I’ve had enough. Between the steroid-pumped gorilla I just fought and carrying Kana on my back, I’m completely worn out. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. All I ever wanted was a quiet life, but now, I find myself in the crosshairs of a group of maniacs.

I glance wearily around, looking for an escape. Across the street, I spot a small tram station bathed in flickering light, like an old lamp about to burn out. The place looks forgotten, frozen in time. The walls are covered in colorful graffiti, and litter is scattered across the ground. The dirt and decay of this place give off a vibe of total neglect, as if no one even remembers it exists.

Despite the difficulty of walking, I cross the street, drawn by the idea of shelter. I collapse heavily onto the platform’s bench, breathing hard, my muscles tight from the strain. Kana weighs down on my back, but my exhaustion goes beyond mere physical fatigue.

Rin — "I was lucky to intercept that syringe in time. Judging by the liquid inside…"

Crackling Voice — "Sir, given its contents, this is likely a powerful tranquilizer."

Rin — "I guess my earpiece still works, Hikari. Can you hear me?"

Hikari — "Based on the scans, you’re carrying a heavy load."

Rin — "Uh…?"

I glance at Kana, who’s half-asleep on my back, and without a shred of shame, I drop her onto the ground.

Hikari — "That hasn’t changed anything, sir."

Rin — "I know, Hikari. She’s not the problem—it’s that steroid-fueled guy we encountered earlier."

Hikari — "You could have been more courteous and placed her on the bench."

Rin — "Courtesy? Whether it’s the bench or the ground, she won’t feel the difference."

Hikari — "Who is this girl?"

Rin — "Kana, a friend of a friend. I got myself into this mess just to retrieve her."

It’s been about 15 minutes since I left the alley, and I’m still feeling the aftereffects of the fight, though they’re slowly wearing off. At first, I didn’t feel anything, so maybe the source of the pain is something else. The pain is too intense to think clearly right now.

Hikari — "I can analyze that for you, sir. Your current movements and those before the battle indicate you were enduring a force equivalent to five..."

Rin — "G!"

Hikari — "Correct, and it spiked to six at one point."

That lines up with the various shockwaves I felt during the fight. I’m starting to understand the pattern: I lose about one G every 15 minutes. This is dangerous; I can’t just sit here for nearly an hour and a half.

Rin — "Hikari, find a way for me to move quickly."

Hikari — "... "

Rin — "Hikari?"

Hikari — "Yes, sir!"

I suddenly turn around, and to my surprise, I see my own android prototype approaching, wearing my sports clothes. It stands there, towering and still, like a silent colossus, its vacant eyes gazing down at me.

Rin — "Whaaa!"

I lose my balance, startled by the sight, and fall heavily to the ground. I sigh, too exhausted to bother getting up—it would be too much effort for nothing, my muscles still tense from the residual gravity weighing down on me.

Rin — "What are you doing here? Why did you activate the prototype when it’s not even finished?"

Hikari’s voice resonates from the android, calm and precise.

Hikari — "Since you couldn’t move, I took the initiative to activate the android you had in development."

I sigh, looking at the android dressed in my old sports gear. Both annoyed and slightly impressed, I shake my head.

Rin — "And you thought it was a good idea to dress it in my sports clothes?"

Hikari — "For discretion, I judged your clothing to be more appropriate, sir."

Hikari, accustomed to analyzing and anticipating my needs, often reacts autonomously. She comes up with practical solutions in unexpected situations thanks to a certain creativity, though her approach can be a bit abrupt at times.

Rin — "However, the movements are still a bit clumsy, right? What are you going to do now?"

Hikari — "Given the current circumstances, since I can’t assist you physically, I will carry your friend to the nearest AGL post. You have exactly 47 minutes and 26 seconds left before you can move freely."

Rin — "Why exactly 47 minutes? You're missing 30 minutes from your calculations."

Hikari — "Considering your ability to handle three Gs during training, I recalculated your recovery time to account for your current resistance."

Rin — "..."

Hikari — "Sir?"

Rin — "Hikari, I’ve told you many times not to call me 'sir.' Just call me Rin."

Hikari — "Of course, Sir Rin."

I sigh. Always the same tone, always the same pattern. Maybe one day she’ll change. Maybe not.

Rin — "Hikari, quickly drop her off at a guard post, then come back for me."

As Hikari walks off with Kana, the sky rapidly darkens, signaling the arrival of night. A slight breeze picks up, sending a few papers and debris swirling across the tram platform. I stare at the ceiling of the shelter, my muscles still tense from this rather restrictive ability. The sound of the android’s footsteps fades into the distance, leaving me once again enveloped in silence.

I glance down and discover a small pouch attached to my belt, something I don’t recall picking up. In the chaos of the battle, I must have grabbed it, thinking it belonged to Kana. When I open it, I find two syringes filled with a distinct liquid. A name stands out clearly on the label: "Nerve Blaze."

