Everything you hold dear will one day slip away.
So before that happens, you must cherish every last bit of warmth.
Accelerator stayed quietly near the temporarily prepared cushion, carefully watching over the girl sleeping before him.
Perhaps because she was the control terminal for the Misaka Network, Last Order had been affected the most by the memory virus. It took quite a while before she weakly opened her eyes.
"That person, I think I fell asleep, and I dreamed of you fighting with Big Sister, Misaka Misaka says while feeling a little confused."
Seeming to feel some intense gazes upon her, Last Order turned her head away somewhat sheepishly and muttered under her breath.
"Ah, now that I mention it, where am I? Could this be the building that the kind Tokiwadai big sisters prepared for us? Misaka Misaka says, suddenly sounding happy as she remembers something."
Clenching her fists and placing them near her chest, Last Order sat up with a start from the cushion.
But her weak body swayed unsteadily, and then she accidentally bumped into a nearby piece of furniture. Clutching her head, she looked utterly pitiful.
"Brat, don't move around right after waking up. If you break anything here, you're paying for it yourself. Honestly, you sure can sleep. Everyone else woke up before you."
"Once you're feeling a bit better, we're leaving this place."
A look of annoyance instantly flashed across his face as Accelerator stood up and spoke coldly.
Whether it was Misaka Mikoto, Natsume Sonoko, or that Level 5 named Shokuhou Misaki, they all viewed his presence with extreme wariness. Subtle precautions were everywhere.
After the crisis was resolved, he had originally intended to discuss the matter of Kihara Gensei's disposal with the Tokiwadai group, but now he'd lost the inclination.
"That person, can I look around? It won't take long. We were out shopping anyway, Misaka Misaka says with shining, hopeful eyes."
"Suit yourself."
He couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. Accelerator replied helplessly; he simply had no effective way of dealing with Last Order.
"So that person is the #1? He doesn't look as scary as the urban legends say."
Not far away, Saten Ruiko gazed at the white-haired boy with a hint of concern, speaking softly to Uiharu Kazari and the others beside her.
"True, rumors are just rumors. Lately, there's even a rumor that Natsume-san is a delinquent who likes throwing people into trash cans. How could that possibly be?"
Uiharu nodded in understanding, voicing no objection.
As someone closely involved who had been around Natsume-san day in and day out for so long, she could confirm those were just baseless rumors.
"But that person is dangerous, nonetheless. And he was the central figure in the Level 6 Shift Project. There's no mistaking that."
The Sisters were gradually waking up, and the sound of their hushed conversations filled the area. With nothing else to do at the moment, Shirai Kuroko had drifted over at some point.
Anyone who caused her Onee-sama distress was an enemy in her book. Even if Accelerator seemed to be on their side now, it didn't lessen Shirai-san's internal vigilance.
"Reiko, this is for you. I found some tasty bread in the room, Misaka 9982 says while anticipating Reiko's response and feigning nonchalance."
On the other side of the floor, Misaka 9982 blinked as she watched a dazed young girl, holding an opened package of bread in her hand.
Watching Reiko obediently accept the bread, a subtle expression flickered across Misaka 9982's typically monotone face.
She observed Reiko's eating mannerisms with curiosity, a slight, unconscious curve forming at the corner of her mouth.
"Full… now…"
Swallowing the bread, she let out a childish voice. Reiko's large eyes seemed exceptionally innocent as she grasped Misaka 9982's hand with one of her own, acting very affectionate.
"Tak… oyaki… Big Sister's treat… You and me…"
Reiko tried to form the sounds from her memory, attempting to say something. It seemed she recalled a certain someone with bun-shaped hair promising her takoyaki once.
Though still somewhat halting, her meaning was clear. Ever since Natsume-san had entered Reiko's life, the pains of growing up had quietly descended upon her.
The crimson hues of dusk slowly rose in the sky as the sun set in the west. The long day was finally coming to an end.
Though only a few hours had passed, it felt like months had gone by. Was this the legendary feeling of a day feeling like a year?
In the corridor of a certain university hospital, Natsume Sonoko stared bitterly at the dense layers of bandages wrapped around her right arm. A sling held it against her chest, and there were also bandages around her calf and abdomen, making her feel terribly uncomfortable.
A strong sense of confinement weighed on her heart; she really disliked this feeling.
However, according to Dr. Heaven Canceller, if she didn't want ugly scars on her arm, she needed to apply ointment and take care to protect the skin properly. That's why she had agreed to have her arm wrapped in these antibacterial bandages.
The injuries on her forehead and other parts of her body had also been properly treated. At a glance, Natsume-san looked like a seriously wounded patient, though her actual injuries weren't that severe.
"Shokuhou-senpai went to deal with the remaining issues regarding Kihara Gensei after getting her wounds treated. Misaka-senpai still needs a full check-up. As for Shirai-san, because of her torn muscles, her required recovery time has increased by a few more days."
