"Onee-sama! Where are you?! What has that bastard done to you?!"

Out in the corridor came Shirai Kuroko's hysterical shouting.

Mikoto Misaka's body tensed instantly.

"Idiot—i-it's Kuroko…"

Rei Ao made a gesture for silence.

With a casual wave of his hand—

A translucent barrier enveloped the entire room.

"Focus."

"!!!"

"Acting all tough won't help you now."

Rei Ao teased.

"Ugh… Don't say it like that!"

Mikoto buried her face in Rei Ao's shoulder, trying to hold back the weird emotions swirling within her. She had never felt anything like this—both fearful and yearning at the same time.

Rei Ao gently kissed her forehead.

"How does it feel?"

"D-don't ask me that!"

Mikoto glared at him in embarrassment, then quickly averted her eyes, ashamed.

"!!!!" "Rei Ao… I…"

Sensing something was off, she became flustered and tongue-tied, fear mixing with confusion. She worried that after this, she might not be the same person anymore.

"I know."

Rei Ao stroked her hair with his right hand.

"Don't worry, Mikoto—this is perfectly normal."

Her attempt to speak further was cut off. Tears slipped from her eyes, unstoppable. She gasped for breath, like someone drowning.

…

A long while passed.

Rei Ao admired Mikoto, who'd finally let everything go, and sighed in appreciation.

"Mikoto, you're so beautiful like this."

Mikoto was mortified, her mind a blur. She felt as if she'd just witnessed the birth and destruction of the universe. Then, abruptly realizing what she'd just been through, she was overwhelmed by shame.

"Did we really just…?"

Rei Ao lightly stroked her back. "Any regrets?"

Mikoto was silent for a moment, then shook her head. Her voice came out in a near whisper:

"It…actually wasn't so bad… But—your, um, experience is way beyond mine…"

That detail rankled Mikoto in particular—her lack of experience had made her a fish on Rei Ao's cutting board, so to speak.

"Haha, can't help it—I'm just that charming."

Rei Ao laughed heartily and planted a kiss on her smooth forehead.

Right then—

From outside in the corridor came Kuroko's anguished sobs:

"Onee-sama! Please answer me! Where did that bastard take you?!"

Mikoto's face turned pale.

"Kuroko… She sounds—"

Rei Ao smirked.

"Mikoto, wasn't your dear friend a little too interested in you?"

"Eh? Th-this…"

Mikoto blinked in embarrassment. She didn't know how to explain such an awkward topic.

"As your boyfriend, I feel uneasy knowing there's a friend who's lusting after you."

Rei Ao spoke in an oddly serious tone. At once, Mikoto panicked:

"I—I wouldn't just be taken by Kuroko…"

"I know you wouldn't, but didn't she try slipping you some kind of drug once?"

She tried to defend herself, but Rei Ao cut her off.

"…"

Mikoto couldn't respond at all. Kuroko had indeed purchased something labeled as 'computer parts,' basically a spiked tea, which Mikoto had discovered and punished her for.

She knew Kuroko might resort to even more extreme measures. Imagining it from Rei Ao's perspective as her boyfriend, she understood his concern. Lost in the mindset of a girl in love, Mikoto forgot Rei Ao's identity and history, not noticing his mischievous smirk.

"I'm sorry…"

"No need to apologize; none of this is your fault."

Rei Ao fixed her hair with a gentle motion, then said, "Since I'm here, how about I straighten out your friend's sense of romance for her?"

"Straighten it out? How?"

Mikoto asked, puzzled.

"Mikoto, would you mind a live broadcast?"

"Huh?"

That question made Mikoto recall all the times "live streams" had been mentioned in the chat group. She blushed furiously.

"This kind of thing…"

At first, she wanted to refuse, but then remembered how everyone else used similar means to proudly acknowledge their relationships. Her mind warred back and forth. In the end, she mustered up her courage:

"O-okay! I'm fine with it!"

She, too, wanted to openly announce being Rei Ao's girlfriend.

"Great. That makes things simpler."

Rei Ao smiled and snapped his fingers to remove the barrier. Almost immediately—

Bang!

The door to the rest area was flung open. Standing there, tears streaming down her face, was Shirai Kuroko. Behind her were Kanzaki Kaori and the others, each displaying different reactions.

What they saw: Mikoto Misaka in Rei Ao's arms, the messy signs and ambiance leaving no doubt about what had just happened.

Kuroko's expression morphed from worry to shock, then froze in utter devastation.

"O-Onee-sama… You… You two…"

"???"

Mikoto wanted to explain but had no words. In that instant, she realized what Rei Ao had meant by "method" and "broadcast." Hanging her head in shame, she just clung to Rei Ao, hiding in his embrace.

Shokuhou Misaki's eyes flicked between Mikoto and Rei Ao, finally settling on Rei Ao, star-like irises brimming with complicated emotion.

"So that's… the trade."

Awaki Musujime's gaze flickered, and she gave a low whistle:

"Seems we arrived too late."

Frankly, she was a bit surprised that someone like Mikoto could actually handle Rei Ao. As his "Cleaner," Awaki couldn't help but admire her.

Kanzaki Kaori, the dignified Saint, was as stunned as Index. Neither knew where to look, both feeling this scene was beyond "improper."

"U-unbelievable shamelessness!"

~~~

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