Test

Has that woman ever come back?" Haruto asked, his voice cutting through the heavy silence that had settled over Jun's cramped apartment. The question hung in the air like smoke, and Jun shifted uncomfortably on his worn-out couch.

Jun scratched the back of his neck, thinking. "Yeah, once. Just once." His voice was barely above a whisper.

Haruto leaned forward, his dark eyes sharp with interest. "What did you do?"

The weight of those words settled on Jun like a heavy blanket. His face went pale, and his hands started to shake slightly. "So what should I do?"

"Listen to me very carefully," Haruto said, his voice taking on a commanding tone that Jun had never heard before. "You'd better not sleep, and if you do, stay alert. Got it?"

Jun nodded frantically, though the fear in his eyes was growing by the second.

"I'm staying here tonight," Haruto announced. "Whatever she is, she's not going to get to you while I'm around."

"Really?" Jun's voice cracked with relief. "You'd do that for me?"

Before Haruto could answer, a voice spoke up from behind them. "Count me in too."

They both turned to see Miki standing in the doorway, having let herself in with the spare key Jun had given her months ago. Her usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by something more determined, more serious.

"Miki, you don't have to—" Jun started.

"Yes, I do," she interrupted firmly. "We're friends, right? Friends stick together when weird supernatural shit starts happening."

Despite everything, Jun felt a small smile tug at the corners of his mouth. Having both Haruto and Miki there made him feel less alone, less vulnerable.

As the evening wore on, they worked out the sleeping arrangements. Haruto's plan was strategic, though Jun didn't like it one bit.

"We'll sleep in the spare room," Haruto explained. "You take your own bedroom."

"What? No way!" Jun protested immediately. "Why can't we all stay together?"

"Because if she is as sensitive as I think it is, it might be able to sense when people are awake and alert. If Miki and I are in the same room as you, it might not show up at all. We need to draw it out."

"You want to use me as bait?" Jun's voice went up an octave.

"Not bait," Haruto corrected. "More like... a controlled situation. We'll be right next door. If anything happens, we'll be there in seconds."

Jun looked between Haruto and Miki, desperation clear in his eyes. "Come on, man. Can't you just sleep in my room? Please?"

"No," Haruto said firmly. "This is the only way we're going to deal with this problem once and for all."

After wrapping up her conversation with Jun and Haruto, Miki made her way through the school corridors toward the faculty office. Her footsteps echoed softly against the polished floors as she mentally rehearsed what she needed to report. The whole situation was getting more complicated by the day, and she knew she couldn't handle it alone anymore.

She knocked twice on the door marked "Tanaka-sensei - Class 1-B homeroom" before hearing a calm voice invite her in. The office was modest but organized, with stacks of papers neatly arranged on the desk and a few potted plants by the window. Tanaka looked up from her work, her sharp eyes immediately focusing on Miki's somewhat troubled expression.

"Miki, come in. You look like you've got something important on your mind," Tanaka said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk. She was a woman in her early thirties with shoulder-length black hair and an air of quiet authority that made students both respect and trust her instinctively.

Miki settled into the chair and took a deep breath. "Tanaka-sensei, I need to update you on the situation with Jun and Haruto. Things have taken an interesting turn."

The supervisor leaned back slightly, her fingers steepled in front of her. "I'm listening."

"Well, you know how we've been keeping an eye on both of them since the beginning of the semester. Jun's been showing some unusual signs lately, has the potential to become awakened one." Miki paused, choosing her words carefully. "But today he told us about a dream he's been having repeatedly. There's this woman in it - he described her as incredibly alluring, almost hypnotically so. She keeps appearing to him, and the dreams are getting more vivid each time."

Tanaka's expression didn't change, but Miki caught a slight tightening around her eyes. This was clearly significant information.

"Hmm." Tanaka nodded slowly, processing the information. "And what was your impression of Haruto's abilities?"

"That's what I'm not sure about. He definitely is stronger than average awakeners. But I can't tell if he's just naturally talented or if he's had some kind of exposure to our world before." Miki shifted in her seat. "He seemed genuinely concerned about Jun, though. Not in a casual friend way, but in a way that suggested he understands the potential dangers."

The supervisor was quiet for a moment, her gaze moving to the window where late afternoon sunlight was filtering through the blinds. When she spoke again, her voice carried a note of decision.

"This is valuable information, Miki..." She trailed off, then looked directly at Miki. "I think it's time we took a more active approach to this situation."

"What do you mean?" Miki asked, though she had a feeling she knew where this was heading.

"I want to test Haruto's potential. We need to determine whether he's just a perceptive ordinary student or if he has the qualities we look for in potential recruits." Tanaka's tone became more businesslike. "If he does have the necessary abilities and mindset, he could be valuable to our organization. And if he's going to be involved in supernatural situations anyway - which seems likely given his friendship with Jun - it's better to have him properly trained and informed."

Miki felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Bringing someone new into their world was always a big decision, and it came with risks. But she had to admit that Haruto had shown promise in how he'd handled today's conversation.

"How do you want to test him?" she asked.

"Nothing too dramatic at first. We'll start with some subtle observations - see how he reacts to certain stimuli, how he handles stress, whether he can sense things that ordinary people miss." Tanaka pulled out a small notebook and jotted down a few notes. "I'll arrange for some scenarios that will reveal his true capabilities without putting him in any real danger."

"And what about Jun? His situation seems to be escalating."

"Jun's case is concerning, but for now, the dreams appear to be just that - dreams. We'll continue monitoring him, but our immediate priority should be understanding what resources we have available. If Haruto proves to be suitable material, having him as an ally could be crucial for protecting Jun from whatever is trying to reach him through those dreams."

Tanaka closed her notebook and looked at Miki with the kind of serious expression that meant she was about to give important instructions.

"Here's what I need you to do, Miki. I want you to keep a close eye on this entire situation. Continue your normal interactions with both Jun and Haruto, but pay attention to the details. Any changes in Jun's situation, and note how Haruto responds to supernatural incidents or situations. Don't push too hard - we don't want to scare either of them off - but create opportunities for Haruto to demonstrate his abilities."

"Understood," Miki replied, mentally preparing herself for what would likely be an intensive period of observation and reporting.

"Also, I'll be arranging some indirect tests for Haruto over the next few weeks. You might notice some unusual occurrences around school - don't interfere unless someone is in actual danger. I need to see how he handles these situations naturally."

The weight of responsibility settled on Miki's shoulders. She'd been part of the organization long enough to understand how crucial these evaluation periods could be. The wrong assessment could mean missing out on a valuable ally or, worse, putting someone in danger they weren't equipped to handle.

Tanaka stood up, signaling that the meeting was coming to an end. "Remember, Miki, this stays between us for now. The other members don't need to know about the evaluation process until we have clearer results."

Miki rose from her chair and gave a deep, respectful bow. "I understand completely, Tanaka. I won't let you down."

"I know you won't. You've always been reliable." The supervisor's expression softened slightly. "Just remember to trust your instincts. You've got good judgment when it comes to reading people."

With that reassurance, Miki straightened up and headed toward the door. As she stepped back into the corridor, she felt the familiar mix of anticipation and nervousness that came with important missions. The next few weeks were going to be crucial for everyone involved, and she was determined to handle her part perfectly.

The school was quieter now, with most students having left for the day. Miki walked slowly back toward the main entrance