Editing Toaru Majutsu no Index:RailgunSS3 Chapter6 (section)

===Part 1===

Tokiwadai Middle School had a café.

It generally functioned as a hangout for the girls to enjoy elegant tea and small snacks that looked more like bird food than anything, but the girl whose long black twintails were curled at the end, Sakibasu Yuri, was different.

Her tower of thick pancakes with plenty of butter and honey on top was quickly becoming a landmark within Tokiwadai. In this high-class space, it was unusual for the tea to not be the main focus.

It was enough food for Shokuhou Misaki to grow a little pale as she watched on.

“Y-you sure can eat. Especially for someone your size.”

“Pancakes don’t count. And I prefer eating something thick like this. It barely feels like I’ve eaten anything at all if I haven’t stuffed my mouth with food.”

This might seem like an unusual combination, but Sakibasu Yuri had been a new member of Shokuhou’s clique from the beginning. She might not be able to meet the Queen herself very often, but she would have more opportunities than a student outside the clique.

Sakibasu worked at the tower of pancakes while occasionally fidgeting her butt in her seat. It was hard to tell at a glance, but a close look would show that her uniform’s skirt was brand new.

And Misaka Mikoto was another student who had needed a new skirt.

Sakibasu seemed to have her own issues to deal with, but Shokuhou Misaki did not touch on them.

“As a first year, are you starting to get used to your life ability here in Tokiwadai?”

“Yes. And the Stativarius I was able to acquire through your connections has been a godsend!”

A violin case was casually sitting on the ground near her black-kneesocked legs below the table. And it had no lock.

“I have even made some friends outside the school: Saten-san and Uiharu-san. No more am I a sheltered girl who only takes the bus between the dorm and school. I am now a proper lady who can hang around town with friends afterschool!”

“I see,” replied Shokuhou Misaki while resting her head in her hand and laughing.

Sakibasu tilted her head curiously with knife and fork in hand.

Shokuhou had come to the café, yet she had not ordered anything.

“Um. Come to think of it, what brings you to me, Queen?”

“Oh? Do I need a reason ability to visit with you? Now that you are in my clique, you belong to me.”

“Queen,” said a ringlet curls girl before leaning over and whispering something into the honey blonde girl’s ear. As the clique’s #2, this girl had the troublesome job of managing the organization, but she was also a confidant who the Queen trusted enough to give that job. As a newcomer to the world of ringlet curls(?), Sakibasu saw her as a goal still far out of reach.

Shokuhou Misaki sighed quietly and stood up.

“I am glad I had this chance to see you, Sakibasu. Especially because of that natural smile on your face. After all, I hold some responsibility as the one who introduced you to Chandelier.”

“Oh.”

Sakibasu responded with a look that suggested she did not quite understand.

Although it looked like Shokuhou quite liked the girl’s imperfect behavior.

Before leaving, she asked one last question.

“Sakibasu, are you enjoying your school life?”

“Yes, very much!!”