Bringing up the rear of the group, the bun-girl unconsciously slowed her pace.
Natsume Sonoko lifted a hand to smooth her bangs, her eyes wide and fixed on Shirai-san just five steps ahead.
For the past twenty seconds, a grating noise had been coming from Shirai-san's wheelchair, like loose parts rattling.
But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the sound of Shirai-san grinding her teeth.
She had no idea when Shirai had picked up this habit, and it was honestly giving her a bit of a headache.
'Orbit Portal Company.' was a company that manufactured all sorts of aerospace equipment. The 'Orion,' which had crashed three years ago, was one of their projects.
That incident had pushed the company to the brink of bankruptcy, after which it was acquired by its current, young female president.
If this was three years ago, that president would have only been seven years old at the time.
Before she knew it, they had arrived in District 23, just a few kilometers from the headquarters of the renowned aviation giant, Kongou Aviation.
Similarly, the office building of that 'Orbit Portal Company.' was just across the street. In the distance, she could see Misaka-senpai and the others.
It seemed Shirai had witnessed Misaka-senpai chatting very happily with someone, and the conversation was only getting more animated.
The sound of teeth grinding next to Natsume became sharper and more distinct.
Suddenly, the wheelchair that Saten-san had been pushing vanished, and along with it, a certain teleporter disappeared, drawing startled glances from those around them.
"Shirai-san, that's not fair! Going on ahead by yourself!"
Saten-san's face, which had been lit with the joy of soon meeting her idol, now showed excitement as she realized the chestnut-haired, twin-tailed girl had vanished.
Though Saten-san's goals were different from Shirai-san's, it seemed everyone was in a bit of a hurry.
"Natsume-san, what's Arisa like?" Uiharu asked, turning back to the bun-girl with a curious expression after watching Saten's hurried back.
"How should I put it... I think she's an optimistic girl who loves to sing. Oh, and she's very hardworking too," Natsume-san replied after a moment's thought.
She hadn't known Arisa for long, but she found her songs quite good and her personality rather likable. That's why Natsume-san was willing to be friends with her.
"Really? As expected of someone who can sing with a voice like that." Uiharu nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer.
In the plaza before the Orbit Portal Company building, reporters who had come for the event were streaming into the main hall area, busy setting up their filming equipment.
Suddenly, a wheelchair descended from the sky with a whoosh, scattering the fallen leaves around it. It wobbled a few times before landing right beside Misaka-senpai.
In an instant, a chestnut-haired, twin-tailed girl had flung herself onto Misaka-senpai, throwing her arms tightly around the Railgun's neck.
"To think Onee-sama wouldn't come to pick me up from the hospital... Kuroko is so sad," Shirai-san said, her voice laced with a faint, plaintive note of grievance.
She then turned her gaze towards Meigo-senpai, looking her up and down before fixing her with a fierce glare.
"Alright, alright, Kuroko. This time it really is my fault. I apologize." Misaka-senpai looked somewhat embarrassed as she forcefully extricated herself from Shirai's embrace and firmly planted her back in the wheelchair.
She never quite knew how to handle this kouhai's antics. While she could interpret them as expressions of friendship, the excessive enthusiasm was often a bit overwhelming.
"Misaka-senpai!"
Hearing voices from a distance, she turned to see Natsume-san and the others approaching.
After a meet-and-greet that felt almost like a fan meeting, Misaka-senpai introduced Saten-san and the others to Meigo Arisa.
Standing beside Meigo-senpai, Tsuzuri-sensei, wearing a security vest, also looked excited, apparently a fan of the singer Arisa as well.
In contrast, Komoe-sensei, who had accompanied them, maintained a strictly business-like demeanor, though her small stature nearly caused her to be overlooked.
"Natsume-san, long time no see!" Komoe-sensei's face brightened with genuine pleasure; she seemed quite fond of this particular student.
"Ah, Komoe-sensei, how has Senpai been lately?" Natsume-san asked, a note of concern in her voice as she remembered something.
She still remembered the senior she'd met before, the one she'd given several boxes of dango to.
"Since she transferred into my class, I've been teaching her properly. She's become quite a helpful assistant in the classroom now."
At this, a happy expression spread across Komoe-sensei's face.
Riding up the sightseeing elevator, they could see the magnificent space elevator in the distance through the glass.
"Meigo-senpai, aren't you nervous at all?" Saten Ruiko asked, taking a deep breath as she looked at the calm-faced Meigo Arisa beside her.
Though she wasn't the star of today's event, she seemed even more nervous than the star herself.
"Of course I'm nervous. It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but if everyone hadn't come with me, I'd probably still be pacing outside right now." Meigo-senpai replied in a soft voice, an apologetic smile on her face. She seemed no different from any ordinary girl.
"So even singers get nervous."
"Of course! Singers are just regular people too."
Shooting straight up to the 50th floor without so much as a sore back or aching legs—elevators really were one of humanity's most worry-saving inventions.
The group responsible for the contract was the Space Elevator Project Team of Orbit Portal Company., whose offices were on the 50th floor. Arisa needed to discuss the specific details and compensation with them.
According to Natsume Sonoko's estimation, the payment Meigo-senpai would receive for this was likely to be at least one million yen or more.
However, the contract signing promised to be a lengthy process.
Komoe-sensei and the others, acting as temporary guardians, had to stay by her side. The rest of the group found themselves somewhat aimlessly wandering around the vicinity.
Although this wasn't an open-access area, those already inside weren't restricted from looking around.
In a display room on the 50th floor, there were a few chairs. The bun-girl, who had no interest in touring, sat with her head down, engrossed in her phone.
In contrast, Uiharu, who had come along, curiously explored the exhibits.
As a dedicated phone zombie, Natsume-san much preferred surfing the net.
"Could you help me get that thing?"
Hearing a voice, the previously absorbed Natsume-san snapped back to attention. Lifting her head, she realized the person who had suddenly appeared beside her looked familiar.
"Huh? Get what?" Natsume-san asked, momentarily stunned, before responding to the other's request.
Following the direction of the pointed finger, she saw a place where an ancient-looking wooden bow was displayed.
"But that's part of the exhibit collection," Natsume-san started to say, but then she caught herself. She had pretty much figured out the other person's identity by now.
Not just this display room, but the entire building they were standing in belonged to this person's company.
Speaking of which, a building like this... based on the scholarship money Natsume-san received, she probably couldn't afford it in a hundred years.
"It's fine. No one will object," the voice continued.
The girl was about ten centimeters shorter than Natsume-san, about the same size as Komoe-sensei. For all she knew, both of them could be subjects of some immortality experiment.
Draped in a gothic-style red cloak with two oversized earrings dangling from her ears, she struck Natsume-san as incredibly chuunibyou, like a magical girl from some alternate universe.
Anyone in Academy City who dressed in bizarre outfits, Natsume-san thought, was probably suspicious.
Coupled with the fact that she looked like a delicate porcelain doll, the weirdness factor increased another notch.
"Alright."
Nodding, the ever-helpful Natsume-san took the wooden bow down from its display.
It felt unexpectedly well-balanced in her hands. Running her fingers over the patterns, it seemed like it had been used many times by someone.
While Natsume-san rarely handled things like bows and arrows, she often thought the seniors in the archery club looked really cool.
"Here you go."
She didn't feel any particular reluctance as she naturally handed the bow over. It was then she noticed the other girl's gaze seemed to have been fixed on her the entire time.
"Is there something on my face?" Natsume Sonoko asked, puzzled, as she instinctively touched her cheek. Every time she thought there was something on her face, there never actually was.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.