Academy City's Puppet Master

Accelerator avoided the crowd, walked into a remote path, and gradually drifted away.

Ling Xingye tidied up his puppet props and picked up his travel bag.

As soon as he turned around, he met a girl head-on.

Ling Xingye took a step back reflexively, avoiding the embarrassment of the two colliding.

"Eh? Zuotian Leizi, you..." Ling Xingye recognized the girl in front of him, "Thank you for your support."

Originally, Ling Xingye wanted to remind her to go home early and not swim too late at night.

But I suddenly remembered that I didn't seem to have the position to educate others, so I changed my words temporarily.

"It's a wonderful performance, Senior Xingye." Saten Saten smiled and clapped her hands.

But her smile was not as bright as usual.

Ling Xingye also noticed a trace of negative emotion under the girl's smile, but he has never been good at enlightening others, so he can only talk about him and change the subject.

"Are you alone today? What about Chuchun Shili and Misaka Mikoto?" Ling Xingye searched around. In his impression, these four people often appeared together.

"I'm the only one today." Saten Renko shook her head, "After all...they are all very busy."

Ling Xingye walked out carrying the travel bag: "Let's go, I'll take you back."

He had also sent Saten Ruiko back to the apartment during the summer vacation, so he knew where she lived.

Behind him, Saten Ruiko opened his mouth, but it turned into a silent sigh in the end.

He could only follow in silence.

Ling Xingye didn't choose to take the car, but took Saten Ruiko back as if taking a walk, walking back unhurriedly.

"Tell me, what's the matter." In silence, Ling Xingye said suddenly.

This always energetic, lively and cheerful girl suddenly became so gloomy—the word "trouble" was almost written on her face.Of course, Ling Xingye couldn't fail to see it.

In fact, he had noticed something when he met Saten Ruiko in the hospital yesterday.

But at that time Ling Xingye was focused on Shiranui Tong, so he ignored her.

Now, it happened that Ling Xingye was in a good mood, so I don't mind listening to the girl's troubles.

Saten Leizi's eyes lit up, and she stared at Ling Xingye with twinkling eyes.

"However," Ling Xingye said again, "Let me tell you first, I'm not as good at instructing others as Tong, so I probably can only listen to it."

"It's okay, Senior Xingye, this is enough!" Saten Reniko shook his head repeatedly, "It's better to say, I want to hear from Senior..."

She hesitated for a while before continuing: "Tell me about what happened yesterday—just about Misaka-san and Shirai-san! I want to know what happened!"

"Can't you just ask them directly?" Ling Xingye asked back.

"Because I feel like I'm excluded... so I can only ask Senior Xingye."

===Chapter 410: Clues to Fantasy Royal Hand 2.0===

Not a powerful person, nor a disciplinary committee member, Saten Ruiko is just an ordinary junior high school girl.

She was then sidelined yesterday through a series of incidents due to injury.

This is also the first time Saten Ruiko has the feeling of being "excluded"-compared with those outstanding and capable friends, is she too useless?

With such troubles in mind, she wandered the streets alone, and then saw Ling Xingye's street performance.

In the eyes of Saten Leiko, Ling Xingye is also a very good person, as powerful as Misaka Mikoto, and comes from a famous family.

And because he is a high school student, Ling Xingye is more mature and reliable—sometimes he is even too indifferent, not like a teenager anymore.

So, Saten Renko suddenly had an idea, thinking that he could talk to him and discuss it, and get an answer.

Ling Xingye didn't hide it either, but he didn't participate in the incident with Shirai Heizi and Chuchun Zhuli, so he could only recount what Misaka Mikoto told him on the phone yesterday.

"Everyone is fighting..." Saten Saten couldn't help complaining, "There are so many dangers around us."

"Perhaps it is true," Ling Xingye shrugged, "so don't stay out too late by yourself."

Saten Reniko didn't seem to hear his advice, but looked thoughtfully at the phone in her hand: "Sure enough, the bottom line is that I'm too weak, right?"

If I was stronger, I wouldn't be excluded, but I could go with Misaka Mikoto and the others to rescue Harukami Jinyi and the other children!

"You worry too much." Ling Xingye said suddenly.

"what?"

"I think your friendship should not be based on things like 'whether you are strong' or 'whether it is useful'." Ling Xingye said, "You have found the wrong person. You should tell your friends directly about such things. They—the answers you get from them are what you really want, right?"

"But……"

"Do you think they are the ones who look down on the powerless?"

"Of course not!" Saten Ruiko quickly denied.

"Then stop thinking about it." Ling Xingye raised his hand and patted her on the head, "You also have your own value and shining points, and these are the reasons why you can become friends."

"Don't treat me like a child!" Saten Ruiko ran away, then turned around and asked, "My value and shining points? What are the specifics?"

"Such as sunny and cheerful... or something."