Uiharu Kazari was patrolling when she passed by a dessert shop.
Her attention was immediately drawn to it.
After all, young girls had almost no resistance to sweets.
However, just as Uiharu Kazari was looking at the desserts in the window, a figure sitting by the glass repeatedly waved at her.
She turned to look and saw a familiar face.
It was the person she and Shirai had helped not long ago.
“Tsukasa?” Uiharu Kazari looked around in confusion.
Seeing that Tsukasa was clearly calling for her, she pointed at herself uncertainly.
After Tsukasa nodded, signaling her to come in, Uiharu Kazari entered the shop.
“Hello, Tsukasa.
Do you need help?” Uiharu Kazari asked seriously, thinking he needed something from her.
“No, I don’t need help.
I just happened to order quite a few desserts.
Think of it as a thank-you for helping me earlier.
Eat as much as you want,” Tsukasa said with a smile as he gestured for Uiharu Kazari to sit down.
“No, no, I can’t do that.
Helping people is part of my job,” Uiharu Kazari waved her hands repeatedly.
She tried hard to sound mature and responsible, which only made her look even cuter.
Tsukasa could not help smiling.
Without waiting for him to continue persuading her, plates of desserts were brought over one after another by the servers.
Looking at the table filled with sweets, Uiharu Kazari, who had only recently started middle school and still had the heart of a child, could not take her eyes off them.
She did not even notice a little drool slowly sliding from the corner of her mouth.
Tsukasa laughed and shook his head.
She really reminded him of his own younger sister, who also loved pretending to act mature.
“Alright, sit down.
Nobody says Judgment members have to help people without ever accepting a thank-you.
Letting the person you helped treat you to something doesn’t break any rules.” Tsukasa casually handed her a tissue.
At the same time, he tapped the corner of his own mouth to remind her to pay attention to her image.
Realizing what had happened, Uiharu Kazari’s cheeks instantly turned bright red.
After quietly thanking him, she hurriedly wiped away the drool and sat down.
Once seated, she looked at Tsukasa a little nervously.
Tsukasa simply pushed the desserts toward her and let her pick whatever she wanted.
Looking at the desserts in front of her, Uiharu Kazari finally could not hold back anymore.
She picked up a strawberry parfait and quickly started eating it.
A genuinely happy expression immediately appeared on her face.
“He’s not a lolicon, right?” Frenda whispered while covering her mouth.
“Do older guys all have hobbies like this?” Kinuhata Saiai looked disgusted while quietly pulling her legs back a little in caution.
These two bratty girls were really asking for trouble.
Tsukasa, who had been in a good mood, immediately felt a vein twitch on his forehead after hearing their whispers.
After eating several desserts, even Uiharu Kazari, who always had room for sweets, finally had to stop.
Looking at Tsukasa, her face turned red again.
“I…
I’m sorry, Tsukasa.
Did I eat too much?” Uiharu Kazari asked timidly.
“It’s fine.
Enjoying food is a good thing,” Tsukasa replied casually.
“Huh?
Is that really a saying?” Uiharu Kazari tilted her head curiously.
“Oh, it’s a saying from China,” Tsukasa answered.
“Heh~ So Tsukasa is actually Chinese?” Uiharu Kazari looked at him curiously.
She really could not tell at all.
“Yes, I’m from China,” Tsukasa replied.
At the same time, he could not help wondering what China in this world looked like.
Even though Academy City was the main setting of A Certain Magical Index, that did not stop him from wanting to take a look around the outside world.
“Um, thank you for the treat, Tsukasa.
I should probably…” Just as Uiharu Kazari was about to thank him and leave, a hand suddenly pressed heavily onto her shoulder.
A terrifying dark aura instantly surrounded her.
Uiharu Kazari stiffly turned her head and saw Shirai Kuroko standing behind her with glowing red eyes.
Her twin tails floated slightly in the air as she glared fiercely at her.
“A-Ah…
Sh-Shirai…
h-hi…” Uiharu Kazari greeted her nervously with an almost tearful expression.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve, Uiharu.
While I’m patrolling outside under the burning sun, you’re sitting here eating sweets,” Shirai Kuroko said resentfully in her unique tone.
Anyone would feel annoyed after discovering their partner was relaxing while they were still working outside.
“I-I was wrong.
I’m sorry, Shirai.
Please forgive me,” Uiharu Kazari begged repeatedly as the pressure on her shoulder became even stronger.
“Come patrol with me.
This time, we’ll work together.
You’re not allowed to slack off anymore.” Shirai Kuroko grabbed Uiharu Kazari and prepared to drag her out of the shop.
“Wait,” Tsukasa suddenly stopped them, making Shirai Kuroko look at him in dissatisfaction.
“Please do not interfere with our patrol, Tsukasa.” “No, I wasn’t planning to interfere.
You should take the rest of these desserts with you.
I didn’t notice you earlier, but it’s good you came.
Consider these a thank-you gift for helping guide me before.” Tsukasa had the servers bring over the packaged desserts for the two girls.
“…” Shirai Kuroko looked at Tsukasa, then at the pitiful-looking Uiharu Kazari beside her, before finally sighing helplessly.
“I understand.
Thank you for the desserts, Tsukasa.
We’ll accept them.
In return, if you run into trouble, you can come to us anytime for help.” This girl actually acts pretty proper when she isn’t obsessing over Onee-sama, Tsukasa thought to himself.
With a smile, he watched the two girls leave before preparing to get up himself.
As he walked toward District 7, he noticed four people following him.
Without even thinking, he knew it was the ITEM group.
He had no idea if those four girls were simply bored, but they were clearly looking for trouble.
When he reached a quiet alley, Tsukasa calmly walked inside.
A moment later, four figures followed him in.
“Eh?
Where did he go?” Frenda looked around the empty alley in shock.
“Idiot, you’re too loud.
Do you want him to notice us?” Mugino Shizuri punched Frenda on the head irritably.
“There’s no need.
Your tracking was obvious from the start.” Tsukasa stood on the rooftop, looking down at the ITEM group with clear mockery in his eyes.
“So, why are you following me?” “Of course it’s to confirm your identity.” Mugino Shizuri revealed a cruel smile as emerald-green spheres of light slowly gathered around her.
“Nonsense.” Tsukasa looked at Mugino Shizuri as if she was not even a threat.