LIBERI FATALI

  Chapter 1: Enter Junshin Fujimoto

  I

  Junshin Fujimoto’s gaze glued to the screen, mouth sightly ajar when a news caster announced the achievements of his brother in the ANGeLS. Kazuki won a reward at SeRAPH for helping the community in Tokyo, by aiding the police, visiting fire fighters and putting out fires and rescuing people from burning buildings, catching criminals, solving mysteries, and more. Junshin watched the flat screen television that rattled off Kazuki’s various accolades, with the mayor giving him a medal of honor.

  Junshin wanted to say he was proud, though instead, he felt his stomach twist into several uncomfortable knots. For many years, his father (now deceased) and Kazuki have kept him from SeRAPH Academy, though it wasn’t until this year that Kazuki made the decision as hie sole caretaker at eighteen to move him to the SeRAPH headquarters. Though that wasn’t what worried Junshin. What worried him the most was living in the shoes of someone so accomplished, someone who was a practical hero in the eyes of SeRAPH.

  I don’t think I can live up to a brother like Kazuki, Junshin thought, considering his options as he wrote notes about the news broadcast in his notebook. If I study his methods and his words, maybe I could glean something useful to apply to my own training and thinking process to improve.

  The tea kettle hissed, startling Junshin out of his concentration as he went to cool it down and set it off from the burner. He poured himself a cup of tea into a saucer cup, placing it in a floral indented dish and carried it out onto the low table where the television sat in the corner, blaring visuals and audio of a closeup of his brother’s handsome visage. Supposedly they shared the same genes, but…

  Junshin, a red-haired teen with spiky tufts of hair that formed a disarray casual messines that had feathery bangs falling over his eyes in shaggy strands, glanced at his phone with neon green eyes. He tapped his long fingers on the floor in anticipation, wondering when the text message would come. He rested on the floor, long spindly legs jutting out in awkward ungraceful angles of a pubescent teen growing into their new body, frowned as he looked at the bottom bar of the news cast that encrypted something about psychotic breaks taking place. People have mentioned that their actions have been unusual, though wasn’t enough to make the front lines. What was momentous about this occasion for Kazuki and the media for Psions is that Kazuki became a Symbol of Peace for Tokyo and also bridged the gap between Naturals and Psions. Naturals were normal humans, while Psions weree genetically gifted humans with superpowers that had a baseline of telepathy, basic telekinesis, and a special telekinetic ability that they specialized in. Junshin studied this before he would head to his new school: SeRAPH, or Secular Research Academy of Psionic Humans.

  I want to get into a good college. I hear at SeRAPH you can have a career as an ANGeLS member and do all kinds of things around the community. It’s a lucrative living, and hopefully I will be able to move out of my brother’s shadow and make it on my own.

  His phone beeped, and Junshin took his phone out of his pocket and read the notifications.

  Junshin, Kazuki texted. I need you to do something for me.

  Junshin scratched his chin in thought, before texting back. What do you need?

  For your first day of class, no one knows you, Kazuki said. Keep your powers on the downlow.

  Junshin frowned and bit his lip, before saying. Why do I have to keep my powers hidden in a school with literal Level 5 Calamities?

  I told you all the details about SeRAPH, Kazuki texted. Though let’s say this is an important mission I’m giving you.

  Junshin straightened. What mission?

  People know that I have a brother, but they don’t know your background or history or abilities, Kazuki said. Keeping your abilities hidden or on the average side, say, will keep you safe.

  How dangerous is this mission that you’re giving me? Junshin’s mouth dried.

  I don’t know, it could be very dangerous, Kazuki said. But I need your help.

  You’re asking for my help? Junshin asked as he bit his lip. I don’t know what I can do. I don’t even know what my main Ability is.

  That will be solved eventually, Kazuki reassured him. Now, when you enter SeRAPH Academy, you will be contacted by someone I trust who will give you details of the mission.

  Okay, Junshin texted. I guess I’ll put your breakfast in the fridge, then.

  Thanks, Little Bro. Don’t be nervous on your first day at SeRAPH, all right?

