Kamijou Touma finally got back to where he had been denied access. There was no sign of Index, the 'no access' sign had been removed, and the Anti-Skill nee-san wasn't around.
Though Tsuchimikado had said,
"Although finding Lidvia and Oriana is important, it's also important that Index doesn't find out about what's happening in Academy City, Kami-yan. We'll take care of the safety of Academy City and see whether there's any trace of magic, while you'll meet Index regularly to keep her busy. Otherwise, if she finds something fishy with our actions, she'll rush to the center of this incident."
According to how things were going now, he couldn't do a thing.
(There's no one I can ask regarding Index's whereabouts, and there aren't any clues either. Her zero-yen phone has no power, so it's impossible to contact her...no way, don't tell me she got lost?)
To Kamijou, who was used to life in Academy City, this didn't seem like anything. But if Stiyl were to know that Index was missing, he'd probably say, "I understand; go die now," and attack him indiscriminately.
(Hm. Of all these places, where would Index go...)
Kamijou looked around, suddenly fixating his eyes in front. Opposite the road was a group of students manning many food stores.
"No...no way? Don't tell me she can't handle her empty stomach and decided to rush all the way over without having any money? If that's the case, a corner may be blown off by the 'rampage of a hungry girl'...!!"
Kamijou's expression was greenish now. His right hand had the 'Imagine Breaker' ability'. No matter whether it was esper powers, magic or even miracles, he just needed to touch these with his right hand in order to negate them. But facing that girl who bites onto others, he was just a powerless Level 0.
Even so, he had to stop her with this hand of his.
Kamijou decided to walk towards the stalls.
Suddenly, somebody tapped him on the shoulder.
Turning around, Himegami Aisa, who was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, and Tsuchimikado Maika, who was sitting on a cleaning robot and selling bentos, were staring at him. Himegami was having a conversation with Maika.
"Up till now, you looked like you're about to face a demon king. Why put on a brave warrior look?"
"Why do you look so dead? Are you hungry? Do you need a bento?"
Kamijou, who was intending to head out to battle, was shaken by the duo's smooth voices.
"I say. That's because I left Index, who was hungry, behind, and couldn't find her when I got back. The nearest source of food is at those stalls. I'm thinking whether that girl is creating a riot down there...!!"
Hearing his tearful complaints, both of them were stunned.
"That nun, I just saw her down there."
Himegami pointed in a direction completely different from where the stalls were.
"Seems like she was pulled aside by that famous miniature-sized teacher in Kamijou Touma's school."
Maika was still sitting on the robot as she tilted her head up, recalling as she said,
"??? She was dragged forcefully...that's impossible. Komoe-sensei knows Index. What's the deal? Is she going to introduce Academy City to her? Never mind about that. Anyway, thanks girls; I'll find them on my own."
After Kamijou finished speaking and headed towards where Himegami pointed, Tsuchimikado Maika gave a long 'Do your best!!', while Himegami remained silent.
(Hm...since when did Himegami and Maika became such good friends? Ah, did she get to know Maika when Maika came over during the summer holidays?)
He thought as he walked along the road. The pedestrians on the streets were admiring the wind turbine rotor blades that generated electricity. The scene did give a fresh feeling.
Suddenly, a cat's 'meow' mewing could be heard.
One would know just by hearing the sound—it was the cry of a calico cat.
"Index?"
Kamijou stopped and turned around to the direction where the cry had come from. It was a little park that was surrounded by buildings. The wired fence was a lot taller than usual, and it looked like it was rejecting and oppressing anything within a large radius. It was hard to see anything if one looked in from outside the entrance because the lush foliage of trees blocked the line of sight.
Kamijou thought, it couldn't be helped.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't a park. There was a sign hung on the wired fence, saying 'Property of Tadayama University Botanical Department.' It was a place where they collected data on plant growth. Even during Daihaseisai, where the security was much tighter, nobody was patrolling around here. Though the place was open to the public, it didn't mean that anyone should go in.
The familiar calico cat stuck its head out. After seeing Kamijou's face, it hid back into the bushes.
(Only the calico cat...? No, Index won't let go of that cat so easily. In other words, she's inside? Hm, if they're growing apples inside, maybe Index just went in unknowingly.)
Thinking like this made Kamijou go berserk, and he thought that he should check it out. He carefully avoided the branches blocking his way as he entered.
"Index? Are you there? Shout out if you hear me—"
He continued forward, widening his eyes when he saw what was in front of him.
