The top floor of the corporate building seemed spacious and bright, yet it was the very place where some sinister, unknown scheme was being plotted.
The starry-eyed girl and the blond foreigner were deep in discussion about how to pin a certain major black deed on a certain Railgun.
In the end, it was the starry-eyed girl who made the final decision, even adding some rather interesting details in her mind.
The image of a certain ferocious, electricity-crackling, ruthless Railgun was implanted into the mind of the unconscious boy lying before them.
To be honest, this image wasn't too far off from the real person—at least, that's what the starry-eyed girl believed.
She'd even prettied up the Railgun's image in certain aspects.
Looking at it this way, the relationship between the two of them was indeed… complicated, to say the least.
"Misaka-san does seem to attract trouble constantly, so it makes sense she'd attack a 'Member' stronghold and subdue their personnel," Shokuhou Misaki mused.
Putting down the remote in her hand, she quietly tucked it into her small golden purse.
Just like how she never attended P.E. class, no one had ever seen her carry Tokiwadai's standard-issue black schoolbag either. She was always sparkling from head to toe, dazzling like a brilliant star.
Frankly, the plain black schoolbag really didn't suit Shokuhou-senpai's image at all.
"With nearly all the 'Member' strongholds we've taken out, plus the memory modifications, their attention will inevitably focus on the #3 Level 5. Our next moves will be much easier now," the blond foreigner remarked, nodding stiffly with an unapproachable, stern expression.
Having such a reliable teammate was truly a comfort. All he had to do was the work; she handled all the follow-up problems seamlessly.
"However, there's one more thing. Among the 'Sisters,' there's a very unique one… and she seems to have noticed me."
After a moment's thought, realizing there was no point hiding it from her, the blond foreigner finally spoke in a low voice.
"The one you encountered was probably the grown-up Natsume-san, wasn't it?"
Shokuhou Misaki rested her chin in her hand, a slight smile suddenly playing on her lips.
She knew a great deal about the Misaka Sisters, naturally including that uninvited guest mingling among them.
If Natsume-san had developed normally, she might have ended up looking like that in the future… though Shokuhou found the current version much cuter.
Ever since that day Natsume-san had asked her to modify the Sisters' memories, and she'd learned from the researchers that the Level 6 Shift Project was facing obstacles, this Queen of Tokiwadai had secretly begun intervening in the lives of the Misaka Sisters.
Towards the Sisters, this Queen seemed to harbor a peculiar, deeply personal sentiment.
In truth, a certain bun-headed girl had a mental list of people opposed to the Level 6 Shift Project: herself, Misaka-senpai, and Accelerator.
But due to lack of information, she obviously hadn't included Shokuhou-senpai on that list.
Perhaps she could even add the seemingly unrelated Kakine Teitoku to that count.
Just like that, over half the Level 5s were involved. In a way, this project was really quite detestable.
"That newly appointed #8? I must say, I'm quite impressed by her. Remarkable adaptability and combat intelligence. She fully deserves her rank as a Level 5," the blond foreigner said, allowing a trace of genuine admiration to show on his face.
He had once been the security director for the Level 6 Shift Project, even responsible for the rescue efforts after Accelerator's defeat, but he had long since left that behind.
He still vividly remembered the scene of Accelerator, feverish and unconscious, tormented by the intense heat within his own body.
Temperature itself wasn't a vector, but heat transfer had direction. He had expected a one-sided battle, but the reversal had been startling.
In a state where his brain was too tortured to think straight, no amount of processing power mattered. A truly terrifying individual.
"Really, if something like that happened, you should've said so sooner! You made me say all those nasty things about Misaka-san on my own. Natsume-san will probably be cross with me."
"And don't praise her like that. With her personality, she'd definitely feel embarrassed hearing it right now. Am I right, Natsume-san?"
Suddenly flashing a playful grin, forming a sideways V-for-victory sign with her fingers at the corner of her eye, Shokuhou-senpai spoke as if addressing someone no one else could see.
Just from that one remark by the blond foreigner, Shokuhou-senpai had instantly pieced it together.
She wasn't entirely clear on the relationship between Reiko and Natsume-san, but they were definitely connected.
Given how much Natsume-san cared about the Sisters, she had probably followed them here secretly.
