《ESP Escapades》 Chapter 1 ESP Escapades Chapter 1 A girl in a high school uniform stared at the sign of a well-established facility. She pursed her lips in thought, musing about the name of the company. First off--why PsiCo? The way that it was pronounced suspiciously sounded like ¡®psycho¡¯. But that wasn¡¯t the strangest thing about the company. Minami first came to this facility since she heard rumors at school about the place--about people who solve crimes using ESP, of therapists that can dive into a person¡¯s mind and fix whatever affliction they have, and people who can predict the future giving life advice to people who need direction. Minami shook her head as she looked at the advertisement in the window. PsiCo features various professionals in a variety of fields to suit your purposes. We have psychometric detectives on the case, telepathic therapists, clairvoyant visionaries who can work on your future, along with so much more. Step inside the shop and schedule your appointment today! ¡°Honestly,¡± Minami said while shaking her head, causing her pigtails to sway with the movement of her head. ¡°All of this is very ridiculous. How Hotaru managed to convince me to come to this place is unbelievable¡­¡± Hotaru was Minami¡¯s friend at school. She was a supernatural buff who enjoyed ghost stories, alien hunting, and practicing with Tarot cards. Minami never believed in that sort of stuff--she believed that life could be rationally explained down to a scientific principle. Hotaru liked taking pictures with her camera in order to spot ¡®orbs¡¯; Minami deduced that it was either dirt, dust, or the weather conditions that caused those pictures to have misty aureoles printed on them. Hotaru insisted that her pictures were authentic orbs, and Minami stubbornly insisted that they weren¡¯t. At that point, Hotaru then told Minami that she could prove that psychic experiences, ghosts, aliens, and all that were true. Deciding to play along with her friend, Minami said that she would be up to the challenge of being proven wrong. Her friend then told her all about PsiCo and the amazing cases that they¡¯ve taken on. Clients who were originally non-believers came back convinced that the supernatural was real, that psychic powers exist, and yes, there are aliens out there. So here Minami stood before the PsiCo facility, which had the unfortunate connotations to ¡®psycho¡¯. The people who ran this facility were probably nutjobs, the whole lot of them. Psychic powers? They weren¡¯t real. The psychics on television couldn¡¯t actually bend spoons with their mind--it was a mere parlor trick, a magician¡¯s sleight of hand. Psychos, on the other hand, were people that were delusional or believed that they had magic powers that they did not in fact, possess, which Minami concluded that the people in PsiCo must be. After an internal debate with herself, pacing back and forth in front of the facility, Minami heard someone exit out from the shop. Minami turned to look, and saw an impeccably dressed young man who could only be a few years older than herself. He had blond hair, bright violet eyes, and an easy smile that was always on his face. Minami immediately distrusted him. There was no way that someone could smile like that much without being a psycho. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you pacing outside of the shop,¡± the man said with a friendly smile, before he swept a hand against his chest and bowed towards Minami. ¡°Would you like to come in?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t come here because I wanted to,¡± Minami said, before pointing a finger towards the man, then stabbing it towards the direction of the window. ¡°First of all, I have a problem with your company name. PsiCo. Who honestly thought that was a good idea? It sounds like ¡®psycho¡¯ and I don¡¯t think that¡¯s something you want to advertise to your customers or clients. Anyway, the only reason I¡¯m here is because my friend said that you people would be able to prove that the paranormal is real.¡± The young man nodded sympathetically before saying, ¡°Indeed, what you say is correct. It is rather is unfortunate, isn¡¯t it? However, as you can plainly see, ¡®PsiCo¡¯ is clearly different from ¡®Psycho¡¯. Goodness gracious me, it wouldn¡¯t do to have psychos amongst our midst, especially considering our professions. PsiCo is comprised of two words: Psi for the psionic energy that emanates from psychics, and Co is for company. It is rather simplistic, though we didn¡¯t think the Association of United Psychics Facility for the Welfare of the People didn¡¯t have a nice ring to it. We originally wanted to go with Psyche, but then we decided that it sounded as though we were tricking our customers--¡° ¡°As if ¡®PsiCo were any better¡­¡± ¡°--when our work is quite genuine indeed. Well, you could say that the current name is a joke to our customers. But when you really think about it, doesn¡¯t it grab your attention? You see, we get a lot of nonbelievers who come to our facility, but once they¡¯ve entered inside, we have changed their outlook on life completely.¡± Minami put a hand on her hip, before narrowing her eyes towards the too handsome man with a too pleasant smile. Not that she would admit aloud that he was actually quite attractive. He had the look of a narcissist about him--any compliments would most likely overinflate his oversized ego anyway. ¡°There has to be some kind of trick that you put on your customers. Maybe you¡¯ve hypnotized them and used behavior modification to make them believe that the paranormal is real. I¡¯m warning you right now, I know the tricks of the trade.¡± ¡°You are quite an enlightened young lady, Miss¡­?¡± the blonde haired man said with a polite tilt of his head. ¡°Minami,¡± she said a little reluctantly. The blonde haired man nodded in agreement. ¡°Very wise. You didn¡¯t give your family name. Remember, names have power, and if anyone were to have your full name and birthdate, they can reign full power over you.¡± He disappeared into the shop, with Minami following behind. What the hell was he talking about just now? Names have power? Birthdates have astrological power that people can get a hold of? It was all ridiculous, though she supposed that people in a facility named ¡®PsiCo¡¯ would believe in that sort of thing. This made Minami want to pull her hair out in frustration. Why did she even agree to come with this facility? She really was going to regret this later on, she knew it. When they entered inside, they went into a lobby area where potted plants stood in the corners and lounging chairs have been provided for client comfort. Lying across the couch reading an engaging novel was a young woman with long black hair that draped past her hips and curious red eyes. Her nails were painted a deep red, with a matching shade of lipstick upon her lips. The woman looked up from her novel and gave Minami an appraising stare, before a smile split across those too perfect lips. What¡¯s with that woman? Minami thought to herself as the blond-haired man gestured for her to take a seat while he disappeared into another room. I don¡¯t like the look of her at all¡­ah, damn it she¡¯s coming this way. Just pretend to smile and nod. The woman had since gotten up from her lounging position, snapping the book in her hand closed. She put one hand against her hip while she clutched the book in her other hand towards her chest. After seeing this woman at a better angle, Minami could see why men would find her arresting--long beautiful hair, an enviable bust size, slender limbs--she had the right proportions for being a model. She should¡¯ve chosen that profession, instead of¡­whatever it is that she does. ¡°How very interesting,¡± the woman with red lipstick said. ¡°What is your full name and birthdate, child?¡± ¡°Apparently giving my full name and birthdate lets a person have control over me,¡± Minami said a bit sarcastically. ¡°Not that I believe that, of course. But why would I reveal that to a complete stranger?¡± ¡°Takara-kun has given you some solid advice,¡± the woman said while she chuckled a bit behind her book. ¡°Words themselves hold potent power. Imagine what kind of power that a name holds? Besides that, there are great cosmic influences that move the world.¡± ¡°Are you gonna give me a horoscope reading or something?¡± Minami asked while folding her arms across her chest. ¡°How about a cold reading or a hot reading? I know how these things work. People are just gullible and na?ve and can be easily tricked into believing something that isn¡¯t true¡­¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The woman¡¯s smile merely split wider, and there was a certain knowing in those crimson eyes that gave Minami a chill of foreboding. ¡°I hate to be associated with the charlatans and fakes that call themselves fortune-tellers,¡± she said. ¡°Though I suppose if you must, you can call me a fortune-teller, of sorts. I¡¯m a clairvoyant--I can glimpse into the future and give life advice for those who wish to have direction in life.¡± ¡°Oh great, so do you want me to hold out my palm or something? Try reading the future in there.¡± The woman¡¯s smile never faltered. ¡°As much as you¡¯re in denial of the paranormal, you secretly want to be proven wrong. You want someone to give you substantial proof that the paranormal exists, even though you get flustered and embarrassed when the topic is mentioned.¡± Minami let out a laugh. ¡°I want to be proven wrong? I hate the paranormal! I hate the fake psychics and mediums that say they can predict the future or they can move things with their mind or read other people¡¯s minds--that¡¯s just ridiculous! They¡¯re nothing but magician¡¯s tricks, a knowledge of psychology and self-delusion, and other such nonsense. No, the paranormal is not real--everything can be deduced to a rational explanation?¡± Amusement was in the tone of the woman¡¯s voice when she spoke. ¡°Oh? I wonder what your subconscious really says about the matter. Follow me.¡± Minami reluctantly followed the dark haired woman into another room. The woman paused before a door, before she knocked against it at the back of her hand. Minami read Therapy Services next to the door and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. This woman had the nerve to think that she needed psychological help when the people in the facility believed in things that didn¡¯t exist. That, and the woman said that she wanted to be proven wrong about the paranormal. What was up with that? What is she trying to prove here? ¡°Come in,¡± a kindly voice said, and the woman opened the door and ushered Minami inside. A potted plant sat in one corner of the room, its glossy leaves gleaming a healthy shade of dark green. A serene pictures of daffodils was framed upon the wall, painted in a surrealistic kind of style that lent a dream-like quality to it. An oak bookshelf also leaned against the wall, with various psychological texts. Minami recognized some of the names, big names like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. She could almost imagine the Freudian psychoanalysis now: Minami, perhaps you denial of the paranormal symbolizes a lack of compensation in something? Maybe it symbolizes the scary and unknown, and you have this deep-rooted fear of the unknown and you repress certain frustrations¡­ Minami shook her head. She wasn¡¯t crazy--she was a rational, clear-minded, and educated young woman. She believed that therapy was another waste of money--usually the therapist dispensed common knowledge and advice that a person is perfectly capable of figuring out on their own. She didn¡¯t want to do a roundabout discussion about her hatred for the paranormal and how this hatred symbolized something else when it simply meant that Minami had a certain disdain for the paranormal. The paranormal was nonsense, irrational, pseudoscience. People who believed in this kind of stuff were easily duped and influenced by self-delusion. As Minami ventured further inside the room, she saw a young girl who was perhaps the same age as herself, fifteen, sitting at an ovular desk. She wore a pair of reading glasses and a green ribbon in her hair, which matched the vivid green shade of her eyes. Minami almost laughed at the notion of being analyzed by someone who was in the same grade as her--what did this girl have that other people far older and more experienced that made her qualified for psychological services. Glancing at the huge psychological books on the book shelf, Minami assumed that the blonde-haired girl was one of those people that pretended to be intelligent by carrying around thick books and pretending to read them. Did she understand classical conditioning, cognitive behavior modification, or the James-Lange theory of emotion? Could that girl explain what the id, ego, and superego were, and what roles they played in a person¡¯s development? Maybe Minami could play a little psychological game with her if she was going to be performing a psychoanalysis on her person. There was no way that this girl is going to prove that Minami wanted proof that the supernatural existed, and most importantly of all, she was not going to let that smiling, black-haired woman win. The blonde-haired girl twirled one strand of golden hair around a finger, before she stopped writing in her notes on the table. She stood up, then bowed politely towards Minami. ¡°Nice to meet you. My name is Kaede Ikeda. My profession is a therapist, though my therapy sessions are a little different from standard procedure.