Editing Toaru Majutsu no Index:RailgunSS3 Chapter4 (section)

===Part 3===

Something happened just as Mikoto’s foot kicked open the door to the back area.

Misaka Mikoto and Sakibasu Yuri’s pleated skirts suddenly fell down to their ankles.

“Huh?”

They paused for a bit.

This was an esper power.

[[Image:RailgunSS3 4.jpg|thumb]]

It was a truly ridiculous application of Telekinesis.

But the damage must have been greater for Sakibasu who was not wearing shorts like Mikoto.

Her black kneesocks were no defense at all.

One detail in particular will be omitted to preserve the maiden’s honor, but let’s just say the black twintails girl blushed bright red and screamed while frantically waving her hands holding the violin case to hide the area below her navel.

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!???”

“Sakibasu-san, do you not believe in wearing underwear or something? Otherwise, I really recommend wearing it from now on.”

Now was not the time to be considerate.

Mikoto gave that somewhat exasperated comment, but on the inside, her tension had only increased. She did not relax because she highly doubted this was a simple prank. Comedic events were more effective than serious ones at preventing people from thinking straight. And with pants or a skirt around the ankles, it was just as difficult to move as with rope tied around the legs.

Also, you could not help but have your eyes pulled downward.

That was like shutting your eyes in front of the enemy.

This had to have been the Telekinesis of the leotard-wearing attacker who had been willing to use a shotgun. Mikoto could guess what would happen next.

“Get down, Sakibasu-san!!”

Mikoto did not bother pulling her skirt back up. The zipper was bound to be broken after it was pulled down while fastened. She freed her legs with the sound of tearing cloth and tripped the black twintail girl who remained flustered. Sakibasu Yuri had no way to resist with her ankles bound and the violin case in both hands, so she fell straight to the floor.

The girl groaned while kissing the floor.

“Ubfh!? …Carbon Search. Be careful, Misaka-san. This floor is a hotbed of tiny mites and fleas.”

A moment later, the cardboard boxes stacked up on the dark back area floor were shredded from within. The tools used to anchor speakers, amps, and lights shot out like bullets. Sharp screwdrivers, thick wrenches, and more attacked them from all directions.

(Telekinesis. She’s not holding back anymore!!)

A dull and heavy thud rang out. Even if they were being controlled by some other esper, Mikoto’s power was stronger when it came to manipulating metal. She forcibly held the screwdrivers and wire cutters in place as they tried to soar toward her, but…

“Crap, I have to control the stainless steel ones differently!”

A small stepladder and a wrench heavier than a hammer continued forward despite the magnetic net, so Mikoto had to swing around a screwdriver she had already taken control of to knock them down physically. More and more orange sparks flew through the dark back area. The exact conditions were unclear, but it seemed that leotard girl could use more than just metal items as a weapon. Nor was she limited to leather products. This backstage area was overflowing with practical tools, so it was perfect for her.

And the attacker was still freely walking around on her own two legs.

She would get away if Mikoto continued playing this one by ear.

Worse, the leotard girl had already proven she could control their clothes. If Mikoto let her guard down, she could be strangled by her own collar or have her shoes slip to create an opening. Mikoto and Sakibasu were both human. It was all over if a crowbar, icepick, or other pointed metal object struck them between the eyes.

And that was why Mikoto took a calculated view of the situation.

(She only sends weapons flying in from three places at once. It all looks random at first, but she’s set up a safe zone where no stray shots can possibly reach her.)

“Sakibasu-san, use your Carbon Search to the south-southwest! Scatter whatever kind of powder you can find!!”

The bare-butt girl was still lying face down (because she was too embarrassed to show her face), but she used just her one arm to throw something. Was it a powdered anti-itch medicine or cough suppressant? Either way, it was made of sugar or carbohydrates…which meant it was organic.

But that did not actually matter.

Mikoto heard a gasp from the darkness.

“Found you!!”

She fired multiple lighting spears down the straight hallway with enough force to tear through the stacks of boxes being used as cover. They briefly lit up the area like camera flashes. She doubted this would end the battle, so they were only meant to stop the leotard girl’s attacks. She wanted to get close while the girl was held in place.

(You won’t get away. I need to capture you to bring back our safety.)

The edge of the shredded boxes had ignited as Mikoto rushed around that large obstacle.

“Now, I’ve got-…”

But on the other side, she found that the gasping presence and any sign of movement had vanished.

For an instant.

Truly just an instant, Mikoto lost sight of reality. Her mind could not process the sight before her eyes. The girl had vanished, but where to? Had she teleported? Wasn’t her power a telekinetic one that allowed her to move objects without touching them??? Had she used that power to lift herself up the ceiling or throw herself backwards? Mikoto glanced every which way, but that was not what had happened.

The girl in a blue leotard could convert any object into a weapon.

She did so by grabbing and throwing it with her Telekinesis.

It was likely accurate enough to control more than one riding suit from a distance of several kilometers, make them look like actual people, and even indirectly control an electric motorcycle and a shotgun through them.

So.

Mikoto’s ears picked up an odd sound like the air being twisted.

“Oh, no.”

What if she could grab the air itself? If she could change the density of the gasses to bend light and sound like a mirage, she could create illusions wherever she wanted. And Mikoto’s electromagnetism was no exception there.

The girl excelled at using Telekinesis to make people think inanimate objects were people.

And compressed air alone made for an effective weapon.

She had come out on top in this game of mutual deception.

The maximum instantaneous wind speeds of a Category 5 could shatter a car’s bulletproof glass. That was the identity of the invisible attack that was aimed at Mikoto’s skull.