Chapter: 9. Star Academy
A week later.
Hawaii.
The blazing sun hung high in the sky, and the air seemed to have been roasted and twisted.
Palm leaves along the streets danced in the wind, while the sea breeze mixed with the scent of coconuts and the sweetness of grilled pineapples blew from the port all the way to the city.
Bikini-clad girls and those in shorts were seen everywhere along the streets, with passersby openly showing off their curves and sun-kissed skin, leisurely chatting with juice cups in hand, taking selfies, or simply walking into convenience stores in their bikinis.
In such a place, even the air emanated a vibe of “freedom.”
Because of this, the two girls walking in this landscape appeared especially – incongruous.
No, perhaps “remarkably eye-catching” is more accurate.
The girl in front wore a pure, high-class white dress that fell below her knees. The soft fabric under the bright sunlight exhibited a semi-transparent effect, contrasting sharply with her milk-white skin and a head of jet-black long hair. Together with her exquisitely beautiful features and indifferent expression, she embodied the perfect essence of “pure desire.”
Especially since this outfit, worn on her figure that had nothing to do with “purity,” achieved a level of forbidden temptation.
The fabric at her chest was naturally accentuated by her soaring curves, the hemline smoothly hugging her slender waist, and as she moved, the swaying of her impressive bust exuded an aura potent enough to extinguish all reason.
However, beside her stood a girl with a completely different style.
This girl wore a tropical flower-patterned bikini, covered with a sheer shawl, and her lower half was adorned with bold denim shorts. Her exposed brown skin gleamed with health, complemented by her high double ponytails and sunglasses perched on her head, creating a striking visual impact.
And these two exceptionally striking beauties were none other than Natsune and Erika.
Wherever they went, passersby stopped in their tracks, their gazes almost uniformly drawn to them—
“…Eh? Are those two famous models or something?”
“What gorgeous black hair… Their figures and temperament are just too stunning.”
“Oh no, the combination of the quiet, black-haired lady and the sunny, brown-skinned girl—this is just unfair! Hey, let’s go and chat them up!”
…
Before this group of restless college students could put their pick-up plan into action, they were stopped by a glance from Natsune, feeling as though they had plunged into a freezing lake, immediately losing all interest.
“Sigh…” Natsune couldn’t help but sigh, then complained to Erika beside her, “I told you not to wear a bikini; it’s too easy to attract those unsavory men looking to chat us up.”
Erika blinked her eyes vigorously as if saying, “Aren’t you also dressed in a way that’s enticing?”
However, both girls were dressed beautifully in their own ways. Natsune leaned towards the delicate and reserved style of an Asian girl with her straight long black hair, while Erika exhibited a more exotic, fiery look with her bronzed skin and voluptuous figure.
Erika released the straw she was biting and replied energetically, “After all, this is a rare opportunity to wear a bikini, right? It’s my first time wearing one, and I don’t want to miss out~”
Natsune couldn’t help but recall the scene when they recently walked into a clothing store.
As the store manager, a plump lady with frizzy hair, had pulled Erika, testing out a dozen outfits, they finally settled on this bikini-and-denim shorts combination. It must be said that this outfit indeed suited Erika’s healthy, sexy, wheat-colored skin and fiery figure.
“By the way, why doesn’t Miss Amano try on a bikini? With a body like yours, you’d look amazing—” Erika curiously assessed the girl beside her, whose face looked more youthful than her own, yet her figure was equally impressive.
“…No, thanks.” I have a strong aversion to bikinis. Natsune secretly complained while reminiscing about her experience the first time she wore a bikini, feeling not just shy but also a hint of sadness.
The so-called “Miss Amano” was the pseudonym Natsune had arranged with Kane.
Both names “Tsukimi Natsune” and “Hoshimiya Natsune” could provoke unnecessary trouble, and to prevent any potential discrepancies from being noticed, the name “Sakurazaka” that Amane had previously set up for her had to be discarded.
She finally settled on the surname “Amakan,” a combination of the first character from it and the last character from her original name to form “Tianyin.”
Kamishiro Tianyin.
This was the name of Natsune’s new identity, established as a girl who was kidnapped to the Middle East with her entire family by terrorists and whose family was killed. She was just fortunate enough to encounter Kane and his team, who were on a mission to rescue her. Having faced extraordinary beings at close range, she was believed to have immense awakening potential.
Natsune was to play the role of a girl who had yet to awaken her abilities, a setting that was closely aligned with her actual circumstances, and she wasn’t worried about being scrutinized. Her shattered soul harbored a vast potential for magical power—a capacity that could withstand detection.
