Apprehension

"Nero, can you leave the room for a moment, please? I don't want you to take this the wrong way."

"Umm… may I stay, Mr Katori? I'd like to hear your concerns too."

Ophelia sat back down on the ouch, her shoulders pressing against Nero's - she was trembling slightly as her father bore down upon her.

"You saw what that man could do. He could read minds, change memories - even take control of our bodies, probably. If he wanted to take you away and sell you to a stranger, nobody would be any wiser. How can we be sure that the other people at the Academy won't do that to you? Espers can do whatever they want if they're careful not to get caught - Nero, you've experienced that yourself plenty of times simply by hanging out with Ophelia. I know what's going on."

"I'm sure that Alcaster Academy won't let these kinds of things happen to its students," said Ophelia. "Plus, there's bound to be laws in place against these - nobody's been on the news for kidnapping in -"

"Kidnap is just one of the many things that could happen! There's so much crime possible when you're surrounded by espers - robbery, assault, maybe even... even-"

"Alright, they get your point, honey," said Mrs Katori, clutching his arm and steering him into a chair. "We're just worried about your safety. We know that being an esper is a huge thing, but it shouldn't come at the expense of your well-being."

As Nero watched Mrs Katori wipe her eyes, he felt a pang of longing in his heart. Had his parents still been alive, would they have approved of his rash decisions? Would they have agreed to let their son go to the very school that had indirectly led to their deaths?

"We've been fine so far, right?" protested Ophelia. "If you're still worried, we can always ask the school for protective measures for their students."

"I want to hear what the teachers will do to protect you before I decide on sending you there," said Mr Katori firmly. "You too, Nero - I can't stop you from going if you want to, but as your guardian, I hope that you understand that I have your best interests at heart."

"Of course," mumbled Nero. He was certain that the security within the campus would be strong enough to deter troublemakers, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out what that security could be.

But more than that, Ophelia's words had stuck in his head: "If Nero's not going, I'm not going."

Was he willing to make such a sacrifice for her?

"Okay, then!" said Mrs Katori happily, her cheerful tone causing everyone to perk up. "Looks like we have to start packing our bags. Meridian Primus is a day's trip from here, and it'll be such a waste to just visit for a single day. Horace has also been itching for a vacation, so this is a perfect opportunity for everyone."

"When are we leaving?" asked Ophelia.

"We'll drop by your house at 10am on Sunday, Nero," said Mrs Katori. "Make sure to sell all your ice-cream by then."