  All right, Junshin said, before he clicked off the TV and ran a hand through his unruly locks of crimson hair. His brow scrunched, as he considered something about Kazuki’s messages. Kazuki was telling him to hide his abilities, and pretend to be ‘average’. What was the metric for ‘average’ in that school? He knew in SeRAPH Psions such as him self had 5 currently known rankings—0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 0 for Impotent, 1 for Mediocre, 2 for Average, 3 for Skilled, 4 for Genius, 5 for Calamity.

  He said about keeping his abilities secret or ‘average’, as though he already knew the results of Junshin’s aptitudes. Why keep them secret, then? Was there someone who was going to sabotage Kazuki’s investigation at the school?

  Junshin bit his lip, twirling a lock of his red hair. “I suppose I should get going. There is a train station that should lead me to SeRAPH. Hopefully I’ll memorize the layout of the place.”

  Junshin let out a sigh before he closed his phone and looked out the window of the train. Probably the best in the world, Junshin knew, and he marveled at the ingenuity and engineering and complexity yet simplicity and efficiency of the buses and trains running throughout Tokyo. It was a labyrinth of networks that always seemed on time and people seemed to move about with army-like diligence and swiftness. He had no doubt about that.

  While in the train compartment, a girl with a banner of silken brunette hair draping to her hips entered the compartment. Her sienna brown eyes shimmered with keen intelligence, softened with a honeyed sweetness that only people with fine-tuned empathy can harbor, like the fine-tuning of a musical instrument and that elusive ‘perfect pitch’. A rather bounteous chest protruded from an intricate pink and white camisole shirt that lovingly hugged her curves, showing the best angles and contoured softness of her slender, pale body. Meanwhile, a darker three-tier magenta skirt with ruffled lace at the edges of the tiers draped down from her hips, billowing with each step she took as she pranced with jittery coltish steps to Junshin’s side.

  “Excuse me,” the girl said while bowing politely towards Junshin. “Is this seat taken? The others are full, so there’s nowhere else to go, really. Don’t mind me.”

  Junshin flushed at his ears. She was a pretty cute girl, to be honest, but she was so forward. “Uh, sure, I guess.”

  “So what brings you en route to Tokyo?” the girl said before she extended a hand and shook it enthusiastically.

  “Business,” Junshin said before he realized something. “Wait…did you snatch my cell phone out of my pocket?”

  “Already added my contacts and number in there too,” the girl said with a wink before Junshin looked at his phone when she returned it to him and saw that her name was Hina. “Don’t worry, once you get to SeRAPH, little parlor tricks like that will be commonplace.”

  “Quiet down!” Junshin winced when she mentioned SeRAPH. “If you already knew where I was going, what was the point of the whole charade?”

  “Mm…” Hina said as she put a finger to her lip and cocked her head a little cutely at Junshin. “You actually have a lot on your shoulders, so when we make it to our meeting place, I’ll tell you more of the details there.”

  Before Junshin could ask something any further. The bus stopped. Hina frowned, her long brown hair swaying with her movements as she went to check what was going on. Junshin followed along, curious about what was going on, though Hina indicated for him to be quiet.

  The train sparked on the rails, leading to alarm on the passengers. Hina muttered a near curse, though she braced herself among the other passengers while Junshin felt his heart stop. The train conductor stopped the train immediately, and it lurched to a stop.

  Agonizing seconds felt like an eternity as the train lost momentum, but it finally led to a stop. Once they were sure the train stopped, worried whispers lingered among the passengers, and Hina looked toward Junshin with a knowing look in her eyes. He wondered what it was that she knew, though he figured that he would find out eventually once she gave him the details of the mission. He was sure that this incident related to that.

  The passengers continued to be rattled, trembling in their seats or planted positions standing on the floor and holding onto poles and leaning against the walls of the train for balance, whispering amongst themselves and speculating what could’ve happened. Hina ushered for Junshin to be quiet, while the train conductors made their announcement.

  “”We’ve stopped the train for the time being,” the train conductor said. “The safety of our passengers is of the utmost priority. Please do not panic—we will continue to work on the technical error that occurred and we should be up and running shortly.”

