In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 70

For some reason, Mikoto's face flushed slightly.

That's the feeling. Although Mikoto has a carefree and somewhat tomboyish personality, she is sometimes even more shy than Haru. Higashino, with his mean personality, likes to tease this kind of beautiful girl.

"Hmm, Himegami and the other girl are still choosing inside because of some special reasons." He deliberately stared intently at Mikoto and teased, "But you, Misaka-san, after you've picked out your sportswear, why don't you come and browse around too? Besides, I know a bit about sportswear, do you need my advice?"

"I...I don't need to buy underwear!"

She stiffened her neck, trying to maintain her composure, but the blush on her face and her slightly evasive eyes completely betrayed her embarrassment.

She couldn't understand what Higashino was thinking at all, that he would suggest she go to the lingerie store with him.

What are their true intentions? Their relationship isn't that close; if Ruiko and the others knew, they'd definitely misunderstand...

"I don't need your advice on what sportswear I wear!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Higashino smiled nonchalantly after having his two suggestions rejected in a row. His gaze swept back and forth between the coat she had hidden and the Tokiwadai school uniform she was wearing, before finally settling on her forced calm face.

"I just feel that we've fought together as friends, so of course I should give my opinion."

He took two steps closer and naturally stood in the spot where she had just been.

"Who, who needs your advice!" Mikoto tensed up instantly, raising her hand to shield herself from the tracksuit. "I can choose for myself! It's none of your business!"

This guy hasn't contacted me since he came back from abroad. What an irresponsible scumbag...

Wait, what am I thinking? He has nothing to do with me, and I don't care at all whether he contacts me or not!

Mikoto shook her head, and in a fit of pique, tried to hang the coat back on the hanger, but her movements were somewhat clumsy due to her panic.

"Sigh, Misaka, it hurts me to hear you say that." Higashino lowered his head, looking "disappointed." "I just thought this tracksuit really suited you, and I felt it would look great on you."

Mikoto paused in her act of hanging up the clothes. Looking at Higashino's slightly disappointed expression, she felt a pang of guilt. She suddenly wondered if her earlier resistance had been too much; he had only meant well.

It wasn't that she disliked the dress; otherwise, she wouldn't have picked it up and examined it repeatedly, even gesturing at it for so long. It was simply because of her various complaints and dissatisfactions with Higashino that she wanted to deliberately contradict him.

Moreover, this guy was clearly on a date with other girls, yet he still invited her to go shopping for lingerie. She felt that she was being very merciful by not slapping him.

What an annoying guy! But it seems she can't bring herself to continue rejecting Higashino...

She knew perfectly well that this guy was a good actor, and that his disappointed expression just now was probably fake, but she just couldn't bring herself to be ruthless...

Finally, she took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and looked hesitantly at Higashino: "...Then...then this...really...you think it's very good?"

The disappointment on Dongye's face vanished instantly, and he nodded in agreement: "Yes, I personally think so. And I think this one suits your temperament very well. Of course, the final decision is yours."

“It suits...it matches your temperament…” Mikoto turned her head away, not daring to look directly at Higashino. Being praised by someone she cared about made her feel good, but she didn’t want to show it in front of Higashino.

Mikoto pursed her lips, glanced at him quickly, and then looked away as if she would get burned if she looked at him for even a second longer.

As if she had found the perfect excuse, she muttered softly, her voice barely audible, "...Since you've gone to such lengths to recommend it...then I'll take this one, thank you..."

After saying that, as if afraid she would change her mind, she gripped the coat tightly and quickly walked to the cashier.

As Higashino watched her flee in panic, clutching her tracksuit tightly, he finally couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Misaka Mikoto's shy expression is just...so cute!

No one can dislike the shy Misaka, right? He certainly does!

If it weren't for the inappropriate timing today, Higashino would have liked to take her on a date. After all, how many men could resist Mikoto's shy demeanor?

I'm only one step away from completely changing my perception of Mikoto; my current affection for her is already high enough.

He could tell that Misaka was a little unhappy, most likely because of him.

But he had no choice; he had hardly any free time since arriving in Academy City.

Moreover, he was unaware that Mikoto's affection level had risen to this extent before this, otherwise, someone like him would definitely find various reasons to ask Mikoto out, even if he didn't have time.

But it's not too late to find out now. I'll ask Mikoto out another day.

Watching Mikoto pay at the cashier, Higashino's smile deepened.

At the same time, the two girls walked out of the lingerie store next door.

Index carried an exquisite paper bag in one hand, while affectionately linking her other arm with Himegami Akisa's.

Although her expression remained calm as usual, a faint blush lingered on her cheeks, clearly indicating that she had felt somewhat embarrassed trying on various lingerie in the store.

"Yu! We've bought it! Himekami, she..." Index's voice trailed off, her excited smile freezing instantly.

Outside the store, it was empty. Only the shopping bags containing Himekami's new clothes that Higashino had left earlier remained, leaning forlornly against the glass curtain wall.

