"You have a power like me?" I asked, trying to feign ignorance and disbelief.

  "Yes," she replied. "Although, I'm sure you've met others by now with the same disposition. I wasn't sure of what to think of you at first, but with everything that's happened in the past few minutes, I'm starting to get a clearer picture."

  "What exactly do you mean, ma'am?"

  She sighed. "Still trying to fake ignorance, I see. Very well. I'll give you some reassurance, then. My ability, as I'm sure you've guessed, allows me to cancel out another's ability. For example, if you were to use yours to... I don't know, become invisible or move faster than the eye can perceive to give yourself some time to recollect yourself after being pushed into a corner, I could negate that ability.

  "How long I've had this ability, I cannot say, but I first noticed it about five years ago. There was a coworker of mine who had progressively become more and more aggressive, peaking during a full moon. I'm sure you can tell where the story is going. I was finishing work on such an evening when he crashed into the teacher's office, clearly struggling and in pain. As I tried to calm him, he transformed before my eyes into a monster with sharp claws, fangs, and rough fur.

  "I fell back, and he stood up, letting out a sort of howling roar. As he got me in his sights, he slowly walked towards me. To this day, I don't know how I mustered the courage to stay. Maybe I was just frozen with fear. Our eyes remained locked the entire time His gaze was completely feral. Just as he was about to end my life, something pulsed throughout my body. His body seemed to respond to the pulse, and he shivered from head to toe. He lunged back and stumbled around before reverting back. Before me lay my coworker unconscious and naked."

  "You're telling me a werewolf attacked you in the school, and you saved yourself by some sort of pulsing optical ability?"

  I struggled to find the right words; Lycans were extremely rare even before the Purge. The only one I ever hunted was old and tired. He had only survived by hiding deep in the mountains. It was a rainy night with a new moon when he ceased to struggle with his curse.

  "The same doubt that you are showing is what I was met with when I tried to take my story to the police. He turned himself in, nonetheless. When the beast took over, he had killed dozens of people. He barely remembered it, but he knew he had to pay for his crimes. To the best of my knowledge, he'll spend the rest of his days in prison."

  Her being an Eraser is the only way to explain my ability not activating. Regardless of how outlandish her story is. I need to tread carefully and only reveal enough information to get out of here. Although exponentially better than Makarov, this school is turning out to be a bigger pain than I had imagined.

  "Alright," I said after a long and awkward silence. "I guess I really am trapped like a rat, then."

  "Don't think of it like that, Ishigami. I'm not out to bring any harm to you, I can assure you. If anything, I want to help you in a way that only someone in the same position can help."

  That's what they told me at Makarov. That's what they said before I entered the Prestige Program. Before they turned me into a weapon. Before they took everything from me.

  My hands started shaking as I tried to calm myself. I noticed sweat rolling down my forehead. My jaw clenched on its own. She noticed this almost instantly, and backed up to give me space.

  "I'm sorry for upsetting you, Ishigami. I know it must be hard to trust someone like me. You don't have to tell me anything. Just know that I am not your enemy."

  "Then why did you give me a death stare when I ran by the school this summer, ma'am?" My words were almost jagged.

  "Did it seem that way to you? I'm so terribly sorry. When I saw someone running by on such a hot day, I turned to see who it was. My neutral facial expression is often misinterpreted as malicious. I meant no ill will; it was simply curiosity."

  "You knew instantly what I was talking about," I observed.

  "Yes, what happened after that was what made it memorable. After you ran off, a short limousine drove up to the school, and a young lady dressed in a suit stepped out. There was another man in the car, but he stayed where he was. The young lady came before me and inquired about a future student of mine — Ishigami Kazuma. She said that she was a representative of Makarov Academy and asked if he, you, could be transferred before the school year began."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  My heart began racing. This time, my whole body was shaking.

  How? How the hell do they know who I am? Who the hell sent them an application for me? What the hell is happening?!

  "I told her that student transfers were up to the students entirely. Our school policy has been that way since its foundation, and it will remain that way so long as I am in charge. Based on your reaction, there is something there you want to avoid. I won't pry, but I will assure you that they will not touch you while you attend my school."

  With that, I felt something in me relax. Her voice was sincere with no reserves. It was like I could genuinely trust her.

  Here goes the biggest gamble of my life.

  "I'll tell you about myself, then, ma'am. My ability isn't what you guessed. I can stop time. More than that, I can interact with things while they're frozen. I can't interact with intangible things like the internet, but I've gotten to the point where I can keep an analog watch with me when I freeze."

  "Incredible, your actions and reactions make much more sense now." She leaned back in her chair and gave a quick glance at a stack of papers at the corner of her desk. "I imagine it must feel like the best ability there is. Oh, the work I could get done in a day."

  "That's one way of looking at it, ma'am."