  More worried whispers. Junshin frowned, while Hina looked thoughtful, also feeling concern for the passengers and the possible train conductors who could have led to user born error.

  “I’m going to check on the train conductor,” Hina said. “There’s something that I must figure out. Though Junshin, you can reassure the passengers that everything will be all right. An ANGeLs member is on board.”

  Hina disappeared to the front of the train, while Junshin was left wondering what the hell was going on. He quietly observed his surroundings and listened to the conversations of the other passengers on the train, who talked about a young high school Medic training underneath a prestigious doctor boarding the train. Junshin guessed this young Medic would be the very girl that spoke with him in his compartment.

  A newfound respect and awe washed over him as he watched Hina handle the other passengers with a gentle word and touch of reassurance, helping those with scrapes and possible bruises, checking to see if t hey were all right as she went along, before she made her way to the train conductor. Junshin had respect for someone like that, and knowing that he would one day become an ANGeLS member like that at SeRAPH Academy—it gave a sense of prestige and pride that made him want to honor his school’s name.

  Junshin talked with each of the passengers, murmuring some words of assent that everything would be all right. An elderly lady thanked him for his concern, and shivered underneath her shawl. Another gentleman that seemed suited up in fancy clothes immediately talked to his boss on his cell telling him that he would be late, while some schoolgirls clustered together and huddled one another in comfort. Junshin talked to each one of them telling them what Hina said, and a sign of relief washed over their faces.

  “An ANGeLS member?” one of the schoolgirls said, whispering amongst themselves. “You mean like that cutie Kazuki-san?”

  “Don’t talk about him that way,” another schoolgirl scoffed. “Sure he won all those medal and awards, though he’s just like anyone else underneath it all, you see.”

  “But don’t you think he’s someone who would be a good person to get to know?” another high schooler said, while the more stern of the high schoolers scoffed.

  “Please, he already has enough fangirls in his club. You two can join, but you can count me out.”

  Junshin smiled a bit, glad that the girls could talk amongst one another like that, before he made his way up front to where Hina would be. What he saw next surprised him, as Hina was gently tending to the driver of the drain, who appeared passed out.

  “What is this?” Junshin murmured.

  “Oi, back to the train,” the train conductor said, the one that was still conscious, that is, though Hina ushered Junshin forward.

  “He’s with me,” Hina said, and the train conductor bowed his head and retreated back to where Hina and the driver of the train were. “Anyway it seems like this conductor passed out while driving the train, leading to a user borne error. It seems like a cut and dry case, but…”

  “We took every precautions possible that our passengers would be safe,” the other conductor said, as the the driver slowly roused from his sleep in an incoherent state.

  “Wha, whozzat?” he said, drooling a little and wiping at his mouth.

  “Hello Sir,” Hina said as she bowed her head to the driver. “You were in quite a conundrum as you passed out while driving the train. May I ask what led to this state, and whether you remember anything before and after the incident?”

  “Um, this morning I had my morning brunch, with a toasted bagel and coffee with a little bit of creamer in it,” the train driver said as his eyes sleepily blinked. “I put on my uniform, drove with the train schedules like clockwork. I was in fine shape, I thought. And then…”

  He blanked out for a moment, leading to concern shining in Hina an the other conductor’s eyes and Junshin’s, before he seemed to regain himself again.

  “”I have to apologize to the passengers for potentially endangering their lives!” the driver said. “I could’ve killed someone.”

  “There was that very real possibility,” Hina said, though she softened the blow by saying, “Though I will reassure you and let you know that everyone on board is safe. Some are a bit shaken, but you managed to stop the train on time.”

  The train driver shook, before he shook his head. “I don’t know what’s coming over me. Maybe I need more coffee?”

  “I think you should lay off your coffee addiction,” the other driver said, “But anyway, you’re Miss Kihara from the ANGeLS, right?”

  Hina nodded.

  “That’s right.”

  “I want to ask you something,” the train conductor said, before he leaned closer and whispered to her, “You sure this guy should listen in on this?”

  “Yes, I’m sure,” Hina said with a serene smile and folding her hands in front of her.

