"Have you heard? It seems like Misaka and Shokuhou have joined the Shikura Faction. Yesterday, someone saw them sitting with Sashikura, chatting quite harmoniously."
"Is that for real? Wouldn't the Sura Faction be invincible with two Level 5 Espers backing them? Also, which Misaka is it? Mikoto or Chinatsu?"
"It's hard to say for now. I hope it's Chinatsu and not Mikoto. If she teams up with Shokuhou, there'd be no stopping whatever they wanted to do..."
The Tokiwadai Students were whispering to each other. It wasn't just about the status and combat capabilities of Level 5 Espers; it was also that the synergy between Shokuhou's and Mikoto's abilities was too perfect.
One is the pinnacle of mental-type abilities.
One is the pinnacle of electrical-type abilities.
Suppose the two teamed up to commit crimes: Shokuhou could tamper with people's memories on a reality level, and Mikoto could tamper with data information on a network level. A perfect crime would be incredibly easy.
How could the Mizukagami Faction and the Sha Faction possibly resist the two of them teaming up? The balance between the three major factions would collapse in an instant.
Tokiwadai, school dormitory.
A girl named "Kiyoshi Yukiko" was walking nervously down the dormitory hallway. On the surface, she was Mikoto's current roommate, a mole planted by the Shikura Faction to get close to Mikoto. In reality, she secretly called Sha Danshan her sister and was a mole among moles.
And Sha Danshan was the very culprit who stirred up the factional strife among Tokiwadai Students. If Mikoto and Shokuhou really joined the Shikura Faction, the Shikura Faction would become the sole dominant power, and the factional strife would be forcibly brought to a halt under this absolute power.
"Yukiko, help me go and ask if this rumor is true. This is really important, please."
She walked quickly to the door of her dormitory, reached out, placed her hand on the handle, stood in silence for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and walked inside.
Mikoto, the center of the students' discussions, was currently sitting on her bed, grinning as she played with a gua tai series plushie. She didn't shyly hide the plushie when Yukiko pushed the door open and entered; she simply lifted her head and greeted Yukiko with a smile.
Don't let Mikoto's open attitude now fool you; in reality, when Yukiko first visited the dormitory, she also caught Mikoto playing with a gua tai plushie. Yukiko was shocked at the time, and Mikoto, in her shame, had sparks of electricity crackling all over her body.
Mikoto: "E-elect... electrifying the memory area of the brain should be able to erase memories... I... I can definitely do it!"
Yukiko: "Stop! Stop right there!!!"
Yukiko: "I'm not the type of person to gossip about other people's hobbies. Actually, my sister is quite similar to you in this regard, but compared to her unsightly behavior, you are just too cute."
Mikoto: "Does this mean... I can rest easy? It's so conflicting..."
Yukiko couldn't help but shudder involuntarily as she recalled the scene from back then. Even today, she still felt quite a bit of pressure living in the same dormitory as a Level 5 Esper, even though she thought Mikoto was a very good person.
"Yukiko, you're back at the dorm so early today. You usually take an hour or two longer in the evening. Is there no club activity today?" Mikoto asked, tilting her head while hugging the gua tai plushie.
"Um... yes, everyone is resting today, so I came back early. By the way, Mikoto, I heard a rumor on the way here that you and Shokuhou have joined the Shikura Faction..."
Yukiko was so nervous she couldn't even speak properly. Although in Mikoto's eyes they had a very good relationship, in Yukiko's eyes, her own need to keep secrets ultimately created a deep barrier between her and the innocent Mikoto.
She was terrified that this question might touch upon something sensitive for Mikoto, fearing it would destroy the relationship between her and Mikoto—a relationship that appeared solid but was actually as fragile as a bubble.
However, Yukiko's worry was clearly unnecessary. Mikoto, sitting cross-legged on the bed, couldn't help but tilt her head at Yukiko's question before looking up thoughtfully.
"Join the Shikura Faction? I don't think so. I have met Sekihana Senpai once; we even had a one-on-one fight. Hmm... I think I won... If the rumor isn't completely false, maybe the person in the rumor is my sister? After all, we look very similar, so it's normal for most people to not be able to tell us apart."
After saying that, Mikoto's tone changed, and she continued with a smile: "But I don't think my sister would join a faction either. She loves slacking off, and I don't think joining a faction would help with that."
"I... I see..."
Yukiko couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief, but seeing this, a look of confusion appeared on Mikoto's face.
"I remember you're part of the Shikura Faction, aren't you, Yukiko? If I or my sister really joined the Shikura Faction, shouldn't you be happy? Why do you look like you're breathing a sigh of relief upon hearing that it might be fake news?"
Although Mikoto was innocent, she was also very smart and sharp. There were many things she just didn't want to or chose not to think about, rather than simply being unable to think of them.
The heavy stone that had just fallen from Yukiko's heart was instantly lifted back up. She raised both hands, waving them quickly from side to side, and hurriedly explained, stammering.
"B-because you told me before, Mikoto, that you didn't want to participate in factional strife. I thought if the rumor was true, maybe you had some hidden reason or something..."
As she continued, Yukiko's voice grew softer and softer. She herself realized what nonsense she was spewing, and her inner confidence was visibly fading.
"So that's it? Haha, Yukiko, you really overthink things. What hidden reason could I possibly have? Do you think anyone could threaten me~"
Mikoto jumped off the bed with a grin, put on her shoes, walked quickly to Yukiko's side, and reached out to give her shoulder a heavy pat.
"That said, we can't rule out the possibility that my sister joined the Shikura Faction. As it happens, I'm going out with my sister to buy a cake later, so I'll go ask her and tell you the result when I get back."
As Mikoto said this, she walked quickly out of the dormitory. At this very moment, Chinatsu, the other figure at the center of the students' discussions, had already arrived at the dormitory entrance. She took her phone out of her pocket, wondering whether to send a message to remind Mikoto.
While waiting for Mikoto, she could feel many gazes directed at her from time to time, but even by the time Mikoto came downstairs, not a single student had gathered the courage to walk over and strike up a conversation with her.
"Sister!"
"Let's go."
As Mikoto walked out of the dormitory building, the two of them walked leisurely out of the Tokiwadai school gate in front of everyone's eyes. Inside the dormitory, Yukiko walked quietly to the window and watched the two of them as they gradually walked out of the Tokiwadai school gate.
She faintly bit her lip; deceiving such an innocent Mikoto gave her a considerable sense of guilt.
"I'm sorry, Mikoto..."