Academy City Weather Report! - 481 - 490

Academy City Weather Report! - 481

--+--

The "Ideal Ability" experiment referred to a process where inputting specific numerical values for a particular subject would generate corresponding interference phenomena in the physical universe.

In terms easily understood by ability users, the experiment aimed to create a theoretical output terminal capable of supporting all known types of abilities within Academy City. Using Indian Poker Cards as a medium, the Personal Realities of multiple ability users would be layered, forming a massive AIM field aggregate similar to a wish-granting machine.

However, there was a vast difference between theory and reality. The upper limits of the "Ideal Ability" depended heavily on the resources invested by the researchers and the level of support from the Board of Directors.

Yet, even an incomplete Ideal Ability could easily surpass the lower limits of ordinary Level 5s.

Similarly, this Ideal Ability easily brought to mind Multi-Skills.

In fact, the two weren't fundamentally different. Multi-Skills could even be seen as the changes produced when an "Ideal Ability" attached itself to an ordinary person.

It was just that humans themselves were too fragile, unable to bear an "Ideal Ability" with too high an upper limit. Even a slight backlash could destroy a person's body.

Given the significant limitations of humans themselves, the researchers conducting the experiment at the time proposed changing the test subject to Yuuri Senya, who possessed the dual attributes of both a human and an AIM thought entity.

The girl named Yuuri Senya had an ability manifestation that allowed her to separate her own AIM field, creating a field-based thought entity with a human appearance.

By using this AIM field thought entity as a core to accept AIM fields from other ability users, they could avoid the inherent fragility of humans, forming a special product born within natural space, centered around an AIM thought entity. This was the true face of the "Ideal Ability" experiment.

Beep... beep...

A harsh phone ringtone shattered the silence of the dim, quiet environment, its suddenness like a silver vase shattering.

"Hmm? It's Houjou-san."

Seeing the name "Houjou Seigo" on her phone screen, a pleased smile instantly bloomed on Mitsuari Ayu's face, as if she considered him a very important comrade.

In this city, having a comrade to strive towards a goal with was something that truly invigorated the spirit, especially for someone like her.

"It's really such a shame. Arei-san's plan originally had a chance of success, but in the end, it all fell apart."

"After all, trying to deal with two Level 5s simultaneously was just too much for ordinary ability users to handle."

"This way, our existence should have fallen under Shokuhou Misaki's notice, I suppose."

Her face showed no particular expression; Mitsuari Ayu seemed to simply be stating a fact, though one could hear a tinge of emotion in her tone.

Capturing Shokuhou Misaki was just a small part of the overall experiment, not the most critical component.

In fact, if the incidents within Tokiwadai had proceeded smoothly, and Shokuhou Misaki had read that specially crafted Indian Poker Card...

Then, according to Mitsuari Ayu's experimental plan, Shokuhou Misaki would have become part of the soon-to-be-launched new "Ideal Ability" experiment due to a certain medium left within the card. A portion of her AIM field would have been involuntarily drawn towards the predetermined individual.

Namely, that Yuuri Senya.

However, even without securing a high-level ability user, a large number of ordinary ability users would be sufficient to form a basic version of the "Ideal Ability."

As for why she absolutely wanted to drag Shokuhou Misaki into this... that was probably Mitsuari Ayu's own little personal motive.

Her feelings towards Shokuhou Misaki, the one who had replaced her as a Level 5, had grown increasingly extreme. It was a powerful side effect of her body and mind dwelling in the shadows for so long.

Come to think of it, this act of using Indian Poker Cards to pull in, or rather, assimilate the Personal Realities and AIM fields of others, was essentially replicating that failed experiment from the Clone Dolly project.

It's just that the current situation had undergone many changes compared to the original experiment.

Due to the experimental accident that occurred back then, Yuuri Senya, who had suddenly run amok during the experiment, remained in a special comatose state even now. 

The AIM thought entity born from her ability had completely separated from her body, forming something akin to an AIM field core.

It didn't require an AIM field powerful enough to tear through the fabric of the universe. It was simply due to Yuuri Senya's own ability attributes that the field could still operate within the real universe even after separating from her body.

Under these circumstances, establishing a basic version of the "Ideal Ability" by disseminating Indian Poker Cards was no longer the sole purpose of this endeavor. Instead, Mitsuari Ayu was more inclined to go further, to create a true "God."

"If ability users all believe in the same rumor, perhaps that rumor will become 'real.' Behind this statement lies another special experiment covertly conducted within Academy City."

"In this city, nothing hasn't been meticulously designed. Everything related to ability users is under the deliberate guidance of certain individuals. In a little-known hypothesis, the reason various urban legends are so prevalent in Academy City is actually a deliberate effort to coordinate this special experiment."

"Simply put, the subjective consciousness of ability users can influence something within Academy City. And that something is most likely the AIM Diffusion Field."

The small hand holding the phone suddenly paused in mid-air. Houjou Seigo was still saying something on the other end, but Mitsuari Ayu's thoughts had suddenly drifted far away.

"So, the main purpose of disseminating the Indian Poker Cards isn't to assimilate the users' Personal Realities and establish a small-scale 'Ideal Ability,' but to create new urban legends within Academy City, to let more people know of Yuuri Senya's existence."

"As long as Yuuri Senya becomes tied to the urban legends within Academy City, the AIM fields subconsciously emitted by ability users will likely be guided in a certain trend, converging upon Yuuri Senya, who serves as the field core."

"Similarly, the more people who know of Yuuri Senya, the more tightly the AIM Diffusion Field concentrated within Academy City will bind her. And Yuuri Senya, having lost her human body, will endlessly bear the power brought by those AIM fields."

Mitsuiari Ayu thought, somewhat distractedly.

The cards she had disseminated had long since secretly included references to Yuuri Senya's existence, gradually generating a certain level of awareness within Academy City.

--+--

Although she really wanted to tear off the annoying bandage wrapped around her eyes and toss it aside, Natsume-san unconsciously stopped her hand as she remembered Heaven Canceller's instructions.

She trusted that somewhat strange-looking frog-faced doctor a great deal.

She couldn't pinpoint an exact reason; trust was probably an emotion that gradually accumulated from numerous small things.

"Now that I think about it, the Dorm Supervisor has already left the building, so why am I still climbing out the window?"

"Could it be that I've done this so often it's become a habitual way of thinking? This must be what adults always say: 'It takes three years to learn good habits, but only three days to learn bad ones.'"

Standing with both feet on the windowsill (Good children, please don't imitate this), a certain bun-headed girl suddenly fell silent, furrowing her brows in thought.

She felt she might be developing a trend of rigid thinking, viewing climbing out the window as an essential method of rebelling against the Dorm Supervisor's strict rule.

In reality, her need was simply to go outside and wander around for a bit—she could perfectly well walk right out the front door.

"This feels so strange. Am I being influenced by that Shrine Maiden-san's thoughts?"

"I definitely never used to overthink things that should be obvious."

Her face filled with suspicion, Natsume-san seemed quite troubled by the possibility that she was being affected by that Hitomi-san.

Due to a minor oversight earlier, Natsume-san found she had unconsciously picked up some of the other's habits and ways of thinking, and they weren't easy to digest.

In the other's perception, climbing out of windows was a highly improper act. Natsume-san, however, couldn't care less—after all, she'd been doing it for ages.

Tilting her head, the round bun hairstyle swayed slightly with the movement. Natsume-san let out a troubled sigh, clearly feeling she had encountered a major problem.

Wanting to experience someone else's life inevitably meant accepting the risk of being assimilated by them. Natsume-san found this exceptionally uncomfortable.

--+--

Academy City Weather Report! - 482

--+--

Strolling through the small garden nestled within the student dormitory, a faint, delicate fragrance clung to my clothes.

Even though this island nation didn't have a distinct autumn season, flowers that typically bloomed in fall were in no short supply. The Dorm Supervisor, keen on maintaining the dignified image befitting a prestigious academy for young ladies, made a point of sourcing blossoms from every season.

Lacking a discerning eye for beauty, Natsume-san had long grown accustomed to the various sights within her own dormitory. With a single leap, a graceful arc traced through the air, accompanied by a chaotic ripple in the atmosphere, shattering the surrounding tranquility.

Truth be told, Natsume-san didn't have a clear destination in mind. Her actions were simply being guided by a whim that seemed to come from nowhere.

On this hard-won day off, while others were busy with their monotonous daily school routines, wouldn't staying cooped up obediently inside the dorm be a terrible waste?

It was just like those working adults who, after agonizing over calling in sick, would then gleefully savor this different kind of holiday, doing whatever they pleased, even though they didn't actually have so much as a headache or a fever.