Index blinked in confusion, looking around with her little head: "Yu? Where is she? Where did she go?" She let go of Himegami, took two steps forward, and searched for that familiar figure in the bustling crowd around her.

Himegami Akisa looked around in confusion, searching for the man who had suddenly disappeared.

Suddenly, Index's gaze fell on the window of the sports brand store next door.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows clearly reflect the scene inside the store.

Higashino was leaning casually against a row of sneaker display racks, a knowing, slightly mischievous smile on his face that Index recognized all too well.

At the cashier, Misaka Mikoto had her back to the shop window and was taking money out of her wallet!

After that, Higashino walked over, and the two began to chat and laugh. A peculiar atmosphere flowed between them, as if forming a small world that was difficult for others to enter and that only they could understand.

Index's eyes widened instantly, and her little mouth involuntarily pouted.

“Himegami…” Index’s voice was muffled as she pointed to the scene in the shop window. “Look! Yuta… he’s actually with that flirtatious woman! And he’s laughing so happily! Leaving us here!”

Himegami Akisa looked in the direction she was pointing, tilted her head in confusion, her gaze lingering for a moment on Higashino's smiling profile, before stating a fact indifferently: "A flirtatious woman? But Yu is indeed very happy."

She didn't know Mikoto, but that didn't stop her from feeling a little uneasy.

After all, it's impossible for anyone not to feel upset when the guy who accompanied you shopping suddenly disappears, only to find him shopping with another girl the next time you see him.

Index stomped her foot angrily and grabbed Himegami Akisa's wrist: "Hmph! Yu, that big idiot! He actually ran off to meet with the electric girl! Come on! Let's go settle the score with him!"

She picked up the shopping bag that Higashino had placed against the wall, and without saying a word, grabbed Himekami, who was still a little dazed, and charged aggressively toward the sports brand store.

Chapter 92: A Shura Field That Ended Without a Trace?

Index grabbed Himegami Akisa's wrist and stormed into the shop where Higashino was.

The shop door was slammed shut with a loud bang, drawing the attention of several customers inside. They looked at Index with puzzlement, wondering why this seemingly cute girl was acting so angry.

At the cashier, Higashino, who was chatting with Mikoto, also noticed the sudden commotion. He ended his conversation with Mikoto, turned around, and met Index's eyes, which were filled with grievance and dissatisfaction.

Index was furious. If she didn't know that if she bit him, it would be the same as before, she would never hesitate to give Higashino a hard blow.

Mingyou finally accompanied her shopping this time, but then suddenly disappeared to chat with other girls.

"Yu!" Index's voice was filled with obvious accusation and dissatisfaction. "You actually left us all behind! And came here to... and..." She hesitated, seemingly searching for a suitable way to express her strong dissatisfaction, but in the end she chose the same term she had used when complaining to Himegami earlier, "...and chatted so happily with this 'electrifying woman'!"

"A...a lightning girl?!" Misaka Mikoto, who was standing next to Higashino with her back to the group, stopped in her tracks as she was about to pay.

She had noticed Index and Himegami's intrusion, and planned to settle the bill casually and slip away quietly, avoiding a direct confrontation with them.

But the jarring term "electrifying woman" made her frown instantly.

"Hey! You silver-haired brat over there! Who are you calling 'Electrifying Girl'?!" Mikoto suddenly turned around, glaring at Index with obvious displeasure in her eyes.

Although her cheeks were slightly flushed from being caught with Higashino, she was more annoyed by the offense.

Although her relationship with Index wasn't exactly good, they had eaten together at Higashino's house and gotten to know each other, so there was no need for them to be so hostile.

But she was very unhappy that the term "electrifying woman" was used even though she knew her own name.

"Hmph! I'm talking about you!" Index puffed out her chest as soon as she saw Mikoto turn around, but her gaze quickly shifted from Mikoto to Higashino Yu, her eyes filled with even more grievance.

"You! You've gone too far! You just walked away without a word! And you're still here chatting and laughing with other people!" Her little mouth was pouting.

"Uh, sorry, I only intended to come over and say hello at first." Higashino was a little embarrassed; he knew he had made a mistake in that regard.

He also didn't expect the two of them to finish buying so quickly. Normally, shouldn't it take girls a long time to buy underwear? After all, changing underwear requires taking your clothes off completely, right?

Mikoto was taken aback by Index's sudden change of target, and the anger on her face momentarily faltered.

She thought Index would continue to target her, but instead, the other woman turned around and questioned Higashino.

This made her pent-up anger seem to land on cotton. Seeing Index's aggrieved and accusing look at Higashino, like a child whose candy had been taken away, made her a little... unsure how to continue being angry.

However, she hasn't forgotten the nickname "electrifying woman".

"Hey! Kid! Don't give people nicknames!" Mikoto frowned, replying irritably, her tone more of amusement than anything else. She was just casually shopping for clothes at the mall, and now she'd been given a nickname for no reason—all because of that bastard Higashino!

