Academy City was engulfed in the sunset.
The buildings of the School Garden had white walls, and the atmosphere would change according to the color of the sky. The last bus was about to arrive soon, and the girls from 5 different schools, wearing their own set of uniforms, were heading towards the bus terminal. Like Shirai and Mikoto, their dormitories were outside the School Garden.
Though the school never decreed that the students had to take the public bus, these girls who were so pampered and isolated that they had a sense of fear against Academy City. Among them, there were also people who had never stepped anywhere else beside the dormitory, the bus, or the School Garden.
Among the noisy crowd that was heading home, Shirai and Mikoto were leisurely walking back.
They were not doing this voluntarily however, as they were unable to hasten their pace. The dried and shriveled bags in their hands swung around lifelessly.
"You…how many times must I tell you…I'm talking about changing before and after PE lessons…it…it has nothing to do…to do with someone I like…nothing at all…"
"I…I must reemphasi…undressing yourself in front of men…is a little too early…"
"RAHHHH—! IT'S SO HARD TO TALK TO SOME PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO BUY SLEAZY AND REVEALING UNDERWEAR!!"
"SLEAZY…REVEALING!? O–ONEE-SAMA'S TRYING TO ACT CUTE BY WEARING SUCH CHILDISH ONES! AS A FELLOW FEMALE, I CANNOT AGREE TO THAT!!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
"WHAT?"
Mikoto and Shirai continued to quarrel, but after quarrelling for so long, they were overwhelmed by their own fatigue. The duo finally sighed and relaxed.
They didn't take the bus back, so they weren't mindful about the timing of the last bus. From the corner of her eyes, Shirai saw a shop closing as the students were heading home, and said,
"Oh yeah, Onee-sama, we can argue about the truth later, where are we going right now? We spent too much time arguing. I originally intended for us to go somewhere to eat after we bought our stuff."
"That's right, we can settle this misunderstanding later. Isn't it too late today? Especially since the shops in the School Garden close very early."
"Ugh, but once we exit the School Garden, there are many shops that will be open at this time. Maybe we can go and order a dessert set from 'Black-honey Hall'…"
"Ahhh, Kuroko, you normally can't resist the temptation. No wonder some parts of your body are so…ugh!"
As Mikoto ridiculed Shirai, halfway she could feel a tremendous killing aura.
Shirai, who was beside her, lowered her head, hiding her expression, her mouth muttering something.
"Kuro…Kuroko…I originally intend to add on 'It's alright to eat more as long as you exercise enough, however'…"
"Onee-sama, you're really fond of saying such words that hurts a young girl's heart. I might end up using 'teleportation' to remove your clothes in broad daylight, no?"
Shirai squirmed as she said this. Her esper power was practically the worst enemy to all the girls. As long as her hand touched it, no matter whether it was a skirt or underwear, it could be teleported somewhere else. In other words, whether Mikoto would end up fully or half-naked would depended on her.
Facing this impending danger, Mikoto couldn't help but tremble in fear. Luckily, a phone rang, resolving the tense situation.
On hearing it, Mikoto knew that it was not hers.
"Kuroko…why do you always like to use such powerful multi-function phones that are impractical? Is there any significance in increasing the number of chords?"
"Heheheh, not only that. This phone has many disadvantages such as being small, easy to lose, hard to press buttons and a blurry screen."
Shirai weakly laughed as she pulled out the phone.
Her phone's design was completely different; it was a 1cm diameter, 5cm long cylinder that looked like lipstick. She pressed the top button, stopping the ringing, and from the side, pulled out a thin transparent paper-like substance. This was the 'main body' of the phone.
"Looks so sci-fi, yet so hard to use. Looks really deceptive."
"No need to worry about me, Onee-sama, I love to blindly pursue the latest technology. Someday, I want to ride in a transparent tube tram…ah, excuse me."
Shirai turned her back on Mikoto, stared at the screen, and placed the phone on her ear.
The caller was registered inside her phonebook.
On the screen was the liaison office of Academy City's security forces, Judgment.
Judgment was like the police, it was responsible for handling cases that were caused by misuse of esper powers. Shirai was one of them as well.
"Shirai here. I finally get to go shopping with Onee-sama, and the atmosphere's rather good. Is there really anything so important for you to bother me?"
"WA! Then am I holding Misaka-san's virginity? What a relief."
The other person on the phone was also a Judgment member. The voice sounded sweet, as if her mouth was stuffed with candy, but on hearing this, Shirai really wanted to cut the line.
"Shirai-san, there are some things happening right now that I can't handle as a newcomer, so if you're free, I'll like to ask for your suggestion as a sempai."
"Just 'if you're free'?"
"Yes."
"Do you know that I finally got my wish to go out with Onee-sama?"
"Yes, this timing is too good, I'm stunned myself. Seems like Heaven wants me to let out a cry of victory. Wahahaha!"
Shirai picked up the phone and gently tapped the microphone onto the wall of the shop beside her.
"UGWAA! My…my ears hurt! What's with that strange sound…"
"You say anything troublesome, I'll let you hear the sound of nails scratching on glass, okay?"
"Any–Anyway, please get to 177th division in 30 minutes. The situation now is getting worse."
The other person cut the call.
"Haiz…"
Shirai Kuroko kept her phone, looking guilty as she said to Misaka Mikoto,
"Sorry, Onee-sama. I don't know how to apologize to you. That Judgment gave me work to do without understanding the situation…"
"No problem, no problem. I'll send you off with a bright smile."
"…You're not even saying a single word of comfort, I really want to cry…alright then, I'm off. Take care, Onee-sama."
Shirai turned and headed toward the bus stop. In order to save time, she decided to take the last bus.
Walking halfway though, Mikoto suddenly said,
"Kuroko, I know that work is beyond your control, but I'll advise you to come back earlier. It might rain tonight."
"Ah, I forgot to check the weather report, didn't know about that. Thanks for reminding me, Onee-sama. We'll meet back later at the dorm."
Shirai turned and bowed at Mikoto before turning back and running to the bus stop. Behind her, Mikoto's footsteps were getting softer and further, finally unable to be heard.
Shirai was somewhat mindful about the weather, so she looked up at the evening sky. There was no sign of rain coming anytime soon.
(Eh…?)
Suddenly, Shirai felt that what Mikoto had said just now didn't feel right.
It might rain tonight.
These words may seem normal, but this was Academy City. It had three sets of satellites, and one of them was the Tree Diagram, which had perfect simulation capabilities. In other words, the residents of Academy City wouldn't use the word 'maybe' to describe the weather.
(If so, Onee-sama…)
Though Mikoto's words made Shirai unsettled, Shirai decided to continue on with the job at hand. The last bus would leave in ten minutes. Shirai held onto her dry and crumpled bag tightly as she dashed toward the destination which she could not see. Unknowingly, the minor doubt in Shirai's heart vanished completely.