Misaka Mikoto was currently pondering where to start her investigation to find information about the Level Upper.
"Since the Level Upper enhances abilities, people who obtain it would definitely find a place to test it... Districts 17 and 19 are relatively sparsely populated, and District 10 has poor public security. It's also a possibility. Where should I go first?"
As Misaka Mikoto was thinking this, she suddenly spotted Kamijou Touma on the sidewalk not far away.
It's that guy again!
Misaka Mikoto thought it was a real case of 'enemies often cross paths,' to run into him here of all places.
Their first meeting had to be traced back to over a month ago. A group of delinquents mistook Misaka Mikoto for an ordinary Tokiwadai young lady and tried to pick a fight with her. Just as Mikoto was about to teach these delinquents a lesson, Kamijou Touma, who happened to be passing by, intervened.
Kamijou Touma had intended to pretend he knew Misaka Mikoto to get her out of trouble, but he didn't expect Mikoto to be completely unappreciative.
"Who are you?"
Exposed, Kamijou Touma had no choice but to stand on the moral high ground and condemn the delinquents.
"What's the big idea of a bunch of grown men bullying a kid?"
Before the delinquents could even speak, Misaka Mikoto was the first to blow her top.
"Listen, what I find most annoying is you constantly calling me a kid!"
Electricity crackled around Misaka Mikoto, and the delinquents were instantly electrocuted. However, Kamijou Touma extended his right hand forward and remained completely unharmed.
Poor delinquents, dreaming of starring in their own "Crows Zero" or "Tokyo Revengers," never expected to be ended right here by the major antagonist, Misaka Mikoto.
After that, because her abilities were ineffective against Kamijou Touma, Misaka Mikoto wanted to settle the score every time she encountered him!
However, Kamijou Touma never had any such intention.
Returning to the present, Misaka Mikoto saw that Kamijou Touma seemed to be guiding a woman somewhere.
Just as the two passed by a fast-food restaurant, a person suddenly walked out holding a soda, bumping right into the woman.
The soda splashed all over the woman's white blouse.
"S...Sorry!"
That person hurriedly apologized.
Thinking his own misfortune had spread to this woman, Kamijou Touma felt somewhat guilty and stepped forward to ask.
"Are you okay?"
Most people would be angry or troubled by such an incident, but this woman didn't even show a change in expression.
"It's fine."
After saying this, the woman actually started taking off her blouse right there on the street. No one around had anticipated this scene, and for a moment, no one stopped her. It wasn't until the woman had finished undressing, leaving only her underwear and revealing her impressive figure, that Kamijou Touma belatedly realized what was happening. He frantically covered his eyes, peeking through his fingers to question her.
"Wh-what... what are you doing! Put it back on!"
The woman seemed very puzzled by this.
"But wearing wet clothes will make you catch a cold."
The current situation is more serious than a cold!
Kamijou Touma directly snatched the blouse from the woman's hands, wanting to step forward and drape it over her.
Unfortunately, the cup that had held the soda had somehow rolled under his feet.
Kamijou Touma had just taken a step forward when his foot slipped. Though he should have fallen backward, he bizarrely pitched forward instead, knocking the woman to the ground. Thankfully, he didn't touch anything he shouldn't have.
"Is that guy a pervert?"
"No way, something like this happening in broad daylight!"
"How disgraceful!"
Passersby who didn't know the situation noticed the commotion, turned to look, and saw the subtle (awkward) scene unfolding.
A woman wearing only underwear was pinned to the ground by a spiky-haired high school boy, who was holding the woman's blouse in his hand.
Hearing the surrounding chatter, Kamijou Touma stood up, completely flustered.
"It's not like that!"
But what did the passersby care? They continued to condemn him.
Finally, Kamijou Touma knew he couldn't explain his way out of this. He turned and ran.
"Such misfortune!"
And the direction he ran was precisely towards where Misaka Mikoto was.
Seeing Misaka Mikoto, Kamijou Touma also froze for a second. Great, of all people, someone he knows saw him! Would she misunderstand too?
"Listen to me, I was just taking her to find the parking lot. What just happened was an accident!"
"Um... I'd be in trouble if you took my blouse away."
The woman had also stood up by now and called out to Kamijou Touma with some difficulty.
Misaka Mikoto looked over. This woman had slightly wavy, brown long hair and looked somewhat haggard. Despite having heavy dark circles under her eyes, one could still tell she was a beauty.
Kamijou Touma looked down and, sure enough, he was still holding her blouse in his hand.
"Ah! Such misfortune!"
Shoving the blouse into Misaka Mikoto's hands, Kamijou Touma shouted again and ran away as if fleeing for his life.