  The train conductor took a deep breath, before saying, “There are a series of incidents where psychotic breaks are overcoming people. It’s happening more than usual, though do you think this case is one of ‘those’, or do you think this is just a temporary lapse in judgment?”

  “It’s too soon to know for sure,” Hina said. “Though I’ve been keeping track of the news and have heard about the psychotic breaks that have been happening around in Tokyo. We’ve got to gather some evidence for these occurrences, though without a clear culprit behind these, it would be a hard pressed time to uncover the real villain behind all this, if there even is one. I have my suspicions, of course, but…”

  “But?” Junshin pressed, working on his brain and thinking it over himself as he puzzled over the occurrence that just happened today.

  “The point is, everyone is safe,” Hina said, as she did a quick nod to the conductor that took over and stopped the train before everyone collided into people over the yellow line. “I will still check for injuries and usher everyone out, though Junshin-kun and I need to go to school soon. I will contact Kazuki-san and let him tell Reito-san that we’re going to be a little late going to class.”

  “You do that,” the train conductor said, before he said. “Oh, and young MIss?”

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Yes?” Hina said with a small smile toward him.

  “Thank you for your service in the ANGeLS,” the train conductor said.

  Hina bowed and said. “You contribute as well, you know. You make sure that the safety protocols are in place and have protected a ton of people today. That makes you a hero too.”

  “Gee, thanks Miss,” the train conductor said, while the train driver was bowing his head in shame. “Well? Don’t you think you should thank the pretty girl for checking up on you?”

  “Yes, thank you,” the driver said humbly. “I’m sorry I can’t give you more information on what happened, but I honestly thought I was fine!”

  “We will keep in contact with you and the train terminals to see if there were any suspicious individuals hovering nearby,” Hina said. “I’m sure a team will sweep out and scope the area for them.”

  Both conductors bowed.

  “Thank you!”

  “Oh, and one more thing,” Hina said, as she looked to the driver. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

  “Three,” the train driver said, and Hina nodded while biting her lip.

  “Hm,” Hina said. “Do you have any signs of blurriness of fuzzy vision, an upset stomach, any pain anywhere?”

  “Nope, nope, and nope,” the train driver said.

  “How is your psychological state?” Hina asked.

  “Everything checks out,” the train driver said. “Though I’m rattled that I’m the cause behind all this. I should’ve conducted myself more professionally instead of doing that.”

  “I can’t say that what you did was your fault or not,” Hina said. “There could potentially be rumors of a mastermind behind this that is conducting these psychotic breaks in people and closing down train lines of busjackings and other things.”

  “Miss Kihara, you believe me, don’t you?” the train driver said, looking at her with a pleading expression. “It wasn’t me! I wouldn’t have done anything to have hurt those people.”

  “People are likely to blame you,” Hina said. “As said, it seems to be a cut and dry case. However, the ANGeLS values fairness and justice above all else. If there are real criminals behind the act…we’ll catch them.”

  “Thank you, thank you so much,” the train driver said with some relief on his features. “I’ll be more careful next time.”

  Hina headed back out with Junshin, were the whispering clusters of people gathered and tried to ascertain what was going on. She cleared her throat, before saying, “The exit of the bus is a bit crumpled in, but don’t worry—I can make an exit for you all.”

  Junshin stared at Hina in astonishment as she forced the door open with brute strength, giving the passengers an out as the crumpled door creaked and groaned after having been compressed and smashed in. He couldn’t imagine the freakish amount of strength it took to do that, and how much the further damages would cost and whether Hina would be responsible for some of it, though considering the fact that no one has died, that was the far more important thing.

  The passengers exited out one by one. Then, finally, when Junshin and Hina exited out, she phoned someone and talked with them a short distance away.

  “Yes…” Hina said. “He’s here with me. We’re close by, fortunately, we’ll walk the rest of the way. Everyone is safe.”

  Silence, then. “Okay, good. We’ll be right there.”

  Hina turned off her phone, before pocketing it in her skirt. Junshin looked toward her, wondering where SeRAPH would be located and what kind of school it was, though to be honest, the day had been off to an incredibly bad start. Though Psions like him are more durable than normal humans, having the people that he and Kazuki are supposed to protect die on him would leave a bad aftertaste in his mouth that he couldn’t do something and let a bad incident happen.

