Humans are like this — when the thing they've worked for so long to achieve is finally accomplished, they often fall into a brief period of aimlessness.
The girl named Misaki Shokuhou was in exactly that state right now.
The sun had long since set, and the bright moon hung high in the night sky.
"Curfew at the dorm is already over… the housemother is probably furious right now."
Misaki muttered as if talking to herself, though her expression didn't match the concern in her tone at all.
In fact, she looked utterly unconcerned — carelessly relaxed, completely unlike her usual self.
She had abandoned the image of the refined Tokiwadai lady, the proper upbringing, and the grace expected of her.
Wearing her first-year Tokiwadai summer uniform, she lay sprawled out on the synthetic running track.
Since no one else was around, she didn't even care that she had stretched her long, pale legs — wrapped in those spiderweb-patterned white stockings — out in a wide "X" shape.
The hem of her short skirt curled upward slightly, revealing a glimpse of something private.
"Whatever. At least I finally feel comfortable now."
Letting her mind drift into emptiness, Misaki slowly closed her star-like eyes.
Groping in her designer shoulder bag, she pulled out what looked like a TV remote control.
Like a cowboy in an old Western twirling a revolver, she spun it in her hand and aimed the tip at her own temple.
"Should I just… do it?"
It was a sudden thought — a flash of impulse.
The Faculty had already fallen completely under her control, becoming her private force.
It wasn't total security, but she had risen a tier — from a disposable pawn to something more.
"So tired… I don't want to think about anything anymore."
Memories…
Responsibilities…
Pressure…
Social entanglements… intrigues… schemes…
She was one of only seven Level 5 espers among Academy City's 2.3 million residents. And she was the only one among them to have reached Level 5 in psychic abilities.
In terms of research value, she surpassed even the other Level 5s.
Hers was the power to overwrite human minds.
The power to change a person's will.
If such power fell into the hands of an ambitious tyrant — or even just some bastard — the entire world could be thrown into chaos.
Naturally, that meant she had long been at the mercy of the adults' interests and experiments.
From the moment she entered Academy City — a city no different from a giant laboratory — she had never again known what freedom was.
She had lived in laboratories, her skull opened up by researchers conducting endless experiments, developing things like the "Exterior" artificial brain.
Once the "Exterior" was perfected, they planned to kill her outright.
After all, no one would leave a psychic who could reach Level 5 alive.
Especially after everything those researchers had already done to her.
What they hadn't expected was that, despite the constant drugging to suppress her growth, she still managed to reach the calculation power of a full-fledged Level 5.
When that happened, the devices on the researchers' heads — meant to block her powers — became useless.
She took control of those researchers. She killed the ones who had murdered Dolly.
But now that it was all over, what remained was nothing but endless exhaustion.
To some people, this might seem laughable.
How could an esper who could manipulate thoughts, minds, and wills… feel tired?
But that was reality.
So what if she was Level 5?
No matter how strong she was, no matter how resilient her mind…
She was still just a thirteen-year-old girl.
The crushing darkness she had endured could break even a hardened adult.
And yet people assumed that because Misaki Shokuhou was strong, she could bear it all — as if a teenage girl could carry such weight.
"So this is fatigue, huh? How should I put it… feels like I don't care about anything anymore…"
She knew.
She knew perfectly well this was the same as letting herself go to ruin.
She had fought so hard to reach this point, and now she was thinking of throwing it all away — wasn't that just spitting on the determination of her past self?
"Yeah… maybe I should just wipe everything in my head clean. If I do that, I won't have to carry this heavy burden anymore."
It was simple. It would take no effort at all.
Aim the remote at her temple, press the little red button with her pale thumb — and it would be done.
That was all.
Her "Mental Out," the strongest psychic power in history, would instantly activate, erasing all of Misaki Shokuhou's memories.
Time wouldn't rewind, the world wouldn't change — but without question, she would become that pure, innocent girl she once was.
Responsibility held her finger back from pressing the button.
But the more she hesitated, the more the desire to escape grew like weeds in her heart.
Her finger twitched…
Her power was ready to activate.
And at that exact moment, a shadow fell over her — and a somewhat familiar voice sounded right by her ear.
The sudden voice made Misaki freeze.
She knew this male voice.
At first, she thought it was just a park staff member doing a patrol, but as a psychic, she never forgot the voice of someone connected to her.
Even if they had only met once.
Even if they had exchanged no more than a few words.
"So it's you. What are you doing here?"
Her voice was languid, almost tired, as she closed her eyes and raised a hand to block her face.
Who could blame her?
Anyone about to carry out a decisive action, only to be interrupted like this, would feel at least a little conflicted.
"Hah—"
The shadow covering her slowly lessened as the boy crouched down, extending a hand toward her.
"Probably the same reason as you — that's why I came here. Also… you do realize you're flashing everyone in that position, right?"