Oliver pulled himself away from the strange sight, his spirit sense retracting like a coiled thread snapping back into place. He exhaled sharply, shaking off the uneasy sensation that clung to him. The dream pattern in the girl's notebook—it wasn't just a coincidence. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
He grabbed a towel, quickly wiping his face before tossing it onto the counter. With one last glance at the mirror, he straightened his blazer, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stepped out of the bathroom. The scent of breakfast—eggs, rice, and miso soup—drifted through the air, grounding him in the present.
As he entered the dining room, his family was already seated. Yumi sat across from Kaito, absently stirring her soup with a spoon. She glanced up at Oliver as he approached, her expression unreadable, but there was something different about her today—more distant than usual.
His mother, ever composed, sipped her tea, her sharp blue eyes flicking toward him with mild interest. "You took your time," she noted, setting her cup down.
Oliver slid into his seat, ignoring his mother's remark as he picked up his chopsticks. "Just needed a moment," he muttered, reaching for the rice bowl.
Kaito, sitting beside him, swung his legs under the table, completely absorbed in trying to scoop up a piece of egg with his tiny chopsticks. After a few failed attempts, he gave up and grabbed it with his fingers, stuffing it into his mouth before grinning triumphantly.
Yumi, still stirring her soup, didn't say anything. Her gaze flickered briefly toward Oliver, but there was no teasing, no usual comment. It was almost as though something was on her mind, but she didn't voice it.
Their mother, calm as always, finished her tea before setting the cup down with a soft clink. "Eat quickly, all of you. You need to get going."
After breakfast, they each moved to the fridge to grab their lunches. Kaito, with his usual enthusiasm, reached for the colorful bento box their mother had packed for him, already starting to tug it from the shelf. Yumi, more reserved, grabbed her lunch and started packing it into her bag without a word.
Oliver pulled out his own lunch—simple, but sufficient. It was two sandwiches and some fruit, nothing extraordinary, but it would do. He didn't really care for anything fancy in the mornings, preferring to get things done quickly.
Their mother glanced over, eyes sweeping over the gathered bags before nodding toward Oliver. "We're running late, so let's get moving," she said, her tone brisk but not unkind.
Oliver didn't argue. His mother always drove him, even though he could walk if he wanted to. He finished packing his bag in silence, slinging it over his shoulder before following her out the door. Kaito was already bouncing on his heels, eager for the drive, while Yumi trailed behind them, her expression distant, as if her thoughts were elsewhere.
The drive to school was uneventful, the usual morning traffic stretching endlessly ahead. Inside the car, the low hum of the engine filled the quiet, broken only by the occasional exchange between his mother and Yumi. Oliver sat in the backseat, staring out the window, his gaze unfocused as the city blurred past.
His mother's voice, calm and composed, occasionally drifted to Yumi—reminding her about something or asking about some assignments. Yumi responded in short, absentminded murmurs, never fully engaged in the conversation. Oliver caught her reflection in the rearview mirror once, her eyes shadowed with thought.
At a red light, the car eased to a stop. For a brief moment, everything stilled.
Oliver tapped his fingers against the armrest before slipping a hand into his pocket. With a subtle motion, he activated the teleportation talisman.
A rush of awareness flooded him. His spirit sense stretched outward, spanning the street, the moving cars, even the birds flitting through the morning sky. But more importantly—Aihara Misaki.
She was already at Hoshizuki High, seated in her classroom. His senses brushed over her, confirming something new—she was only in her second year.
Curious, Oliver shifted his attention, searching for the massive chameleon-like creature she had been with. If the school had a hidden side he wasn't aware of, this was his chance to uncover it. But he found nothing of note.
His attention wavered, flickering toward other figures within his range. Testing the talisman's limits, he peered through the clothing of a few girls who caught his eye. The brief satisfaction of his discovery was quickly overshadowed by a sharp realization—the more he used the talisman to look through objects, the faster it drained his Qi.
Tch. So that's a limitation.
Deciding not to waste more energy, he redirected his focus back to Aihara Misaki. From what he observed, she was quite popular—hardly surprising given her looks.
The light turned green, and the car surged forward once more.
Soon, the familiar gates of his school came into view. Groups of students loitered by the entrance, chatting idly, some glancing toward the arriving cars. His mother pulled into the drop-off zone and slowed to a stop.
"Well, this is your stop," she said, her eyes flicking toward him expectantly.
Oliver gave a short nod, gathering his things. Kaito was still chattering away about something, his excitement bubbling over, but Oliver only smiled faintly, reaching over to ruffle his hair before stepping out.
The crisp morning air greeted him as he landed on the pavement.
"Have a good day," his mother called after him, her voice firm yet gentle.
"I will." He gave a small wave without looking back.
Before he had even made it halfway to the gates, the car was already pulling away, heading off toward Yumi's school. Oliver didn't bother watching it go. It was just another day. Nothing out of the ordinary. At least, that was what he told himself.
The distant ring of the school bell signaled the start of the day. Shifting his bag higher on his shoulder, Oliver exhaled slowly, pushing the lingering thoughts from his mind as he stepped forward, blending into the crowd.
