In a world where technology has advanced beyond imagination—where robots and AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) have infiltrated every corner of life—humanity now stands at the brink of an era more globalized and modernized than any point in history.
I—Shinrai Tomokatsu—am just an ordinary high school student, living in the port city of Yokohama, carrying a simple dream:
To pass the university entrance exam.To have a stable job.And above all… to take care of my little sister—the only family I have left.
To me, that dream was everything.
But… life never unfolds exactly as planned.It's not that my dream shattered—It's that everything I thought I knew about the world… and about myself… was turned upside down.
An unexpected event happened.A man appeared before me—young, well-dressed, yet carrying a terrifyingly cold presence.
He introduced himself as Shigure Amon—captain of Legion One, from an organization called ASTRAL.
A mysterious group that gathers strange individuals from around the world.Geniuses who possess supernatural powers, like something out of legends.Mutants living in an age of machines and metal.Brilliant stars—one in a million.
And then… out of the billions of people in this world, I—a completely ordinary student—was chosen directly by their captain.
To join ASTRAL.
That moment… is where my story—and the story of the world—truly began.
"NANI!? You've got to be kidding me, Shigure-san!? H-How is that even possible!?"
I burst out, practically yelling in shock. My heart pounded, my mind spun. What he said… sounded like a late-night joke taken too far.
But his face remained still—serene, like a placid lake.
"I'm not joking, Shinrai-kun," Shigure Amon replied with a calm smile, his gaze unwavering."This is a completely serious invitation. I want you—Shinrai Tomokatsu—to become my assistant."
His words echoed in my mind like thunder.
"No… no way… I can't," I stammered, shaking my head, instinctively stepping back as if trying to escape the gravity of the man before me."This is absurd. ASTRAL is a place for elite superpowered individuals! Those people are gold, diamonds, treasures…"
I clenched both fists, lowering my gaze.
"…And me… If I step into that world, I'd be nothing more than a lump of clay amidst a treasure trove."
The moment I said that, the room fell silent. No one spoke.
I whispered on, my voice trembling:
"Misaki makes way more sense. She's strong, gifted, and used to be a cornerstone of Legion One… If I take her place, wouldn't you be losing someone irreplaceable?"
I didn't dare look up. I… truly had no confidence.
Then suddenly, I felt a firm hand rest gently on my shoulder. Warm. Steady.
I looked up—his gaze remained unchanged, but this time… there was something softer in his eyes.
"Shinrai…" he said, his deep voice echoing like a whisper from something ancient.
"The act of constantly comparing yourself to others, then devaluing yourself because of it… that is the clearest sign of weakness."
I froze. His words cut through my self-doubt like a blade.
"You say you have no special power. You claim to be just an ordinary student," he continued—his tone gentle, yet unwavering. "But you're wrong."
"Maybe… you haven't seen it yet. But others—like me—have.""We see it clearer than you can imagine."
I raised my head, shaken. His hand remained on my shoulder—not forceful, not commanding.Just… unshakably firm. A pillar in the eye of a storm.
Shigure continued, his voice pressing deep into my heart:
"You were accepted into the Advanced AGI Training High School of Yokohama—a school that only takes the best in the country."His tone was steady—not loud, but powerful, like a crescendo in a grand symphony.
"Isn't that enough proof… that you are a gem?"
I froze in place. My fingers tightened. My chest… ached.
"ASTRAL isn't only a place for the superpowered," he went on."It's a research and liberation organization—dedicated to discovering and unlocking the deepest potential within people. And I… I've seen something in you."
His eyes… seemed to pierce right through the armor of insecurity I had worn for so long—seeing something within me that I hadn't even noticed myself.
"Shinrai Tomokatsu," he said, pausing for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Be proud—not of my invitation, but of yourself. Of your own worth. Think of Misaki—the one who didn't hesitate to sacrifice herself to protect you. And think of yourself—the one who might be able to change the world, even if you don't see it yet."
I went silent.
In my mind… Misaki appeared.
Her eyes—full of courage—as she stood before RA-01, hair flying through smoke, arms raised to confront a killer robot.
Her smile—gentle as the wind—after pulling me back from the edge of death.
She—was the first person who showed me a world beyond my own. A world vast, frightening… but also wondrous.
And now, the choice was mine.Not my parents'. Not my teachers'.No system could make it for me.
Only me.
I bowed my head.
Not in defeat—But to take a deep breath. To gather my fear, my doubts, all the burdens I've carried until now.
Yes… I had nothing left to lose. And I couldn't keep running forever.
I lifted my head—and this time, my eyes were different.
I took a deep breath.
The air still smelled of ash and smoke from the earlier battle, but inside me… everything felt clearer than ever.
I turned to face Shigure Amon—the man with the aura of a captain, the man who destroyed an entire house with a single breath called "Solar Pulse", and the man… who had just given me a chance to change my destiny.
He was waiting—his gaze sharp, yet patient.
And I—For the first time in my life—Made a decision without fear.
"Wakatta."I spoke clearly, decisively.
"Misaki saved my life. She's not just my savior now—she's my friend. My ally."
I clenched my fists, lifted my head, and stared directly into Shigure's eyes.
"Shigure Amon-san… I—Shinrai Tomokatsu—officially accept your invitation to join ASTRAL."
My heart pounded.
"Even if I don't yet know my role… Even if I have no idea how hard the road ahead will be…"
I glanced at Misaki—she looked back, eyes wide with surprise… slowly softening into a gentle, warm gaze.
"…I will become a part of Legion One."
My voice was steady. My eyes, determined.
"Even if it's only one small step… I'll walk it with all the courage I can muster."
…
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
Shigure Amon gave a faint smile—as if he had been waiting for this answer for a long, long time.
"Good." He nodded slowly. "Very good."
I…
I had truly said yes.
I—Shinrai Tomokatsu—had officially agreed to join ASTRAL.
Even though a thousand questions still lingered in my mind, and countless fears still swirled inside me…I understood one thing clearly:I could no longer run from reality.
This world—where AGI surpasses human limits, where robots are programmed like gods, and where people with supernatural powers could destroy a city with a mere snap—was spiraling beyond control.
And I—a seemingly insignificant high school student—Had just stepped into the whirlwind that might change the fate of the world.
"Yokatta."Shigure Amon's voice broke the silence.
He turned, his silver hair shimmering faintly under the dim yellow light, swaying gently in the cool night breeze that blew through a shattered window.
"Come with me, Shinrai-kun."
"Huh…? Come where?" I blinked, still processing everything that had just happened.
"Where else?" He stopped at the doorway, casting a sharp glance over his shoulder—his eyes cold and precise like a newly forged blade.
"To confirm your membership, of course."
The wind howled outside, swirling a few scorched papers into the wrecked room. The scent of smoke still hung in the air—a vivid reminder that tonight's events were no dream.
"Wait, what…? Base? Membership confirmation? Hold on… I'm replacing Misaki!?"I stammered.
Shigure smirked—a smile half challenge, half jest:
"You're the one chosen to replace her. Going to ASTRAL's headquarters… is mandatory."
I stood frozen.
ASTRAL's headquarters…?Replacing Misaki…?
I turned to look at Misaki—she was watching me quietly. Her eyes no longer filled with sorrow… but with a gentle trace of something else.
…Hope?
I took a deep breath.
From this moment on… I was no longer just a normal student.
I…Was stepping into an entirely different world.