Railgun 155

Chapter 155

01

Margin: Even Academy City has its sketchy contrarian streamers!

Handa: Don't get me wrong.
Handa: I'm not here to criticize the esper development program itself.
Title: Chapter 155: Gambit
Credit: Author: Kamachi Kazuma
		Art: Fuyukawa Motoi
		Character Designs: Haimura Kiyotaka

Handa: But it's wrong to give such dangerous powers to children...
Handa: too mentally immature to bear that sort of responsibility!
Handa: We place a minimum age on a driver's license, but not for esper powers? How does that make sense?

Handa: Last year, the students of A CERTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL destroyed a military company.
Handa: While the company was at fault there, we can't allow that kind of violent vigilantism.

02

Handa: Yes.
Handa: I just finished streaming.

Handa: Yes, yes, of course!
Handa: Most of Academy City's population is Level 0.

Handa: If we stir up public opinion, it's sure to pressure the Board into rethinking your budget.

Handa: Until that happens, lobby to makes sure you get the money that was being spent on esper development.

03

Handa: Now, if you will excuse me.
SFX: Beep

Handa: Ha ha. Playing the villain ain't easy.

Handa: There's no way this city is giving up its right to develop espers.
Handa: But who cares as long as I can make money off this?

04

SFX: Gloop

05

SFX: Whoosh

Anchor: At 11 last night...
Anchor: educational streamer Handa Atsuhiro was attacked while driving in his car.

Anchor: His legs were pinned by the crushed chassis, seriously injuring him, but his life is not at risk.
Anchor: Based on the state of the crime sense, Anti-Skill is investigating this as an esper crime.

06

Anchor: The victim has made a name for himself as a rare critic of esper education.

Mikoto: What's wrong?
SFX: Clunk

Kessai: Oh, just thinking how scary that is.
Mikoto: Yeah.
Mikoto: But I'm sure they'll catch the attacker soon.

Kessai: Eh?
SFX: Badump

07

Mikoto: If an esper was behind it...
Mikoto: they must already know what kind of power was used.
Mikoto: Then it's easy to narrow it down.

Kessai: Oh.
Kessai: I guess so.

Mikoto: If I was going to attack someplace...
Mikoto: I could easily take out the cameras and electronic security, but I'd need a disguise against visual witnesses that also doesn't restrict my movements.
Kessai: Are you planning something like that?

08

Anchor: Anti-Skill says Handa's attacker will be...
Girls: That guy was saying mean things about Tokiwadai.
Girls: My, how scary.

Girls: He got what he deserved.
Girl: Hey! That's not nice.

Kuroko: Satsuki-senpai.

Kuroko: Could I have a moment of your time?

09

Satsuki: Yes? What do you need?
Kuroko: Um, Anti-Skill wants to speak with you outside.

Satsuki: Eh!?

Satsuki: About the attack on that Handa person?
Satsuki: Why me?

AS: The victim was attacked while driving his car...
AS: but the weapon used was the silicon extracted from the glass and asphalt.
AS: Which greatly resembles your power.

10

Satsuki: Am-
Satsuki: Am I a suspect!?
AS: No, no.
AS: There are other espers with similar powers.

AS: But for reference, what were you doing last night?
Satsuki: So you do suspect me!

AS: We must ask everyone on our list, strictly as a formality.

Satsuki: I went back to my dorm immediately after school and read a book.
Satsuki: My roommate should confirm that.
Satsuki(small): And the dorm security will tell you I never left.

11

AS: Thank you.
AS: One more thing: this is a photo of the crime scene.

AS: Does anything catch your eye as a similar esper?

Satsuki: Eh?
SFX: Shudder

AS: Yes?

Satsuki: Oh, it's nothing! Just more shocking than I expected.
AS: Yes, I should have warned you.

AS: Sorry for taking up your time.

12

Satsuki: Phew...
Kuroko: You sound relieved.

Satsuki: I-I've never done this before...
Satsuki: and something did surprise me.
Kuroko: What's that?

Kuroko: Was it in the crime scene photo?

Satsuki: Um...
Kuroko: Your reaction seemed odd.

Satsuki: .........Well.
Satsuki: This might make me more of a suspect...

Satsuki: but that photo did disturb me.
Satsuki: Just not because it was gruesome.

13

Satsuki: I didn't do it...
Satsuki: but if I did do it, it would have looked just like that.

Kuroko: Of course it would. The attacker was an esper with a similar power.

Satsuki: You're a Teleporter, right?
Satsuki: Then maybe it's hard for you to understand.

Satsuki: With powers like mine that produce something or shoot something...
Satsuki: there are quirks and tendencies unique to each esper.

14

Satsuki: Even two people with the same power at the same level will produce it subtly differently.
Satsuki(small): It's small things only you notice.
Satsuki: Think of it like the differences in how different people write the same kanji.

Kuroko: I see.

Kuroko: So to borrow your analogy...

Kuroko: this was like finding the note left by the criminal was written in your handwriting?

Satsuki: Which is really creepy...

15

SFX: Boom

Announcement: Fire alert!
SFX: Whoo whoo whoo whoo
Announcement: Fire alert!
Men: Hey!
Men: Don't just stand there!

Announcement: All staff please evacuate at once!
Man: Impossible! It couldn't have ignited...
Men: Run!

16

Wannai: Um...
Wannai: Why are you questioning me?

AS: I am sorry, but we cannot discuss an ongoing investigation.

AS: Could you tell us what you were doing last night?
Wannai: W-well...

Wannai: I bathed at around 9...
Wannai: Applied my face lotion at 10...

17

AS2: Regarding the Demipharma Pharmaceuticals factory fire...
AS2: the investigation found no fault on the part of the factory. The inflammable solvent which reacts with water was stored properly.

AS2: Thus, it was thought to be caused by a Hydrohand esper.

AS2: And again one of the suspects is from Tokiwadai.

18

AS2: Handa Atsuhiro is an anti-esper streamer who had been openly criticizing Tokiwadai a lot recently.
AS2: Although he is partially a scammer who targets companies who failed to enter the esper development industry.

AS2: Demipharma is currently suing Tokiwadai over a patent for a new drug.

AS2: It does look like there was motive in both cases.

AS2: But it doesn't add up, does it?
AS: No, it doesn't.

19

AS: These targets both meant nothing to Tokiwadai.
AS: And even if they did choose to eliminate them, there are smarter ways to go about it.
AS: Using students is a risk with no benefit.

AS2: So is someone trying to frame Tokiwadai?
AS: Hmm.

SFX: Clunk

20

AS: In my experience with esper crime, those suspects did not react like criminals.

AS: That said, I doubt they are entirely unrelated.
AS: If we take a look at their surroundings, we might find a clue.

SFX: Boom
Text: Sha attacks even Anti-Skill. Can no one stop her!?
Box: To be continued next issue. The September Issue goes on sale Friday, July 26!!