As I mull over the nature of the syringe seized during the fight, a revelation hits me: what if this syringe is connected to the unnaturally resistant and aggressive behavior of the young people under Kain’s control? It would explain their superhuman endurance and heightened aggression—traits not typical of ordinary individuals. This hypothesis suggests Kain might have access to advanced technologies and scientific knowledge.

Not only does he seem capable of recruiting and manipulating young people for his own purposes, but he’s literally turning them into human weapons. If I’m right, Kain might have a lab, or even a distribution network for this "Nerve Blaze," possibly with the help of covert corporations.

Kain and his lieutenants aren’t amateurs. Their organization is structured, with every action carefully planned. They knew the location, the vehicles, the method of abduction. All of this points to ambitions far greater than simple street fights; their plans could affect the entire city.

I need to analyze this syringe as soon as I get home. I’ll use everything I have to understand this substance, even though biochemistry isn’t really my specialty...

And then there’s the immediate question of getting home. I’m so tired of being in this situation. Normally, I don’t interact with others, but as soon as I started talking to Kin, trouble followed. Without my intervention, she and others would’ve been taken. It frustrates me.

I didn’t have any of my gear with me since I was at the institute, and I can’t even muster the energy to get up and sit on the bench. The rain starts to fall, lightly at first, but I can feel it threatening to intensify. It’s been nearly 30 minutes already, and Hikari is taking her sweet time getting back.

The rain softly drums on the metal roof of the shelter, creating a steady rhythm in the silence surrounding me. Lying on the ground, I feel I can finally move a bit more. Even though I’m sheltered from the drops, the cold of the ground seeps through my body. I close my eyes for a moment, letting the soothing sound of the rain occupy my thoughts.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

It’s already been 30 minutes, and Hikari is still nowhere to be seen. Am I really going to have to spend the night here? I push myself into a push-up position, trying to get up, but my arms still protest under the lingering fatigue.

That’s when I hear footsteps echoing on the wet pavement. At first, I pay no attention, but soon I notice a pair of shoes standing right in front of me.

Rin — "Sigh… You’re finally back, Hika..."

I look up at the approaching figure, and I realize it’s not Hikari. The shape of the shoes, the silhouette...

Rin — "...Kin?"

Kin — "I finally found you... wait... let me catch my breath... I had to run all over the city to find you here."

The flickering streetlights cast a faint glow, barely enough to illuminate her rain-soaked face. She bends toward me, her hair plastered against her face, dripping with rain. The worry in her eyes contrasts with my apparent nonchalance.

Rin — "You found me… nice job."

I respond, a bit detached, still half-lying on the ground. I try to get up, but my arms don’t obey, still too weak from the gravity pressure that’s only just starting to ease.

Kin — "I hope you’re not waiting for the tram. This stop hasn’t been in service for a while… Why are you lying on the ground like that, doing push-ups or something?"

She moves closer, and without waiting for an answer, she grabs my arms and tries to lift me up. But despite her efforts, my body is still too heavy.

Kin — "Wait, let me help… Huuu, I can’t even move you an inch. Have you gained weight or something?"

She laughs lightly, quickly wiping the water from her face with a gesture, but I can sense the tension in her voice. Her smile doesn’t hide the concern running through her.

Rin — "It’s complicated."

Kin — "Does it have to do with your fight?"

Her tone shifts, becoming more serious. She’s not letting this go, and I know it. The rain keeps falling around us, but it’s as if she doesn’t even notice anymore. She wants answers, and she won’t leave without getting them.

Rin — "Wha… What are you talking about?"

Kin — "I saw you on the security cameras. You fought to defend Kana and Mio, even though... she didn’t really need it. It was impressive, but I saw you were struggling."

I feel her gaze on me, heavy with expectation. She saw everything, of course. But I can’t explain it all. Not now.

Rin — "I wasn’t as meticulous as I thought… I completely forgot there were security cameras in that alley. I lost my clarity in the heat of the battle. Now, what am I going to do?"

Kin — "So, who brought Kana back? Since you couldn’t move…"

She doesn’t give me any break, and I remain silent. Hikari did all the work, but I’m not going to reveal everything—not yet. Kin sighs, visibly frustrated by my lack of responses.

Kin — "Sigh… Fine, let’s move past that, but you’re going to have to explain what happened and, more importantly, who those people are."

Rin — "Usually, I’m the one who sighs… I can’t explain."

Kin — "Why not?"

Rin — "You wouldn’t understand. It’s too dangerous."

She leans in even closer, determined. I know I won’t get away from this easily with her.

Kin — "Wait, wait, are you kidding me? I couldn’t do anything against those guys, even with what you gave me, and you knocked them out in the blink of an eye? In the alley, you were flying around like crazy, and you didn’t even break a bone. You and those guys did so much damage, there are cracks and holes everywhere. It looked like a bomb went off!"

