Chapter 926: The Resolution of the Tea Party
“Of course, Lin Wuming’s enemies are my enemies!” Misaka Mikoto never feared battle, so she said without hesitation regarding Shokuhou Misaki’s proposal, “How could I possibly run away?”
Shokuhou Misaki was not surprised by her reaction and answer. She nodded lightly, then looked at Shirai Kuroko.
Shirai Kuroko immediately said, “I completely agree with Onee-sama, and even without Lin Wuming’s involvement, I would not sit idly by while those invaders disrupt Academy City!”
As a Judgment, Shirai Kuroko also had her principles and persistence.
Shokuhou Misaki then turned her gaze to Hu Feng Toumi, but immediately moved it away.
—Hu Feng Tong Xue’s attitude didn’t need confirmation; after all, this woman was Lin Wuming’s incorrigible loyalist. When dealing with enemies, she was even more direct and brutal than Lin Wuming.
Very good, since a consensus has been reached—Shokuhou Misaki nodded with satisfaction—the most crucial step has finally been achieved.
“Since everyone has no objections,” Shokuhou Misaki continued, “then what we need to do next is very clear—let’s start training! We need to practice fighting together and learn to unleash Our true strength—we are all Level 5 and Level 4 Espers! We are the top powerhouses in Academy City, how can we be easily outmatched by those from the Magic Side?”
This proposal also received unanimous approval.
The outcome of the tea party was that, from today onwards, the girls present would dedicate at least one hour each day to joint combat training, striving to cultivate some tacit understanding before the next battle, at least enough to fully utilize their respective strengths in actual combat, without hindering each other and thereby reducing their effective combat power.
Having witnessed Front’s unreasonably powerful strength firsthand, Shokuhou Misaki and Misaka Mikoto put aside their mutual animosity and Level 5 pride, seriously discussing methods and techniques for joint combat.
Shirai Kuroko witnessed this entire scene and couldn't help but quietly sigh in her heart, never expecting her seniors to be so open-minded and honest.
Although she had somewhat sensed some clues from Onee-sama before, it was only when she personally joined in that she realized—despite the goal being “to compete for Lin Wuming,” everyone actually adopted many circuitous and even “clumsy” methods.
Rationally speaking, their thinking and methods could be said to be completely illogical. How do couples or lovers interact this way? And which rivals in love would end up in their current relationship?
It felt as if… their primary goal was to better assist and support Lin Wuming, and jointly protect the peace and tranquility of Academy City; as for the romance with Lin Wuming, it became a secondary goal instead.
This sense of displacement made Shirai Kuroko feel a bit subtle, but from another perspective, it also appeared more pure; not attacking each other or hindering each other, but rather a kind of positive competition…
Honestly, after Shirai Kuroko realized this, she couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
—This way, as a Level 4 who isn’t good at combat, I actually have a chance to win!
Shokuhou Misaki observed Shirai Kuroko, taking in every detail of this new member of the tea party.
Under normal circumstances, Shokuhou Misaki wouldn't intentionally pry into the minds of students outside of her Sadan Faction, but now… there was no need to be polite, of course.
“Relax a little, Misaka Student.” Shokuhou Misaki said with a smile, “Please face reality—we are not in an antagonistic relationship, at least not at present and not in the foreseeable future.”
“Not an antagonistic relationship…”
“Yes.” Shokuhou Misaki put down her teacup, “We reached a similar conclusion a long time ago, but you weren’t here then.”
“No need to hide it, we have a common goal—and that is Lin Wuming.” Shokuhou Misaki said, “And before that, more crucial than Our competition among ourselves is… Lin Wuming’s attitude.”
Looking at Misaka Mikoto beside her, Shirai Kuroko nodded and said, “I know that.”
“Misaka Student has already mentioned it? Then that makes it easier.” Shokuhou Misaki clapped her hands, “So, just as I proposed earlier—let’s temporarily set aside Our differences and focus on practicing joint operations first!”
“Training and fighting, I have no objection, but!” Misaka Mikoto said, “Isn’t your proposal itself unfair? Haven’t you, you cunning fellow, already confessed to Lin Wuming? You’ve already taken a step ahead!”
“Eh~ Cunning?” Shokuhou Misaki blinked, “When it comes to cunning, no one can compare to you, Misaka.”
“Are you looking for trouble? How am I cunning?!” Misaka Mikoto immediately asked.
Shokuhou Misaki just sneered but did not continue to answer.
At this moment, Hu Feng Toumi, who had been silent, also spoke up: “I have no objection to the training part, but I cannot keep avoiding the issue. Shokuhou, you said we and Lin Wuming should calm down, and thus temporarily keep Our distance—so, may I ask, how long is this ‘temporary’ you speak of?”
—How long? At least until after the Third World War… if the war still breaks out as it did in the original plot.
Shokuhou Misaki thought to herself. She understood Lin Wuming very well, which was why she knew that before the Third World War ended, Lin Wuming would not be able to relax and divide his attention between them and “romance.”
However, Shokuhou Misaki also knew that this answer would definitely not satisfy Hu Feng Toumi and Misaka Mikoto, and even Shokuhou Misaki herself was full of resentment about it.
—But this is Lin Wuming’s true intention! But then again, isn’t my “Mental Out” an esper ability specifically created to change people’s thoughts?
Shokuhou Misaki glanced at the calendar: “The Great Ba Xing Festival is coming soon, I think that will be about right.”
The girls exchanged glances. The Great Ba Xing Festival opens on September 19th, which is still two weeks away… not too short, but not completely unbearable either.
“Also,” Shokuhou Misaki said, “my suggestion is merely ‘to maintain an appropriate distance,’ not to forbid you from meeting Lin Wuming!”
“Of course I know that.” Misaka Mikoto said, “And even if you really wanted to forbid it, it wouldn’t work, would it?”
“Maintaining distance and calming down” was actually a common choice for everyone.
After all, the explosive atmosphere on the A Certain High School playground yesterday was indeed a bit too extreme. Looking back, if they had really come to blows then, the situation would probably have been irreversible, right?
At least it wouldn't be possible to hold a tea party together peacefully like this now.
