After Yoshino's persuasion, the argument between Suzuya Yuriko and Shiina finally subsided.
Honjou Nia's attempt to express her gender by stripping naked was ultimately prevented. Toujou Nozomi and the other two had spent some time with her. As girls, they occasionally saw some fan service scenes, so they could confirm the fact that Honjou Nia was a girl.
Moreover, Honjou Nia just had a more neutral appearance, and her breasts were a bit small, but these were all understandable things, weren't they? A flat chest is a rare resource, after all! The saying 'How can one pacify the world without a flat chest?' refers to this very principle! Besides, wouldn't a beautiful girl who looks more like a boy be more exciting? It's better than a beautiful girl with big breasts, right?
They sat in the living room, drinking tea and chatting. Although there was a time difference between their worlds, being able to see Yoshino was still a joyous occasion. At this moment, Yoshino sat beside Kousaka Honoka, with Suzuya Yuriko also seated nearby.
"I really envy you all. You get to be with Yoshino and see what other worlds are like. You know, our side just started vacation, so it's fine even if we leave for a while. If our families worry, we can hint that Koto and the others are just staying at a friend's house for a while. It hasn't been long since Koto and the others were taken away by the magic circle. It seems the time flow difference between our two worlds is still quite significant."
Kousaka Honoka pouted as she looked at Minami Kotori. This was her best friend, who she had grown up with, yet she could be summoned by Yoshino. Did they have some kind of shady deal? She was unwilling! She also really wanted to see what other worlds were like.
"Can't you tell from the choice of summoned people this time, Honoka? Yoshino chose one person from each grade, which avoids anyone feeling unbalanced. Koto was lucky to be chosen by Yoshino. Besides, I'm more at ease with Koto being by Yoshino's side. If you, Honoka, were by Yoshino's side, you would only cause her trouble." Although Sonoda Umi also felt a bit disappointed, having been raised in the Yamato Nadeshiko tradition since childhood, she didn't complain. She felt that Yoshino's choice of these three people was correct; it was good to have them look after Yoshino. If Kousaka Honoka went, then she would worry about Yoshino.
"What do you mean I'd only cause trouble? Little Umi is so mean. I would help out too! You make it sound like I only cause trouble for others." Kousaka Honoka expressed her displeasure. Why say that about me? Is there really a gap between people? I, Honoka, will not yield! You must explain yourself today!
"Then tell me, what help would you provide Yoshino if you went? Honoka, who doesn't cause trouble. Haven't you caused enough trouble for me and Koto since we were little? Now you're preparing to wreak havoc on Yoshino, right?" Sonoda Umi merely gave Kousaka Honoka a faint glance in response to her words. Facts speak louder than words; there was nothing more to say.
"Ugh~ If I went, I would... I would..." Kousaka Honoka, unable to argue, lowered her head, submitting to the majesty of Umi's expressive face. Thinking about it carefully, it seemed she couldn't do anything other than cheer for Yoshino. Her ability to learn magic wasn't as strong as Toujou Nozomi's; currently, she had only strengthened her physique.
"Alright, let's not talk about these things now. Let's hear if anyone else has something to say." Minami Kotori habitually tried to persuade them. After all, this matter concerned her, so she had to say a few words. Moreover, she could guess the reason Yoshino called her; it should be related to how she comforted Yoshino back then.
Thinking of this, Minami Kotori looked at Yoshino, who was sitting to the side. Gazing at Yoshino's rosy lips, she reached out and gently touched her own lips. Remembering the scene that night when Yoshino actively hugged her, she smiled happily. Even with Toujou Nozomi, Yoshino hadn't behaved like that. It seemed she had taken great advantage that night. If not for what happened that night, perhaps she wouldn't have been summoned by Yoshino.
"If there's anything recent, it's about Teacher Kiyama," Saten Ruiko recalled, tapping her chin. "At that time, Senior Misaka and Senior Yuriko helped Teacher Kiyama deal with that person named Therestina. She wanted to capture Teacher Kiyama's students back to conduct the final experiment of the 'Capacity Body Crystal,' but she was easily defeated by Senior Yuriko and arrested by Security Officers."
And I had a great showing in that matter. Although Capacity Down could affect Misaka Mikoto, my ability was granted by Yoshino and didn't belong to the type of ability in Academy City that required calculations to activate. So, I easily solved this problem, which made Misaka Mikoto look at me with new eyes.
