"Alright then, I've got the fever-reducing medicine ready."
Saten Ruiko carefully picked up the freshly prepared potion, cradling the cup in her hands as she walked to the bedside.
However, since it had just been brewed, the scalding hot water was still steaming. Saten stood beside Uiharu and gently blew on the surface of the medicine, immediately stirring up a series of ripples.
"Leave the cooling to me." Seeing Saten's efforts, Natsume Sonoko volunteered.
Someone took a serious look at the medicine, and soon the steam began to vanish. The temperature of the liquid became just right, allowing Saten to finally bring the cup to Uiharu's hands.
"Uiharu, you need to get better quickly. It just doesn't feel right without you in class. Don't work so hard from now on, remember not to kick off your covers while sleeping, and don't leave your stomach exposed."
Saten's face carried an encouraging look as she spoke, unable to hold back her words.
"That's not it. It's because Saten always likes to lift my skirt that I caught a chill," Uiharu immediately retorted, her cheeks growing even more flushed.
Overall, Natsume Sonoko tended to agree with Uiharu's perspective. In such situations, it was indeed easy to catch a cold.
"Actually, as your best friend, it's absolutely necessary to check on your best friend's outfit every day," Saten responded matter-of-factly, making a firm gesture with her fist against her head.
"That is definitely not necessary."
Startled from her sickbed, Uiharu seemed to have heard something outrageous. She abruptly sat up from the bed again, glaring somewhat angrily at Saten beside her, her face full of embarrassment.
"Alright, alright, don't worry about such small things. The patient should lie down properly."
After helping Uiharu drink the medicine, Saten Ruiko finally sat down at the low table in Uiharu's dorm room.
Natsume Sonoko also sat beside the low table, though she seemed a bit fidgety, constantly adjusting her sitting posture.
Even after having been in this world for so long, Natsume still hadn't quite gotten used to these short tables. Fortunately, thanks to her shorter legs, she could still tuck her feet underneath.
Nearby, Shirai-san and Misaka-senpai were both kneeling properly on cushions, looking every bit the proper young ladies. Maintaining good manners in someone else's dorm was what a proper young lady ought to do.
Natsume Sonoko secretly pulled her feet back, earnestly trying to imitate Misaka-senpai's seated posture.
Before long, Natsume could already feel her calves going somewhat numb.
Just when Natsume felt like her legs no longer belonged to her, Shirai-san had already struck up a conversation with Uiharu.
"Shirai-san, nothing major happened at the Judgment office today, right?" Even while sick in bed, Uiharu hadn't forgotten her duties. She really was a diligent girl.
"Same as always, busy. Just the incidents around Sakugawa Middle School alone are enough to make one's head spin. There were two robbery reports just today."
Though Shirai-san complained about the current severe situation, there was no impatience in her tone. Instead, she spoke with genuine seriousness.
"Actually, there have been many cases where the ability levels registered in the database don't match the victims' actual abilities," Shirai-san mused, resting her chin in her hand.
"It's all because of the Level Upper, isn't it? Not just the Graviton Bomings, but the Tokiwadai attack, the bank robbery from before, and even the increasingly serious violent cases now - they're all connected to this so-called Level Upper."
Shirai-san had already uncovered quite a bit from investigating various incidents, nearly piecing everything together.
"Something so convenient sounds unbelievable. Like Saten-san mentioned last time, just using it can enhance your abilities - that's clearly cheating," Misaka-senpai said, sounding somewhat skeptical.
Although Misaka-senpai had the highest ability level among them, her sensitivity to new trends and novelties tended to be a step behind everyone else's.
But once she discovered such new things actually existed, her curiosity and desire to explore would far surpass others.
"News about the Level Upper has been everywhere for a while now," Natsume Sonoko finally shifted into a more comfortable position, somewhat resembling a duck sit.
Though she was rather a duck with somewhat plump calves, making it look not much different from kneeling.
Is someone secretly talking about me behind my back?!
To be honest, as someone who kept up with current trends and frequented websites and forums, Natsume Sonoko was likely among the first in Academy City to know about the Level Upper.
"Look, there are countless posts about the Level Upper now. Many who've used it leave behind their experiences and insights."
Saten Ruiko, who had been listening nearby, suddenly remembered something. She opened the forum on her phone and showed the various information to everyone.
"There really are so many posts. Looking at the number of replies, the Level Upper's popularity is astonishing," Misaka-senpai remarked with amazement.
"I found something too," Uiharu said from her bed, somehow producing a laptop and turning the screen toward everyone.
"Now we can identify the users and their gathering places," Shirai-san nodded, clearly already planning to investigate this matter further.
As long as there were traces left online, with Uiharu's hacking skills, it would only take a little time to get specific information.
But actually, they didn't even need Uiharu's help. Just from the casually revealed information in the posts, they had already discovered an address where Level Upper users frequently gathered.
"That restaurant? I actually know where it is," Misaka-senpai hurriedly stood up, clearly having developed great curiosity and desire to explore.
"Thank you, Uiharu. I'm going to check it out."
"Please take care of yourself. I'll be going now."
Natsume Sonoko was still rather pleased with her duck sitting pose, and the numbness in her legs had somewhat improved.
Before she could even say a few words, Natsume only saw Misaka-senpai hurriedly close the door behind her, offering a few parting words before heading off somewhere.
"Onee-sama, this is my job! Don't be so reckless!" Shirai-san, appearing and disappearing like a ghost, vanished from her seat in an instant.
There were no ability restrictions in Uiharu's dorm. Natsume Sonoko only felt the space beside her empty out as one senpai and one classmate disappeared altogether.
"Everyone's so energetic. Weren't we here to visit Uiharu-san?" Natsume tilted her head, frowning as she felt things weren't quite so simple.
"Onee-sama, please wait and listen to me!" Shirai's somewhat troubled voice came from the doorway.
"Will they be okay?" Uiharu, who already looked somewhat better, had gotten out of bed to eat something.
"Probably no need to worry about them. After all, they're the pride of Academy City - Level 4 and Level 5. Not like us who'd be useless even if we went," Saten said, suddenly sounding somewhat dejected as if remembering something.
"Natsume-san, aren't you going to help?" Having collected her emotions somewhat, Saten Ruiko looked at Natsume Sonoko who remained firmly in place.
"My legs are still a bit numb."
Natsume Sonoko's words always gave people food for thought while simultaneously making their scalps tingle. Both Uiharu and Saten looked at Natsume with some surprise.
"If we used the Level Upper, could we enhance our abilities too?" Saten Ruiko murmured, somewhat preoccupied.
"No, that won't do. Cheating is wrong," Uiharu immediately responded.
"For you two, even without using the Level Upper, you can definitely improve your abilities. Everyone hits bottlenecks - our goal is to overcome them. The best way to eliminate adversity is to face it head-on."
Natsume Sonoko suddenly spoke up, her face full of seriousness.
Uiharu nodded in agreement, but Saten Ruiko looked up and glanced at Natsume Sonoko, though it was unclear what she was thinking.
"Don't worry, I was just saying 'if.' I would absolutely never use it," Saten rubbed the back of her head, showing an embarrassed smile as she promised again.
"Please take care of yourself. I'll be going now too." Natsume Sonoko finally stood up, stretching her leg muscles before bidding farewell to Uiharu and Saten.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.