A white cylindrical vehicle whizzed past, its wake stirring a breeze that flirted with the skirts of passing schoolgirls.
The weather was fine, and with the holidays approaching, groups of boys and girls filled the streets, their faces bright with anticipation and joy.
She also spotted the little maid, Tsuchimikado, sitting on one of those white cylinders as it spun in place, chattering nonstop to a high school boy in a loud floral shirt sporting a yellow spiky hairstyle.
The high school boy was scratching his head repeatedly, seeming to be thoroughly outmatched by Miss Tsuchimikado in their conversation.
"That must be Tsuchimikado-san's older brother, right? What was his na again?"
Natsu Sonoko's gaze drifted over the familiar face. She rembered Tsuchimikado-san ntioning him before, but she'd never actually shared her brother's na.
She'd seen him sowhere before too. It seed this yellow-spiked guy and that black-spiked guy, Kamijou Touma, were even classmates or sothing.
Sitting atop her own cylindrical ride, even though nobody could see her on the machine, she found herself sitting upright and proper, just like Tsuchimikado-san was.
In her hand, she clutched a pen, agonizing over the application form to leave Academy City.
Even with the noisy surroundings, nothing could break Natsu Sonoko's concentration. The application in her hand remained blank, clearly she was still carefully weighing her words.
The screening process in Academy City was notoriously strict.
If they found fault with your reason right off the bat, you might as well not even apply. It'd be more ti-efficient to just go back to the dorm and read manga.
For the past few years, her applications had never had issues with the form itself. Her reason was always the standard 'visiting family,' but sothing always seed to go wrong during the approval stage.
No matter what, all the information had to be filled out correctly. As for the reason… it was the sa old story: visiting family.
Being a student in Academy City was such a hassle sotis. Even just going ho required jumping through all these hoops.
As she neared her destination, Natsu Sonoko deftly hopped off the cylindrical vehicle and hurried with quick, small steps into the administrative office.
"Miss Natsu, I've received your application. I now need to formally confirm your guarantor. It is your father, Mr. Natsu Ryunosuke, correct?"
The receptionist, dressed in a ladies' suit and carrying an air of authority reminiscent of the Dorm Supervisor, said with a smile.
"That's correct." Natsu Sonoko nodded.
"Well, here's the situation. According to our information, while Mr. Natsu Ryunosuke is a high-ranking official with the Tokyo tropolitan Police, he is currently traveling in Europe and does not et the conditions to act as guarantor at this ti."
The receptionist offered an apologetic smile, which instantly made Natsu Sonoko tense up.
"But he'll be back soon," Natsu Sonoko said, a note of defiance in her voice.
"I'm sorry, but the guarantor must be physically located in Japan. It's a rule set by the Board of Directors, and there's nothing we can do about it here," the receptionist explained patiently.
"Furthermore, your mother, Ms. Natsu Tomoyo, is also not in Japan and does not et the requirents either."
"Excuse , I need to make a phone call first."
Natsu Sonoko pulled out her phone, a hint of embarrassnt on her face, and called a certain Mr. Natsu Ryunosuke.
After a brief conversation, to her imnse surprise, Natsu Sonoko actually managed to pass the guarantor hurdle. The guarantor turned out to be a forr subordinate of Natsu Ryunosuke.
"Alright, so this Mr. Kogoro Mori will act as your guarantor after you leave Academy City. The Academy will subsequently communicate with him."
"He was forrly a detective with the Tokyo tropolitan Police, resigned ten years ago to beco a private detective, and is now a sowhat famous detective in Japan."
The receptionist confird Kogoro Mori's information, accepted Natsu Sonoko's application, and thus completed the initial qualification review.
But this was only the first step. It still had to go through the review of the Board of Directors. Getting the applications through her school and the Anti-Skill office was comparatively much easier.
'Finally done. That was rough. But one thing… that na Kogoro Mori has to be just a coincidence, right?' Natsu Sonoko felt a strange twinge in her heart.
She had to rember, this was the world of Railgun and Index, not the world of a certain boy detective club. Her distant cousin, Natsu Takashi, wouldn't have a cat sensei or a Book of Friends either.
If she could get out, maybe she could find so ti to visit Natsu Takashi.
