In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 25

Higashino shook his head, a weary smile on his face. "Should I answer that I'm just a Kamen Rider passing through at a time like this?"

"F-Kamen Rider?"

"Ahem, just kidding, I'm just an ordinary ability user."

Index suddenly rushed forward and hugged him, her silver hair exuding a faint scent of lavender: "Thank you..."

Her voice muffled in Dongye's chest.

"But they won't give up easily..."

"Let's wait until they arrive before we talk about it."

Higashino Yu gently patted the girl's back.

"Now, you need to take a hot shower and then get a good night's sleep."

Index looked up: "Really?"

"certainly."

Higashino Yu pointed in the direction of the bathroom.

"The hot water is ready."

Index suddenly remembered something, her cheeks flushing slightly: "Um... could I have some more food? The stuff from earlier... was so delicious..."

Higashino Yu couldn't help but laugh: "No problem, there are plenty more in the fridge."

As Index rushed joyfully into the bathroom, Higashino gazed out the window at the night sky. The neon lights of Academy City remained bright, but beyond this artificial light, the shadows of the magical side were spreading.

This is a huge problem... but since the Catalogue of Banned Books is in my possession, I'll gladly accept it!

He rubbed his forehead. Although the ability was useful to a saint, it also consumed a lot of energy.

However, it's safe for tonight; the power of perception will make Kanzaki subconsciously avoid this place.

Chapter 34 Morning and Choice

Morning light streamed into the bedroom through the gaps in the curtains, and Higashino Yu was awakened by a rustling sound.

He opened his eyes and saw that the alarm clock on the bedside table showed 6:17 a.m.

I woke up much earlier than usual. The sound was coming from the kitchen, like someone was rummaging through something.

Is it Index?

Higashino got out of bed quietly, his bare feet touching the cold floor. He quietly pushed open the bedroom door, and the sight before him made him freeze in place.

The refrigerator door was wide open, and the silver-haired girl leaned half her body inside. The hem of her nun's robe lifted slightly with her movement, revealing her slender calves.

She was holding a box of leftover fried chicken from last night with an almost pious posture, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's, and her mouth still glistening with oil.

"Sneaking food is not a good habit."

Higashino said with a hint of helplessness. Although he knew from watching the anime that Index was a glutton, seeing it in person still gave him a somewhat strange feeling.

"Waaah!"

Index turned around abruptly, her eyes wide open.

A piece of fried chicken fell out of her mouth, rolled a few times on the floor, and stopped at Dongye's feet.

She looked at Higashino nervously, like a primary school student caught passing notes in class.

"I'm so sorry!"

Index frantically tried to stuff the fried chicken box back into the refrigerator, but in her haste, she knocked over a milk bottle. The milky white liquid dripped down the refrigerator shelf, forming a small puddle on the floor.

Higashino sighed, bent down to pick up the fallen piece of fried chicken, and threw it into the trash can: "If you're hungry, you can come and call me. Eating cold food can easily give you diarrhea."

He remembered that Index didn't seem to know much about modern technology.

He walked to the stove and took the apron off the hook.

What would you like to eat?

Index blinked. "R-really?" Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, and her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her nun's robe.

"Fried eggs, toast, bacon, and some vegetable salad?"

Dongye had already turned on the gas stove, and the blue flame shot up with a "whoosh".

Coffee or milk?

Index's eyes lit up, and her voice suddenly became excited: "I want them all!"

She seemed to suddenly remember something, and her voice lowered again, revealing a lost expression, like that of an abandoned kitten.

"Um... I have to go..."

Without turning his head, Higashino cracked two eggs into the frying pan: "We'll talk about it after breakfast."

The egg sizzled the moment it touched the hot oil, releasing an irresistible aroma. Index's stomach promptly let out a loud protest; blushing, she clutched her abdomen but couldn't resist moving closer to the stove, like a kitten drawn to food.

"What kind of magic is this?"

She pointed to the toast slowly rising in the automatic bread machine, her eyes full of curiosity.

"It can automatically bake bread without any magical fluctuations..."

Index had not used much modern technology before, and this was the first time she had ever seen an automatic bread maker.

"The power of science." Higashino flipped the fried egg over; the yolk shone like two small suns in the sunlight. "Everyday life is still quite convenient thanks to the power of science, isn't it?"

Index cautiously touched the microwave button, then recoiled in fright when the machine suddenly started. Higashino couldn't help but laugh, earning him a glare from the girl, her expression like that of a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Ten minutes later, the two sat down at the table. Index had a pile of food in front of her. She put her hands together, quickly said something, and then immediately grabbed a fork and began to wolf down her food.

