Trust Service Provider

The Tokiwadai is one of the most renowned and refined schools of the whole city, reserved for high level esper female students only; the educational establishment is also surrounded by an elegant square where there are all kinds of shops, cafes and many others sumptuousness only residents can benefit from.

This time, Fran had a special permission in order to meet Misaki Shokuhou within this small noble area but, apparently, there was no need to show it at the reception.

«Queen is waiting you at this address. Please, go ahead.» the doorman said acting suspect and aloof, while opening the gate and delivering a piece of paper to the boy.

Fran followed the indicated path, trying to ignore the prying eyes of the students around him; to see a male over there was pretty uncommon, especially one like Fran who was wearing his usual long unbuttoned grey coat which showed a black tank top shirt underneath that was so thick it looked like a leather armor. The Judgment band on his arm, this time the green classic one, was increasing the rumors too.

«I'm really starting to feel uncomfortable here… not to mention that I could even meet those little girls and I'm not in the mood for arguing with Shirai Kuroko this early on the morning.» it was half past eleven A.M; Fran was a night owl and, for this reason, waking up any time of the morning before noon was too early for him, especially if he had to lose some sleep during weekend.

The Judgment boy reached quickly his destination and saw the place was completely empty and there was a waiter alone welcoming him on the front door and inviting him to enter, without talking.

The only table taken was the one Misaki was sitting at, with her legs crossed she was enjoying an hot cup of tea.

«So, this is where the fun starts.» Fran thought excited, he sat down comfortably and began to speak to the girl in front of him.

«Shokuhou… Misaki-san? You're the one who asked Judgment's assistance?» Fran asked, disturbed by the creepy silence in the room.

Misaki smiled to him and took her remote out of her purse, she aimed it towards Fran and answered him: «I'm going to need a lot of assistance, yeah! Don't disappoint me, sweety! ♥» so she pressed a button; they both looked at each other straight in the eyes for about a minute, then Fran turned around like to check what was behind him and resumed his speech.

«Am I missing a Tv behind me or… is this a teenagers' way of greeting? Is it new? You have to forgive me, I was not aware about this… I am kind of a boomer on those subjects.» Fran exclaimed, trying not to catch Misaki's eyes.

«Huh, what is happening here? This is really odd… Come on! Just work!» Misaki kept pressing the buttons on her remote towards Fran but with no results and this caused her to panic even more.

«Is it not working? Have you tried patting on the batteries? It usually works!» Fran recommended acting caring.

«Sure! The never failing batteries technique! Thank y- Wait! What am I even saying?! This has nothing to do with batteries! How is this even possible?! What am I doing wrong?» The sad girl said as she wildly waved her remote around.

«So… you'll just change the batteries later. Now I need some explanations.» Fran said, whit unexpected seriousness, trying to catch the girl's attention. «Judgment always welcomes students in need but… your request seems, how can I say, quite peculiar. Not only is qualified as an essential request even if the mission does not seem to be it too… but it also requires my specific presence. What I mean is… these cakes for your grandma do not seem that big of a deal. I can be wrong, so, can you tell me more, please?»

Misaki was too much focused on the fact her ability was not working and she wasn't listening to a word. She turned to check if her power was still usable on the waiter she was mind controlling from the start and she had the confirm she asked for: apparently, that boy was the only one nearby on which Mental out was ineffective.

«Oh no! My stomach is hurting a lot! It must have been the croissant I had some minutes ago! You have to pardon me but I immediately need a toilet! Be right back!» Misaki ran so fast to the resting room Fran wasn't even able to consent, with words at least.

«Ok, Shokuhou… there were plenty less embarrassing excuses but I was really getting tired of that guy's aura! AAAH!» she shouted against her reflection on the mirror, trying to release the tension and relax; after calming down, she stopped and reflected.

