I, Kurumi Tokisaki, Am a Wanderer

"Ah... such an indescribably elegant atmosphere. It's as if even the air here carries the refined fragrance of apples."

Admiring the imposing buildings of Nagatenjouki Academy with a look of admiration was none other than Uiharu Kazari, adorned with her signature vibrant flower wreath.

"It feels like being a proper young lady."

"Uh..." Saten Ruiko couldn't help but sigh as she observed her friend, who clearly harbored a peculiar fascination with the life of a young lady. She had long been aware of Uiharu's inexplicable yearning for such elegance, but seeing her like this was still enough to make her facepalm.

Their senior students were already looking over. The shy Uiharu of yore seemed like a distant memory now.

"Maybe I should lift your skirt a little to help you calm down," Saten said with a devilish smile.

"Wha-wha-what?! Please don't!" Uiharu exclaimed in panic.

"Oh, by the way, Uiharu," Saten continued with a teasing grin. "The flower language of apples is 'temptation,' not 'elegance.'"

"Tem...ptation?" For some reason, a gentle, refined smile flashed through Uiharu's mind, causing a faint blush to bloom on her cheeks.

"Oh my, if I didn't know you were meeting with a senior, I'd think you were in love," Saten teased with a laugh.

The two walked along the pathways of Nagatenjouki Academy, following the signs toward the dormitory.

Since it was Friday afternoon, most classes and experiments related to ability development had already ended, leaving the campus not entirely deserted but not bustling either.

Along the way, senior students frequently exchanged whispers and occasional glances at Uiharu and Saten.

Even someone as easygoing as Saten Ruiko couldn't help but feel the rising heat in her cheeks, her face slightly flushed.

It felt... oddly similar to cosplaying on campus and being surrounded by a pack of curious wolves.

Yes, it was an odd sensation, but Saten was certain she wasn't exaggerating—the seniors gave her the impression that they might pounce at any moment just to pinch her cheeks.

"What an adorable little girl. Is that flower wreath her power?"

"Aria, even middle schoolers are taller than you."

"Ughhh!!! I'll punch you!"

…

"This atmosphere feels... a bit different from what I imagined, Ruiko," Uiharu remarked with a smile.

"But it's unexpectedly nice."

"Once we graduate, how about applying to Nagatenjouki Academy? I heard that when they admit students, they consider more than just ability levels. It's quite different from the purely ability-focused Tokiwadai Middle School."

"Yeah, but I'm just a Level 0, a powerless Esper," Saten said, coming to a stop. Unaware, Uiharu bumped into her.

"Do elite schools like Nagatenjouki really accept people like me?"

"For you, Uiharu, it's not an issue. With your hacking skills, it's only natural they'd want you," Saten said casually, though her grip on the protective charm on her bag turned her knuckles white.

"But me... it's not the same. I'm good for nothing."

"Ruiko..." Uiharu looked intently at her friend. "That's not true."

"Ruiko, you're incredibly kind."

Like a rose of Sharon—gentle yet resilient.

This much, she would never forget.

By the time Kurumi Tokisaki parted ways with Accelerator, the distant sky was already tinged with orange.

She had plans to dine at a café called Joseph's. After all, she had no desire to join Accelerator in eating frozen meals.

As she prepared to navigate through the bustling crowd, she suddenly heard a voice—one that could be considered the most iconic in Academy City, so much so that it had practically become an urban legend.

"Such misfortune!!!"

The words, imbued with a peculiar power, echoed at the pedestrian crossing ahead, causing passersby to instinctively avoid the source.

Through the parting crowd, Kurumi caught sight of a boy with spiky hair, kneeling on the ground, crying in despair.

"I forgot my bank card when I left. When I got back, I realized I didn't have my keys."

"When I looked for the dorm mother, she said she'd gone to the Sixth District to visit relatives. But when I finally tracked her down in the Sixth District, she told me the keys were actually in the security room!"

"I finally stopped at a restaurant to take a break, only to find out they had a discount on bitter gourd and snail hell-layer lasagna."

"When I ordered a portion, I went to use the restroom, and when I came back, they'd thrown it away, thinking the customer had left."

Kamijou Touma clutched his hair and wailed in agony as he stared at a damaged carton of eggs lying before him, the victim of yet another "accident."

"Kamijou-san finally caught a break and found a supermarket sale."

"But after waiting in line for two hours... this happened. Eggs are my main source of nutrition!"

"Such misfortune!!!"

Kamijou Touma, a boy born under the shadow of misfortune, now stood before Kurumi, reduced to a gray statue of despair.

Tap, tap—

A pair of slender, shapely legs appeared in Kamijou's line of sight. Wrapped in black stockings, they were so delicate they seemed to invite touch—just to confirm they were real.

