Kaiho lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. "So, my academic life begins as soon as I get up from this bed," he muttered to himself, feeling a mix of excitement and dread.
"Morning!" Koshiro greeted him cheerfully as Kaiho shuffled downstairs.
Kaiho yawned, rubbing his tired eyes. "Morning..."
"What happened to your face "
" I didn't sleep much last night. I was too excited. And when I finally did, Mom nearly ripped my head off "
Koshiro chuckled as Kaiho sat at the dining table and started eating. "So, how do I get to school?" Kaiho asked between bites.
"I can just teleport you there since it's your first day," Koshiro offered. "But don't get used to it."
Mikoto, who was serving breakfast, interjected. "No, no, no, Koshiro! I can't allow you to help him cheat his way to school."
"Cheat?" Koshiro scoffed. "He doesn't have any powers yet. How else is he supposed to get there?"
Mikoto crossed her arms. "I'll drop him off myself."
Koshiro raised an eyebrow. "You sure? I don't think kids these days like their parents dropping them off. They get all embarrassed."
Mikoto turned to Kaiho. "What do you think, Kaiho?"
Kaiho, still groggy, shrugged. "I don't mind."
"Then let's go!" Mikoto said, with a determined look.
But just as they were about to leave, Kaiho's vision blurred, and he suddenly passed out.
"Kaiho? Kaiho!" Mikoto called out, shaking him gently.
---
**[1 minute earlier]**
Kaiho suddenly remembered something important as they were about to leave. "F, I totally forgot about this..."
"Let's go!" Mikoto said, not noticing his unease.
As they stepped outside, Kaiho's eyes widened in shock as his mom crouched down like a sprinter. Before he could react, she leaped into the air with the force of a cannonball, launching them both into the sky.
"Yeh, Mom jumps like Hulk, and even though she slowed down, she still moves at the speed of a bullet train," Kaiho thought, clinging to her for dear life.
After what felt like an eternity of high-speed travel, they finally landed near a bustling street. Kaiho, pale and dizzy, barely managed to stand.
"Kaiho if you don't feel so good then how about we take public transport "
"Wait there are public transportation "
"Offcource there are "
"Couldn't we have just taken public transportation earlier?" he groaned.
Mikoto smiled warmly. "Why would you need public transport when you have your sweet, dear mom to drop you off?"
"Maybe next time, let's stick to public transportation," Kaiho muttered, trying to catch his breath.
Mikoto explained as they walked. "There are a few major means of public transportation: 'Gates' used to connect dimensions, 'Mana Trains' for long, medium, and short-distance travel, and 'Mana Buses' used specifically by Orchards."
"Only Orchards?" Kaiho asked, intrigued.
"Yeah, transportation isn't really a problem here. Mana Trains are more than enough, and they're everywhere, so there's no need for buses or taxis."
"Wait a minute," Kaiho said, realization dawning on him. "Why don't I get a bus?"
Mikoto hesitated. "Because you didn't fill out the form."
"What form?" Kaiho asked, his voice rising.
Mikoto looked away sheepishly. "Ummm…"
"Mom!" Kaiho groaned, realizing what had happened.
"Maybe I didn't give it to you because your mom wanted to drop you off at school," Mikoto admitted, smiling innocently.
Kaiho sighed deeply, feeling both exasperated and resigned. "Ehhhhhh..."
**Kaiho's First Encounter with the Mana Train**
As Kaiho and Mikoto arrived at the station, the sight of the Mana Train loomed large before him. It was a sleek, glowing marvel of technology, far beyond anything he had seen back on Earth. But despite its futuristic appearance, Kaiho's legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
Mikoto continued to explain, trying to ease his nerves. "Mana Trains use credits, but students get free treatment. You won't have to pay for transport as long as you have your ID. That ID stays with you for life, so don't lose it."
Kaiho, only half-listening, tried to focus. "What if we lose it? Can't it just be misused?" he asked, anxiety creeping into his voice.
Mikoto smiled reassuringly. "There's a special system for that. ID cards need mana to function. If someone else touches it, the card loses its power and can be tracked down. You can let others use your ID, but only if you give them access—and even then, it's only valid for 24 hours and comes with a spending limit."
Kaiho tried to process the information but found himself muttering under his breath, "There goes all my knowledge from my past life into the dumpster."
"What?" Mikoto asked, slightly confused.
"Nothing," Kaiho replied, a little embarrassed. "I thought this place would be old-fashioned like in isekai stories, but it turns out it's even more modern than Earth."
His voice softened into a whisper. "Let's go."
As they walked closer to the train, the familiar sound of it—"Chung chung"—echoed in Kaiho's ears, triggering memories of his past. Memories he had hoped to leave behind. His heart raced, and he felt an overwhelming sense of dread. He tried to swallow the rising panic, but it was too much. His stomach churned, and he suddenly doubled over, puking in a corner as startled passersby looked on.
Without thinking, Kaiho bolted. "No… no… no… I can't do it!" he cried out. "I thought I was over it, but I'm not!"
Mikoto rushed after him, catching up quickly. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, hugging him tightly. No words were exchanged, but her embrace conveyed all the comfort he needed. The warmth of her arms, the steadiness of her breathing—it was enough to remind him he wasn't alone.
"You can do this," Mikoto whispered softly.
Kaiho, with her support, gathered what little courage he had left and forced himself to face the looming challenge before him. He walked back toward the train, his steps slow and shaky, but deliberate. With every step, the past threatened to pull him back, but Mikoto's silent encouragement kept him moving forward.
At last, he stood at the entrance of the Mana Train. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside, feeling a small victory in his chest despite the fear that still lingered.
"You did it, Kaiho," Mikoto said, her voice filled with pride.
Kaiho chuckled weakly, his legs still trembling. "Never thought a train could do a number on me," he said with a smile, feeling both exhausted and relieved.