¡± ¡°Hi,¡± Minami said, not trusting herself to speak without some sarcastic quip towards the girl. The girl¡¯s too sweet honey voice was just unbearable. ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead and explain,¡± Kaede said as she slipped her reading glasses off from her face. ¡°I¡¯m a telepath and an empath. That means I can read other people¡¯s minds and sense other people¡¯s emotions. I use these powers to help people overcome any problems they may have, though it¡¯s usually recommended that they try to work on it on their own. You see, in my therapy sessions, um¡­you go into a dream-like state of your mental landscape where you encounter all your psychological constructs.¡± Minami stifled a laugh. ¡°Right. Keep going.¡± ¡°Anyway, this method does provide results, though it can also be very problematic,¡± Kaede said. ¡°When you go into a mental landscape and influence the constructs that you¡¯ve created in your mind, you can turn out to be a completely different person. Maybe you acquire a fear that you never had before, or a shy introverted person becomes outgoing and blunt. But that¡¯s not the only risk involved. Sometimes a mind has fissures or cracks in it, which can lock a person¡¯s soul into their own mind. They go into a trance-like state and they only wake up years later. Or sometimes none at all.¡± Minami listened to all this without saying a single word, though she was making quick mental assessments about the girl. First of all--mental landscapes? Going into a dream-like world made of psychological constructs? What kind of New Age, trippy nonsense was that? Not only did it sound crazy, but this girl¡¯s procedural methods involved an awful lot of risks, if it even worked at all. Minami then suspected that this is how people come out of the facility convinced about the paranormal--this girl uses some kind of technique to brainwash them all and used behavior modification, just as she expected! ¡°Let me get this straight,¡± Minami said. ¡°You can read minds and feel other people¡¯s emotions. When you do your therapy sessions, a person goes into a dream world?¡± ¡°That is correct,¡± Kaede said, before she went on. ¡°I sense that you are quite skeptical about all this. That is perfectly fine, that is the normal reaction of some our clients who don¡¯t believe in the supernatural. Though let me assure you that I don¡¯t ¡®brainwash¡¯ anybody. Mental landscapes are¡­unique. Yes, whenever I do a therapy session with a person, I interact with their psychological constructs and this can cause changes in a person. It is risky, though I honestly perform this job for the sake of my clients.¡± Minami was taken aback for a moment. She didn¡¯t speak aloud her true thoughts about the matter, did she? Then again, anyone who could read people could tell from something as subtle as their body gestures or expression that they are irritated or skeptical. It¡¯s not like it took magical powers to see that, it only took keen powers of observation and deduction. Though what about her mental thought about the brainwashing thing? It¡¯s almost as though Kaede probed inside her mind¡­ No, no, this was nonsense. She was not going to succumb to delusion. Kaede was more intelligent and observant than Minami originally gave her credit for. So if she read all those psychological texts, of course she would be able to use psychological methods and techniques to convince other people that she was a telepath or empath. It almost convinced Minami for a minute, but she was smarter than that. This girl was good. ¡°Well, if you would please lie down right there,¡± Kaede said as she gestured towards a recliner. ¡°We will get started as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Wait, I didn¡¯t set up an appointment with you or anything,¡± Minami said in protest, though the black-haired woman grabbed her from behind and forced her into the recliner. ¡°Hey, what¡¯re you doing?¡± ¡°Oh, we absolutely insist that you lie down for a spell,¡± the woman said, her smile widening and her eyes gleaming in mischief. She then slipped out a piece of paper from between her breasts, and Minami spotted some elegant kanji on it. ¡°Here, hold onto this. It will help you relax, dear.¡± The woman then slapped the piece of paper right on the middle of Minami¡¯s forehead. As soon as she did so, Minami couldn¡¯t move. Her muscles and limbs stiffened, and she became as rigid as a board on the reclining chair. She attempted to open her lips to voice her protest, though her mouth remained zipped closed. What was going on? Why couldn¡¯t she move or speak at all? Wasn¡¯t the point of therapy was to have a dialogue between two people? If she couldn¡¯t speak at all, then she was right about this place: everyone was downright psychotic. The black-haired woman laughed elegantly behind her hand, before saying, ¡°As you can see, I have some knowledge of spells and tags. Now lie down and be quiet as Kaede does her work. Hmhmhm~¡± ¡°Oh, Yukiko-san, I would appreciate it if you didn¡¯t do that to my clients,¡± Kaede said as she nervously chewed her bottom lip. She then gave a reassuring smile towards Minami. ¡°I apologize. There¡¯s no need to be afraid, though. Now, I want you to close your eyes and focus on relaxing. First smooth out all the tension in your brow. Take a deep breath. Once all the tension has left, move down to your eyes and release the tension from your eyelids. Once your eyes are relaxed, I want you to work down the rest of your body in the same manner; your jaw, your neck, your shoulders, all the way down to your feet. Very good. Now¡­¡± Minami, despite herself, found that she followed Kaede¡¯s instructions as the tension that knotted her body slowly unfurled away and she found herself in a tranquil state. She couldn¡¯t catch the rest of the words, though she felt that she was being carried away, farther and farther from the real world and into a dream-like state into the subconscious that told people¡¯s true feeling in surreal code. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 When Minami opened her eyes once more, she found herself in a very different place. She went away from the therapy office, with its painting of daffodils and oaken bookshelf of psychology textbooks melting away from the scenery. It was like fade on television, where the next picture emerges from underneath the first image. It all seemed very real, but then again, didn¡¯t dreams seem real when you went into an REM trance? That was just what Minami was experiencing right now. It¡¯s not like she was being transported into a completely different world where you met your psychological constructs. The whole notion was just ridiculous in itself. Yet the world that Minami dived into reminded her of the surrealistic painting of daffodils that hung in Kaede¡¯s office. In fact, she could see giant daffodils sprouting out of nowhere, enlarging into an impossible size, towering over her. The background reminded her of abstract paintings, cubist drawings, Russian avant-garde, abstract expressionism. What immediately popped into Minami¡¯s mind was the likes of the painting Symphony No. 1, The Transcendental by Richard Pousette-Dart, or Fugue in Two Colors by Frantisek Kupka. The background was constantly changing, morphing and fading into some other fantastic abstract impressionistic blend of color and shadow. ¡°Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary,¡± the daffodils said in a trilling, singsong voice. ¡°I killed your baby Mary Worth.¡± As soon as the daffodils finished chanting that ridiculous child¡¯s game, the background suddenly turned into Edvard Munch¡¯s famous painting, The Scream. She could see the setting sun and the blood red cast in the sky, the color shrieking with a frequency on par to violin trillato, ringing inside Minami¡¯s head into a maddening delirium. The blend of oil, tempera, and pastel melted away and faded, bleeding into a homogenous blob of color. Minami instinctively closed her eyes, trying to will the images away. This was a very intense experience that was probably not unlike the hallucinations experienced by heavy drug users--not that Minami indulged in such activities, though she had to admit that the prank has gone on too far. Maybe Kaede and that woman drugged her. Maybe this was the first step of the brainwashing process. Minami winked one eye open and stared at the daffodils, which were dancing and wriggling their stems, continually chanting, ¡°Bloody Mary¡± over and over again. Minami tried to block out all the noise, but to no avail. Minami suddenly felt a hand touch her shoulder, and she turned around to face Kaede. ¡°It¡¯s overwhelming, at first,¡± Kaede said with an apologetic smile. ¡°Though this is what the heart of your subconscious looks like, Minami-san. I¡¯ve never met a mental landscape as vivid as this one.¡± ¡°No way,¡± Minami said while shaking her head fiercely. ¡°I never have dreams this vivid. Besides, if this is really a mental landscape and not just a dream or the influence of drugs, why would I think of something as nonsensical as this? Besides, I hate abstract art.¡± ¡°That is a shame,¡± Kaede said while she clasped her hands together and watched the changing background, which was now reminiscent of Salvador Dali¡¯s paintings. ¡°I do enjoy a wonderful painting. This mental landscape is so¡­fascinating.¡± ¡°Can we get this done and over with?¡± Minami asked. ¡°The background is starting to make me nauseous. Anyway¡­so, okay, let¡¯s assume that my subconscious really does like abstract art of whatever¡­what does it mean? I hated being dragged into abstract art museums when I was little.¡± Kaede put a finger to her lip, before she said, ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re repressing the creative side of yourself, Minami-san, the side that imagines and dreams and plays. You¡¯re a very logical and left-brained kind of person, at least on a conscious level, though in your subconscious, there are rich possibilities of imagination awaiting you. Perhaps this denial of your creative side also influences your belief in the paranormal.