"This is a variable."
An ethereal voice resounded.
Inside the windowless building, in one corner of the container, a golden figure that seed to have a feminine form appeared out of thin air.
She walked up to the container.
"Her actions are not within your calculations."
"…"
Tears, tears!
Bubbles rose in the solution.
Although the upside-down person in the container did not open his mouth, he made a sound for the first ti.
"Aiwass, how can she evade the UNDER_LINE to communicate? What stands behind her?"
"Aleister, you don't need to ask such a thing. You already have the answer."
"She is not in your calculations."
"…"
The upside-down man fell silent.
He was Aleister Crowley— the General Superintendent of Academy City, leader of the science side, residing in this "Windowless Building" of the Seventh District. He had always floated head-down in a life-support device, made of reinforced glass four ters in diater and ten ters long, filled with a red liquid. He entrusted every bodily function to machines. According to his calculations, he would have a lifespan of about 1,700 years. His entire body, including his brain, was in a state of hibernation, most of his thinking likewise assisted by machinery. Using around fifty million nano-sized devices known as "UNDER_LINEs" scattered throughout Academy City to gather information, he knew everything happening in every corner of this city.
Yet at that mont, neither Misaka Mikoto's operations nor Shokuhou Misaki's actions were within his calculations.
Just as Aiwass had said— She was a variable.
…
The next day. A weekend morning.
Rei Ao left Kato gumi's house. gumi was in a deep sleep. Kato Hiromi seed to be avoiding him; she was already out of the house early. Rei Ao just smiled at that. He figured he would let everything unfold naturally.
[Chat Group – This World Group]
Kawasaki Saki: "@Rei Ao, are you there…?"
Rei Ao: "Mhm, I thought you wouldn't co looking for anymore."
Seeing Kawasaki Saki's ssage, Rei Ao wasn't surprised. He certainly hadn't forgotten what they discussed before.
Kawasaki Saki: "Um, is it okay if I co over to your place right now?"
Rei Ao: "No problem. Co on over."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "? What's going on?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Oh, it's nothing. Kawasaki-san is just going to Rei Ao's house for a part-ti job."
Kobayashi: "A part-ti job? Papa-katsu?"
Kawasaki Saki: "Huh?"
Shin: "Mommy, what's papa-katsu?"
Machida Sonoko: "Papa-katsu is basically a type of compensated dating, where one sells their body."
Shin: "Oh, that sounds pretty bad."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "@Kawasaki Saki, are you doing papa-katsu?"
Kawasaki Saki: "No way!"
Yuigahama Yui: "Uh, sensei, you've got it all wrong." Yuigahama Yui: "Kawasaki-san is just going to Rei Ao's house to do so housework part-ti for extra money."
Kawasaki Saki: "Yeah, my family is short on funds at the mont."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Oh, I see. If you have any difficulties, let know. But definitely stay away from papa-katsu."
Rei Ao: "It's not that you can't do it."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Huh?"
Kawasaki Saki: "???"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Uh… Rei Ao-kun, did you just say sothing really outrageous?"
Rei Ao: "If you're going to do papa-katsu, you can look for . But don't go to anyone else. I'll definitely pay you a lot."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Rei Ao-kun, please don't mislead others."
Rei Ao: "Haha, just kidding."
Rei Ao: "Anyway, you can co over anyti."
Kawasaki Saki: "Got it, I'll be there in a bit."
Futaba Rio: "Rei Ao, tell Futaba I want to see her."
Rei Ao: "Oh? She should be able to see that herself."
Futaba Rio: "What are you implying?"
Futaba Rio: "Let's talk in person. I'll send you the address. Make sure you wear a disguise."
Futaba Rio: "Okay."
Eriri: "Ummm, watching them talk with the sa na is still a bit unsettling."
Sayuri: "Haha, looks like talking to oneself. It's pretty amusing."
Sayuri: "By the way, @Sakurajima Ai, @Hiratsuka Shizuka, @Machida Sonoko, @Kobayashi, any of you have ti? I think it'd be nice for us 'older won' in the group to get together."
Kobayashi: "Uh, sorry, I… have to finish so leftover work."
Miura Yumiko: "Weekend work? Wow… you really are a top-class corporate drone."
Kobayashi: "Don't say that!"
Sayuri: "That's a sha. There'll be another chance."
Sakurajima Ai: "I have ti."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "No problem."
Machida Sonoko: "Ah, well, that depends on whether a certain person who loves to procrastinate finishes my manuscript. Right, my dear Utaha~?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "…Fine."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "I'll give it to you before noon!"
She definitely didn't want to make Machida Sonoko miss a group etup because of a delayed manuscript.
Sayuri: "Everyone can co to my place."
Rei Ao: "Are you not going to invite ?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Why would we invite you?"
Rei Ao: "Obviously so I can… do things."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "???"
Machida Sonoko: "…Uh, I think I get it."
Sayuri: "Ahem… let's not go there…"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "You really are sothing else…"
With just one line from Rei Ao, the group chat was imdiately overwheld by awkward silence.
After he said that, Mai—who had been sitting beside him—moved to the far end of the couch.
"Mai, why are you moving so far away?"
Mai rolled her eyes at him and spat out coldly, "Pervert."
"Hey, I was just making a little joke." Rei Ao stuck out his tongue (sowhat sheepishly).
Truth be told, he was doing a bit of subtle testing. Maybe his "party" would work out soday. Saying he's a pervert might not be entirely wrong.
At this mont, Futaba (the one who lives with him) ca out of her room in a different outfit. She even put on a hat for a disguise.
"Rei Ao-kun, I'm heading out."
"Hold on."
Rei Ao got up and walked over to her. Under her puzzled gaze, he reached out and straightened the hat that was tilted slightly. Then he naturally bent forward and kissed the corner of her mouth.
"Take care."
"Mm."
Futaba left with a sweet smile on her face.
…
anwhile, on the other side, the other Rio Futaba, who also stepped out of her house, was not at all in a cheerful mood. She lightly touched the corner of her lips. She was already familiar with that sensation, yet still couldn't help feeling complicated inside.
~~~
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