Are you planning to leave after you finish eating?

Higashino suddenly asked.

Index's fork froze in mid-air, the yolk of her fried egg dripping down the edge onto the plate: "Hmm, it'll get you in trouble..."

She lowered her head, her silver hair falling down to obscure her expression.

"Those people...are dangerous."

"Dangerous? Could they be more dangerous than those mad scientists?"

Higashino chuckled and shook his head under Index's puzzled gaze.

"I mean, Academy City isn't exactly a safe place either."

Compared to the dark experiments of those mad scientists, Kanzaki and her colleagues were quite gentle.

"no the same!"

Index looked up abruptly, a flicker of fear in her eyes.

"They are the elite of the magic faction, very strong."

Higashino put down his coffee cup and sighed, "If you leave now and get caught, what will they do with the people who helped you?"

Index froze, the bacon on her fork falling back onto her plate: "They...they'll investigate this thoroughly..."

"so."

Higashino leaned forward and said earnestly:

"It's safer for you to stay here than to leave and get caught. At least they won't find you, and therefore won't know I helped you."

Index opened her mouth, then closed it again. This logic seemed to confuse her; her small silver head tilted to one side, as if she were pondering some difficult problem.

"But..."

She hesitated before speaking.

"Can you maintain that ability indefinitely?"

Higashino stood up, walked over to Index, and knelt down next to her, his gaze level with hers: "Want to give it a try?"

Before the girl could answer, he snapped his fingers lightly. Suddenly, ripples spread through the air, as if an invisible force was spreading out from the two of them. Index was surprised to find her hands becoming translucent, allowing her to see the pattern on the floor.

"There's no one here."

Higashino's voice sounded particularly distant in the distorted air.

"As long as we're in this room, they won't be able to find us."

Index curiously reached out to touch Higashino's cheek, but her fingertips passed right through his body, as if touching a hologram: "This...this is amazing!"

Her voice rose a few decibels with excitement.

"Absolutely no magical fluctuations!"

Higashino suddenly frowned, and a trickle of blood flowed from his nose. He quickly wiped it away, but Index had already noticed.

"You're bleeding!"

She frantically pulled out a handkerchief.

"Is it because of this ability?"

"A minor issue."

Higashino took the handkerchief; the fabric carried a faint lavender scent.

"Maintaining a large-scale cognitive restructuring is indeed a bit challenging, but it shouldn't be a problem in the short term."

Index bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with struggle. She didn't want to implicate Higashino, but having already spent the night there, she had already dragged him into it.

"All right..."

She eventually gave in quietly.

"I'll stay for now... but I'll leave immediately if there's any danger!"

Higashino smiled and nodded, but in his mind, he was already considering longer-term solutions to this problem. Ordinary cognitive reconstruction could only temporarily conceal his whereabouts; to deal with the pursuers from the magic side, a more radical approach would likely be needed.

Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl Magnus...

He looked out the window. Academy City seemed as peaceful as ever, but he knew that this was just an illusion. From the moment Index appeared, the conflict between the magic and science sides had already begun.

Index was focused on finishing the last fried egg on her plate, completely unaware of the thoughtful look that flashed in Higashino's eyes.

Chapter 35 The Unruly Priest

Time flew by and it was dinnertime.

Higashino Yu put down the cleaver while making dinner and shook his aching wrist. The slicing onions on the cutting board emitted a pungent aroma, mingling with the rich fragrance of curry from the stew pot, filling the small kitchen.

"Higashino, how much of this should we put in?"

Index stood on tiptoe, leaning over the edge of the counter, her silver hair tied in a crooked ponytail at the back of her head, flour smeared on the cuffs of her nun's robe. She held a spice jar in her hand, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Two spoonfuls are enough."

Higashino took the jar.

Index cheered and eagerly poured the entire can of pepper into it.

"Hey, wait!"

Higashino tried to help, but it was too late. Index stuck out her tongue and shrank back like a kitten that had done something wrong.

"I'm sorry..."

She muttered to herself, looking ashamed.

"No one in church ever taught me how to cook..."

Seeing her aggrieved expression, Dongye sighed and flipped the charred fried fish over.

This is the third victim today; the first two failed because of overcooking and too much seasoning, respectively.

He hadn't expected that teaching Index to cook would be such a difficult thing.

"Go set the table."