As for her appearance—Tsuihen Naki, the holder of the Star Authority, had guaranteed it.
In the world of “Star Link,” the soul is the most primal existence and the foundation of recognition by others and the world, which is why soul resonance is crucial for deceiving others and the world.
Natsune’s soul was now broken into pieces, and without actively displaying her “shattered starry sky,” even the world could not recognize her as “Hoshimiya Natsune” or “Tsukimi Natsune.” So, no matter how similar her appearance was, she wouldn’t normally be discovered—unless someone became aware of the problems within her soul, opened the “Schrödinger’s box,” and observed the “cat” inside.
“Eh~ It’s rare to come to the seaside and see such a beautiful ocean; don’t you feel a sudden urge to challenge wearing a bikini you normally can’t?” Erika, who had grown up in the Middle East, was seeing a real ocean for the first time, so since she landed in Hawaii, her spirits had been soaring.
—Miss Erika, why do you say it like you’ve finally found a legitimate exhibitionist venue? How could not showing off be a waste??
[Because the master is now in the reserves, should she adhere to the ways of a good wife?] Tsuihen Naki’s voice came through the earpiece: [Or is the master the type that wishes to be coerced into exhibitionism?]
“Not at all! Why would you assume I have such a kink!!!” Natsune’s lips moved, muttering in a voice only Tsuihen Naki could hear.
“Hmm? Did Miss Tianyin say something?”
“Ah, I hope you be careful and don’t expose your abilities.” Natsune quickly switched the topic, feeling like she had grasped a lifeline.
In response, Erika flashed a radiant smile and nodded, “Okay, I remember. Thank you, Miss Tianyin.”
[Currently, the Specified Circle SEMA and the Three Great Academies are not trustworthy, and her powers are too peculiar.]
Tsuihen Naki’s words resonated with Natsune’s thoughts.
Erika’s abilities were undoubtedly unique, allowing her to directly control global networks and data, akin to a super AI in a sci-fi story. Should such power fall into the wrong hands, it could pose a threat more severe than imaginary monsters.
Thus, before thoroughly investigating the Specified Circle SEMA and the Three Great Academies, Natsune hoped Erika could conceal her abilities. Additionally, in the list Kane submitted to Star Academy, he only reported Erika’s name and did not specify that the “peculiar child” was her.
So, Natsune had Kane annotate that a child of an ability user who died in a base conflict was “peculiarly gifted,” allowing Erika to enroll at Star Academy under the guise of an ordinary ability user.
As for her powers, Natsune had dug out some extraordinary items she had hidden around the world in the past and gave Erika a necklace imbued with abilities, granting her a moderate power—“Super Frequency Vibration.”
Keeping Erika by her side rather than leaving her in the Middle East was to prevent some informants with ulterior motives from seeking them out again, and Kane was currently helping her with another task.
Although neither Natsune nor Erika should attract attention—
[Indeed, beauty is a kind of sin~]
“Aren’t you bored? Why are you concerned with such things?” Natsune couldn’t help but tease.
[Is the master concerned about me? Even though I’ve just been chased halfway across the planet by a few ability users from Specified Circle SEMA, apart from being utterly shattered more than ten times, it’s not a big deal~]
“Tch, you didn’t die, huh?”
[Is that a slam!? Please tell me it’s not sincere!]
Just then, Erika spotted the cruise ship from afar and excitedly turned to Natsune, saying, “Miss Tianyin, is that the ship we take to Star Academy?”
Erika pointed at the distant horizon.
Natsune followed her finger and looked—the ship was a massive vessel based in silver-white tones, with clean, simple lines yet laden with a strong sense of technology. The wide deck rose like a tower, and the solar wings on both sides of the ship slowly unfolded under the setting sun, resembling a pair of massive silver wings spread across the sea.
In the angle of the sunlight, the ship appeared to float on the ocean, embodying a futuristic academy.
“…Yes.” Natsune nodded.
That cruise ship was the only means of transportation to Star Academy, aside from planes.
Star Academy—officially the world’s leading marine ecological research university, advocating “sustainable intelligent communities,” “zero-carbon energy testing grounds,” “environment-friendly learning facilities,” and a slew of terms resembling those from an environmental expo, it even received the UN’s “Ecological Model Unit” certification.
However, in reality, it was an organization for ability users established on the artificial island “Starfish Area” off the coast of Hawaii.
