Time slowly passed.
Aozawa's life was very regular.
After obtaining the Hypnosis data he wanted from the Misawa group, he didn't continue to hypnotize others and stir up trouble.
Aozawa entered a steady period of settling in, wanting only to adapt to a physique that could handle 12.6 kilometers per hour.
In his view, it was fine to cause trouble once or twice, but using his Hypnosis Ability every day to make waves was likely to expose him.
「...」
The weekend night found Aozawa tossing and turning. Will there be a new Superpower tomorrow? Or will my Superpower suddenly disappear?
He wrestled with these thoughts until midnight before finally drifting off to sleep without realizing it.
DING DING DING.
The alarm he'd set on his cellphone suddenly blared, jolting Aozawa awake. He snapped his eyes open.
As expected, different words from last week appeared before him.
Superpower: Whenever he falls, a girl must be there to cushion his fall.
Aozawa blinked, utterly speechless. I never imagined that the Superpower I've been anticipating for days would turn out to be such a 'chicken rib'—a power that seemed completely useless.
The last time he recalled falling was the year before last.
And what kind of metaphysical nonsense is this—having a girl as a cushion every time I fall? I don't believe that if I fall in my own room, a girl will magically appear to cushion me.
Thinking it over, Aozawa stood up and deliberately leaned backward, as if to fall. However, it felt as though an invisible film beneath him prevented it.
Newton would have wanted to claw his way out of his coffin, grab it, and flee the planet, cursing all the way.
He maintained his posture, back suspended in mid-air, arms crossed over his chest. "My back will never touch the ground... This is completely useless."
After his grumbling, Aozawa figured it out: as long as no girl was nearby to act as a cushion, he would never actually fall.
He felt that these randomly acquired Superpowers were like opening blind boxes. Sometimes he might get a useful Superpower, but occasionally he'd end up with some useless 'chicken ribs.'
No, if it's like opening blind boxes, most of them are trash. The things people actually want are rare. Have I used up all my luck on the first two? Will the rest be these kinds of Superpowers with no discernible use?
Unable to make sense of it, he pushed the thoughts aside, got out of bed, changed into his high school uniform, and strode out of his room. "Good morning, Chitose."
"Hmm."
A nasal hum, full of youthful energy, answered his greeting. Morimoto Chiyoda was practicing yoga.
It was still a high-difficulty yoga pose. She was in Crow Pose, supporting herself solely on her arms, abdomen tucked in, legs bent with her knees resting against her upper arms.
Her face pointed towards the ground, her hips lifted towards the sky.
The soft yoga attire, like a manga artist's pen, clearly delineated every curve and line of her body.
Aozawa glanced at her, then lifted his foot to head to the washroom.
Unexpectedly, as his left foot touched the ground, it seemed to go soft and weak. The floor felt as if it were slicked with oil, causing him to suddenly stumble and fall towards Morimoto Chiyoda.
What the—?!
Aozawa's face was a mask of shock. He was unable to react for a moment; he only registered the lavender yoga pants looming closer and closer, completely filling his vision where the sofa had been moments before.
Ultimately, his entire face landed squarely on Morimoto Chiyoda.
It was as soft as freshly baked bread, and still warm.
A rather inappropriate thought flashed through Aozawa's mind: If she were to fart right now, wouldn't I inhale it all?
"Ah!" Morimoto Chiyoda, caught by surprise, lost her balance. Her body pitched forward, her face heading straight for the ground.
Fortunately, she was well-practiced.
Morimoto Chiyoda reacted instantly, twisting her body and clamping Aozawa's neck between her thighs.
THUD.
She landed gracefully on the ground, unharmed. A chill emanated from her as she said, "It's good for a young man to be energetic, but if you try that on me, are you prepared to die?"
This kid wants to cost me my steady job! If I strike a minor, I can forget about ever becoming a police inspector! Couldn't he at least wait until he's an adult?!
The thought of the boy's breath, hot against her skin through the thin fabric of her yoga pants, right there on her... The image made Morimoto Chiyoda's eyes flash with annoyance, and her thighs clamped down harder.
"Wait, Chitose! This is a misunderstanding! I fell by accident!" Aozawa hurriedly explained.
"A misunderstanding of what?" Morimoto Chiyoda retorted. Her gaze flicked to the very prominent bulge against his clothes. Clenching her fist, she said, "It seems I've been too lenient lately, letting you treat my words as if they were just wind passing by your ears."
Aozawa could no longer feel any softness. All he felt was unyielding steel surrounding him, making it impossible to breathe.
Morimoto Chiyoda timed it perfectly. Her legs released him, and with her hands planted on the ground, she executed an effortless somersault, landing as gracefully as a professional gymnast.
"PHEW!" Aozawa gasped, taking deep breaths. He finally understood: his Superpower wasn't useless at all—it was incredibly punishing.
Landing on Morimoto Chiyoda like that... well, that's an everyday perk. But if I fell on any woman out in public, I'd definitely be branded a pervert or molester and hauled off to the police station for questioning. Could I even go to school after something like that? If I go out now and accidentally fall on some woman, my reputation could be ruined for life. Compared to that, missing a week of classes is nothing. This kind of passive Superpower, one I can't even control, is totally pointless!
"You little brat," she warned, "if you dare pull a stunt like that again, you'll meet my Iron Fist!"
"Don't worry, there won't be a next time," Aozawa replied. He then decided the safest way to the bathroom was to crawl on all fours.
Morimoto Chiyoda was baffled. What on earth is this kid up to so early in the morning?
「...」
Aozawa didn't come to school today.
Phoenix Academy Maggie looked at the empty desk, a similar void blooming in her heart. What happened? Why hasn't the usually studious Aozawa come to school? Should I send him a message and ask? But suddenly asking like that, wouldn't it be a bit abrupt?
Her mind was so preoccupied with these troubling thoughts that she couldn't focus on what the teacher was saying.
After class, Phoenix Academy Maggie, finding her concentration shot, boldly approached Hojo Tetsuji, who sat beside her. "Hey, Hojo, do you know why Aozawa isn't here today?"
Hojo Tetsuji woke up, yawned, and said, "He said he's sick and won't be in class all week. He already got permission from the club president to take leave."
Phoenix Academy Maggie was startled. "What illness is so serious?" she asked.
Hojo Tetsuji scratched his head. "I didn't ask. But if you want to see him, he lives at Ayase Apartment, room 601, in Adachi District."
"Haha, that wouldn't be appropriate. I was just curious," Phoenix Academy Maggie replied, instinctively dismissing the idea of a visit. Inwardly, however, she carefully memorized Aozawa's address.
It's not that I'm worried or anything, and I don't really want to visit... It's just that I finally learned how to make braised pork with preserved vegetables from our family chef, and I was planning to let Aozawa try some at lunch.
Now, she rationalized, she would simply have to bring it to Aozawa's home. It would be a good way to thank him for his help at the warehouse last time.
Hojo then noticed her hand. "Why is your hand wrapped in a Band-Aid?"
"Oh, this? I just accidentally cut myself," Phoenix Academy Maggie replied casually, quickly hiding her bandaged finger behind her back.
I'll need to remember to wear gloves later to cover this up, so Aozawa doesn't see.