Chapter 1 Day 2: The Card

Sakura woke to the murmuring rustle of something unfolding around her—a gentle hum that quickly rose into an anxious buzz. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she noticed the other students, their faces painted with confusion and excitement, huddled together, examining something small and curious in their hands. For one fleeting moment, gazing up at the familiar yet alien gym ceiling, Sakura entertained the hope that this was merely an elaborate, realistic dream. That comforting thought evaporated like morning mist as reality settled heavy and undeniable around her.

Beside her, Tsubaki remained blissfully unaware of the chaos, sleeping soundly. Sakura had known her long enough to understand that trivial commotions like this were nothing to someone who could snooze through thunderstorms. To wake Tsubaki required either deafening rock music or an emergency alarm shrieking inches from her ear. Anything less and she’d drift peacefully along her dreams.

The clock on the gym wall read 6:30. Sakura stretched lazily, trying to calculate how much sleep she’d actually managed after lights-out at ten the previous night. Mid-stretch, her hand brushed against something unfamiliar in the pocket of her tracksuit.

“Eh? What’s this?”

Her fingers wrapped around an oddly textured card, about the size of her palm. It felt strangely durable, unyielding even as she tugged it free. One side was blank, mysterious, giving nothing away. Turning it over revealed a cartoonish drawing—unmistakably a caricature of herself—next to some rather unsettling information:

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Sakura Miyamura 

Age: 22

Ph.D. Student (Born December) 

Height: 1.54m 

Weight: 49kg 

Measurements: 76-57-84, 

A-cup (small) 

Special Ability: Wind Manipulation

---

Her face burned immediately. “What the hell?! Who wrote this? And what do they mean by ‘small’? Are they picking a fight?”

Sakura had always carried a quiet self-consciousness about her petite frame. Her modest height, small chest, and somewhat wide hips contrasted sharply with her lean, athletic legs and—she reluctantly admitted—noticeably prominent ass. Embarrassment flared into frustration. Trying to snap the card in half out of spite proved futile; the thing refused to bend even slightly. After a brief sigh, one detail eventually broke through her irritation: “Wind manipulation.”

A superpower? Well, maybe there was an upside to this embarrassing ordeal. Sakura had grown up wielding a bamboo sword in the kendo club, but she hadn’t exactly lived and breathed martial arts. Shopping trips, cafe visits, novels, manga—they were just as much a part of her life as the dojo. She recalled stories of heroes controlling elements like wind, usually portrayed as noble and powerful. Not a bad deal, after all.

Tentatively, Sakura eyed Tsubaki’s sleeping form, specifically the curtain of silky black hair cascading to her waist—a sight that often stirred envy in Sakura. Her own hair was shorter, practical for sports, though lately she had been contemplating cutting it even shorter. Reaching out hesitantly, she thought quietly:

“Gentle breeze, come!”

Instantly, warmth surged from her fingertips. Air began to stir softly around her, gently rustling Tsubaki’s long hair. Sakura gasped softly.

“No way!” she whispered, incredulous. She tested again to be sure. Once more, the hair fluttered obediently. Excitement surged through her, and she shook Tsubaki awake.

“Tsubaki! Tsubaki, wake up!”

“Wha—what happened?” Tsubaki jolted awake.

After hurried explanations, demonstrations, and convincing Tsubaki she wasn’t dreaming, they discovered she, too, had a card:

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Tsubaki Homura 

Age: 23, Ph.D. Student (Born May) 

Height: 1.61m 

Weight: 50kg 

Measurements: 85-58-85, D-cup (normal) 

Special Ability: Fire Manipulation

---

“Why is this information here? Isn’t this an invasion of privacy?” Tsubaki exclaimed indignantly.

“That’s what bothers you? You can manipulate fire!” Sakura exclaimed.

“Oh, true…that sounds pretty intense, actually.”

Fire manipulation felt dramatic, something heroic and fierce from a novel. The two girls agreed to experiment cautiously later. By now, the gym buzzed louder as other students discovered their abilities. Soon, their professor, Sayuri Kubo, took the podium, bringing everyone to silence.

“Good morning. It seems we’ve all found cards with personal details and special abilities. Mine says ‘X-ray vision.’ Ridiculous as it sounds, it works—I just saw through a wall. These abilities are completely unknown territory, so please exercise caution. Also, we urgently need to find food; what we have won’t last beyond today. Anyone who feels their powers can help, join us for an exploration at 8:30. We’ll split into groups. Prepare yourselves accordingly.”

After the speech, Sakura and Tsubaki immediately volunteered, Sakura confident in her strength as a kendo champion. Tsubaki, despite initial hesitation, agreed, smiling bravely.

At 8:30, they assembled at the entrance—three professors and twelve students, including student council president Haruna Ichinose, their lively classmate Mamori Kanzaki, and cohort representative Kaede Tsukishima.

“Kiryu-senpai isn’t joining?” Sakura asked Ichinose.

“Her ability is ‘loan.’ Useful, but better to help those staying behind. Besides, Sakura, you’re our strongest. But please, don’t go charging recklessly ahead. Save your strength; leave the heroics to the seniors, alright?” Haruna’s voice was gentle yet stern, concern evident beneath her calm exterior.

“Understood!” Sakura answered, determined and energetic.

They discussed each other’s abilities, discovering Mamori’s incredibly convenient “interdimensional storage,” and Miho Sato’s “appraisal,” which immediately proved vital.

Excitement mingled with nerves as they ventured toward the forested area visible from the rooftop—an uneasy path into unknown territory. Amid whispered fears of insects, uneven ground beneath tired feet, and rustling grass whispering secrets, they finally saw something ahead. Breath caught quietly in someone’s throat as they murmured in awe:

“Amazing.”

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Translations Provided By: Kinsei Translation – kinseitranslation@gmail.com

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