Echoes of Curiosity

After Sister Lisa finally nodded for me to enter, I took a steadying breath as I reached the classroom door, pushed open the door, and stepped inside. The moment I crossed the threshold, I could feel the weight of curious eyes from students I didn't recognize. Some gazed with harmless curiosity, others looked indifferent, but a few seemed... guarded. Hostile, even.

I quickly scanned the room and found her—my twin sister, Alysha. Sitting by the window at the back of the class, she gave me a quick, subtle wave, low and discreet, her face beaming with smiled warmly, her expression both reassuring and knowing. Looked like she had been expecting me all along, and I could practically feel her excitement from across the room. I hadn't expected to see her so soon, but there was a certain comfort in her presence. I gave her a small nod, and my lips tugged up slightly, almost involuntarily.

"Well then, please introduce yourself!" Sister Lisa's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Alright," I replied, stepping forward, my voice steady. "My name is Ishimaru Naozumi. I just transferred from Lorevast High School. I'm not too familiar with this school yet, so I'll appreciate any help you can give." I dipped my head in a polite bow.

As I straightened, the class murmured a unified reply, "Okay~." They all seemed to fall back into their seats as Sister Lisa took control again.

The air buzzed with curiosity; nearly everyone's eyes lingered on me. But I also noticed something else—fear. Though subtle, I caught that flicker in the eyes of a few. Why would they treat someone they just met that way?

"Thank you, Naozumi. Hopefully, you all get along. Now it's time for the lesson, so you can ask him questions later, alright?" Sister Lisa said.

"Okay~," the class replied, voices overlapping in a half-hearted chorus.

"Nao, you can sit behind Alysha." She pointed to the open seat.

As the initial shock of standing before my new classmates wore off, I began to make my way to the seat Sister Lisa had pointed to—right behind Alysha. Putting down my bag and sliding into the seat behind her, exhaling a long breath as I finally relaxed.

Alysha wasted no time. She turned around, her face lighting up with a teasing smile. "Brother, are you okay?"

"You know me," I said, rolling my eyes. "Come on, don't tease me."

She giggled, pressing her palms together with one eye closed in a mock-apologetic look. "Yeah, yeah, sorry. You're just fun to tease."

That was Alysha through and through. She had been like this for as long as I could remember, teasing me like it was her life's mission. And after all this time, I'd learned to put up with it, though she still managed to get under my skin in the most annoying, sisterly ways.

"Just face forward. I'm sure you've been entertained enough," I muttered, giving her a serious look.

She winked and turned back around, satisfied. I exhaled, letting myself drift off for a moment, glancing out the window. The sky outside was a vibrant, cloudless blue, the sun bathing the city in a warm glow. For a brief moment, everything felt normal.

"Alright, everyone, open your books!" Sister Lisa's voice rang out, pulling the room's attention toward the front. I quickly followed suit, flipping to the chapter titled The Origins and Structure of Pillar City.

"This morning's lesson will be an introduction to the history and significance of where you are now. Some of you may know bits and pieces, but it's important that you understand the full picture. So, let's start with Pillar City itself," she began, her tone earnest.

I straightened in my seat. Pillar City—a name I'd heard often but had never fully understood what this place really is.

"Pillar City is much more than just an educational and research center. It's a city with a current population of around 800,000, the majority of which are students like yourselves and researchers. This place is truly unique—a hub of discovery, development, and new knowledge. Most notably, it's where our understanding of Skill and Magic has flourished."

I raised an eyebrow. Skill and Magic, both subjects that had only recently been made public knowledge, were treated here with an almost casual familiarity. But Sister Lisa didn't stop there. She went on, explaining how relics—ancient, mysterious artifacts—had been uncovered in the depths of the city only a few years ago. According to the book, these relics were believed to hold the key to the supernatural abilities now known as "Superpowers."

"Making a contract with a relic can grant a person incredible powers," she continued. "It's a phenomenon that was recently documented and you guys have done at least once before, and Pillar City has become the epicenter for those who wish to study it."

I glanced around, noticing the attentive expressions on my classmates' faces. I wasn't the only one taken in by the story of this unusual city. Sister Lisa's description made it sound almost mythical.

"However," she said, raising a finger to emphasize her point, "while students and researchers can gain these abilities, adults are unable to do so. For reasons we don't fully understand, there's a limitation tied to age. So, while you all are capable of becoming Espers or Mages, those older than you cannot, although there are some exceptions for which the cause is unknown."

A quiet murmur rippled through the room. Sister Lisa continued, explaining the structure of the city itself. It was built around ten "Pillars," massive districts that each served a different function. Some were dedicated to scientific research, others to the education of Espers, and some were simply for living space. The pillar we were in, Pillar 8, was primarily educational for "Superpower" holders, home to several schools and academies.

I leaned in, listening as she touched on the history and purpose behind the city's layout.

"And each one of you has a title—a nickname of sorts," she said. "These titles are special identifiers in Pillar City. They don't just serve as labels but reflect something unique about your skills or personality. Titles are often permanent but can be updated if you undergo significant changes."

Her gaze drifted toward Alysha, and I saw a flicker of pride in her eyes. 

Alysha's title, "Queen," was well-known across Pillar City, and it was as much a part of her as her powers. One of the special title holders. Titles like hers marked their holders as both respected and watched by all, making the school feel as much like a stage as an academy. 