  "Regardless, I'm thankful that you decided to trust me. I will guard your secret as I've guarded my own. I won't reveal you to any others unless you request it. I can't imagine those of us with abilities will be looked upon favorably when our existence is revealed."

  You have no idea.

  "I'm glad we could have this talk, Ishigami. I'm sure you're ready to leave, and your escort seems to be chomping at the bits outside my door. I've heard her fidgeting for the past couple of minutes."

  Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

  I stood up, bowed, and left Principal Kushida's office to be greeted by my sister. It was well into the evening, and the walk home would put us there just after dark. She maintained her persona that she wore at school as we walked out of the school and towards our house.

  "What did you think of your first day, Zuzu?" Yui asked as we got close to home. She had to be sure that no one from the school was around.

  "It was... different than I expected," I responded. "I thought it would be... I don't know what I thought it would be, really?"

  "I understand. I'm still happy that you came to Toriyama High with me, even though I'll only get a year with you. That's why it was so hard to keep a straight face when you walked into the student council room. My last year will be one that I'll remember forever thanks to you, Zuzu."

  We made it home, and as I opened the door, I noticed a letter that had been pushed through the door laying on the floor. I looked it over: no sender, no postage, just one line of text, "Ishigami Kazuma." Before Yui walked in, I froze time and hurried up to my room to hide the letter. Once it was safe, I walked back down and took up the same position that I was in before. The door shut, and the mask came off.

  "I've been holding back all afternoon and evening, Kazu," she said, almost drooling. "No one's home but us. It's time for special sibling bonding." She wiggled her fingers as she slowly walked towards me with all sorts of intentions in her eyes. "I knew that it would be troublesome if you came with me; you're too perfect. Your teacher and even the principal already want you after only a day. But they can't have my Zuzu."

  "Sis, why are you this way?" I grabbed her hands and interlocked our fingers. She froze. "What would you do if I acted this way towards you, huh? Wouldn't you find it weird? Besides, neither my teacher nor the principal are interested in me in any way that you're thinking."

  She remained silent as she moved her fingers around and pulled our hands tighter. "But they are interested in you, Zuzu. At least academically or athletically. Why else would you get called in on the first day? You're not just perfect in my eyes, you're probably perfect in a lot of people's eyes. And the more you shine... the closer you're going to get to being taken away from me."

  I stopped and thought about what she had said. The late evening light filled the foyer, illuminating everything with a warm natural glow. Her face was genuine: the lust had melted away as tears filled her eyes. She was sincerely and completely obsessed with her little brother. I couldn't bring myself to fully break away, so I let go of her hands and pulled her into a hug.

  "No one's going to take me away from you, sis," I said as I softly stroked her hair.

  No one's going to take anyone from me ever again.

  "I know you think it's unbearably weird," she squeaked. "But I can't help it. Whenever I think of you, I feel like I can do anything, but the only thing I want to do is protect you and watch you grow. I'm sorry your big sister is the way she is, but I truly do love you, Zuzu." She was trembling.

  "Sis, I can't ever tell you how much you mean to me. You protected me when I was too weak to protect myself. I idolized you for so long. Yeah, you're overbearing sometimes and outright weird the rest of the time, but I know this much. I'll never love anyone else the way that I love you."

  As those words left my mouth, I felt her knees buckle, and we slumped onto the ground where she cried for a good long while. I felt like I was the one who made her cry which tore me up inside. In my arms was the smartest, most athletic, most popular girl in my new school. Her only weakness? Me — her shadow, her younger brother.

  Later that night, after I had carried Yui to her bed, I returned to my room to look at the letter. There was nothing particularly alarming about the envelope itself; however, everything about it was suspicious. Holding it up to the light revealed that only a letter was inside. I opened the envelope and increased the letter. It was handwritten, and the penmanship was exquisite. Reading it, however, sent chills down my spine.

  'Ishigami Kazuma,

  It has come to my attention that you have had dealings with two particular delinquents, namely Hiasaka Nina and Hiasaka Natsu. While my associates tell me that you handled them yourself the first time while you were out with your friend, Tachibana Chika, you decided to reverse your actions when you met them the next time with more of your friends. Fujimori Denki, Kensei Rito, China Ino, to name a few.

  You even went so far as to interfere with my own dealing with the two aforementioned, resulting in the most unfortunate demise of one of my associates, Aoyama Tengen. I understand that you are in close proximity to the two of them now at Toriyama High School. I have a proposition to make to a man of your skill: terminate Hiasaka Nina and Hiasaka Natsu.

  Your reward, should you accept the proposition, will be guaranteed acceptance to any university that your sister, Ishigami Yui, may apply to as well as the same courtesy for you. Should you refuse, I can assure you that you and your friends and family will regret your foolish mistake. I hope that you will make the right choice.

  -Kawasaki Shu'