¡± Minami turned around before she crossed her arms across her chest. She didn¡¯t want to admit that what Kaede said made sense, but¡­no, she will never admit that. She hated it when other people besides herself was right. But even then, she couldn¡¯t deny that Kaede was observant and very good at what she does. Minami knew that in Freudian psychology, the subconscious played a dominant role in various things. Just what kinds of things were in store for her in her subconscious? She wasn¡¯t sure whether she wanted to proceed further or not. Minami didn¡¯t want to confront her subconscious, she didn¡¯t want to prove that woman right. As before, Minami started to seriously regret that she came to PsiCo in the first place. The background matched her mood, now somber blacks, grays and blues, a melancholy type of feeling settling over her. Minami then felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw that Kaede was smiling back at her gently. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be afraid. The subconscious can be a strange place. However, I will be by your side, and I won¡¯t let any harm come to you.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m not afraid or anything,¡± Minami said, straightening her shoulders and standing up tall. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m getting sick of staring at the background.¡± Minami then marched straight ahead, not bothering to look back. She was sure that Kaede followed right behind her, however. Minami¡¯s back was very rigid, and she tried to give the impression of confidence, though inside, Minami felt her stomach twisting itself into several knots. What if she came out a completely different person from this experience? Sure, maybe it wouldn¡¯t be so bad, because Minami understood that she was rather opinionated and could get on other people¡¯s nerves. Some part of her remembered that when she took on art projects or creative writing endeavors, her teachers always said that her writing and art lacked something. They wouldn¡¯t specifically state what it was, though as Minami traveled further through her mental landscape, she began to realize what it was: imagination. Minami never considered the imagination that important. People who were stuck daydreaming and thinking of outrageous ideas usually had no direction in life; they were simply dreamers, nothing more. Minami believed in logic, reasoning, and action; she couldn¡¯t waste her time with frivolities. Creative writing was just silly; writing essays and technical reports were more fulfilling than something that never even happened in the first place. To her, writing fiction was a bunch of lies and it was there not worth any merit. Likewise, art was something nice to look at, but really, what practicality did it have in real life? There were far better skills out there than drawing. Right before her, however, was a rich, fertile imagination that exploded with color and music and synesthetic sensations. Minami never would have thought that she was capable of something like this, not in a million years. Something loomed on overhead, and what Minami saw before her was a Victorian style house that looked abandoned. Ivy crawled over its face, and the fountain that stood in the front no longer spilled water into the basin cup, which was choked with dead leaves. ¡°What is this place?¡± Minami found herself wondering aloud. ¡°This place looks really creepy.¡± ¡°You have created this psychological construct in your mind,¡± Kaede said kindly, clasping her hands together. ¡°It is a rather interesting house, though, isn¡¯t it? It kind of reminds me of the house from the Fall of House of Usher, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I suppose so,¡± Minami said with a shrug, though she never particularly cared about reading Edgar Allan Poe. She never thought much about horror stories--there were things that were far scarier in real life, so she never found herself having sleepless nights over imaginative fancies in such stories. ¡°I guess we have no other choice but to explore inside, then. I¡¯m assuming that this is an important part of¡­my subconscious.¡± Kaede nodded encouragingly, before Kaede turned around and straightened her shoulders, staring at the house before her. She remembered reading the Fall of the House of Usher before, and she could remember the description about the house in the story--the bleak walls, the eye-like windows, and the somber landscape surrounding the place. Just like the narrator who made his way towards the House of Usher, Minami felt this impending sense of gloom that dampened her spirits. It chilled her arteries and sent ripples down her spine--she could almost imagine that the house was staring at her, looking deep into the vulnerable parts of her soul-- No, no, she would not be lulled into delusion. The house wasn¡¯t alive--she wouldn¡¯t succumb to fear which played mind tricks on even the most rational-minded person. It was simply a house and nothing more. Why she imagined a place as dreary as this, however, she couldn¡¯t possibly imagine. Wow, it looks just like a haunted house! Hotaru¡¯s voice said inside her mind. It¡¯s huge! I bet there are all kinds of things hidden inside that house--hey, maybe we can even hunt for ghosts in there! It looks like a place with a lot of history behind it; I bet there are interesting kinds of ghosts that still live inside it.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Minami shook her head again. It would be just like Hotaru to squeal in excitement over such a decrepit looking house. Hotaru was always on the lookout for haunted sites, like abandoned school buildings or ancient houses, cemeteries and battle zones. She absolutely loved this kind of stuff, and this gloomy mansion would have been the perfect playground for a paranormal fanatic like Hotaru. Even if Hotaru was a little crazy about anything involving the supernatural, Minami still felt a soft spot towards the girl. She may be a little gullible and na?ve and willing to believe anything that anybody said, even if there were contradictory stories from two different people, Hotaru would still believe in them. Yet Hotaru was one of the kindest people that Minami knew, and Minami sometimes wished that she were more like Hotaru. Willing to believe in magic, in miracles. Wouldn¡¯t it be nice if reality weren¡¯t so harsh and stark. Though, Minami supposed that she needed someone like Hotaru, just like Hotaru needed someone who could rationalize and explain contradictions. People of unsavory reputation would surely try to manipulate Hotaru for their own purposes--and when Minami first heard about PsiCo and Hotaru¡¯s avid interest in it, there was another reason why Minami investigated the facility. She wanted to make sure that these people wouldn¡¯t trick and fool poor Hotaru like a fake psychic had a few months ago. She took a step towards the front door of the abandoned mansion, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. That sense of uneasiness never left her, coiling deep in her stomach. Kaede also stood by her side, and this managed to give Minami the courage to open the doors and peer inside. A hallway led into a grand hall with furniture with drapes covered over them. The house was in such a desolate state that cobwebs festooned every corner and ceiling. The chandelier above tinkled a little when they first entered inside the house, shivering showers of dust down upon them. ¡°This house looks¡­so lonely,¡± Minami said, not realizing that the words have escaped from her mouth. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s like nobody lived here for a very long time. It¡¯s like the house itself is centuries old.¡± ¡°You made this house inside your mind,¡± Kaede explained, clasping her hands in front of her. ¡°A house can symbolize many things. It¡¯s a place of security and comfort, your home. It is the rock of support, a kind of anchor inside your mind. These anchors can take form of various structures, such as this mansion. I one time encountered a young man whose anchor took on the form of a laboratory. It was an interesting experience, I¡¯ll have to say that.¡± Minami didn¡¯t say anything, simply went further into the recesses of the house. She went towards a mirror that was fogged over and a fine layer of dust coated the cabinet that supported it. Minami swiped a finger across the oak surface, before wiped it off disgustedly. Even if this was a figment of her imagination or whatever, Minami still felt the urge to clean the entire place. It was such in a filthy disarray. How could she have let something like this happen in her own imagination? Suddenly, Minami saw something flicker in the mirror out of the corner of her eye. Minami focused on the mirror, before she shook herself, trying to convince herself that she was only reacting out of nerves. Something about the entire house gave her a foreboding chill that rippled down her spine. Minami stared intently at the mirror again, before she saw a spectral face stare back at her. Minami stumbled backwards, landing on the seat of her skirt as the ghost launched itself out of the mirror. She could now hear ghostly laughter and whispers surrounding her as more specters escaped from the mirror, whirling all around her like a maelstrom of ectoplasm. Minami tried to cover her ears with her hands as the ghosts whirled above her, though their voices seemed to reach deep down into the core of her mind, into the reptilian part of the brain where savage things festered and grew. I¡¯m so scared, one ghost said, before it spiraled down and entered through Minami¡¯s mouth. Minami felt a cold shiver freeze all her arteries. I hate this, I want to go home! Please, don¡¯t leave me alone! Another ghost swooped down and entered through Minami¡¯s mouth, causing another uncontrollable shiver to violently spasm her body. I¡¯ve been abandoned, no one is coming to save me. While the ghosts swirled around her and chilled her insides, Minami then realized that these ghosts were voicing her thoughts, thoughts that she thought that she kept well-concealed, even from herself. Now that the ghosts have appeared from the mirror and started assaulting her, the truth was staring at Minami in the face. She was afraid of the paranormal. She never wanted to admit this to anybody else, not even to herself. She remembered, a long time ago, when she was seven years old, that¡­ Minami only clenched her hands tighter against her head and let out a shrill scream that echoed through the hallways and bounced off the walls and ceilings like a curse. The ghosts kept on whispering hated thoughts into her ears, letting out silvery chuckles as they circled around her like vultures. Minami then hugged her arms around herself, before she said in a low whimper. ¡°Leave me alone¡­I¡¯m not the scared little girl that I was anymore¡­go away¡­¡± The ghosts continued to torment her, and Minami swore that she was going into a degenerative spiral of insanity until Kaede finally stepped in, approaching Minami and the swirling ghosts. ¡°Minami-san,¡± Kaede said as she clasped her hands together in front of her. ¡°People are made up of their own thoughts. There¡¯s a little voice recorder that keeps on playing in our minds, deep-rooted into our subconscious. These ghosts are the voices of your subconscious. The only way you can release them is to confront them and let them go so you can be free.¡± Minami shook her head furiously, tears starting to course down her cheeks. ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t! I¡¯m so weak and pathetic¡­are you happy now, that you see me like this? To see me like this¡­scared little girl who freaks out at her own shadow?¡± Kaede smiled gently towards Minami, stepping into the ring of ghosts that whirled around her and entered inside the miniature tornado. ¡°I understand why you try so hard to appear strong, Minami-san. You¡¯re afraid of showing your true self, the self that is filled with doubt and uncertainty, the self that is scared of the paranormal. There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of, Minami. The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.¡± Minami hiccupped a little, before she wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. She looked Kaede straight in the eye, before a small smile appeared on her lips. ¡°If we get back from this¡­promise to keep this a secret from everyone else?