Anime, Girlfriend Shokuhou Misaki.

A man and a woman slowly descended from the sky in the very center of the fireworks, landing on the stage where the host had just stood.

"Snapped--"

"Clap clap clap-"

Applause erupted like a tidal wave, with all the audience members spontaneously clapping for the spectacular event.

"How about it?"

"This opening?"

Standing on the stage, Makoto Haramura smiled and asked Misaki Shokuhou a question.

"First suppress, then elevate."

"Use your abilities to create a dark environment, and when it evokes fear in people's hearts, then use fireworks to disperse it."

"Did you plan this all along?"

"Whom are they preparing to demonstrate against?"

Misaki Shokuhou's face beamed with a smile as she playfully teased Makoto Haramura.

"Who knows? Maybe there's more than one."

……

"Ugh, why did I have to get hurt at this time?"

Outside the venue, Shirai Kuroko, wrapped in bandages like a mummy, sat in a wheelchair watching the live broadcast of the event, takoyaki she had just bought from a stall, her face full of anger.

"If I hadn't gotten injured at this time, I should have been the one participating in the three-legged race with my older sister."

"And, and if I'm alright, I can stop my older sister from going to find that ape."

As if venting her anger, Shirai Kuroko took each bite with great force, as if she wanted to mash the takoyaki into a paste.

"There's nothing we can do; that's just how young girls are when they first fall in love."

Saten Ruiko pushed Shirai Kuroko's wheelchair and said with a smile.

"Mmm-h ...

Hearing Saten Ruiko say that, Shirai Kuroko ground her teeth even faster, almost to the point of sparks flying.

"Excuse me, but I'm quite interested in what you were saying earlier. Does my Mikoto have a boy she likes?"

Just as the group was discussing this, a woman's voice, full of interest, came directly from behind them, startling them instantly and causing their faces to turn extremely surprised.

……

"Where did this guy go?"

Misaka Mikoto moved swiftly through the crowd, her pale yellow eyes constantly scanning the throng.

From her position in the three-legged race, the distance from the opening ceremony venue where Makoto Haramura was located was not far.

So when Haramura Makoto appeared at the opening ceremony, and she saw him through the big screen on the street, she temporarily said goodbye to her teammates and rushed straight over there after the wedding.

"Misaka-san, is there someone you're looking for? If you don't mind, I can help you."

Just then, an enthusiastic voice rang out right next to Misaka Mikoto's ear.

"Shh-"

The shoes came to an emergency stop, and even the friction against the ground caused blue smoke to rise from them.

Turn around, reach out, and grab your target.

Misaka Mikoto completed the entire movement in one smooth motion.

"finally found you!"

At this moment, all the pedestrians around her were watching her, but Misaka Mikoto's eyes remained firm, without the slightest hint of shyness.

"Shh-"

The two people who were originally there disappeared without a trace. Amid the commotion, Makoto Haramura appeared with Misaka Mikoto in an alley on another street.

"Is there something you need from me, Misaka-san?"

With a forced smile on his face, Makoto Haramura seemed to feel a sense of relief at surviving a disaster.

wipe!

He had indeed just separated from Misaki Shokuhou.

After all, the Daihasei Festival is a sporting event for all students. Even the Queen herself has to participate after the opening ceremony, so Misaki Shokuhou needs to return to Tokiwadai Middle School's team.

Makoto Haramura naturally participated in the event as well, and he and the interesting Touma Kamijou signed up for the three-legged race.

But the problem is that he and Misaki Shokuhou have only just separated.

His girlfriend might not have gone far yet. If she saw him looking like that, he'd be in big trouble.

I don't know how much time I'll have to spend coaxing Xiao Qi, so it's better to leave there as soon as possible.

"Ah, sorry."

Seeing where Haramura Makoto's gaze was focused, Misaka Mikoto realized that her actions just now were somewhat inappropriate.

Her face flushed, she let go of his hand.

"It's nothing, people can understand when they're in a hurry."

"But Misaka-san, is there something you need from me? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Could it be that there's been a problem with the arrangements for the younger sisters?"

The only reason that could make Makoto Haramura think of this is because of his sisters.

After that day, he exchanged contact information with Misaka Sister #8842 and then stopped caring about his sister's situation.

Since his sisters are a crucial part of Aleister's plan, it's one thing for others, but if he gets too involved in this matter, it might trigger Aleister's nerves and disrupt the balance.

