Sylvia’s sharp eyes flicked between Hikari and Katsuki, but her focus soon locked onto Hikari. Her gaze was intense—piercing, almost predatory. Hikari could feel it weighing down on her, like the scrutiny of a predator sizing up prey. It made her feel insignificant, like an ant under the heel of a god.
Yet, behind that cold and commanding stare, Sylvia was intrigued. No, more than intrigued—impressed. She had never encountered an aura so raw and potent in someone so young. Her curiosity deepened as she studied Hikari further. This… this is unusual, Sylvia thought, her eyes widening slightly as the realization hit her. A sly smirk tugged at her lips.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Sylvia said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Another prodigy, I see~.”
She stood from her seat and strode confidently toward Katsuki and Hikari. Stopping in front of the girl, Sylvia placed a firm but surprisingly gentle hand on her shoulder, her smirk growing.
“Yes… I can see it now. Your aura is potent, untamed, and intense.” Sylvia’s other hand rested on her hip as she tilted her head, studying Hikari like a fascinating specimen. “And you seem to be an esper too~.” Her tone carried a teasing lilt, but her words held undeniable weight. “I haven’t felt such powerful aura since Katsuki arrived~!”
Hikari’s chest swelled slightly with pride at the compliment, even if she didn’t fully understand it. This whole aura and esper business still felt foreign and confusing, but there was one thing she did know: if she could harness this strange energy within her, she’d be unstoppable.
Sylvia’s gaze shifted to Katsuki, her playful smirk never faltering. “So, Katsuki, where exactly did you find this girl~?”
Katsuki crossed his arms, his expression unchanging. “Remember my mission to kill that alleyway demon near Seiryu Institute at Futaba High?”
Sylvia raised an eyebrow, her smirk curling into a grin. “Oh, I remember. I also heard you got yourself caught by a wendigo and caused a ton of property damage in the process.”
Katsuki (Thoughts): “Damn Nami!!” He could see a vision of her smirking at him, that infuriating grin etched into his memory. Shaking his head, he muttered, “Anyways… like I was saying, while I was undercover, I felt an immense amount of aura coming from a classroom.”
The memory came rushing back—a flash of him standing outside the school, staring up at the window of Classroom 107. The afternoon sun reflected off the glass, but something else shimmered faintly—something unnatural.
“And then I decided to check it out.”
The flashback continued: Katsuki walked through the gates, his steps quick but deliberate, his senses on high alert. The closer he got to the building, the stronger the aura became, prickling against his skin like static electricity. He ascended the stairs, stopping just outside the classroom door.
Peering inside, his breath caught. There she was.
Hikari sat in the middle of the room, oblivious to his presence. Surrounding her was an immense cyan fire, flickering and pulsing like a living thing. To anyone else, she might have looked like an ordinary student, but to Katsuki, the flames betrayed her secret.
“I could see such a potent aura around her—almost like mine, but different. For an esper.” The cyan flames flickered and danced around her before the memory faded, pulling Katsuki back to the present.
Sylvia tilted her head, studying Hikari once more. “I see. So, Hikari… have you ever believed in the supernatural before today?”
Hikari blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Uh, no. Not even a little bit—at least, not until today.” She scratched the back of her head awkwardly. “But my grandfather used to tell me stories about the supernatural. And… well, I used to meditate a lot with my grandmother.”
Sylvia’s eyebrow arched with curiosity. “Meditation, you say? That might explain why your aura is so potent~.” Her voice held a note of intrigue, and her eyes sparkled as if piecing together a puzzle.
Katsuki smirked, crossing his arms. “Ha, looks like we’ve got another prodigy on our hands—just like me~.”
Sylvia chuckled softly. “Perhaps. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Her aura may be powerful, but it’s untamed. She hasn’t even begun to tap into its potential. She needs proper training.”
Katsuki shrugged nonchalantly. “Should I just take her to Lila? She’s probably the best person to train her.”
