>

*     *     *

Because…

In that mass, she’d spotted Kuroko Shirai, who wore a fierce expression on her face.

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!” Uiharu’s shoulders gave a jolt.

Unnatural strength entered her arms, causing a grating greeee sound to come out of the violin.

As Shirai watched, she unleashed all her mental energy toward her colleague who stood in the center of the congregation.

“…Ah, I see how it is. I knew her praiseworthy offer to help me carry things was unusual, and here we are. I see she had an ulterior motive, and I can never drop my guard because this is what happens and not even I’ve gotten her to look at me with such sweet, sweet eyes—Big Sister…!”

Judging by her face, it seemed she was about to trip over a television cord.

Kazari Uiharu broke out into a cold, profuse sweat, but Mikoto Misaka, as always, didn’t notice.

“Is something wrong?”

“N-no, nothing at all!!”

“Is someone giving you suspicious looks?”

“You shouldn’t say that!!”

Uiharu spoke with her eyes almost filled with tears, but Mikoto didn’t give a thought to Shirai’s presence the entire time.