A Scientific Urban Detective

“I said we needed a quick battle,” Stiyl replied to Touma’s exclamation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Did you expect me to wait for you to slowly shuffle to your destination?”

–That’s not the point!

Touma mentally retorted, but wisely refrained from arguing further. He didn't know many magicians, but he was certain that Kanzaki Kaori and Index were the types who couldn't handle modern technology. Sometimes, he really wondered how they could survive in modern society…

He had thought Stiyl, being a magician as well, would be similar, but it seemed Stiyl was much more normal.

Although waiting for a taxi took some time, overall, getting to the vicinity of Misawa Cram School by taxi was much faster than relying on feet and a wheelchair.

Across the street, the two who had arrived near Misawa Cram School looked up at their destination.

Four tower-like buildings, connected by corridors in the middle, formed a single structure.

That was "Misawa Cram School."

“Are you ready? The moment we step into this building, the battle begins.” Stiyl lit a new cigarette.

Clenching his right hand, Touma nodded solemnly. “Of course, let’s…”

“Smoking is prohibited in public places!” Someone suddenly shouted.

Stiyl reacted violently, because he was certain that until just now, there was absolutely no third person around.

Therefore, he quickly retreated to create distance, already holding several rune cards in his hand.

“Don’t be nervous, it’s someone I know,” Touma said. “Right, Shirai Kuroko?”

“Tch, spatial movement…” Stiyl muttered, but he did relax.

Just as Touma said, it was someone he knew—the twin-tailed girl who was also at the safe house last time.

So Stiyl and Shirai Kuroko actually knew each other.

“What are you doing here?” Stiyl asked with a frown. Since even Lin Wuming was no longer interfering in this incident, there was no reason for an ordinary Judgment member to keep meddling.

“Because I saw someone violating public morals by smoking in a public place.” Shirai Kuroko tilted her head and said, “Well, actually, it’s because I felt concerned, so I followed you. Mr. Stiyl, you’re a magician, right? Why have you come to Academy City again in less than a week?”

“I have a mission.” Stiyl didn’t explain much. “You can ask Lin Wuming for details.”

“No, never mind.” Shirai Kuroko shook her head. “I’m just a little concerned, I don’t intend to get to the bottom of it. Also, Touma-senpai’s wheelchair…”

Shirai Kuroko used her spatial ability to appear next to the wheelchair; she seemed very concerned about the wheelchair, giving the impression that she was about to pounce into Touma’s arms.

Startled by the girl who suddenly appeared in front of him, Touma quickly reached out to stop her.

But Shirai Kuroko seemed to only be crouching down to check the nameplate on the wheelchair.

“As expected, it’s not Wuming-senpai’s wheelchair.”

“Of course not, how could I use Wuming-senpai’s wheelchair…” Touma retorted, quickly withdrawing his hand. “Ah, sorry, I accidentally pushed you just now.”

“No, I was too reckless.” Shirai Kuroko stood up, revealing a smile. “Well then, I won’t disturb you two, goodbye.”

With that, the girl decisively used her spatial ability to leave.

Touma scratched his head, still a little worried. “Could she also want to enter Misawa Cram School? Should I tell Wuming?”

“Her goal is just your right hand.” Stiyl sneered from the side. “Please wake up, don’t be used without even realizing it.”

As an observer, Stiyl could see very clearly that when Touma reached out to stop Shirai Kuroko from pouncing on him, the girl had clearly deliberately bumped into his right hand.

“Eh? Is that so?” Touma looked at his right hand in surprise.

“Alright, she probably doesn’t have any other purpose anyway, so don’t worry about it.” Stiyl said, “Let’s go.”

“Okay, okay.” Touma quickly nodded and followed.

Using several spatial movements in a row, Shirai Kuroko fled far away before stopping, leaning against a wall and exhaling a long breath.

Shirai Kuroko wasn’t running away from Touma out of guilt—although she had indeed used some tricks to take advantage of him, the main reason was that she wasn’t familiar with Touma-senpai, and directly asking him to let her touch his head or something… was really hard to say.

What she really wanted to escape from was Misawa Cram School.

The most ⊥ New ⊥ Small ⊥ Say ⊥ In ⊥ Six ⊥ 9 ⊥⊥ Book ⊥⊥ Bar ⊥⊥ First ⊥ Hair!

“That strange space… is definitely not normal!” Shirai Kuroko also recovered her memories from the day before, remembering the hundred seconds she lost inside Misawa Cram School.

At that time…

After separating from Lin Wuming, Shirai Kuroko and Hachisuka Toumi were teleported to an infinite corridor, where no matter how she used her spatial abilities, she couldn’t escape, as if she could only go around in circles forever…

For a space manipulator, there was nothing more terrifying than this.

–This meant that space was out of her control, and to put it another way, it was equivalent to "ability runaway"!

One must know that when an ability fails to achieve the expected effect, it is a blow to the esper’s confidence, especially for space manipulators with such abstract abilities.

Shirai Kuroko was very scared. If she had stayed in that strange space for a little longer, even if there was nothing wrong with her ability, problems would arise out of nowhere due to mental instability!

Thinking that she was now far enough away from Misawa Cram School, Shirai Kuroko felt slightly relieved, allowing herself to calm down and rethink.

“Should I tell Wuming-senpai… no, he definitely already knows.” Shirai Kuroko shook her head. “After all, Touma-senpai’s clue came from Wuming-senpai.”

Actually, strictly speaking, it was Misaka Mikoto who told her.

Because the day before, Shirai Kuroko and Lin Wuming had entered Misawa Cram School together to investigate. Since Lin Wuming had experienced a fierce battle during the "lost hundred seconds," Shirai Kuroko’s side would probably not have been safe either.

So after returning to the dormitory, Misaka Mikoto was very concerned about her roommate, repeatedly confirming that Shirai Kuroko was not injured or had any other abnormalities before she could finally feel relieved.

Later, during the conversation, she also mentioned Wuming-senpai looking for Touma to "exorcise demons."

Shirai Kuroko was meticulous and accurately grasped the keywords, and deduced that her memory was likely also sealed, so there was the scene just now.

She finally understood why Wuming-senpai hadn’t reminded her to also unlock her sealed memories.

Because this kind of thing seemed to have no other value other than shaking her confidence.