In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 98

Seeing this, Mikoto was furious and tried to rush to her aid, but was blocked by Mugino Shizuri and Kihara Awaki. Mugino's water polo ball had a tricky angle, and Kihara used her height and reach to suppress her from the mid-range. The two cooperated well, making it difficult for Mikoto to break through.

"Misaka-san, at three o'clock, to Frenda's left!"

Misaki Shokuhou's calm voice suddenly rang out.

Mikoto, who was being suppressed, subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound and caught a glimpse of Himekami Akisa standing blankly in the water to Frenda's left, seemingly not in the right state of mind. Mikoto instantly understood Shokuhou's intention: Frenda had moved slightly away from Himekami, her "teammate," in order to attack Mikoto and Ruiko.

Mikoto suddenly exerted force, knocking aside Kihara's blocking arm, and at the same time hurled the water ball at high speed, skimming the water's surface, towards the gap to Frenda's left! The target wasn't Frenda, but that gap!

"Huh?" Frenda had just dodged the sneak attack from Tear, and her center of gravity was not yet stable. She caught sight of a ball flying from a tricky angle, and instinctively tried to dodge, but it was too late.

"puff!"

The water balloon hit Himegami Akisa's shoulder precisely, as she happened to be swimming there!

Himegami was taken aback. She looked down at her wet black swimsuit, then looked up at Frenda and the Mugino team. She instantly realized that her plan to coast through the water had failed, and she had become the weak point.

"Starry-eyed!"

Mugino Shizuri immediately realized what was happening and glared angrily at Shokuhou, who was leisurely swimming in the deep water.

"You bastard! You're playing dirty tricks?!"

"The rules only prohibit 'using abilities,' Mugino-kun."

Mizuho gracefully taps her temple with her fingertips.

"Using your brain isn't against the rules. Frenda's positioning was too aggressive, neglecting to help Himekami with defense. I was just kindly reminding Misaka that she could score by taking advantage of this 'tactical mistake'."

She smiled slyly, like a fox. The intellectual superiority pleased her—compared to the fruitless struggle of a brute, she had achieved victory with a single, casual remark, the difference in their abilities immediately apparent.

"you!"

Mugino gritted her teeth in anger.

"Well done, Misaki!"

Mikoto rarely praised Shokuhou, and felt a sense of relief.

"Jie Biao! Keep a close eye on that queen who only talks the talk!"

"It's Kihara Tsuki, who's standing next to Mugino Oki!" Mugino Oki shouted.

Kihara Ayaki responded and immediately changed direction, swimming towards Shokuhou Misaki's direction. Tall and skilled in swimming, she quickly approached the deep water area where Shokuhou was.

Shokuhou's composed smile froze for a moment. She looked at the menacing Kihara approaching, then glanced around at her own side—Mikoto was being held back by Mugino, Ruiko was taking care of Hatsuharu, Kuroko was entangled by Kinuhata… no one could provide timely support!

"Tsk...this is a bit troublesome!"

Misaki cursed under her breath and finally abandoned her elegant leaning against the poolside. She frantically grabbed a floating water ball, attempting to retaliate with her poor motor skills.

"Hey! Referee! I suspect she just used her ability to influence Himegami? That's not a foul?"

While suppressing Mikoto, Mugino shouted towards Higashino Yu on the shore.

She attributed Himekami's dazed state to Shokuhou cheating—after all, Shokuhou's abilities are indeed difficult to detect if used secretly.

Higashino leisurely took a sip of the juice that Meiya handed him, and watching Shokuhou being chased by Kihara with a pale face and a flustered appearance, he announced with pleasure: "After careful observation by this referee's discerning eyes, Shokuhou did not use her ability and there is no cheating behavior. The report is rejected. The match continues!"

"Damn it!" Mugino was even angrier.

She was certain that Higashino was biased towards "his own people"—the relationship between the two was obviously suspicious!

On the other side, Frenda felt slightly apologetic when she saw Himegami being "directly attacked," but immediately turned her attention to Shokuhou and Mikoto.

She abandoned suppressing Mikoto and instead joined forces with Kinuhata Saiai to attack Kuroko, who had just escaped her entanglement. Kuroko was immediately under increased pressure and was repeatedly hit by Frenda's intense "firepower" and Kinuhata's close harassment. Her swimsuit was askew, her twin tails were disheveled, and she looked utterly pathetic.

