If Shouko really wanted to use her ability for evil, she would only need to let a normal person experience, even just once, what those lunatics or the inherently vicious criminals feel.
That alone would be enough to easily twist a normal person's mind.
It was the truest meaning of empathy.
Haruto reached out and rubbed Shouko's hair.
"Shouko, you're amazing."
Haruto praised her very directly.
Shouko showed a blissful smile, enjoying the head pat.
Even though her ability was ridiculously strong, Haruto wasn't worried that she would misuse it.
Shouko was a super kind girl.
Her dream was definitely something so pure it would shock people. She simply wasn't capable of doing something cruel.
If she did, she wouldn't be herself anymore—and the Rainbow Stone would lose its effect.
Speaking of which—After Star Sea Academy moved to Academy City, Haruto had suspected there might be a new Level 5 esper born.
But he hadn't expected the first to achieve it would actually be Nishinomiya Shouko.
At that moment, Frenda came over.
"The athlete oath ceremony for the Daihaseisai? Does that mean they invited Mugino too?"
Haruto glanced at this mischief-maker.
This kid clearly wasn't planning anything wholesome.
Sure enough, Frenda took out her phone and called the Meltdowner herself.
After three rings, the call was picked up.
"Mugino, you got invited to the athlete oath too, right? Take me on stage with you!"
There was silence for a moment.
Then the Meltdowner's voice came through, a little gritted with annoyance.
"Going to some bright, public event and letting everyone get to know me—a Dark Side member—what's the point?"
Frenda immediately volunteered:
"If you're not going, let me go in your place!"
This time, the voice on the other side roared:
"You're a damn Dark Side member too!"
Haruto figured that if this had been in person, Frenda's head would already be getting ground into the floor by Mugino Shizuri.
Frenda hung up, sniffling.
And as it turned out—
Aside from the newly risen angel of light, Shouko, most Level 5s were… not the easiest to deal with.
The first-ranked Accelerator was a villain. Forget attending—if he didn't break the recruiter's legs, that was already merciful.
The second-ranked was also in the Dark Side, and a villain at that.
The third-ranked Railgun Misaka Mikoto, while a good-hearted girl, still had some delinquent, violent tendencies.
The fourth-ranked Meltdowner Mugino Shizuri—no need to say more.
The fifth-ranked Mental Out, Shokuhou Misaki—though a gentle girl in front of Haruto— was to the outside world a queen, a perfect example of a sweet-faced, black-hearted schemer.
The sixth- and seventh-ranked were almost never seen.
No wonder the two staff members who'd come to find Nishinomiya Shouko had been in and out so quickly.
That was the bitter experience of their seniors.
After playing with the girls for a while longer, Haruto received a message.
It was from Misaki—inviting him to meet her at a specific location.
She sent him a pin.
It seemed she had finished preparing some kind of surprise.
Haruto glanced at the location.
He couldn't see exactly where it was— he could only follow the guidance step by step.
This made him a bit curious,but of course, he was going to keep the appointment.
So Haruto said goodbye to Shouko, Midori, and the group of lolis.
It wasn't too sad a farewell—he was in Academy City for the time being, and the opening ceremony tomorrow would surely bring them together again.
Frenda, meanwhile, had finished her guide commission and was off to pack for her new job at the SCP Foundation.
Following the pin, Haruto walked deeper into District 7.
The route was odd—winding around, ignoring perfectly good roads in favor of narrow alleys, and taking obvious detours.
Eventually, Haruto climbed over a wall and entered a garden.
Something felt vaguely off, but since this was Misaki's invitation, it was probably fine.
Following the garden path, he arrived at a small pavilion.
It was clearly decorated with care—flowers in full bloom everywhere, mostly white, and ribbons hanging from the roof of the pavilion.
"What is this, the Cave of the Silken Web?" Haruto muttered.
Then his eyes were suddenly covered from behind.
To not spoil Misaki's surprise, Haruto suppressed his sensory ability— otherwise, a single scan would show him the entire district in detail.
So he truly hadn't noticed someone approaching from behind.
Though he couldn't see, he could smell a very familiar fragrance.
And the hands over his eyes had a uniquely familiar feel.
"Guess who~☆!"
Okay, just from the tone and voice,he could already tell.
"Uh… ah… this…"
Haruto pretended to be troubled.
He could feel the girl behind him getting slightly annoyed— in her mind, he should have recognized her instantly.
Just as Haruto was about to stop teasing her, someone pressed up against his back.
For a moment, he doubted his judgment—
The difference was too great, almost unbelievable.
At least, she didn't match the image in his mind at all.
But in other ways, it was clearly her.
Strange indeed.
"Dear… Miss Shokuhou Misaki?" Haruto said hesitantly.
The hands left his eyes.
"Hehe, I'll let that barely pass, though your timing was a bit off."
Her playful voice rang out again.
Haruto turned—
and froze.
Uh… what?
It wasn't his fault for hesitating—the Misaki before him was hard to connect to the petite girl from before.
Originally, she was a standard flat-chested loli type— short, slim, the kind you felt might poke you with her ribs if she jumped on you.
But now?
She had become a full-blown onee-san type— taller, curvier, and radiating a heavy dose of feminine charm.
Haruto knew her future growth would be impressive, but… this was so soon.
Had she taken some kind of genetic booster?
Feeling his shocked gaze, Shokuhou Misaki proudly folded her arms—and puffed out her chest.
The shift in "feminine weight" was dramatic, and the effect even more exaggerated because she was otherwise so slim.
"How is it? I told you my growth would shock you. The next time we met, I'd make you fall for my feminine charm!"
She spoke with great satisfaction—after all, she had worked herself to the bone for this moment, eating papayas like they were her daily staple.
After the shock wore off, Haruto looked away.
From AA to 36D in this short a time—
could you really explain that with "growth power"?
"Did Misaka ever come to ask you for the formula?" he teased.
To his surprise, Shokuhou nodded.
"How did you know? That Biri-Biri really did come and ask me."
Haruto's mouth twitched.
Poor Misaka.
Some growth gaps just couldn't be bridged.
"Alright, enough about that troublesome woman—come on, I've prepared a special surprise just for you~☆!"
Saying that, Misaki wrapped herself around Haruto's arm and pulled him toward the pavilion.
Haruto felt as though he'd fallen into a deep ravine.
Unbelievable.
Through the hanging ribbons, the pavilion revealed a tea party setting.
Misaki sat Haruto down and left only a "wait here for a moment" before running off.
Though puzzled, Haruto waited quietly.
Misaki, meanwhile, entered a separate room— where a group of girls were waiting for her.
"How is it, Queen? Has he arrived?"
"Where, where? The one who captured our Queen's heart!"
"Quick, Queen—follow the plan! Wear this!"
Chattering excitedly, they handed her a white lace maid outfit. Looking at the frilly garment, Misaki cheeks flushed slightly.