¡± Kaede nodded. ¡°I will.¡± Minami took a deep breath, before she straightened and stared at the ghosts whirling about her. She was still scared, she still felt the uncertainty that plagued her whenever she delved deep into the heart of her mind, but she was going to confront this, right here, right now. This was her own mind, damn it, and she wasn¡¯t going to be influenced by this psychological constructs, even if they were her own making. If she made these constructs herself, then she could also destroy them as well. ¡°Hey you!¡± she said at the top of her lungs. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna let you guys take control over me! So get out! I banish you from this place!¡± The ghosts still whirled about, though their movements seemed slower. This gave Minami encouragement. She must not let her will waver here, not when she was making progress and confronting the root of her problem once and for all. She will definitely, absolutely never, give up a fight and lose! ¡°That¡¯s right, you stupid ghosts, you¡¯re nothing more than a figment of my imagination. I created you in my mind, so I can easily destroy you, too.¡± The ghosts seemed to shimmer and then distort, flickering in and out of sight. Minami smirked at this sight. She was winning this fight¡­and she was determined to finish it! ¡°I admit it¡­I was scared once. But now, I realize that there is nothing to fear except fear itself. So go away! I won¡¯t be held back by you anymore!¡± The ghosts faded from sight completely, and the background all around Minami started to fade again. As Minami regained consciousness once more, she realized that she was back in the familiar space of Kaede¡¯s office. The picture of the daffodils still hung on the wall (and thank whatever entity that was out there that they weren¡¯t chanting Bloody Mary) and the bookshelf with Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung managed to ground Minami into reality. She found that, much to her displeasure, she still couldn¡¯t move. She still had the tag slapped on her forehead. Yukiko must have sensed Minami¡¯s glare, as she then peeled off the tag from Minami¡¯s head with a mischievous smile. ¡°Well, well, I¡¯m certain that you had a very interesting experience. Still in denial about the paranormal, Miss Minami?¡± Minami stood up from her reclined position, stretching her limbs and cracking out the kinks in her neck, shoulders, and back. It felt good to move again, especially after lying still for so long against her will. Speaking of which...Kaede seemed to be very drained, though there was a soft smile on her lips as she gazed at Minami. ¡°Oh, Yukiko-san¡­if you wouldn¡¯t mind¡­I should like a cup of tea, I think,¡± Kaede said to the dark-haired woman. ¡°Ginger peach, please.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t told me any of the juicy details about your therapy session,¡± Yukiko said, glancing at her nails while she did so. ¡°Please enlighten me about the experience, Kaede-chan~¡± Kaede looked towards Minami, before she turned towards Yukiko with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s a secret~¡± ¡°You¡¯re so mean,¡± Yukiko said with a fake pout, though she good-naturedly poured Kaede a fragrant brew of tea. She then turned to Minami and said, ¡°So, do you think that you¡¯ll be a little more open-minded when it comes to this facility and its residents?¡± Minami crossed her arms and turned away, though there was a small smile on her lips. ¡°If you predict a future where I¡¯m super rich and have a handsome guy for a boyfriend, maybe I¡¯ll consider your validity as a fortune-teller.¡± ¡°Oh come on, dear, that¡¯s just unrealistic expectations~ I¡¯m not a genie that makes wishes come true, you know.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Minami said. ¡°Who says that I won¡¯t be a millionaire or something like that? I can work hard, I have the smarts to get a good-paying job. And are you implying that no one will find me good enough for them?¡± Kaede simply smiled as she watched Minami and Yukiko bicker with one another, before she took a sip of her orange peach tea. Sighing with satisfaction, she then set her cup down on a saucer and concluded the therapy session in her notes. Minami Tachibana Potential PsiCo recruit. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Minami went home after she had her therapy session with Kaede. Kaede offered her a cup of tea before she went off, though Minami turned down the offer. She needed to get back home and be able to think. What happened today was impossible, really, though somehow she dived into another dimension inside her own mind. It sounds like fanciful talk, but she encountered her own thoughts and fears in the form of ghosts inside her mind¡­and she managed to overcome them. Some part of her wanted to dismiss the entire experience as a dream, though Minami knew deep inside her heart that wasn¡¯t true. She walked up the stairs and entered inside her room, her personal sanctuary whenever she wanted to get lost deep in her thoughts. Minami flopped down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling and putting her hand behind her head, musing. Her first instinct was to call Hotaru and tell her about it--though Minami decided that she wouldn¡¯t give her a friend a call just yet. She turned over on her side and let out a small sigh. Those people tried to help her, even when she showed disdain towards the validity of their services. Some part of her still insisted that she didn¡¯t actually go inside another world inside her mind, that it was only an advanced form of hypnosis that convinced her that she was. Hypnotism could be a powerful mechanism to change behaviors or overcome fears or solve problems, though some people were skeptical about the procedure. The thought of mind control was unnerving to them; if the subconscious could be easily influenced by a suggestive nudge from the hypnotist, imagine what kind of power that the hypnotist has over other people. Minami used to be skeptical about hypnotism, too. Though after what she experienced today, when the experience seemed so real and vivid--she couldn¡¯t help but become a little more open-minded about unconventional methods. She still held a skeptic attitude about the paranormal, because not everything was necessarily a paranormal experience, though she wasn¡¯t completely rigid in her opinion as she had been before. I didn¡¯t properly thank them, Minami realized to herself. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll go back into that place and properly thank them¡­and apologize for my behavior. They were just trying to help me, is all. Minami suddenly had an idea spring inside her mind. She dialed Hotaru¡¯s phone number into her cell phone, before she held the phone against her ear and eagerly waited for Hotaru to pick up. ¡°Hello?¡± Hotaru¡¯s voice said over the line. ¡°Ah, Minami-chan! It¡¯s so good to hear from you! What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°You were right about that place, Hotaru,¡± Minami said, closing her eyes and smiling a little. Hotaru always managed to put a smile on her face. ¡°I was thinking that maybe the both of us can come tomorrow. How¡¯s that sound?¡± ¡°Wow, really? But gosh, what suddenly came over you, Minami-chan? Normally you¡¯re skeptical about the paranormal and everything!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say that I had a life-altering experience there,¡± Minami said, before she glanced out her window and watched a V formation of birds fly past the powerlines. ¡°I¡¯m so happy for you, Minami-chan!¡± Hotaru said. ¡°I¡¯d love to come with you tomorrow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a date, then,¡± Minami said, before she began talking about trivial things with Hotaru--what they did for the day, what they thought was going to happen in the future, exchanging gossip about things happening in the school, and all sorts of things. Hotaru then told Minami that she needed to get some chores done around the house and hung up. Minami then put her cell phone on her dresser next to her bed before she laid back down again, closing her eyes and simply relaxing. Perhaps she needed to catch some sleep so that she can feel energized and perky again. Minami then used her hands as a pillow and fell into a gentle sleep. --x-- Minami dreamt of the handsome man from PsiCo. She saw him smiling at her, and Minami felt a flush of warmth overflow her. Her heart beat faster, and she suddenly realized that she liked it when that man smiled at her, giving her a special smile that was meant just for her¡­ He held out a hand towards her, clasping her own delicate hand within his own. She noticed that he wasn¡¯t wearing the black gloves that he wore on his hands. Minami let out a sigh and the man, who she now recognized as Takara Yukimura, seeped his memories into her. She was filled with knowledge of different people and objects, and the warmth of his hand emanated throughout her body. Minami, Takara said, saying her name like a promise. Your name is Minami¡­and you¡¯re an important person. I promise I will never forget you. Minami closed her eyes and she simply enveloped Takara into a warm hug, resting her head against his chest and breathing in his scent. Names have power, Takara said in her dream. Minami then remembered that he originally told her that if people knew another person¡¯s full name and birthdate, that person can hold power over the other. You now know my full name, as a sign of trust. One day¡­you will eventually know more about me. All of a sudden, the dream faded and Minami found herself in the confines of her bedroom, staring up at the ceiling. The feeling of warmth and happiness faded away along with the memory of the dream as her consciousness came into focus. Minami glanced at the clock, and was surprised that it was 12:50 pm of the next day. She only meant to take a little nap, not go to sleep. Minami shook her head, trying to recall the details of the dream. It was a vivid dream, one that still echoed in her heart. Minami then suddenly felt like a giddy schoolgirl who was crushing on her senior. She only just met the guy and talked to him for a few moments! She didn¡¯t know anything about him and now she¡¯s having vivid dreams about him? Sure, he was handsome and everything, but¡­ He probably already has a girlfriend, Minami thought to herself. He probably likes sweet girls like Kaede, or sexy women like that fortune-teller. Minami let out a sigh as she sat up and hugged her knees to her chest. Of course it was a dream, it was just wishful thinking, anyway. Boys were often too intimidated to approach her and the ones that she gathered the courage to ask out rejected her. Minami wasn¡¯t demure and kind like Kaede, nor did she have the fortune-teller woman¡¯s sex appeal. She then remembered something. Minami grabbed her cell phone from the dresser and quickly punched in Hotaru¡¯s number. When Hotaru picked up, Minami told Hotaru to meet her at the PsiCo Facility at 1:45, glancing at the clock as she did so. That should give her plenty of time to freshen up and everything--brush her teeth, brush her hair, take a fifteen minute shower, and then grab a piece of toast or something before she went off to meet Hotaru. Hotaru agreed, and Minami hung up. She quickly brushed her teeth and teased the knots out of her hair, before she took a quick step into the shower. The water felt warm and refreshing against her unclothed body, and Minami found herself drifting off to the dream she had last night¡­ Once she finished washing her hair and lathering her body with soap, Minami washed it all off and finally stepped out of the shower, quickly toweling herself dry. She ran her brush through her hair a second time and blow dried it. Slipping on a blouse and skirt, Minami looked at herself in the mirror and found herself satisfied with her appearance. She quickly dashed down the stairs, took a piece of bread without bothering to toast it and ran off, eating it along the way. Minami paused in front of the PsiCo facility, having already finished off her piece of bread and resting her hands against her knees, trying to catch her breath. She glanced at her watch and saw that she made it about five minutes earlier than intended, the time being 1:40. Minami let out another sigh, before she glanced at the window again and read what it had to say: PsiCo features various professionals in a variety of fields to suit your purposes. We have psychometric detectives on the case, telepathic therapists, clairvoyant visionaries who can work on your future, along with so much more. Step inside the shop and schedule your appointment today! Hotaru really likes this kind of stuff, Minami thought. She¡¯s always reading up on psychic powers and everything. She believes in the potential of the human mind and that anyone can become a psychic if they really tried. Sounds like wishful thinking, just like the dream I had, but¡­ Hotaru appeared along the sidewalk, holding a book in her hand and waving towards Minami. Minami smiled and waved back as Hotaru stopped next to Minami and seemed breathless with excitement. She curiously glanced at the title of the book in Hotaru¡¯s clutches, and saw the title: The Brain¡¯s 90% Potential: Unlock your Psychic Powers Starting Now! ¡°How¡¯s the book?