While filled with anger, Mikoto walked quickly through the underground mall with her arms folded.
Her Tokiwadai Middle School uniform still made her stand out enough that the other students passing by would glance over at her. She normally did not mind, but for some reason, she was feeling more and more irritable today.
(And after he promised me he would go through with the punishment game. That bastard…)
She was silently muttering to herself.
The very fact that this pissed her off so much displeased Mikoto. She did not like how heavily her feelings were weighted in his direction no matter what emotion it happened to be.
Even as she left that area (or rather, that boy), she kept glancing back over her shoulder. She simply was not able to rationally go over her thoughts.
(…He was relieved.)
She lightly kicked the floor of the underground mall without thinking.
She then sighed.
(Of course he was. This is all because of a simple punishment game. I still can't believe he forgot about it after being the one to suggest it in the first place, though. But I guess when you're being dragged around against your will, it's only natural to want to be freed from it as soon as possible.)
After the fact, she felt like a complete imbecile for having gotten so excited about it on her own.
Mikoto's gaze dropped to the small paper bag from the phone company. She looked at the small frog mascot that's head was poking out of the bag.
(It's only natural, but…)
She felt a strong feeling of having been left behind.
Mikoto saw her pouting face reflected in one of the shiny polished pillars of the underground mall. That was all it took to make her want to slap her own face.
(It's not like that idiot's actions were against the rules of the punishment game. There is nothing particularly wrong with her clinging to his side. So what was I doing? Now that I've calmed down, that seems like a pretty childish reaction.)
She was getting sick of the entire idea of a punishment game.
If she had known she would end up feeling like this, she would never have made the bet during the Daihaseisai. She felt like she had lost in everything that had to do with it. Not only that, she felt everyone around her had lost thanks to it as well.
She wanted to just sit in the corner of her room with her arms around her knees.
But she also wanted something right then and there to relieve her stress.
Was there nothing that would do that?
(…)
She glanced around and the only recreational store she saw was an arcade. A game called Skill Attack that was well known for being incredibly difficult was set up at the front of the store. Basically, the player used their power against a mitt-shaped "target" that was built to be shock absorbent. The machine used a psychic power measurement device to output a number representing the strength of the player's power. It was a type of stress relief machine.
Mikoto unsteadily walked over to it. Once the Western sweets shop next to the arcade was completely out of sight, just how irritated she was became very, very clear.
There was no semblance of femininity left in her.
She inserted a few 100 yen coins.
The "target" portion was designed like a sign. A pillar made of a steel pipe had a square batter's mitt made of a polyurethane-like material attached. The target appeared much shinier and newer than the rest of the machine, so it was probably disposable. It may have been changed out every other day.
(I doubt it can stand up to a Level 5.)
Mikoto sighed.
This type of machine was generally advertised as being able to withstand anyone up through Level 4, but the general etiquette was to keep it down to no higher than Level 3.
(Honestly, I even have to hold back when relieving stress…)
While complaining under her breath, Mikoto glanced over at the small warning note.
It said, "The latest versions will be created based on the powers used on this one. Please help us gather actual data with the eventual goal of allowing even Level 5 use!"
"…"
Mikoto froze in place.
A large grin then appeared on her face as if the stress in her body was gushing out.
An eerie sparking noise came from her silky bangs.
Misaka Mikoto took in a deep, deep breath.
And then she helped them gather some data.
She went pretty much all out.
"That damn idiot!! What! Does! He! Think! A! Promise! Is!? And after I worked so hard checking the scores after every event during the Daihaseisai!!"
With a great crackling roar, the arcade machine using a power measurement device rocked back and forth. It was built to withstand a fair amount of shock, but this had been enough to rip up the earthquake-resistant bolts holding the machine to the ground. It began letting out a silly-sounding alarm. The gentle atmosphere of the underground mall underwent a sudden change. The students walking around began yelling "Ugyahh!?", "Wh-what was that!?", and "Wait, wait up!!" as they began running away.
After venting all of her feelings at the machine, Mikoto panted with her shoulders moving up and down.
"Dingaling♪" came a small electronic tone.
She looked over and found she had made a new high score.
"…How pointless," muttered Mikoto. "…"
She moved away from the large machine and headed back the way she had come.
Getting angry all on her own accomplished nothing. She decided to admit she had been acting childish and apologize. He had done nothing wrong in giving that Sister a present. She was a bit worried she would be unable to make herself lower her head to that idiot, but she took a deep breath and decided to at least try to be mature.
But a punishment was a punishment.
He was much mistaken if he thought she was going to let her victory from the Daihaseisai end here.
At any rate, Mikoto wanted to speak with him again, so she picked up her pace.