Unlike adults who have much to protect and sometimes must choose to retreat, everyone here is equally a high school student who values appearances. And Narumiya is like the ultimate example among them.
 
After being provoked this much, if he were to simply endure being talked down to, what would people whisper about him behind his back, what kind of looks would he receive? I know that. And of course, Narumiya knows it too. Therefore—
 
“Don’t get too cocky.… Read more

“So then, there’s only one thing we can do.”
 
“Yeah, make Akabana smile from the bottom of her heart… But Yukiharu, are you really sure about this?”
 
“Huh? Sure about what?”
 
“Well, Akabana said it herself, remember? If we get on the bad side of those families, we won’t be able to survive in gifted society.”
 
…Yeah, I mean, having finally made it into this dream world, only to have to disappear right away is honestly a bit lonely.… Read more

A sharp female voice rang through the classroom. And at that same moment, Narumiya’s fist stopped. I turned toward the voice, and there stood Akabana—her face twisted in anger, which I’d never seen before.
 
“Oh, Akane. I was just exterminating the pests for you.”
 
“Who asked you to do that? And stop calling me by my first name so casually… I’ve told you this before!”
 
It seemed Akabana and Narumiya had some history, but the air between them felt heavy and oppressive—definitely not the kind of relationship between mere friends.… Read more

It’s been a week since enrolling in the academy. Like ordinary high school students, I attend classes and on top of that complete recreation assignments—busy but fulfilling days.
 
As for those recreation assignments, our team of me, Touji, and Akabana, which I was initially anxious about working well, gradually develops bonds as we complete assignments and begins to function as a team—is what should happen, but of course it doesn’t.
 
○Second Assignment [Team Three-Legged Race (With Interference)]
 
“Wait!… Read more

“STOP! DON’T FIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!”
 
Don’t provoke them, Sugitani. Look, Akabana’s attacks are clearly getting more intense than before. She’s definitely internally furious. …Actually, you’ve got some impressive specs. You can respond to people’s words?
 
But what should we do? At this rate, we’re heading straight for a time-out. I should also give some instructions or advice… No, that’s wrong. Trying to do something I’m not used to won’t go well. Besides, I doubt someone like Akabana would obediently follow instructions from an amateur like me.… Read more

“Akabana-san, do you know how many training halls there are in total? Touji and I don’t know anything about that stuff…”
 
“…”
 
“Um, Akabana-san…?”
 
“…You’re noisy.”
 
Sensei, I wanna die… Well, that’s half a joke, but it’s been like this ever since we left the classroom. Since we’ve been placed in the same group, I definitely want to deepen my friendship with Akabana, and I’ve tried talking to her many times, but all I get back are cold words.… Read more

“Are we about to do the sorting?”
 
“What are you talking about? the sorting was already done.”
 
“Well, yes, that’s true… but the visual is completely that thing where they decide which of four houses you belong to…”
 
“Four houses…? What are you talking about?”
 
Playing dumb, I see.
 
“Anyway, let’s begin. Sit in that chair and put on the hat.”
 
“…”
 
Though unconvinced, I sit in the chair as told and try to put on the ha—
 
“Alright, that’s enough.”… Read more

 
At the same time, I felt as if the temperature in the classroom suddenly dropped. Well, it was already freezing cold because of Tachibana-sensei to begin with. I mean it got even colder than before. There was no mistaking it, given that the applause that had always occurred after every self-introduction until now didn’t happen at all after his.
 
Why?—Just as I was wondering about this, from somewhere toward the front seats, I clearly heard someone mutter “An outsider, huh.”… Read more

Chapter 1: How I Became a Mob Character

I suddenly skipped over the first-year arc and became a second-year student, but I’ll give a digest version of the first-year arc.
 
April—I made one friend. The end.
 
That’s not just the end of April—that’s the end of the entire first-year arc. I’m serious.
 
Of course, being a school where supernatural powers exist as a matter of course, there were plenty of things I saw and experienced for the first time.… Read more

Prologue

“Watarigaya, Yukiharu, you possess a special power.”

It was summer during my third year of junior high, when my future path was starting to solidify.

For me—caught up in that uniquely troublesome adolescent stubbornness, convinced I was nothing special, just another cog in society’s machine—those words were pure hope.

Special powers—magic, psychic abilities, memories of past lives—any healthy adolescent boy would undoubtedly yearn for them at least once. Of course, I was no exception. A man who suddenly visited my home declared that I, too, possessed such unique abilities.… Read more