  Junshin reflected on the day’s events as he thought about Hina and her bravery and courageousness for handling the situation as she did, and her expertise as a Medic and ANGeLS member. Apparently she was beauty and brains, and not only that, she had pure sheer brawn hiding in her slender body.

  While they walked toward SeRAPH, with Hina mostly leading the way, Junshin said, “Hey…what exactly do the ANGeLS do?”

  “Hm?” Hina said while cocking her head cutely at Junshin.

  “You know, I was watching the news earlier,” Junshin said. “That my brother was receiving all these rewards and stuff for his service to the community and as an ANGeLS member. What is the ANGeLS motto? What do they fight for?”

  “To safekeep the peace in Tokyo from criminals that want to take advantage over the population that can’t defend themselves,” Hina noted. “That’s what we’re here for, of course. I guess you could say we’re superheroes, of sorts. I’m sure you’re familiar with the acronym: ANGeLS, or Administration of Neo-Genetic Liberation Soldiers.”

  Junshin nodded.

  “You’ve been studying up about the school,” Hina said. “Though why did you want to know about what the ANGeLS do? You said you watched the news, right? You saw the rewards that Kazuki received in various categories, right?”

  “I just wanted to know if I could protect it all,” Junshin murmured, running a hand through his red hair.

  Hina spun around, walking backwards and somehow being able to maneuver deftly and weave among throngs of students making their way to the school gates. “You will, Junshin-kun. Just gotta believe. Sometimes that’s the mindset that is needed to accomplish great things. Stay positive, all right?”

  Junshin nodded.

  When they made it to SeRAPH, the school gates welcome into am ajestic building with modern age architecture that somehow blended with historical sites, landmarks, parks, and temples, a structure of masculine aesthetics and beauty. Junshin walked up the stone steps and into the entrance of the building, where Hina continued to lead him.

  “Let me introduce you to the school first,” Hina said, weaving among throngs of students that whispered amongst themselves as they commented the daily goings ons in their school life. “This is the entrance hall, which I presume you know. There are various classrooms with lower grades ascending to higher grades by floor. There is a gymnasium, a pool, a training room, a computer room, a library…ah. I love the library! I love the musty smell of used books or the fresh printed pages that are mintly pressed. Oh, here we are!”

  “That’s…a lot,” Junshin said.

  “You’ll get used to it in no time, all right? The rules and regulations are pretty easy to follow and once you know them, you’ll memorize them like the back of your hand.”

  “You need good grades, a fit body, and good control over your psychic powers to join, I assume.”

  “Well the ANGeLS aren’t just a crimefighting organization,” Hina said cheerfully. “They’re also into espionage and spying and sometimes, of course, assassinations.”

  “Assassinations? Weren’t Psions meant to protect the people?”

  “Don’t worry, there’s a special branch of people that are meant to carry out assassinations in secret, but yes, there are some assassins in our organization.”

  Junshin felt a little spooked. But there were actually professional assassins around his age that were taking out other Rogue Psions or those who were deemed dangerous…the fact that it could look like an accident and the person would disappear off the face of the earth left a sour taste in his mouth. He wondered if he should wretch up his guts in the bathroom. This was suddenly becoming too much to handle, wasn’t it? He didn’t know what branch he would be when it came to the ANGeLS division, but…

  Wasn’t Kazuki a top rated agent in the ANGeLS team?

  He wondered if his brother was in the assassination division or not. And if Junshin ever went out of control, was his own brother supposed to eliminate him…

  Junshin shuddered to think about it.

  “Junshin? Earth to Junshin-kun?” Hina said as she waved a hand towards his face.

  “Oh, sorry,” Junshin said while he shook himself out of his momentary stupor.

  “There’s nothing to worry about,” Hina said soothingly as she took both hands within her own. “You’re radiating worry.”

