The ceiling was sleek and bright, the sharp scent of disinfectant hung in the air, and the sound of hurried footsteps rose and fell around her.
Shirai-san lay flat on her back on the stretcher, one arm raised high, struggling as she watched her Onee-sama grow further and further away, until she was finally wheeled into the emergency surgery operating room.
"She's really reckless, pushing herself that hard even when she was already so badly injured."
Natsume watched silently as the stretcher disappeared around the corner before she finally snapped out of it and spoke.
Until just before dinner today, everything had been perfectly fine. Natsume Sonoko had even been discussing the Daihaseisai with a high school girl.
But then she'd suddenly been dragged into the incident involving the remains of the Tree Diagram, and Shirai-san had ended up grievously injured.
This city really doesn't allow for boredom, does it? Something's always happening, one turmoil after another crashing down.
She remembered her first few years in Academy City being quite peaceful.
Every day was just going to school and coming home, sometimes heading to the underground shopping streets in various school districts to hunt for treasures she liked.
You'd only occasionally hear about some incident from others; it mostly fit the setting that Academy City was safe.
But perhaps because she'd gotten involved in the so-called plot, it felt like many recent events had a tendency to escalate.
Under these circumstances, Natsume Sonoko didn't dare slack off in her ability development. Her focus every night before falling asleep was almost entirely on Reiko's side.
And as her ability development deepened, the knowledge stored in Natsume-san's head was clearly insufficient, leading to increasingly complex repetitive verification and probability calculations. Even the processing power on Reiko's side couldn't spit out the results quickly.
Pulling her gaze back, Natsume Sonoko was just about to discuss their late return with Misaka-senpai when she noticed the other girl seemed distracted.
"Misaka-senpai, you don't need to worry so much. Shirai-san will definitely be fine."
Organizing her thoughts, Natsume Sonoko spoke with an air of seriousness.
Misaka-senpai might seem a bit boyish, but she was actually a very thoughtful girl.
A certain bun-girl suspected she might be blaming herself again for Shirai-san's injury, especially since it involved the Tree Diagram's remains.
Not quite knowing how to comfort her, and not asking why she'd rushed off during dinner either, Natsume Sonoko simply stayed quietly by her senpai's side.
"Is that experiment really over? Why does everyone keep getting hurt over that sort of thing, again and again?"
A trace of dejection flickered across Misaka-senpai's face, her mind clearly elsewhere.
"Misaka-senpai, that experiment is over."
"Actually, the remains of that Tree Diagram were destroyed by that Accelerator in the end."
Natsume Sonoko's tone was resolute.
"If you want to change something, you have to pay a price. As long as everyone feels it's worth it, that's what matters. Don't be fooled by how injured Shirai-san looks; deep down, she must be very happy."
Natsume Sonoko stated firmly. She knew that Shirai girl very well.
The emergency room doors opened not long after, and Shirai-san was transferred to a general ward on the third floor.
The doctor on the night shift was a woman in her twenties, recently transferred here from an affiliate hospital of a certain university in School District 13.
That certain university seemed to have considerable influence, with its own subordinate hospitals and institutions in many school districts.
According to this doctor, the wounds inside Shirai-san's body were caused by penetration from a foreign object, with multiple injuries to the quadriceps in her right leg.
While Academy City had many special-effect medicines, she still needed to stay in the hospital for observation for three to five days, with a full recovery taking about half a month.
The unfortunate part was that Shirai-san wouldn't be able to participate in the Daihaseisai.
Come to think of it, Shirai-san had been quite looking forward to the Daihaseisai.
"Can we go see her?"
Misaka-senpai asked with concern.
"Of course. But one thing, it would be best if you could provide the patient's health insurance card by tomorrow. We still need to register her information."
The night shift doctor reminded them.
In Academy City, students didn't need to pay extra medical fees; they provided a universally reimbursable health insurance card.
So you needed to bring this card when going to the hospital, though exceptions could be made for more urgent conditions.
Messages traveled via radio waves, connecting the student dormitory and the Certain University Hospital into one whole.
The Dorm Supervisor's authoritative voice filled the not-so-spacious hospital room, each word carrying a hint of anger.
