Gratitude

Uiharu Kazari was out on patrol when she came across a dessert shop, and instinctively began paying attention to it. After all, girls had little resistance to sweets.

However, just as Uiharu Kazari focused on the dazzling array of desserts in the display window, a figure seated by the window repeatedly waved at her. Turning her head, she saw a familiar face—it was the very person she and Shirai had helped not long ago.

"Mr. Rod?" Uiharu Kazari looked around. Seeing that Rod was indeed looking at her, she pointed at herself with a baffled expression. After Rod nodded to indicate that she should come in, Uiharu Kazari entered the shop.

"Hello, Mr. Rod. Do you need help?" Thinking that Rod had summoned her for something, Uiharu Kazari asked in a serious tone.

"No, I don't need any help. Rather, I happened to order quite a few desserts, so consider this my thanks for your help. Eat as much as you like." Rod replied with a smile, gesturing for Uiharu Kazari to sit down and enjoy herself.

"No, no, how could I? Helping you is part of my duty." Uiharu Kazari waved her hands repeatedly, her face full of earnestness. Her attempt to put on a serious adult-like air was truly adorable.

Rod could not help but smile.

Before Rod could continue persuading her, the waiters brought over one exquisite dessert after another and set them on the table. Faced with the feast before her, Uiharu Kazari—who had only just entered middle school and still had the mindset of a child—looked at the desserts with naked longing.

She did not notice a glistening trail slowly slipping from the corner of her mouth, making Rod shake his head in amusement. She was far too much like his little sister, who always tried so hard to act mature around him.

"All right, sit down. No one ever said Judgment members had to give without asking for anything in return. Letting those who were helped thank them doesn't violate any rules, does it?"

Rod casually handed her a tissue, then tapped the corner of his own mouth to remind Uiharu Kazari to mind her appearance.

Realizing her lapse, the girl's fair cheeks instantly flushed bright red. After thanking him, she took the tissue, wiped away her drool, and quietly sat down.

After sitting down, she looked at Rod somewhat awkwardly. Rod simply pushed the desserts closer to Uiharu Kazari and let her choose whatever she wanted.

Looking at the delicate desserts, Uiharu Kazari could no longer endure it. She grabbed a strawberry parfait and began devouring it, her face filling with bliss.

"Isn't this guy a lolicon?" Frenda covered her mouth and muttered quietly.

"Do all old men have this kind of fetish?" Kinuhata Saiai wore a disgusted expression as she drew her slender legs back slightly, looking wary.

Damn it, do these two bratty little bitches need a beating or what? Rod's formerly cheerful mood soured as a vein bulged on his forehead at their muttering.

After sending several desserts into her stomach in succession, even Uiharu Kazari, who had once declared that "desserts go into a separate stomach," had no choice but to stop. When she looked toward Rod again, her face reddened once more.

"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Rod. Did I eat too much?" Uiharu Kazari asked timidly.

"It's fine. Being able to eat is a blessing," Rod said casually.

"Huh? Is that really a saying?" Uiharu Kazari asked, tilting her little head.

"Oh, it's a saying from China," Rod answered.

"Heh~ Mr. Rod, are you Chinese?" Uiharu Kazari looked at Rod curiously, as though she could not spot anything different about him.

"Yeah, I'm from China." As Rod spoke, he could not help thinking of visiting China in this other world. Although Academy City was the main stage of A Certain Magical Index, that did not stop him from taking a look around China.

"Um, thank you for the treat, Mr. Rod. I should... Ah!?" Feeling that she had enjoyed herself enough, Uiharu Kazari was about to thank him and leave when a hand suddenly clamped down hard on her shoulder. A terrifying black aura rushed toward her.

Uiharu Kazari fearfully twisted her neck to look behind her, only to see Shirai Kuroko glaring at her viciously, red light in her eyes and her twin tails floating in the air. Even in the sweltering weather, Uiharu Kazari could not help but shiver.

"Ah... Shi-Shirai, h-hello." The girl greeted Shirai Kuroko in a trembling voice, forcing a miserable smile that revealed her panic.

"You certainly have some nerve, Uiharu. While I've been patrolling under this blazing summer sun, you've been in here enjoying desserts." Shirai Kuroko's distinctive voice was laden with resentment. Well, anyone would feel unbalanced if they found out that their coworker had turned around and started enjoying herself while they were still miserably out on patrol.

"I-I... I was wrong. I'm sorry, Shirai. Please forgive me." Feeling the hand on her shoulder tightening further, Uiharu Kazari begged repeatedly.

"Come patrol with me. This time, the two of us are teaming up. You're not allowed to slack off." Shirai Kuroko grabbed Uiharu Kazari and was about to drag her out of the shop.

"Wait." Rod stopped her, making Shirai Kuroko look at him with displeasure.

"Please don't interfere with our patrol, Mr. Rod."

"No, no, I'm not trying to interfere with you. Have the remaining desserts packed up and take them with you. I didn't run into you earlier, but since you happened to come by, consider these desserts my thanks for showing me the way before." Rod had the waiters bring the packaged desserts over to the two girls.

"..." Shirai Kuroko glanced at Rod, then at the pitiful-looking Uiharu Kazari, and sighed helplessly.

"I understand. Thank you for the desserts, Mr. Rod. We'll accept them. In return, if Mr. Rod ever runs into trouble, you may come to us for help at any time."

When she isn't going crazy, this girl really does seem like a proper young lady. Rod silently snarked.

After seeing the two girls off with a smile, Rod prepared to leave.

As he headed toward District 7, he sensed four presences following behind him. He did not need to think to know it was the four-member ITEM group. Were those four girls really so idle that they had come looking for trouble with him?

Reaching the corner of an alley, Rod silently walked inside. Before long, four figures followed him in.

"Huh? Where did he go?" Frenda stared in astonishment at the empty alley, completely confused.

"Idiot, you're too loud. Do you want us to get noticed?" Mugino Shizuri punched Frenda on the head and snapped irritably.

"No need. It would be difficult for your tailing not to be noticed." Rod stood atop a building, looking down at the four members of ITEM with mockery.

"So, what do you want by following me?"

"Of course, we're here to confirm your identity." Mugino Shizuri revealed a savage grin as clusters of emerald-green light gathered around her.

"What nonsense." Rod looked at Mugino Shizuri indifferently, as though examining an ant trying to shake a tree.