Sylvia nodded, her expression turning serious. “That’s a good idea. But once she’s learned the basics, I want all four of you—Lila, Nami, you, and Hikari—to report to my office. I’ll have an assignment ready for you.”
Katsuki’s smirk widened. “An assignment, huh? Sounds like fun.”
Hikari shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what she was being dragged into. Still, the prospect of learning to control her aura—and proving herself—sparked a flicker of determination within her.
Hikari and Katsuki walked down the church’s quiet hall, their footsteps echoing softly against the walls. The pair made their way to the backyard, where they spotted Lila practicing her psychic abilities. She was levitating several large rocks, spinning them gracefully in the air before smashing them together with sharp precision.
Hikari froze, her heart skipping a beat. A soft blush crept across her cheeks as she took in Lila’s focused expression, her cute ponytail swaying slightly as she worked.
Hikari (Thoughts): Oh my god… this girl is so damn cute! Wait, what am I thinking? No, no, no. I’m not gay… right? Of course, I’m not gay…
“Yo, Hikari,” Katsuki said, pushing his glasses up and running a hand through his messy brown hair. “Imma need you to snap outta your little love trance for a sec.”
Hikari startled, her face heating up further as she shook her head vigorously. “R-right… my bad.”
Lila glanced up, noticing the two of them. Her eyes lit up, and she waved enthusiastically. “Oh, it’s you guys~! I was wondering when you’d show up again~!” she chirped, her voice sweet and bubbly. She lowered the massive rocks with ease, gently setting them on the ground.
Katsuki smirked. “Lila, I’m here so you can train Hikari~.”
“Train her?” Lila tilted her head, her curious tone making her sound even more playful.
“Yup. Lady Sylvia thinks it’s a good idea to have you train her, and I’m inclined to agree.” Katsuki gestured toward Hikari. “She’s got an aura as potent as mine~.”
Lila’s brow furrowed slightly as she examined Hikari, her expression quickly shifting to one of surprise. “Oh wow~! You’re right. She’s got such an immense aura~!” Lila’s warm smile made Hikari’s chest tighten, and she instinctively puffed herself up, eager to impress.
“That’s right!” Hikari declared proudly, trying to appear confident. “I’m gonna be a powerful esper~!”
Lila giggled softly, her laughter like music to Hikari’s ears. “Yup, I can totally see it~! With an aura this strong, you’ve got 30 times the potential of the average esper~.” Her tone was light and cheerful, but her words carried an encouraging sincerity.
Hikari felt her heart race, swearing internally that she might explode from how utterly adorable Lila was being.
“Ha, that’s a pretty high number,” Hikari said, grinning as she placed her hands on her hips. “That must mean I’ll be able to kick some serious supernatural butt~!”
Katsuki snorted, crossing his arms. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, girly. You’ve still gotta learn how to manipulate your aura first. Training comes before butt-kicking.”
Hikari folded her arms, narrowing her eyes at Katsuki. “Yeah, yeah, I know that. I’m not stupid.”
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Katsuki shrugged with a sly grin. “Could’ve fooled me~.”
“How dare you!” Hikari huffed, landing a playful punch on his arm. Katsuki chuckled, brushing it off, while Lila giggled softly at their banter.
“Alright, you two, calm down~,” Lila said with a sweet tone, trying to diffuse the energy.
“Yeah, Hikari, listen to her. Calm down~,” Katsuki teased, earning a glare from Hikari.
“Anyway,” Hikari said, exhaling sharply, “how about you leave while I’m training? You can check on me later when we’re done.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll be back to see if you’ve made any progress,” Katsuki replied, raising his hands in mock surrender before turning on his heel and heading back into the church.
Lila watched him leave, then turned her full attention to Hikari. Her expression shifted to one of cheerful focus, her warm smile lighting up her face.
“Alright, Hikari, ready to learn how to use those psychic abilities of yours? Let’s start with something simple~.” Lila crouched down, picking up a small, weighted ball. She held it in her palm, and with a casual flick of her wrist, it floated a few inches off her hand.
