Railgun 156

Chapter 156

01

Margin: The School Garden is on high alert!

Title: Chapter 156: School
SFX: March march
Credit: Author: Kamachi Kazuma
		Art: Fuyukawa Motoi
		Character Designs: Haimura Kiyotaka

Kuroko: Armed female Anti-Skill officers are inside the School Garden.
Kuroko(small): Probably no live ammo, though.

Kuroko: I doubt Anti-Skill really believes Tokiwadai is supporting the terror attacks...
Kuroko: but they have to do something after their colleagues were injured.

Kuroko: And pressure from the School Garden and Tokiwadai isn't working anymore.

02

Kuroko: There were 2 incidents yesterday beyond the attack on Anti-Skill.
Kuroko: Both were attacks on corporate competitors of Tokiwadai and a high-level esper is suspected in both cases.

Kuroko: The clique conflicts and school politics have prepared the students here for unusual experiences...
Kuroko: but they aren't used to this kind of situation.

03

Kuroko: The entire school is on edge.

Kitayama: Why!?
Kitayama: You promised!!

Kuroko: What's this about?
Onlooker: Oh.
Onlooker: Um.

04

Onlooker: Apparently those two are childhood friends and had promised to join the same clique.

Onlooker: But Minamikawa-san - the one with the braid - joined a clique after some fervent persuasion...
Onlooker: but that clique was a rival to Kitayama-san's clique.

Kuroko: So it's a lovers' quarrel?
Onlooker: Um...yes.

Kuroko: It doesn't make sense to me since I'm not in a clique...
Kuroko: but I should probably act as Judgment to stop them.
SFX: Slip

05

Mikoto: What are you getting all worked up over?

Kitayama: The Rail-

Kitayama: No!
Kitayama: Keep out of this, Level 5!

Kitayama: Joining an enemy clique was the same as challenging me to a duel!!
Minamikawa: A duel?
Minamikawa: I didn't mean to-

Mikoto: A duel? There's no school rule about that.
Kitayama: Calm down, newbie.
SFX: Jump

Kitayama: I said keep out!!!
SFX: Sparkle

06

SFX: Splat

Kitayama: Ah...
SFX: Pale

Kitayama: Um...
Kitayama: I...
Minamikawa: Sorry!!!

07

Minamikawa: She wasn't acting out of hostility!
Minamikawa: And she wasn't trying to hurt you! It was an accident!

Minamikawa: So please show mercy!!

SFX: Glance
Kitayama: Eek

Mikoto: Seeing you cower like that hurts me more than the cut.
Mikoto: I promise I don't bite.

08

Mikoto: That said.

Mikoto: One wrong move...
Mikoto: and you could have hurt a friend willing to apologize for you like this.

Mikoto: Focus on that part.
Kitayama: Ah...

Kitayama: You're exactly right.
Kitayama: It's just Anti-Skill was grilling me all morning...

Kitayama: I know I didn't do anything...
Kitayama: but I started questioning what I know and I guess I was really on edge...

09

Kitayama: I'm sorry...

Kuroko: Hmm.

Kuroko: She always seemed kind of silly...

Kuroko: but there is a different side to her.

Mikoto: Hm, I should stop by the infirmary.

10

Sign: Infirmary

Kessai: Isn't there some other way!?
Kessai: The students have nothing to do with it!

Kessai: It's not-

Sha: Kiyoshi.

11

Sha: That is a trivial matter compared to avenging Yoru-nee.

Sha: You haven't forgotten the rage...
Sha: and despair of that day, have you?

Kessai: ...No.

Sha: If I were to commit mass murder in the streets...
Sha: no one would criticize Tokiwadai and they would say I was a crazy student who just so happened to go there.

12

Sha: I could destroy every last building, but they could easily rebuild it all with their abundant assets and the support of wealthy parents.

Sha: The only way to wipe Tokiwadai off the face of the earth is to drag the school down until it can be judged in the court of public opinion.
Sha: You understand that, don't you?
Kessai: Y-yes.

Kessai: But if Anti-Skill keeps such a close eye on things...

Sha: They are forcing this. Those outside eyes will not stay long.

Sha: The real threat comes from within.

Kessai: From within? You mean Judgment?
SFX: Knock knock
Sha: You-

13

SFX: Slide slide
Mikoto: Excuse me.

Mikoto: Oh.
Sha: I don't often see someone...
Sha: as healthy as you in here.

Mikoto: I cut my hand a little.
Sha: My, my. Let me take care of it.
SFX: Badump badump

14

Mikoto: And that's what happened.

Sha: I see.
Sha: How awful.

Sha: Clique conflicts.
Sha: Student council elections.
Sha: And the Majesty.
Sha: We all have high-level powers...
Sha: and we fight over political power off limits to ordinary students.

15

Sha: Tokiwadai is Pandemonium.
Sha: Conflict here goes beyond popularity contests and faction building.
Sha: Sometimes, our powers are used in actual battles that could even be deadly.

Sha: You do not seem interested in such things...

Sha: but doesn't that mean you have no reason to attend this school in particular?

16

Mikoto: Hmm.

Mikoto: But if I wasn't in Tokiwadai, I wouldn't've made friends with Kiyoshi.

Mikoto: I'll give it some thought.
Mikoto: Thanks for treating my cut.

17

18

Mikoto: Huh.

Mikoto: I actually really like it here.
Text: A malicious barb led her to an important realization...

Box: To be continued next issue. The October Issue goes on sale Tuesday, August 27!!