“Anyway,” Shokuhou Misaki looked at Lin Wuming seriously, “I will continue to investigate the matter of Misaka Worst. As for Senior Wuming… just don’t let your guard down.”
With that, Shokuhou Misaki also bid farewell and left. She was going to the “Palace” to try and bind Misaka Worst there.
“I feel like that’s a very troublesome person.” Hu Feng Toumi finally expressed her opinion, “But she’s not an enemy; she didn’t show any hostility throughout.”
“After all, she’s a Misaka.” Lin Wuming was not surprised by this.
Only then did he notice that Shirai Kuroko was still here.
Lin Wuming was a bit surprised: “Shirai Student, aren’t you going to the ‘Palace’ with Mikoto?”
“That’s Shokuhou Senior’s private territory. I’m not a member of the Shokuhou Faction. If I haven’t received an invitation, it’s not convenient to set foot in that mansion,” Shirai Kuroko said with a serious expression.
“Mikoto isn’t a member of the Shokuhou Faction either, is she?” Lin Wuming said, “So there’s no need to be so particular.”
“That’s different. In people’s eyes, Onee-sama and the Shokuhou Faction are already highly bound, and Onee-sama has also received an invitation,” Shirai Kuroko explained.
“I see…” Lin Wuming was only curious, so he asked casually and didn’t mean to be particular.
—After all, the current Shirai Kuroko is not as obsessed with Misaka Mikoto as she was in the original work; she doesn’t have to cling to Misaka Mikoto.
“Actually…” Shirai Kuroko stepped forward, taking out her armband from her pocket, “Regarding Judgment activities, I have some questions I’d like to ask both seniors!”
“Uh… Judgment activities, huh…” Lin Wuming immediately felt a pang of shame—since the summer vacation, he had been out of frontline Judgment activities for a long time.
On the other hand, Hu Feng Toumi, as one of the few Judgment members in School Garden, often had the opportunity to participate in Judgment activities.
So, as expected, this discussion about Judgment activities quickly turned into an exchange between the two girls.
After listening for a while, Lin Wuming felt that he had been out of touch for too long and couldn’t keep up with the current pace. Additionally, what they were mainly discussing was the internal situation of School Garden, so he found an excuse to slip out of the Hospital room and get some fresh air outside.
After all, he had been sleeping for several days straight; he felt like his body was rusting.
Hu Feng Toumi didn’t follow him out but stayed in the room, continuing to chat with Shirai Kuroko.
In fact, because Lin Wuming wasn’t there, their conversation became even more in-depth.
“Hu Feng Senior, it seems you’re also working very hard.” Shirai Kuroko glanced towards the door, then said sincerely, “Suddenly, another competitor has appeared…”
“It doesn’t matter.” Hu Feng Toumi responded calmly, “That’s not a competitor. Shokuhou Misaki said she’s just causing trouble.”
Because they had a common interest, Shokuhou Misaki’s Judgment could be trusted in this regard.
“You can’t be careless. It’s not impossible for a fake act to become real,” Shirai Kuroko reminded, “That Misaka… uh, Senior? She feels a bit strange, but never mind—in short, that girl is very proactive, and that’s enough; after all, you three balance each other out, and none of you have expressed your feelings to Senior Wuming, right?”
“Hmm…” Hu Feng Toumi fell into thought, then said, “It’s okay, I’ve already stated my attitude—I will stay by Wuming’s side, and no one can stop me, including Wuming himself!”
“Uh… this isn’t a confession, is it?” Shirai Kuroko was dumbfounded.
“For me… it is.”
“But it’s hard for the other person to understand!”
“That’s not important.”
“…” Shirai Kuroko was speechless for a moment, then she smiled, “That’s very typical of you, Senior. And that’s why I became friends with you.”
“What about you?” Hu Feng Toumi asked in turn, “Your way of addressing Misaka Student has changed too, hasn’t it?”
