Looking up at the golden sky, Aizen's lips curled into a slight, enigmatic smile. "Just as I expected. You're here."
"Who is it?" Konan couldn't help but ask, her curiosity piqued.
"Ah, an old friend," Aizen replied casually, his pace never faltering.
An old friend?
Konan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of puzzlement in her eyes. Someone Aizen considered an "old friend" had to be someone extraordinary. Who could it be?
I really want to discuss this with An Ran-san, but now isn't the time. Damn this Aizen... how can a kid be so insidious? I don't even dare open the group chat anymore!
Konan complained bitterly in her heart, entirely unaware that the "sinister kid" she was wary of was currently snooping on the group chat, paying no mind to his surroundings.
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "So, Gintoki-san, you didn't catch the panty thief in the end?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Yeah, the guy's as slippery as a monkey. Damn it, why would someone with those kinds of skills be such a pervert?"
Book Artist: "Before you say that, could you please take those bear-patterned trunks off your head? You're talking weird."
Shark Face: "Trunks on his head?"
Hoshigaki Kisame was genuinely taken aback. As a newcomer, he had no context for this level of absurdity.
This is an Actor: "That is a specific item Gintoki won in a lottery. You can think of it as a form of... specialized armor."
Shark Face: "I see. I understand a little better now."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Shut it, you little brats! I haven't worn them like that in ages. I'm just tying them around my chest for protection now!"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Isn't it equally abnormal to tie them to your chest?"
Book Artist: "Without a doubt."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Tsk! You're all just jealous! Admit it! This is a legendary item! A legendary one! You're all just salty 'African Chiefs' with bad gacha luck!"
Book Artist: "You're the African Chief! Your whole family are African Chiefs!"
Shark Face: "Oh, a quarrel has broken out. Does the Group Leader not intend to intervene?"
This is an Actor: "This is their daily routine—a symbol of their unique bond and mutual support."
Shark Face: "Ah, I see. How... touching."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Support?! Who wants to be 'supportive' with this stinky brat? She's just a flat-chested blonde loser!"
Book Artist: "Oh? You have the nerve to mock someone when your silver curls reek of 'old man'? You're still eating parfaits every day at your age; why don't you go home and drink your mother's milk?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "I feel like things have escalated to personal attacks. Is this really okay?"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Don't worry about them. But you, Ruiko-chan, how are things on your end?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "No luck at all."
At that moment, Saten Ruiko was wandering through the industrial warehouse district of District 7. Compared to the bustling atmosphere of the day, the night here was eerily quiet.
This was exactly why she had chosen this area. The experiments for the Absolute Esper Project would almost certainly be conducted in sparsely populated locations, so Ruiko decided to start her search in District 7, the area closest to her residence.
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Take your time. There's no need to rush these things."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Yeah, I know."
"Hey there, little girl." Just as Ruiko sent the message, a frivolous voice echoed nearby. "It's pretty late. What's a middle schooler doing in a place like this?"
Ruiko frowned and slowly turned around. Her eyes landed on several teenagers dressed in unkempt clothes, sporting various piercings. These were a staple of Academy City's underbelly—the "Skill-Out" delinquents who usually only appeared at night.
"Oh, she's actually a beauty."
"She looks young, but her figure is surprisingly well-developed."
"Exactly my type."
The moment Ruiko turned, the delinquents' eyes lit up with predatory interest.
Saten Ruiko took a breath and said quietly, "Please leave. I don't want to hurt you if I can avoid it."
She wasn't bluffing. She had won a thousand points in her initial draw and had planned to save them for a high-tier ability later. However, to ensure she could search for the Misaka sisters safely, she had gritted her teeth and spent all one thousand points.
Reiatsu, Shunpo, Bakudo, Hakuda, the Nine Swords of Dugu, the Ancient Tomb Swordplay... the current Saten Ruiko was no longer an ordinary Level 0 student. At her current peak, she could theoretically challenge a Level 5. With enough combat experience, she might even stand a chance of winning.
But the thugs in front of her knew nothing of her background; they simply thought her words were hilarious. They burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! That's rich!"
"You don't want to hurt us? But we really want to 'hurt' you!"
The group closed in. One of them, unable to wait any longer, reached out a hand toward her.
"I tried," Ruiko sighed helplessly.
Swish. Her figure vanished instantly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of muffled thuds echoed through the warehouse district, followed by an immediate, heavy silence. Under the silver moonlight, the previously arrogant delinquents lay in a heap on the ground—some with their eyes rolled back, others twitching rhythmically.
Ruiko glanced at them briefly before looking into the distance. "Looks like there's nothing here. I'll have to try another sector."
"Ruiko?"
Just as she was about to leave, a voice called out from behind her. It was a familiar voice—far too familiar. Ruiko's instincts screamed that she was in trouble. She turned stiffly. Sure enough, a girl with short brown hair was staring at her.
"Misaka... san?"
"I never knew you had that kind of strength, Ruiko!" Misaka Mikoto's eyes were glowing with excitement, as if she had discovered a hidden treasure. "Come on! Fight me!"
"I have homework! Goodbye!"
Without a second's hesitation, Ruiko bolted. What a joke! Her power was for protection, not for sparring with a battle-maniac. Besides, facing a Level 5 made her feel incredibly insecure. Behind her, Mikoto was jumping up and down in frustration, shouting, "Wait! Wait a minute!"
Only after she had completely lost her pursuer did Saten Ruiko stop to catch her breath and open the group chat to plead for help.
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Is An Ran-san there? Save me! I think Mikoto-san is hunting me down!"