Some things may seem important, but they pale in comparison to people or objects with emotional connections.
After communicating with the Sisters, Reiko decided to stay with them at the Misaka Apartments, keeping a close watch on their condition.
Meanwhile, the picnic at the public park was finally drawing to a close.
Sitting quietly on the grass, a certain bun-girl hesitated for a few seconds before firmly pressing the purchase button for the holographic projection device.
Although her bank balance showed insufficient funds, Natsume Sonoko pulled down the payment options and selected the deferred payment plan.
As the green approval button lit up, the two holographic projection devices immediately entered the shipping phase.
Academy City had a comprehensive ID system and credit framework, where everyone's basic information was largely transparent.
Business models like deferred payments or installment plans were quite common within Academy City.
However, unlike the external systems based on personal credit, companies in Academy City primarily used Scholarship Level as their reference point.
These commercial entities would decide whether to offer such payment methods based on a student's Scholarship Level and the value of the goods.
As a Student Representative, Natsume naturally met this company's requirements for deferred payment perfectly.
"Sonoko-chan, I've found that this Meigo Arisa would be perfect as a spokesperson for Kanamin-chan," said Tomoyo, resting her chin in her hand with a look of keen interest.
Her round face framed by pink hair was very cute, she was a first-year high school student like most people in Academy City, and she had high visibility.
"Of course, Meigo-senpai is the most popular star in Academy City," Natsume said, putting down her phone and focusing a bit more, her tone full of agreement.
As one of Meigo-senpai's fans, Natsume promptly recommended her to her mother.
Thanks to Shirai-san and the others, Meigo-senpai's songs had spread throughout Academy City, making her the undisputed big star she was now.
Due to some special circumstances, many major corporations hadn't extended offers to her yet, and this senpai was still performing on the streets and online.
"Then it's settled. Once the company officially opens for business in Academy City, we'll invite this Arisa to attend the Daidouji Group's product launch event," Tomoyo said with a firm nod and a soft smile.
The Daidouji Group's work in Academy City essentially revolved around a certain bun-girl. Whatever Natsume requested, a certain lady was prepared to fulfill.
"Great!"
Her mind still occupied with other matters, Natsume immediately brightened up. This probably counted as the first piece of good news today.
But ever since a little while ago, something had been nagging at Natsume.
It had been nearly two hours since the final morning event ended.
Even accounting for Shokuhou-senpai's notoriously slow movement speed, unless she was walking, that was more than enough time for a round trip to the Juvenile Correctional Facility.
Given that senpai's character, her chosen transport would have to be at least a car or something equivalent.
Yet, even now, Natsume hadn't received any message from that senpai.
Although information from Shokuhou-senpai's side often had a lag, Natsume Sonoko still held strong confidence in her.
Pulling out her phone, she composed a message carefully and sent it off after about ten seconds.
Natsume was waiting for the blonde girl to report success, ready to crush the forces hiding in the shadows in one fell swoop.
Speaking of which, Natsume recalled the attack on herself not long ago.
Because the number of participants in the Level 6 Shift Project had reached a terrifying scale, she couldn't identify who was behind the attacker at the time.
But whoever still couldn't let go of the Sisters now was undoubtedly far more suspicious.
As the bun-girl silently prepared to resolve both matters simultaneously, a trace of confusion suddenly flickered across her face.
The Level 6 Shift Project was undoubtedly over. The Tree Diagram and its remnants were gone, the related research institutes had been disbanded or dissolved, and Accelerator, the primary subject, had explicitly withdrawn.
While the path to restarting the experiment might technically still exist, the possibilities were essentially all blocked.
Under these circumstances, what exactly did the other party plan to do with the Misaka Network?
Unable to figure out their true goal, and with no recall of those so-called soul memories, Natsume felt utterly perplexed.
--+--
The afternoon events started on schedule, and the students of Tokiwadai Middle School were once again running all over Academy City.
Compared to the older students, the first-years had it relatively easier.
Natsume had no events at this time, allowing her to free up some time to watch others compete.
No reply to her email, phone calls going straight to voicemail. Communication was completely down.
Abandoning her plan to watch Misaka-senpai's Balloon Hunter event, Natsume headed instead to the sports ground of Suzuran High School in District 7.
The aforementioned lady naturally came along too. Before they could even find seats, Natsume was surrounded by a group of Tokiwadai girls.
Natsume recognized most of them; they were all members of the Queen's faction at school.
"Did Shokuhou-senpai not come for the relay race?" Natsume Sonoko asked tentatively, looking around but failing to spot Shokuhou.
"No. And ever since the Queen left the main stadium this morning, we haven't received any word from her at all," said a completely unaware Hokaze Junko, the anxiety beginning to show as she grasped the severity of the situation.
There was no hint of the Queen's disappearance in Hokaze-senpai's memory, but the feeling of unease had been steadily growing.
It became especially acute when the Queen didn't appear for the relay race she was supposed to run in, forcing another available member of the Queen's faction to take her place at the last minute.
If anyone at Tokiwadai Middle School truly cared about the aloof Mental Out, this third-year with purple princess curls was certainly one of them.
"She clearly said she'd be back in time for the afternoon race, but she's still missing. We can't reach her by phone or online, she's not at school or the dorm, and even checking the security cameras hasn't shown any trace of the Queen."
Hiding her growing unease, her expression finally steadying, Hokaze-senpai began explaining the situation thoroughly to Natsume.
Truly worthy of being the second-in-command of the Queen's faction, she made what she believed was the optimal choice in mere seconds.
If the Queen was truly in trouble, seeking help from the other Level 5s within the same school was undoubtedly the best course of action.
