Flashback to five minutes earlier:
Fang Li was under scrutiny from all directions.
"Hey, isn't that...?"
"Yeah, that's him, right?"
"The super lucky guy who sits at the same table as Diva..."
"I know him too. I've seen his photos online."
"I'm so envious..."
Passers-by were all buzzing with gossip about Fang Li, leaving him unsure how to react.
Such incidents had become commonplace around Fang Li ever since Sylvia transferred to A Certain High School. This had attracted attention from various individuals, including company presidents who hoped he would introduce them to Sylvia, fans who sought autographs or photos, and those who were desperate to meet her personally. It seemed like everyone had some kind of request.
At first, Fang Li felt helpless.
After a while, he began to grow impatient.
But by now, he had grown accustomed to it.
Was this also a kind of sorrow?
Only Sylvia remained as cheerful as ever, smiling brightly.
"This is really not bad," She said, her voice lighthearted. "Everyone's being so candid."
Sylvia's carefree remark naturally drew everyone's attention.
"Who's that girl?"
"Never seen her before."
"She must be Diva's classmate, right?"
"I wonder how close she is to Diva..."
The murmurs rippled through the crowd, yet not a single person suspected that the girl could be Sylvia herself.
After all, their hair colors were completely different.
Moreover, thanks to the wide-brimmed hat she was wearing, her features were obscured unless you got very close to her.
Sylvia also seemed to possess an uncanny ability to completely suppress her presence when in disguise. Her entire aura transformed, shedding the flamboyant beauty she radiated as the Diva on stage.
Consequently, only individuals with exceptional memory abilities, such as Index, or those intimately familiar with Sylvia could recognize her.
In fact, just moments earlier, Sylvia's classmate had approached Fang Li to ask where Sylvia was, completely unaware that the girl walking beside him was Sylvia herself.
This incident spoke volumes.
"You certainly seem relaxed," Fang Li remarked, his tone mildly exasperated. "With a disguise like this, will you even be able to compete in the matches later?"
"Didn't I tell you before?" Sylvia replied breezily. "I'm definitely not going to compete. Just being able to soak up the atmosphere of the Daihasei Festival is enough for me."
"Really?" Fang Li asked. "Is there no event that interests you?"
"There is!" Sylvia blinked and smiled. "Didn't you hear about the After-Festival Celebration on the last night of the Daihasei Festival? They say couples pair up and dance folk dances around a bonfire."
Upon hearing this, Fang Li felt an ominous premonition.
"Could Sylvia be planning to…?"
Sure enough, Sylvia confirmed his thoughts.
"I'll be counting on you, then," she said, taking his hand and tilting her head with a smile. 'I'll be appearing in my true form, you know?"
In other words, Sylvia was planning to cause a stir again.
If she did that, Fang Li would undoubtedly become the target of hatred for every man worldwide.
"Sylvia, you're planning to make me an enemy of the world, aren't you?"
"What happened, Mr. Fang?" Sylvia asked, with a hint of teasing in her voice. "Could it be you're scared?"
"Yes, I am scared," Fang Li replied, raising an eyebrow and deliberately provoking her. "I'm afraid someone else might ask me to dance, and then you won't get your turn."
"Is that so?" Sylvia asked, meeting his gaze with an unwavering smile. "Then would you accept their invitation?"
"Not necessarily," Fang Li answered, without turning his head. "But if it's a cute girl, I wouldn't mind..."
Before he could finish the sentence, he was struck by a sharp pain in his waist.
"Hmph!"
Sylvia pinched his waist and strode ahead alone.
Just as Fang Li was about to follow her, she snapped, her cheeks puffed out in indignation: "I'm going to get snacks by myself! Don't come with me!"
With that, she vanished into the crowd. Watching Sylvia walk away, Fang Li stood in place and shrugged.
"Who told you to tease me?" He muttered to himself.
As he was speaking, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind as if appearing directly within his thoughts.
"What are you doing in this place?"
The voice caused Fang Li's eyes to narrow slightly.
Immediately, the voice continued to reverberate in his mind.
"I'm using magic that transmits voices directly to others. Don't bother looking for me; I'm nearby, but your surroundings are too conspicuous for me to approach. If you have anything to say, just think it and it'll reach me."
The owner of the voice was, of course, Stiyl.
Fang Li showed no surprise.
"Since you're here, that must mean magicians have appeared," Fang Li thought silently. Not surprising. Days like this, when Academy City opens its gates, provide the perfect opportunity for magic factions that see the city as an enemy to infiltrate it. You must be here for work, too, right?
"Tch, as perceptive as ever. That's what's so irritating about you," Stiyl said, clearly annoyed. "But it's none of your business. Academy City has assigned its own personnel, so we don't need you to make a move. Your mission is simply to protect the girl."
That was why Stiyl had approached Fang Li in the first place.
"Where's the girl?" Stiyl asked. "Why aren't you with her?"
"Because she's not a child who needs constant supervision," Fang Li retorted with a smirk. "Does that answer satisfy you?"
"...You're her guardian. How you act is your business." Stiyl clicked his tongue. "Just remember, if anything happens to her, you're finished."
When Stiyl stopped speaking, it became clear that he had stopped using magic.
Fang Li ignored him, acting as if nothing had happened.
Unfortunately, what was truly meant to happen had only just begun.
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Fang Li heard a familiar commotion ahead. He raised his head and looked over, then fell silent. In the crowd to his left, Misaka Mikoto was standing frozen, being pulled back by Shirai Kuroko. Her eyes were wide as she stared in Fang Li's direction.
Meanwhile, in the crowd behind Fang Li, Shokuhou Misaki suddenly appeared, surrounded by a group of glamorous girls. Her starry eyes narrowed as she looked first at Fang Li, then at Misaka Mikoto.
"I'm back," Sylvia announced, emerging from the crowd behind them, two shopping bags in hand. She paused slightly at the sight before her.
The atmosphere instantly turned strange.
(End Of This Chapter)
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