Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week-Chapter 404 - 402

July 22, Saturday.

The first day of summer vacation.

Before the vacation started, Aozawa had many plans and wanted to go to many places. But on the actual first day of the break, he decided to rest at home. Visiting scenic spots around the world or stirring up trouble outside—there would be plenty of time for those activities later. But the opportunity to rest at home on the first day of summer vacation—to lie there scrolling through his phone or chatting—was not something that would always be available. Once he graduated, there would be no more summer vacations. One could imagine just how precious the first day of summer break was.

The bright sunlight streamed through the glass door from outside, casting its rays onto Aozawa’s face as he lay in the corridor. Everything before his eyes turned a shade of blood-red.

So bright.

He exhaled and raised his hand to shield his eyes, allowing them to adjust to the brightness. He then took out his phone to check the time: two-thirty in the afternoon.

"Ah~"

Aozawa sat up and reached out to open the door to the courtyard. The summer heat instantly blasted his face; the wind felt as if it carried invisible flames, scorching his cheeks.

The chirping of cicadas in the trees grew louder.

"This is summer," he sighed.

He thought of the watermelon soaking in a bucket in the living room and got up to head there.

Aozawa didn’t like keeping watermelon in the refrigerator. He preferred to fill a bucket with cool water and soak the watermelon in it. There was no particular reason; he had simply convinced himself that watermelon tasted better this way.

He lifted the watermelon out of the cool bucket, then moved to the pass-through window and used his invisible Telekinesis to fetch a knife and a cutting board from the kitchen.

Although the Defense Barrier could extend further and perform similar feats, there was a fundamental difference between it and Telekinesis. Namely, Telekinesis could penetrate objects, whereas the Defense Barrier could not. In everyday life, Telekinesis was undoubtedly more convenient than the Defense Barrier.

He placed the cutting board on the table, positioned the watermelon, and cleaved it in half with one stroke.

Aozawa picked up one half and walked out to the corridor.

He turned the air conditioning down further to seventeen degrees Celsius, closed the door, and sat in a sunlit spot.

He opened his mouth and used Telekinesis to directly scoop a bite of watermelon into it. The crisp flesh crumbled under his teeth, releasing sweet watermelon juice.

Chewing the watermelon, Aozawa’s gaze swept over the green grass outside, the neighboring villa, and the azure sky adorned with floating white clouds. The leisurely feeling of the holiday radiated from him, and suddenly, he wanted to share it with someone.

Aozawa picked up his phone, took a picture of the watermelon in his hand, and sent it to Phoenix Academy Maggie and the others with the message: "The first bite of watermelon on vacation."

He used Telekinesis once more to scoop out another bite and waited for their replies.

...

Adults don’t have summer vacations.

Even under the scorching sun, when it was time to work, one still had to work. Work, when closely examined, can be divided into many types. There’s easy work, busy work, meaningful work, and even high-paying work that is utterly meaningless, among others.

To outsiders, Morimoto Chiyoda’s job likely seemed busy, meaningful, well-paid, and promising—a good job indeed. At twenty-six, she was an unprecedented female Police Director. She was responsible for the security at the Prime Minister’s summits and commanded thirty thousand police officers. The special task forces under her jurisdiction could handle almost any case, wielding incredibly broad authority.

But she herself did not enjoy it. Especially this task of safeguarding the Prime Minister’s summits, which was very troublesome. To her relief, that duty was ending today.

The Noah’s Ark project was mostly finalized. Each sponsoring nation held unique command authority within Noah’s Ark, with relevant areas managed by researchers from their respective countries. The research facility was not on the mainland United States but on an island in the Atlantic Ocean. Each nation could dispatch personnel to jointly guard the island’s research facility. Of course, the primary protection force was still the U.S. Army.

Other matters were also discussed. These included environmental protection, industry, and the seven nations’ usual agenda: addressing the declared threat from a certain Eastern Great Nation and the war between Russia and Ukraine. All these topics were under consideration. This series of events had broadened Morimoto Chiyoda’s horizons, but she would rather have forgone such exposure than deal with the immense workload.

She escorted the leaders of the seven nations into Yokota Base. She remained outside.

Morimoto Chiyoda looked up at the sunlight cascading from the sky and let out a long, relieved sigh. It’s finally over.

DING. Her phone chimed.

Morimoto Chiyoda pulled out her phone. It was a message from Aozawa. She opened it to see a picture: half a watermelon held in someone’s hand, with a sunlit, pale yellow floor gleaming in the background.

"The first bite of watermelon on vacation."

That kid really knows how to relax, Morimoto Chiyoda thought, a gentle warmth spreading in her eyes. She works hard out here precisely to protect this kind of leisurely life for him, to ensure Aozawa can relax not only now but for years to come. The more leisurely Aozawa is, the more it proves the value of her work here.

Seeing the Prime Minister hadn’t emerged yet, Morimoto Chiyoda quickly typed a reply: "Remember to save a bite for me."

The message quickly showed as "read."

"Don’t worry, I’ll save a mouthful for you tonight."