  “Well,” Junshin said, wondering if she peered inside his mind or not. Or whether he was broadcasting obvious body language signals to indicate his mood. There was a certain dejection in his stance when he thought about the possibility of Kazuki being an assassin, but Junshin felt his worries melt away when Hina smiled at him.

  “My job is to heal and mend people, not kill them,” Hina said cheerfully, as though she read his wonderment about whether she was an assassin or not. “Oh, but I’m known to break bones as easily as I heal them, though.”

  “That’s…not reassuring,” Junshin muttered under his breath, before Hina stood in front of him and put her hands on her hips.

  “We’re honestly not that scary, I promise.”

  He wondered if the rest of the ANGeLS were as eccentric as Hina was. Whether Junshin must’ve fit in with his own eccentricities or something. While he was musing in thought, Hina gave him a playful look before giving a tour of the place.

  “First though, I’m going to take you to the research quarters where you’ll go through a series of little tests. Height, weight, blood pressure, general health, and all that. It won’t take long, it’s quick and painless; I promise,” Hina said.

  Junshin blinked. Tests? Medical checkup? Was she taking them herself or? Suddenly Junshin felt self conscious about his too gangly body. He never exposed himself in front of another girl before.

  “Rest assured, Junshin, I’m not the one doing your checkup,” Hina said cheerfully. “However, you’ll get to meet Gin-sensei, the doctor who I’m working underneath.”

  Junshin looked and saw they were in the Infirmary.

  “This is the Infirmary,” Hina said. “Gin-sensei has been developing a new drug, so I promised to be his guinea pig so I could scientifically advance the field and also get paid. There are a few other clinical trials he’s testing as well, though the side effects have been known to be beneficial. I even know how to replicate some of his unique medicine, too!”

  Junshin looked toward her in alarm.

  “Are you sure that’s ethical?”

  Hina giggled. “He warns me about the risks and signed the consent form. But even then, I’m different by your normal standards, even when it comes to Psions, along with a few others in the school. Remember, you might encounter a few Rank 5 Calamities during your stay in SeRAPH. Anyway, the pay is good and Gin-sensei is an excellent doctor.”

  Junshin thought for a while, before Hina greeted a youthful white-haired male who couldn’t have been past his twenties.

  “Gin-sensei? I brought a new test subject?”

  The doctor turned around in his swivel chair.

  “Fujimoto Junshin, eh? I heard about you from your brother. Let’s check you vitals first before testing your reaction to my unique brand of medicine.”

  “So my brother’s special mission is to make me some kind of guinea pig for a doctor who I don’t know is reliable yet?” Junshin said a bit skeptically. “Not to be rude, Sir, though why do you put Hina through different drug effects?”

  “That is a valid question, Junshin-kun, and I would be happy to explain the terms and conditions that you would need if you would like to apply as well,” Gin said. “The pay is generous for a student, I think, along with your ANGeLS pay that you will no doubt be making once you have a registered license as crime fighter here. My medicine is specifically made for Psions and other effects, and more selections will come out as I experiment and test and think things through.”

  “Well, I suppose if it furthers the agenda of science, I can’t complain,” Junshin said. “Is there something like gene-enhancing drugs or cultivation pills or something that enhances one’s natural abilities?”

  “We have some of those two for students who want to push beyond their current capacity,” Gin said with a smile. “Though of course, there are natural born Psions with great potential that don’t rely on such drugs and develop and grow on their own, though growth and development is infinite for every individual.”

  “What do you have in stock, Doc?” Junshin said, before the doctor showed him his medicines and wares.

  “I have just the thing that you need for your mission that Kazuki-san has assigned you,” Gin-sensei said. “But first, I’m going to do a little experiment on you, after you sign these papers and I give you the basic procedures and warnings. If you feel any dizziness or light headedness or side effects, you will be hospitalized and cured by professional staff on the team who look out for that kind of thing. Of course the worst part of it would be the taste and maybe passing out, occasionally, though no one has died from my miracle drugs…hmhm.”

  Junshin said nothing, though there was something…not very reassuring about the way that Gin sensei eyed him. He seemed kindly enough, normal, even, a benevolent doctor and wasn’t forcing him into this, though Junshin thought that if he couldn’t do it, his pride and guts would be for nothing. Besides, something potentially good could come out of the matter, and Junshin needed to accomplish this mission as he signed the papers and listened to Gin-sensei’s explanations.