My own title? Nothing that interesting—so I preferred not to mention it.

"These titles," Sister Lisa went on, "are even included on your Identity Cards, which you'll all use throughout your time in the city. And that's no small thing, given Pillar City's goals. We're here to research, to explore the boundaries of human capability, and to push forward the field of superpowers as far as it can go."

"As you all grow and develop," Sister Lisa continued, "your titles may change or solidify. They act as a part of your identity, unique to Pillar City. Be proud of them, and use them to guide your journey here."

She gave us a knowing smile. "As students, you're at the forefront of that progress."

She closed her book, signaling the end of the lesson, but her final words lingered in the air. "Remember, this city is built on the dreams and ambitions of those who came before you. Your powers and your titles are part of a legacy much larger than yours. Welcome to Pillar City—may you make the most of its mysteries."

---

The loud clang of the lunch bell filled the room, and instantly, chatter erupted as everyone began packing up their things. The morning classes had passed smoothly enough, but I barely had time to exhale before my classmates were swarming around me again.

"Hey, are you related to Alysha?" asked a boy, his head tilted in interest. His dark, inquisitive eyes made him look like he was studying me as a puzzle piece he needed to place.

I scratched my head, not quite sure who he was, though he seemed friendly enough. "Uh…yes, I am," I replied, before giving him a questioning look.

"Oh, sorry! I'm Fritz Baar Scharf—just call me Fritz!" he replied, holding out a hand as if to seal the introduction.

"Nice to meet you, Fritz," I said, shaking his hand with a nod. "And yes, Alysha is my twin sister."

That answer was apparently all they needed to hear and sign for them to start, the group immediately exploded with questions from every direction, all talking over each other in their excitement.

"Can we call you Nao?"

"What are your hobbies?"

"What is your power?"

I tried to answer, but their questions came at me like rapid fire, one after another, sometimes overlapping. It was hard to tell who was speaking or where one question ended and the next began. They kept going, each voice growing louder and more excited until it felt like I'd been dropped into a whirlpool of chatter. I barely had time to breathe, let alone answer.

Just as I felt myself reaching my limit, Alysha's voice cut through the noise, soft but surprisingly authoritative. "Alright, alright, everyone, that's enough. My brother looks a bit overwhelmed, don't you think?" Her calm, level tone worked like a charm; everyone immediately backed off, the group parting like waves as they glanced at her in slight embarrassment.

"Thanks, Alysha," I muttered, grateful for her intervention.

She grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, you're a bit of a magnet, aren't you?" she teased, but she kept her voice soft. "Come on, let's go find lunch."

The cafeteria was packed, the queue was quite tight and winding into several lines. Alysha barely blinked, though, as if she'd expected the crowd. She turned to me with a smug smile. "Every day, it's like this. The food here's really good, so people don't mind waiting." She paused, grinning. "I mentioned you really should try to arrive earlier next time!"

I sighed, realizing that I had underestimated the situation. "So, what now?" I asked, my stomach rumbling in response to the growing emptiness inside me.

Alysha's grin grew wider and a little awkward. "Why don't we go to the Student Council room? I left some food there this morning."

My eyebrow arched. "Are you joking?" I replied with a dry chuckle, trying to guess her angle.

"What else can you do? You don't have any food, right?" she pointed out, looking far too pleased with herself. "Besides, I did tell you to bring lunch. You didn't listen."

"Yeah, yeah…" I muttered, half considering it. "But isn't your annoying president hanging around the council room too?"

The Student Council, to me, was practically off-limits—not because of the group itself, but because of one particular person: Koizumi Imelda. I didn't exactly hate her, but her constant persistence was exhausting. She always had a way of getting what she wanted, and it often felt like I couldn't get away from her.

Alysha tilted her head thoughtfully. "Most of the council members are probably eating with friends, and some aren't even here. The only ones likely around would be those on duty. As for Sister Imelda…" she trailed off.

Her words gave me pause. If the president isn't there, it's fine, but if not then—

"Naaoooo!"

Someone suddenly shouted my name, and before I could react, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me from behind.

"What the—?"

I spun around, caught off-guard, only to see a familiar face beaming up at me.

"You! What are you doing here?" I asked though the answer was all too obvious. Alysha also gave me a knowing look.

Imelda, clinging to me tightly, only laughed. "What a funny question!" she said, unbothered. "Why wouldn't I be here? I came to see you, of course!"

People around us started turning to watch, amused and curious. Heat crept up my face.

"Can you please let go?" I struggled to keep my voice calm. "You're causing a scene here."

"Oh, alright," she relented, finally releasing me with a soft giggle. I exhaled, both relieved and embarrassed.

"Now that you've found me, is there something specific you need, President?" I asked, trying to sound serious.

Imelda just shrugged, her smile unshaken. "Come on, don't be so stiff, Nao! And call me Imelda, alright? No need to be formal."

I sighed, deciding it was best to go along with her. "Fine, Imelda," I replied. "What do you need?"

"Actually, let's move this to the Student Council room, yeah?" she suggested, her eyes glinting. "It's way too crowded here. Come on, Ely, you too!"

She looped her arm around Alysha's, who shot me a sympathetic glance.

With Imelda here, there wasn't much choice but to follow along. So, with no other options, I resigned myself to fate and walked with them to the Student Council room, wondering what else the day had in store.