Misaka Mikoto was running down the streets.
She was not in the playing field, but on the crowded streets. Not only was there no prohibition for them to get on the road, there was no clearing of the roads.
Even so, Mikoto was in a match right now. Looking around, there were also several people running about on the trails nearby. The spectators were allowed to walk anywhere—in fact, this was the only competition where the spectators were required to be involved.
Scavenger Hunt.
The competitive area was Districts 7, 8, and 9 of Academy City. Of course, the competitors weren't allowed to use any forms of transportation like buses or subway trains. They started out from the starting point, and had to look for a specified item before going back to the starting point. It really felt like a marathon made much more complicated. What was different was that there was no fixed route, as the competitors had to think of the shortest route. This kind of brain training was very important, and was different from thinking at the table. Running around like that would tire a person physically. Like the wide area of the competitive zone, this competition was famous for the high difficulty in finding something.
(Peh, this is where Kuroko would excel with her teleportation ability! Really, it'd be much easier if they would just gather everyone in Academy City over here!)
Mikoto's ability was powerful, but it was not useful when it had nothing to do with combat. For the sake of ordinary people, the board of directors of Academy City had decreed that any powers that were 'Level 5' were forbidden. With her ability, it'd exceed no matter how she adjusted her power.
Mikoto passed the water stand, and continued to run without noticing the isotonic drinks. In a long distance marathon, too much water content would slow her down.
She again opened the slip of paper.
She reconfirmed the name of the designated item that was required.
(Looks like I have to do something troublesome… Ah!!)
As she ran through the crowd, she spotted the 'item' in front of her.
The conditions were,
"When a third-party person has a designated good, you have to get the person's permission and get that person to follow you back to the starting area."
(Watch me!!)
Mikoto kicked her shoes, made of highly reactive material, onto the ground, as she dashed into the crowd.
Kamijou placed his hand on Index's shoulder, who was sighing as she saw the 'no access' sign.
"Alright Index, we'll only smell the food if we continue to stay here. Didn't the guidebook say that there are other hawker stores? We'll look for others."
"Uuuuuuu, it's just right in front of me; why can't I get it!?"
Index gave a poetic cry. Although the Anti-Skill member who set up the 'no access' sign looked sorry, rules were rules.
"To…Touma, where's the nearest 'store' now?"
"Hm? Let me see...it should be here, right?"
Kamijou flipped through the guidebook.
"Walk west for 3km. Hey, isn't that the same place as the underground entrance we need to go through to get across?"
"...Uuu...waaahhh!"
"Mm, however, if I go here, I won't be able to get to my next match in time. The bus route...aiya, doesn't seem like they'll reach her during the parade. Can't be helped, Index. You'll have to endure till the end of the Roll the Ball match."
"...(Angry!)"
"Eh? Wait a minute! Why are you angry at me!? The location of the hawker stores and the bus routes have got nothing to do with me!?"
Index, who didn't hear anything, opened up her cute mouth like a beast, and leapt forward. It was so fast that even the Anti-Skill nee-san was unable to react in time. Am I going to be eaten!? Kamijou covered his head with his hands.
His body started to move fast.
Index's teeth missed their target.
Eh? The girl gave a puzzled look. It was supposed to be a guaranteed 100% strike every time she leapt and bit someone's head.
However, there was a reason why she had missed.
Because Misaka Mikoto, who had ran in from the right, grabbed Kamijou's collar and ran to the left.
"Great! I got my winning condition! WAHAHAHA!!"
"Wai…wait a mi… this is unbearable! At...at least explain why..."
In front of Index, who was stunned, the two vanished into the crowd. Seeing the nun sitting on the floor lifelessly, the Anti-Skill nee-san couldn't help it but give some biscuit-like rations to her.