Convenience Store Bombing Incident

After briefly explaining the concept of cursed energy to the girls, Saten Ruiko's mood visibly sank when she learned that cursed techniques were innate abilities that could not be acquired later in life. She became completely listless.

Her fantasy of becoming extraordinary through another path had ended before it could even begin. The disappointment made Saten Ruiko sigh again and again.

"Saten." Seeing her friend in low spirits, Uiharu Kazari patted her shoulder comfortingly.

"Actually, being an esper isn't all that—"

"Ahem!" Misaka Mikoto was about to offer some comfort when Rod's cough interrupted her. She instinctively looked at him and saw him gently shake his head. Though puzzled, she stopped speaking and reconsidered what she had just been about to say.

After thinking it over for a moment, Misaka Mikoto felt incredibly embarrassed. To Saten Ruiko, that sort of consolation would undoubtedly have sounded like mockery—like someone privileged telling her not to complain—even if she had not meant it that way.

She gave Rod a grateful look, then cautiously glanced at Saten Ruiko.

Saten Ruiko, Uiharu Kazari, and Shirai Kuroko were three of Misaka Mikoto's few friends. Naturally, she treasured them deeply and cared about their feelings.

"Mm, it's fine, Misaka." With her high emotional intelligence, Saten Ruiko naturally noticed it. She forced a smile and shook her head to show that she did not mind.

"Well, there's no need to rush too much. Believe in yourself." Rod lightly patted Saten Ruiko's shoulder, his words carrying a deeper meaning.

"Believe in myself?" Saten Ruiko tilted her little head in confusion.

"Yeah, Saten. I believe you'll definitely awaken an esper ability," Uiharu Kazari said earnestly.

"Well, if you all say so, then I'll trust myself." Saten Ruiko's expression brightened into a cheerful, radiant smile, warming the atmosphere once more.

Only Rod knew of the gloom hidden beneath that smile. Living as an ordinary person in this city while carrying her family's expectations, pressure had already quietly seeped into her life. Once it built up to a certain point, it would erupt.

The sun sank westward, and evening soon arrived. Dusk dyed the sky gold as everyone said their goodbyes and parted ways at an intersection.

"Ah, right! Canned mackerel is on sale today. Uiharu, you go on home first. I'm heading to the convenience store."

Having suddenly remembered the convenience store sale, Saten Ruiko gave Uiharu Kazari a quick farewell before vanishing from her sight like the wind, leaving Uiharu alone in utter disarray.

Convenience store.

Rushing into the shop, Saten Ruiko grabbed a basket and dashed toward the canned goods aisle. The first thing she saw was the last three cans of mackerel. She breathed a sigh of relief and could not help exclaiming, "Lucky! What great timing!"

She placed all three cans into her basket, then hummed an unknown tune as she headed toward the counter.

"Wait right there!?" A girl's sharp cry came from behind Ruiko. Turning around instinctively, she saw a small, cute blonde girl standing by the shelves and staring directly at her.

Saten Ruiko looked around, then uncertainly pointed at herself.

"Me?"

"Yes, you!? Those in your basket—they're canned mackerel, right!?"

"Uh, yes, they are." Saten Ruiko answered, not understanding what was going on.

"Give them to me!?"

The blonde girl then lunged at her like a starving tiger pouncing on prey. Completely unprepared for this, Saten Ruiko was struck head-on. Thinking she was about to fall and see stars, she squeezed her eyes shut—but the pain she expected never came.

She cautiously opened her eyes and saw undisguised terror on the blonde girl's face. Like a startled rabbit, the girl sprang backward and quickly retreated.

Confused, Saten Ruiko looked behind her and cried out.

"Mr. Rod!?"

"What a coincidence. You're here shopping too?" Rod lifted the basket in his hand and asked with a smile.

"Y-Yeah... Ah, thank you. Otherwise, I would've fallen." Her pretty face flushing red, Saten Ruiko stepped out of Rod's arms and thanked him haltingly.

"Where do you think you're going, Frenda?" Rod asked, glancing at Frenda as she prepared to slip out through the entrance.

"I... I... I wasn't going anywhere, L-Lord Rod." Frenda shuddered all over, hurriedly ran back, and replied tremblingly.

No one who had witnessed that battle could fail to fear the terrifying strength of the person before them. He was the kind of monster who had strung up Academy City's Number One and beaten him senseless.

That went double for the four members of ITEM, who had witnessed the entire thing firsthand. Their loyalty had reached unprecedented heights.

"Apologize," Rod said casually.

"Eh... N-no... Eh!?" Saten Ruiko had just been about to say there was no need when she saw Frenda already kneeling in a full dogeza. She could not help crying out in surprise.

"I'm truly, deeply sorry!?" Frenda shouted, drawing the attention of everyone in the store. Embarrassed, Saten Ruiko wanted nothing more than to find some secluded corner to hide in.

Before everyone's attention could remain focused on Frenda, the bell at the entrance rang repeatedly. A group of high school students wearing Judgment armbands entered the convenience store and called out loudly.

"We're Judgment. Please evacuate the convenience store immediately."

"Um, did something happen in our store?" the middle-aged store manager asked anxiously.

"We detected accelerated heavy-particle activity. There may be a bomb planted in this store."

"A bomb!?" With that explanation, everyone immediately understood. The crowd surged out of the store, leaving only Rod's group of three still standing where they were.

"Please evacuate immediately." Seeing this, the female Judgment officer at the front stepped forward to warn them.

"It's too late." Frenda slowly spoke as she stood up and dusted off her skirt.

"What?" The female Judgment officer was about to ask when space twisted in the rear of the convenience store due to accelerated heavy particles.

"Run!" One of the Judgment officers noticed first and shouted for his companions to leave, but a violent explosion suddenly thundered through the store. The shockwave engulfed the three Judgment officers.

When the smoke cleared, the female Judgment officer was stunned to discover that the area where she stood had not been affected in the slightest. But this was not the time to think about that.

She hurried toward the center of the explosion, only to find her three Judgment companions covered in blood. The one closest to the blast had already lost an arm. Faced with such a horrific sight, the female Judgment officer suppressed her fear and shakily dialed emergency services.