"Souma-kun."
"Yes."
"As I've said many times, even if you are a noble, it doesn't mean your abilities will necessarily manifest."
"Yes."
"Especially for men, there are few precedents, so there's no need to worry at all, okay?"
"Yes."
In the car, Souma kept giving short responses to his mother, Tomoe, who was speaking to him seriously.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Souma's mother, Tomoe, rushed to his side and, after confirming that he was feeling okay, suggested, "Let's go for the examination right away."
If it weren't for the knowledge of this world, one might be astonished that such a trivial thing as reaching puberty required an examination. However, this examination was the biggest turning point in one's life.
Souma agreed solemnly and immediately left the mansion with his mother and his personal maid, Kouzuki Mie.
Outside the mansion, a floating car-like vehicle was waiting. Kouzuki Mie got into the driver's seat, while Tomoe and Souma sat in the back.
Everything was fine until then, but now, just five minutes into the ride, they had already repeated the same conversation three times. Souma wasn't annoyed, but he was honestly at a loss.
Tomoe, who had the same black-purple hair as Souma, styled in a medium bob, kept leaning over to look at her son's face. Each time, she would tuck her falling bangs behind her ear with her finger, a gesture that was quite alluring.
Being a mother, she had a cold impression with her sharp, almond-shaped eyes. She was 34 years old and had given birth to two daughters before Souma, but she looked so young that no one would believe she was a mother of three.
At first glance, she seemed like a pure and innocent woman, but her clothing was extremely sexy.
While Kouzuki Mie's outfit was a sexy modification of a plain kimono, Tomoe's was even more provocative.
The colorful kimono, adorned with large patterns of butterflies and lilies, was extremely revealing. The shoulders were wide open, and her large breasts seemed like they might spill out at any moment, making the design quite indecent.
Souma wondered how her clothes managed to stay on, but he couldn't stare too much.
Even her lower half offered no respite. The hem was extremely short, revealing her buttocks even when she stood normally. If she leaned forward slightly, everything would be visible to anyone behind her.
In fact, when Tomoe tried to get into the car first, her entire butt was visible. Not only that, but her smooth, hairless private parts were also clearly visible, and even now, the glimpse of her crotch was distracting his thoughts.
Souma wished she would at least wear a T-back or some underwear, but that was impossible.
This world's women weren't exhibitionists, and Tomoe didn't have any peculiar tastes. The concept of chastity and customs were fundamentally different from Souma's past life because the gender ratio had long been heavily skewed towards women.
Of course, Souma understood this, but with his past life's sensibilities now stronger, even his own mother was a distraction. He couldn't see her as just a blood relative and found himself conscious of her in a different way. He didn't want her to notice, so he tried to avoid looking at her in the car as much as possible.
However, Tomoe, who had been watching over Souma for 14 years, found her son's glances unsettling.
Always expressionless, avoiding eye contact, and speaking only when necessary. Seeing her son show even a hint of emotion and respond more politely made her worried.
The first wet dream. And now, stepping into the Ability Development Bureau for the first time in his life and undergoing an examination.
Three years ago, when Souma's sister, the second daughter of the Aoi family, turned 13 and had her first period, she had to undergo an examination. After the examination, the sister became troubled.
With that in mind, Tomoe was a bit nervous.
"Souma, are you okay?"
"Yes, thank you for your concern. I'm fine, Mother."
"Moth...! Oh, Souma. You finally called me Mother..."
But being constantly worried about wasn't comforting either. Souma looked at his mother and gave her a soft smile to reassure her that she didn't need to worry so much.
That smile blew away all of Tomoe's anxieties, and she gazed at her son with a dreamy expression. Even the most doting mother wouldn't react this way just because her usually indifferent child suddenly became affectionate.
It seemed that she, too, was aware of her son as a man.
In a world where the gender ratio was extremely skewed towards women, and men were scarce, the standard was for women to become mothers through artificial insemination without knowing men. In single-mother households where a son was luckily conceived through artificial insemination, it was common for mothers and sisters to fall in love with their own sons.
The premises and common sense were completely different from his past life. In this world, if one were to live, it would be more natural to be conscious of even one's own mother as a woman.
"Ah..."
Deciding to accept this, Souma gently placed his hand on his mother's. If touching Tomoe could improve their relationship, he wanted to touch her as much as possible.
In the back seat of the floating car, the two intertwined their fingers, holding hands like lovers, without Kouzuki Mie in the driver's seat noticing.
Tomoe blushed and looked down, embarrassed. At that moment, Souma's eyes met Kouzuki Mie's in the rearview mirror.
The maid, who had Souma's wet dream-stained underwear hidden in her bosom, also looked down, embarrassed by Souma's gaze.
Souma remembered that the car was on autopilot unless it was an emergency, and he secretly felt relieved.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
In this world, "nobility" did not refer to titles like "baron" or "marquis" but to families that had produced many superpowered individuals called "Transcenders" and were recognized by the government for their achievements.
This world faced not only a decline in the male population but also another tremendous threat. This threat was an invasion by supernatural beings emerging from tears in spacetime, known as the "Curtain Call of the Final Applause."
While the heavily skewed gender ratio was a concern, the world also had a hardcore element: the need to defend against invaders called the Kranji.
The only beings capable of standing against these invaders were humans who had awakened to superpowers, known as "Transcenders."
