Mental Out 26

Chapter 26

01

Text: Kokuchou fights a deviously clever information war!!
Title: Chapter 26
Girls: The alleged threats...
Girls: were an act by the Kamino Clique...
Girls: and she was behind it!?
Credit: Author: Kamachi Kazuma
        Art: Nogi Yasuhito
        Character Designs: Haimura Kiyotaka

Girl: Impossible!! That article is fake!

Girl: Kokuchou!
SFX: Gnash

Mikoto: Oh, it was Kokuchou.
Mikoto: She highlighted the two of us as cover...
Text: This pair revealed the truth!!
Mikoto: to stay safely hidden while launching an attack on the Kamino Clique.

02

Mikoto: We know this article is a lie.
Mikoto: And we know Kokuchou is behind it.
Mikoto: But without that knowledge, you'd believe it.

Mikoto: Was this her plan from the start?

Mikoto: Did she use me?

Junko: Were you lying!?

Girl: Ha ha.
Girl: What's that scary look for?

03

Girl: Of course it's a lie!
Girl: You actually believe that trashy gossip article!

Gaouin: If my research backs it up.
Girl: Gh.

Girl: M-Miss Ringlets and the newspaper are framing me!
Girl: They must be! Otherwise...
Girl: you'd never use SOME SHAMPOO THE NEWSPAPER GAVE YOU.

Junko: How do you know about that?

Girl: Ah.

Asato: It would seem...

04

Asato: We have discovered a fool.
SFX: Line up

Girl: ...!?

Girl: Gh, dammit!
Girl: Blaze Shee-

05

SFX: Bam

Girl: Bh!?

Asato: THAT BITCH already had me in a bad mood.

Girls: Eh!?
Girls: Asato-senpai!?

Asato: So don't give me even more to worry about!!!

Asato: Argon Gigant

06

SFX: Dizzy dizzy

Asato: Eat my air fists...
Asato: and take a nap.

07

Junko: A long-range martial arts power!!

Junko: That overwhelming reach and rush!!
Junko: I'd never seen Asato-san's power in battle before, but even I would have a hard time fighting her!!
SFX: Swoosh

Junko: To think someone so strong was so close by.
Gaouin: You overdid it!
Gaouin: Misaka-san!!
SFX: Collapse
Gaouin(outside): Go!
Mikoto: Got it!!
SFX: Dash

Girls: But Asato-senpai is always so kind...
Girls: She said "that bitch".
Girls(small): Such a bad word
Girls: She must have been very angry.

Girl: No.
SFX: Approach

08

Girl: That was the real Asato Kisa.
Girl: I can tell.

Girl: How dare you claim this was an act put on by our clique.
Girl: We would never stoop to such depths!

Girl: The newspaper...no.
Girl: The Kokuchou Clique has declared war with us.
Girl: Kamino-sama!!

09

Bottom sign: Commissioner HQ

Girl: I never liked Kamino...the clique leader.

Girl: She was so intimidating for an underclassman.
Girl: Every day was so nerve-wracking.

Girl: But then a certain person saved me.
Girl: She told me I could get back at Kamino.

Girl: That's just what I'll do!
Girl: is what I thought.

10

Girl: And one night...
Girl: that certain person summoned me.

Girl: The lights suddenly went out.
SFX: Dark

Girl: And that ringlets girl appeared from the darkness.
SFX: Appear
Junko: Hi
Girl(bubble) Gyahhh
Girl: Thinking back, that must have been a disguise.

Girl: She mentioned something no one should have known about...
Girl: and threatened to tell everyone if I didn't do what she said.

Girl: I didn't know what to do...
Girl: so I called that certain person.
Kokuchou: Ehh!? No, I have no clue.
Kokuchou: How scary!!
Kokuchou: Doesn't that sound like Hokaze-san?

Kokuchou: But don't worry! Go to the commissioners...
Kokuchou: and tell them Hokaze-san threatened you before she can reveal whatever it is!

Girl: And...
Girl: you already know the rest.

11

Girl: That person used me...
Girl: to destroy our clique.

Girl: So can't you let me go?
Girl: If you don't, I'll take you down with me by claiming defamation for dressing me like this.
Girl(top): Heh heh heh heh heh
Text: *She dressed herself this way
Judgment: This girl...

Kuroko: That's everything she told us.

Misaki: Ignoring the indecency ability of that testimony, it sounds like...
Misaki: the Kamino Clique was targeted through its internal discord.

12

Junko: That "certain person" is Kokuchou Mayui-san!
Junko: She said so herself!

Junko: But...
Junko: the footage Gaouin-san took mysteriously disappeared.
Gaouin(flashback): No way!?
Junko(flashback): But it worked perfectly in rehearsal!
Misaki: Are you sure Misaka-san's zappiness wasn't responsible?
Junko: It was Synthesize Grid!
Junko(small): Probably!