Having witnessed the entire incident from start to finish, Misaka Mikoto naturally didn't misunderstand. However, she still marveled at Kamijou Touma's terrible luck and was simultaneously astonished by this woman's 'boldness' in undressing on the street.
Wait... a stripping woman? Could the urban legend be true?
And then, quite inexplicably, Misaka Mikoto 'took over' responsibility for this woman.
Misaka Mikoto used her ability to electrolyze the water. Although the soda stain was still obvious, it was at least dry.
After some questioning, Misaka Mikoto gained a preliminary understanding of this woman.
The woman's name was Kiyama Harumi. She was an expert in brain biology. She had come out from the research institute and was trying to get back, but couldn't find her parking space, so she had to ask someone for directions. Kamijou Touma became that unlucky guy.
"I haven't found anything. Right now, I'm with a strange person."
Misaka Mikoto sat on a bench by the roadside, talking on the phone with Shirai Kuroko.
"Ah, she actually took off her clothes on the street!"
"What?! Then she must be the stripping woman. I told you those urban legends are true! I heard people who see the stripping woman get cursed and start wanting to undress in public too!"
Saten Ruiko's excited voice came through the phone, like a researcher who had studied an obscure topic for over a decade finally having their results recognized.
Misaka Mikoto noticed Kiyama Harumi walking over.
"That's all for now. I'll let you know if I find anything. Don't worry!"
Misaka Mikoto hung up the phone.
Kiyama Harumi had bought two canned drinks and handed one to Misaka Mikoto.
"The'strange person' you mentioned, is it me?"
Misaka Mikoto took the drink, about to thank her, but with this question from Kiyama Harumi, an apology was in order.
"S-sorry, we were just talking about urban legends."
Kiyama Harumi seemed somewhat interested in this topic.
"Urban legends?"
Misaka Mikoto nodded.
"Yeah, things like the stripping woman or items that can raise ability levels."
After hearing this, Kiyama Harumi's expression changed almost imperceptibly.
After speaking, Misaka Mikoto sighed.
"Sigh, I haven't had any success all morning. Do you think these urban legends are all true? They say there's another one, about a man who can nullify all abilities. How could such an ability possibly exist?"
Kiyama Harumi took a sip of her drink and said calmly, "It does sound like a tall tale. But superpowers are ultimately based on 'Personal Reality.' It's hard to say for sure that such an ability doesn't exist. I happen to research aim diffusion fields and brain biology."
Before Misaka Mikoto could finish her sentence, two children holding ice cream cones were roughhousing, getting closer and closer to Kiyama Harumi. Misaka Mikoto had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, the little boy, not looking behind him, backed right into Kiyama Harumi.
The little boy, realizing someone was blocking his way, quickly turned around, only to discover his ice cream cone had dirtied an auntie's skirt.
Seeing Kiyama Harumi stand up and start to take off her skirt, and imagining what was about to happen, Misaka Mikoto blushed, immediately stood up, grabbed Kiyama Harumi, and headed for the public restroom.
In the public restroom, Misaka Mikoto helped Kiyama Harumi wash the skirt clean, dried it conveniently, and returned it to her.
Afterward, Misaka Mikoto still escorted Kiyama Harumi to the parking lot.
"I've really troubled you."
Kiyama Harumi sincerely thanked Misaka Mikoto. Misaka Mikoto scratched her head and laughed sheepishly.
"It was nothing, haha..."
Kiyama Harumi got into a Lamborghini supercar.
"Thanks anyway."
After some polite exchanges, Kiyama Harumi drove off. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she let out a light chuckle, though combined with her haggard appearance, it looked somewhat gloomy (gloomy).
"So this is the legendary Level 5? Quite an interesting child."
Later, on her way back, Misaka Mikoto ran into Kamijou Touma again, who had bought eggs only to drop and break them.
Remembering all the heart-stopping moments she had endured today while helping Kiyama Harumi, she immediately wanted to settle the score with Kamijou Touma.
In the end, Kamijou Touma pretended to be defeated, but Misaka Mikoto didn't accept it.
Yet, Misaka Mikoto couldn't do anything about him.
Exhausted, she returned to her dorm, only to be ambushed from under the bed by Kuroko, who had panties over her head.
"Sister! You're back so late. You really have been cursed by the stripping woman, haven't you! I'll save you!"
"What are you doing?!"
As expected, Shirai Kuroko was easily subdued by Misaka Mikoto. For her own safety, Misaka Mikoto even tied Kuroko up like a zongzi.
"Goodnight, Kuroko."
"Mmph... Mmm! Mmph!"
Shirai Kuroko could only squirm gloomily. With her mouth gagged, she couldn't even make a sound.
You will get 30 chapter ahead for this fanfiction.
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