Even if I transform, I will never be captured.

Page 51

"Hey! Shokuhou-kun, what are you doing? Class is still in session!"

The teacher's shouts from behind didn't matter anymore. Even if he was expelled from Tokiwadai the next day, it was something he didn't need to care about at all.

Even if my knee scraped against the desk and the pain almost made me cry, it didn't matter.

Without even unleashing her power on the teacher, Misaki Shokuhou staggered and ran out of the classroom.

Are you kidding me?! Are you kidding me?! How could I allow you to leave like this?!

"...You probably think I'm joking now, but it's all true. Although there are some things that are unspoken rules for people in our line of work, you are my best friend, so I've decided to tell you—actually, I'm not from this world."

Since you consider me your best friend, then don't easily tell me you want to break up!

"Exterior! Exterior! Exterior! Get out of my way—!!!"

A hysterical scream, golden hair sticking messily to her forehead and cheeks with sweat—this was probably the most disheveled moment for the elegant young lady named Misaki Shokuhou.

It was with this sound that cars and pedestrians on the road all moved aside, allowing the taxi she was in to move forward without any obstruction.

"So, once we leave here, perhaps... we really won't see each other again... But don't worry, I really, really like you, so... so even if I leave, I'll find a way to come back here to see you again."

Clang!

Clang!

Open it for me now!

Misaki Shokuhou kicked the slowly opening automatic door repeatedly. Once the door opened, the girl, who hadn't even had time to catch her breath, staggered inside.

"After I leave, even if you're all alone, you must eat well and not be picky about food. You're too thin and small; you need to grow a bit more... You should also make more friends. Actually, I know that many people in your school secretly admire you, but you seem too aloof, so some of them are afraid to get close to you."

If you're really worried about me, then stay by my side and keep an eye on me! Don't you know I don't need any other friends at all!

"Uh, suddenly I don't know what to say... I really have so much to say... Oh well, let's stop here."

—Yours truly, Satella.

"Satella!"

"Satella!!"

“Sati...ra?”

The excited voice turned into astonishment, the hand that pushed open the door and the foot that stepped inside froze in place, even the tears that were welling up in the eyes froze.

all.

Satella was playing games while lying on the sofa, wearing a gaming helmet.

Well, judging from her rosy cheeks, she's obviously having a lot of fun.

Misaki Shokuhou: "……………………………………………………………………………………………………"

Misaki Shokuhou gradually lost control of her emotions.

Wiping away her tears, the blonde girl, expressionless, walked step by step to the sofa, looking down at the silver-haired girl with a cold gaze, her pretty face flushed and her lips muttering to herself.

Then--

Lift your foot.

Kick him hard!

"Whoa—!!!"

Poor Satella, clutching her head, rolled around on the ground in pain.

"Are you crazy?! Why are you hitting me?!"

Having finally shaken off Misaki Shokuhou's pursuit, Satella took off her helmet and shouted loudly at Misaki Shokuhou.

"Are you the one who's gone mad?!" Misaki Shokuhou roared back, her voice even louder. "What on earth happened with that text message?!"

"What short... uh..."

Still immersed in the afterglow of the intense boss battle, Satella calmed down, and a light blush spread from her cheeks, across her ears and neck, completely covering her head.

hum!

Like the sound of a steam train whistling, smoke began to rise from above Satella's head.

She remembered. After sending a text message to Misaki Shokuhou, she began the final packing. Because she realized she had forgotten to bring the game discs, she started looking for them.

Satella is a very dissolute girl who likes to throw things around, such as game discs, which she plays with and then throws away carelessly.

After searching and searching, Satella found a game disc inside the game console. As she turned on the console to take out the disc, Satella suddenly remembered that she was only one boss away from completing the game.

Thinking that killing a boss wouldn't take much time anyway, Satella happily put on her helmet, lay down, and entered the game.

Who knew that after killing the final boss, a hidden boss would suddenly appear, and this hidden boss was so well designed that Satella became completely engrossed in it.

Next—

"hiss--"

It wasn't just steaming anymore; there was even a hissing sound of air leaking from above Satella's head.

I just want to crawl into a hole and disappear!

"This...that...ah! Think what you want!"

Finally, in despair, Satella simply threw herself onto the bed, covered herself with the blanket, and buryed her head in the sand like an ostrich.

And so she kept quiet for a while, and then Satella fell asleep without a care in the world.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but when Satella woke up again, she found the entire bedroom completely dark, with only some instruments emitting a faint light.

However, these are not the main points.

The key point is...

Satella discovered that there was someone else in her arms.

"Honeydew sauce?"

“…Satella.” Misaki Shokuhou’s eyes shone brightly in the darkness, like stars in the sky.

"Um... what's wrong?" Satella turned her head away, her sense of shame extremely low, she still didn't dare to look Misaki Shokuhou in the eye.

Page 52

"Could I have your butterfly hair accessory?" Misaki Shokuhou asked softly, as if afraid of touching a sensitive area.

"Of course, that's no problem."

As a dedicated anime girl, maintaining a consistent and classic image is very important. Therefore, after arriving in Academy City, Satella commissioned a top-notch tailor to make more than a dozen identical outfits, so of course she wouldn't be stingy with a mere hair accessory.

but……

"What are you here for? Your hairstyle and hair color don't really match this black butterfly."

"I just think it looks good, why are you asking so many questions? Are you going to give it to me or not?!"

"Here you go, I'll get it from my suitcase right now."

"I don't want what's in the suitcase, I want what's on your head!"

"Ugh... I just can't do anything with you."

So Satella had no choice but to take off the black butterfly hair ornament she was wearing and hand it to Misaki Shokuhou.

Misaki Shokuhou took it with both hands, clenched it tightly in her palms.

"Hey..."

The girl spoke softly, "Satella, do you still remember what it was like when we first met?"

"Of course, you were blown away by the blast, and your face was covered in dust, like a little kitten."

"Forget about the kitten and all that!"

Misaki Shokuhou bumped her forehead hard against Satella's head, then chuckled and said, "You called me a little kitten, but you got blown up and covered in dust back then, didn't you?"

“Hmm… even if I’m covered in dirt, I’m still very cute!” Satella retorted.

"Shameless!" Misaki Shokuhou stuck out her tongue and said, "Do you still remember the scene when we were escaping on a motorcycle?"

"of course I remember."

"And what about our first time fighting side by side?"

"Of course I won't forget."

"..."

As time passed and the night deepened, Misaki Shokuhou's voice finally ceased, and even breathing came from her nostrils.

"Finally fell asleep."

Satella breathed a sigh of relief.

With only half an hour left before the deadline to leave the A Certain Magical Index, Satella tiptoed off the bed, picked up her packed luggage, took one last look at the girl on the bed, and with a heavy heart, pressed the teleportation button.

After her figure completely disappeared from the room, Misaki Shokuhou opened her eyes. No tears fell, because her eyes contained something deeper than tears.

The clever girl had already noticed it.

If that previous text message was a lie, then the lazy Satella would never have packed her luggage so neatly.

If that previous text message was just a joke, then Satella could never have had such delicate, pointed ears like an elf.

……

She knew Satella too well, and because of that understanding, she knew that Satella was truly leaving.

Because she understood, she didn't cry and make a scene to make Satella stay.

Misaki Shokuhou loosened her clenched hands, revealing a black butterfly poised to take flight in her palm. She held it high before her eyes and gently felt its soft texture with her hand.

This is the hair ornament that Satella once wore.

Although it had lost its warmth, the scent of the girl's hair still lingered on it.