so you'd hear it come from her. Misaki."
The room felt heavy with expectation. Renji still looked stunned; Hiyori stared at me. And Misaki…
"Oh, impressed with the planning, are we?" Misaki raised an eyebrow and chuckled. Her voice was soft, like wind, but held a spark of pleasant surprise.
"Clever."
She tilted her head, familiar half-smile returning. But this time, her eyes held something new—acceptance.
"You really live up to your reputation," she squinted, then studied me as if testing me.
"But you know what? I trust you—and everyone here."
She paused, placing a hand gently over her heart to emphasize the point.
"So… I'll tell you everything."
Misaki's gaze softened, yet remained resolute."Don't worry, Tomokatsu-chan~." she teased, winking—defying the formal distance between us and bridging it instead.
"Can you please stop calling me '–chan,' Misaki?" I frowned, hands on hips with frustration."It's like I'm a girl or something! Just use my name!"
Misaki smiled lightly, as if she'd predicted my reaction. She shrugged gently:"Okay, okay. I won't tease you anymore."
Just when I thought the moment was settled—
"Then why don't you show off that so-called psychic power, genius sister!" Renji barked, face tilted up challengingly. He crossed his arms and leaned back, bracing for a cheap magic trick.
I quickly interjected:"Hey, Renji… don't—"
"All right. If little bro wants a show, I'll comply," Misaki smiled, lips sharp as a razor.
In an instant, she extended her hand toward Renji. Fingers radiated a faint jade glow—like phosphorescence in dark water.
Flash!
A thin beam of light shot from her palm—quiet, not dazzling, sharper than a blade through air.
And then—
"AAAAAA!!!"
Renji screamed in terror as his body lifted into the air, gently sucked upward by an invisible force. He hovered in mid-room, eyes rolled up, limbs flailing like a fish out of water.
"Oh my God! What is happening?! What's wrong with me?!" he shrieked, kicking wildly, hair whipping around from the vortex his own body generated.
Misaki giggled softly—no pity at all. She slowly turned her wrist and—
Whoosh… whoosh… whoosh!
Renji began to spin. Tumbling like a top—changing direction, flipping upside down, diving then jerking back as though inside a high-speed washing machine.
"GAAAAAAAH!! MISS MISAKI, PLEASE TAKE ME BACK!!!" Renji wailed in utter despair, tears and snot flying as if gravity had reversed.
And me and Hiyori?
"HAHAHAHAHA! HEHEHEHEH! HÍÍÍÍÍ!" We doubled over laughing, clutching our stomachs. I nearly fell off my chair while Hiyori hit the floor, tears of joy streaming down her face.
The scene was straight out of a comedic anime—where logic disappears in the face of pure laughter.
Finally, Misaki lowered her hand and flicked lightly, as if dropping a tissue. The invisible force dissipated like foam disappearing in air.
Thud!
Renji dropped to the floor like a sack of rice falling from the second floor. He lay face down, greenish in the face, eyes rolling as if hypnotized.
"…Big bro… I feel like all my ancestors… are waving goodbye…" Renji mumbled, drifting in and out of consciousness.
"M-M-Miss Misaki… Gaaaah…very well! I'll carve you up!" he shouted next, his voice shrill as an alarm.
My little brother looked like an enraged bull—veins bulging, face red, hissing through gritted teeth, charging at her faster than I could react.
Wait, what?! Did he really just go insane?!
I froze for a moment, mind blank. My heart pounded. Is this joke a bit too much?
Renji lunged like a cyclone, throwing a punch at Misaki's face, unleashing full force—like he expected to punch through the wall.
But—
Woosh!
Misaki just tilted her head slightly right; her long hair gently lifted as if caressed by wind. Renji's punch cut through empty air.
Effortlessly, she pivoted halfway, grabbed Renji's right wrist, pulled lightly—and used his forward momentum to rotate him. In a motion fluid as dance, her right knee shot up—
Crack!
The sound echoed sharply in the quiet stunned room. I shivered. Renji froze—eyes wide, mouth agape.
And then…
"Gaaaaaaa…" He let out a mournful groan, then collapsed to his knees as though felled by a fatal blow.
His entire body curled inward. Hands clutched desperately at his groin. Face turned purple; sweat poured off him like a waterfall.
I have to admit: that was far funnier than it was pitiful.
Hiyori had collapsed onto the floor, hands on her stomach, tears and snot streaming—
I was no better. Swiping tears from my eyes, unable to hold laughter. The room felt like it exploded into a bomb of laughter.
"Hahhahahahaha! Hahaha!!! Hahhahaha! Heheheeheh!"
Misaki remained calm, serene as if she'd just finished routine chores. She glanced at me and Hiyori laughing hysterically at Renji, then shrugged lightly.
"I warned you—don't provoke a woman with psychic power."
Renji didn't respond. Probably because… he could no longer speak.