Mikoto thought resentfully, then turned to the shop assistant who was still watching the show and urged, "Please hurry up and settle the bill."

"Uh, okay, please wait a moment."

Himegami Akisa had been silently observing Mikoto ever since she entered.

This was the first time she had seen this girl with short, light brown hair. The girl was wearing Tokiwadai's school uniform, and considering Index's earlier description, she must be someone with an ability related to electricity.

Moreover, she is indeed very cute, especially her cheeks, which are slightly flushed now, whether from shyness or anger, making her even more eye-catching.

No wonder Higashino came all this way; a girl like that must be very popular. Even though they'd only known each other for a day, she already knew Higashino's lecherous nature quite well.

Himegami's gaze swept over Higashino's face again, finally settling on Index's puffed-up profile.

"Hmm. But you seemed quite engrossed in your conversation with Higashino just now," Himegami Akisa stated in her characteristically flat tone, recounting what she had witnessed.

Upon hearing Himekami's words, Mikoto felt a sudden tightness in her chest, making her somewhat uncomfortable under Himekami's gaze. She had a feeling that her thoughts had been read.

All she wanted to do was get out of this mess as quickly as possible to avoid any further trouble. She grabbed the shopping bag from the clerk, ignoring the change, and turned to flee this embarrassing and frustrating scene. "I'm leaving!"

"Wait, Misaka-san, your change..." Higashino reminded her, suppressing a laugh.

"It's yours!" Mikoto shouted without turning her head, and almost fled, her figure quickly disappearing into the surging crowd at the store entrance.

Index watched Mikoto's disheveled retreating figure, snorted, then turned around and glared angrily at Higashino: "Hmph! Still watching even after she's gone! Yu!"

"I hate flirtatious girls the most..." She subconsciously wanted to complain again, but before she could finish her sentence.

A light but firm chop landed on her head.

"Ouch!" Index cried out in pain, covering her head with both hands and looking up at him with a wronged expression. "Yu! Why did you hit me!"

"I'm going to beat you up, you silly little thing who comes up with random nicknames!" Higashino said sternly, but there was a helpless smile in his eyes. "'Electric Girl' is such a rude nickname! Misaka-san has a name." As he spoke, he took the shopping bag from Index's hand.

"Besides, part of the reason she was so angry just now was because you called her by that nickname." Dongye reached out and rubbed the spot where he had just hit her. "We really just happened to run into each other and chatted about clothes for a bit. Okay, don't be angry anymore. It was my fault for running away halfway through."

Index covered her head and pouted. Although she was still a little aggrieved, Higashino's explanation and apology made her feel much better. She muttered to herself, "...Then you should have greeted us first."

Index realized that she had indeed been very rude to Mikoto just now.

"Yes, yes, it's my fault, but remember to apologize to her properly next time you see her," Higashino replied with a smile, then looked at Himegami Akisa, "Himegami, have you bought your new clothes yet?"

Mentioning new clothes immediately diverted Index's attention: "Of course! Himekami bought several really nice pieces of lingerie! I even helped her pick them out..." As she spoke, she suddenly realized that discussing such intimate clothing as lingerie with Higashino was inappropriate, and her lips pouted again, "No! Higashino doesn't need to know these things! And what were you and her talking about just now? You seemed so engrossed in your conversation?"

Higashino smiled. "It really was just a coincidence. I noticed she seemed a bit hesitant about that coat, so I gave her my opinion and thought it suited her quite well." He pointed in the direction where Mikoto had disappeared, then looked at Himegami. "Just like when Himegami is choosing clothes, I give her advice, right?"

Himegami Akisa nodded calmly: "Yes. Higashino's judgment is quite good."

The first few clothes that Higashino picked out in the store were quite to her liking.

Index narrowed her eyes suspiciously: "...Is that really all?"

“Absolutely true.” Higashino said sincerely. “Alright, let’s leave this matter at that. Didn’t you say there was a dessert shop with incredibly delicious pudding?” He pointed to a sign not far outside the shop. “Shall we go there now?”

Index remembered the restaurant she and Ruiko had visited last time, and immediately stopped worrying about Mikoto and Higashino's conversation. She nodded and said, "Yeah! Both of their signature dishes were delicious!"

"No problem." Higashino smiled and agreed, then led the two away from the store.

The shop assistant watched the trio finally disappear from the store and breathed a sigh of relief, wiping away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.

Chapter 93 Kuroko says her older sister has a masculine scent.

After Mikoto rushed out of the store as if fleeing, her heart began to pound uncontrollably.

The black-haired girl's all-seeing gaze gave her the illusion that she was a philanderer, and most importantly, she had indeed been having some wild thoughts lately.

Now all she wants is to get out of this mess as soon as possible and find a quiet place to calm down.

After leaving the mall, she stepped onto a relatively quiet tree-lined path leading to the main road. Before she could even catch her breath, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"sister!!!"

Before Mikoto could react, she felt a sudden weight on her shoulder! A petite body, like an octopus, tried to wrap itself tightly around her from behind!