"Miko, what's going on?"
Long, dark hair fluttered in the breeze as a bespectacled girl approached.
"A Level 4 Psychokinetic esper… Academy City is brimming with talent!"
Aside from Electromasters, Samuel was most familiar with psychic abilities. The girl before him, exuding an air of intellectual sharpness, radiated an AIM Diffusion Field distinctly psychic in nature.
"Konori, it's like this…"
"I see. Greetings, Chief Officer. Your reasoning is sound—Miss Katou Megumi's information is indeed outdated, and updating it is every Academy City citizen's duty. However, to put her at ease, allow Miko and me to assist."
Konori Mii, the glasses-wearing girl, spoke with finesse. She avoided baseless accusations to compel Katou's compliance and inserted herself as an assistant.
"Fine."
Katou relaxed slightly. While Iino Miko seemed gullible enough to be sold off, Konori Mii inspired confidence and reliability.
"Alright… there's a Judgment branch just across the street, not far. They have an ability testing device from Prometheus Group. Let's go there."
Konori took charge, leveraging Samuel's "just testing her ability" claim to steer them to the nearest Judgment branch.
"Works for me."
Samuel smiled, unbothered. He'd intended to take Katou to a nearby Prometheus Group institute, but it made little difference.
He ended his Mental Out simulation but maintained a robust AIM Diffusion Field to suppress Katou's Presence Suppression, ensuring she couldn't slip away.
Konori, with her Mental Stinger ability, keenly sensed Samuel's tangible AIM Diffusion Field. Her expression grew grave as she walked ahead.
She didn't fully trust Samuel, Chief Officer or not.
Feeling his overwhelming AIM Diffusion Field, she knew that if it came to a fight, all three of them—herself, Miko, and Katou—would be outmatched instantly.
She wasn't combat-oriented, Miko was only Level 3, and Katou, likely no higher than Level 4, had a non-combat ability.
If Samuel insisted on taking Katou elsewhere, Konori would abandon her, take Miko, and leave discreetly.
Unlike Miko's rigid sense of justice, Konori prioritized herself, her friends, and her family. Samuel, as Chief Officer, held authority, and his subtle pressure was formidable. She knew she was no match and acted accordingly.
Against Samuel, resistance was futile—she was too weak.
But the current plan was ideal. Going to a Judgment branch suggested Samuel wasn't a villain, easing her concerns about working under him.
"Hm?"
About three kilometers from the branch, Samuel stopped abruptly, his face darkening.
"What's wrong?"
Konori asked, tensing, worried he'd changed his mind.
Miko tilted her head, peering at Samuel like a curious hamster, adorably.
"What's the matter, Chief Officer?"
Katou's voice carried concern.
"That post office bank operates from nine AM to five PM, but it's three o'clock, and the shutters are down."
Samuel pointed across the street at the bank, its iron shutters closed, his expression grim.
"You're quite observant. Maybe they closed early for an event or team-building?"
Miko asked, puzzled.
"No, something's off…"
Konori sensed it too.
"I own that bank. I haven't received any requests for early closure or team activities."
Samuel's face was stern as he activated his clairvoyance program, the scene behind the shutters unfolding in his mind.
"It's all my fault, my recklessness got Uiharu and Konori-senpai hurt…"
Inside, a girl named Shirai Kuroko was reflecting.
It was the third day of Shirai Kuroko and Uiharu Kazari's Judgment internship. They'd encountered an armed robber at the bank.
Kuroko swiftly subdued the first robber.
But then, unexpectedly, a second, far more formidable robber emerged, taking Uiharu hostage. An esper himself, he injured Konori-senpai, who tried to protect Kuroko, and defeated Kuroko as well.
Recklessness always came at a cost, often beyond oneself.
Kuroko had learned this lesson the hard way.
She'd endangered them both.
She knew she bore undeniable responsibility, but… she had to do something.
Crawling toward Uiharu, the robber sneered and stomped on her hand.
Uiharu pleaded, but a weakling's cries didn't sway a villain.
Kuroko pressed on, enduring kicks to her stomach and stomps on her arm.
Even crawling pathetically on the ground.
Finally, she grabbed Uiharu's ankle.
"I'll save you… no matter what!"
In that instant, Uiharu, held hostage, vanished from the robber's grasp.
"What?"
The robber's shock lasted only a moment before he understood.
This was Academy City—where he was an esper, others could be too.
"Teleportation?"
Uiharu appeared outside. After a moment of disorientation from the sudden change, she realized what had happened.
"Kuroko, are you still inside? Why did you only teleport me out?"
"Sadly… I can't teleport myself yet!"
Kuroko gave a wry smile, then her gaze hardened with resolve.
"This… isn't over!"
She had to atone for her mistake and bring the criminal to justice.
***
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