As Raika and her friends were eating in the canteen, the atmosphere was lively and filled with chatter. Mia and Lina laughed, sharing stories and jokes, while Raika smiled, feeling the warmth of their companionship.
Across the room, Katsuya couldn't take his eyes off Raika. Frustration etched on his face, he leaned closer to Fay. "There's something off about that Raika," he muttered, his voice tinged with suspicion. "The way she performs, the way she moves... it's like she can predict everything. And she's ridiculously smart. Even scientists would struggle to keep up with her."
Fay looked at him, noting the anger in his voice. "What are you getting at, Katsuya?"
Katsuya's fists clenched. "I'm saying she's not normal. No one can be that perfect, that precise, without something unnatural going on. It's like she has some hidden power."
Fay considered his words, her expression thoughtful. "You're suggesting she's hiding something?"
"Exactly," Katsuya replied, his voice low but intense. "And I'm going to find out what it is. There's no way she's just an ordinary student."
Meanwhile, Raika, oblivious to the scrutiny she was under, continued to enjoy the meal with her friends. She felt a surge of gratitude, thinking to herself how different this life was compared to her past. She had friends now, real friends who cared about her.
Lina noticed Raika's moment of introspection. "Hey, Raika, everything okay?" she asked.
Raika snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. "Yeah, just thinking how lucky I am to have you guys."
Mia beamed. "We're the lucky ones to have you, Raika. You're amazing!"
Across the canteen, Fay tried to calm Katsuya down. "Maybe she's just smart because she's special, a daughter of a scientist after all."
Katsuya's face twisted with anger. "Oh, you're saying that we're dirtbags compared to her?"
Fay shook her head, trying to reason with him. "No, I mean she's just special, power or not. But did you forget that we have mana? Raika almost has none. It's okay for her to excel at some things, Katsuya."
Katsuya scowled, clearly unsatisfied. "Forget it. I'm out of here." With that, he stormed off, leaving Fay watching him with a mix of frustration and concern.
Fay approached Raika and her friends, a friendly smile on her face. "Hi, girls," she greeted.
Mia and Lina looked up in surprise. "Oh, the class S student!" Mia exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration. "Thank you for paying a visit to our table."
Raika, however, felt a wave of hesitation wash over her. She glanced up at Fay, unsure of what to say, her mind racing with thoughts of her true identity and abilities. She forced a small smile, trying to hide her discomfort.
Raika finally mustered the courage to speak. "Sorry for defeating you, Fay. I didn't intend to tarnish your reputation."
Fay's expression softened, and she smiled sweetly. "What are you talking about? You earned it, Raika, with your skills. You have nothing to apologize for."
Raika's eyes widened in surprise. "Thank you, thank you, Fay," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Lina chimed in, "I saw Katsuya walk away after talking to you, Fay. He seemed upset. What was that about?"
Fay didn't hesitate to answer. "Oh, Katsuya was just upset because he couldn't accept how good Raika is. He thinks she has everything."
Fay, Mia, and Lina laughed together, while Raika thought to herself, *Maybe I should have let myself be defeated that time.
Fay suddenly asked, "So, does anyone here have a crush at school?" She blushed, clearly curious about her friends' answers.
Mia shook her head. "I don't have a boyfriend."
"What? Impossible, you're so cute!" Fay exclaimed in disbelief.
Mia sighed. "My father doesn't want me to get a boyfriend, or he'll get mad."
Turning to Raika, Fay asked, "How about you, Raika?"
Raika blushed and stammered, "I don't have anything like that."
Fay smiled warmly and handed Raika a flower. "Raika, you're too cute with your crimson eyes and pink hair." She gently caressed Raika's hair.
Raika thought to herself, *No thanks, I'd rather die than have a boyfriend. It just doesn't feel right... I was a boy in my previous life.*
Fay turned to Lina. "How about you, Lina?"
Lina shook her head, a determined look on her face. "I'm focused on my martial arts. I need to become stronger."
"Bummer," Fay said with a playful pout.
Mia and Fay laughed together, their giggles filling the air with lightheartedness.
"You know what," Fay said, "I really like you girls. My friend Katsuya is just a hot-headed maniac, always picking fights with those he thinks are weaker. But you, Raika, you taught him a lesson. You're the best." Fay winked playfully at Raika, causing Mia and Lina to laugh again.
"And thank you again, Fay," Raika smiled warmly, genuinely touched by Fay's gesture. She was surprised when Fay said, "It's okay, from now on you can call me a friend." Raika's eyes widened in pleasant surprise. "Really?" she asked softly. Fay nodded with a warm smile and said, "Yes, see you later!" Then Fay walked away, leaving Raika feeling grateful and happy.
Mia and Lina chimed in almost simultaneously, "She's really kind, Raika. You can depend on her." Raika nodded, a small smile still on her lips. "Yeah, she seems like a great friend." Mia and Lina smiled back at her warmly, and Raika felt a sense of warmth and belonging she hadn't felt in a long time.
Raika's mind raced as the Assistant's urgent notification flooded her thoughts.
Energy Level:
- Status: Danger
- Energy Core Power Source:(1,000/100,000)
- All Red: Critical level
"I thought I was at full power," Raika muttered to herself, a mix of disbelief and concern evident in her voice.
"That's what I thought too, but there was a glitch," the Assistant replied calmly. "The generators that charged you previously only supplied 17,000 units of power."
"What?!" Raika exclaimed, her voice rising unintentionally loud. Heads turned in her direction, and Mia and Lina looked at her with worry.
"Are you okay?" Mia asked, concern etched on her face.