“See this? It’s all about focusing on the energy inside you. Picture what you want the object to do and channel your aura to make it happen. It takes practice, so don’t worry if you don’t get it right away~.”
She placed the ball on the ground in front of Hikari and gave her an encouraging nod. “Your turn! Take your time. Clear your mind, focus, and let your energy flow through it. You’ve got this~.”
Hikari nodded, determination glinting in her eyes. She crouched down, staring at the ball with laser focus.
“Good, good~,” Lila said softly as she stood by, watching closely. “Don’t overthink it. Let your instincts guide you. The more you relax, the easier it’ll be~.”
Hikari took a deep breath, centering herself. She closed her eyes, imagining her aura bubbling up from deep within like water pushing against a dam. Slowly, she tried to direct that energy toward the ball, willing it to move.
The air around her seemed to shift, thickening slightly with a subtle hum of power. The ball trembled, wobbling before lifting just an inch off the ground.
“You’re doing great~,” Lila said, her voice bright and encouraging. “Just like that! Keep your focus steady. Think of your energy as a gentle stream guiding the ball where you want it to go. Trust yourself~.”
Sweat beaded on Hikari’s forehead as she poured every ounce of her concentration into the task. The ball wavered before rising higher, hovering a few feet off the ground.
Then, something inside her cracked—like a seal shattering.
A wild surge of energy erupted from Hikari, flooding her veins like an uncontrollable tidal wave. Her aura burst outward in a violent wave, slamming into everything around her.
Lila’s smile vanished, replaced with wide-eyed astonishment. She quickly stepped back, summoning a shimmering psychic shield just as the raw energy exploded outward. The impact rocked the area, forcing Lila to brace herself as her shield absorbed the shock. Dust swirled through the air before slowly settling.
When the chaos subsided, Lila lowered her shield, brushing a bit of dust off her clothes. A smirk tugged at her lips as she looked at Hikari. “Well… that’s new. Looks like you’ve got a natural affinity for psychic abilities~.”
Hikari stared at her hands, still gripping the weighted ball. Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, her mind reeling from what had just happened.
“What… what was that?” she murmured, her voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to let that out…”
Hikari’s heart pounded in her chest, excitement and a flicker of fear dancing in her wide eyes.
“I… I didn’t even know I had that much power,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Lila nodded, her expression both thoughtful and impressed. “It seems you have just as much potential as Katsuki. Your aura is incredibly powerful, just like his, but there’s a stark difference between you two—you’re like yin and yang.”
Hikari tilted her head in curiosity as Lila paused, her gaze intensifying as she studied the aura radiating from her.
“Katsuki has the highest Supernatural Affinity in the entire Church. His connection to supernatural forces is so precise that he can manipulate his powers down to an atomic level, controlling even the tiniest details. But you…” Lila’s lips curled into a small smile. “You’re the opposite. You have the lowest Supernatural Affinity. Your control is raw, unrefined, but your aura output is the highest in the Church. It’s like a floodgate—powerful and overwhelming, even if it’s untamed.”
Hikari’s head swam with the revelation, her breaths coming in shallow as she tried to process it all. “So, I have a lot of power, but it’s… uncontrolled? And Katsuki has a lot of control, but less power. I never thought about it that way.”
Her gaze faltered as a hint of insecurity crept into her voice. “Does that make me a dangerous liability?”
Lila’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she broke into a grin, nudging Hikari’s shoulder playfully. “Dangerous liability? Pfft, please! That’s way too dramatic, even for you, Hikari!” Her teasing tone carried a layer of warmth that immediately eased the tension. “You’re not some ticking time bomb, okay? You’re like… a powerhouse wrapped in a mystery! Katsuki’s got his fine-tuned control, sure, but you—” she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper—“you’re a force of nature! And that’s exciting.”
She stepped back, spinning on her heel with a theatrical flourish. Her skirt swirled around her as she laughed. “Having raw, untamed power is nothing to be insecure about, Hikari. It means you’re limitless! We just need to figure out how to focus that energy. And trust me—” she winked, confidence radiating from her—“there’s no one better at pulling out potential than me.”