Driven by this line of thinking, which felt a bit pitiful no matter how she looked at it, Natsume-san found herself filled with a fresh sense of anticipation for going out.

"What the heck, there's no one at the branch."

'But that's normal, everyone's in class right now. This leisurely feeling, as if everyone in the world has vanished and you're the only one left, is just so easy to get addicted to.'

After verifying her identity, Natsume-san deftly opened the door to Judgment Branch 177. A petite, delicate head habitually poked inside, glancing around a few times.

All clear. Alarm status lifted.

After a large-scale renovation, the environment of Branch 177 had changed quite significantly from before. 

Especially after Natsume-san had stuffed a whole pile of her own things in here, any trace of its former efficient, tidy appearance was gone, instead showing a trend towards a more homely style.

It was a shame the branch didn't have a sofa style that Natsume-san liked, otherwise taking a nap here would be a pretty good choice. 

Natsume-san was quite picky about her sleeping spots, particularly disliking places that weren't soft enough.

Retrieving Uiharu-san's black tea from the large storage cabinet leaning against the wall, it seemed Uiharu-san had recently splurged on a better variety. Unfortunately, Natsume-san wasn't well-versed in such things, and her dull palate couldn't really discern the difference at all.

Just as deftly, she snagged some Musashino Milk from the corner of Konori-senpai's desk. 

Natsume-san contentedly settled herself on the newly built small balcony, happily heating her milk tea to the perfect temperature.

The ability to freely adjust the temperature of one's tea was an essential skill for any young lady, ensuring one never had to drink tea that was either too cold or scalding hot.

Only one thing was less than perfect. Natsume-san realized that even her tea-drinking habits had picked up some traces of that Hitomi-san.

This dampened Natsume-san's good mood considerably, though this time she immediately found a solution.

'The best way to counter the influence of that shrine maiden's antiquated etiquette is to fight it with modern methods.'

'To exclude or weaken another person's influence, you must have things that belong to yourself. Otherwise, it's dangerous.'

'Similarly, if you're forced to accept another person's life, you must make sure you cannot be replaced or assimilated.'

Taking a small sip of the steaming hot tea, a sudden clarity rose within Natsume-san.

As a rather inexplicable transmigrator, she had actually harbored similar thoughts for a long time.

Even though she was constantly influenced by the transmigrator's memories, even now, Natsume-san felt she and that transmigrator were not the same person. She was just a native Toaru-verse girl who happened to have a transmigrator's memories.

Accordingly, Natsume-san simply focused on maintaining a proper sitting posture, deliberately aligning her every move with what was taught in the school's etiquette classes. 

Immediately, the mannerisms inherited from that Hitomi-san were suppressed.

When you got down to it, this body still belonged to the slow-witted Natsume-san.

"So, as long as I hold fast to the things that belong to me, the influence from others will lessen considerably?"

Her expression turned somewhat serious. Natsume-san had known these principles for a while, but this was the first time she had felt them so intuitively.

The Judgment branch was deserted in the middle of the day. Only those with too much time on their hands would linger here.

It also seemed like no incidents were happening at the moment. Because if no one was handling them, they might as well not exist. Most Judgment members weren't on duty at this hour.

Over by the window on one side of Branch 177, Uiharu-san's computer was, as usual, left on. Programs on it automatically received and processed various reports, then sorted them by school district into respective folders, all waiting for a certain cute girl with a flower wreath to return after school.

However, since it was school hours, there were obviously very few student reports. But because Uiharu-san had expanded the report collection range to cover all of Academy City, even low-probability events became inevitable due to the sheer size of the area.

"A ghost spotted near a school in District 18?"

Holding her empty cup and about to go refill it with more tea, Natsume-san's perception swept over the computer processing the report information, and an odd expression immediately appeared on her face.

She'd encountered quite a few incidents related to ghosts. She herself had a rather 'glorious' past involving similar things.

Within Academy City, topics concerning ghosts often morphed into popular urban legends, ranking among the hottest types of rumors.

However, Natsume-san didn't have much interest in handling these kinds of incidents anymore. Whether it was a prank or some genuinely surreal phenomenon, she found herself largely unmoved.

Although she was a Judgment member driven by her interests, the number of incidents that could pique Natsume-san's interest seemed to be dwindling.

Simply put, a certain bun-head knew her place very well and never stole work from her teammates or the Anti-Skill teachers.

"It's that person I met before."

"I remember, she should be a friend of Index and Kamijou-senpai... Hmm... Kazakiri... Kazakiri Hyouka-san?"

Stopping short, Natsume-san refocused her attention, directing her perception towards the photos attached to the report information, taken by witnesses.

Although the photos were somewhat blurry, likely due to some kind of interference, the general image was enough for Natsume-san to recognize at a glance.

After all, that strange girl whose body lacked flesh and blood, containing only something like a core, had left quite a mental impact on Natsume-san back then.

Natsume Sonoko's knowledge of Kazakiri Hyouka was still largely based on the previous underground shopping mall incident.

The powerful magician who invaded Academy City, the stone humanoid that kept regenerating unless completely smashed to dust, and Natsume-san's own self-created new move, the Planet Slam, or something like that.

After that incident, Natsume-san had basically never seen the other girl again. The same treatment applied to Index, as if they had both completely evaporated from this universe.

From this perspective, this 'true form unknown' Kazakiri-san was perhaps the real ghost of this city, existing in a strange state, neither fully connected nor detached from reality.

But if she didn't exist within reality, then where exactly was she?

Previously, Natsume-san had always been puzzled about where this Kazakiri-san lived. But now, she had a very strong premonition.

It's the Phases, right? It has to be the Phases, right?

Kazakiri-san was a unique life form composed of AIM Diffusion Fields. If she had to guess where the other girl went during her disappearances, was there any place more logical than the AIM Field Phase?

Just like how AIM Diffusion Fields ultimately flowed into the AIM Phase, it stood to reason that a unique existence like Kazakiri Hyouka-san couldn't be unable to go there.

The reason it was just a premonition was because Natsume-san had no way to prove it. Guesses and deductions were, after all, just that.

Although she could observe the Phases themselves, until now, she hadn't detected any conscious beings within them. Let's call them beings for now; Natsume-san wasn't sure if energy-based lifeforms could be called beings.

This limitation in observation was probably due to Natsume-san's pitiful total processing power being utterly incapable of covering the Phase itself. Or perhaps it was because her own worldview differed too greatly from many of the Phases, resulting in a kind of cognitive barrier.

"But I'm so curious. Could there really be self-aware existences like that within the Phases?"

"I can understand that Kazakiri-san's bodily functions can be mimicked and reproduced by AIM Field energy. But for that energy to give rise to conscious thought... that's just too strange. It's completely unscientific."

Frowning slightly, Natsume-san felt she was challenging her own knowledge blind spots again, and subconsciously re-examined her understanding of Kazakiri Hyouka-san.

This entire train of thought was based on Natsume-san's understanding of AIM Fields and their corresponding Phase.

She clearly knew the role of AIM Fields within Academy City: they were a form of energy emanating from the brain.

And also, due to some deeply ingrained notions in her head, Natsume-san didn't consider it fundamentally different from other energies in the physical universe. Just like the espers themselves, they were products conforming to scientific concepts.

Consequently, whenever this field was involved, a certain bun-head would fall into an indescribable sense of contradiction.

Natsume-san had always felt that while AIM Fields were the most scientific thing, many of their aspects behaved too unscientifically. The mere fact that gathering them together could create a giant monster was enough to leave one baffled.

This often made the honest bun-head feel rather uncomfortable. Fortunately, she had the kind of lazy personality that could forget things in an instant.

Logical inconsistencies weren't a major problem. One could always use excuses like shallow knowledge or lack of experience to cover everything up.

As an utterly ordinary student, Natsume-san wasn't arrogant enough to believe she could understand these 'cutting-edge technologies' of Academy City.

Espers' talents lay more in their interpretation of their Personal Reality, rather than every one of them possessing strong scientific research abilities and literacy. 

Someone like Natsume-san couldn't even rank first academically within Tokiwadai Middle School's first-year cohort, though her skill in fights and brawls far surpassed her classmates.

'At least my grades are better than Shirai-san's.'

Actually, even though the idea of AIM Field energy generating thought seemed utterly unscientific to a certain someone, if she set aside the scientific factors, Natsume-san could barely accept it.

Because she had already discovered that an esper's consciousness could guide their AIM Field. Coupled with the control over AIM Fields demonstrated by Misaka-senpai during her Level 6 state, there was already something called experience to draw upon.

Therefore, the idea of AIM Fields carrying, or even developing, self-awareness didn't particularly shock Natsume-san. It was just, as mentioned before, it filled her with a sense of internal contradiction.