«How unlucky can I be to randomly choose the only Judgment guy on which my power does not work… and what do I do now? I faked the legal procedures, I personally called out this Fran-dude because the rumors are saying he is pretty strong… he was the perfect decoy in the fight while I put my hands on that thing. I would prefer to try mind controlling another Judgment member but this would mean I have to skip to another day and if I delay the appointment they could even… no, I can't! I have to meet them today, alone! But first… I have to get rid of the guy.» Misaki was able to quickly fix her plans and now she was completely composed and ready to go back to her seat.

«Is everything okay?» Fran asked, pointing to the restroom.

«Now yes… please, let's not talk about this… that was really bad, I think I have to give up on going to the bakery for today. I'm sorry I made you waste your time like this, you can leave now!» Misaki said as she was faking a stomach ache as good as she could.

«My day of work was already fully assigned on your assistance, so I will wait here until you feel better. No problem!» Fran replied upright.

«WHA-…. Huh… No, I can't do this to you. You can really leave! My grandma can wait a day or two.»

«That's a lie!» Fran exclaimed as he furiously punched on the table and Misaki jump scared off her seat. «I repeat, you asked for an essential classified request and this means that your grandma enjoying her delicious cake comes above all! Are you going to disappoint your grandma's hope just because of a simple stomach ache? Come on, do it for her! Let's go now!» Fran grasped Misaki form her arm and forced her out of the café while the girl tried pointlessly to fight back, eventually giving up.

«O-ok, we are going! Jeez! But if I'm feeling bad again don't tell me I did not-»

«In that case, I will carry you on my arms to the nearest toilet. I'll take the risk…» blushing and embarrassed, Fran interrupted Misaki.

«The risk… of wha-? HUH… ok, I'm done. I'm actually going to not think about it so I'll get better soon! So, let's go. If we are going to that bakery, we need to go on this bus…» Misaki said, after turning completely red because of understanding what Fran meant when he said "the risk".

The duo waited about ten minutes until the vehicle reached the bus stop, then they got on it and chose to occupy its last seats ; Misaki went on the windowed side and kept her eyes on the outside.

«This is so unlucky! Too unlucky! If only I could have sent him away with a button I would have not bare all this pointless embarrassment! Not only he is immune to my mind control, he also is a weirdo! Please… do everything but don't talk to me again… I'm so done already…» Misaki thought, praying with her hands crossed.

«So, why does your grandma need the cakes from this bakery in particular?» Fran asked to the girl.

«Have you not listened what I said to you?!» Misaki shouted, but then she realized she was thinking out loud.

«Really? You already told me? i don't think I missed a word you said.»

«Well, you are wrong! You probably weren't paying attention, after all… maybe. By the way, it's because they are like pharmaceutical sweets or something like that…» Misaki answered with the first reliable lie she came up to.

«I've never heard of this… it seems odd even for Gakuen Toshi. Then why such an important bakery is settled around a nasty part of the city and, also, are we there yet?» Fran's questions were as heavy as boulders for Misaki and her patience was reaching the limit.

«Enough! You will see when we arrive! Now… please be quiet I'm trying to concentrate on bearing my stomach ache! Stop interrupting my meditation!» She said, and turned again towards the window as Fran let out a deep sigh.

Misaki was impatient and flustered, but even in this hard condition she was able to build up a plan to solve her stress; The bus was getting full of passengers and next stop was nearby an elementary school.

«We arrived! Let's get off the bus!» She said quickly leaving the bus, then Fran followed on the heels.

«On no! How can it be! I forgot my purse on the sit! Be right back, I'm going to pick it up!» Misaki faked her way on the bus again. She really did leave the purse, but she did that on purpose; as sneaky as possible, hidden behind the passengers going up and down from the bus, she mind controlled a pair of kids near to the bus stop in order to make them cry and ask for help.

«Are you kids alright?!» Fran asked, but the kids were not answering and they kept pulling him away from the bus which, meanwhile, was already on the road, leaving.

«That's awesome! I really did it! I'm the prettiest, curviest and overall the smartest girl ever! I knew a Judgment guy wouldn't hesitate helping a bunch of kids in need! Absolute Victory! Ahahahah!» Misaki was so satisfied and happy she didn't immediately realize everyone on the bus was spectating her triumphant monologue; she didn't wait a moment to remove that part form their memory, so she could easily enjoy the rest of the ride.