¡± Minami asked casually. ¡°Oh, this?¡± Hotaru said excitedly, clutching the book to her chest as though it were a precious treasure. ¡°I think it¡¯s really great! I like how it says that anybody has the potential for psychic powers¡­see, it says that we only use 10% or our brains, right? Well, what about the other 90% then? That¡¯s where the key to our hidden psychic powers lies.¡± She then tapped Minami on the forehead as she said this, before she continued on. ¡°Anyway I was trying to look up the secrets of unlocking my own psychic powers, you know, and I¡¯ve done everything that I could from mirror-gazing to meditation and everything else! It¡¯ll come to me eventually, I think¡­I mean, this kind of stuff takes a long time, right? But anyway, if I can get psychic powers, that would be so cool! I mean, I¡¯m not really good at anything else, so at least I have something special about me, right?¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Minami smiled before she patted the shorter girl on the head. Hotaru paused for a moment, peering up at Minami with large, trusting brown eyes. ¡°Silly, you¡¯re already special. You don¡¯t need psychic powers for that. You¡¯re you, Hotaru, and that¡¯s the only thing that matters.¡± Hotaru¡¯s eyes brimmed with happy tears, before she just clasped her arms around Minami, embracing her in a tight hug. Minami laughed even as Minami knocked the breath out of her, though she still smiled and continued patting the girl¡¯s head affectionately. Hotaru was a really good girl. ¡°Oh, Minami-chan! I¡¯m just so happy to hear you say that!¡± Hotaru said as she nuzzled against Minami affectionately. ¡°It¡¯s no problem,¡± Minami said, before giving the girl a comforting squeeze and then detaching herself from the girl¡¯s embrace. ¡°Shall we go inside?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Hotaru said with a bright smile, and both girls entered into the PsiCo facility. There to greet them was the handsome blond-haired man from before. Takara Yukimura. Minami unexpectedly felt her heart race when her gaze locked with his. He had such nice eyes¡­she could stare into them forever ¡°Hello,¡± Takara said politely. ¡°Do I know you¡­?¡± He frowned a bit, before he slipped out a piece of paper and smiled. ¡°Ah, yes, Minami. Which one of you is Minami?¡± Minami smiled, though she felt a sense of weirdness wash over her. Didn¡¯t Takara recognize her from yesterday? He just saw her not too long ago. However, Minami let it slide and said, ¡°I¡¯m Minami, and this is my best friend, Hotaru.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you!¡± Hotaru said with a polite bow, with Takara doing the same. ¡°Pleasure is all mine, of course,¡± Takara said in a rather absent-minded way, his violet eyes seeming distant. ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, I have something important to do. Oh, please make yourselves comfortable, someone will be there to assist you in a moment.¡± Minami and Hotaru entered into the lobby room. Hotaru helped herself to a coffee-making machine that held cups of coffee flavors and even hot chocolate, in which Hotaru took the latter. While her hot chocolate streamed into her mug, Minami sat down on a chair and began thinking to herself. Why was Takara acting so strangely? Was this his way of joking? Maybe Minami really did make a horrible impression on him and now he was pretending that he didn¡¯t know her. Minami scrunched the folds of her skirt in her hands and let out a sigh. Hotaru plopped right next to Minami, leaning close to whisper in her ear, ¡°Did you look at that guy? Totally cute, right? He¡¯s your type, isn¡¯t he, Minami-chan?¡± ¡°W-¡­What¡¯re you talking about?¡± Minami said with a flustered smile, waving her arms about as she tried to correct Hotaru on her assumption. ¡°Well, he¡¯s good-looking, I¡¯ll give you that, but I wouldn¡¯t exactly say that he¡¯s my type¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re so silly, Minami-chan,¡± Hotaru said, lifting a hand to her mouth and giggling. ¡°You¡¯re blushing.¡± Minami crossed her arms and turned away from her friend, pretending to huff. ¡°I¡¯m totally not! You¡¯re just imagining things.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Yukiko said as she entered into the room, flicking her long black hair back across her shoulder and holding a fan. ¡°I hear that someone is enamored with our beloved Takara-kun? Hmhmhm¡­it¡¯s nothing to be ashamed about, really. You¡¯re around that age where a young girl¡¯s heart desires to be with her crush¡­¡± ¡°Who said I was crushing on anyone?¡± Minami said, becoming even more flustered now that Yukiko entered into the room. ¡°Ah, hello!¡± Hotaru said with a friendly smile and wave towards Yukiko. ¡°I¡¯m Minami¡¯s friend, Hotaru. I really wanted to come see this place because I heard that you do really, really amazing and cool things here.¡± Yukiko put the fan to her mouth and laughed. ¡°My, my, someone who finds our hard work credible. It is nice to make your acquaintance, Miss Hotaru. Miss Minami here was skeptical about our work at first when she came here yesterday.¡± ¡°About that¡­¡± Minami said, fighting to subside the blush that crept across her cheeks. ¡°Sorry. I was acting in a terrible manner.¡± Yukiko then snapped the fan that she was holding shut, revealing a smile behind it. ¡°Apology accepted. I daresay that I¡¯m hardly surprised that the both of you came here. After all, no one who steps foot in front of this facility comes here without a purpose in mind.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Minami said, her skeptical side coming through for a moment. ¡°I mean, it was just by chance that I came here¡­right¡­?¡± ¡°There is no such thing as coincidence in the world,¡± Yukiko said while she snapped the fan shut once more. ¡°All the smallest actions, the seemingly inconsequential things in life, build up and cause chain reactions that can influence the world. It is a phenomenon known as the butterfly effect, where a flutter of a butterfly¡¯s wings may turn into a tornado.¡± Hotaru¡¯s eyes brightened, before she came up to Yukiko and clasped her hands within her own. ¡°Wow! This woman is really, really smart, Minami-chan! I never knew about the butterfly effect before!¡± ¡°Well, it is part of the chaos theory where a simple change can cause large differences at a later state,¡± Yukiko said, seeming flattered that Hotaru complimented her intelligence. ¡°Anyway, I think that Takara-kun would very much like to meet with you two personally. He needs some time to readjust, and eventually he¡¯ll be back to his normal self.¡± ¡°I thought that he was acting strangely,¡± Minami said. ¡°I just met him yesterday and he acted as though he didn¡¯t remember me, at first.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a reason behind that,¡± a voice said behind them, which was revealed to be Kaede who had her hands clasped in front of her. ¡°Eh?¡± Minami said as she turned around and faced Kaede. ¡°Can you explain why Takara was acting so¡­weird?¡± Kaede simply smiled and clasped her hands behind her back. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I can¡¯t disclose that kind of information. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll open up to you when he¡¯s ready. In the meantime, Minami-san¡­you must be a very important person to him.¡± Minami was wondering exactly how she was an important person to Takara when he acted as if he didn¡¯t know her for a second, though for some reason, there was a flutter inside her heart when she heard those words. She didn¡¯t know why, but it made her happy to hear that¡­ ¡°I-I see¡­¡± Kaede smiled before she faced Hotaru and bowed towards her politely. ¡°Hello, I am Kaede Ikeda. I work as a telepathic/empathy therapist in PsiCo.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, I¡¯m Hotaru,¡± Hotaru said enthusiastically, before she took Kaede¡¯s hands in both of her own and said. ¡°So you can really read minds and stuff, right? Can you tell me what I¡¯m thinking about right now?¡± Kaede put a hand to her mouth and giggled. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Minami-san will be embarrassed if I reveal your thoughts.¡± Minami looked rather suspicious. ¡°What¡¯s Hotaru thinking about?¡± Kaede put a finger to her lip, before saying, ¡°She¡¯s imagining you in various romantic escapades with Takara-kun. There was an amusement park scenario, then a beach episode, and it looks like there was a wedding ceremony performance in there.¡± ¡°Ooh, you¡¯re good, Kaede-chan!¡± Hotaru said while clasping her hands together. Minami, in the meantime, had her face heated up from embarrassment. Just what kind of weird fantasies was her friend imagining her in, anyway? However, the object of Minami and Hotaru¡¯s thoughts appeared before them, a polite smile on his face and a twinkle in his violet eyes. ¡°Excuse me. I understand that I¡¯m going to be testing one of you?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Hotaru said brightly, before she got up and bowed. ¡°Excuse me, but I came to this facility because I want to develop my psychic powers. Well, I mean, that is, if I have any. I mean I was reading this book and it says that anyone can use psychic powers, really, it¡¯s all in the power of the mind. But oh dear, I¡¯m not very good at school and I seem to forget things easily¡­¡± Takara gave her a winning smile. ¡°It¡¯s all right, Miss Hotaru, is it? We will begin with a simple test that will gauge your psychic ability. Here.¡± Takara held took out a pack of cards before he shuffled them in the air with a magician¡¯s grace. Hotaru clapped in amazement at this display and Minami herself was actually kind of impressed with his work. Takara shuffled the cards several times, before he smacked the pile into the palm of his left hand. ¡°Yukiko, you have a blindfold ready?¡± Takara asked. ¡°I always come prepared~¡± Yukiko said, pulling out a blindfold from between her breasts. Minami had to marvel at the woman¡¯s efficiency¡­and the storage space between her boobs. Yukiko then wrapped the blindfold around Hotaru¡¯s eyes. Takara then shuffled the cards back and forth, and while still shuffling them, he asked Hotaru to predict what card¡¯s face will appear. He made Hotaru guess one-hundred times, and it turns out that every single time her prediction were wrong. Takara then refolded the cards again, shuffled them, then neatened them back together. ¡°It seem to me, Miss Hotaru,¡± Takara said. ¡°That you do have very powerful psychic ability.¡± ¡°B-But I didn¡¯t get any of them right, did I?