It was now five days later.
In those five days, just as Harumura Makoto had said, he had been on vacation the entire time and hadn't reported to the Leo base even once.
But he hadn't exactly been idle during those five days either.
As promised to Shokuhou Misaki, he had gone to Tokiwadai almost every day to "walk" her around.
Though, sometimes, while walking her, the destination would somehow change partway through.
On the first day, walking Shokuhou Misaki ended up at karaoke.
Mm, Shokuhou Misaki's voice is actually quite nice.
On the second day, walking Shokuhou Misaki ended up at an amusement park.
Er… her courage is really small—she kept clinging to him for dear life.
On the third day, walking Shokuhou Misaki ended up at an aquarium.
Her courage got even smaller. Even with just a small shark in the tank, she still held onto his arm tightly and wouldn't let go.
On the fourth day, walking Shokuhou Misaki ended up at the cinema…
And so, Harumura Makoto endured this trial by fire—an ordeal that was a deep-water, willpower-testing hell.
After such a trial, he could pat his chest and declare that his willpower had climbed yet another level.
Now, with the start of school approaching, Misaki had important business to attend to today.
"The clothes should have been delivered by now. It's a pity I don't have time today, or I'd want to see them in person."
On the other end of the call, Misaki's voice was clear and bright.
Following her instructions, Makoto was busily changing in and out of the sets of clothing laid out on the bed.
There were formal suits, everyday casual wear, and athletic sportswear.
A full range of styles—just this delivery alone was enough to keep him clothed for almost a year.
"Aren't I already taking photos for you?"
Quickly changing into the only suit among them, he walked to the full-length mirror in the bedroom, snapped a picture, and sent it to her.
That was her assigned "mission" for him—try on every outfit and send her a picture of each one.
"What a pain… Why is it that in a place as high-tech as Academy City, the technology develops in such weird directions?"
He was only on the third outfit and already impatient.
And he wasn't wrong.
This city's development priorities were bizarre—leaving esper powers aside entirely, they could make things like fully automated cleaning robots and holographic projections that could be physically interacted with.
Yet the cell phones were still flip phones, the furniture all old-fashioned instead of smart, and forget about self-driving cars.
From any perspective, things like autonomous cleaning robots and tangible holograms should be far more difficult, yet here they were.
"Don't complain. Besides, it's only ten outfits in total—hurry up. If you do well, I'm thinking of making a long-term arrangement with this designer to handle all your clothes."
On her end, Misaki's fingers flew over her phone.
Even as she chatted with him, she saved each picture from his messages, and even set the one of him in yellow casual wear as her phone wallpaper.
Then she struck an adorable pose, snapped a selfie, and sent it to him.
"Hm? What did you send me?"
Without looking, he left the phone on the bed and kept changing.
"Make sure you set that one as your wallpaper."
It was still too soon to take things that far, but from now on, she intended to slip into his daily life bit by bit.
That was Shokuhou Misaki's little scheme—her own strategy.
"Boss, someone wants to see you."
From the small private room—his usual resting place—Komaba Ritoku's voice boomed as always.
Even through a wall, it carried easily.
"I'll send you the rest later when I have time—something's come up."
Komaba's interruption was like a gift from heaven.
Makoto hurriedly wrapped up, not even waiting for Shokuhou Misaki's reply before hanging up.
On the other end, Misaki froze briefly, then pouted in mild dissatisfaction.
"Honestly… that's the lamest excuse I've ever heard."
Back at the Leo base—
Makoto was now sprawled lazily on a recliner, legs crossed on the desk without a shred of decorum.
"I'm mentally and physically exhausted… This is even more tiring than taking Misaki out."
He let out a long sigh and picked up the internal phone.
"Someone wants to see me—who is it? I don't recall having any such appointments today."
His office was practically unused—given his current position, he was usually the one paying visits to others, not the other way around.
So this was fairly unusual.
"Boss, it's Fremea's older sister. She's requesting an audience."
Komaba's voice had turned low.
Even without saying much, it was clear he didn't have a good impression—or feeling—about her.
"Fremea's sister? The one you all say is neck-deep in Academy City's darkness?"
Makoto immediately recalled.
Komaba had brought Fremea here from her original organization.
For a child—barely seven or eight—to appear in an armed Skill-Out group, he'd naturally asked for details.
That was when he'd learned Fremea's parents were gone, but she had an older sister.
This sister was rarely seen, always busy with something, but would meet with Fremea from time to time and give Komaba some money for her upkeep.
So Komaba knew her to some degree, having met her several times—while Makoto, who had never taken Fremea home, had not.
"Yes. And if I had to guess, her reason for coming isn't exactly friendly. Boss, if you want, I can turn her away right now."
"She's with Fremea right now?"
Rubbing his chin, Makoto didn't agree with Komaba's assessment just yet and asked instead.
"Yes. Since you were busy, I had her wait in the reception room with Fremea."
"Alright. I'll head over."