"Hmph! What 'arrested'? She just moved to another place to continue her research. You know, Academy City has so many more insane researchers than her, and they're all doing just fine. Moreover, as Kihara Gensai's granddaughter, the Board of Directors of Academy City wouldn't let such an excellent researcher be locked up." Suzuya Yuriko scoffed, taking a sip of tea indifferently, completely dismissing Saten Ruiko's words. 'Detention' was just a deceptive term; the Disciplinary Committee Members were merely a joke.
"You should know that while those Disciplinary Committee Members are there to maintain public order in Academy City, they only deal with trivial matters. The real darkness has not been fully revealed. Saten Ruiko, the reason I'm telling you this now is because you possess the power granted by Yoshino, which has allowed you to escape your original fate as a Level 0 (Ability User). However, your phenomenon has already broken Academy City's aptitude assessment. You see, the extent to which each person's ability can develop is already predetermined. The so-called 'abilities can evolve with effort' is just a lie. Now that someone has appeared who breaks this aptitude assessment, Academy City's scientists will definitely be very interested in you."
Even if General Chairperson Aleister knew of Yoshino's existence behind Saten Ruiko, he couldn't restrain his subordinates. This situation would happen sooner or later.
"So, don't naively think that Academy City is still the bright place you imagine it to be. This kind of darkness will happen to you sooner or later." Propping her right hand on her head, she looked at Saten Ruiko, whose face had visibly darkened, and showed a 'pleased' smile. "If you don't become stronger now, then those around you will be captured and used as targets to force your compliance. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
As Academy City's Number One Esper, how much darkness of Academy City she had witnessed no longer needed to be specially brought up. These scientists were backed by the Board of Directors, so they would completely disregard the other party's opinions when conducting experiments and simply push them to their deaths. If they died, there were many substitutes, and they didn't feel that anything they did was wrong. They believed that everything they did was for the development of Academy City and was fundamentally correct.
"It's just like my world. You know, in our world, many people deal with Spirits with the intention of slaying them. But these are just superficial statements. In reality, some people are fascinated by the power of Spirits and try to obtain that mysterious power from them. Just like when I was captured and abused for five years, they wanted to extract the power within me to gain abilities themselves."
Honjou Nia said with some emotion as she listened to Suzuya Yuriko's description. Indeed, such things would appear in every world. Where there is good, there must be evil, and the scariest thing is that those who represent evil do not believe they have done anything wrong.
Honjou Nia's memories were not sealed by a miniature Manifestation Device implanted in her brain by DEM Industries as in the original story, so she remembered the five years of abuse clearly. If not for Yoshino as her spiritual pillar, she might have gone insane and inverted as she originally did.
"I really envy your everyday world, without any darkness, just happy school life every day. Even with academic pressure, it's better than the danger of constantly worrying about our lives. However, your willingness to abandon your easy lives and form contracts with Yoshino has changed my opinion of you. My sister has truly made some good friends." Saying this, Honjou Nia looked at Kousaka Honoka and the others with a smile, making them shyly scratch their heads.
"But you all seem to have other intentions towards my sister, that's all." Yes, each of them wanted to monopolize the soft and cute Yoshino. How could they not have other thoughts? Upon hearing Honjou Nia's teasing words, those led by Minami Kotori turned their heads, with only Minami Kotori feeling a little secretly pleased. After all, she had already started taking action, and her actions were going quite smoothly.
"Oh, right! Right! Besides that, I've encountered other things recently!" Saten Ruiko suddenly spoke, seeing the slightly strange atmosphere, wanting to lighten it up. "Recently, I found many scattered bank cards in the alleys of Academy City. These were all cards without passwords, and each contained a certain amount of money. I found a lot of them, Ruiko."
She even put on a proud expression, saying that these bank cards she found had provided her with a lot of living expenses.
However, her words made Yoshino's eyes widen, and she looked at Suzuya Yuriko with a panicked expression. Her eyes were filled with disbelief and shock, making Suzuya Yuriko frown as she looked at Yoshino.
Why was she suddenly looking at her like that?
Note:
Happy Lunar New Year, everyone!
I wish you all a year filled with blessings, success, good fortune, and happiness!
Important Announcement:
I will be on Lunar New Year holiday starting February 15th, 2026, and will return on February 23rd, 2026. During this time, I will focus on resting and spending time with my family.
During my break, I will prepare some new chapters, which I will post regularly after the holiday ends. Please stay tuned — the following parts are very interesting!
Thank you so much for your incredible support. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!