  “I got it,” Junshin said. “Anything else?”

  Gin-sensei first gave Junshin a curious looking brew of medicine in a small container.

  “Drink it,” he said.

  Junshin looked at it, wondering about the possible side effects and what could possibly happen if he passed out or worse. He looked toward Hina for reassurance, though she currently smiled at him with a knowing smile and said, “Good luck, Junshin-kun!”

  Might as well, Junshin thought, before he sniffed it, poking his tongue at the rim and sampling a bit, before swallowing it all to get it down his throat and done and over with. Bitter, with a slightly fruity and acidic taste.

  “How do you feel, Fujimoto-kun?” Gin-sensei said.

  “It tasted kind of…strange,” Junshin said. “Was it supposed to have some sort of side effect?”

  “Hm,” Gin-sensei said, before he noted something in his notebook. “You must have a fast recovery rate if you didn’t get sick from that.”

  Junshin gaped.

  “You tried to poison me?”

  Gin shook his head.

  “One of the side effects for weaker Psions are stomacheaches or dizziness or even full on passing out, though since you didn’t pass out or feel a thing, I think that’s a pretty good indicator of what your Ranking is, Junshin-kun.”

  “My turn next, Gin-sensei!” Hina said cheerfully, to which Gin nodded.

  ‘Take this, Hina,” he said while handing her another medicine container.

  “Bottoms up!” Hina said, before she took the medicine in one swig.

  Junshin winced, because he remembered the flavor of his own medicine not being too pleasant.

  Once Hina finished, she said, “All right, what did you find according to your ratings, Gin-sensei?”

  “So far we’ve found nothing that has an effect on you,” Gin sensei said, still writing in his notes. “Though what I find fascinating, Hina-chan, is that you want to become a doctor like me. Isn’t the pay in the ANGeLS good enough?”

  “What, are you saying I’m too ambitious or something?” Hina said with a grin, before Gin shook his head and smiled.

  “Not at all. If there’s anyone who could ride a unicorn to the moon, it would be you.”

  “So, what exactly is Hina, anyway?” Junshin said. “And what did you give her?”

  “That time I DID give poison,” Gin said, to which Junshin gaped.

  “How could you do that to her, Junshin said, getting ready to grab the doctor by the collar before Hina intervened.

  “Relax, Junshin,” Hina said. “You don’t have to get upset for my sake. Besides, Gin-sense is prepping me against a criminal I want revenge against…”

  Junshin looked confused, and Hina smiled, saying, “It’s nothing important! Anyway, before we go to class, shouldn’t we get your Ranking determine first?”

  So this is the hurdle that I must overcome, Junshin thought, taking a deep breath before nodding.

  A faint, perpetual humming sound reverberated from the walls, almost too low to hear except filtered through the subconscious level like something heard in a fever dream.

  “Reito is busy with other things at the moment,” Gin said. “but I would be happy to perform a checkup on our young charge here.

  “Please do,” Hina said, before she waved and departed. “He’s all yours, Gin-sensei. I’ll be waiting for you outside once you’re finished.”

  After this brief exchange, the silver haired doctor wasted no time in leading him to a small, isolated room with complex machinery and apparatuses. Junshin winced at the glaring white color of the walls and the harsh illumination of the overhead fixtures reflected in stainless steel.

  "All right," Gin said. "I'd like you to stand up nice and tall on that scale. Will you do that? Oh, and be sure to take off your shoes first, please."

  Junshin nodded in response, slipping his shoes off as requested, before clambering onto the scale with surprising grace, despite his awkwardly long and gangly limbs. Gin murmured to himself while jotting down notes on a clipboard. Gin stared at him with contemplative expressions upon his countenance, appraising him. He supposed he didn’t mind, however; anything else was better than receiving disdainful looks like the ones friends and complete strangers gave him before he resided in the sanctuary of SeRAPH. There had also been a brief glimpse of hatred, a certain desire or need taking root in the subconscious, a place where savage things grow. Junshin knew they feared him to some degree, perhaps on the same intuitive level as their antipathy.

