It ended with Sen Getsusa's beautiful "new-boots roundhouse."
The noodle-shop owner stared in horror: the girl hauled Fujimoto Matsu out by the collar as if dragging a dead dog.
She didn't notice the little stars twinkling in the waitress's eyes behind her.
Outside, Sen Getsusa tossed Fujimoto Matsu into a dark corner of the bar district and climbed into Hiratsuka Shizuka's car.
The woman's mental state seemed anything but normal.
Sen Getsusa sat beside her, waiting patiently for the chaos in her mind to settle.
"What… just happened?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka couldn't accept what had occurred, yet it hadn't felt like ordinary hypnosis—at least not the kind she knew.
"Chaos? What is that?"
The word carried a strange power, turning anyone who uttered it into a mumble, while something in the dark seemed to stir in answer.
Sen Getsusa shook her head. "I don't know. But the state you were in was seriously wrong."
Hiratsuka Shizuka recalled her feelings: "Fanatic. Crazy."
Sen Getsusa was puzzled too. "What did he mean by 'Origin Point'? And the 'Great Existence'? That maddening sensation, and his overwhelming pride…"
"Maybe we've witnessed something supernatural."
Hiratsuka Shizuka grimaced. "Whoa, the topic just got dangerous."
Sen Getsusa shrugged. "We should thank the guy who couldn't keep his mouth shut. Looks like there really are Abilities in this World."
She rattled off her analysis as though she herself hadn't crossed Worlds months earlier.
Hiratsuka Shizuka muttered "Ability, Ability," then stared at Sen Getsusa, brows knit tight.
"It can't be real, right? Abilities? Seriously?"
Sen Getsusa nodded. "Exactly. Powers beyond ordinary humans."
"Huh? Then shouldn't it be called Esper or something?"
Sen Getsuka gave her a deadpan look.
The woman rubbed her temples and laughed awkwardly. "Just trying to lighten the mood. Go on."
"That's it."
Sen Getsusa spread her hands. "I'm no Esper. Still, what happened tonight can't be dismissed as simple hypnosis. Do you believe that, Ms. Hiratsuka?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't answer.
She merely glanced at the short-skirted girls leaning on her car for photos and didn't bother rolling down the window to scold them.
Tonight's events had been too much.
"You could've just said, 'Ms. Hiratsuka, you're over-stressed; you're hallucinating.' But no, now how do we wrap this up…"
Hiratsuka Shizuka stared ahead, looking utterly defeated. "I thought ditching my uncle and the Matsutani-kai was trouble enough. Now Abilities too…"
Sen Getsusa, curled in the passenger seat, reached out to pat her hair. "Yes, Ms. Hiratsuka. You've been under too much stress. It was all an illusion."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: Too late for that!
"So Espers really exist?" she asked, eyes complicated.
Sen Getsusa shook her head. "Provided neither of us was hallucinating."
Hiratsuka Shizuka's face darkened. "No way that was an illusion. I could feel 'that thing' slide across my skin… like falling into a bottomless abyss, something immense…"
Knock knock.
Sen Getsusa tapped the glass, cutting off the memory.
"I suggest you stop recalling details—stop thinking about it at all. Doesn't feel safe. If you slip into that state again while home alone, no one will pull you out."
As they chatted, the disorientation faded and Hiratsuka Shizuka's reason slowly returned.
Without Sen Getsusa's kick, she might have turned fanatical like Fujimoto, lost and sinking… terrifying.
Hiratsuka Shizuka thanked her solemnly once more.
Sen Getsusa waved it off. "No problem. Saving my teacher is only natural."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: Huh?
"Didn't you know? Aren't you the Japanese and life-counseling teacher at the high school? I—"
Sen Getsusa pointed at herself. "—will be your student next month. Pleased to meet you."
The life-shaken Hiratsuka Shizuka: I got decked by my own student and together we witnessed an Ability incident.
"Aaaah!! What do I do? Give me back my simple World…!!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly remembered the aftermath. "Should I call the Police?"
Sen Getsusa shook her head. "What would you tell them?"
Officer, a man's single sentence sent me over the edge!
I started raving in the restaurant across from the bar, in front of everyone!
Like that?
Hiratsuka Shizuka: Your phrasing is… inspired.
Sen Getsusa said, "Reporting it is just betting that the Sakura authorities have their own Espers and will definitely help you. Whether to gamble is up to you. And be careful of your uncle."
Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded, saying she'd think it over.
She took a pack of cigarettes from the glove box, rolled down the window, and looked at Sen Getsusa with a questioning gaze.
Sen Getsusa: "It's fine."
Click.
Flames leapt; blue smoke curled through the cabin.
'Surprised by my car?' Hiratsuka Shizuka seemed to read Sen Getsusa's thoughts.
The girl beside her nodded. 'It looks like the company your father left is still doing well.'
Hiratsuka gave a bitter smile. 'It used to be. After Grandfather passed away, business kept sliding. Grandmother has Alzheimer's, and Mother has to look after her every day, so she pays even less attention to the company.'
'Actually, I think part of why Uncle is so attentive to Mother and me is that he wants the family assets.'
Sen Getsusa watched the woman beside her exhale smoke while chatting about everyday things.
'We're better off than some families, but I'd rather Grandmother were healthy and Mother didn't have to work so hard. Uncle…'
Hiratsuka fell silent.
Sen Getsusa suddenly noticed a manga volume on the dashboard.
She reached for it.
The cover showed a familiar picture.
Dragon Ball.
Sen Getsusa: …'Oh, you read manga too? Let me tell you, the author of this one is absolutely, definitely a muscle-headed battle freak! It's super good, Sengetsu-sha, have you read it? I can lend it to you—I bought every volume twice!'
'No, thank you…' Putting the manga down, Hiratsuka abruptly changed the subject. 'I'm sorry about the orphanage.'
'It really has nothing to do with you, Miss Hiratsuka.'
Hiratsuka forced a smile. 'After all, it was my uncle. Listen, let's bring the children to my place. Tomorrow I'll rent a big house for them. Until this is settled, please let me cover everything.'
The cigarette between her lips, the woman looked like a pitiful puppy, eyes glistening as she clasped her hands in a silent 'please, please'.
Sen Getsusa refused coldly. 'Arrangements are already made; no need.'
---------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!