Then Akane gave a short sigh, her shoulders rising and falling as she leaned back slightly on the couch, the fabric of her red sweater shifting against her skin.

"Well yeah that’s true..." she said, her voice soft but carrying a hint of reluctance.

She crossed her legs, one boot tapping lightly against the floor as she tried to sound casual, though her cheeks still held a faint pink flush from the shocking scene she had walked in on earlier.

Chiyo’s eyes lit up with genuine excitement, her small hands clapping together once as she leaned forward on the edge of her seat.

"Really?? That’s cool!"

Her voice was bright and full of wonder, the kind of innocent enthusiasm only a younger sister could have.

In this world, having powers wasn’t extremely rare, but it wasn’t everyday either.

Some people were born with abilities —

fire manipulation, enhanced strength, x-ray vision, or more exotic gifts —

and it had become somewhat common in modern society, especially in cities like Tokyo where monster threats made such talents valuable.

However, most people who possessed powers chose to hide them.

Some feared discrimination, others worried about being recruited by organizations like the SCO, and many simply wanted to live normal lives without the pressure or danger that came with standing out.

Chiyo’s excitement was pure and unfiltered, her cute face glowing as she imagined what it must be like to control flames, completely unaware of the heavier realities behind such abilities.

Akane sat there all red, her fingers twisting the hem of her red sweater as she looked down at her lap for a moment.

"It’s not really a big deal," she muttered, her voice quieter than usual.

She shifted uncomfortably on the couch, the memory of using her fire powers during the monster fight at Seishin Academy still fresh in her mind — the heat, the adrenaline, the way flames had roared from her hands. She didn’t want to make it sound impressive or special, especially not in front of Chiyo, who seemed so innocent and admiring.

The conversation between the girls became more interesting as they settled into the modest living room, the afternoon light casting warm patches across the wooden floor and highlighting the simple furniture.

The faint lingering scent from the earlier maintenance session still hung subtly in the air, making Akane and Hanako occasionally shift with awkward awareness.

Then Hanako said to Chiyo, her voice warm and sincere as she smiled gently,

"You look so cute Chiyo"

Chiyo’s face turned all red instantly, her cheeks burning a deep pink as she waved her hands in front of her in flustered denial.

She looked down at her lap, biting her lip shyly, her small frame shrinking a little on the couch as she tried to hide her embarrassment.

The compliment made her heart flutter, but she wasn’t used to receiving such direct praise, especially from older girls who seemed so confident and pretty themselves.

Hanako and Akane both saw her reaction as even cuter, their own smiles widening as they exchanged a quick, fond glance.

Chiyo tried to brush it off, mumbling, "Oh stop that..." but her voice was soft and flustered, only making her look more adorable.

The two older girls couldn’t help but find her reaction endearing, the way her shoulders hunched slightly and her fingers played with the hem of her shirt showing how unused she was to such attention.

Then Chiyo said, her voice dropping a little as she looked down at her hands, "Well I’m not cute... I don’t even have friends at school just Ken."

She spoke quietly, the words carrying a hint of loneliness she tried to hide.

At Seishin Academy, Chiyo didn’t interact much with people.

Other girls avoided her, not because she wasn’t cute — she was actually very pretty with her youthful features and bright energy — but because they were scared of her.

Chiyo was very strong, far stronger than most students realized.

When guys tried to hit on her or get too close, she often reacted instinctively with her power.

One memorable incident had spread like wildfire through the school: a persistent boy had tried flirting aggressively with her during lunch, grabbing her wrist. Chiyo had grabbed his finger in return and broken it with a casual twist, the sharp crack echoing in the cafeteria. The boy had screamed, and from that day on, most girls kept their distance, whispering that Chiyo was dangerous or unapproachable.

Only Ken, with his calm and persistent nature, had managed to stay close to her, becoming her one real friend despite her tsundere attitude toward him.

Chiyo didn’t say all this out loud, but the quiet sadness in her voice hinted at the isolation she felt.

Then Akane said to her, leaning forward with a gentle, reassuring smile,

"Hey that’s not true okay... You look so cute and I’m sure they’re just jealous of how cute you are."

Her voice was warm and encouraging, her red sweater shifting as she reached out to lightly touch Chiyo’s arm, trying to lift the younger girl’s spirits.

She spoke from the heart, seeing Chiyo’s genuine cuteness and wanting to counter the loneliness the girl clearly felt.

Then Chiyo was like "Hmmm thanks a lot..." She felt a bit encouraged by that, her shoulders relaxing slightly as a small, genuine smile returned to her face.

The compliment warmed her, making her sit up a little straighter on the couch as she looked at the two older girls with newfound appreciation.

The conversation flowed more easily after that, the modest living room feeling cozier as the three girls chatted, the afternoon light continuing to cast warm patches across the floor while the faint sounds from the back rooms occasionally reminded everyone of the earlier chaos.

The girls continued talking, their voices mixing with soft laughter and shared stories, slowly turning the awkward visit into something warmer and more genuine as Chiyo opened up a little more, her earlier embarrassment fading into comfortable conversation.