«Ok, now… I can finally go where I have to be.» Misaki left the bus and caught a taxi, actually, a taxi driver and made him bring her to a peculiar outskirts district, with elegant and sumptuous mansions.

«Should be this one. I'm slightly late, but I don't think they will mind.» Misaki rang the giant's gate bell and the entrance immediately opened without anyone talking at the intercom; after an uphill climb, she got to a stylish Japanese dwelling whose sliding doors were opened by a group of people wearing kimonos, ready to welcome the guest.

«This way, please. My master was waiting you.» said someone who seemed to be a servant, then he led Misaki to a tiny room with seat pillows and a coffee table; a fifty-years looking man was sitting in front of her and he was wearing a classic Japanese kimono too.

Misaki got comfortable on the pillow and began to talk. «Nice to meet you, Mitsuki-san. Do I need to tell you why I'm here? I need to see the carp going upriver.»

«Huh, I see… Since you know the secret words, you should be the young lady I spoke about business with on the phone.» the man answered while sipping his water. «You want that piece of junk my wife found.»

«Exactly.» The girl exclaimed. «I'm down paying the money you requested for that shard of the Tree Diagram you possess.»

«Really nice. Just give me the money and we will be glad to hand it to you. This is the key of the lock sealing the safe behind me. That thing is in there.» the man stated, then he dropped the key on the table.

«Of course… I just have the money right here in th-» Misaki reached the inside of her purse but got immediately stopped and immobilized by a guy behind her.

«What does this treatment mean?!» Misaki asked taken aback.

«I don't understand if you are really confident in your power or you're just too stupid. Maybe the second one, due to your pretty long blond hair!» Mitsuki said as violently stepping on her head. «We are level zero, yes… but we don't need level to notice that little purse is not wide enough to contain five hundred millions yen.» as hearing those words, Misaki realized she made a terrible technical mistake; Because of her misadventure with Fran, she forgot to change her purse with something she could have used to fake the amount of money in order to hide her remote in it too. She was now in big troubles, as the thugs stole her purse and emptied it in the trash can. «Come on… don't give me that face. We already knew who you were from the start. Misaki Shokuhou, also known as Mental out, the mind controlling level five! Do you really think we would have let you come here and use your powers like complete dumbasses? You were followed since you set foot into the mansion and I ordered my boys to shoot you immediately if your hands got near your purse. You should consider yourself lucky to be still alive because you were planning to use you power against me only… I can confirm, you really are a stupid woman to come in a place like this without a bodyguard! But don't worry… before being Skill Outs, we are gentlemen! My boys will help you relax with some massages… do what you want, then make her vanish. I would like to participate to the feast, but I'm married now and she could get jealous… ehehehe.» the man left the room and his three thugs surrounded Misaki; they ripped her uniform and skirt off, then they cut off her brassiere and started smelling her skin.

Misaki was going to cry, as she never experienced such impotence against a group of horny perverts; she didn't want this to be her first time, obviously.

«Tokiwadai quality is warranty! They are not only powerful, are they?» Said the horniest one of them.

«What kind of level five needs a stupid remote to use her power? This is so ridiculous! Ahahaha! I think you will hold a new "remote" today, dear… you want to touch my controller, maybe? Ihihih!» said grossly another one.

Misaki got gabbed and tied up to prevent her screams while the aggressors started taking their clothes off, but a loud noise interrupted them; their boss ran into the room and ordered the almost naked men to join their colleagues to help them in the main room.

«You, get over here! They won't find you!» Mitsuki pulled Misaki into the closet where usually Japanese people have their bed in; He locked her in just in time, as a shadow got behind him. The scared man knelt down while Misaki, now completely scared, could only hear what was happening outside her cage.

«W-who are you? Why are you raiding my house? You're a Judgment student who assaulted my house and knocked out my people without permission! How dare you?!» Mitsuki asked outraged.