  "Healthy weight proportionate to your height, though it wouldn’t hurt to gain a couple more pounds. Let’s take a look at your blood pressure, shall we?”

  The doctor had a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer in hand, wrapping it around Junshin’s arm before repeatedly squeezing the rubber bulb, tightening the band. A few moments elapsed as the pressure gradually loosened as a faint whoosh hissed in the unnatural silence of the room. Junshin watched the manometer gauge in fascination pinpointing the precise numbers, before the scientist nodded in silent satisfaction and started unwrapping the band.

  “Low blood pressure, fit for an athlete. Do you play any sports, Junshin?”

  “I’ve never been interested in sports,” Junshin said, surprised he even answered the question. “I can watch them, I don’t like playing them myself.”

  “Shame, you show a lot of potential in that area,” the scientist commented, “Now, look into this device over here. Yes, that's right. Just keep looking straight into it until we tell you you're finished. You got that?"

  He stared at a robotic device with a lens that captured the room's light and displayed it like a kaleidoscope. It flashed twice in his eyes, leaving a red after image winking in his vision. They kept on flashing the contraption on him several times, making him face different directions each time while something in the background clicked in a snapshot succession until Junshin's disoriented vision became awash in flickering red.

  “We’d like to take a quick scan of you in order to make a complete analysis,” the doctor said, “Just step over here, right below this camera; yes, very good. Look straight up and try not to blink when a light shines in your eye. All right, ready? Let’s proceed then, shall we?”

  A camera above Junshin’s head revealed an optic lens that glared down at him and emitted an eerie green light that scanned his entire body up and down, before it flickered off. Overhead, a robotic eyepiece leveled at Junshin’s face as a pinprick emission of green light flashed directly into his pupil. Junshin could feel it contract to a fine pencil-point as the light beamed through, before it clicked off neatly.

  “Hmhmhm,” the man inquired, ruffling through various papers that shifted with a whispery, fluttering noise as his calculating eyes scanned through them with a measured expression. He adjusted his glasses with a single hand before he directed his gaze to Junshin once more. “You are an interesting case indeed. I would like a further analysis of you in the future, though keep in mind these examinations will be far more in depth than the simple tests we’ve performed on you today. Now go along with Hina-chan. She’s shown you around most of the facility, I assume? She’ll most likely introduce you to your fellow SeRAPH associates, I’m sure.”

  “Do you know what my Rank is, Sir?” Junshin said politely.

  Gin shook his head. “Unfortunately, there’s not enough data to determine that. I will simply let MIss Kihara look over you in your stay in SeRAPH before we get a proper Rank and know what power curriculum you should follow.”

  Junshin nodded, uttered a few parting words with Gin, before exiting out from the door. Hina awaited him, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her breasts.

  “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Hina said with a broad grin. “You think you can handle being here at SeRAPH?”

  Junshin paused for a moment, deciding. Thus far, everything proceeded as smoothly as they could. He had no doubt about that. As he took longer to digest his surroundings, Junshin then decided whether or not he was ready for a life here, to dedicate himself as a soldier of SeRAPH. For most of his life, he remained undetected by SeRAPH, living a life of his own rather than living it under the allegiance of another.

  “Yeah, I think so,” Junshin said as he and Hina started to make their way down the hallways, in the immaculate areas where sunlight filtered through the skylights above.

  “Good, I think you should try going to the Student Council room first, Junshin-kun,” Hina said with a smile as she began leading him down that way. “It will be a fine place to make new friends that way.”

  Junshin nodded in response, setting his gaze forward as Hina guided him through the hallway and staring out the rows of windows. A picturesque view of water fountains and ponds graced the lavish garnish of flowers blossomed into colorful brilliance, lending a rather surreal element almost impressionistic in beauty to the messianic achievement of technological innovation that SeRAPH represented. Of course, the architecture of the school was a grand achievement in itself, a paramount to masculine beauty consisting of perfect geometry and symmetry.

  After reaching the designated area, Hina ushered Junshin through the grand oak doors.