Research had shown that the children of Transcenders were more likely to inherit superpowers. Noble families had the duty to pass down their practical abilities to future generations and took pride in this responsibility.
Therefore, nobility enjoyed a privilege that all women envied.
This privilege was the right to live in a "Co-habitation Special Zone," a special area where men and women could live together. In a society where men were protected by the government as "national treasures," this zone was the dream of all women.
The purpose of this "Co-habitation Special Zone" was, of course, to produce as many superpowered individuals as possible, with the ultimate goal of giving birth to male Transcenders.
Since superpowers were hereditary, the children of powerful Transcenders had the potential to inherit the abilities of both parents. Therefore, it was essential to produce as many male Transcenders as possible.
This was the hope of the nobility and, by extension, the world.
However, this was like digging through a long, dark tunnel with no end in sight.
The government's initial efforts had stumbled. Useful male Transcenders were not being born.
Abilities like making leg hair move or seeing the anger of someone you insulted as colors were not practical and had little potential for future evolution.
Just awakening to superpowers was not enough; the abilities had to be useful. Therefore, Transcenders were ranked based on the usefulness of their abilities.
Abilities with no recognized usefulness were ranked F, the lowest rank. Abilities useful in daily life were ranked E or D.
C-rank was a bit special and was given to Transcenders suitable for battle support.
Those with direct combat aptitude were ranked B.
Those with even higher combat aptitude were ranked A.
As a special category, Transcenders with extremely high aptitude for direct combat and combat support were ranked S.
For men, even an F-rank ability with potential for battlefield use was valuable, as the national treasure would not be sent to the battlefield.
In this regard, the Aoi family, Souma's household, was one of the families expected to produce useful abilities consistently. The only downside was the scarcity of male children, but that was no longer an issue.
"...Madam, Souma-san. We have arrived."
Souma, helped out of the car by Kouzuki Mie, looked up at the large building that was their destination.
The Defense Agency's Ability Development Bureau headquarters, the entrance for related personnel. Amidst the beautiful streetscape of the Co-habitation Special Zone, adorned with Japanese-style mansions and gardens, the stark white, futuristic building stood out.
No, it was the other way around.
Souma corrected his thought. From aerial photographs and images, he knew that both the "General Area," where many women lived, and the "Male Protection Area," where men lived, were filled with futuristic buildings.
The traditional Japanese houses and unique Japanese clothing were special features of the "Co-habitation Special Zone."
This zone was a special area designed to produce even more powerful Transcenders. In other words, only those with superpowers could live here.
Depending on today's examination results, Souma might have to go to the "Male Protection Area." Tomoe and Kouzuki Mie looked tense.
However, Souma himself remained calm and collected.
He vaguely felt the expectations of those around him, but he wasn't very interested in the examination results. Even if he were sent to the "Male Protection Area," nobles could return to their family homes whenever they wanted and even stay for a few days with permission.
In other words, it was like starting to live alone in a neighboring town.
All men who had reached puberty were required to donate sperm once a month. Additionally, men in the Male Protection Area had to perform "service" duties. However, these were all voluntary efforts with no quotas, and could be done at the individual's discretion.
The core of the service was to engage in various forms of communication with women, ranging from simple conversations to ejaculation inside a woman. Souma found this quite appealing, as it was something he would have wanted to do even if it weren't required.
Upon completing the service, men would receive money from the government based on the nature of the service.
In the Male Protection Area, basic necessities were provided, but anything beyond that required money. In other words, the system was designed to make men earn money by pleasing women.
Souma felt grateful that the men in this world were not very assertive, as it seemed they wouldn't interact with women without such incentives.
Men were encouraged to have multiple romantic partners and engage in irresponsible unprotected sex. Moreover, they would be paid for it. Souma felt this was a more exciting form of social service than any amusement park.
Conversely, even if he were to continue living in the Co-habitation Special Zone, there would be no problems. Male Transcenders could have their desires met, and if they wished, they could engage in service activities. Although no male Transcender had ever done so.
Either way, Souma had no disadvantages, so he felt at ease.
Furthermore, Souma's family, the Aoi family, had a long history of producing C-rank Transcenders. Even if he were to awaken to an E-rank or higher ability, the likelihood of it being a combat-related ability was low.
Even if he were to awaken to a highly useful ability and find himself in an emergency, such as an attack on his residential area, a healing ability would ensure he stayed in the rear, providing support.
In any case, it was unthinkable to send male ability users to the battlefield, even in an emergency.
Souma was assured of a safe and enjoyable life no matter what.
Even so, Souma found himself hoping to experience the "sensation of using superpowers," even if it was just a little.
Souma prided himself on having the mental age corresponding to his past life memories. Yet, he felt like a child wanting what he couldn't have, and he couldn't help but feel self-deprecating.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
"The measurement values are out... What? No way... This can't be true!"
"What's wrong?"
"The values... they far exceed the standard!"
"...What did you say?"
"The central system has responded! After comparing all waveform patterns, the result is... no similar waveforms found. Tentatively... tentatively ranked as S!"
"...Impossible. I never thought I'd see this in my lifetime."
Souma was shocked by the sudden development. The conversation unfolding before him felt unreal.
Later, Kouzuki Mie, Souma's personal maid, would recall: His expression was more vacant than ever, as if he had left all his emotions behind.