"Early Spring! Tears! Support Kuroko!"

Mikoto shouted, distracted.

Ruiko immediately abandoned her attempt to fight Frenda and swam towards Kuroko. Haru also threw a water balloon with all her might, trying to distract Frenda and Kinuhata.

Just then, Takitsubo Riko, who had been staying away from the edge of the battlefield and pretending to be exhausted, took advantage of everyone's attention being focused on Kuroko and quietly sneaked to the waters near the pool where Mikoto's team was located, near Index.

Index was clinging tightly to her strawberry swimming ring, watching the game intently, completely unaware of the approaching danger.

A sly glint flashed in Takitsubo's eyes. She grabbed the water balloon, and without using force, used a clever parabolic trajectory to clear the swimming ring and accurately hit Index on the back of the head!

"Whoa!"

Index screamed as she bumped her head on the swimming ring.

"Index!" Mikoto exclaimed in surprise.

"Takitsubo! Well done!"

Mugino's eyes lit up, and she praised loudly. Takitsubo's unexpected attack not only scored a point but also successfully attracted Mikoto's attention!

In the brief moment Mikoto was distracted, Mugino Shizuri seized the opportunity and hurled the water balloon with all his might! The water balloon, accompanied by a whistling sound, shot straight at Mikoto's chest!

"sister!"

Seeing this, Kuroko, who had just caught her breath, almost instinctively tried to use spatial teleportation to defend herself!

"Shirai-kun! Abilities are prohibited!"

Higashino's stern voice came from the poolside. As a fair referee, he would not tolerate cheating.

Kuroko's body stiffened, abruptly stopping the activation of his ability.

"puff!"

The water balloon slammed into Meiqin's chest! The impact made her groan, stagger backward, and almost fall.

"Score!" Higashino Yu immediately announced, "Team Mugino has hit Misaka Mikoto in the torso, the score is valid! The score is 4-3, Team Mugino is in the lead!"

"Damn it!"

Mikoto covered her chest, filled with shame and anger, and glared fiercely at Mugino.

She almost exposed herself just now; if she hadn't reacted quickly, that guy Higashino's eyes would have popped out of their sockets.

Besides, a phone and a cup (held by Mingya) were floating next to him at the start of the match. Could he be recording it?!

The thought that the shameful scene might be recorded in the whole thing fueled Mikoto's anger even more.

"Hmph, the third Railgun, you're nothing special."

Mugino tossed her wet hair triumphantly. She had long harbored resentment towards Mikoto's ranking, but due to her relationship with Higashino, she couldn't directly confront him. This water polo match finally gave her a chance to vent her frustration.

With the ability to defeat both the third and fifth ranked users simultaneously, Mugino Shizuri is the strongest female esper in Academy City!

The battle intensified. Misaki Shokuhou, overwhelmed by the pursuit of the harbinger, screamed repeatedly, her composure completely gone.

Mikoto's team suffered a blow to their morale due to the injury to their key player; Mugino's team, on the other hand, was full of fighting spirit—Frenda and Kinuhata suppressed Kuroko, Kihara chased down Shokuhou, Mugino kept a close eye on Mikoto, and Takitsubo continued to roam around looking for opportunities to launch surprise attacks. Himegami Akisa was still playing passively, occasionally throwing the ball into the crowd; Index was hit and then ignited her fighting spirit, but her attacks from the edge of the field had little effect.

Splashes, screams, roars, and laughter mingled in the pool as the water balloon traced a chaotic trajectory.

Mingya floated beside Dongye, occasionally offering him a straw to quench his thirst with chilled juice.

Higashino's gaze swept across the pool, and he saw the usually aloof Level 5s awkwardly dodging the water polo ball, their curves on full display, their swimsuits clinging to their youthful bodies, and his smile deepened.

This is the life he longs for—isn't paradise the place that brings him joy?

He spends his days playing with girls and occasionally having deeper conversations with them. Even if he were to exchange this life for the position of chairman of the Academy City Council, he would not care.

He wouldn't let go of any of the girls present. He never pretended to be innocent; he had the ability to do as he pleased, and as long as it didn't violate his principles, he would pursue perfection.

"But it doesn't seem fair to let anyone win the punishment game..."

Chapter 127 Higashino's War with the Twelve Girls

This war, which is fought without gunfire but is full of "benefits," is escalating towards a fever pitch.