Hikari chuckled despite herself, Lila’s infectious enthusiasm washing over her like a wave. “You’re incorrigible, Lila. Always spinning everything into something exciting. Fine. I get it—I’m a powerhouse wrapped in a mystery. But how do we figure out how to control this ‘limitless’ potential without accidentally turning the city into a crater?”
Lila rolled her eyes dramatically, her smirk never faltering. “Oh, come on, Hikari! Where’s your adventurous spirit? Live a little—imagine the possibilities!” She tapped her chin, her expression turning mock-serious. “Alright, if you insist on being all reasonable…”
She leaned forward, her voice low and playful. “We’ll start small. Channeling your energy into controlled exercises, like moving a pebble instead of smashing a building. Baby steps, Hikari.”
Then, her mischievous grin returned. “But honestly, imagine it—unleashing that kind of power! You could bring down buildings with a flick of your wrist, move faster than a speeding bullet—oh wait, no, you won’t be faster than Katsuki~.”
Hikari groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Oh, shut up, Lila. You don’t have to remind me every five seconds that he’s faster. I get it, Katsuki’s the speedster of the century. No need to rub it in.”
Lila laughed, thoroughly enjoying herself. “Don’t be so grumpy! I’m just stating facts. Your new powers are impressive, but you know Katsuki’s got you beat in speed.”
Hikari crossed her arms, her brow furrowing in mock annoyance before a sly grin crept onto her face. “Speed isn’t everything, Lila. Just wait until I learn to control this power—I’ll leave Katsuki in the dust! Who needs speed when I can unleash an aura that could level mountains? Just think about it: one big blast, and I’m the star of the show.”
She winked, her confidence glowing as she leaned closer. “Give me some time. I might just surprise you.”
Lila tilted her head, her grin widening. “Okay, fair point. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. If anyone can figure this out, it’s you. Just, y’know, try not to accidentally level the whole city while you’re at it.”
Hikari laughed, her cheeks warming as she playfully nudged Lila’s shoulder, unable to stop herself from glancing at the way Lila’s hair caught the light. She tried to focus on her joke instead of the wild flutter in her chest.
“Hey, a little collateral damage never hurt anyone, right? Just think of it as… an unexpected makeover for the city!”
Her grin was teasing, but inside, her thoughts were anything but casual. God, how does she always look so effortlessly cool?
Leaning back, Hikari crossed her arms, her expression shifting to mock seriousness. “But seriously, I’ll keep it under control… mostly. Can’t have you getting in trouble for my epic power moments, can I? But if I do accidentally take down a building or two—” she paused, her smile widening into a softer, almost shy grin—“I’ll totally take you out for ice cream as an apology.”
Her heart skipped as she said it, the words laced with more meaning than she intended. Ice cream wasn’t just ice cream if it was with Lila. It was a chance to spend more time with her, just the two of them. She quickly averted her gaze, hoping Lila wouldn’t catch the faint blush creeping up her neck.
Lila, of course, just laughed, completely oblivious to Hikari’s inner turmoil. “Ice cream, huh? That’s your way of making up for leveling a city block? You’re too much, Hikari!” She nudged her back with an easy grin, her laugh ringing out like music.
Hikari’s heart raced at the sound, and she couldn’t help but think, “I’d level the whole damn city if it meant seeing you smile like that again.”
Katsuki walked back toward them, his footsteps echoing with annoyance. “God damn, I leave for no more than 15 minutes and you girls are already trying to blow up the damn building.”
Lila waved him off with a playful smirk. “Oh, relax, Kaizen. I’m making sure she doesn’t blow anything up~”
Katsuki rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Mhm, well, you guys’ training is gonna have to go on hold for now.”
Hikari raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “And why’s that?”
Katsuki glanced over at her with a half-smirk. “Don’t you remember? Lady Sylvia told us to come to her office after you’re done with your training.”
Hikari blinked, confused. “But I’m not done with my training.”
