My breaths came ragged as I clawed at my face, patting my clothes again and again, desperate to confirm they were real. Panic fueled every movement, my hands darting into the unfamiliar uniform's pockets, searching for proof of anything that could tell me who, or what, I was now.
It didn't take long before my fingers brushed a thin rectangle. A student ID. I yanked it out so fast I didn't even notice the dull clatter of a phone and an access card spilling onto the ground. All my focus tunneled into the card in my hand as my finger traced the printed name.
"Haru."
My breathing slowed, no longer the ragged gasps of panic but still uneven, shaky. I forced myself to read the rest of the information, lips moving silently.
"Haru, Tokiwadai Middle School, Twelve years old, Level Two Esper."
The words carved themselves into me, shattering what little sense of self I still had. I wasn't me anymore. Not the person I remembered.
So caught up in that revelation, I didn't notice someone stooping to pick up the fallen items until I felt a hand press lightly onto my shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
I snapped back to reality and turned. Standing in front of me was a petite girl with auburn hair tied neatly into twin pigtails. Her sharp reddish brown eyes studied me with professional concern, a Judgment armband strapped to her sleeve, the same Tokiwadai uniform hanging from her frame.
"I I'm fine," I stammered, fumbling to collect myself. "Nothing to worry about."
She held out my phone and access card in one hand, but when I reached for them, she pulled back slightly, her expression firm.
"If you ever need help," she said, voice clipped with authority, "you can always contact Judgment."
For reasons I couldn't place, her concern felt heavier than it should. Still, I muttered a quick "thank you," took the items from her hand, and hurried away before she could press further.
I glanced down at the items the Judgment officer had returned an access card and a phone. Looking up, I noticed the sky had already darkened, the sun dipping behind the towering buildings. My eyes flicked back to the access card, which listed a dorm number and location. Figuring it would be best to head there, I weighed my options. Walking seemed slow, and I didn't want to waste time figuring out the streets. A bus would be faster.
At the bus stop, I plopped down onto the bench and let out a long, shaky breath, my mind racing faster than my heart. I am twelve years old. A girl. Me. Not me. Someone else. It didn't make sense.
"So… I'm a twelve year old girl now. Great. Just great," I muttered, letting out an exasperated sigh. My fingers nervously traced the edge of my ID. Better to focus on something practical instead of spiraling over my new identity. I flipped it over and scanned the information again. Under Esper Level, a single word leapt out at me: Ability Temporal Friction.
There wasn't much detail, just a short summary
"Temporal friction is the ability to make things you touch move faster or slower than normal by altering how time 'feels' for that object."
I blinked at it, trying to picture how it might work. Could I slow a falling apple, or speed up the swing of a baseball bat? Could I dodge something before it even hit me? The possibilities spun through my head, thrilling. A small part of me tingled as I thought about the ability.
The bus arrived with a low hiss, doors sliding open. I climbed aboard, finding a seat by the window. The city passed in streaks of neon and shadow, lights reflecting on glass towers as I watched silently, my mind still wrestling with everything that had happened.
When I finally reached the dorm, I stumbled inside, exhausted in a way that went beyond physical tiredness. The room was small, sterile, and alien, but I didn't care. I collapsed onto the bed, letting the weight of the day and my new reality sink in.
As I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts slowed, finally quiet enough to hear my own heartbeat. Sleep had claimed me.