«Actually, I have an ordinance. An essential qualified one that assigned me to spend my whole day in order to assist the person in that closet. I will now make you move, not gently.» the man's scream was the last thing Misaki heard before seeing Fran opening the closet and freeing her from the duct tape and the rope.

«You… how the hell are you here?! I never mentioned I was going here!» Misaki roared, breathing hardly and hiding her nudes.

«I kept chasing you this whole time, as requested from the Judgment order. I always follow the rules… Actually, it was you who got to the wrong address. This does not seem to be a bakery to me.» Fran exclaimed sarcastically, then he fully covered Misaki with his wide coat.

«You don't need to pretend to be a good guy! You already saw me naked, right? Why are you giving me this now?» Misaki asked, as she was taking off Fran's coat, eventually throwing it back to him.

«Indeed, there is no hope for me now. My eyes went through such an heavenly vision I don't think I will be able to see again. This is the reason I prefer you to put some clothes on now, or you want to show off your body to everyone on the way home? You really want to get back to your dorm completely naked?» the boy asked, offering her his coat once again.

«That's a good point… for someone who is a stalker.» Misaki accepted and covered herself in a sigh.

«You got into this mess just for this thing? Tell me more about this stuff.» Fran had already taken the key and opened the safe, finding a tiny briefcase.

«Ehy, gimme that! That's not Judgment business!» Misaki said as she raised her arm in agitation trying to reach the height of Fran and grab the item. «Please, this is really important to me!» she claimed, but Fran wasn't going to let her take the briefcase.

«I'm keeping that for now, you will explain me why do you want it so much later. I called the Anti-skill and they will take care of those fainted men soon. Let's leave out through the back of the mansion, we could find more bad guys on the main exit.» Fran suggested, and Misaki nodded choiceless.

The back of the house was a huge outdoor courtyard full of ponds with craps and bamboo canes, typical Japanese noble-looking; once they went through it, they could see the second exit of the mansion. Fran crossed first the bridge on the biggest pond while Misaki was following him on a tired pace, exhausted due to the bizarre and stressful day she had. She started thinking she should have apologized to him about lying on where she was planning to go, especially because Fran was keeping the item she craved and she had to sympathize with him in order to recover the piece of the Tree Diagram before it got in wrong hands again.

But in the exact moment Misaki was going to open her mouth, Fran grabbed her from the coat she was wearing and threw her as far as he could from the bridge, almost on the starting point.

«Can I ask what is wrong with you?! You just randomly throw people away now?!» Misaki furiously asked as she was stroking her sore lower back.

A compressed water beam from the underwater of the pond successfully hit Fran on his left shoulder, burning and cutting it until it bled.

«I see… you two little brats are trying to run away with my treasure, aren't you?» a strident female voice echoed in all the yard while countless blood drops were falling from Fran's arm Into the clean water.

«That one was just a warning shot… leave the briefcase on the bridge and I won't be forced to kill you, perhaps…» said again the mysterious lady, she seemed to be a young woman but still older than them.

«Fran-san… how did you know someone was nearby?» Misaki asked hesitant, after realizing why she got thrown away like that by her partner.

«Thanks to my ability I noticed her in time and I dodged her attack. That was anything but a warning shot, she was aiming vitals...» Said Fran while checking the laceration with the hand that was not holding the item.

The water below the bridge began boiling and a second beam was shot toward Fran who, this time, fully dodged the attack.

«Water Blade, this is my esp power.» the woman claimed «By increasing water's pressure and temperature I can shoot out those corruptive geysers. I'm classified as a level three only just because I can't create water by myself and I need to use it from sources… But since you chose this path, the great lady Mitsuki-sama won't let you get away! I welcome you in my arena, where I am unbeatable!»

«Why Skill Outs and esper collaborate now?! This is really bad!» Misaki said in a cold sweat.

«This artificial yard was created to trap anyone who could defeat her Skill Outs' barrier, her husband included. She attracts here customers and businessmen to fake a deal and then steals the reward from their dead bodies once they visit this backyard… this is an actual death theatre, huh!» Fran said smirking.

