Sitting on the hospital bed, Natsume Sonoko couldn't help but frown.
The joy of recovering her bicycle had completely evaporated, leaving no room in her mind to ask about the fate of those two thieves.
"If that's what Natsume thinks, then I'm relieved."
Hearing Natsume's confident words, the somewhat anxious Misaka-senpai visibly relaxed, a weight lifted from her shoulders.
Just the thought of the Dorm Supervisor's stern demeanor sent a shiver down her spine, even though she was the Railgun. Hadn't Level 4 Teleporter Shirai-san been taken down with just a single karate chop and a neck twist?
Faced with such a brutal enemy, this super-boss too powerful for any Tokiwadai student to handle, a sudden idea flashed in Natsume Sonoko's mind.
"I have a pretty good plan," Natsume Sonoko said thoughtfully.
"...Really? Go that far? But the doctor said it's just ordinary bruising and swelling!" Uiharu-san exclaimed, clearly shocked by Natsume's suggestion.
Meanwhile, Misaka-senpai and Shirai-san, after carefully listening to Natsume Sonoko's plan and seriously recalling the Dorm Supervisor's usual methods, both nodded gravely, seeming to fully approve of the decision.
"So, you're saying we use sympathy to make your Dorm Supervisor forget about Natsume-san staying out all night," Saten Ruiko said, catching on.
"Even though I stayed out, I had a perfectly good reason. I just forgot to report it to the Dorm Supervisor," Natsume Sonoko corrected.
This was all an accident. Natsume Sonoko never would have thought that the usually reliable Misaka-senpai and Shirai-san would drop the ball at the critical moment.
"We'll go with you to explain," Misaka-senpai said, mustering her courage and pulling a visibly reluctant Shirai-san along.
"I'll go ask the doctor soon to send Natsume-san's hospitalization report to the Dorm Supervisor," Shirai-san said with a sigh, rubbing her neck as if remembering something.
Pushing thoughts of the Dorm Supervisor aside for now, Natsume Sonoko, though feeling uncertain, decided sometimes you just have to be optimistic.
[You can be discharged today? Congrats!]A message from Juufuku Miho appeared on her phone.
[Thanks. You rest up well too.]Natsume Sonoko replied immediately.
"Speaking of which, what's going on in District 7 lately? Water cuts, power outages… This morning I had to buy bottled water to use. I even heard the northern industrial area is completely sealed off."
Saten-san complained. She had already bounced back from the earlier turmoil, returning to her usual cheerful self.
"The power system is back online today though," Uiharu-san added.
A strange, awkward look flitted across Misaka-senpai's face, hard to miss.
As for Natsume Sonoko, she seemed uninterested in the topic. She suddenly put her phone down, burrowed under the covers, and closed her eyes.
After getting used to sleeping on a sofa, a proper bed felt like a novel experience. She needed to rest properly and prepare to face the Dorm Supervisor.
"Rumors online are saying a giant monster appeared, with tentacles that reached underground, even wrecking the water pipes and turning the industrial area into ruins. Must be another one of Academy City's secret experiments," Saten Ruiko said, exaggerating a little.
"It's true. Fortunately, Onee-sama in the end unleashed her power and defeated the giant monster, preventing more damage. But the exact cause of the monster's appearance is still under investigation; they suspect it's related to Kiyama Harumi and the Level Upper," Shirai Kuroko said with a sigh.
Although the monster was defeated, Kiyama Harumi had escaped. Based on the available clues, they could only speculate the monster was one of the Level Upper's byproducts.
As for the tentacles left at the scene, no useful information could be extracted.
The cells died completely after separating from the monster. Unlike flesh formed from AIM diffusion fields, that monster seemed to possess another, different type of power.
"Really, Misaka-senpai?" Saten-san exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.
"I can't take all the credit. Some clueless old woman jumped in too. And Saten-san, the reason you woke up so quickly is largely thanks to the treatment program Natsume-san found."
"Though I hate to admit it, she did do well. Heard from the Anti-Skill, she even managed to freeze the monster solid for a good ten seconds or so," Shirai Kuroko added, a note of skepticism in her voice.
Under the covers, Natsume Sonoko let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Thank goodness. It seemed her little stunt with the water main hadn't been conclusively pinned on her.
"Thank you, Natsume-san."
A sudden wave of drowsiness hit her. Just as she faintly heard Saten-san's voice, Natsume Sonoko closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
The sun dipped westward. Unnoticed, evening had arrived.
Sniffling hard, trying to clear the lingering smell of disinfectant from her nose and chest, Natsume Sonoko hobbled out of the hospital's main entrance on a crutch, her limping figure a picture of pitifulness.
The injury would heal in just five or six days with rest at the Dorm; a crutch wasn't strictly necessary. But since Natsume still couldn't walk freely, and after some persistent pleading from a certain someone, the hospital had agreed to provide her with a standard-issue crutch.
"Will such a simple plan really work?" Misaka-senpai asked hesitantly.
"Onee-sama, I think it's fine. A plan just needs to be effective," Shirai-san evaluated.
--+--
Tokiwadai Middle School Dormitory, District 7.
Inside the Dorm Supervisor's office, Natsume-san painstakingly maneuvered her crutch and, with Misaka-senpai's help, managed to sit down on the chair.
"Ma'am, did you see the report from the hospital?" Natsume Sonoko ventured cautiously, a hint of panic in her expression.
"I did see the hospital's report. It states Natsume-san was hospitalized overnight due to impact-related bruising and swelling on her shin."
The Dorm Supervisor, wearing a black women's suit and seated upright at her desk, touched the frame of her glasses. She put down the report and looked up.
"It was actually my fault. Natsume-san had asked me to explain the situation to you, but… a small problem occurred in the end," Misaka-senpai stood uneasily, a flustered look on her face, her body tense with nerves.
"And Shirai-san, being expelled from the Dormitory by me yesterday, had no opportunity to report it. Is that correct?" A terrifying gleam shot from the Dorm Supervisor's eyes, causing Shirai-san, who often violated the lights-out rule, to retreat several steps in fear.
"Yes." ×3
"I see. So Natsume-san's absence last night was for a reason, even if none of you notified me." The Dorm Supervisor summarized their statements, her gaze involuntarily drifting to the crutch beside Natsume Sonoko.
"Yes." ×3
"In that case, I'll let it slide this time. I can't very well punish a student on crutches."
"...Huh?"
As soon as the words left the Dorm Supervisor's mouth, she slowly stood up, knelt beside Natsume Sonoko, and began examining her shin with concern.
"No need to worry. Last night, Anti-Skill officer Tsuzuri-san already informed me of Natsume-san's hospitalization. I called Natsume-san here merely to confirm the details. It would be best to take a few days off and rest in the Dormitory."
The Dorm Supervisor removed her glasses, speaking in a gentle tone.
Leaving the Dorm Supervisor's office, the expressions on the faces of Natsume Sonoko and the other two were still dazed, as if their brains hadn't quite caught up.
Even though Officer Tsuzuri had informed her beforehand, it didn't change the fact that Natsume Sonoko and the others had forgotten to report the situation.
If a student can't return to the Dormitory for any reason, they must inform the Dorm Supervisor in advance.
"The Dorm Supervisor seemed… different," Misaka-senpai murmured.
"You felt it too, Onee-sama?"
"That wasn't the Dorm Supervisor I know!"
Back inside the Dormitory Supervisor's office, the Supervisor was resting her chin in her hand, looking at a small pendant, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Ahhh, the first gift Daigo-sensei ever gave me."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, 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.