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Time rewinds to five minutes earlier…
Fang Li was currently enduring the gazes coming from all directions.
"Hey, that person couldn't be…?"
"Yeah, it's that guy, right?"
"The super lucky one who sits next to the Diva…"
"I've seen his photos online, too."
"So envious…"
All around him, passersby were discussing Fang Li one after another, leaving him unsure how to react.
Ever since Sylvia transferred into A Certain High School, situations like this had become a common occurrence around Fang Li. Because of it, he even attracted all sorts of people, some were company presidents hoping he could introduce them, others were fans wanting him to get Sylvia's autograph or photo, or even asking to be introduced to her. There was everything imaginable.
At first, Fang Li only felt helpless.
After some time, he began to feel annoyed. But now, he had actually gotten used to it.
Was that a kind of sadness in itself?
Only Sylvia remained smiling brightly.
"Really not bad. Everyone's so honest."
Saying such carefree words, Sylvia naturally became the center of attention as well.
"Who's that girl?"
"Never seen her before."
"She's probably also a classmate of the Diva, right?"
"I wonder if she's close to the Diva…"
People murmured like this one after another, yet not a single person suspected that this girl was Sylvia herself.
First, her hair color was different.
Second, because she was wearing a rather wide hat, unless someone got very close, they couldn't clearly see her face.
Furthermore, for some reason, once Sylvia disguised herself like this, even her presence seemed to diminish. Her entire aura changed, completely different from the dazzling and beautiful feeling she gave off as the Diva on stage.
Because of this, unless someone had a special memory ability like Index, or was extremely familiar with Sylvia, it was impossible to recognize her. In fact, just earlier, even classmates had come to Fang Li asking about Sylvia's whereabouts, yet none of them realized that the girl walking beside him was Sylvia herself.
That alone said enough.
"You seem pretty relaxed," Fang Li said somewhat irritably. "Dressed like this, can you even compete later?"
"Didn't I already say? I absolutely won't be competing," Sylvia replied casually. "As long as I can enjoy the atmosphere of the Daihasei Festival, that's enough."
"Is that so?" Fang Li asked. "Is there really nothing you're interested in?"
"There is," Sylvia blinked and smiled. "Isn't there a closing night festival at the end of the Daihasei Festival? I heard there's a folk dance around a bonfire where boys and girls pair up."
Hearing this, Fang Li immediately had a bad feeling.
Could it be that Sylvia was planning to…
Sure enough, Sylvia confirmed his suspicion.
"I'll be counting on you then." Holding Fang Li's hand, she tilted her head and smiled. "I'll appear in my original appearance, you know?"
In other words, Sylvia was planning to make a big splash again.
If she did that, Fang Li would undoubtedly become the target of resentment from every man in the world.
Sylvia was basically planning to make Fang Li the enemy of the world.
"What's wrong, Fang-san?" Sylvia teased. "Could it be that you're scared?"
"Yeah, I'm scared," Fang Li raised an eyebrow and deliberately replied, "I'm afraid that if someone else invites me to dance, you won't get a chance to go on stage."
"Is that so?" Sylvia looked straight at Fang Li, her smile unchanged. "Then would you accept someone else's invitation?"
"Not necessarily," Fang Li replied without turning his head. "If it's a cute girl, I wouldn't mind…"
Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp pain in his waist made him shut his mouth.
"Hmph!"
Sylvia let go of Fang Li's hand and walked ahead on her own.
Just as Fang Li was about to follow, Sylvia spoke in a huff, "I'm going to buy snacks by myself. Don't come with me!"
Leaving those words behind, Sylvia disappeared into the crowd.
Watching the direction she left, Fang Li simply stood there and shrugged.
"Well, who told you to make fun of me?"
Just as Fang Li muttered to himself like that, a voice suddenly rang out, as if it appeared directly inside his mind.
"What are you doing in this place?"
That voice caused Fang Li's eyes to narrow slightly. Immediately after, the voice continued echoing in his mind.
"I'm using magic to transmit my voice directly to you. No need to look for me, I'm nearby, but your surroundings are too eye-catching, so it's not suitable for me to approach. If you have anything to say, just think it, and that'll be enough."
The owner of the voice was naturally Stiyl.
Fang Li wasn't surprised.
"Since you're here, that means a magician has shown up, right?" Fang Li spoke silently in his mind. "Not surprising. On a day like this when it's open to the outside world, it's the perfect time for magic factions hostile to Academy City to infiltrate. You're here for work too, I assume?"
"Tch, still as sharp as ever. That's what makes you annoying," Stiyl said irritably. "But it has nothing to do with you. Academy City has assigned me personnel, so you don't need to make a move. Your job is just to protect that girl."
That was why Stiyl had contacted Fang Li.
"Where is that girl?" Stiyl asked. "Why didn't you bring her with you?"
"Because she's not a child. She doesn't need me following her around all the time," Fang Li replied flatly. "Satisfied with that answer?"
"…You're her guardian. How you act is your business," Stiyl clicked his tongue. "But if anything happens to her, you're finished."
With that, Stiyl's voice cut off.
Clearly, he had ended the magic.
Fang Li didn't pay him any further attention, acting as if nothing had happened.
Unfortunately, what truly needed to happen was only just beginning.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Fang Li heard a familiar commotion from ahead. He raised his head and looked forward, then fell silent. In front of him, within the crowd on the left, Misaka Mikoto was being pulled by Shirai Kuroko. The two of them had frozen in place, staring in this direction with wide eyes.
Meanwhile, in the crowd behind him, Shokuhou Misaki suddenly appeared, surrounded by a group of beautiful girls. She looked at Fang Li, then at Misaka Mikoto, her star-like eyes narrowing.
"I'm back."
Not long after, accompanied by that voice, Sylvia emerged from the crowd behind, holding two bags of snacks. Seeing the scene before her, she paused in slight surprise.
In an instant, the atmosphere turned strange.
(End Of This Chapter)
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