"......"
"......"
In that instant, everyone fell silent.
Fang Li was silent.
Misaka Mikoto was silent.
Shokuhou Misaki was silent.
Shirai Kuroko was silent.
Even the members of Shokuhou Misaki's faction, influenced by the atmosphere, held their breath one after another. At the same time, they secretly glanced at Fang Li and began whispering among themselves.
"Hey, isn't that guy the one who's been going around online lately?"
"Diva's desk partner, right?"
"That's him…"
Amid such murmurs, the smell of gunpowder began to spread through the air. Only Sylvia tilted her head slightly, somewhat confused, and after a moment asked Fang Li: "Do you know them?"
The strange silence at the scene was immediately shattered without mercy.
Then, Fang Li replied like this…
"No." He spoke with complete calm. "I don't know them."
That single sentence caused everything to erupt like a volcano.
"Biri…"
With a sharp crackling sound, a streak of electricity flashed across Misaka Mikoto's bangs.
"…Is that so?" Misaka Mikoto clenched her fists, closed her eyes, and spoke in a low voice as if suppressing her anger. "So you don't know me?"
It wasn't just Misaka Mikoto… Shokuhou Misaki also exploded.
However, unlike Misaka, Shokuhou Misaki didn't show her emotions directly on her face. Instead, she smiled sweetly, flawless as ever, and turned not to Fang Li but to Sylvia.
"Hello," Shokuhou Misaki said with a perfect smile. "I'm Shokuhou Misaki."
Hearing this, Sylvia showed not the slightest hint of surprise.
"I know you, the fifth-ranked in Academy City, the strongest Mind System Esper, right?" Sylvia smiled back at her. "You can just call me Sylvie."
"Sylvie?" Shokuhou Misaki froze for a moment, her expression subtly changing.
"Sylvie?" Misaka Mikoto widened her eyes again.
Even the members of Shokuhou Misaki's faction seemed to realize something, each one revealing looks of astonishment.
"N-No way…" Shirai Kuroko stared at Sylvia in shock and couldn't help but say, "C-Could it be that you are…?"
Clearly, everyone had guessed Sylvia's true identity.
And that wasn't surprising. After all, it was already common knowledge that Fang Li had become Sylvia's desk partner. Now, with a girl beside Fang Li calling herself "Sylvie," it was easy to make the connection.
Even with a disguise.
Under such circumstances, Sylvia gave everyone a playful smile and raised a finger to her lips.
"This is a secret, okay?"
In other words, she had basically admitted it.
"N-No way…"
"You're kidding…"
"It really is…"
The members of Shokuhou Misaki's faction immediately became excited one after another.
You should know that Sylvia had once held a concert in the School Garden. From that time on, the young ladies of Tokiwadai were almost completely captivated by the Diva's singing and became her fans.
Even the members of Shokuhou Misaki's faction were no exception.
"O-Onee-sama…"
Even Shirai Kuroko became somewhat bewildered and uncertain. Her unsettled behavior was completely different from her usual elegant, ladylike act.
As for Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki, their expressions stiffened at the same time.
Especially Shokuhou Misaki, her gaze toward Sylvia carried an unprecedented level of vigilance and wariness. She even had the urge to take out the remote control she always carried in her handbag.
This time, however, Misaka Mikoto was the first to react.
"Y-You two…" Misaka Mikoto pointed at Fang Li and Sylvia, unable to hold back her questioning. "Why are you together?!"
That question hit the mark perfectly. Seeing Misaka Mikoto's mix of shock and irritation, Sylvia found it both surprising and amusing.
"You're Tokiwadai's Electric Princess, the third-ranked Misaka-san, right?" Sylvia said with a gentle smile. "I've always wanted to meet you. I really like you, you know?"
"Eh?" Misaka Mikoto froze, pointing at herself in surprise. "M-Me?"
"That's right," Sylvia replied in a cheerful tone. "I've heard that Misaka-san is a very cool girl. For girls who tend to be at a disadvantage around boys, having someone both cool and kind stand up for them is incredibly charming, you know?"
In fact, at Tokiwadai Middle School, although Misaka Mikoto hadn't formed a faction, her popularity was no less than Shokuhou Misaki's. In the eyes of the Tokiwadai ladies, Misaka Mikoto was gentle and considerate. Many admired her in secret, even referring to her as "Misaka-sama."
So, in the eyes of other girls, someone like Misaka Mikoto, both powerful and cool, was indeed very appealing.
However, this made Misaka Mikoto a little embarrassed.
Only Shirai Kuroko, on the other hand, became more alert—just like Shokuhou Misaki.
Could it be that this world-famous idol had her sights set on Onee-sama?
If that were the case…
A scene suddenly formed in Shirai Kuroko's mind.
Sylvia tightly held Misaka Mikoto's hand, the two engaging in a soft, pink-hued conversation as Misaka Mikoto blushed shyly.
"Misaka-san, I wrote a song for you. Please listen to it… it represents my feelings."
"O-Okay! I will!"
And so, the two walked off hand in hand. During this, Sylvia wore a wedding dress, while Misaka Mikoto wore a tailcoat.
Ahead of them stood a church.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaah......!"
With her imagination exploding, Shirai Kuroko suddenly let out a shrill scream, clutching her head and going into a frenzy, startling everyone.
"W-What are you going crazy for?!"
Misaka Mikoto, feeling utterly mortified, hurriedly covered Shirai Kuroko's mouth. Ignoring the yuri-obsessed girl's struggles, her face turned completely red. Thanks to Shirai Kuroko's outburst, the tension in the air immediately faded.
"Pfft…" Sylvia couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh softly. "You all are really interesting."
Seeing Sylvia trying not to laugh, Misaka Mikoto could only look embarrassed, while the others also began to laugh along.
Only Shokuhou Misaki grew increasingly wary, shouting inwardly:
(What… what is this abnormal level of charm?!)
And indeed…
In less than a moment, the entire atmosphere of the scene had completely shifted to revolve around Sylvia, moving along with her every word and action. On top of that, Fang Li had not spoken the whole time again. Yet the way he looked at Sylvia, and the expression he showed her, one of indulgence he never showed others, made it clear just how close the two were.
(An… unprecedented rival!)
That was the only thought left in Shokuhou Misaki's mind.
(End Of This Chapter)
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