Misaka Mikoto was in the spectator stands reserved for students.
Compared to ordinary spectator stands, there was not even a roof to block the sun. There was only a blue plastic sheet on the ground, no chairs at all. Mikoto sighed as she thought: this was like a banquet for them to enjoy watching the flowers. It was so primitive, yet it gave a wild sense of freshness.
Considering that she was going to participate in a match, observing Kamijou's match until the end would be somewhat dangerous. But she was really anxious, and before she knew it, she was already standing there.
There were no other students there wearing the standard Tokiwadai PE attire.
(Although he can't possibly beat our school...)
Mikoto sighed stealthily. Tokiwadai Middle School comprised of two Level 5s, forty-seven Level 4s, and the rest were all Level 3s; a strong school comprising of elites. Although they were ranked a rather humiliating 2nd in last year's Daihaseisai, last year's champion was a top 5 school, Nagatenjouki Academy. In the end, the ones really fighting for the championship were these 'top 5' schools. If the situation changed, it would only be a reshuffling in positions among these top 5 schools.
This should be something that every resident of Academy City knows, so why did that guy so recklessly bet on it? Mikoto was skeptical. But that idiot probably didn't have any special plan.
(But...)
If it was him, maybe an unexpected winner would be born.
He would disregard any objective views between Level 0s and Level 5s. Yes, just like how he beat the strongest Level 5 in Academy City with his right hand.
At that time, he gritted his teeth and stood up for her so many times.
(...)
Mikoto's mind temporarily went blank.
(Ahhh, this is so irritating, why am I so embarrassed all of a sudden!?)
Patapatapata!! She pulled out the board under her that she had been using as a seat, and hurriedly used it to fan her face that was flushed red. I'm lucky that my schoolmates aren't here, Mikoto thought as she looked around.
Then,
A nun with silver hair and green eyes was lying on the ground.
"!?"
Mikoto's shoulders jerked. This was the girl who was with that idiot ever since school started. Seemed like she was called Index — was that a nickname? It was hard to imagine anyone having that kind of name. Why was she here? Mikoto had a few questions, but she immediately realized that the girl should be here to cheer for the opponent.
The girl was holding onto a pair of chopsticks in her right hand and there was an empty bento box placed nearby. Seemed like it was the student bento that Tsuchimikado Maika was selling.
The girl, who was prostrating herself on the ground, slowly said,
"...I…I'm hungry..."
"Didn't you just finish the bento?"
Mikoto instinctively shouted back. She immediately thought that the reason why she was so listless was not because she was hungry, but because she got heatstroke, so she gave her a plastic bottle containing isotonic drink that was conveniently placed on the plastic sheet.
The girl immediately stood up. The moment she said "Tha…thank you." the bottle was empty, and her stomach was rumbling. After that, she became as listless as before.
"...Try…trying to use a drink to suppress my hunger may be a bit too much..."
"You're just hungry, aren't you..."
Mikoto placed her hand on her forehead and sighed.
A calico cat climbed out from the gap between the stomach of the girl, who was lying on the ground. It seemed to be saying, "Missy, on behalf of this girl, I'd like to say sorry for bothering you. Ah, I'm melting, my paws are burning. Hm?...What kind of strange feeling is this?" as it looked around uneasily.
Mikoto's ability was dubbed the railgun, as she could control and manipulate electricity. Even if she didn't move, there would be a weak electric field, so animals normally wouldn't like to approach her.
She looked at the lethargic nun that was dressed in white robes, and said,
"Oi, did you meet that guy today? Did you find anything strange about him?"
"Hm? That guy? Are you referring to Touma? Touma doesn't seem any different from usual."
You're with that guy all the time? Mikoto really wanted to snap at her, but decided to endure it. If that guy wasn't any different from usual, then was he not too bothered about winning and losing?
(So this means that our school should still win in the end…eh? If I win, what will happen?)
Mikoto thought, before shaking her head forcefully. The girl lying on the ground was slightly surprised upon seeing Mikoto act like this.
"Oi, short-hair."
"...Oi, you're too much. Is this how you treat someone who gave you a drink?"
"Oi, short-hair with a big belly."
"There isn't a girl who'd be happy upon hearing that!!"
Mikoto twitched her eyebrows as she said that. The nun, however, did not mind as she said,
"What's short-hair doing here?"
"What? Do–doing? No, I didn't..."
"Are you here to cheer for Touma?"
"Wha–what? Stu–stupid, what are you saying? Why should I cheer for that guy?"
The white nun did not press on any further as Mikoto continued to fan herself even harder.
At this moment, the school's speakers broadcast the signal that the competitors were coming in.
The first match was the 'Wrench Pole match'—this was a match where both sides were to set up 7m long poles. While defending their own pole, competitors had to push down the enemy's pole. This was what the competition involves.
The one presenting and explaining the rules was a first-year from high school, as his voice loudly blared through the speakers.
Although there were broadcasting crews from many different companies, it was still basically a school Olympics. The television commentators would be working in different rooms, so there didn't seem to be any major changes. However, just the fact that 'they would be shown on television' created a huge difference in the atmosphere and sense of being as compared to before.
Although in reality, while it was impossible to show all 1.8 million students, they would still be nervous.
Though the students were noisily chattering about, Mikoto inexplicably felt a sense of nervousness. In this moment, one could really feel that this was a formal activity being watched by the entire world.
"I…I'm hungry..."
The girl who was sprawling on the ground broke the tension in the air mercilessly. Mikoto saw that she was so pitiful, and pulled out some biscuit-shaped supplementary food (chocolate flavor) from her pocket. The lethargic girl could only raise her head and open her small mouth. Mikoto stuffed the food into Index's mouth, so all Index could do was eat them obediently.
(Never mind, those guys likely won't feel nervous...they might even skip this and pretend that they didn't know this match is about to occur.)
Mikoto looked like she was prompted by the broadcast to look to the school compound. The opponent that Kamijou's school was facing seemed to be some elite school that focused heavily on sports, as even their warm ups gave people a sense of professionalism. By moderating a suitable amount of nervousness into a motivated look, it seemed like they were focused on a real competition. They were gathered in their own classes, as each class was setting up their own poles. It would be disastrous if the opponent was serious, Mikoto thought, shaking her head as she looked at where Kamijou was. Just as the guide booklet showed, his school did not have any special characteristics, widely considered as a 'really ordinary school.'
But standing there…were the real warriors.
Eh? Mikoto couldn't help but wonder if she was seeing the wrong thing.
The entire group gave off an inexplicable sense of seriousness, nobody was playing around.
With Kamijou Touma as the center, they were lined up horizontally in one line. Forget calling it a Wrench Pole match, the intense atmosphere was like the prelude to a battle in the Sengoku Era. The poles that had been set up seemed to resemble a large spear held by a regiment. The tension was a whole lot different from the one the broadcasting companies brought. It felt like there was no one besides them and their enemies.
DONG KAKAKA! They were surrounded by some weird sound effects.
The sound was caused by the aftershocks caused by the power of the three units of espers colliding with each other, causing the air to vibrate.
(Eh...)
Seeing such an intense atmosphere, Mikoto shouted out.
(...What's with that sense of realization!? That guy, to think that he is able to display this kind of leadership capability at a time like this. Don–don't tell me that they're serious about winning!? What will that guy want if he wins?)
Actually, this was due to Komoe-sensei's story being spread across the entire school, but of course, Mikoto didn't know this.
In front of Mikoto, who was all pale green now, the announcement that the match was starting was made. Kamijou and company raised some dust into the air as they charged towards their opponents, who were scared upon seeing their display of momentum.