Mikoto was dumbfounded.
'Didn't she agree not to follow!?'
'If you really want to be my friend, could you listen for once???'
"Mikoto, may I come along?"
Misaki leaned towards Kaito's window and asked Mikoto in the passenger seat.
"W-Well..."
If Kaito weren't there, Mikoto would have refused immediately.
But with Kaito present, she couldn't just angrily refuse. She even hesitated about agreeing.
Misaki had said Kaito wanted them to be good friends. Would refusing make Kaito a little unhappy?
"Mikoto, let her come. She's your friend, isn't she?"
"Uh..."
'Not yet a friend!'
'Not yet a friend!!!'
Mikoto inwardly screamed, but only showed an expression that said, "Since Kaito-nii said so, I guess she can come."
"Fine... come along then."
'Sigh...'
'My chance for alone time with Kaito-nii was gone.'
Mikoto is disappointed, but she didn't dare show it.
After Misaki smiled and sat in the back seat, Kaito asked Mikoto for directions.
Driving along, they soon reached their destination.
Seeing the "Gekota Cafe" before him, Kaito was silent for a moment.
Cough, cough!!
Well!
What else could you expect from the Railgun?
Her love for Gekota was truly bone-deep.
She had brought Kaito here to have coffee and thank him properly?
No...
Without Misaki, there might have been more interesting developments. But with her there, Mikoto's personality would force her to postpone it.
"Kaito-nii, the coffee and desserts here are really good. Let me treat you today, as thanks for your help and gifts."
"Okay."
The Gekota Cafe seemed very busy.
Besides adults, there were many students.
Entering the Gekota-themed cafe, Mikoto chose a corner booth and ordered the best coffee and desserts.
She also ordered for Misaki.
"This place looks nice. I've never been here."
"There's a lot you don't know."
The coffee with Gekota decorations and Gekota-shaped cakes and desserts arrived quickly.
After a small taste, it was indeed good.
Especially the matcha cake; it had a unique, refreshing sweetness, and the cream wasn't too greasy.
Thanks to that, Misaki also liked it, though Mikoto wasn't particularly enthusiastic.
"Um, Kaito-nii... this is a gift for you."
After a while, Mikoto, having seemed to struggle internally with her eyes closed, finally took a wrapped gift from her bag.
She had snuck out after lunch to prepare it.
She almost got back late.
It was bought with money, but it was from the heart.
Kaito accepted the gift and, under Mikoto's expectant gaze, unwrapped it.
Inside were a pair of light gold sunglasses.
Thankfully, they weren't Gekota-themed.
They were definitely expensive, high-end. They suited Kaito's face and made him look even better.
"I really like this gift!"
He put the sunglasses on for a moment. Though he couldn't see himself, the stunned expressions on Mikoto and Misaki told him they looked good.
Sunglasses did make a person look more mysterious, handsome, and charming.
It was clear Mikoto had put a lot of thought into choosing them.
"Mm... I'm glad you like it!"
Mikoto blushed and looked down, suppressing her excitement.
'AI Misaka was really reliable!'
Thanks to "Misaka's" suggestions and models, she had found the perfect pair!
"Oh my, Kaito-nii, I'd like to give you a gift too sometime~"
"Hmm? Why?"
"No reason. I just want to thank you for helping me become friends with Mikoto!"
"You don't need to thank me for that. I just saw that you two would become best partners in the future, trusting each other with your lives. It's just that your relationship starts off very rocky. I wanted to skip the misunderstandings, fights, and let you start as friends from the beginning."
"I see. See, Mikoto? I really do want to be your friend."
That Kaito could see the future was something Mikoto knew from her mother.
But how did Misaki know? And she wasn't surprised?
Hearing this, Mikoto was stunned. Then, after "Misaka" gave her a plausible explanation, she understood Kaito had told Misaki about his future sight.
'Was that why she wanted to be friends with me?'
[Misaka]: Master, maybe Kaito is right! Since you'll be trusted partners with a deep bond in the future, skipping the misunderstandings and such is a good thing~
[Mikoto]: Is that so... Will Shokuhou Misaki and I really get along that well in the future?
[Misaka]: Yes. From my observations, Shokuhou Misaki might be a bit Tsundere inside, which is why she built her faction. She might also be a little manipulative. But looking at her relationships with her subordinates, I believe she didn't use her ability to make them follow her. They were attracted by her charisma.
[Misaka]: So, I think Shokuhou Misaki is a good person who wouldn't hurt anyone except her enemies. She's kind by nature.
[Mikoto]: Then why does she always mock and prank me? She even tried to use her ability on me!
[Misaka]: Maybe... to get your attention? Or to play hard to get? Anyway, she definitely wants to be your friend~
The AI based on Misaka Rei only offered these possibilities.
Another AI with a different personality might give different answers.
But the AI was right about one thing: Shokuhou Misaki wanted to be friends. The way she looked at her master clearly showed no malice!