This is an Actor: "If one skips meals just for the sake of acting cool, that would be far too pathetic."
Book Artist: "The point we're discussing isn't whether you eat or not, but the fact that you, the mastermind behind the scenes, actually cooked for them yourself! Shouldn't that kind of thing be left to your subordinates?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "It seems Eriri-chan still doesn't understand what Anran-san meant. What he really meant was... in this entire Pure Land, food made by anyone other than him is completely inedible."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Is it really that bad?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Does 'anyone other than him' include you and Nagato?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "I... I still know how to grill fish."
This is an Actor: "Indeed. If you can accept the premise that it is unseasoned and only half-cooked, it is technically edible."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Phew."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Come to think of it, Master Anran is truly working hard. Are you responsible for the meals of the entire Pure Land?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "How is that possible! Those Arrancars aren't worthy of eating Anran-san's cooking. They simply aren't worthy."
Shark-Faced Guy: "?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Hahahaha, Kisame-san just sent a question mark."
This is an Actor: "Most Arrancars do not need to eat; absorbing reishi is enough to replenish their internal energy."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Oh, the food is served. [Picture] [Picture]"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Wow, did Anran-san really cook that? It looks delicious!"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Master Anran, you are truly a versatile person."
This is an Actor: "It is merely a matter of interest."
Whether it was cooking, tea ceremonies, or calligraphy, these were all hobbies. However, Aizen treated his hobbies with the same discipline as his primary goals. No matter what he chose to do, he did it to perfection.
Curly-Haired Boy: "Damn it! You're actually posting food porn this late at night? Have you no consideration for the feelings of a prison inmate? I'm hurt, Gintoki-san is hurt! Hand over that plate of bright red meat immediately, or my wounded heart will never be whole!"
Book Artist: "Forget it. Your heart will never be full. At best, you'll only fill your stomach, and then it will just turn into useless fertilizer—just like you."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Shut up, you blonde loser! What's wrong with fertilizer? Do you look down on fertilizer? Don't forget that the vegetables you eat are all grown with the stuff!"
Book Artist: "My apologies. I don't look down on fertilizer; I only look down on you!"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Eriri-chan, Gintoki-san... you two are at it again. And talking about fertilizer while people are eating? How rude!"
District 7, Cat Ears Café.
Ruiko Saten looked helpless, feeling as though she had to act as a mediator between those two every single day.
"Saten-san, I'm so sorry," a soft voice interrupted her thoughts. "Am I late?"
"Yeah—" Ruiko dragged out the word as she stood up. She walked over to her friend, who was wearing a flower garland on her head. "So, I'm going to have to punish you!"
She reached out and began to tickle her friend's armpits.
"Ahahaha! Saten-san, stop! It tickles..." Kazari Uiharu twisted her petite body, but she couldn't escape Ruiko's mischievous hands. Only when Uiharu's face turned bright red did Ruiko finally stop.
"You're really sensitive, Uiharu."
"Oh, it's all your fault, Saten-san." Uiharu turned her head away, pouting. "You always like to play pranks!"
"Hey, that's just because Uiharu is so cute." Ruiko raised her eyebrows slightly, mimicking a seasoned delinquent. "If I didn't bully her a little, I'd feel like I was being impolite."
"No, that's not it! That's actually very rude!" Uiharu complained loudly, before suddenly changing the subject. "By the way, I was delayed because I saw something really strange."
"How strange?" Ruiko picked up a spoon, preparing to stir some sugar into Uiharu's coffee.
Uiharu rested her index finger on her chin, looking thoughtful. "Hmm, I think I saw two Misaka-sans. One of them was wearing goggles?"
Clatter.
Ruiko dropped the spoon on the table and stood up abruptly. "Where did you see them?"
Book Artist: "Two Misakas, and one wearing goggles? Does that mean Misaka Mikoto has already met the Sisters?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "I don't know. By the time I got to the location Uiharu gave me, they were gone. I searched the area but couldn't find a trace of them."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Don't worry. If you missed them, you missed them. You've done your best in this matter."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Indeed. It was simply a matter of bad timing."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "I've been thinking about it, and the timing doesn't seem to match. According to the original story of A Certain Scientific Railgun, Misaka-san shouldn't have met them for the first time until June. Today is only May 7th."
This is an Actor: "The plot isn't everything. We cannot rule out the possibility that someone is fanning the flames from the shadows."
Book Artist: "So, Anran-san also believes the one without goggles was Misaka Mikoto herself?"
This is an Actor: "Eighty percent certain."
Shark-Faced Guy: "Is the person behind this that man named Aleister?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Aside from that 'Hanged Man,' who else could it be? The source of all evil and darkness, yet he's packaged as a saint. It's truly ironic."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "If Aleister did this on purpose, what would be his motive?"
This is an Actor: "There is no need to overthink it for now. Ruiko just needs to keep a closer eye on Misaka Mikoto's movements."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Understood."
Aizen shifted his gaze from the group chat and returned his attention to the monitor. In truth, he already had a vague answer. Aleister's decision to let Misaka Mikoto and the Sisters meet early might be related to Ruiko herself.
Aleister, who monitored all of Academy City via the Underline, might have noticed Ruiko's recent abnormalities. However, since this was only speculation, Aizen didn't say it out loud.
Boom!
A loud crash from the monitor interrupted his thoughts. Beside him, Konan also turned an inquiring gaze toward the screen. The wooden round table that had stood at the center of the Five Kage Summit was now shattered into splinters.
Uchiha Madara, having reactivated his Susanoo, stood proudly on the left. Opposite him stood Pain and the leaders of the great ninja villages.
The atmosphere was electric with tension.