Returning to the scene at hand, after discovering traces of that Kazakiri Hyouka, the certain bun-head set her teacup aside, seemingly forgoing a refill for now.

"That's weird. If Kazakiri-san hardly ever appears, why does it feel like a grand giveaway today? She's been sighted by many people all at once."

"Last time seemed similar too, suddenly appearing before Index, even with a substantial body."

Frowning, Natsume-san sensed that things were not simple.

After fiddling a bit with the computer belonging to Academy City's strongest hacker girl, thoroughly messing up the automatically running programs, the bun-headed girl showed an embarrassed smile. But at least she managed to hastily skim through all the case information.

"In that case, could there be a similar reason causing Kazakiri Hyouka-san to appear multiple times in the real universe?"

"For example, some unknown change occurred in the field sustaining Kazakiri-san's existence. Or maybe she's just being influenced and controlled by someone."

Most of Natsume Sonoko's knowledge about Kazakiri-san came from Kamijou-senpai and chats with Index, but that didn't stop her from making bold hypotheses.

After all, she firmly believed that Kazakiri Hyouka's existence definitely involved some experiment or plan within Academy City. There were undoubtedly a bunch of related personnel and research institutions behind it, one hundred percent.

"Can't figure it out. Still too little information."

Letting out a sudden sigh, her rapidly working brain finally relaxed.

Natsume-san still couldn't find a sufficiently strong reason to explain Kazakiri-san's appearance. Maybe it really was just a coincidence.

It seemed like if you used coincidence to explain everything in the world, all mysteries would be easily solved.

"That's right, I should go tell Index."

In the very next second, Natsume-san, who had been tangled up in all sorts of thoughts, suddenly had her eyes light up, a gleam that seemed to pierce through the thick gauze.

She hurriedly copied the sighting information from the computer onto her phone. Clearly, Uiharu-san didn't put up much defense against her own people.

--+--

Academy City Weather Report! - 483

--+--

With everything tidied up and traces of her visit erased—the black tea and milk returned to their proper places—the small Judgment branch office regained its usual quiet atmosphere.

The crisp sound of the door closing echoed as the hurried bun-girl finally vanished down the far end of the corridor, just like any ordinary middle schooler eager to share good news with a friend.

Though Natsume Sonoko didn’t share a deep bond with that girl, Kazakiri Hyouka—their meeting had been rushed and brief—because Index cared so much about her, Sonoko found herself paying closer attention as well.

Still, it had to be said: with her wallet empty and no money left for supermarket shopping, Natsume-san hadn’t visited the little nun who worked as a part-time nearly-expired-food handler and store greeter for several days now.

“So frustrating. Going to the supermarket and not buying anything feels just wrong.”

“Once you lose that solid financial backing, you’re no longer the kind of middle school girl shopkeepers welcome with open arms.”

Ethereal wind-wings slowly unfurled as a slightly sulky Natsume Sonoko zipped swiftly between the skyscrapers, ignoring the sharp whoosh of wind whistling past her ears.

The thought that this state of poverty would last until her next scholarship payment arrived made every day feel like a year.

She’d considered borrowing a little money from her senpai or classmates to tide herself over, but somehow, she just couldn’t bring herself to ask.

Whether it was some pointless sense of pride or the burden of her “young lady” image, Natsume-san was acutely aware of anything that might lower others’ opinion of her.

Cutting through the dense steel forest of the city, giving a wide berth to that windowless building, a small dark dot descended straight into the bustling streets.

In the distance, she could just make out some type of armed aircraft, but since it was heading in the opposite direction, she paid it no mind.

--+--

Dressed in loose employee attire, her ID badge dangling limply around her neck, the little nun—who’d chosen to earn her keep because the household she was staying with was so poor—sat idly in her designated seat, swinging her legs and watching the passersby. 

Every now and then, she’d wander over to the sample TVs in the electronics section next door to catch a bit of Magical Powered Kanamin, completely oblivious to the fact that she, too, was a supermarket employee.

Even though she spent most of the day with little to do, that didn’t change the fact that she was one of the store’s star employees.

Thanks to her, the supermarket hadn’t faced a single crisis caused by expired food in quite some time—not even baked goods that were a day away from going bad.

She’d perfectly solved the supermarket’s dilemma between reducing food waste and ensuring food safety.

“The soft milk candies in the confectionery section have a one-month best-before date, the potato chips in the snack aisle are good for over three months... feels like forever, no matter how you look at it.”

“Fresh fruit doesn’t last long, but eating too much of it is like drinking water. Not many people buy the supermarket’s fresh milk, and it doesn’t taste that great anyway. Even the bread and sandwiches end up with only the weird flavors nobody wants.”

Counting on her fingers, Index pouted, lost in her own particular worries.

Even though she was the type of terrifying bottomless pit who’d eat spoiled ramen, beef jerky a year past its expiry, or even a yakisoba bread—plastic wrapper and all—after spending so long in this well-stocked supermarket with its wide variety of foods, she’d started to develop some “luxury problems.”

Still, the more important issue was how to do her job better. Fortunately, she possessed an exceptional memory—what one might call perfect recall.

The nearly-expired products in the supermarket followed certain patterns and quantities. 

As long as she memorized the best-before dates of all the edible items in advance, then subtracted the daily sales and normal wastage, she could easily keep track of and manage her workload each day.

Occasionally, there’d be fluctuations due to sales, special discounts, or free Gekota promotions, but overall, things stayed relatively stable.

At the same time, it seemed this perfect memory of hers meant her brain was constantly consuming huge amounts of energy.

Maybe that was why Index was always hungry, always feeling like she hadn’t eaten enough.

“As long as I memorize all the information, there’s nothing that can stump me.”

Feeling as if she’d gained a useful insight, a confident Index puffed out her chest. She really was the most suitable person for this kind of work.

“By the way, did I just see Sonoko-chan?”

“Shouldn’t Sonoko-chan be in school right now?”

Her eyes widened, then took on a suspicious glint. Coming back to her senses, Index felt a strange, instinctive emotion toward the girl who was getting closer and closer.

The familiar ponytail, the height under 150 centimeters, the slim, almost scrawny build—all the characteristics matched.

Except… she couldn’t quite make out the girl’s face clearly. Had her eyesight worsened from sitting too close to the TV lately?

And the uniform the girl was wearing looked different, but she’d heard today was the seasonal uniform changeover—even Touma had switched to a new set.

Everyone had new clothes to wear… except her.

“Index, Index!”

Perhaps because she’d quickened her pace, Natsume-san’s breathing was a little rushed as she cheerfully popped into the little nun’s field of view.

As Natsume Sonoko drew nearer, the earlier blurriness in Index’s vision gradually faded, revealing the girl in her true, perfectly normal state—a pitiful sight, with bandages wrapped around her head.

To avoid unnecessary trouble or curious stares, Natsume-san had maintained her usual practice, though sometimes she opted for full invisibility or just partial blurring.

But now that she’d found Index, there was no need to hide herself anymore.

“Sonoko-chan, you’re hurt! It looks serious!”

Index let out a gasp, clearly startled and more than a little worried.

That bun-girl’s current state was truly awful, bringing to mind some very unpleasant associations.

“That’s not important!”

“Index, guess what I found? I located Kazakiri Hyouka-san.”

The bun-girl’s face broke into a smug expression, as if eager to see Index’s reaction. She didn’t like people fussing over her injuries—she’d come to share something happy.

But things didn’t seem to be going as she’d expected. She’d thought Index would be delighted too, but instead, she was met with an unusually stern face.

“Patients need proper rest.”

“Sneaking out like this without a word causes trouble for a lot of people, you know.”

Looking straight at the bun-girl, Index spoke with earnest seriousness, as if she had particular experience in the matter.

--+--

Academy City Weather Report! - 484

--+--

Her arm bent slightly at the elbow, a small yet surprisingly strong hand was pulling Natsume-san along. 

There was no need to worry about bumps or stumbles along the way; Index was proving to be quite talented at looking after the sick.

After putting her supermarket job on hold, the little nun had changed back into her habit and dashed out with a certain someone, heading straight for District 18 where Kazakiri Hyouka had supposedly appeared.

"The information about magic you described, Sonoko, is too sparse to pinpoint any specific texts," Index explained, "but it can still be traced back to some Shinto-related magical texts native to this island nation, like Momotaro or The Tale of Genji. The sources for these kinds of books mostly stem from Taoist magical texts like Baopuzi or the I Ching."

"Probably due to historical reasons, magical thoughts… hmm, the 'current of thought' regarding magic in this island nation suffered a major setback. The original indigenous religious magic declined and was lost, while schools better at assimilation and adaptation survived into the modern era.” 