«Knowing this won't make you immune by my attacks! Give me that Tree Diagram piece! With that junk I will be the most important woman of the country and no one will ever dare mocking me!» once again, a new hot water beam travelled toward Fran who couldn't dodge completely and got cut on the cheek.

«Now I understand… why everybody wants this. That's the super computer which got destroyed in space some time ago. This changes everything… Yo, catch!» Fran quickly threw the briefcase to Misaki, who efficiently caught it in air.

«Wait! What are you doing?! Now I will be the target of the water beams!» Misaki said frightened as she hid the briefcase under the borrowed coat.

«Don't worry. She won't attack you because she can't.» Fran said while cleaning the blood from his face.

«Curse you…! Don't handle that piece so violently!» Lady Mitsuki shouted hysteric.

«She is not a level three only because she can't materialize water for herself, but also because she has poor range. It's really easy to notice since she attacked me so many times by now: the water beams lose power as soon as they leave the source of water and they need to stick to it to be shot. From the moment I threw you off the bridge, you already was completely safe. She didn't care since it was me who got the Tree Diagram, but what will she do now you have it? Misaki-san! Just leave, now!» Fran said, pointing to the path they came from.

«What? Are you really telling me to run with the item?» Misaki asked surprised.

«Exactly. Just go back to the main entrance and escape from there. Anti Skill will probably be near since I called them for a while now. Even if you'll find more Skill Outs, they are always easier to manage than this esper.» the boy explained in detail.

«Wait… and what about you?» Misaki asked worried.

«I will prevent her from following you staying here dodging her attacks until Anti Skill comes to me helping.» Fran answered, as he went on guard scanning the environment surrounding him.

«You damn brats! I'm done with you chatting! This is the stupidest plan I've ever heard! I will kill you immediately with next attack and then I'll go taking back my treasure! Prepare to die!» the woman, clearly upset, was charging her final attack as water seemed to get hotter than ever.

«You're wrong, buddy. I will dodge so many attacks that my friend will have enough time travel around the entire globe twice! Now go, Misaki-san! Don't waste more time!» Fran gazed Misaki straight in her eyes to give her determination, then he prepared himself for the fight.

Misaki ran towards the path Fran pointed her but she stopped after few step, thinking. «If his power's only use is to locate enemies nearby, how is he going to survive those attacks. Wait, why do I even care… I don't know him. If I dies and I get away, it was his choice and an absolute win for me, I would be alive. I have the Tree Diagram and I can escape easily… but is the range thingy true? Am I sure I can't be attacked?» the girl was so deep In thought she couldn't move due to the anxiety; she tried to reach her remote in her purse, but then she realized she hadn't both of them and that was just a reflex due to her habits. «This is so bad… if only I had use of my ability I could have helped, or better, I could have read what's in his mind. Does he really have a plan? Is he using me? Is he… saving me? Can I really trust h-»

«Just stop.» the cold bold words of Fran pierced into the deep thinking of Misaki who turned towards him to listen what he wanted to say. «Just stop feeling the need to check someone's intention to know if you can trust them or not! Mental Out! Just trust me already! GO AWAY FROM HERE!» Fran hit the girl's weak spot with his words, he spotlighted all the insecurities that Misaki can easily hide and ignore thanks to her convenient ability.

«You knew who I was… form the start? So…» Misaki wanted to talk to him so much, but the angry "begone" gaze coming from Fran both made her scared and determined to run away as fast as she could; she decided she can trust him.

«You annoying kids! That thing is mine! MINE ONLY!» as the frightening roar of the lady was heard, a group of water beams raised from the pond but they were not aiming to Fran, instead, they created a dangerous laser barrier that cut the bridge in half, preventing completely Fran form following Misaki; from the bamboo forest, lady Mitsuki showed herself with a wild aggressive jump towards Misaki. She was a very long haired viper-looking woman who was wearing a gorgeous red kimono; she was wielding a fighting dagger, ready to stab Misaki who, blindsided and frightened, couldn't gather any energy to dodge or run away.

