vibrated; Mikoto must have done the same thing on the other side. As Shirai felt that, she remembered something.
Didn’t you think things were a little too convenient? Like how the useless person who stole this practically aimed to get wrapped up in a traffic jam? You couldn’t guess the reason
behind the electricity failure on the traffic lights
? There’s no possible way you wouldn’t know what kind of powers Tokiwadai’s ace has.
—She knew something was happening.
Mikoto Misaka sure has it rough. Someone blew up the Tree Diagram for her, so her nightmare ended.
—And she knew Mikoto Misaka had a lot to do with it.
But now they’re saying they’re going to repair it. If that happens, they’ll redo the experiment. So, well, I suppose I can sort of relate to her feeling she needs to struggle desperately against that.
—And she knew that even though Mikoto was wrapped up in these problems, she would never show a hint of distress or worry to Shirai—no, she didn’t
want
to.
She knew. All she had to do was put together the pieces to understand. Mikoto had her own issues, but she didn’t want to reveal them to Shirai, and someone else was responding to them. And whatever her reason may have been, she preferred Shirai to be that way…as if repelling her from some private circle.
If Shirai had done her best, had worked so hard she shed her own blood…
…then Mikoto Misaka would never be happy about it. Never. Because that meant Mikoto had gotten her wrapped up in her own private affairs.
But even still…
Shirai felt strongly that she wanted to do something for Mikoto. She wanted to lighten her load, even if she couldn’t do much. Even if the things Shirai devoted herself to were never revealed and that credit was given to someone else—she didn’t care. That’s what she wished for. Staring at her bloodied clothing from inside her wound-covered body, she clenched her teeth and prayed for it.
Kuroko Shirai didn’t know about any of the specifics.
She hadn’t been told anything, so she couldn’t make any judgments.
But she wanted to end it.
She wanted to make sure to take her out of the situation—of spilling her own blood for something.
And once she put an end to everything, she wanted them to be able to laugh together again without any background things to worry about, like they had today after school.
All alone, Kuroko Shirai made up her mind.
And to do that…
I will offer you serious lies, Big Sister, even if you don’t want me to.
“Big Sister, where have you been?”
“Hmm? Grabbing one or two accessories I missed out on buying, I suppose. Recently I’ve been looking all over for them, but I just can’t quite seem to find them. I just stopped back here to pick up something I forgot. I’ll be going out for a bit again. Oh, but don’t expect any souvenirs, Kuroko.”
What a weak argument. Shirai wondered what she’d do if she said she would come along with her, like she always did. Recently …
That means Big Sister
has
been doing something by herself lately. Looking for accessories? Top-secret ones, perhaps…? Good grief, you said it.
Shirai smiled thinly but didn’t back down. There was one thing she needed to say. The thing Mikoto had told her this afternoon. She would turn the implication of those words right back on her. “Hopefully it will not rain tonight. The weather forecasts haven’t been correct lately, after all.”
“…” For a brief moment, Mikoto inhaled as if surprised. Then, after a few moments of silence, she spoke, her voice a little softer than before—as if tired by something. “You’re right. Thanks for worrying about me. I’ll do my best to come back as soon as I can.”
She felt her leave the door. After pulling her back away from the thin boards, she seemed to exit the room. She heard the
bang
of the door to their room opening and closing.
“Anyway…” She took a breath, then, still in her underwear, snatched up her spare summer
Didn’t you think things were a little too convenient? Like how the useless person who stole this practically aimed to get wrapped up in a traffic jam? You couldn’t guess the reason
behind the electricity failure on the traffic lights
? There’s no possible way you wouldn’t know what kind of powers Tokiwadai’s ace has.
—She knew something was happening.
Mikoto Misaka sure has it rough. Someone blew up the Tree Diagram for her, so her nightmare ended.
—And she knew Mikoto Misaka had a lot to do with it.
But now they’re saying they’re going to repair it. If that happens, they’ll redo the experiment. So, well, I suppose I can sort of relate to her feeling she needs to struggle desperately against that.
—And she knew that even though Mikoto was wrapped up in these problems, she would never show a hint of distress or worry to Shirai—no, she didn’t
want
to.
She knew. All she had to do was put together the pieces to understand. Mikoto had her own issues, but she didn’t want to reveal them to Shirai, and someone else was responding to them. And whatever her reason may have been, she preferred Shirai to be that way…as if repelling her from some private circle.
If Shirai had done her best, had worked so hard she shed her own blood…
…then Mikoto Misaka would never be happy about it. Never. Because that meant Mikoto had gotten her wrapped up in her own private affairs.
But even still…
Shirai felt strongly that she wanted to do something for Mikoto. She wanted to lighten her load, even if she couldn’t do much. Even if the things Shirai devoted herself to were never revealed and that credit was given to someone else—she didn’t care. That’s what she wished for. Staring at her bloodied clothing from inside her wound-covered body, she clenched her teeth and prayed for it.
Kuroko Shirai didn’t know about any of the specifics.
She hadn’t been told anything, so she couldn’t make any judgments.
But she wanted to end it.
She wanted to make sure to take her out of the situation—of spilling her own blood for something.
And once she put an end to everything, she wanted them to be able to laugh together again without any background things to worry about, like they had today after school.
All alone, Kuroko Shirai made up her mind.
And to do that…
I will offer you serious lies, Big Sister, even if you don’t want me to.
“Big Sister, where have you been?”
“Hmm? Grabbing one or two accessories I missed out on buying, I suppose. Recently I’ve been looking all over for them, but I just can’t quite seem to find them. I just stopped back here to pick up something I forgot. I’ll be going out for a bit again. Oh, but don’t expect any souvenirs, Kuroko.”
What a weak argument. Shirai wondered what she’d do if she said she would come along with her, like she always did. Recently …
That means Big Sister
has
been doing something by herself lately. Looking for accessories? Top-secret ones, perhaps…? Good grief, you said it.
Shirai smiled thinly but didn’t back down. There was one thing she needed to say. The thing Mikoto had told her this afternoon. She would turn the implication of those words right back on her. “Hopefully it will not rain tonight. The weather forecasts haven’t been correct lately, after all.”
“…” For a brief moment, Mikoto inhaled as if surprised. Then, after a few moments of silence, she spoke, her voice a little softer than before—as if tired by something. “You’re right. Thanks for worrying about me. I’ll do my best to come back as soon as I can.”
She felt her leave the door. After pulling her back away from the thin boards, she seemed to exit the room. She heard the
bang
of the door to their room opening and closing.
“Anyway…” She took a breath, then, still in her underwear, snatched up her spare summer
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