¡± Hotaru said while she slumped her shoulders a bit as the blindfold was taken off. ¡°If a person¡¯s predictions are higher or lower than the average, there is a possibility of them being psychic. You may have guessed all the cards wrong, though don¡¯t¡¯ you think that¡¯s rather unusual? Even an average person could have predicted a certain number of cards correctly, so in a sense, Hotaru-san, you are extraordinary in this regard. You should consider this an accomplishment, if you will. It makes you distinguished from the rest of ordinary people.¡± Hotaru¡¯s eyes sparkled when Takara said these words to her. Minami couldn¡¯t particularly blame the girl for being lovestruck--Takara was handsome, obviously, though he was also rather intelligent and he had a certain charisma that drew people towards him. Minami fiddled with her spiky pigtails nervously--did Takara see anything extraordinary in her? Kaede said that she was apparently an important person to Takara, but¡­ ¡°Um¡­can I take the test too?¡± Minami asked tentatively. Takara shuffled the cards, before he stuffed them back into the pocket of his jacket. ¡°That will be unnecessary, Miss Minami.¡± ¡°Eh? Why not?¡± Minami said while feeling disappointment settling in her gut. ¡°My oh my, what do we have here? We didn¡¯t think that little Miss Skeptic here would be so willing to participate in a psychic test,¡± Yukiko said with a little smile on her lips. ¡°Well, I mean, that is to say¡­¡± Minami said before she turned away from the group, fiddling with a strand of hair nervously. Kaede gave Minami a gentle smile before saying, ¡°The reason why it¡¯s unnecessary is because we have we already have your results. I recorded them when we had our therapy session.¡± ¡°You¡¯re able to tell that someone has psychic powers through that, too?¡± Minami asked, before wondering if what she just asked was a stupid question. ¡°There has been no sign of psychic awakening in your brain,¡± Kaede said, and upon Minami¡¯s crestfallen face, she added sympathetically. ¡°Of course, in some people, it can take later to develop. Sometimes poltergeist activities are caused by teenagers who are exercising their psychic powers that just awakened. In most cases, the ones who develop later are usually the most powerful psychics.¡± Minami still didn¡¯t feel comforted by the fact. As much as she hated herself for it, she felt a little envious of Hotaru, as well, even if she managed to get all the guesses wrong. So she didn¡¯t have any sign of psychic powers inside her brain¡­and Hotaru, who never really succeeded at anything, really, was the one with special powers. It seemed ironic, though Minami suddenly felt envious of her friend possessing an ability that she would have denied in the first place. ¡°Not to worry, though, we need someone with a level head,¡± Takara mentioned while he looked at Minami. ¡°I also have a question that I would like to ask the both of you; would you like to volunteer your services for PsiCo?¡± ¡°Eh? What?¡± Minami asked, her heart fluttering and wishing to say ¡®yes¡¯, but¡­ ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you were recruiting volunteers. Takara took a single card out of his pocket before he balanced it on the very tip of his finger. ¡°Ah, this is a very special occasion, my friends. Starting today, you are now part of PsiCo!¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The next day at school, Hotaru was simply brimming with excitement at the prospect and couldn¡¯t concentrate on her studies or even stay still in her seat. Minami also found herself distracted as well. Was it really coincidence that she stepped in front of the PsiCo facility and met people like Takara, Yukiko, and Kaede? Kaede said that people who develop their psychic powers late are usually the most powerful ones, Minami thought to herself as she twirled her pencil around with her fingers. She also said that poltergeist activities can be caused by adolescents testing their new powers. But I¡¯m already fifteen¡­I¡¯m going to be sixteen soon, in May. What if¡­I just don¡¯t have it in me? Hotaru must have noted the look on Minami¡¯s face, as she passed a slip of paper between their desks. Minami opened it and read: Cheer up, Minami-chan! I hear that we¡¯re getting two new transfer students today! Minami was about to write Hotaru back before the teacher stood up and opened the door to let in two students. Both of them had curious white hair and red-violet eyes that were slightly different hues from one another. The girl looked rather delicate, wearing a black and white scheme dress that was reminiscent of Gothic Lolita style, while the boy was sharply dressed, with not so much as a wrinkle in his crisp suit. Minami couldn¡¯t help but catch herself staring. ¡°All right, class,¡± the teacher said as she began writing the twins¡¯ names on the board. ¡°Let me introduce you to Miyazono Tsubasa and Suzume. Would you like to introduce yourselves?¡± The girl, Suzume, put a delicate hand to her chest and spoke, ¡°My name is Suzume¡­I¡¯m in love with the European culture and I particularly like reading Gothic literature. I do like a good cup of tea; my favorite is jasmine. I also like walking through cemeteries and graveyards.¡± The class nodded after Suzume¡¯s introduction, before whispering amongst themselves. The boys were enamored with her beautiful white hair and fancy dress style, and the girls thought that Tsubasa was cool and mysterious. Minami thought the girl a little strange--it sounded like she was into rather morbid things. Gothic literature? Cemeteries and graveyards? Minami would pass on those things. Tsubasa was next. His introduction was succinct. ¡°I don¡¯t really like anything. I don¡¯t have any dreams or aspirations. I¡¯m here to keep my sister safe.¡± ¡°Oh wow, he¡¯s so cool!¡± ¡°So handsome.¡± ¡°He must be really devoted to his sister. How nice!¡± ¡°Miss Miyazono, Mister Miyazono, take a seat, if you¡¯ll please. The topic that we¡¯ll be discussing today is the nervous system of the human body. We will discuss the brain, which is full of many mysteries and wonders of the universe. Now I would like for you all to write down these terms; synapse, hypothalamus, amygdala, etc.¡± This is boring. This is stuff I already know. But those two¡­they seem so strange. I wonder who they are, really? ¡°Suzume, Tsubasa! Would you like to sit on the rooftop with us for lunch?¡± ¡°That sounds absolutely splendid, thank you. I should like to be in the fresh air once in a while.¡± ¡°Great! Minami-chan and I eat up there all the time. It¡¯s nice to be in the company of friends, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°So what¡¯s it like, in Europe?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a wonderful place, it¡¯s just so¡­well the word that I¡¯m thinking of is cultured. It was an illuminating experience going there, it has a lot of history behind it. I¡¯m glad that I got visit it while I had the chance. I don¡¯t get to travel very often.¡± ¡°Oh? Why is that?¡± ¡°My sister often gets ill. I¡¯d prefer it if she weren¡¯t on the rooftop and stayed inside¡ª¡° ¡°Oh, Tsubasa, a little fresh air will do me good. Besides, I¡¯ve always wanted to eat up on the rooftop, just like this, while talking among friends. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Tsubasa made some non-committal grunt in response, though Hotaru took it as a sign of approval from the overprotective older brother. She took both twins¡¯ hands within her own, before saying, ¡°All right, to the rooftop it is! You¡¯ll have to tell us everything about yourselves.¡± Once they made their way to the rooftop, the sky was a gorgeous shade of blue and the clouds drifted peacefully in their dream-like way across the cerulean backdrop. Minami felt as though she could stare up at the heavens and then fall asleep right on the spot, especially with the sunshine warming her skin as she faced the sky. They gathered around and shared their o-bento with one another, and the conversation happened to spur onto the supernatural (since that was Hotaru¡¯s favorite topic, after all), and it led to something very interesting. ¡°Have you ever visited any haunted castles in Europe?¡± Hotaru said as her eyes gleamed with anticipation about all kinds of delicious stories that Suzume could possibly tell her. ¡°Oh, how about Edinburgh castle! I hear that¡¯s the spookiest haunting sight of them all!¡± ¡°It is a hotspot of paranormal activity,¡± Suzume said as she calmly sipped her tea, though Tsubasa was frowning towards his sister as though he didn¡¯t want to discuss the topic at hand. ¡°I¡¯ve visited all the haunted castles and like in Europe¡­it really is a wondrous place, but also a hotspot for anything paranormal. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve gone visiting there, actually.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Hotaru said while clasping her hands together. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re in the supernatural too! Just the other day, Minami-chan and I went to a place called PsiCo to have our psychic powers tested.¡± ¡°You mentioned PsiCo?¡± Suzume said before smiling. ¡°Ah yes, you do know Takara-kun, then, do you?¡± ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Minami said as she spoke for the first time in the conversation. ¡°Do you mean to tell me that you know Takara personally?¡± ¡°Well, maybe not quite so personally,¡± Suzume said with a smile. ¡°Though we are acquainted with one another¡­mm, yes, we are acquainted with one another, I would say. You see, I am actually a spiritual medium and I have worked with Takara-kun before.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Hotaru¡¯s eyes lit up in admiration once she heard about Suzume¡¯s secret. ¡°Wow! You¡¯re a medium! Like, you can channel ghosts and stuff?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business, girl,¡± Tsubasa finally spoke up, though Suzume shook her head at her brother before clasping Hotaru¡¯s hands in both of her own. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what he says. Yes, I am a spiritual medium, you could say. I¡¯ve channeled several spirits before and I have to say¡­they were very illuminating experiences for me.¡± ¡°Can you channel a spirit right now?¡± Hotaru asked in curiosity, her eyes still gleaming with excitement. Minami noticed that Tsubasa seemed to get even more irritated by the moment. ¡°Perhaps sometime I could show you,¡± Suzume said kindly. ¡°But not today. However, I should like to speak to Takara-kun. I didn¡¯t know that he settled down in Japan of all places.¡± ¡°You mean he¡¯s been all around the world?¡± Hotaru asked, and Minami had to admit that she too, was rather curious about this. ¡°Why yes, he hasn¡¯t mentioned that he¡¯s been to Europe and all the other major paranormal hotspots of the world? I guess Takara-kun is very modest, or perhaps, he just hasn¡¯t thought of telling anyone?¡± ¡°He really is,¡± Minami started to say. ¡°He truly is,¡± Hotaru also said after Minami. ¡°A good, humble person,¡± they both said together. Suzume put a hand to her mouth and laughed a bit. ¡°Of course he is. Just like him. Anyway, I have an interesting case to present to Takara-kun¡­and hopefully he will be able to help us out.¡± ¡°What do you need help with, Suzume-chan?¡± Hotaru asked. ¡°It seems that there are apparitions appearing throughout this place,¡± Suzume said as she set down her cup of tea. ¡°We¡¯ve been tracking down these apparitions in Europe, though it seems that the apparitions have led us all the way back to Japan once more. If you could, you two could help us on dealing with these apparitions as well.¡± ¡°Apparitions, huh,¡± Minami said while folding her arms across her chest. ¡°What exactly do you mean by apparitions?¡± ¡°An apparition is, say,¡± Suzume said while putting a finger to her lip. ¡°A ghost, really. A spirit. Or maybe a ghost-like image of someone or something. Does that help explain it?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Minami said, ¡°I think that I¡¯m beginning to understand a bit better.