I stay silent. How could I explain all this to her? It’s not like she can understand the weight of my abilities... or theirs.

Kin — "Answer me! And that weird arm of yours... I thought I imagined it when you saved me, but I saw it again on the security camera. What’s going on, Rin?"

I sigh, knowing I can’t dodge this conversation any longer. With a gesture, I signal her to bring me a small rock lying a few meters away.

Rin — "Bring me that rock over there."

Kin frowns, skeptical.

Kin — "You really want me to bring you a rock?"

Rin — "Look at me. I can’t even scratch my nose, which has been itching for a while now."

She sighs in turn, clearly irritated, but she complies. On the way, she grabs my hand and moves it to my face, finally allowing me to scratch my nose. A wave of immediate relief washes over me.

Kin — "There, happy?"

I nod in thanks as she picks up the rock and hands it to me.

Kin — "Here."

Rin — "..."

Kin — "Oh, sorry."

Kin — "Here."

I reach out, and she finally places the rock in my hand, watching with curiosity. I squeeze the stone in my palm, feeling every detail of its rough texture. Then, I focus on its molecular structure, sensing the subtle vibrations that make it up.

Kin — "What are you going to…?"

She trails off, watching every movement intently. Slowly, the rock begins to change, reshaping itself under the influence of my will. It stretches and densifies, encasing my fingers, then covering my entire fist. What was once a simple stone transforms into a compact and solid stone gauntlet.

I raise my hand, showing off the gauntlet. Kin remains silent for a moment, her eyes studying every detail of the transformation.

Kin — "Incredible… The density of the material has changed, you’ve reconfigured the basic structure... It’s like you’re manipulating the atoms themselves."

She examines my hand closely, almost like a scientist in the middle of an observation, her eyes shining with interest.

Kin — "It’s not just magic... You’re actually altering the matter... the atomic composition, right?"

I nod slightly, holding the gauntlet a moment longer for her to observe. Then, with a subtle gesture, the stone begins to disintegrate, fragmenting into small pieces that gently fall to the ground. My hand returns to normal, without leaving a trace of the alteration.

Kin stares at the fragments in fascination.

Kin — "That defies all known laws of physics. If you can manipulate matter like that... the possibilities are endless."

I remain silent, letting her process what she’s just seen, sensing that her mind is already trying to grasp the scientific implications of this power.

Rin — "Now you understand why I didn’t want to show you this."

Kin straightens up slightly, her eyes still fixed on the stone fragments on the ground. She seems lost in thought, trying to connect what she’s seen to everything she knows. Her brain seems to be working overtime.

Kin — "It’s... so much more than I imagined. If you can do that with a simple rock, you could... literally create or destroy solid objects, right?"

I sigh, knowing full well where this is headed. This curiosity, this need to understand.

Rin — "It’s more complicated than that. It takes energy, concentration, and there are limits. It’s not as simple as snapping my fingers and transforming everything. And it also depends on the rock I have on hand."

I let out a sigh, already used to her insatiable need to understand. I know where this is going, and it’s not a road I’m willing to go down.

Kin frowns slightly, but I can tell she’s already searching for answers. I need to stop her questions before she digs too deep.

Rin — "Don’t try to understand it now, it’s just how it is. Some people have... special abilities. Trust me."

She stares at me for a moment, and silence settles between us, broken only by the soothing sound of rain drumming on the shelter’s roof. I can see her mind racing, but eventually, she nods.

Kin — "Alright... but one day, you’ll have to explain everything."

Rin — "I promise."

I start to feel my muscles relax, gradually recovering. Moving is becoming much easier. I think the effects are manageable now, but I’m still exhausted. Thankfully, Kin showed up, because Hikari still hasn’t returned.

Rin — "I can start moving... I’ll manage to get home, even if it’s still a bit complicated."

Kin — "Need a hand?"

Rin — "Yeah, thanks."

She helps me to my feet, and I lean on her for support. Once I’m standing, I regain some stability. Kin watches me for a moment, still curious.

Kin — "You’re not going to give up on finding that girl who was pretending to be Mio, are you?"

Rin — "I’ll see what I can do. If I don’t, I know you’ll just throw yourself into trouble."

Kin — "Yep!"

I look at her, surprised by her lightheartedness in this whole situation. It’s not really like her, and yet...

Rin — "You’re handling this pretty well... I’m surprised, coming from you, the curious one."

Kin — "Well, sometimes the rumors are true, right? It was you last night, wasn’t it? With those scratches and the destroyed AGL android?"

I grit my teeth at her question, but she bursts out laughing, amused by the situation.

Kin — "Alright, alright, no more questions."

Rin — "I don’t know what you’re talking about. And if it had been me, I would’ve been much more discreet."

Kin — "It’s really cool hanging out with you."

I look at her, exhausted. The only response I can muster is another sigh.