Kuroko: Even with a video...
Kuroko: it takes time for a lie to be dealt with once it has spread.
Kuroko: And there isn't much time until the election.

Kuroko: Nothing can be done about Kamino-san's disadvantage.

13

Asato: Either way...

Asato: this is now between the Kokuchou Clique and the Kamino Clique.

Asato: And this is a critical point in the first half of the election.
Right text: Tentative Ranking
Left text: Only the top 3 become final candidates
Asato: It isn't our place to get involved.

Misaki: Was eliminating Kamino really Kokuchou's main goal here?
Misaki: But...

Junko: Don't worry about the accusations against me.

Junko: The extra edition technically did clear my name.

14

Junko: Now I can proudly help with the rest of the election!
Junko(outside): Hm!
Asato: However...
Asato: Do not even think about retaliating.
Misaki: Boo.

Kuroko: That aside...
Kuroko: what are you three doing?

Junko: Baking delicious treats!
Kuroko: Yeah, I got that much.

Kuroko: I honestly feel like you have better things to be doing.

SFX: Bam

15

SFX: Pop

SFX: Pop

Junko: Surprise! It's a welcome party for you!☆
Asato: Welcome to the Shokuhou Clique!!

16

Kuroko: Huh???

Junko: We are truly glad to have you!
Asato: And if it's all handmade, it won't look like we're bribing a commissioner.
Kuroko: Th-thanks.

Kuroko: It's only a trial thing,
Kuroko: but I appreciate the thought.

Junko: You're most welcome.
Asato: Let's eat before it gets cold.

17

Kuroko: Mm!

Misaki: Mm❤

Misaki: Most acceptable☆
Kuroko: The flavor is wonderful.
Asato: Thank you❤

18

Kuroko: This is on a professional level!
Asato: You're exaggerating.

Asato: I asked Komaki-san what you like.
Asato: I'm glad that paid off.
Kuroko: Oh?
Kuroko(thought): So even Komaki can be useful at times.

Asato: By the way, Shirai-san.

Asato: Before I forget, can you sign off on this report?
Kuroko: Certainly.

Kuroko: Oh?
Kuroko: Is this report using carbon paper?
SFX: Peel...

Title: Shokuhou Clique Official Membership Form

19

Kuroko: Hello?

Kuroko: Th-that was a close one!
Kuroko: This is Shokuhou Clique territory. Meaning, it is...

20

SFX: Rumble rumble

Kuroko: A hunting ground!!
Kuroko: To make me an official member!

SFX: Rumble rumble
Kuroko: They are the vanguard!!
Kuroko: The powerful hunters who pursue their prey and offer it to their queen!
Kuroko: I let my guard down after interacting with them so much!

Kuroko: It isn't my style to tie myself to one clique.
Kuroko: Also...

21

Kuroko: The trickery is unnecessary.
Kuroko: I don't mind you making use of me if you really need me.

Kuroko: Now, if you will excuse me!
SFX: Whoosh
Both: Ah!!

SFX: Land

Kobayashi: Hee hee.

Kobayashi: You cannot escape my detection.
Kobayashi: Do you want to play tag with the Shokuhou Clique's elites?
Kuroko: Kh...

22

Misaki: Planning to question Kokuchou too?
SFX: Step step

Misaki: That's dangerous.
Misaki: Who knows what the Previous Generation will do.

Kuroko: I am aware of that.

Kuroko: But no matter the risk...
Kuroko: I will choose to help people in need.

23

Misaki: Are you right-handed?

Kuroko: Huh?
Kuroko: Y-yes.
Misaki: Hold it out.

SFX: Pop

SFX: Squeak squeak squeak
Kuroko: Hey!?

Kuroko: Is that any way to treat a maiden's delicate skin!?
Misaki: It's like a ward against disaster.

24

Misaki: I know you won't listen to reason.

Misaki: So when you're in trouble...
Misaki: before you clench your fist...

Misaki: take a look...
Misaki: at THAT.

Misaki: And if you still must swing that right fist...
Misaki: at least do it where I can see you.

Misaki: If you get hurt, we get hurt together.

25

Misaki: Don't think about it too seriously♪
Misaki: Go do your job☆
Kobayashi: Are you sure about this?
Misaki: I am.

Kuroko: Just to be clear!

Kuroko: I am not trying to get hurt.
Kuroko: I would really prefer to avoid that!

26

Kobayashi: Don't you think you should be saying these things to yourself instead?
Misaki: La, la, la! I can't hear you!!

Kobayashi: By the way,
Kobayashi: Kamino-san contacted us.

Misaki: What did she want?
Kobayashi: She wants to speak with you in person.

Kobayashi: She seemed very concerned about something.
Text: What will Kamino tell Shokuhou while on the precipice?