Chapter 5: Tokiwadai Middle School

Tokiwadai Middle School is located within School Garden in Academy City's Seventh District. It is one of the five prestigious elite schools in the city—and even the world. A private aristocratic girls' middle school, Tokiwadai only offers junior high education and follows a strict elite teaching policy. The student population is around 200, and Judgment Branch 3 is also based here.

Greeted personally by the school's principal, Selene waved goodbye to Therestina and Kihara Amata.

Why was Selene so polite to these two known troublemakers? Partly out of etiquette, and partly because they weren't in direct conflict with her. In fact, Kihara Amata had sincerely apologized for his earlier behavior during the trip.

Besides, she might need them in the future—there was no need to burn bridges.

As they walked through Tokiwadai's campus, the principal both thanked Selene for choosing the school and introduced its general overview.

Unlike Misaka Mikoto, Selene's dormitory wasn't in the Seventh District student dorms. Instead, she was assigned a private suite within School Garden. Room number: 1A101.

The suite covered over 500 square meters and was exceedingly luxurious. In addition to a bedroom and private bathroom, it included a study, fitness room, private cinema, walk-in closet, living room, and a 100-square-meter personal terrace garden—which even had an indoor swimming pool. The garden and other private areas were maintained daily by dedicated staff.

Even so, the principal still worried Selene might find it lacking, promising to replace or upgrade anything she found unsatisfactory.

After completing her enrollment, Selene sat on the couch in her suite's living room and sighed, rubbing her forehead. "This is a bit too much... I feel kinda guilty. Am I here to study or to live like royalty?"

Selene had underestimated the immense weight carried by being the first Level 5 spatial esper and bearing the Habsburg name.

First, spatial abilities were rare in any world. Academy City only had a little over fifty spatial espers, and those who could move multiple objects simultaneously numbered barely over a dozen.

Second, her surname added even more prestige. In a hierarchical society like Japan's, one's background often determined one's future.

...

Seventh District, center. The Windowless Building.

Kihara Amata stood before a cylindrical life-support chamber, staring at the inverted figure of Academy City's Board Chairman, Aleister Crowley.

"Selene von Habsburg's ability test results are out: Level 5 spatial manipulation. Her aptitude assessment suggests that even as a Gemstone, she has an extremely high probability of reaching the legendary Level 6—Absolute Power."

The aptitude assessment was classified information known only to the upper echelons of the city. Every esper undergoing development had a predetermined "aptitude"—their upper potential was fixed. The common belief that abilities could evolve with effort was a lie.

"Oh? Such high praise? That means her spatial ability isn't just standard spatial transference. It's highly likely she can access Imaginary Space... No! She may have already connected to it!"

Aleister's usual stoicism gave way to rare emotional fluctuation, which surprised Kihara Amata. He silently resolved never to provoke Selene again.

"The fact that Selene von Habsburg is a Level 5 spatial esper can now be made public. Her resource allocation is to be temporarily set at 60 times that of a Level 4."

Since no Level 5s had existed prior, the city had no standard funding policy for one. Allocation rates were still under discussion.

After Amata left the building, Aleister fell into thought. How should he bring her into his fold?

If Selene could indeed control Imaginary Space, her potential would be virtually limitless—perhaps even at the level of a Magic God.

"Maybe... I should meet her personally."

...

As the news of Academy City's first Level 5 esper hit the airwaves and broadcasts...

An undercurrent began stirring across the entire city.

District 10, a quiet corner—

In a dimly lit room, a skinny figure with white hair and red eyes, dressed in a black shirt with white stripes, glared at a monitor with a mix of killing intent and madness. "Tch, Level 5? What's going on up there?! The application process was so slow, and now this newcomer snatched the top spot! How annoying!"

District 15, a luxury hotel.

A brown-haired boy in a fine purple suit sat on a plush sofa in a high-end suite, watching the news about Selene on TV. "Tch, she's just a little faster, that's all."

District 2, Artificial Talent Workshop.

A girl with mid-length brown hair, wearing a black sleeveless vest, weakly watched the screen as Selene stepped out of a limousine, radiant with confidence.

The host announced, "Level 5 Esper 'Will of Honkai'—Miss Selene von Habsburg—has officially enrolled in Tokiwadai Middle School. Let's go live to the scene."

The broadcast showed Selene walking into campus, surrounded by school staff and the principal.

"So that's a Level 5... I really want to meet her. Too bad..." muttered Dolly, her eyes filled with admiration and longing.

Beside her, a girl with honey-colored long hair, a slender waist, and elegant features comforted her. "It'll be okay, Dolly. You'll have a chance one day."

...

With Selene's arrival, the calm surface of Academy City began to ripple.

The next day—

Selene donned the school-issued summer uniform: a white short-sleeved shirt with a sleeveless beige V-neck knit vest, red stripes along the neckline, a school crest embroidered on the left chest, and a gray pleated skirt. She wore brown uniform loafers.

"Hmm, now I do look like a student."

As expected of an elite school, Tokiwadai's curriculum was far beyond what she had experienced in her previous life. Besides basic language classes, there were university-level lessons in science, home economics, cooking, music, and etiquette.

It made her scalp tingle. "Is this really what middle schoolers are supposed to study? Ugh..."

But remembering what happened to certain cautionary tales, Selene decided to study hard. She didn't want to end up like Sirin—six-core driven but lacking the knowledge to use her power effectively.

If she was going to be overpowered, it had to be with real substance.

...

Later, Selene arrived at the classroom. Soon, the seats were filled.

When the bell rang, though curious about this new Level 5 student, everyone quietly waited thanks to their good manners.

Click clack click clack...

The sound of high heels echoed through the hallway as a middle-aged woman in a black uniform entered.

Without introduction, she went straight to the point.

"Turn to page 40."

"Today we'll study Newton's Laws of Motion..."

...

After school, Selene waved goodbye to several classmates she had just met.

She declined multiple club invitations, and while walking back to her dorm, she suddenly realized she hadn't yet explored Academy City.

Acting on impulse, she changed course and exited School Garden.

Walking along the streets of District 7, she passed cleaning and security robots everywhere, soaking in the city's vibrant energy. Selene's mood lifted.

Then she recalled a joke from her past life: Academy City—2.3 million population, 80% students, the rest thugs and "others."

Leaning on a pedestrian bridge railing, she grinned mischievously. "Hey, why aren't any thugs bothering me? I'm alone out here."

But then again, it made sense. Her Level 5 status had just been broadcast. Combined with her striking appearance, any thug foolish enough to mess with her now must be truly out of touch.

Missing the cliché "first encounter" event common to every transmigrator, Selene felt slightly bored. She randomly picked a café with a good view. "Time for some coffee and people-watching."

That morning, the scholarship funds from Academy City had been deposited into her account—nine digits in total. Even if it was in yen, it was more than enough.

As night fell, the sky darkened, and from her seat at the café, she could see the city's lights slowly replacing the sun. Neon lit up the skyline.

Checking the time, Selene stretched, smoothed out her slightly wrinkled uniform, and stood.

"Time to go back."

She paid her bill and exited the café, teleporting directly to Tokiwadai's school gates.

Since she didn't live in the standard dormitory, she never encountered the legendary housemistress—known for overpowering Level 4s and terrifying Level 5s.

"Eh, whatever. Sleep time."

And thus—

Selene's first day at Tokiwadai came to a close.