The Legend of Level 0 in Academy City

Suddenly it took flight, and Saten Ruiko screamed in surprise.

However, unlike Misaka Mikoto, she didn't get shy just from being hugged.

After screaming for a while, she calmed down once she was sure there was no danger.

Not only that, but it clung to Inoue Hideka, excitedly looking around.

"Oh! I'm flying, Eika! I'm really flying!"

"Tears, don't move! Be careful not to fall, we're at least three stories high!"

Inoue Hideka was quite helpless.

This passenger is so lively!

When carrying Misaka Mikoto, she stayed still and obediently, and the operation was very smooth.

Although Saten Ruiko was hugging herself tightly, her head was looking around like a child who had just discovered a new world, her curiosity fully aroused.

"Hmph! Yinghua actually looks down on me! Ah~~"

Instead of reflecting on Inoue Hideka's warning, Saten Ruiko defiantly brought her mouth close to Inoue Hideka's ear and bit down on it!

"what!"

It didn't hurt, but the moist sensation on Inoue Hideka's ears was incredibly itchy, so much so that she almost forgot to activate the magnetic gloves.

Realizing that he and Saten Ruiko were falling, Inoue Hideka quickly regained his composure, activated the magnetic gloves again, and flew towards the building next to him.

Inoue Hideka was scared half to death, but Saten Ruiko showed no sign of tension.

Once Inoue Hideaki was steadily moving in a certain direction again, he smiled smugly and calmly said:

"Hehe, it's just three floors. Has Yinghua forgotten that I'm not the powerless person I used to be? I still have a way to land safely!"

"Hmm... I did overlook that... Speaking of which, Ruiko, I forgot to ask you, when you neutralized Mikoto's attack at noon, you must have used electrodes, right?"

Operating the magnetic gloves, Inoue Hideka continued moving towards her goal.

The wind was whistling in my ears.

Since there was no rush, Inoue Hideka did not increase the speed to the maximum.

However, even so, he had to raise his voice so that Saten Ruiko could hear him.

"Hmm... Will Yinghua blame me?"

Hearing Saten Ruiko's timid voice, Inoue Hideka asked in return:

"How could that be? Ruiko was protecting me; I'm grateful to you!"

"Yeah! Even if you blame me, I'll still use it without hesitation! I don't care what Yinghua thinks!"

Inoue Hideka smiled helplessly at Saten Ruiko's somewhat mischievous answer.

This girl... is as willful as ever!

But indeed, willful girls are more adorable!

"By the way, where are we going?"

Seeing that Inoue Hideka remained silent, Saten Ruiko pouted in boredom and instead asked the question that had been bothering her.

"We'll be there soon, Ruiko, so don't ask any more questions. Until then, let's enjoy the night sky over Academy City!"

Inoue Hideka casually replied, focusing on controlling the magnetic gloves to get somewhere, ignoring Saten Ruiko.

"Tch... How cunning!"

Saten Ruiko muttered dismissively, no longer dwelling on the previous issues, and, as Inoue Eika had suggested, began to appreciate Academy City from different angles.

------

The 21st school district, on the mountaintop where the two had visited before.

Inoue Hideka took Saten Ruiko's hand and walked to the big tree where they used to admire the scenery together.

He sat down on the ground without a word, then took off his coat and placed it in front of him.

He smiled slightly, patted his clothes, and gestured for Saten Ruiko to sit down.

"do not want!"

Saten Ruiko stubbornly refused and turned away, leaving Inoue Eika with a dashing back view.

"hey-hey!"

With a sly smile, Inoue Eika rose slightly, grabbed Saten Ruiko's hands, who was facing away from him, and pulled her hard.

"what!"

Saten Ruiko screamed in terror, and by the time she realized what was happening, she was already sitting on the clothes between Inoue Hideka's legs.

"Yinghua...you bad guy! Humph! I'm ignoring you!"

Saten Ruiko complained, but did not break free from Inoue Eika's embrace.

Looking at the colorful fireworks reflected in the artificial lake ahead, which lit up from time to time, she gently leaned her back against Inoue Eika's chest.

Inoue Hideka reached out and hugged Saten Ruiko tightly around her slender waist.

Resting her head on Saten Ruiko's shoulder, she also gazed at the artificial lake at the foot of the mountain ahead and softly said:

"Tears...aren't you angry with me?"

"kindness?"

Saten Ruiko gave a puzzled hum, not pushing Inoue Eika's head away, letting the weight on her shoulders press down on her.

"What a scumbag... Doesn't Ruiko blame me for being like this?"

"...What do you think?"

Saten Ruiko pondered the meaning behind Inoue Eika's words, but instead of answering directly, she threw the question back at Inoue Eika.

"No wonder... that's impossible, isn't it?"

"Since Yinghua already knows, why are you asking me?"

Saten Ruiko's voice was very soft, seemingly untouched by worldly concerns.

Just like the tranquil mountaintop at this moment, far from the hustle and bustle of the city and the disputes of human relationships.

Similarly, there was no hint of blame in his voice.

Inoue Hideka felt a pang in her heart.

Distressed.

The hand on Saten Ruiko's waist unconsciously tightened its grip on her.

"But Ruiko didn't get angry..."

"Fool! I like Eika and I like Misaka-senpai, how could I bear to get angry at the person I like?"

"..."

Is that really how it is?

This answer broke Inoue Hideka's heart.

His mouth was filled with bitterness, and he could no longer utter a single word.

Inoue Hidekazu frowned, a sense of self-reproach gripping his heart.

He now especially hates the version of himself who once envied Touma Kamijou.

The imperial harem?

It wasn't as wonderful as I had imagined.

I have no right to receive the pure and unadulterated love of Ruiko and Mikoto.

Without great strength, without a powerful background, and without having done anything remarkable for them, do I really deserve to have these two girls?

He was thinking how wonderful it would be if only one person liked him.

Whether it's Misaka Mikoto or Saten Ruiko, there's only one of them.

Inoue Hideka could then stay with her for life, never leaving her side.

but……

What seems like a beautiful 'reality' to ordinary people is cruel to him.

I don't want to let either of them down, but I want to let both of them down at the same time, so that they can share love with others.

……

Saten Ruiko waited for a while, but did not hear Inoue Eika's reply.

I could only sense that a kind of sadness was permeating the surroundings.

Turning his head in confusion, he saw Inoue Hideka with furrowed brows, staring straight ahead with no light in his eyes.

Saten Ruiko couldn't help but feel a little depressed. Shouldn't he be the one comforting me at this time?

Really!

Why didn't I realize before that Yinghua was such a pretentious person?

With a helpless sigh, Saten Ruiko turned around in Inoue Hideka's arms, cupped Inoue Hideka's face—which looked somewhat surprised at suddenly losing its support—and slowly leaned closer.

Chapter 263 Heart to Heart

"Well……"

Inoue Eika stared in surprise at Saten Ruiko's face as it drew closer, not understanding why she would suddenly do such a thing.

Feeling lost...

It wasn't until Saten Ruiko's tongue invaded her mouth that Inoue Eika realized she had been forcibly kissed.

Although he hadn't figured out what was going on, Inoue Hideka felt that as a man, he couldn't be passive in this matter.

With his hands outstretched, Inoue Hideka cupped the back of Saten Ruiko's head and began to take control of her.

……