At the same time, he didn't allow Misaki Shokuhou to get involved in this matter.

Aside from his sister, he couldn't think of any other connection between himself and this Railgun.

"Yes... ah... no!"

Misaka Mikoto nodded subconsciously at first, but then quickly shook her head, showing a sense of confusion and bewilderment.

Misaka Mikoto's face turned even redder.

She didn't quite understand. Just a few days ago, she acted quite normally when facing Makoto Haramura, but now she couldn't even speak clearly in front of him.

I quickly shook off the unnecessary thoughts in my mind, patted my cheeks, and tried to appear normal.

"I just wanted to thank you for your help that day."

"I've always wanted to thank you, but I kept missing the chance, and when I finally saw you, I forgot."

"Oh, this is it."

Seeing Misaka Mikoto's expression, Haramura Makoto couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"There's no need for that. I already said it before, I had my own reasons for helping you, so you don't need to feel like you owe me a favor."

Makoto Haramura and Misaka Mikoto walked down the street, about a person's distance between them, heading in the same direction that Misaka Mikoto had come from.

That's right, it's the scene of a three-legged race.

They just found out that they are both three-legged racers, so it makes perfect sense for them to go to the competition together.

By the way, I should mention that since everyone here is an ability user, the competitions in Academy City don't have separate male and female arenas; everyone competes together.

"No, no, no, we still need to repay the favor."

No matter how much Makoto Haramura refused, Misaka Mikoto kept shaking her head, wanting to repay him.

"Okay, I'm really impressed by you."

Makoto Haramura helplessly spread his hands and sighed.

"But don't overdo it, I can already feel your feelings."

Misaka Mikoto doesn't care what she does, but if she makes things too dramatic, her own little jealousy might easily boil over.

If it really flips over, that would be a real problem.

"I know this."

Misaka Mikoto nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Then she tilted her head, lowered her voice considerably, and spoke in a voice that only Makoto Haramura could hear.

"Um, do you like cake?"

"The cake was alright, I guess."

Although the sound was very soft, Makoto Haramura could still hear it clearly.

He thought about it for a moment and then nodded.

To be honest, he's not a big fan of sweets; he's the type who can eat them or not.

However, during this time, under the guidance of his son Xiao Qi, he gradually got used to eating desserts while drinking tea.

But when it comes to the most suitable dessert, it has to be cake.

"In that case, I'll give you a cake."

Upon hearing Makoto Haramura say it was okay, Misaka Mikoto's eyes visibly lit up.

"Okay."

Makoto Haramura nodded as well.

A cake is a great thank-you gift. It shows your good intentions without being too extravagant. Most importantly, you can share it with Xiao Qi, which makes you seem very open and honest.

"Then we...we...we...hand over..."

"what."

Makoto Haramura looked at Misaka Mikoto with a somewhat helpless expression.

She had finally calmed down, but now she's getting shy again. Even he has no idea what Misaka Mikoto means.

"Let's exchange contact information... Ah!"

When others say "gritting their teeth," it's just an adjective; Misaka Mikoto actually bit her tongue just now.

Judging from the way she's covering her lips with both hands and tears welling up in her eyes, it's clear that Misaka Mikoto bit down quite hard just now.

"Oh! So that's what it is."

Makoto Haramura chuckled, then pulled his hand out of his pocket and turned on his Line receiver.

He thought it was something serious.

"Oh, oh, okay."

Seemingly surprised that things were progressing so smoothly, Misaka Mikoto even temporarily forgot the pain in her tongue and hurriedly pulled out her phone, which had a Gekota charm attached, to scan with Haramura Makoto.

"I'll contact you once I'm ready."

Misaka Mikoto seemed very happy to have obtained Haramura Makoto's phone number.

Strange, why am I so happy?

Perhaps it's because she was hindered by Misaki Shokuhou for so long that she feels like she's finally reaping the rewards after all the hardship.

Yes, that's right, that must be it.

Clutching her phone, Misaka Mikoto nodded vigorously.

"Hurrah."

Makoto Haramura agreed quite readily, but he never expected that his hasty decision would cause him so much trouble.

"I saw my married classmates."

Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the venue for the three-legged race.

Misaka Mikoto also saw the junior schoolmate she had just abandoned on the field.

"Speaking of which, if I had known you would also be participating in this competition, I wouldn't have rushed over there in such a panic."