"Alright. I'll keep an eye out for you."
In response to Yomikawa Aiho's request, Shizuka-sensei agreed without hesitation.
"Thank you, Shizuka-sensei!" Yomikawa Aiho replied, visibly relieved.
Whatever Kobayashi's true intentions were, one thing was certain: he had shown an almost obsessive fondness for Gekota. If that was the case, then gifting him limited-edition Gekota merchandise was guaranteed to hit the mark.
Even the most expensive piece won't go over ten thousand yen. Spending that little to make Nana-kun happy and improve how others see him? That's an absolute bargain.
Yomikawa Aiho calculated silently, feeling rather satisfied with herself.
As his guardian, she really had been worrying herself sick over Kobayashi.
Her concern over his public image stemmed from a troubling development, as of late,e rumors had begun circulating once more. Kobayashi's so-called fearsome reputation was spreading in the shadows of Academy City, taking on the exaggerated form of an urban legend.
It gnawed at her, yet there was little she could do. After all, once something became an "urban legend," even the Anti-Skill couldn't easily suppress its spread.
What made matters worse… was that this particular "urban legend" was actually true.
Because it was true, it was all the more difficult to deal with.
Especially within Anti-Skill itself, if among those who knew the truth,uth the legend only served to repeatedly emphasize Kobayashi's ruthlessness, reinforcing his notoriety again and again.
Yomikawa Aiho couldn't help but worry. Certain people, people like Captain Hayashiki among them, had always maintained a cautious stance toward Kobayashi. This kind of rumor was nothing short of adding fuel to the fire. That was precisely why she'd been doing everything in her power to repair and protect his image.
Originally, Kobayashi's fearsome reputation had circulated only in a limited scope among investigators of the Black Moon Technology case. Due to subsequent information sealing, it never leaked beyond that circle.
However, during the disturbance outside the Artificial Talent Workshop not long ago, things changed.
To help Kobayashi escape the situation and to break the mass psychological suggestion set up by Kihara Gensei, Shokuhou Misaki had resorted to using mass mental manipulation herself.
She reinforced the image of Kobayashi as a bloodthirsty killer in the minds of the Workshop's staff.
The tactic had succeeded in frightening off the crowd surrounding him.
But the lingering side effect was disastrous.
Fear of Kobayashi and the impression of him as a murderous monster had taken deep root in their minds. From there, it spread outward through the Workshop employees, circulating, fermenting… until it eventually made its way back to Anti-Skill and into Yomikawa Aiho's ears.
—If people start seeing him as someone who loves life, is good at housework, and adores Gekota… maybe that'll dilute those nasty rumors, at least a little?
Just as Yomikawa Aiho was feeling quietly pleased with her efforts
Her phone suddenly rang, loud enough to feel like it was about to explode.
"Yomikawa! Your Nana-kun just took off again! He's with that girl, Toumi, and they're racing through the streets in a wheelchair! Fast as hell!"
"What?!"
Yomikawa Aiho slammed the brakes in shock, her vehicle screeching to a halt. "Again?! Of all time,s why now?!"
The abrupt stop made Ironclad-wearing Toumi beside her cry out in protest, snapping Yomikawa back to her senses.
She hurriedly asked, "Where did he go?! Which lab is it this time?!"
She knew Kobayashi well enough by now.
If it were a routine request, Toumi wouldn't be accompanying him. And Kobayashi certainly wouldn't be tearing down public roads in his wheelchair.
He always acted with purpose.
The last time he'd raced through the streets like this, it had been Artificial Talent Workshop.
Before that, Black Moon Technology.
"District Five. Exploration Frontier Research Institute."
Captain Hayashiki's voice came through the radio immediately.
"Thank goodness we were monitoring his communications."
Yomikawa Aiho didn't hesitate. She restarted the engine, flipped on the siren, spun the vehicle around, and sped off.
"I'm on my way!"
"All units patrols suspended! All available personnel, converge on District Five immediately!" Captain Hayashiki ordered.
By the time Kobayashi arrived outside the Exploration Frontier Research Institute, faint bursts of gunfire were already echoing from within the building.
"So they've already started," Kobayashi muttered. "Sounds lively."
Toumi Torahachi was even more sensitive to the sound. Her emerald eyes locked onto a specific point on the third floor.
"There," she said softly.
Kobayashi followed her gaze. "That spot?"
"Yeah. Not many shooters, but their firepower's heavy. Assault rifles, I think. Didn't expect a research lab to be packing gear like that."
Even Black Moon Technology's armed guards had only carried shotguns designed primarily for riot suppression.
"Looks like we made it in time," Toumi said, untying the ribbon in her hair as she slipped into combat mode.
Charyōu Taryo had underestimated Kobayashi's mobility.
His wheelchair was far faster than any ordinary vehicle.
Since he didn't have to obey traffic laws, Kobayashi could accelerate without restraint. He'd reached the location in just over ten minutes, half the time Tsuzuri-gane had anticipated.
The institute was situated in a remote area. There were no neighboring buildings, and pedestrian or vehicle traffic was rare. Even with gunfire echoing out, it hadn't drawn much attention yet.
Due to an emergency incident, the facility had entered lockdown.
Doors and windows were sealed tight. Armored shutters had descended, turning the entire structure into a fortress.
Torahachi glanced down at the rapier in her hand, then at the armored building before them, frowning.
"Nana-san… how are we getting inside?"
"Easy," Kobayashi replied. "We smash the door."
He scanned the surroundings—but the streets were spotless. No trash cans, no loose debris. Nothing he could use as a convenient projectile.
Toumi seemed to read his thoughts.
"Kobayashi, earlier on the way here… there was a truck by the roadside.e"
"I can't move something that heavy," Kobayashi cut in.
"Well, you're not planning to throw your wheelchair again, are you?"
"No need," he said, shaking his head. "I came prepared."
The storage compartment in the armrest of his wheelchair popped open.
Two small steel pellets floated out into the air.
Then Kobayashi reversed, putting distance between himself and the entrance until he stopped exactly fifty meters away.
That was the maximum range at which he could exert precise telekinetic control.
One of the steel pellets hovered directly in front of his eyes.
"I've always wanted to try this," Kobayashi murmured, a grin tugging at his lips.
"Railgun."
Kobayashi wasn't an Electromaster. He couldn't manipulate electromagnetic force the way Misaka Mikoto did, by firing coins with raw electromagnetism.
But that didn't mean the concept was beyond him.
At its core, a Railgun was nothing more than a method of launching a projectile.
Misaka Mikoto used her ability to construct an electromagnetic acceleration rail in midair, allowing a metal projectile to continuously accelerate along the path,ath accumulating staggering kinetic energy.
The true strength of the Raillies lay in this continuous acceleration. As long as the projectile remained within the electromagnetic rail, it could keep speeding up, and up, theoretically approaching the speed of light.
That was why a simple coin could become a weapon of terror, giving destructive power in her hands.
And if electromagnetism could do it
Then telekinesis could too.
Within a controllable range of fifty meters, Kobayashi could apply uninterrupted acceleration to a projectile just the same.
(End of Chapter)