Everything you hold dear will one day slip away.
So before that happens, you must cherish every last bit of warmth.
Accelerator stayed quietly near the temporarily prepared cushion, carefully watching over the girl sleeping before him.
Perhaps because she was the control terminal for the Misaka Network, Last Order had been affected the most by the mory virus. It took quite a while before she weakly opened her eyes.
"That person, I think I fell asleep, and I dread of you fighting with Big Sister, Misaka Misaka says while feeling a little confused."
Seeming to feel so intense gazes upon her, Last Order turned her head away sowhat sheepishly and muttered under her breath.
"Ah, now that I ntion it, where am I? Could this be the building that the kind Tokiwadai big sisters prepared for us? Misaka Misaka says, suddenly sounding happy as she rembers sothing."
Clenching her fists and placing them near her chest, Last Order sat up with a start from the cushion.
But her weak body swayed unsteadily, and then she accidentally bumped into a nearby piece of furniture. Clutching her head, she looked utterly pitiful.
"Brat, don't move around right after waking up. If you break anything here, you're paying for it yourself. Honestly, you sure can sleep. Everyone else woke up before you."
"Once you're feeling a bit better, we're leaving this place."
A look of annoyance instantly flashed across his face as Accelerator stood up and spoke coldly.
Whether it was Misaka Mikoto, Natsu Sonoko, or that Level 5 nad Shokuhou Misaki, they all viewed his presence with extre wariness. Subtle precautions were everywhere.
After the crisis was resolved, he had originally intended to discuss the matter of Kihara Gensei's disposal with the Tokiwadai group, but now he'd lost the inclination.
"That person, can I look around? It won't take long. We were out shopping anyway, Misaka Misaka says with shining, hopeful eyes."
"Suit yourself."
He couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. Accelerator replied helplessly; he simply had no effective way of dealing with Last Order.
"So that person is the #1? He doesn't look as scary as the urban legends say."
Not far away, Saten Ruiko gazed at the white-haired boy with a hint of concern, speaking softly to Uiharu Kazari and the others beside her.
"True, rumors are just rumors. Lately, there's even a rumor that Natsu-san is a delinquent who likes throwing people into trash cans. How could that possibly be?"
Uiharu nodded in understanding, voicing no objection.
As soone closely involved who had been around Natsu-san day in and day out for so long, she could confirm those were just baseless rumors.
"But that person is dangerous, nonetheless. And he was the central figure in the Level 6 Shift Project. There's no mistaking that."
The Sisters were gradually waking up, and the sound of their hushed conversations filled the area. With nothing else to do at the mont, Shirai Kuroko had drifted over at so point.
Anyone who caused her Onee-sama distress was an enemy in her book. Even if Accelerator seed to be on their side now, it didn't lessen Shirai-san's internal vigilance.
"Reiko, this is for you. I found so tasty bread in the room, Misaka 9982 says while anticipating Reiko's response and feigning nonchalance."
On the other side of the floor, Misaka 9982 blinked as she watched a dazed young girl, holding an opened package of bread in her hand.
Watching Reiko obediently accept the bread, a subtle expression flickered across Misaka 9982's typically monotone face.
She observed Reiko's eating mannerisms with curiosity, a slight, unconscious curve forming at the corner of her mouth.
"Full… now…"
Swallowing the bread, she let out a childish voice. Reiko's large eyes seed exceptionally innocent as she grasped Misaka 9982's hand with one of her own, acting very affectionate.
"Tak… oyaki… Big Sister's treat… You and …"
Reiko tried to form the sounds from her mory, attempting to say sothing. It seed she recalled a certain soone with bun-shaped hair promising her takoyaki once.
Though still sowhat halting, her aning was clear. Ever since Natsu-san had entered Reiko's life, the pains of growing up had quietly descended upon her.
The crimson hues of dusk slowly rose in the sky as the sun set in the west. The long day was finally coming to an end.
Though only a few hours had passed, it felt like months had gone by. Was this the legendary feeling of a day feeling like a year?
In the corridor of a certain university hospital, Natsu Sonoko stared bitterly at the dense layers of bandages wrapped around her right arm. A sling held it against her chest, and there were also bandages around her calf and abdon, making her feel terribly uncomfortable.
A strong sense of confinent weighed on her heart; she really disliked this feeling.
However, according to Dr. Heaven Canceller, if she didn't want ugly scars on her arm, she needed to apply ointnt and take care to protect the skin properly. That's why she had agreed to have her arm wrapped in these antibacterial bandages.
The injuries on her forehead and other parts of her body had also been properly treated. At a glance, Natsu-san looked like a seriously wounded patient, though her actual injuries weren't that severe.
"Shokuhou-senpai went to deal with the remaining issues regarding Kihara Gensei after getting her wounds treated. Misaka-senpai still needs a full check-up. As for Shirai-san, because of her torn muscles, her required recovery ti has increased by a few more days."