Morimoto Chiyoda sent back a "beat you up" emoji.

His response was a "making a face" emoji.

He’s clearly teasing me because he knows I can’t reach him through the screen, she thought with a smile. She didn’t pursue it and asked, "What are you having for lunch?"

"I haven’t eaten yet. I slept so soundly in the corridor that I only just woke up. I don’t feel like going out today. Let’s get pizza. What’s the delivery number?"

Morimoto Chiyoda copied the pizza place’s delivery number from her contacts and sent it to him.

"This is it."

"Chitose, today is the first day of summer break. What delicious thing are you planning to make to reward me?"

"I’ll make a feast for you tonight, you little glutton."

The police officer responsible for security suddenly noticed the usually stern-faced Police Director’s lips curl into a gentle smile. The sight almost made him forget to breathe.

Morimoto Chiyoda, sensing her subordinate’s gaze, quickly composed her expression. She glanced towards Yokota Base and typed, "Can’t talk now, I have to work."

"Okay," Aozawa replied.

Morimoto Chiyoda put her phone away. Just then, the gates of Yokota Base opened, and the Prime Minister and Jack emerged together.

"Morimoto, let’s go," the Prime Minister said.

"Mm," Morimoto Chiyoda acknowledged, but instead of joining the Prime Minister, she left with Jack.

Compared to the Prime Minister, whose term lasted only four years, Jack’s position was clearly more stable and his power greater.

Watching this, the Prime Minister’s hand tightened into a fist. Good heavens, they’re not even bothering to pretend anymore, he fumed internally. Sooner or later, I’ll make that woman understand what ’never underestimate a weakened Prime Minister’ truly means!

...

「In the deep mountains of Shimane Prefecture.」

Morimoto Chiyoda sat inside an Osprey Helicopter, gazing out the window at the scenery. A deserted road snaked through the dense forest, curving towards a mountain research institute. That was the Tsuhara Research Institute, where Superhuman Medicine was developed.

Sitting opposite her, Yuzuki Suzuko read from the documents in her hand, "According to the report by Tsukahara Hikoshiro, he analyzed high-concentration stimulants from Institute No. 47. He then mixed these into the Superhuman Medicine, naming the result Superhuman Potion X. It was tested on the first test subject."

"He’s not ’Test Subject Number One’; his name is Sunaga Takashi," Morimoto Chiyoda corrected her.

Yuzuki Suzuko nodded and amended her statement. "Sunaga Takashi’s physical condition has improved to a certain degree during his time at the institute, through the use of Superhuman Potion X. This improvement deviates from normal development, which indicates that Superhuman Potion X is taking effect."

Jack, stroking his chin, said, "Sunaga Takashi... I remember he once killed two CIA operatives with a knife. For someone like him, whose physical development should already be different from an ordinary person’s, is the potion truly effective?"

"According to data from the institute, Sunaga Takashi’s current physical development shows an increase of at least 0.3 times his previous state," Yuzuki Suzuko replied.

Jack frowned. "Only 0.3? This potion doesn’t meet our requirements at all."

Morimoto Chiyoda shook her head. "Not necessarily. A 0.3-times increase for someone with a combat strength of 1,500 is completely different from the same increase for someone with a combat strength of only 100. Don’t forget, Sunaga Takashi already possessed a very strong physique."

Jack’s frown deepened. "So, you’re saying Superhuman Potion X might primarily be used to strengthen existing Martial artists first?" This outcome doesn’t align with the higher-ups’ expectations, he thought. They want a way for ordinary people to gain superhuman strength. To put it bluntly, they want to make those in power extraordinarily strong.

"That’s the current assessment," Yuzuki Suzuko responded truthfully.

Jack sighed. We’ll have to take it one step at a time, then.

The Osprey Helicopter landed on the research institute’s helipad. The door opened, and a young-looking researcher wearing glasses stood waiting.

Jack jumped out. "No need for pleasantries. Take us directly to the site."

The researcher ignored Jack completely and instead approached Morimoto Chiyoda, his face alight with excitement. "Miss Morimoto! You’re here! I’m Yuji Anzai. Do you remember me?"

Jack’s expression faltered.

From behind, Yuzuki Suzuko quipped, "Director, it seems he’s not here to welcome you."

"I know," Jack said, laughing awkwardly. He recalled that the Takamagahara Project generally prioritized excluding sycophants. But pursuing someone of the opposite sex is a normal male desire, he mused.

"I don’t recall. Please lead the way," Morimoto Chiyoda said, her tone cool and businesslike.

This only made the researcher beam. "No problem! We can get reacquainted today!"

He turned and led them into the research institute, explaining excitedly, "Today, our institute has begun experiments not only on humans but also on clone humans! Did you know? Sunaga Takashi’s physical development has increased by 0.3 times compared to before! It’s an incredible achievement! To prepare Superhuman Potion X, my mentor and I specifically..."

The researcher launched into a barrage of complex, specialized terms that would leave anyone outside the field utterly bewildered.

Jack almost laughed. With that kind of talk, he thinks he can woo Morimoto? Pure wishful thinking.