"Aaaaahhh!!!"
High in the sky, Tatsumaki, flushed scarlet, shrieked in shame.
How dare he, how dare he, how dare he!!
To think that guy saw me make a fool of myself!
The memory of that scene made Tatsumaki curl her fingers.
Her Psychic Power raged with her emotions.
Vast clouds were stirred,
spiraling inward around her.
The spiral cloud stretched across the heavens.
Even nature rarely births such a terrifying spectacle—yet it had formed simply because she lost control of her feelings.
Only after a long while did Tatsumaki finally calm herself.
Just recalling Aokiji's final smile set her heart pounding again.
"Jerk… calling me a nuisance!"
Tatsumaki ground her teeth, itching to bite Aokiji hard.
But she hadn't the courage to face him now.
He'd mock her mercilessly!
Really, Fubuki, why didn't you stop me?
She complained, forgetting she'd dragged Fubuki there by force.
As for Fubuki, left behind with Aokiji, Tatsumaki wasn't worried.
——
"Aokiji… will this really make me stronger?"
"Don't talk. Keep doing it."
"Mm…"
Fubuki followed Aokiji's instructions, striving hard.
She spun her Psychic Power around her body, trying to create a rotating force-field.
This was the counter-technique she would later invent—Psycho Stream Spiral Storm!
Not just for defense, but specifically to counter other Espers.
By spinning the field she could neutralize an opponent's Psychic Power and even absorb it into her own attack.
She'd developed the Move to catch up to Tatsumaki,
only to realize Tatsumaki already used the trick unconsciously.
Aokiji and Fubuki possessed different power systems,
but he could offer ideas for developing the technique.
That was their agreement: no detailed coaching, just guidance on how to apply her abilities.
That way it wouldn't take up too much of Aokiji's time.
Fubuki's raw Psychic Power was far below Tatsumaki's,
but her potential for support was excellent.
She'd shown she could boost allies' physical stats with telekinesis,
transfer stamina to heal others,
and after the Monster Association incident, link minds with Sikes.
Her supportive ceiling was very high.
Yet her obsession with her sister kept her focused on raw combat strength.
Watching Fubuki concentrate, whipping up gusts with her Psychic Power, Aokiji left her undisturbed and began his own Cultivation.
——
Meanwhile, at the Tsukuyomi organization,
Deep Sea King lay lifeless inside a massive life-support tank.
A cold, emotionless man stood before the machine, checking data.
"Experiment proceeding well. This Monster's excellent physique, combined with forcibly transplanted Psychic Power, should make a fine weapon."
He analyzed the results.
Around him, rows of huge machines held grotesque, hulking Deep Sea Tribe members.
"Compared to randomly mutated, unstable Monsters, these Deep Sea Tribe specimens offer slightly better research value."
"But even so, the probability of capturing 'Aokiji' by force is virtually zero."
He mused for a moment, murmuring:
"A direct capture operation costs too much; another method is needed…"
Kidnap someone close to him and force compliance?
Analysis indicated that would only enrage him without securing cooperation—pointless; rejected.
Send an agent to infiltrate, earn his trust, and subtly influence his thinking?
Possible; keep as backup.
Win over Hero Association higher-ups and use their authority to strike from within?
Also kept as backup… He weighed each plan.
He glanced again at Deep Sea King in the tank.
These tools would gather data.
Once fully stabilized, he'd deploy them in battle to obtain more detailed information on Aokiji's abilities.
——
"I'll keep working to master this Move."
Fubuki looked tired.
Intense training had drained an astonishing amount of Psychic Power.
"You're going back to Tatsumaki's place today?" Aokiji asked.
"We agreed I'd go home… but after what happened today, I think my sister wants to be alone."
"No, this is exactly when you should go back."
Aokiji didn't want a certain mortified little brat sleeplessly tearing his house down at midnight.
"Just comfort her. Tell her everyone goes through this sort of thing."
Though usually only in private fantasies.
Getting caught was rare.
With that incident, Tatsumaki would probably leave him alone for a while.
That suited Aokiji perfectly: amusement plus peace.
"…I'll try,"
Fubuki said. She'd never seen her invincible sister so flustered and doubted her consolation would help much.
"Thank you, Aokiji."
She voiced what she'd held in all day.
"Sis told me she only came to you to find me. You urged her to talk to me herself."
Without that, their relationship would have stayed frozen.
Now that she and Tatsumaki were reconciling, she finally felt at ease.
"I didn't do much—you two already cared about each other."
Aokiji's original aim
had simply been to prevent another of Fubuki's runaways and stop Tatsumaki from barging in again.
Getting the sisters to talk had seemed the cleanest solution.
"Still, without you, she'd never have listened to me."
Fubuki could see
that Tatsumaki had only changed because she acknowledged Aokiji's strength and was willing to follow his advice.
After thanking him again, she set off home.
Their house wasn't in City Z; the trip would take some time.
Much later,
Fubuki finally arrived.
She'd only been gone about half a month,
and almost nothing had changed—
except empty milk cartons stacked on the dining table.
She tiptoed into the spacious living room.
Tatsumaki, in loose pajamas that made her look even younger, lay on the sofa, eyes vacant.
A snow-globe floated motionless before her, wrapped in green Psychic Power.
She stared at it so fixedly she didn't notice Fubuki enter.
Fubuki had to speak up. "Sis, I'm back."
Tatsumaki jolted upright and hastily hid the globe behind her back.
"Fubuki?! When did you get here!"
"Just now." Seeing her sister flustered, Fubuki couldn't help asking, "What is that globe?"
"Nothing!" Tatsumaki averted her eyes. "Just a cheap toy."
...
(Throw some stones)