Thinking about what everyone had been through, the certain bun-haired girl found herself the most idle, simply waiting for the bandages to be removed.
She found a chair and sat down. A sudden wave of drowsiness instantly washed over her brain, and her eyelids felt heavy, almost too hard to keep open.
During this period, Natsume-san's emotions had been constantly fluctuating, her nerves stretched taut. Now that everything was resolved, her body finally couldn't hold out any longer.
She glanced around somewhat warily, seemingly deciding there was no danger, and planned to just close her eyes for a little while while waiting for Misaka-senpai and the others to come out. But she quickly fell asleep.
"Natsume-san, the fireworks have started."
She didn't know how long she had slept, but it seemed like someone was calling her name.
The drill-haired girl felt muddled and didn't want to move. The voice sounded somewhat familiar. After a moment, she finally opened her eyes.
"How strange, it feels so cramped."
Her mind was a mess. Natsume-san felt like the place she had been sleeping was particularly odd.
Turning her head, she realized she was squeezed into Shirai-san's high-tech wheelchair alongside her, and she was even clinging to Shirai-san's arm.
Shirai-san next to her looked somewhat helplessly at the girl beside her. This one's sleeping posture was rather restless, always wanting to hold onto something.
"I asked Shokuhou. She said she isn't coming."
"But we ran into Juufuku-san, who was looking for you, near the dorm. Then we met Kongou-san, Wannai-san, and the others on the way, so we invited them all to watch the fireworks together."
Misaka-senpai stood behind the wheelchair, explaining in a soft voice. She had changed back into her Tokiwadai gym clothes.
Natsume-san was stunned for a second before she came to her senses. Only then did she notice that the area around them was filled with people.
"And Natsume-san, you don't need to worry. We've already contacted your mother. It's fine if we stay out late."
Uiharu chuckled, the flowers in her hair gently swaying, giving off a feeling that everything was under control.
The fireworks were beautiful.
A riot of color, fiery trees and silver flowers, the sky filled with light and shadows that blotted out the night, even obscuring the eternal starlight.
The first night of the Daihasei Festival was filled with a bit more noise and a little less of the stifling pressure that had been weighing on their chests.
Several hard-working cleaning robots weaved through the bustling crowds. From time to time, one could see patrolling Anti-Skill teachers, and spherical camera drones flying about were everywhere.
But the most pervasive thing was the festive atmosphere. The only things reflected in everyone's eyes were the mottled afterimages of color.
Different from ordinary days, even the Tokiwadai dormitory had extended its lights-out time, giving Natsume-san and the others more time to wander outside without worrying about the Dorm Manager's scolding.
Perhaps because she had just taken a nap, Natsume Sonoko's mental state had recovered considerably. However, while watching the fireworks, she seemed a bit distracted. But judging from the suppressed smile on her face, her mood was probably quite good.
"It's really wonderful that we can watch the fireworks together."
Natsume Sonoko stared blankly at the brilliant night sky, a peculiar feeling stirring in her heart.
There were so many things worth treasuring, and Natsume-san didn't want to let go of a single one. The things she fought with all her might to protect had never changed.
She was a very greedy girl.
"It's a parade float! The one performing on it seems to be Arisa!"
Noticing something interesting, Saten-san excitedly pointed towards a street not far away that was already buzzing with noise.
"Eh?"
Natsume Sonoko snapped back to attention, her gaze following the pointing finger.
The nighttime parade in Academy City had many events, and the fireworks at six o'clock were just one of them.
The streets were rather dark now, as the streetlights had been turned off early for the event.
As the floodlights on the float lit up, several multicolored beams of light rotated rhythmically. Adorned with numerous LED lights, the float shone in concert with the fireworks in the sky.
The moving stage stood five or six meters above the ground, making it easy for people to see the figures on it.
Dressed in gorgeous attire, Meigo Arisa held her hands high, making her particularly conspicuous within the parade float procession.
Around her were some well-known celebrities from Academy City's entertainment world—though, frankly, Natsume-san didn't recognize many of them.
"Arisa!"
A wave of cheers instantly erupted from the crowd, as if the most popular singer in Academy City had appeared.
After the previous space elevator incident, Meigo-senpai's popularity had skyrocketed. A heartfelt song always easily touches people.
"Do your best, Meigo-senpai!"
Infected by the crowd's energy, Natsume-san also became somewhat excited, her face flushed and looking very healthy.
Although this senpai ultimately hadn't been able to stand on the grand, much anticipated stage, for a singer, having people who love your voice is enough.
"Natsume-san is certainly full of energy. She seems very healthy, so Juufuku-san doesn't need to worry."
Holding a fan to her lips and specially wearing festive attire, Kongou-senpai spoke with considerable confidence to the double-bun-haired girl beside her.
"Yes. But the bandages on her are too frightening."
Blending into the crowd almost unnoticed, Juufuku Miho nodded absently.
Natsume-san had encountered danger again. But what could I even do about it?
--+--
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.