One-way traffic

Shops along the street have started selling all sorts of Christmas merchandise, including miniature dollhouses, limited-edition gingerbread men, red and green gift boxes, Christmas tree merchandise, and the like.

Even the roads near some shops were decorated with snow-like patterns.

"The atmosphere is so wonderful... This is the Christmas spirit of Academy City!"

"...It's like you've never experienced Christmas before."

"It's not that I haven't experienced it before, but the shops I've seen before don't seem to focus on the festive atmosphere like Academy City does!"

Perhaps it's because 80% of the residents of Academy City are students that the festive atmosphere is even more pronounced.

Anyway, for Accelerator, who has lived in this kind of place almost since he was a child, this little bit of trash is nothing to worry about.

He casually put his hands behind his head, pondering what he should do next.

——Buzz.

My phone vibrated again in my pocket.

"Tsk, which guy is being so annoying this time?"

He impatiently pulled his phone out of his pocket, not to receive a phone call, but to receive an email.

The sender was not a high-ranking official in Academy City.

Instead, it was someone he hadn't quite expected.

"What's wrong? Is something important?"

"No, it's nothing serious."

Accelerator's expression didn't change after reading the email.

They even deleted the email altogether.

"He's just some boring bastard who keeps bothering me. I have no interest in being his errand boy."

"...?"

Hatsune Miku tilted her head in confusion, but Accelerator didn't intend to explain further.

After crossing streets filled with festive cheer, they made their way back to their apartment near the 7th School District.

Even after arriving here, the area is still enveloped in a strong festive atmosphere.

"It seems that Christmas really has a big impact."

"It's not a big deal, just a bunch of kids blindly following the trend."

Anyway, even if Christmas comes, nothing important will happen, and Christmas means nothing to me.

That's what Accelerator was thinking.

However, when the two were about to return to the hotel, they saw two familiar figures walking towards them from the opposite direction.

"…ah!"

Unlike other passersby, they did not completely ignore the presence of Accelerator and his companions.

Instead, upon seeing the two of them approach, she exclaimed in surprise.

"Is it... Mr. Accelerator and Ms. Hatsune Miku?!"

"…ah?"

Even the person who was ranked first was taken aback.

He turned his head slightly and saw the two people—who were the two girls who had discovered him?

They were two people they both knew.

The two girls who had just helped them were now entangled in paranormal events.

"Ms. Mikoto Himeno... Ms. Yuka Kamishiro?"

--------------------------------

"Excuse me...!"

At Hatsune Miku's suggestion, Mikoto Himeno and Yuka Kamishiro went to the apartment where Accelerator and his friends lived.

After opening the door, the room was empty, not even the extra individual was there.

It seems that Last Order and Yomikawa Aiho will be back later.

That's actually better. If they were both at home, seeing two strange girls come into the apartment would definitely cause some unnecessary trouble... especially when that guy from the side story is around.

Although Accelerator didn't initially intend to bring them to his home, since Hatsune Miku had already done so, it didn't matter anymore.

However, there are still things he cares about.

Because until just now, he and Hatsune Miku should have been maintaining a mental energy shield around their bodies.

How did these two little girls find us...?

The four of them went to the living room together, while Hatsune Miku went to prepare the lemon tea drink she had bought on the way.

Now, only One Direction and the two little girls in front of him remained in the living room.

"It's really amazing..."

"Does the fact that I live in an apartment really surprise you that much?"

"No, that... it's just because both Accelerator and Hatsune Miku, well... they are world-renowned idols, after all."

Mikoto Himeno said with a hint of disbelief.

In the girl's eyes, idols of this caliber should live in more luxurious accommodations, so it's surprising that Accelerator and Hatsune Miku live in such a small apartment, even in a residential area...

This really gave me a fright.

"So idols live in places like ordinary people too... This actually breaks our preconceived notions about idols."

"Idols are human too. In fact, few of the Level 5 superpowered individuals actually want to live in glamorous places."

As idols, they are also Level 5 superpowered beings. Living in such a conspicuous place will only attract more unnecessary trouble.

"Okay~ This is the lemon tea I just bought!"

Hatsune Miku also brought over a fragrant lemon tea.

Accelerator didn't seem to care much. After sitting down, he looked at the girls who were staring expectantly at the lemon tea.

