"Alright, alright. I promise I won't cry when I lose. No matter the outcome, consider this my sincerity in challenging the Third Ranked Level 5."
Yuuya looked at the girl with an overly righteous expression, a slight smile playing on his lips. He tossed the Gekota gift box through the air.
Whoosh.
Mikoto caught the box in a fluster, clutching it tightly to her chest as if protecting a newborn baby. She glared at him, afraid he might regret it and ask for it back.
"I... I didn't agree to fight you just because of the Gekota Family! I just..."
Mikoto stammered, frantically trying to hide her obsession. Then, as if a lightbulb went off in her head, she raised her chin proudly, nodding in self-deception.
"It's just that your attitude is so infuriating! I want to teach you a lesson. That's right. I'm doing this to correct your bad behavior!"
"Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Miss Tokiwadai-who-likes-frog-toys." Yuuya waved his hand dismissively.
A large vein popped on Mikoto's forehead in the shape of a cross.
'This guy... he's really pissing me off.'
But then, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Wait. How do you know me, you strange fellow? And how did you know I liked... that?"
She stopped abruptly. Asking "How did you know I liked Gekota?" would be admitting that she did like Gekota. It was a trap.
"How do I know the Ace of Tokiwadai likes Gekota? It's simple."
Yuuya didn't hesitate. He pulled out his smartphone and tapped the screen a few times.
"According to the Urban Legend Forum, Legend #423: 'Someone has repeatedly seen the Ace of Tokiwadai, the Level 5 Railgun, queuing at an ice cream shop for elementary schoolers. Allegedly, when she failed to get the rare mascot gift, she fell to her knees in despair like she had lost her soul. Confirmed by a Judgment officer from Branch 177.'"
Mikoto stiffened.
"And Legend #1: 'The Railgun bought so many Gekota finger puppets that she accidentally short-circuited three vending machines in frustration. She then donated crates of unwanted drinks to a local orphanage. What is it about frogs that makes a Level 5 so obsessed?'"
"And Article 268..."
"STOP IT!"
The words felt like a public execution. Mikoto shuddered, her face turning from red to green.
She leaned in, staring wide-eyed at the screen of Yuuya's phone.
As she read the forum posts detailing her embarrassing secret life, electric arcs began to dance wildly around her bangs. She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. She looked like a cat with its fur standing on end.
"Who posted this?!"
Crackle. SNAP.
"How incredibly bored must someone be to track a middle school girl's hobbies?! Damn it! If I find out who started this thread, I'll electrocute them until they think they're a frog!"
Stomp.
She stomped her foot, sending a shower of sparks into the pavement.
"Well then, Miss Misaka. Shouldn't we find a place to have our match? Before you blow up the street?" Yuuya asked with a half-smile.
Mikoto crossed her arms, her cheeks still flushed from the humiliation. She glared at him through gritted teeth.
"Fine. Since you know so much... I'm going to shock you until you lose your memory. Until you forget everything about me and my hobbies!"
"Yeah, yeah. Just so you know, I'm pretty strong too. In certain situations, I can easily handle a Level 5." Yuuya said nonchalantly.
Internally, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
'Wait... am I enjoying this?'
'The System said the unlock conditions were manifestations of my subconscious desires. Does that mean... I'm actually a chaotic hedonist?'
'Well, whatever. I live for happiness, and happiness exists for me.'
"Hmph. Is that so?" Mikoto sneered, trying to regain her cool, boyish demeanor. "Don't be trembling with fear in a minute."
She had dealt with plenty of challengers before. They always talked big about how "Level 5 is nothing special," only to run away crying after one zap.
"Who's going to be scared? Who knows~" Yuuya teased, half-closing his eyes.
He did the math.
With the Star Grail, he had passive damage immunity. He could tank a nuke, let alone a lightning bolt.
With World Rejecter, he could exile anyone... but using it on Mikoto would kill her (banish her to the New World), so that was off the table.
But with Xiao-Li, he could dominate in close combat.
Against Accelerator (who reflects vectors), Xiao-Li would be useless.
But against Mikoto (who relies on electricity)? If he could close the distance, it was an instant win.
The Riverbank (near the iron bridge).
The two arrived at the grassy slope leading down to the river. It was a classic spot for after-school duels.
"If we fight here, we won't get a notice from the school for damaging public property," Mikoto said, tossing her bag onto the grass (carefully placing the Gekota box on top).
She turned to face him, standing about fifteen meters away.
"To prevent you from saying I bullied you... you decide the rules. How do we fight?"
She was still confident. A Level 5 was in a different dimension compared to a Level 3 or 4. Even holding back, she could wipe out a battalion of tanks.
"Simple rules," Yuuya said, stroking his chin. "We fight until one of us falls down."
He had already formulated a plan to complete the "Bully Misaka Mikoto" objective.
'Sorry, Mikoto. The System made me do it.'
"You said it yourself. Don't say I didn't give you a chance." Mikoto raised an eyebrow.
She analyzed him. Based on the alley fight, his ability was likely Telekinesis or Body Reinforcement. Strong, but against electricity? He would be paralyzed the moment he got close.
'Wait...'
A thought nagged at her.
'This guy knows everything about me. He knows I'm the Railgun. He knows about Gekota. Yet he's still this confident?'
'Does he have an ability that counters electricity? Rubber body? Insulation?'
Suspicion crept into her heart.
"Who is he? I realized just now... I don't even know his name."
"Alright. I'll begin now," Yuuya called out, breaking her train of thought.
He flashed a wicked grin.
"Just so you know... underestimating me will backfire!"
BOOM.
Yuuya exploded into motion.
Using Xiao-Li to perfectly synchronize his leg muscles, he launched himself forward like an arrow released from a bow. He closed the fifteen-meter gap in the blink of an eye.
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