Meanwhile, referee Higashino Yu was plotting how to... reap the rewards of victory as the outcome was about to be revealed.

He decided to participate in the competition himself.

After all, the rules don't prohibit referees from "personally participating," and as a referee, there's no restriction against using abilities.

The water in the pool surged and churned as if boiling.

"boom!"

"Snapped!"

"Hey! Misaki Shokuhou! You despicable star-eyed devil!"

Another water balloon struck Misaki Shokuhou precisely on the back as she tried to sneak up behind the front line, causing her to let out a screech of disarray.

With a hint of vengeful satisfaction on his face, Kihara Tsurugi pursued relentlessly.

She was just targeted by the Misaka team led by Shokuhou Misaki, and unsurprisingly, she lost a point.

On the other side, Kuroko, caught between Frenda and Kinuhata, became a complete "target." Her hair was soaked and stuck to her face, and her wet swimsuit outlined her slender figure. She dodged around in a disheveled manner, completely unable to fight back.

Ruiko tried her best to help, but Haru was ambushed by Takitsubo's unexpected "Edge Ob" and hit on the shoulder. She was rubbing the red spot where she was hit in a wronged manner.

"Misaka-san! Your left wing! That short, idiot is coming closer again!"

While desperately dodging Kihara's pursuit, Shokuhou didn't forget to remind Mikoto, after all, she was the main force of their team, and if she was hit too many times, it would definitely damage morale.

Mikoto is currently engaged in a fierce "ace duel" with Mugino Shizuri! The two are like mermaids in the water, nimbly dodging, rushing forward, and throwing! Water balls whistle between the two with a whooshing sound, water splashes around them, and crystal water droplets reflect the sunlight, sprinkling onto their flawless bodies.

"7-6! Mugino team is in the lead!"

Higashino's voice rang out at just the right moment. He had just announced that Mugino Shizuri had struck Ruiko's torso.

The score was very close, and the atmosphere was at its most tense. The Mugino team was just one step away from match point (8 points), while the Mikoto team desperately needed to tie or even take the lead.

"Misaka Mikoto! Just give up!"

Mugino seized a brief moment of respite from Mikoto, her eyes filled with an unwavering determination.

She took a deep breath, tensed all her muscles, and pulled her arms back like a fully drawn bow. A water ball, far more powerful than before, carrying her unwavering determination, shot straight at Mikoto's abdomen! This ball was fast, fierce, and at a tricky angle; it was almost a guaranteed kill!

Mikoto's pupils contracted, and she twisted her body at her limit! The water balloon grazed the edge of her swimsuit at her side! She narrowly avoided it!

"Tsk!"

Mugino was somewhat annoyed that her attack had missed.

"It's now!"

Mikoto instantly caught the brief stiffness that Mugino experienced due to her full-force attack! Before she could even fully regain her balance, she used her waist to propel her arm, and in an extremely awkward posture, she flung the water balloon she had prepared in advance out!

The water balloon flew like a cannonball, its target aimed directly at Mugino's flat, unguarded stomach, which was slightly exposed due to the throwing motion!

"Mugino! Be careful!"

Takitsubo let out a weak gasp.

Mugino's expression changed slightly as she tried to dodge, but her body was still recovering from stiffness, and her movements were a beat too slow!

The deadly water ball was about to hit Mugino's key scoring area!

At this critical moment!

A figure appeared out of thin air in the water in front of Mugino Shizuri!

Wow!

Water splashed everywhere.

Yu Higashino!

He actually jumped directly into the pool from the referee's position, blocking the water balloons thrown by Mugino and Mikoto!

He didn't even adjust his posture much, he just casually stretched out his arm.

There was a soft sound of "poof".

He caught the water ball, which contained Mikoto's full power and was enough to make Mugino lose points, with ease and nonchalance!

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

All the girls froze, as if a pause button had been pressed. Only the sound of splashing water and the girls' bewildered gasps filled the pool.

Mikoto remained in the throwing posture, mouth agape, her face filled with disbelief and astonishment.

Mugino was also stunned, staring at the broad back blocking her way, unable to react for a moment.

Shokuhou stopped screaming, Kihara forgot to pursue, Kuroko stopped dodging, Frenda and Kinuhata froze, Ruiko and Uiharu stared wide-eyed, Takitsubo suddenly perked up, and Himegami Akisa showed a clear expression of confusion for the first time. Even Index, holding onto her swimming ring, forgot to paddle.