"How are things going for you two now?"

“…Huh?”

"Um, are you asking about the situation regarding those previous incidents?"

"What else do I need to care about besides this kind of thing?"

Just that one sentence immediately amplified the oppressive atmosphere.

The two girls instinctively shivered, and Hatsune Miku, sitting to the side, also glanced at them with some dissatisfaction... There was nothing she could do; Accelerator was constantly radiating pressure, which had become an instinct for him.

"Well... regarding those things from before, Yuka and I are doing just fine."

"There haven't been any new paranormal events since then... at least not yet."

The question of why Mikoto Himeno and Yuka Kamishiro got involved in that kind of thing remains unanswered to this day.

Although the events involving the two girls are nothing compared to the world-shaking events caused by the demon god Othinus, they are still unusual events that Accelerator needs to take note of.

Even if he could resolve the supernatural aspects, he still wouldn't be able to eradicate these things completely.

He is a product of science, not magic. Although Accelerator's current understanding of magic is certainly not lacking, he is still not suitable to solve these problems.

After thinking about it for a moment.

"…This is?"

In front of the two girls, he took out his phone and showed them a phone number.

"Write down this number on your phones and call it in a couple of days."

"The owner of the number is named Tsuchimikado Motoharu. He understands the supernatural better than I do."

Tsuchimikado...Moon-chun?

Although the two girls seemed somewhat surprised, they still recorded what he said.

Tsuchimikado Motoharu is a spy between the magic and science factions. Although his exact identity is unclear, he can be considered an expert.

And what is most closely associated with the supernatural is probably magic, which is also a supernatural phenomenon.

As someone familiar with Accelerator, he probably wouldn't refuse such a small favor. He'll call that blond kid when he gets back and tell him to help resolve the matter with those two girls.

So this is what Accelerator mainly intends to discuss with these two girls.

After that, he simply sat on the sofa indifferently, waiting for the girls to finish their conversation.

then.

"that…"

Himeno Mikoto looked over somewhat shyly.

"Excuse me... is this indeed... where Mr. Accelerator resides?"

"So what?"

"Although it's very impolite, may I take a look inside your private room, that is, your bedroom?"

--what?

Even Accelerator himself was somewhat surprised.

But the expression on Mikoto Himeno's face was more of anticipation than excitement.

"Please, please let me take a look!"

…It seems like we were expecting too much.

Thinking back on it now, this little girl seems to have been... one of my fans.

Surely there can't be such a ridiculous thing.

"It's a rare opportunity, so refusing someone wouldn't be a good thing..."

Hatsune Miku beside him said it as if she were watching a joke.

Accelerator twitched the corner of his mouth. If it were an ordinary person, he would have just shouted "Get lost!" and scared the other party away.

…But looking at Himeno Mikoto in front of me, with that expression that said she'd cry if I refused.

"What a hassle... Do whatever you like."

Accelerator could only say this helplessly.

——————————————————————————————————

Just as mentioned before, Mikoto Himeno saw Accelerator's bedroom... and almost fainted from excitement.

It felt a bit too exaggerated, but Accelerator was too lazy to care. He let her take some photos or whatever and then let her leave.

Then, familiar faces returned to the apartment.

"We're back!!!" Misaka Misaka exclaimed with great joy as she saw Accelerator and Hatsune Miku's kind faces!

Her petite figure reminded him of the radiance that had always been his pillar of support.

Last Order lunged at Accelerator and Hatsune Miku, only to be caught by the girl beside him.

"Be careful, this is your last attempt. Running like this all the time can easily make you fall!"

"Where did you go off to have fun today?"

"It's an amusement park! But I wish you could have come along..." Misaka Misaka recalled the happy times she had with Yomikawa and Yoshikawa, and said with regret that Accelerator couldn't join them~

Still the same mischievous kid at heart...

Accelerator could only show a genuine smile when facing crucial figures like Hatsune Miku and Last Order, and he helplessly curled the corners of his mouth.

This scene was captured by someone nearby.

"Ah, what's with the expression on the first person's face? What's that? It's a genuine, heartwarming smile that looks like it's coming from the face of the first person who usually walks around with an aura of coolness and swagger! Pfft—!!"

Before the extra character could finish speaking, Accelerator kicked him away.