Crunch—

A speeding car roared past, the sound of the egg carton being crushed under its tires echoing like the final nail in the coffin of Kamijou's already miserable day.

"Pfft." A delicate laugh came from above, clearly mocking Kamijou Touma's misfortune.

"Kamijou-san has it rough enough already! What's so funny about this?!" Kamijou grumbled as he lifted his head, only to freeze in place.

Before him stood a graceful girl, one hand covering her lips in amusement, the other pressing down on her skirt. Her eyes were slightly narrowed, and her smile seemed to drain all color from the world around her.

But... no matter how beautiful she was, it didn't change the fact that his misfortune was undeniable.

"Kamijou-san is just too pitiful!" he wailed.

Then, as if hearing the voice of an angel, he caught her next words.

"Well, well... if you don't mind, how about I treat you to dinner? Consider it a reward for amusing me."

Using my misfortune as entertainment?! How despicable! Kamijou shouted internally.

I'd rather starve to death! Jump off a bridge right here and—

He stopped, instinctively patting his shirt pocket, where his recently replaced bank card rested.

"That would be very kind of you, Miss Black-haired (with a penchant for teasing)."

"So, what do you feel like eating?"

"Bitter gourd and snail hell-layer lasagna!"

...

Following some helpful directions from the dorm supervisor—and declining her offer to personally guide them—Saten Ruiko and Uiharu Kazari found themselves standing in front of Kurumi's dorm room.

Knock, knock, knock.

They rapped carefully on the wooden door.

Uiharu's primary objective was to return the koban (gold coins) Kurumi had given her last time and to ask about that peculiar "nya nya nya" incident.

When reporting to the security officer, Miss Yomikawa Aiho, Uiharu had intentionally omitted any mention of Kurumi, not wanting to trouble the senior student.

Yet, while hiding this information, she'd also saved Kurumi's playful tongue-sticking-out expression, burying it in her study notes and encrypting it for safekeeping.

Knock, knock, knock.

After a moment, the sound of unhurried footsteps approached, and the wooden door creaked open.

"What do you want?" A pair of dead-fish eyes stared at Uiharu and Saten—it was Nunotaba Shinobu.

"Eh-eh-eh?!" Uiharu panicked, stepping back to confirm the room number.

"This is Kurumi-senpai's dorm, right...?"

"Sorry, we're here to see Kurumi Tokisaki-senpai," Saten explained, stepping forward to address Nunotaba.

"Kurumi Tokisaki?" Nunotaba's chilling gaze swept over them, making both girls instinctively consider retreating.

"Come in," Nunotaba finally said, stepping aside.

"Thank you."

Having just finished a bath, Nunotaba wore only a silky white gown that clung to her figure, accentuated intricate gothic embellishments. The outfit exuded elegance.

Facing an unfamiliar environment and an unknown senior, both Saten and Uiharu felt slightly on edge.

Still, it was the fabled dorm room of a high-class lady, and Uiharu couldn't resist glancing around.

"The person you're looking for isn't here right now," Nunotaba said, sitting elegantly on a sofa. Holding a silver tea pot etched with delicate floral patterns, she asked, "Would you like some tea?"

"My preference leans toward tea with a splash of milk. If you can't handle it, don't waste it."

But before Saten or Nunotaba could react, Uiharu suddenly cast off all her shyness and erupted with enthusiasm, her hands trembling.

"Wooooah!!!"

"Saten, look! It's a real-life noble lady!"

Nunotaba frowned.

"You're way too excited, Uiharu," Saten said with a helpless smile.

"What exactly brings you here?" Nunotaba asked directly, pouring tea for the two. "In brief, please be straightforward."

"Sorry." Uiharu clasped her hands before her chest. "I was just a little too excited."

"I just wanted to ask Kurumi-senpai a few questions... and return something to her."

"If it's a question, I can't help you," Nunotaba replied, sipping her tea. "I haven't seen that roommate of mine in quite a while. But if it's just something to return, I can pass it on for you."

"If she happens to come back today, that is."

"Then we'll be counting on you," Uiharu said, clasping her hands in gratitude as she pushed the handkerchief-wrapped koban toward Nunotaba.

"It's no trouble."

"Since Kurumi-senpai isn't here, we'll take our leave," Uiharu said, bowing politely and also handing over a note with her email address.

"If possible... please pass my contact info to Kurumi-senpai."

As elegant as the tea gathering seemed, it was still too nerve-wracking for the two girls.

Though they regretted not being able to meet Kurumi, this was all they could do.

Bang—

The wooden door closed.

Nunotaba stared at the untouched tea before her. "What a waste."

...

Meanwhile, in a crowded restaurant...

Kamijou Touma stared at the indescribable dish before him, glancing enviously at the intricate tower of desserts in front of the girl sitting across from him.

As the despairing taste filled his mouth, he finally cried out in anguish.

"Such misfortune!!!"

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