Natsume carefully ate the super-large cup of fruit shaved ice in her hand and couldn't help but take a bite of the sour and sweet strawberry jam on it, causing the pores of her entire body to open up.
When eating shaved ice, Natsume didn't use her ability. It was so satisfying to eat shaved ice in high temperatures, but it was much less enjoyable on days with a more moderate temperature.
At this time, Natsume removed the constant temperature layer that covered the surface of her skin all year round and finally experienced the hot and passionate weather of Academy City.
Don't ask—it's all about the atmosphere. Everything depends on the atmosphere. Without it, it's like eating yogurt without licking the lid—there's no meaning in life.
This newly opened cold drink shop seems to have also realized the essence of the word "atmosphere." In the entire shopping street, only this shop—though it has just been renovated and has all the necessary facilities—has no air conditioning for some reason.
Maybe there was a malfunction that was never repaired, or maybe they just weren't prepared, Natsume thought.
Because of this, only Senior Natsume, who is enjoying the atmosphere, and a strange boy who is taking shaved ice away remain inside. There are many pedestrians outside the door, but most are unwilling to buy cold drinks in this shop without air conditioning.
Everyone just doesn't appreciate the deep joy of eating shaved ice! In hot weather, eating shaved ice under high temperatures is so comfortable—it's all about the atmosphere.
What an atmosphere! If others knew what a person who is always like spring was thinking at that moment, they'd probably complain for a whole minute.
But right now, Natsume's mind isn't on the super-large cup of fruit shaved ice.
Because just a moment ago, she witnessed an attempted shooting and a car accident.
Incidents like this are not common in Academy City, but from some news reports, it's clear that even in the seemingly prosperous Academy City, there are many dark corners.
Pistol... it's really scary.
When she saw the other party take out a pistol, Natsume's breathing became a little short for a moment.
Natsume doesn't have the spatial movement ability of Shirai Kuroko, nor can she control bullets through electricity like Senior Misaka. If the other party's target is her, with her current skills, Natsume feels that she wouldn't be able to dodge.
Natsume silently thought about how to deal with the situation, and the sweetness in her mouth was somewhat diluted.
If it's about resisting bullet attacks, she wondered if it's possible to create a high-density ice layer that can withstand gunfire? Natsume's mind kept wandering—maybe she should use her imagination.
Melting bullets by raising the temperature? Well, that seems unfeasible with her current abilities.
Making fog to perform ninjutsu like Mist Hidden? Then she could hold an ice kunai and slash at the gunman?
Magic mirror ice crystal? But if the enemy doesn't know where she is, how can they break it?! How can they break it?!
Natsume's mind rang with the wanton laughter of a small-town head.
Gakuen Village Science Ninja Natsume Enako joins!?
But such a large amount of computing power must require level 5! And it would need to be supported by a humid environment. She wondered if there was any way to make a simplified version.
"Shirai-san, no matter how you look at it, you're really handsome." Natsume's thoughts returned, quietly looking at Shirai Kuroko in the distance. Although in A Certain Scientific Gun she showed more of her transformation... to that or something, but when performing tasks like attacking the enemy, it was undoubtedly particularly eye-catching.
There is no doubt that when the masked man attacked just now, the one who stopped him was Natsume Enako, Shirai Kuroko's first-year classmate.
Natsume is also afraid of bullets, but she's sure she can't just pick up the gun. In addition to freezing the pistol, using high temperature to detonate the gunpowder in the bullet is also a good way.
A gun that can't be fired is a waste! —by Natsume Enako.
She had no choice before, but now she wants to be a good person. Sorry, she went to the wrong place.
Shirai Kuroko has reacted at this point. Looking at the frozen masked man, she was relieved. She walked to the motorcycle man, grabbed his hands, and tied them behind his back to a nearby electric pole using a special rope.
"This is Shirai Kuroko, the Discipline Committee member of Branch 177. Thank you for your help," Shirai Kuroko announced, walking around. There was no kind person who stood up to admit they had helped, so she could only express her gratitude loudly.
She remembered being saved by Senior Misaka—no, by her older sister—who was passing by. She had been rescued from a bank robbery by a criminal who was on the verge of death. Now it seemed like it wasn't long ago.
That flash of blue and white lightning... a kind citizen who didn't want to reveal their name had accidentally saved her with a railgun.
Natsume was busy enjoying her shaved ice at this time. Although it felt good to help others and be thanked by them, Natsume was not the type to seek out such acknowledgments.
Alas, Natsume doesn't think she has the meddling attributes of a concerned citizen like Senior Misaka, who does good deeds without expecting recognition. In fact, she was just practicing her ability.
Hardworking (occasionally lazy) and staying at home are enough.
The alarm sirens whistled, and the guards rushed to the scene. After communicating with a certain Discipline Committee member, the two criminals and the severely damaged motorcycle were loaded into the guards' enhanced armored car.
