The various negative side effects stemming from cerebral development have always existed among Academy City's espers.
Physical side effects include disabilities, brain damage, hormonal imbalances, and so on.
Psychologically, they often become anxious, sensitive, extremely paranoid, prone to hysteria, or even develop severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
Among these, side effects like weight loss are probably the gentlest of all.
In fact, it's rare to see severely obese individuals among the higher-level esper groups in Academy City. Someone like Shokuhou-senpai's plump, fair complexion likely represents the upper limit for most high-level espers' physiques.
That's because whenever these espers use their abilities multiple times, the brain's caloric expenditure surpasses that of normal aerobic exercise, easily burning off the calories consumed in an entire day.
Therefore, at Tokiwadai Middle School, almost no one buys weight-loss products. Just a few days of moderate dieting yields quite noticeable results.
Similarly, seemingly for analogous reasons, trivial matters like weight loss have become explicitly prohibited in both school and dormitory regulations, though hardly any students actually follow these rules.
However, Natsume-san now fully understands the necessity of such regulations. It seems many of Academy City's seemingly absurd rules have their origins somewhere.
From this, it can be inferred that normal ability development allows for maintaining a caloric balance through daily diet—this applies even to Level 5 espers.
The nutritional meals provided by Tokiwadai Middle School are considered the pinnacle of Academy City's dietary management for espers. A single leaked meal could sell for forty thousand yen in the underground markets. It's a pity Natsume Sonoko lacks a business mind for such things; otherwise, she wouldn't be troubled by lack of funds now.
Yet, even Tokiwadai's nutritional meals couldn't prevent a certain bun-headed girl from losing weight. This indicates the situation has become quite severe, completely disrupting her body's intake-output balance.
Judging by this alarming rate of weight loss, in a few weeks, Natsume-san would likely be nothing but skin and bones.
While a 'bony beauty' might be a popular aesthetic, it refers to a healthy, slender physique. In reality, if one appears gaunt and emaciated, it's simply pathological.
But let's get back on track. That certain bun-headed girl still has the leisure to comfort Index, seemingly unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
She's just worried that becoming too thin might make her less pretty, which bothers her a bit.
Though only twelve, her sense of aesthetics—what's beautiful or ugly—is already well-formed. She cares deeply about her image and appearance, harboring a genuine desire to become an elegant, refined young lady.
Objectively speaking, Tokiwadai Middle School, where she currently lives, is actually a microcosm of society.
Since the students all live independently from a young age, they generally possess a maturity beyond their years, leading to various adult-like trends such as purchasing luxury goods, vanity, a love for dressing up, and even dating.
Holding tea parties with expensive tea and sweets is normal.
Buying brand-name bags, charms, and bracelets is commonplace.
It seems that in areas not strictly regulated by school rules, everyone's personalities express themselves in all sorts of peculiar ways.
Quite a few, like Misaka-senpai, secretly wear makeup. Kongou-senpai fills her dorm room with precious dolls and beauty products. Juufuku-san enjoys reading fashion magazines...
As for Shirai-san, well, let's not even go there. She's too mature for her age.
However, Natsume Sonoko hasn't been greatly influenced by these school trends yet, probably because she's only a first-year. But when it comes to matters concerning her personal image, she already finds it impossible to compromise.
[It's been a while, Kazakiri-san.]
A series of perfectly printed characters appeared on the smooth floor.
Under Index's gaze—full of concern, even if she didn't fully understand—Natsume-san began attempting to communicate with Kazakiri Hyouka.
Using her ability to stack words on the ground was far more efficient than Index's method, though it perhaps lacked a certain patience and sincerity.
Natsume-san's habit of prioritizing efficiency—whether it was good or bad, only she herself probably knew.
[I want to broach a rather presumptuous subject.]
[If possible, I wish to understand everything about you. The composition of your body, the scattering of your consciousness—to me, these are secrets I must unravel.]
Thoughts about what she wanted to tell Kazakiri-san swirled in her head. Natsume-san's approach was always very direct.
She intended to unravel the mysteries surrounding the other girl. This was important for both Index and Kazakiri-san.
As for herself, gaining something else would be nice, but if not, she wasn't too concerned.
Natsume-san was about to write these words on the ground, but at the last moment, she hesitated. Frowning her crescent-moon-like brows, she quickly changed them to something else.
It was too abrupt—almost like a confession between lovers in a shoujo manga. Natsume-san, whose expertise in shoujo manga was second only to Tsuchimikado Maika, realized this immediately.
[It's only now that I've formed a clear idea. Your manifestation in reality, Kazakiri-san, is no accident.]
[Your very birth, the formation of your body, even your influence and control over the AIM diffusion fields—all of it follows a set of predetermined operational rules.]
Taking a deep breath, a serious expression surfaced on Natsume-san's face.
The scant remaining flesh on her cheeks tensed, making her look very formal, and she began negotiating with Kazakiri-san methodically and earnestly.
There was no time for idle chatter. Natsume-san's goal this time was clear: to gain the other's cooperation.
It seemed Natsume-san's string of text had some effect. Kazakiri-san's expression shifted slightly, and she just stood there dazedly, lost in thought.
[When I saw you last time, I really wanted to help you. And just like Index, everyone will work hard to find a way for you to truly exist in reality.]
Natsume Sonoko pressed on in one go, watching Kazakiri-san's reaction with considerable trepidation.
She truly hesitated when indecisive, but when facing a situation head-on, she was surprisingly decisive. Uncertain when she might next encounter Kazakiri-san, she felt she had to make a decision immediately.
This ability for on-the-spot decision-making was something Natsume-san never lacked.
But the formal, serious atmosphere of this exchange lasted less than a minute before it was disrupted by the little nun, Index.
Her curious face peered closely at the certain bun-headed girl, then she suddenly pounced on the girl who was even a tad shorter than herself.
She just knew it. Sonoko was a careful and considerate person who could fully understand her sad and troubled feelings.
['Touma says Sonoko is the most amazing student here, attending the best school, so she must have a way to help Hyouka.']
['I don't understand the science side's knowledge, but I'll help too, as much as I can!']
The little nun picked up her small stick and began scribbling earnestly on the ground, her face radiating fierce determination.
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T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL