Shokuhou Misaki, having metaphorically lifted a stone only to drop it on her own foot, was now in a state of powerless rage.
Even afterward, she couldn't really bring herself to harshly scold these ojou-samas.
After all, they had acted for her sake—The kind of action taken after already preparing themselves for self-sacrifice.
And truthfully, it was her own fault for taking the first step and then… hesitating. Because of her own shyness, the ojou-samas in her faction had misunderstood.
However, seeing Haruto wrapped up by a flock of chattering, fluttering young ladies,Misaki could feel her blood pressure spike in an instant.
"Quick, take them away. This isn't what you think it is."
She said to Junko with a tearless-crying sort of look.
Just as Junko was about to ask, footsteps came from nearby.
"…Not good!"
Misaki reacted instantly, hastily reaching for her remote.
This was Tokiwadai's private rear garden. Luring Haruto here was already a violation of the rules in itself. But Shokuhou Misaki had always been the bold, reckless type.
So naturally, she chose this as her "capture" location.
Along the way, the only reason Haruto had been able to arrive so easily was because she had secretly used her ability to make people along the route leave.
Normally, during her little "operations" here, her faction's ojou-samas would be guarding the garden's entrance, buying her time and keeping other girls from coming in.
But now…
After rummaging for a while, Misaki finally remembered:
Her usual remote was in her handbag. And right now, she was wearing a maid outfit—Her handbag was back in the changing room!
A wave of frustration welled up—But quickly vanished when she saw who was coming.
Instead, she was left with nothing but resignation.
It wasn't just anyone—it was one of Tokiwadai's only two Level 5 espers. The core of the Princess Faction:
Misaka Mikoto.
…Well, never mind then.
Even if Misaki could use her ability, she couldn't control Misaka Mikoto.
As a Level 5, Mikoto was always surrounded by a constant electromagnetic field, blocking any mental interference.
Mikoto quickened her pace when she saw Misaki, clearly here on business. But upon seeing Misaki's outfit, she froze on the spot.
"…What is with that getup? Cosplay?"
Mikoto's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
What was this Queen Bee up to today?
Misaki smiled and stepped forward, taking Mikoto by the hand.
"Misaka-san, long time no see! You needed something from me?"
Saying that, she started pulling Mikoto toward the exit.
Mikoto's expression twitched.
Something was off.
Very off.
Off by at least twelve out of ten points.
Long time no see?
They'd just been in the same classroom this morning—
And had even gotten into a verbal spat.
And normally, Misaki always kept her haughty, queenly demeanor. Since when was she this friendly?
"You… You're plotting something again, aren't you?"
Mikoto tried to pull her hand free, suspicion growing.
This uncharacteristic warmth from the Queen Bee was way too suspicious!
And now she noticed—By the gazebo, a whole crowd of maid-dressed ojou-samas were gathered around something.
Junko immediately stepped in, blocking Mikoto's line of sight.
"Princess-sama, what brings you to our Queen Faction's gathering?" Junko asked with a strained smile.
"It's the Daihaseisai opening ceremony—They're inviting Level 5s to make the pledge. …And what's going on over there?"
Mikoto replied distractedly.
"Just a gathering, nothing for Princess-sama to worry about."
Misaki gave a dismissive smile.
"I'm not going. Please tell them I refuse, Misaka-san."
As she spoke, she tried to push Mikoto out.
Unfortunately, Misaki was the archetypal sheltered ojou-sama—
Utterly lacking in physical strength.
Mikoto, on the other hand—For all her delinquent tendencies like kicking vending machines—Was more than capable of overpowering her.
"This isn't your faction's private property."
Shaking off Misaki's grip, Mikoto slipped through the blockade and ran toward the gazebo.
She was going to see for herself what the Queen Bee was plotting!
And then—
"Hey! Why are you here!?"
Mikoto had imagined meeting Haruto again—After all, he was the one who had saved twenty thousand Misaka Sisters.
She held quite a bit of goodwill toward him.
She'd imagined many possible meeting places, and many possible conversations.
But she hadn't imagined this—
Him surrounded in the center of a group of maid-outfitted ojou-samas, practically drowning in a sea of softness.
The sight sent a flare of nameless anger through her chest.
More importantly—
"How did you even get into Tokiwadai? This is a girls' school!"
Haruto's mouth twitched.
Obviously, he hadn't come willingly!
If he could have escaped, he'd have done so long ago. But with so many soft, delicate ojou-samas pressing in on him, any large movement meant…
A lot of suspiciously pleasant sensations and startled squeals.
There was no safe way to move.
As for using his ability—Freezing time just to slip away from this, then erasing everyone's memories afterward…
That felt a bit too much.
"…If I said I was forced, would you believe me?"
"That's what you're going with?"
Electric arcs flickered between Mikoto's bangs.
"…Do you think I'd believe that?"
Being surrounded by ojou-samas and claiming you were forced—
Only a fool would buy that!
Still, Mikoto's arrival finally freed Haruto from the ojou-sama trap.
The girls ran to Misaki instead, urging her:
"The Queen's man must not be stolen by the Princess!"
Mikoto, for her part, forced down her irritation.
"How are the Sisters doing now?"
Once her anger faded, she asked what truly mattered to her.
Even if they were clones of herself, those girls had been created because of her—She genuinely cared for them like real sisters.
"They're traveling the world, experiencing new things. Misaka 1 said she's been having a lot of fun." Haruto answered seriously.
According to Aleister's plan, the Sisters would be deployed worldwide—Using their esper perspective to help establish the Artificial Heaven.
Haruto's involvement had improved the plan, ensuring that when the time came, the Sisters wouldn't suffer negative effects.
On the contrary, as the keystones of the Artificial Heaven, their abilities would be enhanced once it was complete.
Hearing they were living happily, Mikoto finally relaxed.
"Right… Could you call Kuroko here?"
Haruto suddenly asked.
"…I could. Why?"
Mikoto asked suspiciously.
After all this time, Shirai Kuroko's true nature had been laid bare—To call her eccentric would be an understatement. She was a constant headache for Mikoto.
"I need her teleportation to get out of here."
Haruto replied matter-of-factly.
Mikoto froze mid-dial, her mouth twitching.
So he did know breaking into a girls' school's private garden was wrong!
She barely had time to hear two rings before—A figure suddenly appeared midair in front of her, leg already arcing down toward Haruto.
"Where did this filthy ape come from, daring to get close to Onee-sama!?"
Having teleported from far away, Kuroko had only seen that there was a man beside Mikoto.
And in Tokiwadai, a man could only mean one thing—
A threat to Onee-sama.
Eliminate!
But as soon as she landed, Kuroko felt the world spin around her.
"Oh? Long time no see, Kuroko—you've gotten bold."
That familiar voice made cold sweat run down her back.