[Notification: Curly-haired Guy, Shark-Faced Guy, Scarlet Lotus Fairy, Doujin Artist, This is an Actor have joined the livestream]
Doujin Artist: Eh? Anzen-san is here?
This is an Actor: Yeah, just came in and saw Ruiko streaming.
[Notification: Amegakure Village's Angel has joined the livestream]
Amegakure Village's Angel: Whoa, Ruiko-chan is actually livestreaming?
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Konan's here too? Did Anzen tell you?
Amegakure Village's Angel: Yep. Anzen-san and I just woke up not long ago. We almost missed it.
Doujin Artist: W-Wait, what do you mean you two just woke up? Don't tell me you two…
At that moment, Eriri's mind started racing. She imagined dozens of scenes from her adult comics — stuff like "middle of the night something," "good morning something." Slowly, her whole face turned red.
Curly-haired Guy: Whoa whoa, this sounds like some huge gossip.
Amegakure Village's Angel: Oh right, it's not just us. Miss Kushina is here too.
Doujin Artist: W-Wait, Kushina too?
Shark-Faced Guy: ?
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: ?
Curly-haired Guy: You guys… You're already getting into that kind of stuff? If Minato finds out, he'll explode, right?
Doujin Artist: Yeah, he's definitely going to explode.
What does Minato even have to do with this?
At first, Konan didn't get it. Then she looked over her chat history more carefully and finally realized what they were misunderstanding.
"Wait, it's not what you think! I mean... me, Kushina, and Anzen-san — the three of us — we all just woke up. That's all."
Doujin Artist: Got it, got it.
Curly-haired Guy: I understand, I understand.
This is an Actor: Konan-senpai, I think you better just stop explaining. Let's just enjoy the livestream. Ruiko, where are you? @Skirt-Flipping Maniac
Ruiko had been completely caught up reading the group gossip until the screen in front of her shook a little. Only then did she notice a message from Aizen floating past her eyes.
"Ahem." After a couple of dry coughs, Saten Ruiko spoke into the stream window: "I'm currently at the entrance of the Mizui Research Lab." She turned her body, showing the lab's front gate on the screen.
Amegakure Village's Angel: Ruiko-chan, what's with that outfit?
From Konan's point of view, Ruiko's look was definitely off. Instead of her usual blue-and-white school uniform, she was wearing all black.
And on top of that, she had on a cap with a long brim, like she was sneaking around or something.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: She's dressed like that to move around more easily.
Doujin Artist: In simpler terms, she doesn't want the cameras to catch her real face.
This is an Actor: A research lab, huh. Are you planning to help Mikoto Misaka break something?
"You're amazing as always, Anzen-san. I can't believe you guessed it so fast," Saten Ruiko said, surprised.
Amegakure Village's Angel: Why would you do something like this? You should know it's pointless, right? The real problem isn't these labs.
Doujin Artist: Of course she knows. But Misaka Mikoto doesn't. That silly girl just came to help her friend.
Ever since Aizen warned her to keep an eye on Misaka Mikoto, this girl would visit her whenever she had time.
During that time, she had seen Misaka Mikoto secretly looking into records about the "Level 6 Shift Project" several times. Saten Ruiko quickly realized Mikoto was planning something big.
Ruiko didn't want her friend to take such a dangerous risk, so they ended up laying everything out and being honest with each other.
Misaka Mikoto didn't want to give up on destroying the labs, and Ruiko thought acting alone would be too dangerous. In the end, they agreed to work together.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: What a silly girl.
"Hehe." Saten Ruiko scratched the back of her head and didn't argue with that label. She knew it meant they cared about her.
"Ruiko, it's ready now," Mikoto's voice came through on the screen. "Sorry, it took a while to hack the security system."
She was dressed in black too, wearing a baseball cap just like Ruiko. They looked like they were wearing matching outfits.
"No problem at all." Ruiko shook her head and took a deep breath in front of the screen. "Everyone, we're heading in now."
"W-Who are you talking to?"
Misaka Mikoto was confused by her reaction and suddenly felt a chill. From her point of view, it looked like Ruiko was talking to thin air.
Curly-haired Guy: She's scared! Misaka Mikoto actually looks scared! Still afraid of ghosts at her age? What a scaredy-cat! Hahaha!
Doujin Artist: That comment fits you better, Gin.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: True. You're no braver when it comes to ghosts. How do you even have the nerve to mock someone else?
This is an Actor: Ruiko, there's an abyss ahead.
Just as Saten Ruiko was about to step through the lab entrance, a message from Aizen popped up on screen. She froze, her expression stiffening.
Shark-Faced Guy: Uh-oh, Mr. Aizen's being sneaky again.
This is an Actor: Not at all. I'm just stating the facts. With the Floating Network in place, Aleister can see almost everything happening in Academy City. The strange power Ruiko's been showing—something outside of both science and magic—has definitely caught his attention.
Doujin Artist: Wait, so…
This is an Actor: And with someone like Ruiko showing up, someone not part of the plan, Aleister will definitely want to test her. That meeting between Misaka Mikoto and the Sisters? Probably not a coincidence.
Amegakure Village's Angel: Then... this lab might be a trap?
This is an Actor: If you keep moving forward, you might fall into the abyss. Are you sure you're ready, Ruiko?
Hesitation.
At that moment, Saten Ruiko really did look unsure. She was just a middle schooler—of course she was scared.
But as she watched Mikoto's figure slowly fade into the distance, she took a deep breath and followed.
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