Huddled together, the three oddballs were whispering about who-knows-what.
After taking a quiet sip of hot water, a glimr of understanding dawned in Misaka's eyes.
So that's how it is. Natsu's really sothing else.
By raising Accelerator's body temperature and disrupting his calculations, she'd achieved the ultimate victory without even fighting—just like the highest principle of military strategy.
Paired with Natsu's usually vacant expression, it gave off a real "still waters run deep" kind of vibe.
Nunotaba Shinobu gave a slight nod as well, though she couldn't shake the feeling that sothing was off.
As ntioned before, Accelerator's greatest strength wasn't his Vector Manipulation, but his mind and computational ability.
Even if Natsu's idea, combined with her own ability, was effective, it would require imnse computational power to pull off—sothing a certain bun-headed girl, whose last physical exam still pegged her at Level 4, clearly didn't have.
Natsu had only briefly explained the situation. As soone who considered herself a good student, she felt a little awkward explaining how to pick a fight with soone.
In the end, fights between espers weren't much different from street brawls between delinquents—just with a lot more flash and bang.
"So one of Accelerator's weaknesses is his own humanity," Misaka mused to herself, her dark face thoughtful. "But if you put it that way, since Natsu was able to defeat him, she must be at Level 5."
Watching as both Misaka and Nunotaba quieted down, Natsu breathed an inward sigh of relief. She lifted her gaze to the rising sun outside.
Morning already. Guess it's ti for breakfast.
Her thoughts began to wander, spreading out like the sun's rays.
With all her worries gone, being an ordinary student without a care in the world sounded just perfect.
Maybe on the way back she could stop by the convenience store and pick up a manga. One thing after another had kept her busy lately; it'd be nice to unwind and lose herself in a story.
Co to think of it, it was about ti for Banri and the others to be discharged from the hospital. She'd nearly forgotten—she still needed to properly thank Kiyama-sensei.
If it hadn't been for Reiko last night, things could've ended badly when Natsu ran into Accelerator.
"Now that the Level 6 Shift Project is over, I'll take responsibility for tracking the follow-up arrangents for the Sisters," Nunotaba Shinobu said, rising to her feet with a serious expression.
The end of the project didn't an the Sisters would automatically gain their freedom. There were still complicated procedures ahead—asset transfers, restructuring, and more.
Given the Sisters' unique nature, there was even a risk they could be disposed of as scrap or surplus inventory.
"As compensation for the Sisters, I'll return to the research institute and install an emotional programming package for them. It may not make up for their lack of normal emotional developnt, but it should help their emotions mature more quickly."
Nunotaba's face remained expressionless. She didn't dwell on how Accelerator had been defeated, nor did she share the bun-headed girl's sheer delight that the project had been scrapped.
From this mont on, there was still much she could do—and her ti was growing short again.
"Compensation?" Sonoko Natsu muttered under her breath.
"Yes, compensation. I played a part in this project. I need to atone for my own sins."
Nunotaba made no attempt to hide her involvent in the darker parts of the experint, her tone resolute.
She had been a key participant in both the Radio Noise Project and the Level 6 Shift Project.
Everything she did now, she considered atonent. She could still rember the pure, innocent look on that first Sister's face the day she stepped out of the research facility.
Both Sonoko and Misaka fell silent as they watched Nunotaba walk away.
"Well, we should head back too," Misaka said, pulling herself together and turning to Natsu, who was still on the sofa.
"But I don't think I can walk."
Natsu tried to stand, only to find her left leg wouldn't quite obey. Her face instantly took on a look of pure innocence.
She reached up and touched her forehead—the bump from yesterday was still red and tender.
Turns out, when she'd fallen at the entrance of the abandoned apartnt building, she hadn't just bruised her head. She'd also banged up her left knee. Luckily, it wasn't too serious.
And so, aboard District 7's most common mode of transport, two cleaning robots rolled side by side, sweeping the ground as they carried their uninvited guests back to Tokiwadai Middle School Dormitory.
Before returning to the dorm, the two stopped by Misaka Apartnts to check on the Sisters, change clothes, freshen up, and tend to their injuries with so first-aid supplies.
Once everything was in order, Misaka led Natsu forth, setting out resolutely on the final leg of their journey back.
"Misaka-senpai, I'm kind of nervous."
The bun-headed girl looked uneasy, her face unusually pale, as if she'd just rembered sothing dreadful.
According to dorm regulations, both Sonoko Natsu and Mikoto Misaka had clearly broken the rule against staying out overnight.
With every step closer to the dorm, Natsu's mood soured again, clouded by a sense of impending doom.
"It's fine. We'll just make up an excuse," Misaka said, trying to sound reassuring. Riding a cleaning robot was a brand-new experience for her, too.
"In my experience, 'circumstances beyond our control' works best in situations like this." She'd had a whole year more practice dealing with the dorm supervisor, after all.
"That's a relief."
Natsu nodded hesitantly at Misaka's advice.
-- --
"So, in other words, both Natsu-san and Misaka-senpai have been sentenced to three days of cleaning the cafeteria."
The shining beacon of maidliness, Tsuchimikado Maika, blinked curiously as she watched Misaka pushing a mop across the cafeteria floor.
As for Natsu, owing to her limited mobility, she'd been assigned a rag and was now diligently wiping down tables.
Wringing out the cloth with perhaps more force than necessary, Sonoko Natsu's face was a mask of despair.
For three whole days—morning, noon, and night—she and Misaka-senpai would be stuck cleaning the cafeteria.
Not that she minded helping Maika out, but definitely not under circumstances like these.
Still, when she caught sight of Misaka's earnest, focused expression, the gloom faded from her face. No matter what, the fact that everyone was safe and sound was the best outco they could've hoped for.
-- --
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, 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.
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