“The most typical example is the Amakusa-Style Remix of Church that Kanzaki Kaori belongs to; it's now completely part of Christianity."

Dispensing this knowledge about magic to the certain bun-girl, Index didn't mind sharing what she knew with her friend, especially while waiting for the traffic light to change on the big street.

In fact, she was quite happy that Natsume-san was asking her these kinds of questions. It represented a form of trust between them.

And just like her own various clumsy actions on the side of science, Natsume-san, a high-risk asset of the science side, was similarly—and adorably—clumsy when it came to magic.

She didn't even really grasp the essence of magic, and was utterly confused about things like rituals, grimoires, and artifacts. Even now, she only had a general definition.

Simply put, it was like how certain magical girls couldn't understand the instruction manual for a washing machine.

But Natsume-san was different from those magical girls. Even if she couldn't understand it now, her 'other self' probably could.

While browsing that shrine maiden's dreams before, she'd often detected something supernatural. Thinking about it carefully, that was likely the power Hitomi wielded.

In short, since it wasn't science, it could be classified as magic. That was the shallow extent of Natsume-san's understanding of this strange world.

Yet, Natsume Sonoko had no desire to delve too deeply into those things, or to try and accept Hitomi's understanding of her own magic and the world, or even to learn the other's magical abilities.

If she tried to comprehend the power that Hitomi-san possessed, many things she had taken for granted would start to seem off-kilter. 

If she fully accepted it, she would no longer be able to exist as an esper in the way she understood herself to be.

This was fundamentally different from the series of unscientific events she had witnessed before. Simply knowing something and choosing to understand it were two completely different things.

Once she deeply, fundamentally recognized that this world was not scientific, the worldview Natsume-san had built upon that premise would crumble.

Although that worldview itself was as precarious as a sandcastle, and the foundation of that castle was the even less reliable identity of a 'transmigrator,' it was still a sense of self she had worked hard to establish.

But it seemed this world had no intention of letting Natsume-san follow her lazy nature. It kept pushing her to a point where she had to face the facts, as if expecting her to one day truly recognize her own heart and step out of her so-called comfort zone.

"Speaking of which, Sonoko, why have you suddenly become so interested in magic?" Index asked, tilting her head. 

"Most people in this city are the type who start feeling sleepy the moment someone starts lecturing about magic theory."

"And besides," she added, raising an eyebrow thoughtfully, "it's suspicious that you, clearly on the science side, Sonoko, are carrying an artifact given to you by someone else."

She was naturally referring to a certain amulet on Natsume-san's person.

Although it was just a lucky charm with a faint magical trace, such products on the magic side could generally be termed 'artifacts.' Moreover, it was a passive-type artifact, similar to her own 'Walking Church' nun's habit, though of a far, far lower grade.

"I just feel I should try to understand," Natsume-san replied, her face showing a hint of hesitation. 

"I've encountered some very strange things. I want to try and find the answers."

Accepting anomalous knowledge, as mentioned before, carried significant risks.

But starting from the choice to understand that shrine maiden, she had already made a decision this time. Natsume Sonoko wanted to deal with the various problems existing within herself.

And if she kept reading those dreams, the opportunities for such anomalous contact with knowledge would only increase, until Natsume-san was forced to completely accept the fact that her worldview was being reshaped.

"Strange things? Are they secrets you can't tell others?" Index asked, peering intently at the girl with twin drills, her curiosity piqued.

"They're not secrets, really. It's just… not convenient to tell others."

"The dictionary says that's the definition of a secret," Index stated earnestly.

"It's really not such a big deal," Natsume-san demurred, fumbling for words. 

"It's just… I suddenly have this inexplicable feeling, like… hmm.. as if my previous life might have been a magician or something. Index, do you believe in things like reincarnation?"

Natsume-san was just throwing things out there, offering a seemingly plausible piece of information.

It wasn't that she had things she couldn't tell others. Kamijou-senpai didn't hide the nature of his right hand's power, and Index hadn't concealed the 103,000 grimoires in her head from her.

She just didn't know how to say it, worried she might be seen as a lunatic or something. And sometimes, she just preferred to keep things bottled up inside.

"Reincarnation?"

Index, walking beside her, first recalled a series of Egyptian necromancy spells, unconsciously comparing them to Natsume-san's increasingly thin frame.

Then her head filled with texts from Buddhism, Taoism, and of course some Christian books as well. She nodded vigorously.

Of course she believed. Wasn't that common sense?

In many magical and religious doctrines, humans were said to continue existing in another form after death.

According to Christianity, humans face God's judgment after death.

Buddhism directly had the concept of reincarnation.

Taoist texts had also absorbed this idea, developing concepts like ascension or feathered flight, not to mention the various other magical texts that worshipped death.

In short, given the nature of this world, once so many different thoughts and consciousnesses collectively pointed towards the deceased engaging in a collective activity like reincarnation, it was highly possible that a corresponding concept, born from that collective belief, truly existed.

And once such a concept existed, then perhaps Heaven, Hell, the Underworld, the Netherworld… all of them had appeared, becoming specific Phases mixed within the boundless ocean of Phases.

In that sense, it wasn't that the world itself inherently contained these concepts, but rather that everyone believed they existed, and so they came to be. One could even use certain tools or specific methods to control the formation or manifestation of these concepts.

This kind of utterly bizarre world setting could often be attributed to things like miracles. For magicians, it probably explained the origins of various ritual-based magics.

Perhaps even the existence of the soul could be speculated in this manner. 

Once a vast number of humans, or beings of even higher existence, believed souls existed, then it was entirely possible they truly came into being.

--+--

Academy City Weather Report! - 485

--+--

They'd been fervently discussing the topic right up until they met Kazakiri, but neither side had managed to reach any substantial conclusions.

Even if the deceased and reincarnation existed, there was no doctrine suggesting something like a 'previous life' existed. Index continued explaining this with absolute certainty.

It seemed a contradictory statement, yet it was actually a well-known fact within the magical side.

No mainstream magical texts or beliefs held that a newly born person was connected to someone who had previously died. The relationship was completely severed during the process of reincarnation.

Similarly, due to the existence of the reincarnation concept and its corresponding Phases, the dead, who would otherwise vanish completely within the physical universe, took on a surreal quality.

In this world, there were even ghosts who, due to some unknown circumstances, remained lingering within the physical universe.

"I see, so things like past lives don't exist," Natsume Sonoko murmured, her agreement absent-minded, a wave of bewilderment washing over her.

Although she didn't entirely agree with some of Index's points, she ultimately didn't refute them. She simply didn't know as much as Index did.

Thinking of it this way, it connected back to the earlier notion of the soul being a link. Perhaps it wasn't reincarnation at all, but rather that both of them were connected by a soul that seemed like a 'crosser,' molded into a specific form and appearance that was destined to emerge.

But if it wasn't soul reincarnation, then how did she herself come to be? Was she perhaps cloned? And then had her soul and consciousness transferred?

But if that were the case, why didn't she possess any of that shrine maiden's memories?

And then there was what she'd encountered before—the clear barrier between Natsume Sonoko's soul and her own, the two entities distinctly separate. What kind of possibility did that represent?

"Can't figure it out," Natsume-san muttered, shaking her head slightly as a headache began to form.

If she wanted to understand the truth, it seemed she might have to completely absorb the entirety of that Hitomi-san's life. But if she did that, would she just become a different person altogether?

The thought sent a chill down Natsume Sonoko's spine. She detested that kind of future, though she held no dislike for Hitomi-san herself.

"Every choice feels awful. The best thing for me would be to maintain the status quo. But if I remain ignorant, I can't protect anyone. That future is just as detestable."

"Still, if I'm careful about the extent and frequency, it should be fine, right?"

Even though she'd already resolved herself, Natsume-san wasn't a person of decisive and unwavering resolve. Her heart could still be swayed, but she wouldn't easily change a decision once made.

What had forged this determination in her was her family—people more important and intimate to her than even Misaka-senpai or Shirai-san.

She'd had similar thoughts since returning from summer break, but never found a solution. The reason she was only facing reality now was the sudden emergence of the Dream Phase, which gave her a chance to access the history of the past and that 'other self.'

Though Natsume-san usually projected a lazy disposition, indifferent to matters that didn't concern her, when it came to following her heart's true desires, she was no worse than anyone else. She just lacked the courage to proactively shatter her own daily life.

Simply put, Natsume-san chronically lacked the initiative to change the status quo.

She didn't possess the kind of conviction that Kamijou-senpai had, who would plunge headfirst into conflicts for the sake of complete strangers without a second thought.

But in practice, she always managed to do alright.

"Sonoko! It's Hyouka!"

Index had been pondering the confusing statements made by a certain round-faced girl.

