"By the way, Uiharu, do you think if we used the [Level Upper], we'd really increase in level? If I gained powers, would my everyday life change?" Saten Ruiko said suddenly, full of longing, to Uiharu Kazari.
"Who knows? But Saten, cheating isn't right," Uiharu replied.
"What should I say, Uiharu? Do you think I'm useless, being a Level 0 with no abilities?" Saten Ruiko asked, starting to sound dejected.
"Huh?! Saten, why would you think that? Please don't..." Uiharu Kazari was at a loss, trying to figure out how to respond to Saten's sudden bout of self-pity.
Ignoring Uiharu's attempts to comfort her, Saten continued speaking to herself, "You and Shirai are always working so hard as Judgement officers..."
"…Selene-senpai and Misaka-senpai are both Level 5, the top of Academy City, and daughters of wealthy families at Tokiwadai. I just feel like I'm completely useless, like I'm insignificant," Saten lamented.
"Saten…" Uiharu Kazari felt a pang of sympathy, knowing that as a Level 0, Saten Ruiko often harbored insecurities about her lack of powers. Uiharu herself was only a Level 1, a low-level esper.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to bring down the mood. Don't worry, I'm not seriously thinking about it," Saten quickly reassured her friend, trying to shift the topic with a bright smile.
"Besides, being a low-level esper isn't all bad, right? I mean, I'm a Level 0, too, so Uiharu, you need to have confidence too!" Saten said, trying to sound cheerful as she made an 'OK' sign with her right hand and put it over her right eye, her left eye sparkling with encouragement.
"Uiharu, don't worry about it. As long as you're happy every day, everything's okay," Saten added, striking a playful pose while trying to hide her true feelings of inadequacy.
"By the way, I got a task from the teacher at school today, and I'm trying to figure out what to do… Can you help me a little?"
Saten is so kind, even though she feels sad herself, she's trying to cheer me up.
"Sure…" Uiharu replied, sensing the heaviness behind Saten's playful demeanor.
...
In the evening, Selene, Shirai, and Misaka were standing outside a restaurant.
"This is it, right?" Misaka Mikoto asked, raising her eyebrow at the restaurant named [jonaGardeN].
"I'm starving, let's get something to eat," Selene suggested, rubbing her stomach. They hadn't had a chance to eat at Uiharu's house, so she figured they might as well grab a bite here.
"We're here for a mission, not to eat!" Misaka retorted, exasperated at Selene's priorities.
"You're such a glutton," Misaka remarked, looking Selene up and down with a hint of envy. "How do you eat so much and not gain weight?"
"Natural talent, I guess. Being able to eat is a blessing, and being able to eat without gaining weight is even better. Are you jealous?" Selene smirked, teasing Misaka.
"Why would I be jealous? You're just an overweight glutton in black stockings!" Misaka snapped back, her voice rising.
"Heh, didn't you hear that saying? 'If you're under 100 pounds, you're either flat-chested or short.' You're just a short, flat-chested tomboy in shorts!"
"What… say that again!"
"You started it! I'll say it as much as I want…"
"Um, Misaka-senpai, Selene-senpai..." Shirai Kuroko tried to mediate, sweat forming on her brow at the tension between her two friends. "Can we focus on the mission…"
"Alright, let's go," Misaka declared, taking the lead. "Watch closely and see how I get the information!"
"Yeah, right. I'd never do what you're about to do," Selene scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Coward!" Misaka taunted, tossing her bag to Shirai before striding confidently into [jonaGardeN].
"It's because you're part of Judgement that we need me to go," Misaka explained to Shirai, her smile smug as she turned back to Selene. "Just watch what I do from a distance and take notes."
Misaka's boasting made Shirai uneasy. What is she planning to do? Is she going to use force? Shirai felt her nerves fraying, bracing for Misaka's potential outburst.
Meanwhile, Selene couldn't help but chuckle as she pulled out a camera to capture the scene. This is going to be good.
"Hey, Selene-senpai, are you seriously going to eat?" Shirai asked, incredulous.
"What else are we supposed to do in a restaurant? You can't just sit here without ordering. Plus, aren't you hungry?" Selene replied matter-of-factly.
"Well… true, but eating while Misaka-senpai is out there doesn't feel right."
"That was her choice. I'll treat you. Here, what do you want?" Selene offered, passing the menu to Shirai.
"Um… okay, then I'll have the classic oden set," Shirai decided.
...
Watching from afar, Selene and Shirai observed Misaka's attempts to gather information.
"Big brother~ do you know about [Level Upper]?" Misaka asked, approaching a group of delinquent teens with a sweet, overly cheerful voice.
"You want to know about Level Upper?" The group's leader, a delinquent wearing a dark green cap, looked up with mild curiosity.
"Uh-huh~ I saw your posts online. If you don't mind, can you tell me?" Misaka continued, clasping her hands together and speaking in a cutesy tone. "Please, pretty please?"
Selene and Shirai exchanged incredulous looks, the corners of their mouths twitching. Shirai was visibly astonished.
But the performance had begun! Selene eagerly aimed her camera to capture the moment.
"Beat it, kid. Go home," the leader said dismissively, unimpressed by Misaka's act.
"Don't say that~" Misaka persisted, pouting slightly.
"Kid, you're annoying. It's bedtime for little ones," the leader replied impatiently, waving her off.
This uncharacteristic behavior from Misaka was almost too much for Shirai. She spit out her juice in shock. I've never seen Misaka-senpai like this!
"Stay calm," Selene said nonchalantly, sipping her tea as she aimed the camera from behind the booth. "This is a rare scene," she remarked to Shirai, encouraging her. "Hey, Kuroko, this is precious material, you should appreciate it."
"Are you really going to record this?!" Shirai asked, torn between duty and curiosity. But then, "I need this footage of Misaka-senpai being adorable!"
...
Meanwhile, Misaka was getting nowhere with her cutesy approach.
Another delinquent, sitting at the same table, smirked at Misaka and laughed suggestively, "You're not much of a kid, are you… I kind of like you."