Katsuki shrugged nonchalantly before grabbing her wrist and beginning to pull her toward the church’s interior. “Lila, would you be a dear and go get Nami for me~?”
Lila let out a dramatic sigh, but her lips curled into a teasing grin. “Sure, I guess.”
Katsuki gave her a bright, exaggerated smile. “Great, thank you so much~ Now let’s go, Hikari.”
Lila made her way through the dimly lit halls of the building, her boots clicking on the floor with each step. It didn’t take her long to find Nami training in the center. Lila leaned against the doorframe with a smirk. “Hey, Nami~”
Nami paused her training, annoyance flashing across her face. She sighed deeply before turning around to face Lila, crossing her arms. “What is it you need? Can’t you see I’m training right now?”
Lila smirked, undeterred by Nami’s cold tone. “Yessss, I know, but Lady Sylvia said she wanted to see all of us in her office~”
Nami groaned loudly, rubbing her temples. “Ugh, of course she does. I bet she’s gonna rope me into something I don’t wanna do…”
Just as she was about to resume her training, a voice rang out, cutting through the air.
“WHAT WANT ME TO DO WHAT?!” Nami shouted, her voice full of frustration.
Sylvia’s voice came from the speaker with authority. “Lower your tone, Nami. And I want you to accompany Katsuki, Lila, and Hikari on their first mission.”
Nami’s eyes widened as she shook her head vigorously. “I don’t understand, though! Why me?! Haven’t you guys tortured me enough by making me be Katsuki’s partner… Can’t you get one of the other exorcists, like Toshi?”
Sylvia remained calm, her gaze unwavering. “You know that boy is a wildcard, and we can’t seem to pinpoint his location. And since he’s not here, you’ll be going with them.”
Nami groaned again, clearly displeased. “UGHGGGHHH…”
Sylvia’s tone softened, almost in an attempt to sweeten the deal. “I promise I’ll pay you well for this.”
Nami’s eyes snapped to attention at the mention of money. “I’ll make sure to keep an eye on these three.”
Hikari shot Nami a side-eye, feeling the tension shift. I guess money really can solve all problems…
Katsuki didn’t waste any time, eager to get to the task at hand. “So Sylvia, what mission are you sending us on?”
Sylvia glanced down at the papers in front of her, her fingers skimming through them. “There’s been a lot of strange occurrences in Shibuya lately. Some of the lower-ranked exorcists went to check it out. They said there’s a Kagutsuchi and a Jorogumo there. Over 100k deaths this week.”
Hikari’s breath caught in her throat, and her chest tightened. The death count hit her hard, a brutal reminder that the supernatural world was as dangerous as it was fascinating.
Lila, ever the optimist, winked confidently. “Don’t worry, Lady Sylvia. We’ll take those entities down in no time~!”
Katsuki grinned, cracking his knuckles. “That’s right, I’ll smash right through them!”
Sylvia raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by their bravado. “Right, Nami, make sure you keep a close eye on these two. You know how much trouble they get into when they’re alone. I’ll make sure to give you a 25% increase in your pay if you do.”
Nami nodded firmly, her expression suddenly serious at the mention of money. “You can count on me, Miss. I’ll make sure to watch these dumbasses.”
The scene shifted to the four standing in front of an abandoned hospital building, the tension palpable in the air. The aura of the entities inside was unmistakable, and even Nami, usually cool-headed, could feel the weight of it pressing down on them.
Nami stepped forward and turned toward the trio. “Alright, so we’ll be going into this building together to kill the entities inside. That means no fooling around and no taking detours. We’re here to do one thing and one thing only. Am I clear?”
Katsuki, Lila, and Hikari all gave half-hearted responses, clearly more concerned with the strange energy around them than with Nami’s orders. “I guess,” they muttered in unison.
“Good, now let’s go,” Nami said, leading the way, her expression hardening.
The four of them walked into the building, unaware of the horrors waiting for them inside. Each step carried them deeper into the unknown, and Hikari couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission would change everything.