Reincarnation and past lives, in her view, were completely contradictory terms.

Past lives only existed in some magical-side fictional texts and weren't actually recognized by mainstream magical thought. Once reincarnated, the concept of a 'past life' vanished, and one became a completely new person.

Maybe Sonoko's just under too much mental stress lately. Ah, that's right, her eyes were injured. That could cause all sorts of hallucinations.

But the moment Index spotted the faint, flickering, illusory figure of Kazakiri not far away, her attention completely shifted. Grabbing the round-faced girl's hand, she pulled her forward.

"She really appeared—Academy City's genuine ghost girl," Natsume-san murmured, jerked back to reality by Index's strong pull. Her 'gaze' fell upon Kazakiri Hyouka, who seemed to be hovering on the boundary between falsehood and reality.

How to describe it? It was like a hologram—visible but intangible. Sometimes, due to insufficient projection output, parts of the projected model would briefly flicker and vanish.

Thankfully, there were no clipping issues or the figure turning into a pixelated mess. It seemed this particular hologram projector was fairly advanced.

Getting back on track, Kazakiri Hyouka's current location was right near Kirigaoka Girls' Academy in District 18.

Rumor had it she was a student at Kirigaoka, the type who never missed an exam but was practically never seen otherwise, earning her the urban legend title of 'The Unknown.'

Since she attended school, Kazakiri-san probably lived around here too… just in another world, likely a Phase.

"...Hyouka," Index began, but before she could think further, she'd already dragged the round-faced girl through the crowd of onlookers right up to Kazakiri Hyouka's side.

However, as Index reached out her hand, it passed straight through Kazakiri's body.

No matter what Index tried, she couldn't make physical contact. Staring at Kazakiri-san, who was so close yet untouchable, she could only stand there, her face a mask of frustration.

"Index," the illusory form of Kazakiri also showed surprise, her mouth forming Index's name.

But due to her state of existence, the sound couldn't reach Index's ears. If she learned lip-reading, they might manage some simple communication.

Natsume-san, however, understood the reason perfectly. Kazakiri couldn't affect the real air to create vibrations and produce sound.

Kazakiri's form of existence relied on the properties of the AIM diffusion field to simulate various human bodily functions.

"You can't touch her," Natsume Sonoko said, her focus fixed on this strange girl. "Kazakiri-san is still 'false' right now. She hasn't formed a valid physical entity in reality."

This unique life form, composed of an AIM diffusion field, was tightly bound to the so-called AIM Phase.

In Natsume-san's mind, Kazakiri's body was like an exquisite clay doll. A gorgeous outer shell was gradually stripped away, revealing a core product hidden deep within.

"Just as I thought. It's a field core, formed from a massive gathering of AIM fields."

"But it's different from the field cores I've perceived before. This one isn't directly manifesting in the physical universe. Instead, it's hidden on the other side of the world."

"It really makes one wonder just what kind of background and secrets Kazakiri-san has, allowing her to traverse both reality and the Phases."

Frowning and holding her breath, Natsume-san 'saw' the original form of the girl before her: an energy aggregate possessing human emotions.

This sight weighed slightly on Natsume-san. In this city, so many people simply had no choice.

--+--

Academy City Weather Report! - 486

--+--

Compared to the nearly choice-less Kazakiri Hyouka, Natsume Sonoko found herself in a far more favorable position.

Whether she wanted to face reality or not was entirely up to her; at the very least, it seemed to her that she still held some degree of initiative.

As for the various schemes and covert attempts aimed at her, they remained largely under wraps. 

Their actual impact was confined to a small circle, and many of these situations weren't even known to Natsume Sonoko herself.

Understanding her own position in this way, it was easy to see why Natsume-san went about her days with such a cheerful, carefree demeanor.

Similarly, towards Kazakiri Hyouka, who had little control over her own circumstances, a certain bun-girl found herself developing a particular sense of concern.

Perhaps it could be called sympathy, or maybe it was friendship—regardless, Natsume Sonoko cared deeply.

And once Natsume-san set her mind on something, passive emotions like turning a blind eye simply didn't exist. Her courage tended to shine through unreservedly in matters like these.

"Index is completely impossible to communicate with right now. She's like a tribeswoman from some primitive clan, flailing her arms and legs—how is anyone supposed to understand what she means?"

"Putting it that way might be a bit rude, but in a situation like this, we definitely need to establish a better method of communication. Something like writing or pictures, maybe."

Watching the frantic yet helpless Index with some exasperation, the aforementioned bun-haired girl demonstrated her credentials as a high-risk asset of the science side and a model middle school student. She was, after all, a master at deciphering Martian scribbles and using standard fonts.

Natsume-san wasn't entirely clear on the environmental differences between their two sides, nor did she know if Kazakiri-san could hear the air vibrations from their end. But since they could communicate visually through eye contact, it suggested that Kazakiri Hyouka adhered to the optical rules of the physical universe.

Perhaps the light-based AIM diffusion field used to construct her physical form was playing a role, while the AIM fields responsible for substantializing her body—like telekinesis or friction coefficients—were either inactive or operating at a low maintenance level.

So, theoretically, if there was a way to control the various field energies associated with Kazakiri-san, maybe it would be possible to bring her to a state where she could appear normally in the physical universe.

'If only we knew how Academy City controls the AIM fields to make Kazakiri-san switch between that half-real, half-illusory state, then most of her predicament would be solved.'

'Furthermore, if there's a core that allows the field to manifest in reality, and that core carries the corresponding types of AIM fields, then we could use AIM fields to create a simulated human body.'

Thoughts suddenly surged in her mind. Natsume Sonoko knew that controlling AIM fields would mean the difference between heaven and earth for an esper, representing a completely new future.

However, while the principle of using AIM fields to generate a human body was easy enough to grasp, Natsume-san knew very little about the actual knowledge required to manipulate AIM fields.

Likewise, Natsume-san had never systematically studied the composition of the human body, and no one would have provided her with such information.

She was just an ordinary Level 5 esper without an affiliated research institute.

'If Academy City can create a being like Kazakiri-san and maintain the long-term stability of her core, then they must have cutting-edge research achievements in this area.'

'Maybe Level 6 isn't an impossible goal for Academy City after all. Kazakiri-san already touches upon that level of power. If humans can't reach that stage on their own, then Kazakiri Hyouka must be the backup plan.'

Natsume-san couldn't help but think this, a strange feeling stirring within her.

Although she considered Kazakiri-san as Academy City's backup plan for the Level 6 project, she wasn't entirely confident in that assessment. Perhaps it was the espers like herself who were the real spares.

At that moment, her gaze seemed to pierce through the thick bandages, fixing directly upon Kazakiri Hyouka.

Without a doubt, if she wanted to get closer to that kind of power, Kazakiri Hyouka was a tremendous treasure trove for her—or rather, an irreplaceable teacher.

She didn't know exactly what knowledge she could gain from the other girl, but observing from both the Phase perspective and the microscopic perspective of the AIM fields might yield some unexpected results.

Returning to the present, Natsume-san cleared her mind.

Unraveling the secrets hidden within Kazakiri-san wasn't, in her view, as important as solving Index's current distress right now.

Besides, following Natsume-san's usual principles, she'd likely be held back by concerns over invading others' privacy. But she'd already seen through Kazakiri Hyouka on practically every level, and a suitably guilty smile crept onto her face.

Whether it was the core or the various elements constituting her body, Natsume-san had seen it all, completely and without obstruction.

This was also a brand-new experience with AIM field energy for Natsume-san—witnessing a human body constructed from field energy through her Phase perspective, her brain processing the relevant information and naturally forming certain images.

It really wasn't her fault! She could only observe the other party through her Phase ability right now.

Plus, Kazakiri-san emitted no heat, making thermal perception useless, and she couldn't use her own eyes to see at the moment.

'I'll find a chance to apologize to Kazakiri-san later.'

Then again, that wouldn't work either. Natsume Sonoko couldn't explain the whole 'Phase perspective' thing—it was even more far-fetched than the talk about reincarnation she'd had with Index earlier.

But Natsume-san, lost in her troubles, didn't dwell on it for too long. She simply decided to consider Kazakiri Hyouka a close friend.

After all, they were both girls, and if they were good friends, then it was even less of a problem. Once her eyes were healed, this awkward situation would be over.

More importantly, she wanted to try—to see if there was a way to let Kazakiri-san truly appear in the reality of this universe. To do that, understanding her existence was necessary.

Natsume Sonoko felt that what Kazakiri-san cared about more was whether she could communicate and live with everyone normally.

"Index, let's get out of here for now."

Her expression slightly awkward, Natsume-san spoke up.

