Chapter 17:
Mind Reader's
I managed to arrive at the center at the city without any problems at all. The streets were filled to the brim with people coming back from work, going to restaurants and people simply enjoying the night life to their hearts content.
I felt out of breath, not because I was worn out, but because I was desperate to get to them before anything bad could happen to them.
I pulled out my phone and quickly did a search on the research facilities around Tokyo, upon doing so, I couldn't help but feel like it was going to be an impossible mission to accomplish.
They were all spread out and to top it all off, I was only looking at the ones in Tokyo, not the entirety of Japan itself "This is going to be tough"
The fact alone that they were spread out made it that much more difficult for me to be able to pinpoint a certain location to search in first.
"If I search in the wrong place, I'll just lose precious time" I bit my lips and couldn't help but curse at my own weakness "I need to do something"
Just as the thought crossed my mind, an idea popped into my head. I knew that if I followed through with the idea I was giving myself, I would simply hurt myself even more, but I was desperate... I wanted to find them and get out of the situation they were in at all costs.
"Here goes nothing!"
I took in a deep breath and activated the Sub-power I was given. Upon doing so, the range was only to those around me, but that wasn't going to be enough.
"I need to try even harder now!" I expanded the range to fifteen miles and the voices started flooding my mind. This was my limit and I knew that it was, but even this distance alone wouldn't help me in finding them.
"Let's hope my brain can take all of this..." After a few seconds of doubting myself, I went all in. I expanded the distance all the way to a hundred miles and the feeling of doing so was that of something short circuiting.
The voices took control of my mind, it was almost as if I was in a mash pit with loud music and loud voices all around me.
My legs were trembling, shivers were running back and forth throughout my entire body, but even then, I continued focusing on the voices.
"Where are you both? Tell me!"
Every time I focused on the voices, I could feel my brain giving out and before I knew it, the repercussions of the information overload were kicking in.
I fell to my knees and started vomiting. All the food I had consumed in the day was gone, following that, the stomach acids and before I knew it, blood was coming out of my mouth.
To top it off, I couldn't feel my legs nor arms anymore and following suit was a bloody nose. I tried to call out to people to help me out but everything was a blur, then I started hallucinating for whatever reason.
"It's almost as if... My brain doesn't know what's happening"
The effects kept on appearing one after another and I felt like I was going to die in any moment "Who would've thought that I'd do something so reckless for someone I barely even know..."
Sure enough, I was pushing my body to the limit to save not only Hatomi but Asami-san as well. Two people I didn't even know until a few days ago.
"This is ludicrous... If it were Chitose and Tetsuya, it would make sense... But why am I going through so many problems just for the both of them?"
For Asami-san I knew that it was because I wanted to help her since she didn't speak about us to any of her colleagues even though she knew that we were 'Special'.
For Hatomi, who was the person with who I had interacted with the most between the two of them was the one person I didn't know why I was going through all the trouble of killing myself.
She was always serious. She always invaded my thoughts without asking my permission. She would say whatever was on her mind without a care in the world.
Comparing her to Chitose, the both of them were complete polar opposites, but even thought that was the case, I felt like there was something I felt for Hatomi that Chitose wouldn't be able to accomplish.
"The way Hatomi smiles, the way she laughs... The expression she makes when she's embarrassed. She's strong, beautiful and to top it all off, she understands me and helps me out whenever I'm in the need of help"
I could feel my consciousness start fading and I knew that it was going to be the last seconds before my death but even then, the image of Hatomi alone was the one thing that allowed me to grip onto the last of my strength.
"I'm not going to die like this...! I need to find out what this feeling is!"
I quickly started reading through the people's thoughts and as I did so, a single voice spoke out... One I was already used to hearing every single passing day.
"If somehow you're reading my thoughts right now, Natsuo. We're in the research facility where we came for our school trip"
"We're both safe and are located in the basement separate from the one that has the test subjects. Once you're near us, I'll try to connect with you and start passing you information from here"
"We'll be waiting for your arrival... "
Just like that, I cancelled the power and tried to get up from where I was kneeling, but my knees were still unresponsive to me.
"Move! I need to get to them!"
Even though I tried to move myself once more, they weren't responding. I clicked my tongue and noticed a taxi dropping someone off.
"Excuse me?!"
"Hmm?"
The taxi driver looked over at me and I felt like that was the only chance I would get to reach my destination "Could you take me to the AMO Research Facility, please?!"
"Sure, get on"
"The thing is..." I looked down at myself and chuckled "My legs have given out on me..."
"Let me help you"
The man who was getting off helped me up and seated me inside the taxi. I bowed at the man and thanked him "Thank you very much"
"No worries"
With those words, he headed onto the street and the driver started taking me towards the research facility without asking me anything.
I tried to move my legs from time to time and the feeling was coming back, but even then, I feared that I wouldn't be able to do anything when it really mattered.
"Come on, move!"
I started hitting my legs to see if they would react, but nothing. I could feel the man's gaze piercing me through the mirror, but I didn't care. Not now.
"I need to save them!"
I continued doing so for a bit more, but they continued being unresponsive. Just like that, I could feel tears rolling down the side of my face.
"I need to save them..." "I need to get there..."
"Sir?"
"I don't want to lose them... I don't want to lose Hatomi..."
"..."
The tears wouldn't stop. They continued flowing down like a river. One that wouldn't stop even if you blocked it off.
"Hold on tight!"
"H-Huh?"
Before I knew it, he did a somewhat dangerous turn and started stepping on the pedal. The area he was taking me through was completely alone with only a few cars in sight.
"I'll get you there as quickly as possible!"
"..."
I couldn't believe it. A man I didn't even know was going through the trouble of helping a hopeless person such as myself. Seeing this, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"I appreciate it!"
Normally an hour ride became a forty-five minute ride and once we were near the premises, I paid the man and just when I was about to start getting off, he called out to me.
"Boy!"
"Yes?"
"Make sure you tell that girl you're feelings!"
"..." I stared at his face for a bit and nodded "I will!"
I got of the taxi and started making my way towards the research facilities premises all the while being mindful of my surroundings.
"That boy really has some strong feelings for whoever that girl is... But even he doesn't seem to know what his mind wants from him"
I let out a sigh and started my drive back to the city "That boys unconsciousness was all jumbled up with different feelings... It's the first time I've seen such a mind and soul like that"
"Ever since this ability popped up, I've been looking for someone who would look determined to do something and also see someone determined mentally"
"That boy fits the bill perfectly... I'm glad that I got to see someone with such a kind and strong soul before my time comes to an end..."
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