In the corner of the Tokiwadai Middle School playground.
The remnants of high temperature continued to radiate in all directions. Without anyone's control, the high temperature around the temperature target gathered, forming waves of intense hot wind. The heat spread out, causing several teachers to quickly step back.
The heatwave, nearly 100 degrees Celsius, could easily burn people's skin.
Natsume, immersed in the joy of being promoted to level 4, felt the tension in her heart vanish, replaced by a sense of satisfaction filling her chest. A smile bloomed on her face, just like a flower in full bloom.
At the same time, what made Natsume-san even happier was that this month's scholarship not only had the subsidy from Tokiwadai Middle School, but also the scholarship for becoming level 4.
Before entering Tokiwadai Middle School, her scholarship was nine times that of level 0 (lv3). After entering Tokiwadai, it was 11 times that of level 0. Now that she had passed the level 4 test, her scholarship had greatly increased.
Calculating this, she could get at least 20 level 0 scholarships.
Although she couldn't compare with the wealthy people like Misaka or Kongou, who had a mine at home, and it seemed that there was also a big gap with Shirai-san (who also received a lot of subsidies from the Discipline Committee), it was more than enough compared to Wannai-san!
Poor Wannai-san.
From today, Natsume Enako is also a Tokiwadai level 4! She would send a message to Senior Misaka, Wannai-san, and others.
"Natsume-san, Natsume-san, your ability hasn't been retracted yet." A teacher hurriedly said to Natsume-san, interrupting her from her own world.
"Sigh, I clearly retracted it teacher." Forced out of her own world by someone calling her, Natsume silently paused, abandoning her plan to go to the dressing room to retrieve her phone. She then looked up, somewhat confused, at the anxious teacher in front of her.
"Natsume-san, although you have retracted your ability, you still need to handle the current heat wave. The target is fine, but the computer can't handle it." The testing teacher said hurriedly. Not just the computer, they couldn't handle it either.
The temperature on the target had already begun to drop, but the hot air was still rising, and it couldn't be helped that it was too close.
"Ah, okay, okay, sorry, teacher." Natsume finally reacted. That's right. She couldn't feel the temperature change, and hadn't paid much attention to it.
In her focus on retracting her ability, she had absentmindedly forgotten to adjust the temperature. Without her control, the hot air began to dissipate to the outside.
The target wasn't small either—it was as tall as an adult. When Natsume used her ability, she covered the entire target and the surrounding space.
Natsume-san, where did your good memory go? Occasionally, you should care about the teachers around you too.
"It's over." After about four or five seconds, the teachers finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
Under Natsume-san's gaze, the temperature in the air began to drop sharply. Due to this intense temperature change, many tiny water droplets seemed to condense in the air.
"Done," Natsume-san said after the temperature dropped to around room temperature. She then stopped using her ability. At this moment, the wind created by the temperature difference blew again, causing Natsume's hair to become slightly disheveled.
Since she wasn't wearing a skirt, Natsume Enako naturally felt the gentle breeze blowing.
The heat in the air quickly disappeared when it passed through the constant temperature layer on Natsume's body surface. When the wind blew over her, it was only a refreshing breeze with a suitable temperature.
After retrieving the physical examination form, Natsume politely thanked the teacher and hurriedly ran back to the school's locker room.
She took off her gym clothes and changed into a slightly dirty summer school uniform and pleated skirt. Natsume sat on the bench in the locker room, took out her phone from her bag, and started sending messages. The joy in her heart had to be shared—holding it in would be unbearable.
Natsume is someone who can't hide her feelings. She quickly typed a bunch of messages, but only to those who are close to her.
[Senior Misaka, the test was successful, I'm now a lv4 ability user (smile) (smile)]
[Wannai-san, I have good news for you, I'm now a lv4 ability user, you must be envious (pat your head).]
[Kuroko-san, I just saw you arguing with Senior Kongou, is everything okay? Thank you for your previous advice, my test was successful.]
<...The secret investigation group hidden in the corner.>
[lv4, achieved!] – From Natsume Enako.
[Congratulations, Natsume-san.] – Quiet Night
[Congratulations, congratulations, this new junior is really amazing (fist)] – From Miss Balance Beam. However, until now, Natsume has never met this mysterious senior, Miss Balance Beam.
[No way, I'm the only one in the group who's not lv4?? This is unscientific.] – From Elegant Photographer.
[....]
The hobby of chatting in the group transcended two worlds. Natsume chatted for ten minutes before reluctantly putting away her phone, still not feeling completely satisfied.
She looked at the classmates around her, who were changing and leaving one by one, then put away her somewhat unladylike smile and, as usual, tidied up her appearance in the mirror.
"It's so troublesome, my skirt is a bit dirty. I'll wash it at the home bathhouse before leaving school," Natsume sighed helplessly, blocking the stain with her schoolbag, and walked out of the locker room toward the home bathhouse.
At the entrance of the teaching building, she met the teacher who was collecting the physical examination forms. Natsume handed the form back to her.
"Natsume-san, you work so hard, always serious in class, and you've reached lv4 in your abilities so quickly."
"Thank you for the compliment, teacher."