A small crowd of onlookers had begun to gather, and the sound of Anti-Skill patrol car sirens seemed to be approaching in the distance. 

Trying to communicate with Kazakiri-san here was just too inconvenient; Natsume-san had never enjoyed being the center of a spectacle.

Fortunately, it was still school hours, so the crowd wasn't too big, and it would be easy to shake off the surrounding gawkers.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Natsume Sonoko grabbed Index's hand and then tried to guide Kazakiri Hyouka's path using gestures they could both understand—like jabbing a finger emphatically in a specific direction, pointing towards a small park not far away.

--+--

Academy City Weather Report! - 487

--+--

Kirigaoka Girls' Academy, one of Academy City's prestigious institutions, was an elite girls' school comparable to Tokiwadai Middle School.

Though somewhat different from Tokiwadai, Kirigaoka was a girls' high school.

Back when Natsume-san was in elementary school, because her elementary school was actually closer to the Kirigaoka area, she had once leaned more towards attending Kirigaoka's affiliated middle school and then advancing to Kirigaoka itself.

However, drawn more strongly by two particular Level 5 espers, plus some reasons not convenient to elaborate on, she ultimately chose Tokiwadai.

'If I don't go to Nagatenjouki after graduation, Kirigaoka wouldn't be a bad choice either.'

'And I've heard Kirigaoka's scholarships are usually a bit higher than Nagatenjouki's. All the students are girls, too. Even the teachers are quite kind; they're mainly members of the Anti-Skill branch in District 18.'

Observing her surroundings with some interest, Natsume-san was clearly quite satisfied with Kirigaoka Academy.

Even though she was only in her first year of middle school, it didn't hurt to start thinking about future choices. After all, time had a way of slipping right past you if you weren't careful.

The small park near Kirigaoka featured the usual pavilions and waterside pavilions, with lush camphor trees lining the cobblestone paths.

While Academy City's garden styles showed some innovation in layout, you could still see the fusion of many external architectural elements.

'If we can't communicate with sound, then we'll use writing instead.'

Natsume-san's startlingly clear voice was still echoing in Index's mind. The girl giggled, a light giggle giggle sound, as she used a stick dipped in water to doodle on the ground.

Unfortunately, Kazakiri Hyouka could only respond with nods or shakes of her head, as she couldn't make Phase objects other than herself manifest. 

This removed the foundation for the two-way communication they had initially envisioned.

"Kazakiri-san has disappeared again. This time it was even faster than before."

Frowning involuntarily, Natsume-san stood beside Index, muttering quietly while facing the spot where Kazakiri-san had just vanished.

What was once in an intermediate state between real and false had now completely turned to nothingness, as if she had been utterly erased from the physical universe.

Under Index's anxious gaze, it took a little while before Kazakiri Hyouka reappeared.

In the shift between the intermediate state and the completely false state, Natsume Sonoko, using her special observational techniques, gleaned some interesting information just from the changes in the AIM diffusion fields occurring in both states.

Simply put, the only difference between the intermediate state and the completely false state was that portion of AIM field energy used to interfere with light in the physical universe.

By observing based on this line of thinking, Natsume-san quickly pinpointed the specific field portion causing Kazakiri-san to fluctuate between real and false.

"The corresponding field manifesting on Kazakiri-san originates from inside the Phase, not from those already existing in reality."

"So Kazakiri-san was born within a Phase, formed by a core aggregated from the field energy within that Phase."

She had arrived at a conclusion she'd already suspected, but now Natsume-san became more serious.

"Yet the current situation is that the AIM diffusion fields belonging to light-based ability users have been separated out within the Phase, and are now invading reality through the core inside Kazakiri-san."

"That means Kazakiri-san must currently exist within the physical universe, not hidden within the Phase as I previously thought. Her sudden disappearances are just moments when there isn't enough stable field energy for her to manifest visibly in the physical universe."

Natsume Sonoko suddenly understood a few things, though she wasn't sure how useful this knowledge was.

It was simple logic. If both the corresponding field and the core were inside the Phase, Kazakiri-san naturally couldn't appear in reality, just like two parallel lines never intersecting.

Therefore, one of them must already exist within the physical universe.

She had long found it strange. Kazakiri-san was clearly an existence akin to a field core, yet she didn't seem to fit Natsume's understanding of such existences. This frustrating contradiction had once made Natsume-san doubt if she had misunderstood things again.

"Making a slight deduction leads to an even simpler argument."

"When Kazakiri-san doesn't appear, she lives within the Phase. The times she is spotted are when she's sent to the real universe, perhaps by some behind-the-scenes actor running experiments or for other purposes. The difference between the real and false states probably depends on the needs of that behind-the-scenes actor."

Natsume-san summarized the information she'd gathered, then instinctively and cautiously let her gaze sweep the surroundings.

She immediately felt like someone might be watching them right now—perhaps tiny nanomachines hovering in the air, or something similar.

Who knows how many of those airborne nanomachines had already been destroyed by a certain someone, but it had barely made a difference.

"And why does this feel so familiar?"

"Just by creating some directional formulas, you can guide corresponding abilities to appear in reality... isn't that just espers in another sense? Only instead of a Personal Reality interfering with the universe, it's an AIM diffusion field interfering with the universe."

"But in essence, it still falls under the category of Personal Reality interfering with the universe. AIM fields are fundamentally the power of espers."

Pursing her lips, Natsume Sonoko thought, her mind wandering.

'If there were a way to find a method to guide AIM fields from a Phase into the physical universe, or to gather the AIM fields already present in reality and control them using a method like Kazakiri-san's, you might potentially obtain a portion of Level 6 power.'

'Not necessarily, though. If you could spiralize the AIM field, perhaps you could create an inward centripetal force, functioning similarly to a core like Kazakiri-san's. For example, forming a pair of field wings or something. I'm just not sure if AIM fields conform to the rules of centripetal force.'

[A/N: I believe Accelerator's black wings operate on this principle, personally.]

Natsume-san stood still, as if she had discovered a new continent.

Forget, for now, obtaining AIM field energy from a Phase—that seemed incredibly difficult to achieve no matter how she thought about it.

But AIM fields in reality were quite common. Just the field emitted by Natsume-san herself was a significant quantity.

In fact, the field Natsume-san could likely influence was probably only the one she herself released. Leveraging her own field to move other fields was a separate problem altogether.

And within that lay a major problem: how to consciously influence one's own AIM diffusion field.

It wasn't like a true Level 5, where a single thought allows effortless control. It required an indirect method—like not controlling the air directly, but manipulating it using principles like cold air sinking and hot air rising.

Natsume-san knew that AIM fields could be influenced by human thought. She just didn't know how to turn this influence via thought into an effective interference with her own AIM field.

However, for someone like Kazakiri Hyouka, who was constituted by the AIM field itself, she likely contained information of this very type. Her thoughts were, in a way, the thoughts of the field core itself. This was probably a classic example of thought directly influencing the AIM field.

Though the control rights most likely didn't lie with Kazakiri-san herself.

--+--

Academy City Weather Report! - 488

--+--

Her lively eyes were framed by a pair of thick-lensed glasses with thin frames. Her long, jet-black hair, which reached down to her upper thighs, cascaded over her shoulders with her movements.

Leaning forward slightly, she rested her hands casually on her knees. Kazakiri Hyouka’s gaze was fixed intently on the stick in Index’s hand. A heartfelt smile kept blooming across her shy face, as if she was thoroughly content with this simplest form of interaction.

['Does Hyouka live around here?']

['Is it lonely, living all by yourself?']

['Yesterday, Touma lost his meal money again. He looked so pitiful, I was really worried. In the end, he had to eat the staff lunch I brought home to replenish my energy in the evening.']

['Don't let my appearance fool you, I do work properly to support myself.']

['...']

The shade from the surrounding trees formed a canopy, blocking out the harsh sunlight. The busy Index was scribbling on the ground, one hand planted firmly, looking utterly serious. She occasionally glanced back to check Kazakiri-san's reaction.

Noting that the other girl was still right there, she would let out a small sigh of relief. She seemed genuinely worried that Kazakiri-san might vanish into thin air again.

That anxious, fearful-of-loss feeling was something Natsume-san understood all too well. It was precisely because you cared that you feared losing something.

The seemingly cheerful little nun before them was actually about to burst with worries of her own.

"Index, Kazakiri-san won't be disappearing for a while yet."

"I can sense that her anchor point in the physical universe is quite stable at the moment."

Sensitive to Index's concerns, the bun-girl beside her, who seemed to see right through everything, offered this consolation. She then flashed a lovely smile in Kazakiri-san's direction.

'At least until this experiment or mission is completed,' Natsume Sonoko mentally added, 'those people lurking in the shadows won't let Kazakiri Hyouka slip away from the physical universe.'