¡± Unfortunately, the lunch bell rang, indicating an end to their conversation. However, Minami had a feeling that the questions surrounding the twins would be answered once they met together at PsiCo after school. --x-- ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back from Europe?¡± Takara asked. ¡°Splendid, how splendid. But who are you again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, you idiot,¡± Tsubasa said in a cold voice. ¡°It¡¯s-me-you-idiot--what an unusual name.¡± ¡°Tsubasa, you dumbass. Don¡¯t joke around.¡± ¡°Ah, now I remember. You have no sense of humor. So this must mean this lovely young lady is Suzume. How do you do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing well, Takara-kun. I see you¡¯ve been busy as well.¡± ¡°Oh yes, the usual. Tea, perhaps?¡± ¡°That would be lovely.¡± Yukiko got up to make tea for everyone. Minami accepted a cup of tea, this one being jasmine flavored. They gathered in the lounging room, having this discussion. ¡°Europe went well, I trust?¡± Takara said as he sipped some tea. ¡°It was quite lovely, looking at all the buildings and people. IT was, could you say¡­exhilarating.¡± ¡°Europe sounds charming,¡± Kaede said. ¡°I wish I could go, but I would feel trapped being miles above the ground.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not have my sister go, considering her constitution,¡± Tsubasa said. ¡°You act like your sister can¡¯t do anything herself,¡± Minami said with a frown, to which Tsubasa glared at her. Minami was left with the distinct impression that he didn¡¯t like her. Well fine then. She would have to say, in her own humble opinion, that she didn¡¯t very much care for Tsubasa Miyazono either. Who would, anyway? Even though he could be considered handsome, it was stiff attitude and cold reactions to people that deterred her away from him. Minami couldn¡¯t imagine what it would be like to handle a brother like Tsubasa. ¡°Anyway,¡± Takara said, no doubt to lighten up the tension in the atmosphere now, ¡°You¡¯ve come back to Japan, I¡¯m sure, because you¡¯ve experienced a bout of paranormal activity here?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Suzume said. ¡°It seems like no matter where we go, our steps always retrace back to here. Funny how that is, isn¡¯t it? Wouldn¡¯t you say it¡¯s¡­serendipity? Perhaps?¡± ¡°I would certainly say so,¡± Takara said, before he gestures to Minami and Hotaru. ¡°As you are aware, these are our two newest members for PsiCo. Please introduce yourselves and be comfortable among one another. It wouldn¡¯t do to have colleagues not getting along, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°We¡¯re sort of acquainted,¡± Minami said while smiling a bit at Suzume, before frowning at Tsubasa, ¡°We met them at school, actually¡­but I¡¯ve been wondering¡­Kaede, you don¡¯t go to school with us, do you? Why is that?¡± ¡°Oh, me?¡± Kaede said while clasping her hands together, looking a bit self-conscious. ¡°Well, you know, being a telepath and empath and all, I simply can¡¯t stay in a confined area for too long with a lot of people. I prefer smaller areas like this one. I just can¡¯t concentrate on my studies whenever I¡¯m in a school environment.¡± ¡°That makes sense, I suppose,¡± Minami said, though she still had to wonder if Kaede really did have telepathy/empathetic powers. ¡°It¡¯d be nice if I didn¡¯t have to attend school and could teach myself instead. Aah, the stuff that we¡¯re learning at school is way too easy.¡± ¡°I wish I could go there to be among friends, but work keeps me here,¡± Kaede said with a small smile. ¡°Anyway, I believe that we have something important to discuss. Suzume-san, you have noted that there are paranormal activities happening around this area, correct?¡± ¡°Why yes,¡± Suzume said as she sipped her tea once more. ¡°You could say that it¡¯s a hotspot of paranormal activity? That is why there are Apparitions appearing. Tsubasa and I have to learn more about these Apparitions and perhaps dispel them.¡± ¡°Are Apparitions harmful?¡± Hotaru said with a slight furrow in her brow as she imagined scary ghosts and things. ¡°Usually they aren¡¯t,¡± Suzume explained. ¡°Though spirits have a tendency to think differently than humans do. Which is why you always have to be¡­how shall I say it¡­cautious when dealing with them.¡± ¡°To get to business, though,¡± Tsbuasa said, his handsome features turned into a frown. ¡°Suzume had been almost completely possessed by a demon that tried to take over her body in Europe while we were exploring the castles and haunted manors. She is still feeling some of the effects of the possession, so we thought that we would use your services to help her recover.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be glad to do anything to help,¡± Takara said, before he grabbed Suzume¡¯s hand and concentrated for a while. He put back on his gloves and nodded to himself, saying, ¡°It¡¯s a particularly nasty Apparition that took hold of your sister. Though I¡¯m sure with Kaede¡¯s sessions, your sister will turn back to normal. However¡­I do notice some signs of demonic features on Suzume.¡± ¡°Oh dear me,¡± Suzume said with a frown. ¡°My teeth are just a little more pointier, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find a cure,¡± Tsubasa said in a stiff tone. ¡°You¡¯re the only guys that can help us. So? What about these two newbies, then?¡± ¡°Still freshly discovering their powers,¡± Takara said with a smile, before he said. ¡°I think that one of them holds a clue to someone that we¡¯ve been trying to track down for a while now.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Minami said, frowning. ¡°You didn¡¯t mention anything about that, Takara.¡± Takara turned to look at her with a most serious gaze, before saying. ¡°It turns out that your memories have been fracturedand tampered with. Something was causing you to resist the paranormal because someone wanted you disbelieving of the paranormal so that you wouldnt¡¯ seek help and that your powers would remain sealed. Your powers may be the on thing that will end up in their ruin¡­¡± ¡°Really? Me?¡± Minami said, before Hotaru stared at her friend in new found awe. ¡°I¡¯ll explain more later,¡± Takara said dismissively, before saying. ¡°But for now, we need to work on Suzume, who has come under teh affliction of demon possession.¡± Minami nodded. ¡°Right. What do you want Hotaru and me to do?¡± ¡°What I want you to do is observe this mission carefully,¡± Takara said as the rest gathered around. ¡°Now¡­onto the cognitive world!¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¡°The mental landscape,¡± Minami said, questioning. ¡°You mean that particularly weird dream like world I experienced with Kaede?¡± ¡°That¡¯s precisely it,¡± Takara said with a smile, as the facets of the real world started to melt away and they started to witness a change in scenery that blazed with the hottest of hellfire. ¡°It may be sweltering hot here, though this is only the mental landscape. As long as you concentrate your mind and not give into the mental suggestions that the mental landscape provides, then you should be fine.¡± ¡°So this is¡­Suzume¡¯s mental landscape?¡± Hotaru asked as she stared around the Netherworld dimension with widened eyes. ¡°Yes,¡± Takara said, and Kaede noted something. ¡°Look!¡± In the center of the bubbling lava emerged a beautiful creature that resembled Suzume, though it was her full demonic form. Her white hair rippled behind her and she wore a seductive outfit, bedecked as a succubus, an alluring enchanting demon that drew teh carnal senses of anyone who were attracted to her wild. Tsubasa covered his eyes, not wishing to see his sister in a state of near undress. ¡°So Tsubasa even has his weaknesses, huh?¡± Minami said with a slight smirk, before saying. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that Tsubasa was such a devoted and avid sis-con.¡± ¡°Shut up, you,¡± Tsubasa said as sweat started to drench him. ¡°You see, this is why I couldn¡¯t handle this on my own. I couldn¡¯t dare touch my beloved sister and harm her in any way¡­and she¡¯s in that¡­unseemly state. I can¡¯t bear to look at my sister, who is as modest as she is beautiful.¡± Takara whistled. ¡°You¡¯re rather old fashioned, Tsubasa, but yes¡­this demonic aura doesn¡¯t suit our sweet angel Suzume.¡± Demon Suzume blew a kiss towards Tsubasa and Takara, with Tsubasa averting his gaze away from the Succubus¡¯s body and Takara seeming to be amused. Her tail snaked around Takara¡¯s waist and she brought Takara closer to herself, laughing with a sultry tone. Minami wanted to shout at Demon Suzume for taking Takara and trying to seduce him! She wouldn¡¯t let him happen! ¡°Takara! You¡¯re stronger than that hussy!¡± Minami said. Takara turned to Minami and she thought that he winked at her. He then turned to Suzume, before saying, ¡°Trust me, my dear, you don¡¯t want to touch me¡­¡± ¡°Your hands¡­¡± Suzume cooed as kissed his fingertips, before looking at him with a sultry smirk. ¡°I want to feel your hands¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s also out of the question, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Takara said, before he said. ¡°Kaede! It looks like we have to delve deeper into the psychological realm of Suzume!¡± Kaede nodded and suddenly they were transported into another dimension where a galaxy was spiraling all around them. Ripples lie water flowed from underneath their feet on an invisible platform that let them see a vast ocean of supernovas and stars and planets just underneath their feet. Then, in the middle of the universe was Suzume crucified to a cross, her eyes closed and twined with vines across her supple naked body. She looks towards them sadly, noticing their arrival. ¡°Will you save this poor sinner?¡± the girl who was Suzume yet not Suzume at the same time. ¡°Will you be her salvation?¡± Tsubasa clenched his hands into fists and closing his eyes tightly. ¡°I¡¯m going to save my sister no matter what.¡± The replica of Suzume looked sad. ¡°Will you peer into a memory from a long time ago?¡± Tsubasa paled, then remained silent. He shook and trembled, and tears streamed down his face. ¡°Not that one¡­not that one¡­¡± Takara put a hand on Tsubasa¡¯s shoulder, before proceeding. ¡°We shall proceed. We¡¯re going to save our dear friend Suzume after all.¡± ¡°Very well¡­¡± the replica said, and the galaxy changed into rippling water beneath their feet that reflected a pastel like sky in the background, before the image shimmered into something else. A memory. They saw Suzume in a solitary room with a blindfold around her eyes. She had been sobbing, and her throat was hoarse from screaming. She muttered to herself over and over again, before ceasing her lamentations. She heard the sound of footsteps. A man approached her, talking to her in a cruel hard voice. ¡°Take on the possession of the dead girl¡­see how she was murdered. Then we will see how this case will b e solved.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± Suzume sobbed. ¡°Father, please¡­I can¡¯t handle this anymore¡­¡± ¡°You have to solve the case, or the murderer will walk free! Do you understand? Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good. You understand that, don¡¯t you, Suzume?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make her do this!¡± Tsubasa cried out, clenching his hands into fists and trembling with anger. ¡°You¡¯re making her go through hell over and over again for your own selfish purpose¡­¡± ¡°Be quiet, Tsubasa. Now, Suzume. Try to remember that girl¡¯s death. Feel it. Embrace it. Tell us who the killer is in vivid detail; the alst thing that you see.