After this, Sylvia no longer planned to participate in the competition.
Shokuhou Misaki seemed to have noticed this, which was why she invited Sylvia over.
"I also plan to have a chat with Shokuhou-san."
Leaving those words behind, Sylvia smiled at Fang Li.
"You should go find Index and keep an eye on that child."
With that, Sylvia left.
To be honest, Fang Li was actually quite curious about what Sylvia and Shokuhou Misaki would talk about when they got together.
However, if it were Shokuhou Misaki, she might really come up with some scheming ideas.
Of course, her nature isn't bad, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't do certain excessive things.
Just like Misaka Mikoto, who finds Shokuhou Misaki extremely unpleasant.
After all, in order to deal with Misaka Mikoto, Shokuhou Misaki often manipulates others, using them as hostages and combat power. Each time, it forces Misaka Mikoto to hold back, and with her straightforward personality, how could she possibly like Shokuhou Misaki?
To Misaka Mikoto, Shokuhou Misaki's methods are probably despicable and shameless.
Yet Shokuhou Misaki can do such things without the slightest hesitation.
"This is my ability. There's no reason to give up my advantage and make things harder for myself, right?"
That's how she herself puts it.
And that's precisely why Misaka Mikoto dislikes her so much.
Only, what Misaka Mikoto doesn't know is that although Shokuhou Misaki freely uses her ability, she also sets rules for herself, she must take care of the people she manipulates.
That is Shokuhou Misaki's personal principle, much like how Misaka Mikoto restrains her own power to avoid harming others, never going all out.
Given that, it's possible Shokuhou Misaki might use her ability to interfere with Sylvia's mind.
"However, since she didn't do it before, she probably won't suddenly start now, right?"
That was Fang Li's line of thinking.
Moreover…
"Even if that girl wants to use her ability on Sylvie, whether it would work is still uncertain."
After all, Sylvia's body is equipped with Explorer's Will, which can negate half the effects of abnormal statuses.
If her mind were interfered with, with half the effect nullified, Sylvia should be able to easily break free from Shokuhou Misaki's control with her own strength.
Because of this, Fang Li felt relatively at ease.
"I should go find Index instead."
Having made up his mind, Fang Li headed out onto the street.
"Hey, look at that person…"
"Isn't that the one?"
The passersby continued to cast curious and probing looks at him, making Fang Li somewhat of a center of attention.
Fortunately, he had already grown used to it and learned to ignore their gazes, walking down the street on his own while searching for Index.
Until a voice suddenly called out…
"Ara? You're the student who was sitting with the Diva, right?"
Hearing this, Fang Li stopped in his tracks.
Could it be someone wanting him to act as a middleman again, introducing Sylvia or asking for autographs?
Thinking this, Fang Li turned around to look behind him.
Then, he froze.
"Hello, sorry to stop you so suddenly."
The one who spoke was a woman in the prime of her youth, appearing to be in her early twenties.
She wore a light gray shirt paired with dark black slacks made of thin fabric. Her outfit was simple, yet gave off the impression of a very capable office lady.
Her hair was a dark tea-brown color, the exact same shade as Misaka Mikoto's.
No, not just the hair color, even her appearance looked extremely similar.
If Misaka Mikoto were to grow up smoothly, then in about ten years, she would probably become like this person in front of him.
Fang Li immediately recognized the woman's identity.
"My name is Misaka Misuzu. I'm here as a visiting student's parent."
The woman who introduced herself as Misaka Misuzu gave Fang Li a fearless yet polite smile as she spoke.
"Sorry to trouble you, but could you help me with something?"
…
"Honestly…"
On the other side, having just finished her match, Misaka Mikoto was venting her frustration for no apparent reason.
"I'm an electric-type Esper, and yet they made me participate in water tug-of-war. That means I couldn't use my ability at all, right?!"
Hearing this, walking behind her, Shirai Kuroko responded half-heartedly, as if lacking interest.
"If someone of Onee-sama's level discharged electricity in the water, everyone would end up like boiled frogs, floating on the surface, wouldn't they?"
"Exactly! So why make someone like me join a tug-of-war match?!"
"Because Onee-sama's athletic ability isn't bad. Even without using your ability, if your opponents are also girls, you should still have an advantage in strength."
"Then why not just let body-enhancement-type Espers participate?!"
"Unfortunately, our school doesn't have that many body-enhancement-type Espers to fill a strength-based competition. We still need manpower, you know?"
"I already know that!"
In that case, why vent for no reason?
"…I don't think so, but Onee-sama, can I ask you something?"
Shirai Kuroko stopped walking, narrowed her eyes at Misaka Mikoto, and asked:
"You're not still thinking about that bad bastard, are you?"
That single sentence made Misaka Mikoto freeze in her tracks and spin around.
"I-I'm not thinking about him at all!" Misaka Mikoto shouted. "Why would you suddenly say something so ridiculous?!"
"Because ever since you saw that bad bastard hanging around with the Diva, you've been really restless," Shirai Kuroko said with clear dissatisfaction. "What's so good about that guy anyway? He's the kind of person who looks at a world-famous idol and says he doesn't even know her! Why not just eliminate him entirely?"
"That's just the way he is, always saying things that annoy people," Misaka Mikoto replied without thinking. "But he's not actually cold or heartless. Even though he causes trouble without hesitation, he also cleans up the mess he makes. He looks carefree, but he does consider the people around him, and also…"
As Misaka Mikoto rambled on like this, she didn't notice that Shirai Kuroko's expression was growing worse and worse, and her hatred toward Fang Li was steadily increasing.
(This is bad! At this rate, Onee-sama will really fall for that bad bastard! I, Kuroko, have to take action!)
Just as Shirai Kuroko was shouting this internally, Misaka Mikoto suddenly stopped.
"Hm?"
Shirai Kuroko turned her head, somewhat puzzled, and looked at Misaka Mikoto.
What she saw was Misaka Mikoto wearing an expression as if she had just seen a ghost.
Ahead of her, a man and a woman were chatting as they walked away together.
Seeing this, Shirai Kuroko's eyes lit up, and she immediately reported to Misaka Mikoto:
"Look, Onee-sama! That man just left the Diva and is already hitting on another woman! And this time it's even a mature older woman! Just as expected, he's no goo…"
Before she could finish her sentence, she heard Misaka Mikoto cry out:
"Mom?!"
The person she was calling out to was none other than Misaka Misuzu, who was walking together with Fang Li.
(End Of This Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 70 chapters on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/GGS6395