"Anchor point? Physical universe?"

Index looked back, puzzled. Sonoko had been saying a lot of confusing things today.

This was probably more of those terms Sonoko picked up at school. Rumor had it Sonoko was one of the rare few in Academy City with actual esper abilities, so it wasn't that surprising.

While the exact meaning was hard to grasp, the general intent was clear. Their wavelengths were gradually aligning through these repeated exchanges.

"Heh heh, don't worry about what those words mean, Index."

"To put it simply, Kazakiri-san's current condition is very stable. Something like last time, where we couldn't find her no matter what, won't happen again for a while."

Organizing her thoughts, Natsume Sonoko rested her chin in her hand and spoke softly.

But this time, what mission do those behind-the-scenes people need Kazakiri-san to complete? No sooner had the thought formed than another popped into Natsume Sonoko's head.

'Could it be like last time, with magicians invading Academy City?'

'Huh, why did that idea come to me?'

'Is it because I've been running into so many magicians lately? This is supposed to be the most scientific place, yet magicians just come and go as they please. It's like there's no deterrent at all.'

Natsume Sonoko shook her head slightly, a somewhat dismissive gesture, which drew the simultaneous attention of both Index and Kazakiri Hyouka.

Conclusions based on speculation and conjecture couldn't be treated as solid evidence, only as a plausible reference point until the truth was uncovered.

Besides, if she did run into any magicians, even though her combat abilities had improved considerably, the bun-headed young lady—who still specialized in evasion and ambushes—felt quite confident.

It seemed her thinking was still constrained by her past experiences with other magicians.

"Hyouka also says she won't vanish suddenly now. It seems she has a sort of… a premonition, that lets her know how long she can stay in reality."

After scribbling a bit more on the ground and receiving a clear response, Index finally relaxed.

"Speaking of which, Sonoko, you seem to have gotten thinner again."

Finally remembering something important, Index blurted out.

Her attention had been diverted for so long by the news of Natsume-san's injured eye and Kazakiri-san's appearance, that she only now remembered to bring up this other matter.

Standing up, Index reached out a small finger and poked the other girl's rather fleshless stomach. Her eyes then scanned Sonoko's nearly gaunt cheeks.

Sonoko was really thin, even more so than the last time they'd met.

It was as if something had consumed a massive amount of energy from her body.

Index actually had some similar experience in this regard.

To maintain her 'Perfect Memory,' she needed to eat constantly to replenish her energy and stamina, which had led to her fainting from hunger quite often in the past. If she went too long without sufficient energy intake, she too would become very, very thin.

But Sonoko's situation seemed a bit different. She never heard Sonoko complain about being hungry. Probably her digestive capacity just couldn't compare to the bottomless pit that was Index.

Sonoko, who never seemed hungry, was getting thinner and weaker. Index, who was always hungry, was getting… well, a bit plumper. Just what was the secret behind this puzzling state of affairs?

"I have lost a little weight, but the doctor said all my levels are normal."

"So it's probably related to my ability development."

Tilting her head back slightly, Natsume-san replied thoughtfully.

She'd just had a check-up with Heaven Canceller yesterday. Aside from her eyes, they hadn't found any issues. She had a lot of trust in that doctor's skills.

Perhaps Doctor Heaven Canceller had noticed Natsume-san had lost some weight recently, but he'd probably chalked it up to something like dieting.

This abnormal weight loss, just as she had suspected before, was likely because her brain was voraciously consuming her nutrients, and the situation was intensifying.

This kind of thing was rare for ordinary people, but for an esper, it made a twisted sort of sense.

In fact, it was quite a frightening prospect. If an esper's fragile body couldn't keep up with the brain's demands, the best-case scenario might involve lying in a hospital bed, receiving nutrients intravenously for both brain and body.

However, Natsume-san believed the consumption demands of her brain were still within a relatively normal range.

Neither maintaining the constant-temperature layer on her skin nor her connection to Reiko seemed enough to cause this progressive emaciation.

After much thought, only the brain's own development activity could be consuming bodily energy so fiercely.

In other words, perhaps some change had occurred within Natsume-san. The originally normal pace of her brain's development might have accelerated, reaching a level where it rapidly burned through the esper's fat reserves and even muscle fiber.

Because Natsume-san wasn't particularly sensitive to changes in her own body, she struggled to notice this gradual transformation. At most, she felt increasingly tired, or that her physical condition was worsening.

'That's most likely the reason.'

Muttering this to herself, Natsume Sonoko felt a bit flustered.

Although she was the master of both her brain and body, there wasn't much she could directly do about either. It wasn't like she could perform surgery on herself.

She hadn't figured out how to handle this situation yet. Seeking help from doctors or researchers remained an option, but not her first choice.

The simplest solution, of course, was to increase her own energy intake—like eating more for lunch and dinner.

She didn't necessarily need to become as plump and fair as Shokuhou-senpai, but she at least wanted to look healthy. This dry, skinny look wasn't going to win her any popularity contests.

--+--

Academy City Weather Report! - 489

--+--

The various negative side effects stemming from cerebral development have always existed among Academy City's espers.

Physical side effects include disabilities, brain damage, hormonal imbalances, and so on. 

Psychologically, they often become anxious, sensitive, extremely paranoid, prone to hysteria, or even develop severe post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Among these, side effects like weight loss are probably the gentlest of all.

In fact, it's rare to see severely obese individuals among the higher-level esper groups in Academy City. Someone like Shokuhou-senpai's plump, fair complexion likely represents the upper limit for most high-level espers' physiques.

That's because whenever these espers use their abilities multiple times, the brain's caloric expenditure surpasses that of normal aerobic exercise, easily burning off the calories consumed in an entire day.

Therefore, at Tokiwadai Middle School, almost no one buys weight-loss products. Just a few days of moderate dieting yields quite noticeable results.

Similarly, seemingly for analogous reasons, trivial matters like weight loss have become explicitly prohibited in both school and dormitory regulations, though hardly any students actually follow these rules.

However, Natsume-san now fully understands the necessity of such regulations. It seems many of Academy City's seemingly absurd rules have their origins somewhere.

From this, it can be inferred that normal ability development allows for maintaining a caloric balance through daily diet—this applies even to Level 5 espers.

The nutritional meals provided by Tokiwadai Middle School are considered the pinnacle of Academy City's dietary management for espers. A single leaked meal could sell for forty thousand yen in the underground markets. It's a pity Natsume Sonoko lacks a business mind for such things; otherwise, she wouldn't be troubled by lack of funds now.

Yet, even Tokiwadai's nutritional meals couldn't prevent a certain bun-headed girl from losing weight. This indicates the situation has become quite severe, completely disrupting her body's intake-output balance.

Judging by this alarming rate of weight loss, in a few weeks, Natsume-san would likely be nothing but skin and bones.

While a 'bony beauty' might be a popular aesthetic, it refers to a healthy, slender physique. In reality, if one appears gaunt and emaciated, it's simply pathological.

But let's get back on track. That certain bun-headed girl still has the leisure to comfort Index, seemingly unaware of the seriousness of the situation.

She's just worried that becoming too thin might make her less pretty, which bothers her a bit.

Though only twelve, her sense of aesthetics—what's beautiful or ugly—is already well-formed. She cares deeply about her image and appearance, harboring a genuine desire to become an elegant, refined young lady.

Objectively speaking, Tokiwadai Middle School, where she currently lives, is actually a microcosm of society.

Since the students all live independently from a young age, they generally possess a maturity beyond their years, leading to various adult-like trends such as purchasing luxury goods, vanity, a love for dressing up, and even dating.

Holding tea parties with expensive tea and sweets is normal. 

Buying brand-name bags, charms, and bracelets is commonplace. 

It seems that in areas not strictly regulated by school rules, everyone's personalities express themselves in all sorts of peculiar ways.

Quite a few, like Misaka-senpai, secretly wear makeup. Kongou-senpai fills her dorm room with precious dolls and beauty products. Juufuku-san enjoys reading fashion magazines...

As for Shirai-san, well, let's not even go there. She's too mature for her age.

However, Natsume Sonoko hasn't been greatly influenced by these school trends yet, probably because she's only a first-year. But when it comes to matters concerning her personal image, she already finds it impossible to compromise.

[It's been a while, Kazakiri-san.]

A series of perfectly printed characters appeared on the smooth floor.

Under Index's gaze—full of concern, even if she didn't fully understand—Natsume-san began attempting to communicate with Kazakiri Hyouka.

Using her ability to stack words on the ground was far more efficient than Index's method, though it perhaps lacked a certain patience and sincerity.