The homecoming bathhouse at Tokiwadai Middle School in Academy City is specifically designed for students to tidy up their appearance before leaving school.
The homecoming bathhouse is approximately the size of five classrooms, with nearly ninety showerheads, each separated by translucent glass partitions and sliding doors, forming small shower cubicles.
Wrapped in a bath towel, Natsume waited at the outermost layer of the bathhouse, near the washing machines. There were a total of fifteen washing machines here, but at this moment, they were all fully occupied. Holding a basket of clothes, Natsume was bored, waiting in line.
These washing machines at Tokiwadai Middle School not only clean clothes thoroughly but also fully dehydrate them when taken out.
Stop. A washing machine lit up with a green light, and Natsume's eyes instantly brightened. She hurriedly placed the clothes washed by other students back into their respective baskets and then put her own clothes in to be cleaned.
*Shouting.*
Inside the homecoming bathhouse, the glass door opened and closed urgently, followed by a scream and the sound of something heavy falling to the ground.
"Your heart was always like this!" An angry shout came from the shower cubicle next to it. Was that Misaka's voice? Natsume, who had just placed her clothes in the washing machine, inexplicably thought to herself.
What was Kuroko doing to make Misaka angry again? It must be something.
"It's just a little bit of skin-to-skin contact!" Kuroko's voice sounded like she was trying to justify herself. Wait, why was she justifying herself here?
"Stop!" Misaka's angry voice rang out again.
Kuroko seemed like a completely different person in front of Misaka.
Natsume walked to a showerhead and found an unoccupied cubicle. The cubicle was surrounded by glass, with only the middle part of the glass specially treated to be blurred.
At this moment, Kuroko was showering honestly, while Misaka came out of the cubicle, wrapped in a bath towel, and sat on a bench to sulk. The anger still lingered on her face.
Natsume turned on the shower device and took a comfortable shower.
However, Natsume didn't notice that the water temperature of her shower was set to 80°C. She completely forgot to add cold water to adjust the temperature. After all, as long as the shower water was close to her, the temperature would become suitable.
Someone else was also using a shower next door. This Tokiwadai student, upon seeing the misty shower cubicle through the glass wall, nearly widened their eyes in surprise.
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This was a coffee shop located in the bustling area of the seventh school district.
"Welcome to Joseph's Coffee Shop," the staff member said with a polite smile, greeting every customer who came here to dine.
"You said she's my fan?" Misaka said inexplicably.
"She admires you very much, and she works as my support at the 177th Activity Branch of the Discipline Committee. She often says that if possible, she'd love to meet you," Kuroko said carefully as she evaluated her coffee, lowering her head and speaking slowly.
"I know that you usually feel troubled by the actions of your fans, but Uiharu is different. She's a good kid who understands boundaries. She's also my proud partner and friend, so please, for Kuroko's sake, reluctantly agree," Kuroko continued.
Misaka held her head with one hand, looking embarrassed, and took a sip of ice water, involuntarily sighing. This was really a difficult situation.
"I'll do my best not to make my sister feel pressured. Today's schedule, Kuroko will take care of it," Kuroko said as she pulled a notebook from her bag, carefully flipping through the contents, but her mouth twitched unnaturally at the corner.
"By the way, when did you get here? This was a date that my sister and I had already planned," Kuroko suddenly stood up from her seat, leaning over the table, glaring at Natsume who was sitting calmly next to Misaka and drinking coffee.
"It was Misaka-senpai who invited me here, Kuroko, you should pay attention," Natsume said nonchalantly, completely ignoring the unreasonable accusations from the two-braided girl. She took out her phone and waved it in front of Kuroko. The screen displayed a message from Misaka inviting Natsume to celebrate her achievement.
"You... You're my greatest enemy, Natsume! All of my plans with my sister have gone to waste!" Just as Kuroko was about to lash out at the bun-headed girl, she suddenly felt her hand empty. The notebook she had been holding was seemingly snatched away.
Kuroko's expression immediately shifted, and just as she was about to grab the notebook back, Misaka pressed her hand firmly on Kuroko's head, rendering her unable to move.
"Wait a moment!," came Kuroko's frustrated cry.
Natsume also turned her head curiously, seemingly interested in the contents of the notebook.
"Suddenly saying that my fans are coming, Natsume-san would also feel troubled. I originally wanted to celebrate with Natsume, but I have to check your planned schedule first," Misaka said, holding Kuroko's head with one hand and flipping through the notebook with the other.
"Planning a date with my sister under the guise of a spring outing," Misaka read out some of Kuroko's plans, and her brow slowly furrowed.
Natsume, who was nearby, almost choked on the coffee in her mouth. She quickly abandoned the idea of continuing to drink and looked at Kuroko with an expression of awe as she saw Kuroko's plan falling apart.
Some behaviors of passionate fans don't fundamentally change with the intervention of someone else; Kuroko is still the same Kuroko.
As Misaka continued to read out Kuroko's plan, Natsume saw cold sweat begin to uncontrollably pour down Kuroko's body.
"First, cultivate feelings at the coffee restaurant. Second, buy winning lingerie at the lingerie store. Third, go to the magic oil shop to buy spring medicine. Fourth, drive off the spring (Uiharu). Fifth, go to the hotel with Sister."