After finishing our meeting to coordinate the disciples’ future living arrangements and align our understanding of the current situation, I headed to the rooftop of the Downing Trading Company Main Store for a breather.
"I thought I might find you here."
I was gazing out over the streets of Capital Celest when Shion arrived.
"Hey, Shion. Thanks for earlier. Because of you, I was able to grant my disciples’ wishes."
"No, don't worry about it; I only did it for my own peace of mind. They said the children’s profiles should be ready within a few days."
"Understood. It looks like we’ll be able to see them off before we leave for Kyokutou, then."
"Haruto-san is back now, too. You’re heading to Kyokutou soon, aren't you?"
"Yeah. We’re leaving on August 15th."
"I see. You've already settled on a date."
"The Reibu Festival is held in Kyokutou for three days starting every August 15th. During the festival, there’s a much higher volume of people traveling than usual. We’ll use that window to slip into the country."
"I understand. I'll get my own things ready. —Oh, that's right. There was something I wanted to ask you, Orun."
"What is it?"
"It’s about that red-haired girl—Sophia-chan? She’s Selma Claudel’s younger sister, right?"
Shion’s question alone was enough for me to realize what she was getting at.
Come to think of it, Sophia first became able to use [Psychokinesis] back when Shion and her group attacked us.
"Yeah, that’s right."
"So Sophia-chan and Selma Claudel are half-sisters?"
"They have different mothers, but they are genuine blood relatives who share the same father."
"I thought so. In that case, that really was [Psychokinesis]."
There are several laws governing the manifestation of Special Abilities.
One of those is that they are passed down through heredity.
Concurrent with that is a rule: if someone manifests a Special Ability, no other Special Ability User will appear within two degrees of their kinship.
Grandpa is an Acquired Special Ability User, so he falls outside this rule, but Selma-san is a Pure Special Ability User whose lineage stretches back to the Fairy Tale Era.
Which meant—
"It's exactly as you suspect, Shion. Sophia's power is not a Special Ability."
"……That’s incredible. You had lost your childhood memories back then, hadn't you, Orun? That means that girl managed to master [Psychokinesis] all on her own without any guidance. What a terrifying amount of talent."
Shion was honestly impressed.
Certainly, if it were exactly as she described, Sophia would be a monstrous genius.
However, this matter wasn't quite simple enough to be dismissed as just 'talent.'
It wasn't that Sophia lacked talent, but I had a theory as to why she was able to wield [Psychokinesis].
"There's no doubt she had the aptitude for it, but the reason she actually became able to use it was likely because of me."
"Because of you? What do you mean?"
"Well, a long time ago, I happened to pat her on the head—"
"—You patted her head!? Wait, were you and Sophia-chan in that kind of relationship!?"
Shion leaned in, cutting me off mid-sentence.
"N-No. Calm down."
"I can't be calm!"
"……I mean, Shion, why are you biting so hard on a detail like that?"
I stared at Shion, half-exasperated, as she pressed in on me with localized intensity.
"T-That’s…… because, to think you were patting another girl’s head……!"
Shion puffed out her cheeks and glared at me with a sullen pout.
"Like I said, it wasn't that kind of relationship. It was just that Sophia was going through a frightening experience back then, and I only did it to try and calm her down."
At the time, I had just been expelled from the Hero Party, and I think I was subconsciously seeking a connection with others.
I believe that by making contact with Sophia—who was in a similar predicament—and sympathizing with her, my Special Ability acted upon her.
That said, I don't remember the exact sensation from back then, and there is essentially zero reproducibility to the event. I don't think I could ever make someone else able to use [Psychokinesis] the way she does.
"……Hmph."
Shion stared intently into my eyes for a long moment of silence before suddenly crossing her arms and turning away with a huff.
"Well, I suppose I understand that you weren't 'cheating,' but……"
"If you understand, then we're good, right?"
"No, we are not!"
No sooner had she said that than Shion stepped vigorously into my space and leaned forward.
"Then pat me, too!"
"……Huh?"
"I think it’s strange that you’d do it for Sophia-chan but not for me! It's not right!"
Shion planted her hands on her hips, wearing an expression that looked almost triumphant.
"I don't think it's particularly strange…… Besides, isn't patting someone's head basically like treating them like a child?"
"I don't care! I want mine patted, too! Otherwise, it’s unfair!"
"You……"
It was rare to see Shion being this stubborn.
It was behavior I could never imagine from her usual self, but it made me happy to realize this was a side of her she only showed to me.
As I gently ran my hand over Shion’s soft hair, stroking it with my fingertips, her eyes widened for a moment in surprise.
"……Mnh."
Then, she slowly closed her eyes, letting out a soft breath as if savoring the sensation of my hand.
"……Fine. I'll forgive you with this."
Watching Shion murmur contentedly while her cheeks turned a soft pink, I could do nothing but offer a wry smile.