The sudden chime of the doorbell echoed from the entryway, and Torahachi Tomitsu, already on edge from her oversensitivity to any "ringing," jumped up instinctively. Only then did she realize someone was at the door.
"Who is it?" she called out loudly.
She darted back to her room and pulled out a tracksuit, fully aware that her current outfit was not suitable for answering the door.
Outside, the visitor didn't answer, just kept pressing the doorbell.
Torahachi frowned. Something felt off. There were no door-to-door salespeople in this apartment building. Anyone who might ring the bell would either be a neighbor or one of Yomikawa Aiho's colleagues, and they certainly wouldn't be this rude.
Alert, she grabbed a strip of packaging tape leftover from a recently opened delivery. One end coiled around her hand while the rest, stiffened by her ability, became a sharp, deadly spear.
She opened the video monitor on the door, but no one was in sight.
Squinting, she finally noticed a flash of gold at the top of someone's head.
"A kid?" Torahachi relaxed slightly, and the spear turned back into a soft, pliable strip.
Could it be a neighbor's child? But none of the security teachers had kids…
The moment she opened the door, the girl outside immediately pouted.
"Finally! You took so long to open the door! There's no need to be so cautious. I'm not a bad person.n"
Standing there was a girl with golden hair and starry eyes, dressed in a pristine white dress, a small bag slung over her shoulder, and curiously holding a TV remote.
"It's you!" Torahachi exclaimed, instantly recognizing her. "Shokuhō Misaki! What are you doing here?"
She still remembered Kobayashi's introduction: this seemingly delicate girl was actually a formidable Level 5 esper, with the notoriously troublesome ability of Mental Out—mind reading combined with mind control.
Shokuhō's combination of "reading minds" and "controlling thoughts" made Torahachi extremely wary.
"Sorry for the unannounced visit~" Shokuhō bowed politely at the door. "As for why I came… of course, it's to see Nana-senpai."
Torahachi's frown deepened. She planted herself firmly at the doorway, showing no intention of moving.
"Don't want me to come in?" Shokuhō tilted her head. "I snuck out specifically for this. If too many people see me, it'll be a big problem!"
Recalling that this girl was still technically trapped in the illegal "Artificial Talent Room" experiment facility, Torahachi reluctantly stepped aside, letting her in.
"Sorry for intruding~" Shokuhō stepped into the entryway and bowed once more before changing her shoes and entering the living room.
Torahachi maintained at least a two-meter distance, scowling. "Kobayashi is showering. Please wait."
Almost immediately, Kobayashi emerged from the bathroom.
Torahachi turned quickly, only to be disappointed: he was fully dressed, impeccable as ever.
If it weren't for the faint mist still lingering around him, she might have suspected he hadn't even showered and was just stalling.
"…Nana-Kun, did you put on your dirty clothes again?"
"No," he replied calmly. "I washed them while I showered. This place has a washing machine with a quick-dry function, so I could put them on right away."
"Tch! So that's the trick!" Torahachi muttered, slightly frustrated that her prank had failed.
"Sorry for intruding, " Shokuhō called, shifting the attention of the other two. "Nana-senpai, long time no .see"
"Shokuhō…" Kobayashi sighed inwardly. "How did you find this place… never mind, don't answer that. I suppose it wasn't too hard for you."
"Yes, yes~ Nana-senpai knows me too well."
"So, what brings you here?" Kobayashi asked, rolling his wheelchair out of the bathroom, wiping away the lingering steam before settling in. He then smoothly navigated toward the kitchen to prepare tea for his guest.
"Ah, just honey water is fine~" Shokuhō called without ceremony from behind.
Torahachi's gaze sharpened. Honey wasn't exactly a household staple—it was her personal indulgence, not something for casual visitors.
"Sorry, sorry, I came in a rush and didn't bring anything," Shokuhō added quickly, careful not to provoke the girl in front of her. "Next time, I'll make sure to bring a proper gift."
The atmosphere between the two golden-haired girls was tense enough that Kobayashi had to position himself between them to prevent conflict.
Once they were seated, Kobayashi finally asked, "Shokuhō, what brings you here?"
Shokuhō nodded seriously. "I came specifically to thank Nana-senpai for what you did for Dolly and Keisaku. Thanks to you, they were saved!"
She paused for a moment, scanning the room. Then her voice echoed directly in both Lin Wuming's and Torahachi's minds.
"And also… I owe you for myself, too."
Startled by the sudden intrusion into her mind, Torahachi let out a small gasp. Seeing the calm expressions on the others, however, she quickly composed herself, sitting properly and keeping her eyes on the girl.
So she really can see my thoughts?
Kobayashi gave a wry smile. Judging from her words, Shokuhō already knew he was a "traveler" and had gleaned useful information from his memories.
He had never expected to hide it from her, but he hadn't expected her to be so upfront about it either. Now he felt a bit flustered.
"Besides expressing my gratitude," Shokuhō continued, "I also came to see Nana-senpai to… fill in the gaps."
Shokuhō's abilities hadn't reached their peak yet. She could read memories, but only passively; she couldn't dig deeply into the hidden corners of someone's mind.
In other words, if Kobayashi had forgotten certain details, she wouldn't be able to extract them. At the very least, he had to remain within her sight for her to access more detailed information.
Hence, she called it "filling in the gaps."
(End of Chapter)