Tucked away in a corner, a classmate known as 'Kuroko Holmes' wore an expression of certain victory, fists clenched tightly, eyes blazing with focus.
"Why are you so good at this? Wait, no—how do you even know his name?"
Misaka-senpai stared blankly at Shirai. Sometimes, this girl's train of thought was just impossible to follow.
"Because I know an Italian guy named Marco."
"What kind of reason is that?!"
"No time for chit-chat now! The Dorm Supervisor is on the move."
Shirai showed no intention of giving up her pursuit. If anything, her enthusiasm was growing—enough to make one wonder if she'd awakened some strange new trait.
"That's the tram platform ahead, Shirai. Should we keep following?" Sonoko Natsume had bought three cups of shaved ice from a roadside stall and was eating hers while glancing at a certain teleporter, her eyes full of inquiry.
To be honest, when it came to tailing people, Shirai was the expert. Sonoko figured her best bet was to just follow orders.
"Natsume-san, could you please focus? Don't just wander off to buy snacks whenever I look away."
Crouched beside a mailbox, Shirai followed the sound and spotted Sonoko Natsume holding several cups of shaved ice. She couldn't help but sigh in exasperation.
"You know, eating too many sweets leads to fat buildup and a deficiency in Vitamin B, which messes with your metabolism."
"Plus, it messes up your body's pH balance, causes a lack of minerals like calcium and magnesium, and can even lead to osteoporosis and a weaker immune system."
Counting off on her fingers, Shirai listed the dangers of excessive sugar consumption with a seriousness so convincing it was hard to doubt her.
Sonoko Natsume's hand, mid-scoop, paused. She gave Shirai a baffled look.
"So... do you want one or not?" she asked hesitantly, offering one cup to Misaka-senpai.
"Yes!"
Having just gotten off the tram—after spending unnecessary extra fare—the trio found themselves, without quite realizing how, following the Dorm Supervisor into District 13.
District 13 was an area concentrated with kindergartens and elementary schools. Sonoko Natsume had attended elementary school in this very district.
Ever since Academy City produced its seven Level 5 espers, more and more parents had been sending their children here, including the offspring of numerous wealthy families.
It was fairly common six years ago for kids like Sonoko Natsume to enter Academy City at elementary school age, but nowadays, the average age of entry was getting younger and younger.
"Kuroko, how much longer are you planning to stalk her?"
Rubbing her forehead, Misaka-senpai spoke up, having given up on trying to reason with Shirai.
"Until I see this 'Marco' with my own eyes!" Shirai declared, tossing her empty shaved ice cup into a trash bin with fierce determination.
"Up ahead is a child welfare facility. I think the Dorm Supervisor just went inside," Sonoko Natsume said, pointing to a sign on a building.
"'Asunaro Park'?" Reading the name, Shirai's face went blank for a second, as if her brain had momentarily short-circuited.
"The auntie is here!"
From outside the facility, Sonoko Natsume could faintly hear children's voices. It seemed the Dorm Supervisor was quite popular with the kids inside.
"Now, who are you calling 'auntie'? No treats for anyone who doesn't call me 'big sister'."
"Don't push, there's enough for everyone."
The Dorm Supervisor wore a gentle smile, patting one child's head as she handed out slices of pizza.
"No way... This can't be the Dorm Supervisor I know."
Crouched outside the facility's planter box railing, Misaka-senpai wore an expression of disbelief. Comparing this scene to the usual suit-and-black-glasses-wearing Dorm Supervisor felt strangely surreal, like the world had turned upside down.
"Child welfare facility, 'Asunaro Park'—a place that takes care of 'Child Errors'," Shirai recited, leaning against the railing as she read the facility info she'd just pulled up online.
"Child Errors... you mean children with no one to rely on?" Misaka-senpai murmured softly to herself.
Not far away, the Dorm Supervisor's face was filled with a warm, radiant smile, surrounded by a crowd of children—a picture of pure harmony.
"It's the first time I've ever seen the Dorm Supervisor make an expression like that," Misaka-senpai said, gripping the railing, her face full of wonder.
"Same here." ×2
"I've always thought the Dorm Supervisor was actually a good person, even if she can be really scary sometimes," Sonoko Natsume remarked with feeling.