"I'm sorry, I have to go," Raika replied hurriedly, her mind racing with thoughts of how to resolve the critical energy situation. Without waiting for further questions, she dashed off, her footsteps echoing through the corridor as she raced towards a solution.
Mia and Lina exchanged bewildered looks, their concern deepening for their friend as they watched her disappear down the hall.
Raika's mind raced as she sprinted towards the academy's junkyard, her thoughts focused on the task ahead. "I need a power converter, a capacitor bank, and some high-efficiency solar panels," she muttered to herself, mentally listing the components necessary to build a makeshift charging dock.
Upon reaching the junkyard, she swiftly scanned the piles of discarded equipment and machinery, searching for the items on her list. Spotting a suitable power converter and capacitor bank amidst the rubble, Raika quickly dismantled and reassembled them into a functional unit. Next, she located several dusty but intact solar panels, testing each one for efficiency before selecting the best ones for her needs.
With a determined focus, Raika worked tirelessly, connecting wires, adjusting circuits, and fine-tuning the setup. Within minutes, she had successfully assembled a compact charging dock capable of replenishing her energy reserves. Satisfied with her creation, she folded the solar panels neatly and compactly, stashing them away in her pocket along with the converter and capacitor bank.
"Now, back to the academy," Raika muttered, a sense of relief washing over her as she prepared to return and resolve the critical energy situation that had momentarily disrupted her day.
Raika hurried back to her room at the academy, carrying the components she had gathered from the junkyard. As she entered her dormitory, she laid out her findings on her work desk—a cluttered yet organized space filled with tools, spare parts, and various gadgets she had collected over time.
First, Raika carefully spread out the solar panels, inspecting each one under the harsh glow of her desk lamp. She selected the best-performing panels and began testing their output using a multimeter, ensuring they could efficiently convert sunlight into electrical energy.
Next, she turned her attention to the power converter and capacitor bank. With practiced hands, Raika disassembled them further, cleaning out any dust or debris that might affect their performance. She meticulously checked the wiring, making adjustments where necessary to optimize their efficiency.
Once satisfied with the individual components, Raika started the assembly process. She wired the solar panels in parallel to maximize their combined output, carefully soldering connections and securing them in a makeshift frame she crafted from lightweight alloy scraps. The power converter and capacitor bank were mounted securely on the frame, their wiring neatly routed and insulated to prevent any potential short circuits.
Raika then integrated a charge controller unit salvaged from an old electronics kit, ensuring that the voltage and current from the solar panels were regulated and safe for charging her energy core. She double-checked the connections and ran a series of tests to verify the setup's functionality, adjusting settings on the charge controller to optimize charging efficiency.
Finally, after several hours of meticulous work, Raika completed the construction of her homemade charging dock. She admired her handiwork—a compact yet robust system that would enable her to replenish her energy reserves efficiently using solar power. Satisfied with the outcome, Raika carefully packed away her tools and spare parts, placing the completed charging dock on her desk where it would catch the morning sunlight through her dormitory window.
"Now, I'm prepared for any energy emergencies," Raika thought with a sense of accomplishment, relieved to have a reliable solution at hand.
Raika hurriedly switched to her first form, her main configuration designed for maximum power absorption. Strapping the charging dock onto her back, she began the slow process of recharging her energy core. However, realizing that the standard method would take far too long, she quickly revised the dock's design.
With a sense of urgency, Raika made her way to the power grid, still carrying the modified charging dock. In her haste, she plugged it directly into the city's main power feed without realizing the potential consequences. Instantly, the dock drew an enormous surge of electricity from the grid, draining power rapidly to replenish Raika's energy core.
Within just one minute, the charging dock had achieved its goal, fully restoring Raika's energy levels to their maximum capacity of 100,000 units. However, the sudden draw on the city's power caused a widespread blackout. Lights flickered off across streets, businesses, and homes, plunging the entire city into darkness for a brief but noticeable minute.
Raika quickly checked her energy status:
Energy Level:
- Status: Normal
- Energy Core Power Source: (100,000/100,000)
- All Green: Operating at peak efficiency.
Realizing the impact of her actions, Raika felt a mix of relief and concern. She knew she had resolved her immediate energy crisis but also understood the gravity of disrupting the city's power supply. As lights began to flicker back on and the city resumed its normal operation, Raika reflected on the need for better planning and caution in her experiments. She vowed to refine her inventions and ensure they were properly tested and controlled in the future, avoiding any further incidents that could affect the city or its inhabitants.
Raika carefully folded the now compacted power dock, originally large but now condensed due to its modular design, and slipped it into her expanding pocket. Despite its initial size, the dock had been ingeniously crafted to collapse neatly for easy storage. Satisfied with her invention's versatility, Raika made her way back to school, contemplating future improvements to ensure such incidents wouldn't occur again.
As Raika transformed back into her human-like second form, Katsuya's eyes widened with disbelief. "You... you're a robot!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling. "I saw you in your room. I'll tell the whole school that you're a cyborg!"
Raika, unfazed by Katsuya's threat, regarded him calmly. "Katsuya, it's not what you think," she began, her voice steady despite the tension. "I may be different, but that doesn't change who I am."
Katsuya, feeling a surge of fear and uncertainty, took a step back. The revelation shook him to his core. He turned and ran, his footsteps echoing down the hallway, leaving Raika standing there, contemplating the consequences of being discovered.
In her heart, Raika knew that hiding her true nature was essential. She had always been different, and her abilities set her apart. But now, with Katsuya aware of her secret, she feared the implications for her newfound friendships and her place in the academy.