Editing Toaru Majutsu no Index:Mental Out SS (section)

===Part 12===

It was over.

The issue was settled for the time being.

“Gh, ahh…”

As soon as the relief hit, so did something else.

Kobayashi Satori doubled over and held her mouth.

But she just barely avoided coughing up blood.

She consciously formed a smile.

“Queen, it’s safe n-“

She stopped midsentence.

The link was still active.

(What!?)

Sending so many thoughts into Otonari’s mind might have even physically damaged her brain, but she was still moving her trembling hands to claw at the paved path.

<nowiki><I</nowiki>…>

Her bloodshot eyes were directed not at Kobayashi but at Shokuhou Misaki who stood a short distance away.

<nowiki><I</nowiki> am on the health committee. I cannot ignore someone suffering before my eyes.>

No amount of pain could stop her benevolent violence.

“Quee- gah!?”

Kobayashi tried to call out a warning, but her body shook below her. She had not escaped unscathed either. There were no external signs of bleeding, but several of her blood vessels must have burst, causing severe internal bleeding.

And it would all be for naught if this continued.

No matter what she did, she couldn’t protect Shokuhou Misaki!!

''Pop!

It almost seemed too easy. The invisible Mind Anaphylaxis was suddenly negated.

But not by the Queen.

Not even Shokuhou Misaki could do that.

That left only one person who could have done it – someone who was a complete mystery to Kobayashi.

“?”

The pointy-haired boy.

It all vanished as soon it touched his arm.

He likely had no idea what he had done.

<…Gh…>

Gathering all her strength into one final attack and having that negated for no apparent reason must have finally broken Otonari’s spirit. She finally relinquished her grip on consciousness.

And while clinging to the pointy-haired mystery boy’s arm, Shokuhou Misaki secretly stuck out her tongue.

(Is that it?)

Kobayashi Satori gravely gulped.

Her memory of this would likely be erased by the #5, but she still sensed something in what she had just seen.

(Is that the final trump card the Queen has been working so hard to keep hidden?)