She wasn't sure if Misaka-san would be willing to help, but the #8, who had a connection with their Queen, would surely be easier to deal with.
Just this morning, she'd even overheard the two of them chatting and laughing about a certain Railgun's childish taste in cartoon underwear.
Of course, that was probably a false memory implanted by a certain blonde.
"Natsume-san, are you okay?" Hokaze-senpai asked softly, noticing the bun-girl seemed to have spaced out.
It seemed this underclassman might actually know something.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment," Natsume said. "I understand the situation with Shokuhou-senpai. I'll help find her."
She took a sharp breath, feeling her heart give a sudden lurch.
Something might have really happened to Shokuhou-senpai.
'If anything can go wrong, it will, no matter how small the possibility' – that particular law suddenly popped into Natsume's head.
"Is there anything we can do to help? Whatever we can manage," Hokaze-senpai asked, a hint of hesitation on her face as she looked down slightly at Natsume.
"Not for now, thank you. I think I already have an idea of where Shokuhou-senpai went," Natsume said, forcing a small smile and shaking her head.
From the very start, there was only one place Shokuhou-senpai would have gone: the District 10 Juvenile Correctional Facility.
If something went wrong, it must have happened there.
A good girl like Natsume Sonoko had naturally never been to such a place, but the internet was full of all sorts of rumors, so she wasn't completely unfamiliar with it.
Powered suits for suppressing inmates, various armed mercenaries, sniffing robot dogs, sonic weapons – that was just the basic setup.
For Shokuhou-senpai to be in a state where contact was impossible, it meant she must have encountered a serious problem.
Otherwise, even if her phone was broken, she could have just controlled any passerby to make a call.
In a situation where the specifics were unknown, she couldn't just drag Hokaze-senpai and the others into it recklessly.
Shokuhou-senpai's decision to avoid Hokaze Junko and the others was partly due to this consideration.
However, Natsume Sonoko didn't completely rule it out either. After all, calling for backup was one of her standard tactics, even if Natsume always tended to overthink things.
"Really? That's a relief," the members of the Queen's faction sighed in unison. The #8 was so reliable, completely different from the rumors.
"Speaking of which, Natsume-san still has her own afternoon events. Why don't we handle your races for you?" Hokaze Junko suggested, smoothing her tracksuit and speaking earnestly.
She quickly picked up on the fact that the #8 didn't intend for them to get involved, and that the Queen herself had been deliberately hiding things.
"Huh? Is that allowed?" Natsume tilted her head, suddenly surprised. Could you really get substitutes in the Daihaseisai?
"It's within the official rules. If a participant is injured or unable to attend, and the school doesn't forfeit, another available student can temporarily take their place," Hokaze Junko explained.
"I see. But I'll make it back before my event starts," Natsume insisted.
--+--
Rapid transit between two locations, emphasizing saving time and maximizing efficiency, was practically Natsume's specialty.
While her flight speed was far lower than that of various advanced technological flight equipment, in the realm of individual mobility, she could be called a veritable whirlwind within Academy City.
The little whirlwind watched the Queen's faction members leave, her head bowed as she lost herself in thought.
Things seemed to have gotten complicated, and it was the kind of trouble that came out of nowhere.
But just then, a Six Wings flew overhead. Somewhere, another incident worthy of Academy City's attention had broken out.
This specialized equipment of Academy City wasn't just outfitted with numerous advanced weapons; its maximum speed reached a staggering Mach 2.5. This wasn't achievable through rotors alone, thanks mainly to the two powerfully thrusting jet engines mounted on its rear.
Due to this insane, almost inhuman design, the Six Wings were almost exclusively unmanned. The G-forces from instantaneous acceleration and the noise alone would kill any pilot.
It wasn't a conventional helicopter at all, more like a highly mobile aerial weapons platform.
"I really should have gone with Shokuhou-senpai," Natsume muttered, biting her lip. She felt she had indeed been too complacent, her attention perfectly divided. Otherwise, she absolutely would have accompanied Shokuhou-senpai.
She had been waiting comfortably for intel from others, trying to handle everything perfectly, unwilling to let go of anything she wanted. It was the slight arrogance of a would-be master of time management.
But reality was reality. Natsume's good luck didn't seem to extend to others, or perhaps she didn't even have enough for herself.
So, as reality's retaliation, a series of unforeseen events had occurred, thoroughly derailing Natsume's various plans.
"What should I do? Go to the Correctional Facility now?" Glancing at Tomoyo not far away, Natsume felt a moment of hesitation. But hesitation was like a soap bubble, quickly vanishing without a trace.
No matter what, confirming the senpai's safety was the top priority.
Shokuhou-senpai seemed powerful, but she had clear weaknesses.
Natsume knew this perfectly well, yet had chosen to ignore it, because she thought Mental Out was truly formidable, so formidable that even she couldn't resist.
After all, no matter how developed her own brain was, capable of perceiving external matter movement down to the microsecond, even simulating the trajectory of a projectile the instant Misaka-senpai raised her hand and released heat – a brain comparable to a supercomputer, enough to drive an ordinary person to despair – this bun-girl had zero control over the inside of her own brain.
However, because a Level 5's brain was so highly developed, the difficulty of intrusion increased exponentially.
The sheer volume of data that needed processing in a short time could overwhelm ordinary Level 4 Mental Control espers.
Natsume, whose mental defense basically relied on brute-force processing power, blindly idolized her golden-haired senpai who had maxed out her mental stats.
"And the Juvenile Correctional Facility is in District 10, which is directly south of our district."
Natsume Sonoko looked up slightly, watching the Six Wings hurry past high in the sky, two long contrails streaming from its rear.
That Six Wings seemed to be heading south too.
--+--
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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.