Natsume-san's habit of prioritizing efficiency—whether it was good or bad, only she herself probably knew.

[I want to broach a rather presumptuous subject.]

[If possible, I wish to understand everything about you. The composition of your body, the scattering of your consciousness—to me, these are secrets I must unravel.]

Thoughts about what she wanted to tell Kazakiri-san swirled in her head. Natsume-san's approach was always very direct.

She intended to unravel the mysteries surrounding the other girl. This was important for both Index and Kazakiri-san.

As for herself, gaining something else would be nice, but if not, she wasn't too concerned.

Natsume-san was about to write these words on the ground, but at the last moment, she hesitated. Frowning her crescent-moon-like brows, she quickly changed them to something else.

It was too abrupt—almost like a confession between lovers in a shoujo manga. Natsume-san, whose expertise in shoujo manga was second only to Tsuchimikado Maika, realized this immediately.

[It's only now that I've formed a clear idea. Your manifestation in reality, Kazakiri-san, is no accident.]

[Your very birth, the formation of your body, even your influence and control over the AIM diffusion fields—all of it follows a set of predetermined operational rules.]

Taking a deep breath, a serious expression surfaced on Natsume-san's face. 

The scant remaining flesh on her cheeks tensed, making her look very formal, and she began negotiating with Kazakiri-san methodically and earnestly.

There was no time for idle chatter. Natsume-san's goal this time was clear: to gain the other's cooperation.

It seemed Natsume-san's string of text had some effect. Kazakiri-san's expression shifted slightly, and she just stood there dazedly, lost in thought.

[When I saw you last time, I really wanted to help you. And just like Index, everyone will work hard to find a way for you to truly exist in reality.]

Natsume Sonoko pressed on in one go, watching Kazakiri-san's reaction with considerable trepidation.

She truly hesitated when indecisive, but when facing a situation head-on, she was surprisingly decisive. Uncertain when she might next encounter Kazakiri-san, she felt she had to make a decision immediately.

This ability for on-the-spot decision-making was something Natsume-san never lacked.

But the formal, serious atmosphere of this exchange lasted less than a minute before it was disrupted by the little nun, Index.

Her curious face peered closely at the certain bun-headed girl, then she suddenly pounced on the girl who was even a tad shorter than herself.

She just knew it. Sonoko was a careful and considerate person who could fully understand her sad and troubled feelings.

['Touma says Sonoko is the most amazing student here, attending the best school, so she must have a way to help Hyouka.']

['I don't understand the science side's knowledge, but I'll help too, as much as I can!']

The little nun picked up her small stick and began scribbling earnestly on the ground, her face radiating fierce determination.

--+--

Academy City Weather Report! - 490

--+--

Being Academy City's proud Level 5 esper—such a conspicuous identity only seemed genuinely useful when trying to win others’ trust.

It was as if that dazzling, glorious shell alone made Natsume Sonoko’s words carry more weight, even though she was still the same ordinary girl with shaky convictions and a wandering mind.

People living in this city were always so simple and naïve. To them, an esper just meant raw power—not someone necessarily strong-willed, courageous, or wise.

Only those who truly mastered their hearts, saw the world with clarity, and acted according to their beliefs could really be called special.

Heh, Index was right—I am a Level 5.

Finding a way to help every classmate in trouble is just what I should do.

Blushing, she scribbled some rather bold words on the ground, then puffed out her chest with exaggerated pride, showing off her flimsy convictions to Kazakiri-san.

When it came to espers, not bullying classmates was already considered pretty good behavior.

Natsume-san rarely flaunted her status as an esper. Aside from the generous scholarships and having her dreams come true, the title often brought unnecessary trouble.

But sometimes it did help rally people, reassure classmates, and boost morale. For Natsume-san, that was probably a form of… making the best of a bothersome trait.

“Even Kazakiri-san, who lives on the other side of the world, isn’t free from the influence of Academy City’s mainstream thinking.”

Natsume-san mused to herself, keenly aware of the subtle shifts in Kazakiri-san’s expression.

This peculiar sense of trust that came with being a Level 5 was something Natsume Sonoko had tested before on certain Level 0s.

What she hadn’t quite grasped, though, was that many people didn’t trust her because she was an esper—they trusted her because she took the time to talk to them sincerely, and so they felt comfortable relying on that esper status.

Maybe they couldn’t become true friends, but treating people differently led to different outcomes. That was something Natsume-san didn’t fully understand yet, even as she lived it out.

Whether it was tossing Juufuku Miho’s ex-boyfriend into a trash can, or standing up for Shirai Kuroko by zapping Awaki Musujime, all those seemingly small things were what really built the little circle around Natsume Sonoko—not her identity as an esper.

As for Kazakiri-san, the sight of these two girls trying so earnestly to lift her spirits felt a little silly, yet endearing. She couldn’t help but feel a swell of emotion and confidence.

Even if this sudden burst of faith came out of nowhere, it was still sweet to embrace.

--+--

The sun climbed steadily, and the shade in the small park shifted with it.

Having moved to a cooler spot, several girls sat cross-legged on the grass, deep in lively discussion.

A closer look would reveal that Natsume Sonoko was doing most of the chattering, one thin arm raised high, clearly in her element.

Index, beside her, tilted her head in a daze—she’d given up understanding about ten minutes ago, so she could be safely ignored for now. 

Kazakiri-san hugged her knees, blinking curious eyes at the enthusiastic girl with the bun hairstyle across from her.

Though she couldn’t hear the other side, the considerate Natsume-san made sure to caption everything, allowing Kazakiri-san to join the conversation smoothly.

“So we’ve figured out that when Kazakiri-san enters or leaves reality, it’s always while her body is being manipulated.”

“But because the control isn’t instantaneous—it starts by eroding smaller aspects of her body, like canceling body temperature, skin sensation, and other functions, before finally removing optical interference—that means there’s a window where Kazakiri-san can realize what’s happening.”

“That way, she knows how long she can stay in the real world.”

The bun-haired girl, intent on uncovering the truth, sat with perfect Tokiwadai-like poise, resting her chin in her hand with an almost detective-like air.

She wrote out each possible scenario Kazakiri-san might face on the ground, and based on the other girl’s nods and head-shakes, Natsume Sonoko gradually pieced together part of the situation.

Much of it overlapped with what she’d already suspected.

But only after Kazakiri-san confirmed it did those foggy guesses gain solid footing—such was the power of evidence.

No wonder Kazakiri-san had suddenly left without saying goodbye to Index last time.

It was because she’d realized her body was gradually being taken over, and she didn’t want to go through a painful farewell—so she’d slipped away quietly.

Back then, Kazakiri-san could still control her body, but she couldn’t stop its various functions from fading from reality. The AIM diffusion field energy from the Phase was no longer using her as its core to interact with the world.

So there really was a method of controlling the AIM field behind this city—and a highly sophisticated one at that, capable of fully manipulating the actions of an AIM-based being.

Moreover, the AIM field itself was inextricably linked to Personal Reality.

By now, Natsume-san was fairly certain: the AIM field was an extension of a person’s reality into the physical universe—an untapped reserve of power belonging to espers.

Unconsciously emitted fields could carry an esper’s thoughts; once they reached a certain threshold, they could become the esper’s claws and feelers in reality.

But that raised a puzzling question for Natsume-san:

If an AIM field separated from the body could still be considered part of one’s Personal Reality, could someone still use ability formulas through it? And would that consume the field itself?

Understanding this would likely shed more light on how Academy City controlled the AIM field—and by extension, Kazakiri-san.

Unfortunately, Natsume-san hadn’t been able to gather enough data during Misaka-senpai’s previous Level 6 shift rampage.

Trying to decode all that alone was just too much—it was practically the power of a “god.”

She couldn’t determine whether Misaka-senpai’s frequent use of electrokinesis then came from her Personal Reality or from the AIM fields spread throughout real space—or both. And she knew even less about anything beyond that.

Maybe Academy City had collected more precise data, but clearly, poor little Natsume-san wasn’t getting any of it.

There was one exception, though: Natsume-san had observed Kihara Gensei while he was in the Multi-Skill state.

Kihara Gensei, who wasn’t even a Level 0, had developed an external AIM field through a brain-wave synchronization system like the Ability Body Crystal, allowing him to use others’ abilities.

Considering that abilities were derivatives of Personal Reality, even without solid proof, Natsume Sonoko’s leaning on the matter was clear:

It was possible to use ability formulas via the AIM field—maybe even assemble a new Personal Reality using someone else’s AIM field.

So, did Kazakiri Hyouka, composed of vast amounts of AIM field energy, constitute a broader, more complex form of Personal Reality?

If so, then Kazakiri-san was more like a collection of countless people’s thoughts…

--+--