¡± Suzume let out a gasp, then shuddered; and a scream wailed from her lips as her tears became rivulets of blood tracking down her face¡­ Minami snapped out of the memory, entranced by the scene before her. Suzume¡¯s memory left a terrible imprint on Minami¡¯s heart Takara then took a deep shuddering breath and wiped his eyes. Takara stood calm, before speaking to the Suzume replica. ¡°Suzume, your past is a traumatizing one. You experienced death, several times over, ni order to capture a killer for your father. However, Suzume¡­it is a memory that you own. It does not control you. You have control over it. I know that you¡¯re strong, princess. All of your friends are here with you¡­to share the pain¡­the grief¡­the fear¡­¡± Suzume smiled at them with dead eyes. ¡°I will never be right again. Everything has changed from that moment on¡­I¡¯m just barely holding together.¡± ¡°You are strong,¡± Takara said with a smile. ¡°And we¡¯re always here to support you. Go on now¡­look at your memory directly. Try to minmize the volume on the voices like you would on a television. Hear your screams grow fainter until you can¡¯t hear them at all. As for the sensation of death; remember that you¡¯re alive now. You still have thoughts, yes? Even terrible thoughts mean that you¡¯re still thinking, that you¡¯re still living on. Hold onto that hope. And let that memory serve as your strength, not your weakness. You survived a lot; and you will survive more. You always will.¡± Suzume let out a breathy sigh, before the vines restricting her against the cross starting to unravel and relinquish her from its grip. Tsubasa ran down underneath the cross and caught the naked replica of his sister, averting his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Suzume,¡± Tsubasa said. ¡°I tried to save you back then when you needed me it most, and failed.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Tsubasa¡­¡± Suzume said, before a slight smile appeared on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m going to be fine. Really.¡± She put a hand to his cheek tenderly, before she disappeared in a flurry of bubbles and all of them floated and rose to the surface of the water to a white shining light that embraced them all. ¡ªx-- Suzume woke up, and they were back in the physical world once more, Minami witnessed for herself what these guys did for a living, and found herself marveling at Takara even more. They really did perform miracles, and Minami helped contribute to that. Suzume resumed drinking her tea, feeling a bit shaky from the mental landscape adventures, her hands trembling slightly. ¡°I¡¯m especially sorry for causing trouble to you all,¡± Suzume said as she drank the tea to calm her nerves. ¡°I usually never become possessed by the spirit hosts that I harbor inside my body.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Tsubasa said while he put a hand upon Suzume¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I didn¡¯t do a good job dispelling the demon. I¡¯m sorry for failing you, Suzume.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not to blame either, Tsubasa,¡± Takara said kindly. ¡°You needed an intervention. That¡¯s why PsiCo is here to help.¡± ¡°Tch, to think that I needed to rely on you guys¡­¡± Tsubasa said while shaking his head, though he didn¡¯t seem to be as resentful as he had before towards them. ¡°You¡¯ve really chosen a good team, Takara.¡± ¡°Ah, but this is only the beginning, my friends!¡± Takara said. ¡°Now that we have the old gang together plus some new members, I¡¯m sure that we will finally be able to catch him.¡± ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Minami asked. ¡°The guy who brainwashes people? Am I to assume that he is an esper too?¡± ¡°As long as there are people who are given power, there is likely those who will abuse it. Imagine my surprise when you showed up at PsiCo¡¯s doorstep, Minami!¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Minami said, to which Takara hummed a little as though contemplating to tell her something, though he decided against it. ¡°Well, for now, let¡¯s focus our efforts on helping the victims of this guy¡¯s brainwashing That¡¯s the best that we can do, right?¡± ¡°Now that you see how these work, we will help rehabilitate teh victims of this guy¡¯s brainwashing together!¡± Takara said to Minami and Hotaru. ¡°I want you guy to go home and rest up. The cognitive world can be very disorienting, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be used to it with more experience and it won¡¯t put as much strain on your minds. Until next time!¡± ¡ªx-- Minami dreamed that night. She dreamed of something frightening in the depths of her subconscious, where savage things grow in the primordial soup of neurons and neurotransmitters and synapses, before she fluttered awake, stifling a scream. She didn¡¯t want to recall the dream, though it remained starkly vivid in her mind while sweat filmed over her body. It wasn¡¯t real, she told herself over and over again. It wasn¡¯t real. Not real. Just the adrenaline high after experiencing something as surreal as the mental landscape I¡¯ve been in. Yet Minami couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it. She turned on her lamp in her room, where the light chased away the shadows lurking in her room. She looked at the dark corners and anywhere where the light couldn¡¯t reach, as though something could pounce upon her and tear out her throat with its teeth. Satisfied that she didn¡¯t find anything, Minami then went back to her bed and started to read to calm her nerves. ¡°What would Takara say,¡± Minami murmured to herself while she glanced unseeing at the words on the page that resembled indecipherable hieroglyphics more than anything else. ¡°There is nothing to fear but fear itself, huh? Well, he always seems to be so brave and keeps on smiling no matter how dire the situation gets. Why am I thinking about him so much, honestly? He is charismatic, though he probably is some kind of playboy. He¡¯s got some kind of flaw, right? There¡¯s no way that he¡¯s so¡­handsome¡­smart¡­perfect¡­¡± Minami clasped her hands against her mouth.Did she honestly say that aloud? She didn¡¯t¡­she couldn¡¯t possibly. He doesn¡¯t look at you that way, Minami¡¯s mind told herself. You probably made a very bad first impression on him, too. How are you going to amend that? Minami wondered about it for a while, before shaking her head. She shouldn¡¯t change herself for someone else; besides that, she wasn¡¯t in love with him anyway. She convinced herself that she wasn¡¯t. After all, if she loved him, she would choose him first above all else, right? Was that how love worked? What kind of relationship would they have? What would hse have to contribute that he didn¡¯t already have? You gotta have more confidence yourself, girl, Minami thought. Sure, maybe you¡¯re abrasive to other people at times, but it¡¯s better to be brutally honest rather than a chronic liar, right? Anyway, if you really want to try it out, then invite him to the amusement park. You can ride on the Ferris Wheel, hold hands maybe, or maybe even¡­ Minami closed her eyes tight and shook her head. She would not have sappy romantic longings over Takara Yukimura! That was for other girls, wasn¡¯t it? The kind that had nothing but vapid notions in their head about love and relationships and boys. Was she becoming soft? More importantly, was she becoming stupid? ¡°I¡¯m going to ask him,¡± Minami muttered to herself whiel hugging her pillow to her chest. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask him to the amusement park so that I can get these stupid thoughts after all. There¡¯s gotta be some flaw about him, right? Once I find that flaw, the romance will wear thin, and then I can be content to be by myself and pursuing my studies.¡± That¡¯s what Minami thought. She didn¡¯t actually fall in love with him. He¡¯s too perfect to be true. And she will find out his secret and she wont¡¯ have this stupid crush or romance or whatever on him anymore. It will wear off, she suspected. She just needed to find out his secrets. ¡ªx-- Minami waited for Takara at the entrance to the amusement park. She dressed up in her finest clothes and brushed her reddish pink hair to sleek perfection. She was a knockout, she knew, and maybe even Takara wouldn¡¯t be able to resist her. Though some self doubt nibbled at the edge of her mind, telling her that she looked ridiculous in the dress, that shorts and jeans suited her far better than any girly clothes would. Minami then slapped her cheeks, before convincing herself that she made the right choice. She looked good, she knew it, and so did the other onlookers that passed on by. She left a note for him in his locker, since she didn¡¯t have his cell phone number. Yet. But eventually she would be able to figure that out, wouldn¡¯t she? She would take him on a breathtking experience through the musement park,they¡¯re going to have a wonderful time, she knew it¡­ Then, when Takara finally showed up, he wasn¡¯t alone. Minami blinked. The PsiCo company arrived, along with Hotaru, who waved at Minami merrily. Minami gritted her teeth. This was supposed to be her special time with Takara! What gives?¡± ¡°I got your message, Minami,¡± Takara said with a smile. ¡°And this was exactly the place that I wanted to investigate! You¡¯re sharp as ever, Minami! You knew a paranormal sighting before we did! I¡¯m very impressed.¡± Minami stopped for a moment, before sweating a little. She didn¡¯t intend for them to go on another paranormal mission, though if Takara thought that of her, then maybe that would score points in her favor? ¡°Uh, sure.¡± Kaede put a hand on Minami¡¯s shoulder, before whispering in her ear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Minami-chan. He¡¯s very insistent on going on paranormal missions. I know what your intentions were, but maybe some other time you¡¯ll be able to get some alone time with him.¡± Minami looked startled, before Kaede waved her hand placatingly. ¡°Oh! Don¡¯t worry, your secret is safe with me. Though there must be a few things you must know¡­¡± ¡°All right!¡± Takara said, clapping his hands to gather their attention. ¡°This is the spot for paranormal activity. We will split up into separate groups to investigate. Let¡¯s see¡­we¡¯ve got an odd number of people here, so that means one pair will have to deal with an extra person. So¡­Kaede, Hotaru, Yukiko, you are all together. Tsubasa and Suzume are another. Minami and I will be together.¡± Minami attempted to not show her flustered state. Her face must be blushing red like mad now! It was almost like they were a couple! He even arranged it so that they were alone together! He really could be teh romantic charmer after all, wasn¡¯t he? Surely the mastermind saw through her note and realized it was a love letter in disguise, right? As much s she tried to be sbutle, maybe he saw right thorugh her and brought along the group so that he wasn¡¯t alone. He¡¯s got to be as nervous as she was, right? Right? Once the others departed to search for teh paranormal incident, Takara took Minami¡¯s hand and guided her through the crowds. Minami¡¯s heart fluttered. His gloved hand felt good against her own, though she had to wonder; why did he wear the gloves? She always saw him with a pair of skintight leather gloves that clung to his slender hands, and Minami thought it a little unusual. Was there some kind of reason behind it? Minami thought that, how, she would like to feel his skin against her own when it came to holding hands. ¡°Takara,¡± Minami said while flushing the slighest bit, trying to hide her flustered state from Takara. ¡°Why do you always wear gloves?¡± ¡°That¡¯s an excellent observation, Minami,¡± Takara said, before he turned to look at her and said. ¡°There is a reason why I wear these gloves. I plead with you to never ask me to take them off.¡± Minami nodded, wondering about the sudden seriousness in his eyes. They were just gloves, right? Though then agani, she decided it might have to do with Takara¡¯s powers all right. Minami suddenly realized that she didn¡¯t know what Takara¡¯s powers were. She knew that Kaede was a telepath/empath, that Yukiko was a cliarvaoynt, Tsubasa an exorcist and Suzume a medium.But what was Takara¡¯s psychic powers? I wonder what my psychic powers are, Minami thought to herself. I guess I just got to wait and find out.