Chirp, chirp~!
Peep~! Peep-peep-peep~!
The air was lovely in Academy City this morning, and the weather was beautiful too. The blue sky and white clouds put everyone walking along in an especially good mood!
At this hour, the early birds were chirping away in the branches. Golden sunlight slanted in from the eastern horizon, filtering through the lush trees beside the sidewalk. Patches of shadow and golden light fell across three lively, youthful girls, all dressed in Tokiwadai Middle School's uniform short skirts and carrying identical black leather schoolbags.
There was no doubt about it: the three Tokiwadai girls chatting as they walked down the street were little Annie, Misaka Mikoto, and Shirai Kuroko, whose dorm rooms were separated by just one wall.
Their dormitory was in another Tokiwadai Middle School campus outside the School Garden. So, now that Tokiwadai had finally announced that regular classes and school activities were resuming, the three had to return to their early-morning walks through the dawn and dew, heading for school in the School Garden of District 7 after many days of carefree vacation.
"Oh, no! It's so late—we'll never make it at this rate!"
"Big Sister, I have to stop by Judgment's 177th Branch Office to report in and pick something up. You two go on ahead without me~!"
Shirai Kuroko glanced at her phone and saw the message just sent by her senior, Konori Mii. She let out a startled cry, quickly turned to call out to her beloved Big Sister, Misaka Mikoto, then hurried off.
"Wait!"
"Big Sister, please keep an eye on that troublesome little Annie for me. Make sure she gets into the classroom—don't let her skip class again!!"
Suddenly remembering something important, Shirai Kuroko stopped after a few steps and turned back. She pointed at the little