"Touma, what are you doing here?"
Kamijou was shocked.
He frantically turned around, and in front of him was Index, clad in cheerleading attire. She was holding pompons in both hands, and the calico cat that was surrounded by them seemed to hate the plastic plush feel, as it continued to struggle.
She slightly inclined her head.
Her head was tilted, but her eyebrows were twitching, indicating that she was angry.
(Damn it…! Our school…will be competing in the arena nearby!?)
Outside Academy City, there were many magicians waiting. They were of different nationalities and organizations. And these magicians had set up a magic sensing spell around Index that was of a 1 km radius.
Once the magic sensing spell sensed some form of magical power, they would immediately enter Academy City.
And among these people, not all of them would have eliminating Oriana and Lidvia as their priority. People against Academy City would use this chance to do all sorts of sabotage work.
"Touma, why aren't you with those classmates from your 'class'? Everyone was looking for you, and now everyone is heading out towards the next 'arena'."
Index seemed to be looking for something as she said this.
"It felt like you were still involved in the matches this morning, but you weren't around in the afternoon. Why?"
Though Index was speaking in a somewhat lecturing tone, she was lacking her usual excitement and energy.
The girl's innocent look...
Revealed an expression that made one wonder whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
It might have come from Kamijou's experience of butting into other people's affairs.
(That Oriana seems to have gotten far away. There doesn't seem to be any bus stop nearby!?)
Kamijou continued to think as he wished that his target, Oriana, had gotten far away. Right now, he was anxious because of these conflicting thoughts.
"…"
On the other side of the phone call, Tsuchimikado was also silently waiting for the situation to develop. Kamijou saw that there was no auto-bus stop on the road in front and beyond of him.
"Say, Touma, where have Aisa and Komoe gone? Weren't they with you?"
Hearing Index's voice, Kamijou couldn't help but freeze up.
(That's right, Stiyl and Komoe-sensei are using magic to heal Himegami…!?)
His actions were stiff.
There was only about a kilometer to that place. What to do now?
"Ah…ahhh, they heard that the committee members are lacking in manpower right now, so they went over to help out. That's weird, I thought that they have already sent out an email to the class."
"E-mail?"
"Mn, maybe it's outside the perimeter. The electrowaves haven't reached the center yet? Oh my, they haven't checked how many cables are there…if it's an ordinary store, there should be a relay base. Why? Though the news reported that having too many people contact each other at the same time during Daihaseisai will cause the cables to overload, the central processing ability should be increased at this point."
"???"
Index, who was in this cheerleading attire, tilted her head.
Kamijou planned to smoke through using information about the Science world that Index was unfamiliar with, and it seemed to be working.
He shook the phone slightly in his hand.
"I'm using the phone now, Index. I'll be back later, so just go back to where everyone else is. Ah—hello, hello? Is there anything strange going on over there?"
"No…there isn't. There's nothing strange going on outside, relax…"
Hearing this voice, Kamijou felt relieved.
Index slightly frowned when she saw Kamijou act like this.
"Touma, Touma. I heard that the next activity is something called a 'group exercise' (Note: the participants have to combine their limbs to perform several figures, and finally, build a human pyramid and get the most nimble person to get to the top of the pyramid to fling the ribbon in the person's hand to end it). Can you come over?"
"…"
Kamijou paused for a while, and said,
"I'll go. I need to settle some things that I have to help out with, so I will participate later. Can you wait for me, Index?"
He just said a promise that he could not fulfill.
"Nn."
Index nodded her head without hesitation.
She hugged the calico cat that was surrounded by the pompons.
"I got it, Touma, you have to get over there. I'll cheer for Touma, and will seriously follow the actions that Komoe taught me. You'll be shocked."
With that cheery face, Index turned her back on Kamijou. She continued forward, maybe towards the next arena. As she didn't take a detour, and even ignored the food stalls around her, it seemed that she truly believed what Kamijou said.
Kamijou Touma couldn't move as he watched her figure vanish. He waited till she disappeared before taking action. He closed his eyes, as if he was lowering his head and apologizing.
On the other side of the phone, Tsuchimikado said.
"…I'm sorry, Kami-yan."
If Oriana and Lidvia had not arrived in this city, he should have been able to enjoy Daihaseisai together with his classmates. If Tsuchimikado and Stiyl hadn't asked for his help, he might not have realized that something was going on, and may ended up going out with Index or Himegami. He was just an ordinary person. Even if a magician snuck in, he didn't have to take part in the battle.
Kamijou thought of this possibility.
"No problem."
He firmly declared.
"Smiling while not knowing anything is also something that's unbearable. I don't want you guys to be painfully stained in blood while Index and I are enjoying ourselves."
That was right, Tsuchimikado himself could have enjoyed Daihaseisai. Even Stiyl could have come to Academy City aside from the reason that he had to battle as a magician.
They hadn't brought misfortune.
Also, even if they had brought it, there was no need for them to run away.
"So, I was thinking. To selfishly push all the things that I hate onto Index…is really stupid. Because of this, I'm happy that I'm not willing to get her involved in this."
"…"
Tsuchimikado Motoharu couldn't say anything.
Basically, only Kamijou Touma was talking.
He was asking the other person to give him the privilege to decide what to do.
"Let's settle these things and get back to Index. Everyone's like an idiot, fooling around, eating and drinking, taking photos—and sinking into this wonderful memory."