The familiar loss of control over the body.
The familiar detachment of consciousness.
The familiar sensation of the soul floating up and touching the ceiling.
A few more times like this, and he could directly fulfill his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut without any training.
It had only been about a week since the main story began, and this was already the fourth time he’d been hypnotized in different ways.
Hoshino Gen was genuinely impressed.
These people were practically using the Heart Gem as a freaking hypnosis app, resorting to the gem whenever they were unsure how to proceed.
“Can you hear me, Hoshino?”
Another painfully familiar opening line.
“…Yes.”
Hoshino Gen lay on the bed, his eyes vacant, his gaze tightly locked onto the gem before him.
Compared to the Heart Gems of other Magical Girls, Shiratori Shiori’s Heart Gem more closely resembled a brilliant diamond.
She had even specially commissioned an expensive crystal accessory chain for her Heart Gem, turning it into a pendant.
Although Ziteng Sayaka had warned her that it was a waste of money with no other purpose.
Because once Shiratori Shiori officially became a Magical Girl, before long, the Heart Gem would fuse with her body, making the chain useless.
But the wealthy young lady Shiratori, of course, paid no mind to this.
If it truly became useless, she could just throw it away.
Shiratori Shiori gently swung the pendant.
In the enclosed space with all the curtains drawn, Hoshino Gen could only see the gem’s glow, which meant there was no possibility of him regaining his senses on his own.
This was Shiratori Shiori’s first time using a Heart Gem to alter someone else’s consciousness.
It felt incredibly strange.
Hoshino Gen seemed to have completely become her marionette; he answered whatever she asked truthfully.
Ziteng Sayaka, standing beside her, seeing her getting playful, gently poked her, wanting Shiratori Shiori to get down to business.
Shiratori Shiori asked, “What did you see before you lost consciousness?”
“I saw a girl who wanted to bully someone suddenly use something like magic. Then, to save me, my deskmate also suddenly used something similar.”
“And then?”
‘And then I got knocked out by a karate chop from the person next to you. Do you really need to ask that?’
Hoshino Gen mentally complained.
Nevertheless, he could only answer, “Nothing else.”
Shiratori Shiori’s eyes darted around, and she said with a smile, “You will forget this memory. You will only remember being a hero saving the damsel, and that I, the bully, was scared off by you. Understand?”
“Understand,” Hoshino Gen replied dully.
Ziteng Sayaka watched anxiously from the side.
She had told her before that the human brain self-corrects.
The key trick to Consciousness Alteration was not to add too much; doing so would be superfluous.
Keep it as simple as possible.
But she could see Shiratori Shiori still looked like she wanted to play around.
What exactly did this person think a Magical Girl was?
Just as Sayaka thought Shiratori Shiori should put the gem away, the latter did something she didn’t expect.
Shiratori Shiori said, “Next, I’m going to ask you some questions. Your answers must be your absolute, true feelings. Do you understand?”
After a long time, Hoshino Gen nodded.
“I understand.”
Ziteng Sayaka was a bit angry, not understanding what Shiratori Shiori wanted to do.
But after all, it wasn’t her Heart Gem, and she wasn’t the one operating it.
If she acted rashly and accidentally interrupted the Consciousness Alteration process, it could cause serious damage to Hoshino Gen’s brain.
“Why did you help Ziteng Sayaka? Did you take a liking to her on the very first day? Or did you fall for her right away?”
Shiratori Shiori looked very eager for gossip, the smile on her face almost overflowing.
She was genuinely curious.
How could there be such a reckless guy who’d help someone he just met?
Besides this boy wanting to take the chance to play the hero and boost the captain’s好感度, she couldn’t think of a second reason.
Ziteng Sayaka: ?!
Ziteng Sayaka’s face flushed red all the way to the roots of her ears.
Of course, this redness wasn’t a blush of embarrassment, but a redness of overheating.
Perhaps Fire-type Magical Girls really had a talent in this area; they could overheat faster and reach higher temperatures than ordinary girls.
Shi!
Ra!
To!
Ri!
Shi!
Ori!
How could you ask such a question?
This is too reckless!
Ziteng Sayaka clenched her teeth and tightened her fists.
If she weren’t genuinely worried about Hoshino Gen, she would have definitely given her a sharp knuckle rap on the head right then and there.
Shiratori Shiori admired the captain’s rare expression, her smile utterly wicked as she covered her mouth, desperately holding back the urge to laugh out loud.
“Remember, your answer to me must be your true feelings. Think carefully. Did you truly feel your heart flutter for Ziteng Sayaka?”
If looks could kill, Shiratori Shiori would have been murdered countless times by the Ziteng Sayaka beside her.
After several minutes, Hoshino Gen finally answered, “No, I didn’t. I just felt that I couldn’t stand by and watch a classmate being bullied.”
“Why? What does her being bullied have to do with you? You only met for the first time today.”
Shiratori Shiori pressed, puzzled.
“Because my little sister was once bullied, so I deeply despise people who bully others.”
This answer was somewhat unexpected for both of them.
‘What, how boring.’
Shiratori Shiori pouted.
It was such a dull reason.
But soon, her eyes lit up again as she got another idea.
“So, does that mean Ziteng Sayaka is like a little sister to you in your heart?”
Ziteng Sayaka: ?!
This time, there wasn’t much hesitation.
Hoshino Gen quickly nodded.
“Yes.”
Shiratori Shiori’s eyes sparkled.
Finally, she had extracted something useful.
Ziteng Sayaka was nearly going insane, desperately poking the soft flesh at Shiratori Shiori’s waist, her posture suggesting that if she kept messing around, she would drag her down with her.
This hit Shiratori Shiori’s weak spot.
Tickled beyond endurance, she repeatedly made gestures of surrender.
“You… you will now walk back to the classroom on your own. Everything will be as I said. Nothing unusual happened. Understand?”
“Understand.”
Under the watchful eyes of the two girls, Hoshino Gen slowly walked out of the infirmary and headed towards the classroom.
Lunch break was almost over.
Dragging it out further could lead to trouble.
Behind Hoshino Gen, the two girls engaged in a frantic, silent scuffle.
Ziteng Sayaka looked like she wanted to devour Shiratori Shiori alive.
The latter could only laugh and beg for mercy.
“Don’t be so angry. At least I helped you find an older brother in class.”
“You’re still saying that!”
Ziteng Sayaka raged.
Angry flames seemed on the verge of erupting from her body.
Shiratori Shiori covered her mouth tightly, not daring to speak another word.
Angry as she was, when Ziteng Sayaka heard Hoshino Gen’s true reason for helping her, she felt an inexplicable touch of emotion deep down.
Hoshino Gen really was a companion of justice, living up to the name.
Wait a second.
Ziteng Sayaka suddenly remembered something.
The junior from a few days ago, Hikari, her full name was Hoshino Hikari.
She shared the same surname as Hoshino Gen, and Hoshino Gen said he had a little sister.
Could the two of them be…
“Big brother? Where did you go? I couldn’t find you anywhere!”
Just as Ziteng Sayaka was thinking this, Hoshino Hikari suddenly rushed out from somewhere and threw herself directly into Hoshino Gen’s arms.