"To think she volunteers here... I had no idea. So the Dorm Supervisor has such a kind heart after all!" Shirai thumped her forehead against the railing, a look of sudden remorse crossing her face.
"And compared to her, what do we do? We call her fierce, say she's too old to get a date... I, Kuroko, deeply regret it all!"
She formed a fist and lightly knocked her own forehead, punishing herself in her own way.
"Who's this 'we'? That was all you," Misaka-senpai sighed helplessly.
"Speaking of which, when did Natsume disappear?"
Hearing Misaka-senpai's words, Shirai finally looked up towards the spot where Sonoko had been standing.
"So that's why. They got bad grades and were ordered to do volunteer work as punishment."
In a corner of the Asunaro Park, Sonoko Natsume nodded in understanding, watching Saten-san and Uiharu-san cleaning with brooms in hand.
Academy City really was a small place, running into acquaintances everywhere.
"It's not really a punishment. Playing with the kids is pretty fun," Uiharu said with a smile.
"Hey, isn't that the Dorm Supervisor from Natsume's dorm, inside the classroom?"
"Did you all come together?" Saten asked curiously, pointing through the window at a figure inside the facility's classroom.
"Well, it's a bit complicated... but yeah, basically," Sonoko Natsume stammered, an awkward smile on her face. It really wasn't easy to explain.
"Uiharu, Saten, are those two by the flowerbed over there your friends? My mistake, I didn't realize we had one more here."
A gentle-looking, bespectacled teacher approached, pointing towards two suspicious figures lurking near the planter box railing.
Seeming to sense the attention on them, Shirai and Misaka-senpai hurriedly stood up, their faces flushing with the embarrassment of being caught.
"Daigo-sensei, they are indeed my friends," Saten quickly confirmed.
"Nice to meet you, Daigo-sensei. I'm Sonoko Natsume, a friend of Uiharu and the others," Sonoko introduced herself hastily under the teacher's gaze.
"Hello, I'm Daigo."
Soon after, the group found themselves clustered outside the classroom window, their eyes fixed on the bizarre sight of the Dorm Supervisor on the other side of the glass, ears straining to catch the conversation inside.
The Dorm Supervisor's face was tinged with an uncharacteristic blush, and standing beside her was Daigo-sensei, the instructor for Saten and Uiharu.
"The children are all very well-behaved, no need for much correction. And I don't really scold the students in the dormitory either. We can keep things relaxed because they are so self-disciplined," the Dorm Supervisor said, slightly bowing her head, her flushed face betraying her nervousness.
"Is that so? You really are a very gentle person."
As if they'd overheard something they shouldn't have, Shirai stumbled outside the window, a look of sudden revelation dawning on her face.
"I see. So the Italian 'Marco' Shirai was looking for is actually this guy."
Sonoko Natsume nodded in understanding, though the man in question wasn't actually Italian, didn't particularly love pizza, and certainly wasn't named Marco.
"Without a doubt, the Dorm Supervisor has fallen for this Daigo-sensei!" Shirai formed a gun shape with her hand and rested it on her chin, having seemingly seen through everything, her face contemplative.
"Dorm Supervisor, your love... I, Kuroko, will make sure it blossoms and bears fruit!" Shirai clenched her fist tightly, an intense aura radiating from her.
"Sounds like fun!"
"We'll help too!" The plan was quickly seconded by Uiharu and Saten, boosting Shirai's fervor even further.
"Isn't this a bit presumptuous? Things probably won't be as easy as you imagine," Misaka-senpai said with some concern, seeming less than optimistic about Shirai's plan.
"Can I... not participate? I just remembered I have something to do," a certain Sonoko Natsume tentatively raised a hand and asked.
Honestly, judging from Shirai's many persistent—and often failed—'operation plans' in the past, Sonoko had a bad feeling about this one.
"What do you think, Natsume-san? This is a golden opportunity to make the Dorm Supervisor see us in a new light!" Shirai wrapped an arm around Sonoko's neck, letting out a sinister chuckle that seemed to channel about thirty percent of the Dorm Supervisor's own intimidating aura.
"Why 'us'?" Sonoko's face showed a hint of grievance.
"No time to waste here! Let's head back and start drafting the operation plan!"
--+--
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.