After spending so much time with Shirai-san, Natsume Sonoko's head was buzzing with one scheme after another—though their motives couldn't be more different.
One of Natsume-san's latest plans—writing suggestion letters to the Daihaseisai executive committee—had caught everyone's attention, including that of Meigo-senpai.
Born just yesterday and set in motion just as quickly, the whole thing reeked of someone acting entirely on a whim.
Wearing a slightly awkward smile, Misaka-senpai watched her junior pull out a petition bearing her own name.
Even if the plan seemed a little far-fetched, Natsume-san meant well, and she felt she ought to show some support.
"Wow, you already got three Level 5 signatures," Uiharu said, blinking curiously as she studied the letter in the other girl's hand.
The handwriting was neat and delicate, yet stiff and precise—almost like a printed font. Very much Natsume-san's style.
"If today weren't Saturday, there'd be four signatures on it," Natsume-san declared confidently. Truth was, she'd also planned to ask Shokuhou-senpai for help.
As for the other four Level 5s: two were on less-than-friendly terms with her, one she didn't know at all, and the last's identity was a complete mystery. Getting half of them to sign was no small feat.
"Natsume-san, you really do have quite the network," Konori Mii remarked, sounding impressed.
"But when would there even be time for Meigo-senpai to hold a concert during the sports festival? Just the opening ceremony and athlete parade alone would make it impossible to schedule," Shirai-san couldn't help but complain.
"Still, if we could make it happen, it'd be pretty amazing," she added under her breath.
"Meigo-senpai, what do you think?" Misaka-senpai turned and asked.
And so, the conversation circled back to the most important person in the room.
Even though Natsume-san was clearly enjoying her planning spree, they still needed Meigo-senpai's approval before mailing the letter.
"I'm sorry for causing everyone so much trouble, and for making Natsume-san worry about my situation," Meigo Arisa said, gently wiping sweat from her brow. A soft smile appeared as she nodded.
"No matter how this suggestion letter turns out, I'm willing to give it a try."
She didn't really care whether the letter worked—she was just grateful everyone cared enough to try.
"Great!" Natsume Sonoko let out a relieved sigh, a bright smile spreading across her face.
Having her plan acknowledged by her friends made Natsume-san genuinely happy.
"Alright, break's over. We still have work to do," a voice cut in.
There was still a small slice of cake left, but everyone was too full to continue.
Just as Natsume-san started heading toward Uiharu's slightly misshapen storage locker to fetch some black tea, their self-appointed foreman started handing out assignments again.
"What's all this?" Natsume-san asked, helping compile some documents into folders while eyeing the records inside.
"Some are case summaries from yesterday, others are incident reports from further back," Uiharu-san explained from nearby, also sorting files.
"After the security team's big crackdown on the armed Skill-Out groups, ability-user assault cases in District 7 have declined."
"But what's really infuriating is that attacks by ability-users on Level 0s have spiked sharply."
Uiharu frowned, pointing at one of the documents.
During yesterday's Cold Light incidents, there'd been multiple attempted assaults by ability-users on Level 0s. All were unsuccessful, meaning no one was injured, but the incident reports were still logged.
"Uiharu looked into these assault cases last night and found they've increased dramatically since that 'competition' started," Konori-senpai added, her expression growing serious.
"What competition?" Natsume-san blinked, curious.
"A competition that encourages targeting Level 0s for fun. We're not sure exactly when it started, but it was within the last week or so."
"Even though Judgment and Anti-Skill have arrested some of the worst offenders, the trend hasn't stopped."
Konori-senpai paused, then added thoughtfully, "It's concerning."
"How could they do that?" Natsume-san exclaimed.
Natsume-san had abilities—she was one of the most powerful, in fact—but more than half of Academy City's students were Level 0s.
The Level 0 majority was far more vulnerable than ability-users. Well, except for a few exceptionally gifted individuals.
Not every ability-user could suppress their darker impulses. Once someone gained power, it was easy to let those shadows loose.
Once you grew accustomed to harming others, you lost your reverence for life.
That's why Natsume-san was so careful with her own power. She preferred to follow the rules and was, in the eyes of her teachers, a very obedient student.
Even though her growing abilities had made her more self-assured, in daily life she was still that quiet, slightly introverted girl.
--+--
Night fell deeply, streetlights flickering on.
By the time Natsume-san and the others left the Judgment branch, evening had settled in.
Everything had gone smoothly that day—they'd exceeded their work targets, and Konori-senpai was quite pleased.
With the incredibly capable Railgun on the team, Natsume-san's own role felt almost redundant.
The moving truck wasn't coming until tomorrow, and they still hadn't settled on a workable plan for the small balcony. In that sort of atmosphere, another Saturday slipped quietly away.
They had dinner at a family restaurant—Konori-senpai's treat.
But after leaving the restaurant, Natsume-san parted ways with Misaka-senpai and the others. She needed to stop by her usual accessory shop to buy some hair ties.
Honestly, going all day with her hair down like this was really starting to bother her.
"Shopkeeper, I'll take all of these."
Clearing her throat, Natsume-san laid out more than ten hair ties on the counter.
"Right away, miss. I'll wrap them up for you."
Buying so many at once meant Natsume-san wouldn't need to restock for at least a year or two.
Standing at the shop entrance, Natsume-san held one hair tie between her teeth while gathering her hair with both hands. She tidied the stray strands around her temples and twisted everything back into a neat bun.
With her annoying hair out of the way, her field of vision felt clear and sharp again.
"There."
With a slight wave of her hand, a thin sheet of water shimmered into a mirror in front of her. She studied her familiar reflection and nodded in satisfaction.
But before the water mirror could dissolve, its rippling surface seemed to capture movement across the street.
"Someone's arguing over there."
In Natsume-san's line of sight, two groups faced off in a narrow alley not far from the road.
One side was a tall, heavily muscled boy who resembled an upright gorilla. If she had to guess, he was even bigger than that red-haired magician.
Dressed in a black jacket with a close-cropped buzz cut, he looked grim and exuded a fierce, sharp aura.
Behind him, he shielded a small girl with wavy, golden-blonde hair.
She looked about ten years old, maybe five centimeters shorter than Natsume-san herself. With her fair skin and light blue eyes, she looked like a delicate doll.
Another doll-like girl—it reminded her of that eternally youthful-looking girl, Ladylee, but in Natsume-san's eyes, this one looked exactly like someone else.
That golden-haired girl often seen with the #4 Level 5—the one who could unleash massive clusters of bombs in short bursts. Her blonde hair was unforgettable.
Even from a distance, Natsume-san felt this girl looked like a miniature version of her.
The other group seemed to be three students in high school uniforms.
"Isn't there another Judgment branch nearby?"
The water mirror vanished into mist. Natsume-san thought for a moment.
Pulling out her phone, she decided to call the local Judgment team to handle it—completely forgetting that she, too, was a Judgment member.
Natsume-san had no interest in dealing with ordinary quarrels herself. That was Shirai-san's department.
If she calculated right, there should still be Judgment members on patrol nearby.
--+--
T/N: 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.