Looking at this somewhat intimidating armored car and the fully armed guards, Natsume Enako could imagine how serious the violence and super-powered crimes in Academy City really are.
However, thanks to the efforts of these guards and the intervention of her "teleporting sister," Natsume could now enjoy cold drinks in the cold drink shop with peace of mind.
After finishing the last bite of shaved ice, Natsume, still unsatisfied, decided to pack a few portions to take back to the dormitory. With her ability, she could store these cold drinks for a few days and enjoy them when she had nothing to do.
But it's better to finish them today, because she wouldn't have time to carry them around.
With this goal in mind, after watching the "teleport-attack sister" Shirai Kuroko and the guards leave, Natsume placed a large order with the boss, buying five super-large shaved ice portions with different flavors.
It was so heavy. She should have bought fewer. The small shadow swayed beside her as she walked, and soon she found herself a little out of breath.
Carrying five super-large shaved ice packages along the way, Natsume finally realized her shortcomings. It turned out that her physical strength was too poor. If only she had the physical strength of Shirai Kuroko.
Even though there was a constant temperature layer created by her ability around her skin, Natsume still sweated a lot, and her hair became a little damp.
"Let me help, the new schoolgirl who lives next door," a familiar yet strange voice said. It was a boyish, gentle tone.
Natsume almost thought she was hallucinating. She was clearly on the street—how could she hear Senior Misaka's voice? She must be too tired and hearing things.
Although Senior Misaka's voice wasn't very sweet, it was surprisingly pleasant to listen to. Natsume found herself wishing she could hear Senior Misaka sing the theme song of A Certain Scientific Railgun. Maybe she could sneak into the music classroom to eavesdrop on Senior Misaka singing? Or secretly record a few tracks and listen to them in the dormitory?!
Stop! Natsume took a deep breath. Although her favorability towards Senior Misaka was at 100%, she must remember not to casually insert herself into Shirai-san's character setting!
Natsume suddenly felt that she had committed a great sin and needed to play games, read comics, and eat snacks to calm down.
Thinking of this, Natsume couldn't help but feel a little depressed. Her life as a Tokiwadai lady was really full of twists and turns.
"Didn't you hear? That schoolgirl who was worried, with a changing expression, not knowing what she was thinking."
Another auditory hallucination? Natsume finally snapped out of it and turned around to see a brown-haired girl with her hands on her hips, a difficult smile on her face.
This was a girl wearing a Tokiwadai uniform, carrying a black schoolbag with a Gekota pendant hanging from it.
She had brown hair and brown eyes, a beautiful and handsome face, and eyes that revealed a spirit that would never give up.
Senior Misaka is talking to me?!
Misaka Mikoto, 14 years old, female, a second-year student at Tokiwadai Middle School, one of only seven Level 5s in Academy City, ranked third among them, an electric shock ability user with the title of "Super Railgun."
She could manipulate high-voltage currents of 1 billion volts, electromagnetic waves, and magnetic forces at will. Her signature skill was the "Super Railgun," formed by shooting game coins at three times the speed of sound.
Super awesome.
Natsume's mind quickly flashed through various stories about Senior Misaka Mikoto, and her face suddenly showed a mix of excitement and nervousness.
"Natsume Enako, Senior Misaka Mikoto, I am Natsume Enako, a first-year student, and I have always liked and admired you," Natsume blurted out, a little stumbling over her words.
Misaka Mikoto… the human railgun!
It was probably the same reaction that ordinary people have when they see the goddess of their dreams, but Natsume would never admit it.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Misaka Mikoto. Natsume-san, are you getting used to life in Tokiwadai? And thanks for your help a few days ago," Misaka Mikoto nodded to Natsume and spoke.
It was surprisingly easy to talk to Senior Misaka Mikoto; she didn't put on airs at all.
But a few days ago?
Natsume Enako suddenly remembered that it seemed when she had just moved into the dormitory and school had not yet started, the air conditioners in the entire dormitory had broken down due to voltage overload or some other reason, and it happened to be an abnormally hot day.
At that time, she had volunteered to take care of the air conditioning for the entire student dormitory, and everyone gathered in the collective lounge inside the dormitory.
She had also used her ability for several hours to lower the temperature in the room by about ten degrees Celsius. It wasn't until the evening that the workers repaired all the air conditioners. Senior Misaka Mikoto seemed to be there that day.
The dorm supervisor didn't punish Natsume for using her ability in the student dormitory for the first time.
"Thank you for your hard work that day," Senior Misaka Mikoto said, showing an embarrassed smile on her face. Although Natsume didn't know why Senior Misaka was smiling like that, she reassured herself that the burden she had shouldered wasn't very big, so she didn't need to take it to heart.