Kenji gasped as he woke up. He looked around and found himself inside a hospital. Dimly lit, it was already night by looking out the window. How long was I asleep?
"You've been out for a few days" said a voice. Sitting in a chair at the end of his bed was a scruffy black haired man. He wore a black and dark grey suit with a single small pin attached to his collar, a red flaming star. His face was worn with small scars scattered about, yet quite handsome, looking to be in his late 30s. "My name is Captain Takashi Sato, it's nice to meet you Kenji" as he stands and extends a handshake to Kenji. "Yes, nice to meet you as --" a sudden sharp pain rings across Kenji's head, he grimaces in pain.
"It's alright, when you use a lot of psychic power, a little bit of pain and headaches here and there are normal". Kenji looks back up to Sato as the pain subsides. Kenji shakes his hand and the tall scruffy figures sits himself down. "Well, you may be wondering what happened a few days ago". Kenji faintly remembering the train, the girls, and the strange aura. "According, to the official log, you Kenji, were somehow able to stop a train using psychic powers and save a young high school girl". Kenji's memories coming back to him That's right I stopped the train. "Interesting enough, it appears this is your first time using your psychic powers" First time? Unlocking? Kenji's puzzled face to Sato.
"Most psychics unlock their powers around 12 to 13 and then are detected by the IBT's system... but you Kenji... it happened at 23". Sato's face tightened, revealing a more serious man. "Late bloomers do appear every once in a while, but this... this is unique... to say the least". Kenji's face in shock. "Me, a psychic? It's can't be" Kenji in denial.
"I know it's quite overwhelming, but you are indeed a psychic Kenji and quite a powerful one at that" Captain Sato responded. "That train weighed 290 tons... and you were able to stop it". Kenji's face was dumbstruck. "Most psychics can't even handle controlling 500 lbs.".
"I have no idea how you did that and without any training either" Sato now staring at Kenji uncomfortably.
"In any case" Sato reaches into a small briefcase and pulls out a folder of papers. "This is an official offer from the IBT, you don't have to decide right now". Sato hands the folder to Kenji. He opens the folder to find some informational documents and then finally a contract paper at the end. He skims over the documents, Kenji was a fast reader.
The IBT was offering a full time position as a rookie IBT Agent and continual training and support. And then the salary section, Kenji's mouth dropped.
They were offering 250,000 Aurelian dollars, this would propel Kenji out of his poor living conditions and into New Aurelia's top 5% of income. His mouth even started to water a little bit. "Ahh, yes the IBT pays well" Sato noticing Kenji's astonishment. "But I would see past that Kenji, with the IBT you can put your talents to extraordinary use". Kenji then remembered those things he read online about IBT Agents losing their minds. There was an unverified statistic he read that said about 40% of IBT Agents end up dying by suicide due to mental stress from the work. The amazement of the salary offer quickly wore off. "I'll need some time to decide" Kenji said.
"No problem!" Sato grinned. "But please think about what I said Kenji, and once you decided, let me know". He handed over a business card to Kenji. It read CAPT. TAKASHI SATO - FOUNDING MEMBER OF IBT - SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT along with a number. The tall figure steps nonchalantly out of the room. Founding member huh?
"And one more thing Kenji, if you run into any strange... creatures... run away immediately" Sato's face deathly serious.
Kenji nodded and gulped. Creatures? What the fuck is he talking about?
The Captain leaves and Kenji goes back to rest.
The next morning, Kenji wakes up feeling fully recovered. He has this weird boost of energy unfamiliar to his body. Oh that's right I'm a psychic now.
He looked across from him and noticed a glass of water laying on his tray out of his reach. He concentrates on the glass and holds out his hand. He imagines the cup levitating. Slowly but surely, the glass moves. Yes! It gracefully floats in the air and then into his hand. Kenji smiled widely.
A nurse suddenly knocks and enters, "Mr. Kaito, you're free to check out now".
Kenji with a devilish smile, "I'll be right out". Kenji checked out of the hospital and walked outside. The fresh Summer air hit him. But this time it was different than anytime before. He felt good, perhaps even more than good. His psychic powers allowed him to sense almost everything in environment. He was more aware of other people, things, nature, etc. He developed a sense of what he could move and manipulate. A small rock on the sidewalk, he able to effortless move it out the way. He played with his powers on his way to the train station.
Newspapers floating about randomly, pieces of trash here and there being thrown in the bin. Kenji was not being really subtle using his powers in public but luckily there was no one around to see him. That is until a man appears on the opposite end of the train platform to him. He walked closer to Kenji and then there was sudden strange feeling Kenji noticed. While Kenji is able to freely move objects, he is not able to control people. There is some sort of blockage prohibiting his powers from interacting with humans, though Kenji was not actively trying to do anything, it was something he just sensed. Huh, that's interesting. Perhaps this was evolutionary feature of human beings to avoid being controlled by psychics he thought.
Kenji boarded his train home and pondered what he should do. The salary they offered was life changing and Kenji would finally be able to support himself but at what cost he thought. Those rumors and conspiracy theories about the IBT Agent still lingered in his mind, but he had his doubts about those as well.
In the middle of his pondering, a sudden loud commotion burst inside the train. A dirty homeless man was shouting and screaming for no reason. The man was experiencing a manic episode. The other passengers were visibly uncomfortable and moving away. Kenji tried to ignore the man and look away as he normally. Then, as the man passes by Kenji, he turns to him suddenly. Oh great Kenji sensing him behind. "You got any money, kid!" the crazy man demands from Kenji. He awkwardly turns and smiles "Haha, sorry I can't help you". "You useless shit" the man suddenly goes for a punch at Kenji's face.
In that moment, time stops for Kenji. He can clearly see the punch coming and swiftly dodges it. How did I do that? Kenji confused at his own reflexes. He was never this agile or instinctive. "Why you!" the man now visibly disgruntled at his miss. He reached into his back packet and pulls out a knife on Kenji. Other passengers now gasping and calling for help. Kenji still facing the man anticipating the slice. The man aims for Kenji's neck, but again time stops for Kenji and he swiftly dodges. But he knows that he can't just dodge him forever, he has to hit back, even more so now that he has a knife and now everyone else on the train is in danger.
Kenji never threw a punch in his life, he was always a non-violent and weak child growing up. But he had watched plenty of action movies in his youth. In his counter attack, he remembered a scene from a movie that he watched with his father, a hero knocking out a villain. He channeled that scene very clearly in his mind and imagined his own fist doing the punch. He felt the sudden power in his hand. This is it. The translucent aura developed in his hand, Kenji could feel the memory of the scene becoming stronger and stronger. And then CRAAACH! Kenji unleased the blow to the deranged man knocking him out cold, the knife dropping free from his hand. The passengers sighed in relief and some even clapping for him.
Getting off at few stops later, the police arrive and have Kenji fill out a report of what happened. They take away the man in a police car. Wheww that could have been bad Kenji thought. But he thought about what if this was himself from before, could he have done the same, most definitely not.
Before leaving a cute young girl approached Kenji, she was probably no older than 19. "I saw what you did mister! You're really brave for doing that!" the girl praising him cheerfully. "Well, I kinda just reacted, it was nothing really hehe" Kenji awkwardly and blushing a little bit. "Huh? Anyways my mom and I are really grateful!" the young girl gets on her tip toes to kiss Kenji on the cheek. Ahhhhh Kenji now fully red from embarrassment. "See ya around, Mr. Hero!" the dainty girl smiling and skipping away to meet up with her mother.
Kenji had never kissed a girl before or even been kissed. He was in a daze during his walk home. He couldn't process everything that just happened in a short period of time.