Even asleep, Misaka-senpai was as adorable as ever.
Controlling the updraft, Natsume Sonoko formed a somewhat uneven platform, drifting sluggishly through the high altitude at less than a fifth of their original speed.
Her current condition was fairly stable, though she found herself staring blankly at the slumbering Misaka-senpai beside her, her mind wandering to who-knows-what.
As their altitude gradually decreased, Natsume Sonoko slowly descended from the stratosphere, returning to the familiar surface below.
Their final landing spot was a park near the Research Exhibition. No sooner had they touched down than Shirai-san, having gotten word, came rushing over.
"Speaking of which... you didn't take advantage of Onee-sama being unconscious to do anything... untoward to her, did you?"
"Of course not. I'm not like you, Shirai-san."
On the park's leisure bench, Misaka-senpai, seemingly disturbed by the growing noise around her, began to stir from her groggy state.
The moment she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a certain Teleporter's face, etched with tension and worry.
"Thank goodness! Onee-sama is finally awake! Kuroko was so worried!" Shirai-san blurted out without thinking.
"Sorry, Kuroko, for making you worry."
Misaka-senpai's face showed an apologetic expression, though her voice was faint, weakened from her depleted stamina and calculation power.
"Onee-sama~~"
An inexplicable look of emotion flashed across Shirai-san's face before she intensely threw herself onto Misaka-senpai.
"Misaka-senpai, Natsume-san, are you both alright?"
Uiharu, who had just arrived, seemed to witness some incredible scene and hurriedly covered her eyes with her hands.
"Really now, Kuroko, you're just too much."
Having regained some strength, a rather irritated Misaka-senpai walked ahead by herself, both hands clenched into fists.
"Kuroko just wanted to check if Onee-sama was injured, that's all."
Trailing behind Misaka-senpai with a large bump on her head, the middle school girl officially named Shirai but practically synonymous with 'pervert' looked utterly wronged.
As she walked, she strategically positioned herself, blocking a certain bun hairstyled girl from getting too close to her Onee-sama.
"What is it, Onee-sama?"
Unable to stop her steps in time, Shirai-san bumped into Misaka-senpai, who had frozen in place ahead.
Clunk.
A drink tumbled out from the park's vending machine, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
An elementary school kid, happily sporting a newly won pink Gekota finger puppet, walked past Misaka-senpai, curiously eyeing these disheveled older sisters.
His gaze, however, lingered on Natsume Sonoko with a puzzled tilt of his head.
"Misaka-senpai, I really can't drink any more."
Natsume Sonoko rubbed her stomach, already holding two drink cans in her hands.
Though sweet and tasty, the rice ball from earlier hadn't digested yet, and the drinks made her belly feel bloated.
In her quest to win the pink Gekota, Misaka-senpai had suddenly decided to treat everyone to drinks, and things had spiraled from there.
Nearby, Shirai-san and Uiharu both wore pained expressions, watching with intense focus as Misaka-senpai inserted the final hundred-yen coin.
"I got it! I got it!"
A pink Gekota finger puppet fell out along with a drink. Misaka-senpai's breathing grew heavy.
A thoroughly satisfied smile spread across her face as Misaka-senpai couldn't help but let out a triumphant cheer.
"Really, Onee-sama and her childish tastes," Shirai-san shook her head, then winced as she accidentally aggravated the bump on her head.
The issues at the Research Exhibition were winding down. Now, the Judgment members were just left with the task of helping clean up the scattered Powered Suit fragments.
The accumulated water caused by Natsume-san had also begun to recede, and even the obstructions in the pipes had been cleared.
"Janie is already awake?"
Rushing from the Exhibition all the way to the hideout, Misaka-senpai saw two identical Febrie the moment she stepped inside.
Two Febries?
But upon closer inspection, one could tell them apart by the number of ahoge on their heads.
"Mikoto, here!"
The Febrie with two ahoge, spotting the suddenly appearing Railgun, bounded over joyfully. The other one, Janie, watched on with curious eyes.
In stark contrast to the treatment Shirai-san received, Misaka-senpai happily picked up Febrie and lifted her high into the air.
This drew an envious look from Shirai-san, who had followed them in.
Onee-sama's loving demeanor is just the best.
"Pardon the intrusion," Uiharu said as she entered.
"Nunotaba-senpai."
"Wow, Janie and Febrie really are identical!" came the voice of Natsume Sonoko from the back of the group.
Right after entering, she spotted the tightly bound members of the Dark Side. The girl couldn't help but give them a few extra glances. 'So these are the guys who bullied Nunotaba-senpai and Febrie?'
They seemed rather weak for the Dark Side, just plain researchers.
Compared to some Dark Side groups backed by powerful espers, this bunch, composed entirely of weaklings, could probably be called the disgrace of the Dark Side.
"Not long ago, the master computer here received a massive influx of calculation power from the 'Sisters,' which is what allowed 'Janie' to wake up smoothly."
Nunotaba's face remained as expressionless as ever, though a hint of gratitude surfaced when she mentioned the Sisters.
Even though she kept saying it was to repay the debt from when she input the emotional programs for them, that was something she owed them in the first place.
"So it was the 'Sisters,'" Misaka-senpai nodded thoughtfully upon hearing Nunotaba's words.
It seemed the Misaka Sisters were the undisputed MVPs today.
"When we first met Febrie, she mentioned my name and Natsume-san's. I've always been curious about that," Misaka-senpai continued after a moment's thought.
"My apologies. It was indeed I who told Febrie. At the time, I didn't have many options, which is how I ended up dragging you both into this."
Nunotaba rose to her feet, her face full of remorse.
"There's really no need to apologize. Getting to know Febrie and Janie has already made me very happy."
A look of understanding dawned on Misaka-senpai's face as she quickly waved her hands in dismissal.
"Ah, there's one more thing I haven't told you all yet."
Nunotaba's expression suddenly turned serious.
"The neutralization agent data you retrieved from the unmanned factory last time, Misaka-san... it was actually fake."
--+--
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.