“Yes.” Shirai Kuroko nodded, “Onee-sama—since Misaka Senior is indeed one grade above me, there’s no problem with calling her that, right? Besides, with so many Misaka Sisters calling her that, Onee-sama seems to have gotten used to it.”
“Only the address has changed,” Hu Feng Toumi said, “You still have a long way to go.”
“Can’t rush it. In these kinds of matters, the one who laughs last is the winner,” Shirai Kuroko said.
Hu Feng Toumi thought for a moment and offered her blessing: “Good luck.”
“I will.”
A little while later, Lin Wuming returned to the Hospital room.
The two girls’ conversation had also just ended. Having achieved her goal, Shirai Kuroko didn’t linger and stood up to leave.
“Senior Wuming, I won’t disturb your rest. If Onee-sama returns, please tell her I’ve gone back first.”
Lin Wuming nodded in agreement.
Leaving the Hospital, Shirai Kuroko walked slowly back, deep in thought, as if taking a stroll.
“Except for Hu Feng Senior, no one else seemed surprised by my change in address. Is it because of Shokuhou Senior’s Mind Reading?”
One must know that Shirai Kuroko had been extremely cautious, constantly testing the waters before quietly taking a step forward.
It was certainly good that the person involved hadn’t noticed, but on the other hand, she inexplicably felt a sense of unwillingness.
“Hmm…” Shirai Kuroko pondered, pinching her chin, “Could it be that, in the eyes of others, my relationship with Onee-sama had already reached this level?”
Shirai Kuroko felt confused—if that were truly the case, then it would confirm that Shokuhou Misaki had not used “Mind Reading” on her, or at least had not peered into the depths of her heart.
“Well, maybe I was just overthinking things.” Soon, Shirai Kuroko shook off these chaotic thoughts and cheered up again, “It’s just a slight change in address, nothing to fuss about. In comparison…”
Shirai Kuroko took out her phone to check the emails she hadn’t had time to read earlier.
“The matters over there are more urgent.”
These were work emails from Haruue Erii. Due to her “absence” for the entire morning, quite a bit of work had piled up.
Shirai Kuroko had a strong sense of justice and was very serious as a Judgment member.
She even proactively applied for an external transfer to help out at Disciplinary Committee Branch 177 because the atmosphere and environment within School Garden were too mild.
One Seven Seven Branch was the branch Lin Wuming belonged to when he attended Sakugawa Middle School. Because of his “celebrity effect,” it had now developed into one of the largest and most comprehensively powerful branches, attracting many talented individuals.
However, correspondingly, with great power comes great responsibility, and the area One Seven Seven Branch was responsible for was far wider than other ordinary branches.
Precisely because of this, as a Level 4 Spatial Ability User, Shirai Kuroko naturally became One Seven Seven Branch’s most powerful “mobile unit.”
Coupled with the equally super-strong intelligence support personnel, Haruue Erii, their combination had recently shone brightly!
Switching the internal switch to “Judgment” mode, Shirai Kuroko’s eyes instantly became sharp. While putting on her armband, she activated “Space Movement,” her figure flickering as she rapidly moved towards the target direction.
Since it was summer vacation and there were no classes, the streets were bustling with people at this time, showing a liveliness far exceeding normal.
Fortunately, Shirai Kuroko was a Spatial Ability User and could move by using high vantage points like streetlights as footholds, avoiding the congestion.
While moving using her esper ability, Shirai Kuroko also observed the crowd below.
Because it was a holiday, there were young boys and girls everywhere in the prime of their youth, walking in twos and threes, looking very happy…
“Hmm…” Shirai Kuroko mused, “After ‘school’ this afternoon, I’ll invite Onee-sama to go shopping together.”
—Although Onee-sama has her own things to do… whether it’s the Misaka Sisters or Senior Wuming, I can’t forget my friends, can I? Haruue, and Saten Ruiko, it’s been a long time since we all gathered… Alright, I’ll use that as an excuse!