Oliver moved through the school hallways, his thoughts still lingering on the revelation about Aihara Misaki. A second-year. That meant she was a grade lower. Though it was sunrising—she carried herself with a confidence and body proportions that most girls her age lacked. But the real question was the giant chameleon. His spirit sense had failed to locate it, which either meant it wasn't currently at the school or Misaki had some method of concealing itself. Either way, it made things more complicated.
He adjusted the strap of his bag, pushing through the morning crowd toward his classroom. As he walked, he slipped his hand into his pocket, brushing his fingers over the teleportation talisman and infusing Qi into it. The earlier test had revealed a useful function— the ability to peer through objects, though it cost additional Qi.
But the temptation was obvious.
Without hesitation, he activated it again, letting his spirit sense spread through the school. The layout of the building unfolded in his mind like a map, every hallway, every classroom, every moving person appearing in sharp detail. He could feel the presence of students and teachers alike, their movements distinct.
But his curiosity drifted elsewhere. Testing the limit of the talisman, he let his senses brush over a group of girls gathered near the lockers. As his senses brushed against their forms, the outlines of their uniforms came into view, the fabric of their blazers and skirts sharp under his focus. Then they began to become transparent as he focused on seeing beneath them; their uniforms began to seemingly disappear, letting him see what lay beneath, their cute panties and bras on full display, each bearing their own charm.
Some wore stripes; others had animals or cartoon characters on the front. Showing that they had yet to give up that part of their lives, but his glimpses of their underwear lasted only a short time as he felt the strain on his Qi became too much.
And the moment he attempted to look beyond the surface of their panties, a sudden drain on his Qi hit him like a weight. The more he pushed, the more essence it consumed. He barely managed a glimpse of their pussies before he had to stop using the talisman, his body instinctively recognizing the cost.
So that was the trade-off. The more things he peered into at the same time, the faster his energy drained.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
Yet he felt there was a balance to be found—a way to fine-tune the talisman's function without exhausting himself too quickly. And there was no better time to practice than a long school day.
With that in mind, Oliver made his way to his first class, already considering how far he could push his abilities before someone slipping into the sea of students navigating the halls. The familiar scent of worn textbooks and floor polish-laced the air.
Oliver settled into his usual seat in the back of the classroom, the mundane bustle of students filling the air as they chatted and settled in for the lesson. The teacher, a short man with a thick mustache, was already half-heartedly droning on about the day's lesson, his voice a mere background hum to the thoughts swirling in Oliver's mind. He was just about to let his attention wander when a voice cut through the noise behind him.
"Hey, Oliver, guess what I found?"
Oliver turned just slightly, his gaze falling on Akari. She was tanned, her blond hair tied into low twin-tails that gave her an almost impish look. Her sharp, mischievous eyes were always shifting, making it difficult to read what was going on in her mind. Right now, though, he could tell from the glint in her eyes that she was about to share something interesting, or perhaps something that would get them both into trouble.
"What did you find now, Akari?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Akari leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I found this really great manga. It's... well, let's just say it's got some pretty wild scenes in it. I can't wait to show you after class, in the Asian Culture Club. You'll love it."
Oliver blinked at her for a moment, already prepared for whatever came next. "Oh, really? Is it one of those... you know, those kinds of mangas?" he asked, his lips curling into a half-smile.
Akari's eyes sparkled mischievously. "What kinds of mangas?"
"Akari," he said, leaning back in his chair with a knowing look. "If it's something you'd recommend, I'm sure I'd end up in jail if anyone found it. You and your recommendations..."
Akari giggled, her expression far too innocent for the thoughts clearly running through her head. "Maybe you're just not adventurous enough, Oliver. C'mon, you're always so uptight. You gotta loosen up and try something new."
He scoffed, shaking his head. "I don't need anything that could land me in the police station. You really need to think about what you're recommending sometimes."
"Oh, come on, don't be such a buzzkill," she teased, poking him lightly in the shoulder. "It's just for fun. You'd be surprised at what you're missing out on." She said it with a tone that made it clear she was fully aware of the kind of mischief she was instigating.
Oliver chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll pass this time. You're on your own with this one, Akari. Maybe next time I'll join in... but only if it's... less illegal." His grin was half-amused, a compromise for their usual back-and-forth banter.
Before Akari could respond, the classroom door suddenly swung open, and a student poked his head in, scanning the room. "Uh, Oliver? The principal wants to see you."
The classroom fell into a brief silence as all eyes turned toward him. Oliver froze for a second, then sighed. He gave Akari an fake apologetic look before standing up from his seat. "Guess that's my cue."
Akari's grin faltered for just a moment, then returned as she gave him a wink. "I'll still be waiting to corrupt your innocence later, Oliver. Don't think I forgot."
Oliver just shook his head, making his way out of the classroom. He had no idea what the principal wanted, but he could already feel the weight of whatever it was looming over him. As he stepped into the hallway, he glanced back at the classroom door. Whatever trouble was waiting for him now, he wasn't looking forward to it.