Excellent. It seemed the results of the previous lecture hadn't been very fruitful. These three repeat offenders were out late together again.
Even without seeing that fearsome face, one could already imagine the scene on the other end.
"And? You're all at the hospital with Shirai now?"
"Mhmm. It'd be too pitiful for Shirai-san to be alone in the hospital," Natsume Sonoko muttered quietly into the phone.
"Dorm Supervisor, we have a very legitimate reason this time."
Shirai-san struggled to sit up in the hospital bed, arguing righteously with the Dorm Supervisor on the other end of the line.
"I see. Shirai, rest well. I've already obtained the hospital documentation."
"However, I found some contraband in your room. Misaka-san is there too, I presume? Have her explain herself properly when she gets back," the Dorm Supervisor continued.
"The Dorm Supervisor must be joking. I don't have any contraband," Misaka-senpai said, a slight tension on her face.
She'd almost forgotten. She'd been so furious earlier upon seeing Shirai-san's injuries that her brain had overheated.
When she was looking for her coins, she'd forgotten to stuff those things back into the doll's belly.
Beep, beep, beep—
Misaka-senpai tried to explain further, but the call was cut off, leaving only the dial tone. The three of them stared at each other for a moment.
"Onee-sama, aren't you going back tonight?"
Having finished her conversation with the Dorm Supervisor, Shirai-san on the bed promptly turned an expectant gaze towards her.
"Mhmm, of course not. A patient can't be left without someone to look after them."
The tension on her face fading, Misaka-senpai's tone was unusually gentle.
"Wonderful! Kuroko is so happy!"
Her face was full of a blissful smile, eyes curved into crescent moons.
Shirai Kuroko tightly wrapped her arms around Misaka-senpai's waist, making the certain Railgun slightly awkward, but considering Shirai-san's condition, she reluctantly accepted the affectionate gesture.
"Then I'm staying too."
The third wheel, Natsume Sonoko, quietly raised her hand, completely ignoring the dissatisfied look that was starting to form on Shirai-san's face.
"But we have class tomorrow. Is that okay?"
Misaka-senpai asked worriedly.
She knew about a certain bun-girl's performance in P.E. class and seemed concerned that lack of rest would affect her tomorrow.
"Misaka-senpai, did you forget? Tomorrow is the wind ensemble club's parade rehearsal. Students from the other schools in the School Garden are all coming to ours."
Natsume Sonoko tilted her head, reminding her.
Come to think of it, she'd get to see lots of students from other schools tomorrow. It should be lively. Pity Shirai-san would miss it, though she could probably check the real-time comments and discussions on the school website.
"I heard the big star from Kirigaoka Girls' Academy is coming too."
Propping her head up, Shirai-san said thoughtfully.
"Big star?"
"That's Meigo Arisa, the one who's been really famous lately. Saten-san asked me to get her autograph before," Shirai Kuroko explained after thinking for a moment.
Unlike Tokiwadai Middle School, this Kirigaoka Girls' Academy had both a junior and senior high school division. Meigo Arisa was a first-year in the high school section.
--+--
School Garden, Private Tokiwadai Middle School.
Today's weather forecast was accurate—a fine, beautifully sunny day. Old Man Sun seemed to be smiling down on everyone.
She firmly tied the red cloth around her head, covering her smooth, pale forehead, and patted her cheeks to reluctantly muster some energy.
Having stayed up very late last night, coupled with the uncomfortable temporary hospital bed, Natsume Sonoko felt rather listless.
Just as discussed before, Tokiwadai was especially bustling today, crowded and bustling with students wearing various school uniforms filling the campus.
Students from Private Shidarezakura Academy, Kirigaoka Girls' Academy, and two other schools.
But somewhat different from expectations, the multi-school combined wind ensemble parade rehearsal was scheduled for the afternoon, so morning physical training was still proceeding as normal.
The bored students from the other schools had now gathered around the athletic field, watching Tokiwadai Middle School's physical education training.
And as a focal point in the crowd, Natsume Sonoko felt uncomfortable all over, but she could only resign herself to blending in with the Tokiwadai ranks.
--+--
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.