The dagger was just about to stab her in the chest, but something huge and resistant broke the blade by the impact; from below the coat's shadow Misaki was wearing, a long black centipede popped up blocking the attack and then chomping with his fangs on the lady's neck, eventually throwing her away.

«What is this gross thing?! Help meeeeee!» Misaki yelled terrified, now fearing the giant insect much more than the armed lady.

The great hot water barrier lost its effect and Fran could reach her enemy now, facing her directly.

"Why there is a giant maggot here?! It was you, you brat!» The lady said as she stood up, recovering from the blow.

«Shadow Crafter. My esper ability allows me to use shadows to materialize any type of thing I can imagine, also acquiring their physical characteristics. For example, this insect's exoskeleton is harder than iron due to his unnatural size. It seems like my worm was a good decoy to fish out of the pond a carp like you! I knew you couldn't let the tree Diagram's piece get out of the mansion so I crafted the shadow produced by my coat, which was settled to protect Misaki-san for any attack anyways. There is no way you can get pass this coat-sized centipede of mine!» Fran stated as the centipede stood still in defence of Misaki.

«Now I understand how you realized I was hidden inside the yard… you sensed my shadow!» the woman said gritting her teeth in anger.

«Yeah, but there were too many shadow sources in the yard and I can't materialize objects from the living beings' shadows, therefore all those plants and bamboo were only a nuisance! I needed you to find a reason to show yourself and eventually use that chance to strike you down! I'm glad it worked. Now, as Judgment, I will deliver your deserved punishment.» Exclaimed Fran, while pointing menacing to his judgment armband.

«Wait, you essentially said I was the bait the whole time! You weren't saving me at all?! I even trusted you in the end… you are a-»

«Yeah, you really did trust me. That was our only win condition. Thank you, Misaki-san.» Fran interrupted Misaki's insults and the girl, embarrassed by his unexpected kind and grateful attitude, blushed and silenced; a twisted and annoying laugh ruined that heart-warming moment.

«Winning? You still talking about winning?! I am still here, your attack just made me a little dizzy and nothing more! I will not let you go with my tree Diagram! It's mine only!» The woman stood on guard and hid her hands inside of the kimono.

«You are right, it's time to end this.» Fran opened his hand towards his own shadow, which muted into a long ready to be wielded katana. «This environment is so classic that there's no better weapon than a katana to finish you off!» Fran grabbed it and assumed a low attack stance.

«As I said, I can't materialize water… but a true noble woman like me always finds a way to make up for her weak points! Die!» Lady Mitsuki revealed her trump card: she was hiding two water bottles that were immediately thrown against the hapless Fran; by her ability, they would have turned into impossible to dodge rotating blades due to their size and speed but, unaccountably, nothing happened and the bottles bounced on the boy's head and chest.

«What is happening?! My power did not work? Impossible!» the woman yelled so frustrated she was biting her lips until they bled.

«Huh, yours too? My ability didn't work today, too. Maybe it's the weather. Should we contact the technical support?» defused Misaki, sending her a blink of mercy.

«You little b*tch! Don't you dare making fun of me! I'll kill you with my bare hands!» the woman turned angry toward Misaki, but that was her biggest mistake as Fran had quickly reached her face and impaled her chest with a katana lunge; with equal violence, he pulled the blade off the body and slowly backed off.

Lady Mitsuki, completely panicking and crying, touched her chest and then look down on her hands: there was no trace of blood or wounds; At first the woman rejoiced but, as soon as she tried to look up, she was already on the ground, paralyzed and seeing no more.

«My attacks do not make you bleed, but they directly drain my opponent's vital force. It's like I'm stabbing your soul instead of your body, let's put it like that… They are much more powerful against normal people because they have an additional effect on esper: they interfere with their track of their own personal reality and make them abilityless for a bunch of minutes depending on the body part I strike.» Fran exclaimed while his own shadow was morphing into a second centipede warping around him.

