"My name is Arata, nice to meet you." Arata glanced at the shimmering one-star cards above their heads, reached out and lightly ruffled their hair as if teasing younger sisters, and quietly collected the cards.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for unlocking a One-Star Character Card and obtaining the Level 3 ability Hydrokinesis: Fluid Reflection."
Level 3 Fluid Reflection: Within a radius of 13.3 meters centered on the user, buoyancy can be freely adjusted. This allows the user to walk on water and temporarily increase lifting force acting on objects within range.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for unlocking a One-Star Character Card and obtaining the Level 3 ability Hydrokinesis: Water Flow Manipulation."
Level 3 Water Flow Manipulation: Can control a maximum volume of 300 liters of water with an effective control radius of 18 meters. Up to four separate streams can be manipulated simultaneously. Weakness: Cannot generate water and must rely on an existing water source.
As the system notification echoed in his mind, a throbbing pain shot through his consciousness, and two completely different Personal Realities took root in his brain.
Just like abilities that originally belonged to him, they did not require calculation formulas. He could activate them instinctively with a single thought.
"Aren't these the abilities of those two Tokiwadai girls?" Arata thought to himself. At this point in time, Wannai Kinuho and Awatsuki Maaya should not have met Misaka Mikoto yet.
"Senpai…" Awatsuki Maaya's pretty face flushed slightly, but out of refined Tokiwadai etiquette, she did not slap his hand away.
"Um, Senpai." Wannai Kinuho looked uneasy. She had a noticeable fear of men, and her body language clearly expressed subtle resistance.
"Sorry, sorry, it's just a habit. A habit. Whenever I see someone cute, I feel the urge to pat their head. It's the same feeling as wanting to dote on a kitten. I truly meant no harm."
Arata quickly withdrew his hand, scratched the back of his head sheepishly, and thought to himself, "As expected of Tokiwadai's elite. Even flustered, they carry themselves with authority."
"We didn't mean to blame you, Senpai. We don't know how to thank you. We were very scared just now, and we are truly grateful to you, Senpai," Awatsuki Maaya said shyly.
Wannai Kinuho blinked, looking at the cheerful senior with a hint of surprise, and asked softly and politely,
"Um... excuse my bluntness, but are you the Arata who advanced to Level 5 Telekinesis yesterday?"
"Yes, that's me. I didn't expect to be recognized so easily." Arata smiled helplessly. He had clearly requested that the director not publish his photo, yet the chance of being recognized on the street had increased dramatically. Being pointed at and whispered about was honestly troublesome.
"As expected, Senpai drove away those delinquents without even making a move. We were fortunate to meet one of only seven Level 5 espers in Academy City in this way."
Arata escorted the two girls out of the alley and said, "You shouldn't be afraid of people like that. You can use your abilities to drive them away. They bully the weak and fear the strong. The more timid you appear, the more arrogant they become."
"Because we are not allowed to use our abilities against others without justification, it could escalate into conflict. It's better to wait for a Judgment member to arrive," Awatsuki Maaya replied with a gentle smile.
"What if you face real danger before Judgment arrives?"
The two girls looked at each other and smiled knowingly, silently agreeing that they would protect each other even if they were hurt.
Just as they stepped out of the alley into the bustling commercial street, a loud bang echoed, followed by an indignant shout.
"I've spun it thirty times already, why haven't I gotten it yet? This gashapon machine is just as irritating as that star-eyed idiot."
A brown-haired girl punched the gashapon machine with surprising force. Veins stood out faintly on her forehead, and her eyes twitched, clearly showing that she was in a foul mood.
Just thinking about how the strict dorm supervisor dragged her to the Board Chairman's office made her angrier. It must be that star-eyed idiot deliberately filing complaints again.
The dorm supervisor stood beside the Board Chairman with arms crossed, looking down at her. Then the Chairman listed her various misconducts one by one.
"Misaka, is it true that someone witnessed you kicking and damaging a vending machine?"
"Misaka, there has been a complaint that you used your ability without proper cause and caused property damage."
"Misaka, someone reported that a suspect resembling you was playing a survival game with a toy gun at night. You were not present in the dorm that evening. Please explain your whereabouts. Also, Shirai Kuroko was reported missing the previous day."
"And there have been multiple reports of loud shouting in the library."
"Even if I did some of that, it wasn't nearly as exaggerated as they made it sound. That star-eyed idiot must be trying to smear me again. I clearly went to the underground mall that night. That's why I didn't play the survival game. So annoying."
With a sharp click, the gashapon machine finally dispensed a capsule marked with a frog symbol. The girl's irritated expression instantly vanished. She clasped her hands together, her brown eyes sparkling. Childishly, she picked up the capsule and bounced in place with joy.
"Yay! I finally got it! A Gekota hair clip with a one in thirty-two chance!" She pressed the Gekota toy to her cheek, her face glowing with happiness.
"I feel much better." She placed her hands on her hips, radiating her usual confident and straightforward aura. "Time to head to the ice cream shop where I agreed to meet Kuroko."
Then she paused, slowly turning her head, only to see two Tokiwadai underclassmen and a high school boy staring at her from the alley entrance. Her cheeks instantly turned red.
I was seen punching a gashapon machine by fellow students. This is going to become evidence against me.
"Um, excuse me, are you Misaka-senpai?" Wannai Kinuho asked with hopeful anticipation, her hands clasped together.
"Uh… yes, that's me… and you are?" Misaka Mikoto replied awkwardly, her eyes shifting nervously.
"My name is Wannai Kinuho. Do you remember me? You helped me when I was surrounded by delinquents in Chiyoda Ward." Her eyes shone brightly as if she were looking at a hero.
"Oh? That happened too…" Misaka Mikoto suddenly remembered and quickly hid the Gekota capsule behind her back.
"Thank you very much for what you did that day." Kinuho Wannai bowed deeply in sincere gratitude.
"My name is Awatsuki Maaya. I have long admired your reputation. It is an honor to finally meet you."
"It was nothing. I just did what I could." Misaka Mikoto scratched her head awkwardly, thinking to herself that at least they seemed to have forgotten about the gashapon incident.
"I never expected to meet two of the seven Level 5 espers in Academy City on the same day. We are truly fortunate," Wannai Kinuho said gently.
"Eh? Two Level 5s?" Misaka Mikoto's attention sharpened instantly.
"Yes. This is Senpai Arata. He just helped us drive away those delinquents," Wannai Kinuho introduced politely.
"Hah?" Misaka Mikoto looked directly at Arata.
The one who advanced to Level 5 Telekinesis in yesterday's Academy City broadcast.
...
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