Thinking about what everyone had been through, the certain bun-haired girl found herself the most idle, simply waiting for the bandages to be removed.
She found a chair and sat down. A sudden wave of drowsiness instantly washed over her brain, and her eyelids felt heavy, almost too hard to keep open.
During this period, Natsu-san's emotions had been constantly fluctuating, her nerves stretched taut. Now that everything was resolved, her body finally couldn't hold out any longer.
She glanced around sowhat warily, seemingly deciding there was no danger, and planned to just close her eyes for a little while while waiting for Misaka-senpai and the others to co out. But she quickly fell asleep.
"Natsu-san, the fireworks have started."
She didn't know how long she had slept, but it seed like soone was calling her na.
The drill-haired girl felt muddled and didn't want to move. The voice sounded sowhat familiar. After a mont, she finally opened her eyes.
"How strange, it feels so cramped."
Her mind was a ss. Natsu-san felt like the place she had been sleeping was particularly odd.
Turning her head, she realized she was squeezed into Shirai-san's high-tech wheelchair alongside her, and she was even clinging to Shirai-san's arm.
Shirai-san next to her looked sowhat helplessly at the girl beside her. This one's sleeping posture was rather restless, always wanting to hold onto sothing.
"I asked Shokuhou. She said she isn't coming."
"But we ran into Juufuku-san, who was looking for you, near the dorm. Then we t Kongou-san, Wannai-san, and the others on the way, so we invited them all to watch the fireworks together."
Misaka-senpai stood behind the wheelchair, explaining in a soft voice. She had changed back into her Tokiwadai gym clothes.
Natsu-san was stunned for a second before she ca to her senses. Only then did she notice that the area around them was filled with people.
"And Natsu-san, you don't need to worry. We've already contacted your mother. It's fine if we stay out late."
Uiharu chuckled, the flowers in her hair gently swaying, giving off a feeling that everything was under control.
The fireworks were beautiful.
A riot of color, fiery trees and silver flowers, the sky filled with light and shadows that blotted out the night, even obscuring the eternal starlight.
The first night of the Daihasei Festival was filled with a bit more noise and a little less of the stifling pressure that had been weighing on their chests.
Several hard-working cleaning robots weaved through the bustling crowds. From ti to ti, one could see patrolling Anti-Skill teachers, and spherical cara drones flying about were everywhere.
But the most pervasive thing was the festive atmosphere. The only things reflected in everyone's eyes were the mottled afterimages of color.
Different from ordinary days, even the Tokiwadai dormitory had extended its lights-out ti, giving Natsu-san and the others more ti to wander outside without worrying about the Dorm Manager's scolding.
Perhaps because she had just taken a nap, Natsu Sonoko's ntal state had recovered considerably. However, while watching the fireworks, she seed a bit distracted. But judging from the suppressed smile on her face, her mood was probably quite good.
"It's really wonderful that we can watch the fireworks together."
Natsu Sonoko stared blankly at the brilliant night sky, a peculiar feeling stirring in her heart.
There were so many things worth treasuring, and Natsu-san didn't want to let go of a single one. The things she fought with all her might to protect had never changed.
She was a very greedy girl.
"It's a parade float! The one performing on it seems to be Arisa!"
Noticing sothing interesting, Saten-san excitedly pointed towards a street not far away that was already buzzing with noise.
"Eh?"
Natsu Sonoko snapped back to attention, her gaze following the pointing finger.
The nightti parade in Academy City had many events, and the fireworks at six o'clock were just one of them.
The streets were rather dark now, as the streetlights had been turned off early for the event.
As the floodlights on the float lit up, several multicolored beams of light rotated rhythmically. Adorned with nurous LED lights, the float shone in concert with the fireworks in the sky.
The moving stage stood five or six ters above the ground, making it easy for people to see the figures on it.
Dressed in gorgeous attire, igo Arisa held her hands high, making her particularly conspicuous within the parade float procession.
Around her were so well-known celebrities from Academy City's entertainnt world—though, frankly, Natsu-san didn't recognize many of them.
"Arisa!"
A wave of cheers instantly erupted from the crowd, as if the most popular singer in Academy City had appeared.
After the previous space elevator incident, igo-senpai's popularity had skyrocketed. A heartfelt song always easily touches people.
"Do your best, igo-senpai!"
Infected by the crowd's energy, Natsu-san also beca sowhat excited, her face flushed and looking very healthy.
Although this senpai ultimately hadn't been able to stand on the grand, much anticipated stage, for a singer, having people who love your voice is enough.
"Natsu-san is certainly full of energy. She seems very healthy, so Juufuku-san doesn't need to worry."
Holding a fan to her lips and specially wearing festive attire, Kongou-senpai spoke with considerable confidence to the double-bun-haired girl beside her.
"Yes. But the bandages on her are too frightening."
Blending into the crowd almost unnoticed, Juufuku Miho nodded absently.
Natsu-san had encountered danger again. But what could I even do about it?
-- --
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!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.
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