Kobayashi had plenty of self-control.
But that crazy girl, Toumi, really was capable of doing something like beating up—or even stabbing—a psychological counselor.
Shokuhou Misaki already knew that on the very first day they met, Toumi had punched several holes straight through her own roommate, Kobayashi. She was terrifyingly vicious.
It was honestly hard to understand how the two of them had ended up as companions now.
Was Kobayashi's temper really that good?
Shaking her head, Shokuhou Misaki organized her scattered thoughts and turned back toward Kobayashi on the hospital bed.
Thanks to Kobayashi's timely intervention, Toumi had withdrawn her hostility. Shokuhou Misaki, believing her own mental age to be more mature, saw no reason to argue with a mad girl and had no intention of provoking another conflict.
"Nana-senpai," Shokuhou Misaki said as she took out her phone, "let's exchange phone numbers. It'll be more convenient to stay in contact."
Kobayashi naturally had no objections. He used his telekinesis to lift the phone from the bedside table into his hand.
He had a feeling that whatever was happening with the Talent Development Facility was something he wouldn't be able to avoid. Since that was the case, exchanging contact information with Shokuhou Misaki was simply a sensible precaution.
Besides, compared to Black Moon Technology, dealing with the Talent Development Facility was actually easier—because they already had a Level 5 "inside agent" in Shokuhou Misaki.
Even if Kobayashi did nothing, when the time came, the Talent Development Facility would be destroyed by her anyway.
—If Shokuhou Misaki really did see the original story from my memories, then there's even less suspense.
Stick with Her Majesty the Queen Bee, and it's a guaranteed win.
Kobayashi even felt that if Shokuhou Misaki moved fast enough, the whole Talent Development Facility situation might be resolved while he was still recovering in the hospital.
After exchanging numbers and confirming the calls went through, Shokuhou Misaki didn't linger.
"Then I'll be taking my leave now. I wish you a speedy recovery, Nana-senpai~."
Ignoring the sharp, stabbing gaze on her back, she left the hospital room as if no one else were there.
Toumi's eyes were like blades, fixed tightly on the uninvited guest until she stepped out of the room and the door cut off her figure.
"Kobayashi," she said bluntly as she turned back to the boy on the bed, "that girl is dangerous."
"…You're actually scared?" Kobayashi replied, half-joking.
To be honest, in Kobayashi's eyes, the one who liked pulling out a blade and stabbing people at the slightest provocation was the real dangerous one.
Toumi naturally caught the implication and snorted.
"I'm serious. Even though my combat ability is strong, that girl… I don't think I could kill her. Honestly, this is the first time I've ever faced an enemy like that."
"Don't label her as an enemy so easily," Kobayashi said quickly. "But your judgment isn't strange. Shokuhou Misaki is probably already Level 5."
It was perfectly normal for a Level 4 to be unable to defeat a Level 5.
Toumi let out a small "eh," feeling slightly relieved—then frowned even more deeply. She still couldn't shake her discomfort at facing a target her blade couldn't kill.
________________________________________
Meanwhile, Shokuhou Misaki strode through the hospital corridors, her mood anything but pleasant.
"What's with that strange girl? She's basically a bloodthirsty lunatic! How can they just let her roam freely outside?"
"And another thing—what is that tiger bee feeling smug about?! She's someone who doesn't even have a name in the original story!"
To vent her frustration, Shokuhou Misaki waved her remote control around wildly, silently vowing that the next time they met, she'd strike first and treat that tiger bee to a full set of brainwashing and mental manipulation.
"Hm?"
With the remote in hand, her control over Mental Out became much more precise.
"…It looks like there are quite a few people who aren't doctors or nurses."
She immediately noticed that among the white coats moving through the hospital were several suspicious figures.
Gripping the remote, Shokuhou Misaki turned around on the spot.
________________________________________
Inside the hospital room, Kobayashi was trying to persuade Honeybee Toumi to abandon her hostility toward Shokuhou Misaki.
"Mental Out really is troublesome and frightening," he said, "but Shokuhou Misaki can be trusted. She's a good person."
Of course, Kobayashi could reach that conclusion only because he was a transmigrator who knew the original story and character settings.
Under normal circumstances, anyone who learned about Shokuhou Misaki's ability would at least feel wary and instinctively keep their distance.
Toumi's reaction was well within what a "normal person" would show—though hers was admittedly a bit more extreme.
From her perspective, Kobayashi's trust in Shokuhou Misaki made no sense at all. It bordered on blind faith and even made her suspect that he had already been brainwashed by Mental Out.
Naturally, Kobayashi Nana was certain his mind was clear and that he hadn't been manipulated.
"Shokuhou Misaki has strong morals," he said. "She wouldn't abuse her power. You can trust her."
"Oh? So that's how you see me~?"
A girl's voice came from the doorway.
"Being praised like that by you, Nana-senpai, really makes it hard for me to do anything bad to you."
Shokuhou Misaki had returned.
"What are you back for?" Toumi demanded immediately.
Shokuhou Misaki raised an eyebrow, her star-like eyes meeting the other girl's gaze without flinching.
Then, just as before, she ignored the Toumi entirely and spoke directly to Kobayashi.
"Since you spoke so highly of me, I'll give you a little warning~,"
After a brief pause, she continued,
"There are a lot of people mixed into this hospital who aren't doctors or nurses. They're all looking for you, Nana-senpai~."
Please be extra careful.
Leaving those words behind, Shokuhou Misaki departed leisurely.
She didn't interfere with the people who had infiltrated the hospital in search of Kobayashi Nana.
With the Security personnel—and that Toumi—protecting him, his safety shouldn't be an issue.
And besides…
"…It doesn't seem like they're here to attack Nana-kun anyway."
After Shokuhou Misaki left, Toumi decisively tore the black ribbon from her ponytail.
"Another assassination attempt?" she said coldly.
The ribbon wrapped several times around her palm, and the remaining meter-long length snapped taut under the effect of Absolute Penetration, transforming into a deadly blade.
"Don't get worked up yet," Kobayashi said. "Security teachers are stationed throughout the hospital. No one should dare attack us here. Let's ask Yomikawa-sensei or Tessou Tsuzuri-sensei later."
This kind of passive defense went completely against Toumi's nature. But since she couldn't identify enemies in the crowd, she reluctantly nodded and agreed to wait.
That wait lasted an entire week.
No enemies appeared.
Even after requesting an investigation by the Security forces, there were no clear results.
And so, it wasn't until Kobayashi was once again preparing to complete his discharge procedures that—
(End of Chapter)
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