"World-hopping is real… this chat group is insane!"
Kiana was still buzzing—until she remembered class. Mood: instantly ruined. She slumped over her desk, eyes drifting to a weary figure passing outside the window…
…
On the train, Tatsuki didn't bother with aura suppression this time—he stretched space itself. To bystanders he and the girls looked a meter away; in truth, dozens of meters of "spatial slack" lay between them. The seamless pocket left Eriri and Yukino quietly stunned.
Yukino nudged Tatsuki. "Eriri seems… jealous."
"I am not!" Eriri bristled like a pricked kitten—classic tsundere posture.
Tatsuki just pulled her in and kissed her until resistance melted into docility—his tried-and-true "Eriri pacifier."
Only then did he ask, "So, jealous of what?"
Cheeks pink, little fangs peeking, she muttered while side-eyeing Yukino, "You haven't spent time with me lately. That day with Yukino, you—"
Yukino instantly pictured that day—the self-initiated tail cosplay—and color bloomed across her calm face. Please don't say that out loud!
Tatsuki's hand dipped; Eriri twitched, scarlet. He grinned. "Tried it… here yet?"
"On the… train?" Eriri blinked, half comprehending.
Yukino understood at once and stared, aghast. "We arrive in ten minutes!"
"For most people," Tatsuki chuckled.
He opened the chat panel: 2.4 million points. Ability upgrade → King of Chronos.
[Ding! 500,000 points consumed!]
[King of Chronos → lv 6!]
"Time, slow."
His domain unfolded. Before the girls' widened eyes, the world crawled—near frozen. He could halt the planet's time entirely, but that burns fuel; slowing was cleaner. In the laws of this world, manipulated time blocks pop out of the river, then slot back in with the universe smoothing over ripples. No downstream paradox, no branching lines. Neat.
"Time's slowed!" Yukino whispered, shaken by the weight of it.
"Heh. I can freeze or rewind now," Tatsuki grinned. "Plenty of time, Eriri… right?"
"Eh—?" was all she managed before he moved.
…
In the Supernatural Research Club, everyone but Tatsuki was present.
Three girls lay limp on their desks. Miko's fatigue made sense—her aura drain always did—but why were Eriri and Yui both clutching their stomachs?
"Yui, you okay?" Yumiko asked.
"Haha, I just… overate," Yui deflected.
"Me too," Eriri forced a laugh.
Yumiko frowned. "Watch your figures, both of you."
"Hehe…" The two traded a glance and, weirdly, a sense of comradeship. Eriri shot a wounded look at Yukino, who stiffened, ears burning. Eriri had begged for help; Yukino—mortified—had mostly stayed on the sidelines, pushing where asked and trying not to faint. Gentle with her, feral with Eriri… Tatsuki really was different with each of them.
Knock Knock
"Come in," Yukino called, voice smoothed to its usual cool.
The door slid open. A blonde gyaru stepped in—Hayasaka Ai. Everyone's first impression: flashy like Marin, but… maybe not actually a gyaru.
"Yo~ I'm Hayasaka Ai." She strolled in like she owned the room.
"Do you have a request for our club?" Yukino asked bluntly.
Hayasaka's gaze skimmed the room. Years of observation plus the dossier she'd prepped let her read micro-tells at speed:
Yukinoshita Yukino: Tatsuki's classmate. Second daughter of the Yukinoshita family. Rank #3. Ice queen, currently… post-embarrassment calm? Miura Yumiko: Same class. Blonde beauty, normie queen bee, clashes with Yukino. Yotsuya Miko: First-year, timid, often drained. Kitagawa Marin: Looks gyaru, actually warm and open; cosplayer. Yuigahama Yui: Same class. Reads the room; obedient type. Current state… post-(beep) aftermath? Eriri: Same class. Childhood friend to high school, Tatsuki's girlfriend, prodigious artist, hidden background. Current state… post-(beep) aftermath?
She sucked in a breath. Not right. An entire club of girls, two showing classic "after" tells—and one is his girlfriend. She'd come to profile Tatsuki's circle; this was… more than expected.
"Hayasaka?" Yukino prompted again.
"Oh, right! I'm not here for a request—just looking for Tatsuki," Ai said breezily.
Every gaze in the room pinned her—save sleeping Miko's. Some looks made her skin prickle with primal fear. Yukino. Eriri. And… another?
Someone else's stare—right at her—yet… no one there?
Ten centimeters at her flank, Megumi stood invisible to notice, calmly studying Ai's darting eyes. She's investigating Tatsuki. Megumi filed it away.
A chill ran up Ai's spine. This club… something's off. She scratched the back of her head with a practiced smile. "Haha, looks like he's not here. I'll come back another time!"
Door slam. Hayasaka was already halfway down the hall.
"That girl's a problem," Megumi said softly.
Everyone turned.
"She's intentionally profiling Tatsuki."
Marin bit her lip. "You don't think she knows about… powers, do you?"
Yui fretted, "What if she's with some mad scientist? I have to protect Tatsuki!"
Yumiko deadpanned, "He'll be protecting you, genius."
Megumi shook her head. "Doesn't feel like that. She's ordinary—weak. If she knew we were espers, she wouldn't have strolled in so casually. She only got spooked after Yukino and Eriri leaked pressure."
Like Ai, Megumi noticed everything—and she'd watched from ten centimeters away. In that position, a knife to the throat would've been… so easy. She simply stated the fact in her mind, then let it pass.
Yukino nodded. "We'll tell Tatsuki."
...
For every 50 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code FREE2ALL for 30% OFF!