Hearing that familiar na prompted her to pull out her phone and search for information on Kogoro Mori.
Good. Nothing ca up.
She then searched for the famous detective Kudo Shinichi's na. Nothing there either.
So it really was all just a coincidence.
Actually, Academy City's network was separate from the outside world. So, information from the outside had a hard ti getting inside.
The only outside information that really gained traction in Academy City was probably stuff related to idol stars. News about high school detectives from the outside world was pretty niche, even among niche topics.
Just as she was about to walk out of the office's main door, she nearly bumped into a high school girl who looked anything but ordinary.
Her black hair reached her shoulders, held back by a hairband that pinned her bangs up. She was tall and strikingly noticeable, dressed in a common high school uniform.
She exuded an air of calm rationality that left a strong impression.
"Long ti no see. You're Natsu Sonoko, right? Here to apply to leave Academy City again?" This high school girl had also spotted Natsu, a faint smile appearing on her face.
"Long ti no see?"
Just as Natsu Sonoko was feeling confused, staring at this senior in front of her, a person suddenly ca to mind.
"It's Kumokawa…senpai?"
Natsu Sonoko rembered now. During a previous application visit to this office, she'd t a very articulate senior.
"Heh, looks like you haven't forgotten ."
This senior's na was Kumokawa Seria, now a third-year student at A Certain High School.
"So things never change. Still thinking about leaving Academy City for the holidays?" Kumokawa-senpai asked with a laugh.
Finding a spot to sit in the office, Natsu Sonoko started chatting with Kumokawa-senpai.
"Planning to be away for about fifteen to twenty days, around the Tokyo area… I might actually be able to help with the Board of Directors." Kumokawa-senpai rested her chin on her hand, thought for a mont, then nodded.
"Really?" Natsu Sonoko said, surprised. Thinking about it, this senior did seem to have so connections with the Board.
-- --
"I know I saw it before! The Dorm Supervisor, sneaking around in casual clothes! And she actually put effort into her makeup before going out! There's definitely sothing going on here!"
Shirai pressed down on soone's head before it could even fully rise, her expression grave as she peered stealthily from the gap between two storefronts.
"Now that you ntion it, the Dorm Supervisor has been going out a lot more recently. Not just on her days off, but on regular weekdays too," ca Misaka Mikoto's thoughtful voice from behind.
"Ow, so heavy! Shirai-san, get off !"
Finally managing to escape Shirai's grasp, Natsu Sonoko squatted to the side, visibly displeased.
"You've been acting pretty strange yourself lately, disappearing for days on end. But compared to that, the Dorm Supervisor—that always-grumpy old woman—is way more suspicious," Shirai shot a glance at Natsu Sonoko, her eyes blazing with intensity.
"Shirai, did you just say sothing incredibly rude?"
"I'm just stating facts. Don't worry about the small stuff."
"Could it be a date? She is about that age, I suppose."
Misaka Mikoto's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she watched the not-yet-distant figure of the Dorm Supervisor.
"I think it's a matchmaking eting. Soone like the Dorm Supervisor, who tosses students outside the dorm for fun and punishes us for just ssing around a little with Onee-sama, would never get asked on a real date. Though, anyone willing to et her through a matchmaker must be a brave soul indeed!"
Shirai declared with righteous fury, seemingly recalling nights spent shivering outside the dorm. She moved swiftly, tailing the Dorm Supervisor.
"Shirai-san seems to hold quite a grudge against the Dorm Supervisor," Natsu Sonoko remarked, watching Shirai's determined back with a touch of lant.
"Wait!"
Shirai suddenly threw out an arm, stopping the two behind her. Following Shirai's line of sight, they saw the Dorm Supervisor enter a pizza restaurant.
"A pizza place for a matchmaking eting?" Shirai narrowed her eyes, stroking her chin.
Before they could ponder further, barely half a minute later, the Dorm Supervisor erged carrying a stack of over ten pizza takeout boxes.
"I've got it! The Dorm Supervisor's matchmaking partner must be Italian! And his na must be Marco!" Shirai's face lit up with an expression of sudden understanding, though the theory itself sounded utterly unreliable.
-- --
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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