To the outside world, it was a future-oriented university gathering exceptional scientific and engineering talents from various countries; internally, it was a strategic institution dedicated to nurturing, monitoring, and guiding ability users, as well as one of the largest ability user organizations in the worldview of “Star Link.”
“Star Academy does not directly accept outsiders, and all students must board this special cruise ship arranged by the authorities.” Natsune added softly, “These days are for us new students to buy supplies, and we board tonight, arriving by noon tomorrow.”
“An artificial island…” Erika blinked, “Sounds like one of those places found in comics.”
Natsune remained silent.
Because indeed, it was one of the settings where the latter part of the plot unfolded in the original game of “Star Link 2.”
As she pondered, Natsune lowered her head, her gaze falling on the ring she had worn for a long time on her ring finger.
The silver ring glimmered in the sunlight, shining like a brilliant star.
She stared at it for a moment before slowly taking it off.
Gently twisting, it fell away.
To avoid drawing unnecessary attention with this wedding ring, Natsune had no choice but to remove it—
[Master, I just realized that taking off your wedding ring is quite alluring.]
Hearing this, Natsune couldn’t help but pause.
[The way you’re doing it, it looks like you’re preparing for an affair in Hawaii with unfulfilled desires—]
Unable to bear it, Tsuihen Naki quickly swiped across the surface of her earpiece, switching to another communication channel.
The next moment, a blast of sound mixed with electromagnetic interference instantly flooded her ears, like metal grinding fiercely against the ground, and distant sounds of people screaming and buildings collapsing could be faintly heard.
On the other end of the earpiece was Kane, located in a war-torn region of the Middle East.
“Miss Honor Student, is there something wrong?” Kane’s voice finally cut through the noise, maintaining his usual nonchalant tone: “Are you alright over there? Has the information submitted to the academy caused any issue?”
“The documentation is fine; Erika and I have passed the preliminary review and received our enrollment letters.” Natsune calmly responded and then turned the question around, “How are things on your end?”
“Still in progress. We just broke into a research facility we tracked down not long ago—” On the other end, Kane seemed to change position, a sound of a gun being cocked could be heard.
“However, to be honest, doesn’t your friend seem a bit too exaggerated…”
Middle East.
A gigantic tentacle covered in black scales erupted from the ground, blocking out the sun as it slapped against the stronghold Kane’s team was about to attack, sweeping away the surface defenses as if they were garbage—
This was Natsune’s second task for Kane’s team, to investigate and dismantle all setups concerning “ability user corpses” research in their area. There was undoubtedly some secret behind this technology, and she needed Kane’s actions to stir the presence behind it. Additionally, to prevent Kane’s firepower from being insufficient, she had lent them a fantasy monster resembling a giant octopus.
After all, its commotion was too grand, not discreet enough, making it suitable for Kane and his group who needed to create a ruckus.
“So far, two research bases on ability user corpses have been located. At the first one, we rescued quite a few who were treated as test subjects. We’re now pushing into the second base, while one more is lurking deeper, and I’m still tracking their communication frequencies.”
“Haven’t the masterminds shown themselves yet?”
“Not yet, but I have a hunch that we might uncover some clues this time.”
“Okay, report to me at the first opportunity if there’s any progress.”
“Sure, Honor Student, you just focus on studying. Big Brother is starting work now—”
“Alright, got it. Bye, Uncle.”
“U-Uncle!?”
Natsune gently removed her earpiece and ended the call.
Her gaze returned to the boarding area ahead—the crowd had begun to move.
“Let’s go, Erika.”
“Okay!”
The port’s announcement was continuously looping the boarding instructions in both Chinese and English.
People formed an orderly line, sequentially going through identity verification and luggage checks, preparing to board the silver cruise ship heading to the artificial island.
“What a huge ship…” Erika stood beside Natsune, quietly marveling.
Natsune couldn’t help but look up at the ship that was about to set sail.
Under the sunlight, the ship’s silver nameplate read:
Seiya Academy Offshore Research Vessel – No. 09
Natsune was about to retract her gaze when suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure in the far-off crowd.
It was an elderly man wearing a deep blue academy jacket, old enough to be her grandfather, with neatly combed white hair and gentle eyes behind silver-framed glasses.
He was smiling and greeting some new students, his tone as warm as a librarian’s.
Natsune glanced at him only once before returning her gaze elsewhere.
Because he was her target for this trip—the person from her memory that possessed the “fragmented list.”
She had to reclaim the fragments of his soul before the sole instance arrived and discovered the truth of this world line.