«My previous insect's bite not only gave you " a little dizzy", but also nullified your power for the time I needed to defeat you easily. Next time, you better study more entomology because this is not a giant maggot but a gorgeous scolopendra! The strongest creature in the vessel! Preserve this memory clear in your mind while you stay in jail! Goodbye!» the centipede bit her once again and the helpless woman fully fainted.

«Amazing… I've never thought an ability like this one existed… It also reminds me the nullifying right arm power of a friend of mine… Yet, you two are completely different.» Misaki thought, surprised and satisfied of the battle results; but when she thought better on the boy's words and completed her mind puzzle, she got so angry she grasped the boy from the edge of his tank top shirt.

«Wait a minute, it was YOU the whole time! Now it's all clear! You already knew I was Metal Out and you negated my powers when we met in the café, but HOW did I not notice? Tell me, IMMEDIATELY!» Misaki was ballistic and wanted all of the answers now; Fran nodded and told her he would talk if she left the grip on his shirt.

«Yeah… of course it was me. I made a micro centipede crawl onto you from beneath your skirt when I sat in front of you. The insect bit your neck every time you tried to use your remote on me and due to the size of his bite, you did not feel anything beside the loss of powers. The vitality drain is really strong on level zeros and weaker on espers but I can make them abilityless for seconds even with a little needle if I hit the right spots. That's how I made at least myself immune to your mind control.» Fran explained proudly.

«Yuck! So gross! Is it gone now? Right?!» the girl asked, not sure to want to hear the answer.

«The moment you left me off the bus I lost my range of effectiveness and the shadow vanished, so yes.»

«But why did you do that? If you had let me mind control you, we would have destroyed this cove in a second. I would have not make you hurt, I just wanted to use a Judgment member in order to make this seem to be a police operation to recover some stolen goods…»

«You lied to me with that stupid thing of the cake for your grandma and you have the guts to come here and say "why did you not just let me control you"? You think somebody would be ok to do something against his will? To be mind controlled? You really think somebody would gladly accept to lose his consciousness? You sure does not seem to be an evil person, nor someone who would make terrible use of her own power, but this does not allow you to do everything that pleases you!»

«You don't understand… people in this city always try to use and manipulate us and you, who just got here, have no idea of what they are capable of. I can't engage with someone without knowing what are his intentions… therefore, I need to see in their mind before!»

«Yet, you felt that now. You felt the sweet sensation of relying on someone who managed to fulfil your expectation. You trusted me because you felt you could count on me, because I proved to you I was on your side and not because you have read on my mind what I was thinking. Did it felt good? Don't you want to try this with another person? Another time?» Misaki lowered her sight, thinking about Fran words.

«Take this. Apparently, this seems to be the only way out of your problems for you.» Fran took the girl's remote out of one of his pockets and gave it friendly to Misaki; she grabbed it with both hands and approached it to her face.

«With one touch, I could just remove every single thing of today from your memory, about seeing me naked, and the Tree Diagram… But I guess I'll do it later….» Misaki turned around, trying to hide the fact she was lying; for the first time, she really didn't want to use her power on someone.

«You can keep it. That piece of junk, I mean.» he said.

«Wait…what?» Misaki was literally going to accept the fact she had to yield the item to Fran, but his statement impressed her.

«As you said, topsides of Gakuen Toshi are our worst enemy. They use the AntiSkill and Judgment without shame. If I leave that thing to Yomikawa, she would probably be forced to deliver it to someone important and the piece would be again in the hands of some businessman with bad intentions. What about you, why do you want it?» Fran asked.

«I will destroy it, so none will ever be able to know this additional piece existed. Too many suffered due to this computer's calculations…» Misaki answered, clenching her fists.

«Yeah… I would have not come to a better decision. Now, let's leave. I already hear the Anti Skill sirens. Hide the briefcase in my coat's pocket, so I'll take it back when they give you something to wear and there will be no way they will find it on you. I will hand it to you back when they are not watching.» Fran said, and began to walk towards the exit.

Misaki stood still for a moment, watching the boy walking away; she raised her arm and aimed her remote to his head.

«Maybe… just the scenes where I'm naked… everything else… can remain…» but she couldn't press the button.