Index was right in front of him.
But why was she changing?
"........................"
Kamijou and Index stopped what they were doing.
Komoe-sensei, who was wearing the cheerleader uniform, was facing Index, and her back was facing Kamijou, so she had no idea that he was there.
Kamijou thought — strange.
In his memory, the last time he had seen Index, she was wearing a white nun's habit with gold embroidery that was like a teacup. For some reason however, her robes were folded neatly on the floor. Also, why were there similar colored undergarments stacked on her robes?
And why was she wearing a cheerleader uniform, a white sleeveless vest and a light green short skirt that was similar to what Komoe-sensei was wearing?
However, Index had only gotten an arm halfway in, as the slanted tail of the vest was covering Index's small breasts. The most surprising thing was that Komoe-sensei was at Index's feet, helping her put on a pair of underwear that was used for cheerleading (it should be the same type as those worn with tennis skirts), and Kamijou just so happened to witness all of this.
Index had already pulled her underwear through one leg, and was about to let it through her other leg, as she maintained this posture, not moving at all.
Of course, in this situation, a skirt wouldn't be able to fulfill its usual purpose. Furthermore, the attire of a cheerleader didn't have a 'cover' function.
Let me repeat again, Index's nun's habit were folded and stacked neatly on the floor.
There was similar colored underwear placed on top of it.
Komoe-sensei was helping Index put on some underwear. If her head hadn't been blocking Kamijou's field of vision, he would have seen something that he wouldn't forget easily.
"...ah...ah..."
Her facial expression went from shock to 'I'm going to kill that guy.' Kamijou was absolutely terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat, and was unable to move. Komoe-sensei, who was wearing the cheerleader's uniform, was talking to Index casually, not knowing what was going on.
"I'm so sorry. Only students are allowed in the schools' proper changing rooms. I'm sorry to ask you to change here...eh, ya!?"
Index wasn't listening at all. The underwear still hanging on her thigh, Index rushed madly onto Kamijou.
"TOUMA!? HOW MANY TIMES HAS IT BEEN!?"
"WAHHH! I'M REALLY SORRY! PLEASE DON'T BITE ME AGAIN!!"
Kamijou twisted his body, wanting to dodge Index's 'bite the head' attack. Index, who had leaped over, pounced onto Kamijou with two hands and stuck tightly onto his body. She was unable to aim at his head however, as her target started to move suddenly.
Chomp! Index's small mouth bit onto Kamijou's face.
"WAA...!!"
Kamijou could feel the soft texture of her lips, as well as her hard jagged teeth. That warm thing between the two rows of teeth should be her tongue. The breath warmer than Kamijou's body temperature blew onto his face. Feeling Index's saliva, Kamijou couldn't help but tremble.
"...WA, Index!!"
"..."
Kamijou, whose face was all red now, shouted out, but was unable to hear Index's reply.
Shua!! Index got away from Kamijou in a fast yet silent manner. Normally, Index would be shouting, but this time, she silently kept her head down, her facial expression could not be seen as even her ears were red. He wondered if she was having any special thoughts about biting others subconsciously? She seemed to have taken a huge blow, not even noticing that her attire was untidy.
Kamijou looked at Komoe-sensei. She just placed her two hands on her face, giving a vague "Wa...aaaaa..." sound, which didn't sound reliable at all.
"It's...it's not, that, Index-hime? It's alright, this is an accident! An accident! This is unexpected! Please don't be so serious...eh, WA! Wait a minute, Index, why are you flushed red with anger now? You were shy all over just now! Don't tell me I said something inappropriate!?"
Seeing the cheerleader girl trembling silently, Kamijou took one step back, two steps. Just when he was about to take a third step.
"—Kamijou."
A woman's cold tone pierced through his back.
Kamijou paid attention to Index carefully as he nervously turned around.
Fukiyose Seiri.
Wearing a thin committee jacket over her sports attire, she said,
"I'm here to look for Tsukuyomi-sensei for some administrative work, and came over to check it out because I heard voices...you're here again?"
She looked at Kamijou together with Index, who was half naked and was trembling slightly, and then at Komoe-sensei, who was flushed red now, then the neatly stacked clothes and underwear, and finally at Index—or more accurately, the underwear hanging on her thigh.
"WHY ARE YOU STANDING AROUND HERE!? YOU SCHOOL REBEL!? GO CHEER FOR EVERYONE!!"
Taking a hard punch that didn't have any powers in it, Kamijou Touma flew out, rolling on the ground.