"Did all that talk about Misaka-san earlier make you angry, Sonoko-chan?"
After waiting a few seconds without a response, a hint of a pout appeared on Shokuhou-senpai's face.
"It's… fine, I suppose. I'm willing to hear your explanation first, Shokuhou-senpai."
A soft, somewhat muffled voice came from the corner as a layer of optical camouflage dissolved away.
The face of a certain bun-headed girl looked somewhat dazed. Her clothes were neat and tidy down to the last fold, the very picture of a clean, proper student.
The sky outside had grown dark, but the last rays of the setting sun still spilled across the polished floor.
What was once a formal business meeting room seemed to have transformed into a leisurely spot for tea and snacks, and both Tokiwadai girls appeared to be enjoying themselves immensely.
"Let me introduce you. This is Keitz Nokleben, currently my associate."
Shokuhou-senpai held a steaming cup of black tea, casually popping the last madeleine into her mouth, her eyes curved into happy crescents.
"Keitz Nokleben. It's an honor to meet you, Miss Natsume."
The blond foreigner gave a polite nod, sitting ramrod straight in his seat, his gaze inadvertently drifting to the two young girls across from him now squabbling over the last pastry.
Truly unfathomable. Such immense and dangerous power wielded by hands like theirs.
"Hello."
She rarely found herself sitting across from such dangerous individuals, but having Shokuhou-senpai by her side made all the difference.
Mainly, she didn't know the man's specific background yet. Otherwise, she wouldn't be acting so politely.
Setting her teacup down, Natsume Sonoko straightened up slightly, intending to maintain proper ladylike composure. Yet a smudge of cream lingered conspicuously at the corner of her mouth.
These pastries were truly delicious… but was it really okay for Shokuhou-senpai to eat such high-calorie food? She definitely had the beginnings of a spare tire...
She quickly cut off that train of thought. Even though Shokuhou-senpai wasn't holding her remote and couldn't read minds, it was still rude to think such things in her presence.
"Natsume-san, you seem to be thinking something rather rude, aren't you?"
Noticing Natsume Sonoko's occasional, fleeting glances toward her abdomen, Shokuhou-senpai beside her adopted a thoughtful expression.
"It's nothing!"
Natsume Sonoko's face flushed instantly as she shook her head vigorously.
They had finished several rounds of tea. The flavor was somewhat similar to what she'd had at Kongou-senpai's place—both were undoubtedly high-quality black tea.
The only exception was Natsume Sonoko's palate, which could only distinguish between 'less sugar' and 'more sugar.' Giving her this tea was almost a waste.
"So, let me get this straight. Shokuhou-senpai, you discovered that the dark side organization called 'Member' was investigating the Sisters. So you've been stopping them while also trying to find the mastermind who gave 'Member' their orders."
The rich sweetness still lingered on her tongue. Sweetness meant sugar, and sugar meant energy.
The bun-headed girl listened carefully to Shokuhou-senpai's explanation and, combining it with her own understanding, offered a succinct summary.
"That's about the size of it. How clever of you, Natsume-san." Shokuhou-senpai's face wore a gentle, ladylike smile.
"From what I've learned, the 'Member' intermediary issued a commission supposedly from the 'Board of Directors.' But through certain… unique methods, I found this commission doesn't actually exist. It was forged by someone."
"And judging from the information we've gathered so far, this party seems intent on 'acquiring' the Sisters."
Here, a rare look of gravity crossed Shokuhou Misaki's face.
"Mhmm, I understand."
Natsume Sonoko nodded. She more or less grasped Shokuhou-senpai's plan now, and she felt a little surprised.
In her memory, Shokuhou-senpai's interaction with the Sisters was still frozen on that night, when Sonoko had asked her to modify the Sisters' memories.
But then Natsume Sonoko fell quiet again, as memories from an indescribable source began connecting seamlessly.
These were the final pieces of her soul's memories concerning this world—the incomplete recollections of A Certain Scientific Railgun T.
Natsume Sonoko only remembered that she hadn't finished watching the entire season before she'd found herself here.
Of course, even this knowledge came from her soul's memories; all information about her previous life originated from within them.
She didn't access those memories in front of Shokuhou-senpai. She didn't even feel like accessing them, knowing they would likely just be another set of fragmented, useless snippets.
--+--
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.