The realism of this holographic projector still left room for debate, but it was more than adequate for basic needs.
To reach the level of sophistication she'd witnessed during the esper evaluation exams, however, would require ten times the money she'd just spent. Being able to perfectly mimic sight and sound was impressive enough as it was.
All in all, Natsume was quite satisfied with the product's performance—it felt worth every penny. Without hesitation, she signed the invoice.
Though the number on the bill made her heart ache a little, money was meant to be spent, and Natsume paid up briskly.
Yet, there was a faint, almost imperceptible unease in the furrow of a certain bun-haired girl's brow.
Watching the departing employees of White Horse Freight Company, Natsume couldn't help but notice the star-shaped patterns flickering in their eyes. The familiar shape and design held her gaze.
No doubt about it—the second-year had made her presence known.
That golden-haired upperclassman of hers had a knack for popping up in the most unexpected places, relentlessly asserting her existence.
"Academy City's freight companies often have ties to dark-side organizations. Letting them get close to the Sisters' location isn't a good idea."
"So, to prevent any potential dangers and ensure the Sisters can live normally, someone as careless as you won't do, Natsume-san."
From the shaded corner of the path beside the Misaka Apartments, a golden-haired girl emerged.
Shokuhou-senpai was gleaming brightly again, an expensive handbag hanging from her neck, her long hair cascading beside her ears. She lightly waved a remote control up and down with one hand.
Her other hand, however, was tightly bandaged and encased in a thick cast, standing out in an awkward, pallid white.
"Shokuhou-senpai, are you here to see the Sisters too? Or are you looking for me?"
Gazing curiously at the suddenly-appearing girl, Natsume spoke, a note of uncertainty in her voice.
Had something changed regarding the Kihara Gensei situation? Or was this just a chance encounter?
Before she even finished speaking, Natsume found her left hand already taken by the newcomer. With an air of secrecy, Shokuhou-senpai pulled her into a secluded corner.
"What's wrong? Is something urgent?"
Her expression blanked for a moment, Natsume struggled to keep up.
Judging by Shokuhou-senpai's demeanor, it seemed she'd stumbled upon another big scoop.
"Urgent? Not exactly."
"Although Misaka-san can hack into every camera, her simple-mindedness is her greatest flaw. Still, it's better to be discreet when we can."
Shokuhou-senpai blinked, a rather playful glint in her eyes.
The scene felt vaguely familiar.
If Natsume didn't know that the relationship between the two seniors had eased somewhat since yesterday's events, she might have thought they were still at odds.
But true to form, Shokuhou-senpai maintained her usual impression of the Railgun, her tone carrying a hint of condescension.
The "simple-minded" label probably only applied in Shokuhou-senpai's book; Natsume thought Misaka-senpai was plenty clever.
"Based on numerous past cases, important matters are best kept in the hands of a few level-headed individuals. And to ensure our plans aren't disrupted, we need to inform a reliable assistant directly."
"Simply put, since some things aren't suitable for Misaka-san to know, I had to sneak over to find you, Sonoko-chan."
Just as Natsume was about to explain that all the nearby cameras were too far away to be a concern, the golden-haired girl launched into a lengthy explanation.
She seemed to deliberately emphasize the name "Sonoko," and this second-year had also changed how she addressed her—perhaps influenced by a certain Railgun.
Well, even though Misaka-senpai wasn't physically present, it felt like she was there in spirit.
"Eh?"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Natsume's face. After a moment's thought, she nodded.
Past experiences had taught her that anything "unsuitable for Misaka-senpai to know" was likely bad news.
Misaka-senpai had only just shaken off some of her gloom; certain topics were better avoided for now. Unconsciously, the bun-haired girl slipped back into her role as a makeshift therapist.
But Natsume also noticed the change in Shokuhou-senpai's form of address, and her heart tightened slightly.
Many people around her were aware of the bun-haired girl's peculiarities and tried not to be overly familiar. But once a certain Railgun suddenly switched to using her given name, it seemed to trigger a domino effect. It was giving Natsume a bit of a headache.
"Before the Radio Noise Project officially began, someone at the Child Error proposed creating a prototype to test the clones' lifespan, refine the cloning technology, and experiment with the Misaka Network."
"This prototype can be considered the origin of all twenty thousand-plus Sisters—what you might call 'Zero'."
As she spoke, Shokuhou Misaki pulled the dazed bun-haired girl toward the apartment stairwell, making way for the Sisters who were busy testing out their new toys.
A few of the Sisters, however, kept glancing over at the two chatting, seemingly especially curious about the girl who seemed to glitter from head to toe.
"Ideal? That's the place you were at before, right senpai?"
Natsume leaned one hand on the railing, a thoughtful expression settling on her face. She'd heard of the Ideal.
Shokuhou-senpai came from a talent development institution called the Ideal, where she advanced to Level 5.
It wasn't exactly a secret in Tokiwadai Middle School that seniors like Hokaze Junko and Yumiya Iruka also came from there.
In fact, before entering Tokiwadai, a significant number of students had similar experiences—receiving ability development at various well-known or obscure research institutions.
But with this context, many of the far-fetched assumptions she'd previously made suddenly started to make sense.
A wave of realization washed over Natsume; she felt she was finally grasping some clues.
This also explained why, despite their rocky relationship, Shokuhou-senpai still invested so much time and effort into watching over the Sisters.
"What you want to tell me is related to Zero, isn't it senpai? Or rather, you already knew the Sisters back when you were at the Ideal."
Widening her eyes, Natsume tried to read the answer in Shokuhou-senpai's expression, though she already felt fairly certain in her heart.
Aside from the relevant researchers, the first person to know the Sisters wasn't Accelerator, nor was it Natsume herself—it had to have been Shokuhou-senpai all along.
--+--
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.