Mash-up Anime World: Creating the SCP Foundation to Contain Anomalies Chapter 446 - 433: Balloon Hunters, the Targeted Ojou-samas

"Wasn't I super cool up there? Totally charming, right? Fell for yet?"

The mont she stepped off stage, Shokuhou Misaki ca running over to Haruto, her expression full of cute anticipation, waiting for praise.

Anyone who only knew a bit about Misaki's personality might think this was just her fake "innocent act."

But Haruto knew better.

Shokuhou Misaki really did have this sweet, spoiled side to her. It was just that—she only ever showed it in front of the people she trusted completely.

And in this world, the only one the ntal Out could entrust herself to so fully, was Haruto.

He reached out and ruffled her golden hair, smiling as he replied:

"Mm, very cool. You had all my attention."

Hearing that, Misaki's face lit up with joy.

But behind her, two other girls had caught up as well.

Nishimiya Shouko felt a faint sourness in her chest.

It was supposed to be her and Haruto who had agreed to watch the opening ceremony together. Still, Shouko wasn't the type to make a scene over sothing like this.

A little bit of jealousy, yes—but compared to everything she'd been through in the past, this was nothing at all.

Just as she was thinking that—suddenly, the world tipped.

"My Shouko is amazing!"

Haruto had scooped her up, spinning her around midair, lavishing her with praise without the slightest restraint.

At first, Shouko couldn't even react. But the next mont, her whole face turned red— the blush spreading all the way to her ears.

"Y-You have to put down, Haruto-nii!"

She flailed against his arms, her embarrassnt mounting as she realized more and more people around them were watching.

It was way too conspicuous!

Haruto finally set her down with a laugh, adding in a finishing blow—a gentle head pat.

Funny enough, she hadn't felt nearly this flustered while speaking in front of tens of thousands in the stadium earlier.

Now, though, her heart was racing out of control.

Misaki, anwhile, was pouting.

Why didn't she get that kind of treatnt?

Looking down at her own figure, she suddenly felt like she'd been scamd sohow.

Maybe she'd… over-leveled her growth stat?

And to make matters worse, that newly-risen psychic esper—just what was her relationship with Haruto anyway?

Behind them, Misaka Mikoto was still a little dazed.

What just happened back on stage?

A ntal-type ability?

Normally, she was always wrapped in her electromagnetic field, which should've blocked such interference completely.

Even a Level 5 like Shokuhou Misaki couldn't bypass it.

And yet… that sensation earlier, it felt so familiar.

Like that guy.

Just as Misaka was lost in thought, a hand landed gently on her head.

She looked up—only to see Haruto's calm smile. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on NoveI-Fire.ɴet

For so reason, the usually short-tempered Railgun didn't shake him off.

"No need to thank ," Haruto said while ruffling her hair.

Mikoto blinked, and then realization hit.

So he'd been the one to help her?

Honestly… that suffocating pressure she'd felt on stage—just rembering it made her shiver.

But in the end, it had been nothing more than a scare.

Still, as a true tsundere, once she ca back to herself, she quickly shook her head, throwing his hand off.

"W-Who said anything about thanking you! This ti… fine, I owe you one, that's all!"

And with that, Misaka turned and bolted.

Haruto didn't mind in the least.

If he could easily handle soone like Eriri, then a relatively mild tsundere like Misaka Mikoto was hardly a challenge.

"You two don't have any matches scheduled next, do you?"

Haruto glanced at the two girls by his side, whose tension was quietly simring under the surface.

The interval between the opening ceremony and the first competition was short—it was all about keeping the crowd hyped.

Misaki and Shouko both shook their heads.

Neither of them had signed up for "Balloon Hunter."

Balloon Hunter was a team-based event. Each school sent thirty students, every participant with a balloon tied to their head.

If your balloon was popped, you were out. The last school standing won.

The rules were simple: only the designated rubber balls could be used to pop balloons, and esper powers couldn't be used to directly injure opponents.

That was all.

The battleground was a whole district street zone, with alleys and buildings free to use for tactics.

Abilities were allowed, so long as no one was physically hard.

It was one of the most popular events, always drawing crowds eager for esper showdowns.

Misaka Mikoto had, of course, entered.

The three with no matches decided to spectate.

Giant monitors around Academy City were already broadcasting the starting field.

Dozens of schools' students were warming up.

Traditionally, Tokiwadai dominated this event.

But this year, the mood was different.

Several schools' students were staring daggers at Tokiwadai's team.

Clearly, private alliances had been made.

The plan: gang up on Tokiwadai first.

Yet facing this pack of wolves, the ojou-samas of Tokiwadai only looked more eager. Not even the audience thought this unfair.

After all, Tokiwadai's ojou-samas were overwhelmingly strong.

Most of them were Level 3s and 4s, with Misaka Mikoto herself as the trump card.

Even with the restrictions, their power was nothing short of crushing.

"Honestly, I should praise you all. At least you didn't run away scared."

One of the Tokiwadai girls remarked, looking at the much larger opposing side.

Haruto recognized her.

Kongou Mitsuko—a Level 4 "Aero Hand," and one of Misaka's close friends.

"Well, maybe the ones who should be running are you ojou-samas," a student from another school sneered back.

The match hadn't even started, and already the two sides were clashing head-on with words.

Watching from the sidelines, Haruto shook his head helplessly.

"What's wrong?"

Misaki asked curiously.

"They're too inexperienced at handling people. They're going to trip up. Tokiwadai might be an elite ojou-sama school, but it wouldn't hurt them to add so real-world training courses."

Misaki nodded thoughtfully.

Haruto wasn't saying this for no reason.

The Tokiwadai girls had clearly been provoked.

Trash talk wasn't sothing they could handle—they were used to polite society, where even insults sounded graceful.

The only exception was Shirai Kuroko, who as a Judgnt officer was used to dealing with delinquents and criminals.

But she wasn't competing—she was on patrol duty instead.

And so, anger clouded their judgnt.

The starting gun fired.

The instant the Balloon Hunter match began, the rival schools' students, who had just been posturing for a direct clash, suddenly scattered in all directions, vanishing into alleys and side streets.

The Tokiwadai girls froze, completely caught off guard.

By the ti they realized they'd been tricked, it was too late.

Chasing blindly after them, they fell right into the traps.

One Tokiwadai esper, a telepath who had been coordinating with teammates, was leading a group through a side alley—when suddenly, a rain of spiders, snakes, and scorpions dropped down from above.

Unprepared, she scread at the top of her lungs.

Because of her ntal link, her allies instantly shared in the painful feedback.

The psychic backlash left them reeling with ringing in their ears, unable to even activate their powers.

An ambush took them out on the spot.