Okay, the next competition is...
"Balloon Hunter"
...the Balloon Hunter!
"Hazamaya Kana, Class 1-3"
In this contest, 30 students chosen from each school
will compete to break the paper balloons attached to their opponents' heads
using the designated beanbags!
Contestants whose balloons are popped are disqualified,
and the team with the most students remaining at the end wins.
The game area is spread out, but going onto roads open to the public
and going indoors is prohibited!
--Also, as with the other games, direct attacks with one's ability are off-limits!
--All right, let's get going. Miss Misaka...? --Also, as with the other games, direct attacks with one's ability are off-limits!
--Miss Kongo, we're getting started! --All right, are all of the school teams ready?
I'll give you points for not tucking your tail and running away.
Ha! You might be laughing on the other side of your face when this is over!
Okay,
ready...!
Huh?
Just keep running as far as you can!
If we all make it through this, it'll be a tie!
H-How negative!
Let's go after them!
"Pursuing them individually is dangerous. We should act in three-man teams,"
proposes Misaka...
Oh well, then.
How in the world did this end up happening?
Actually, I can pretty well imagine.
On the other hand, the fact that no one could tell she isn't me
is kind of lucky, but kind of dejecting, too...
Well, there's no helping what's already done.
You're competing in my place, so go ahead and tear it up.
"A Certain Magical Railgun T"
Uiharu, are you sure you don't have to patrol?
I'm about to go, but it will be over the net.
In a large-scale event like this, they anticipate a number of cyberattacks.
Ah, and that's right up your alley, isn't it?
Okay, three minutes have passed since the start of the balloon hunter game,
and there is still no one out from either team.
Who will be the one to break this tie?
Isn't that the event that Misaka said she was competing in next?
It probably is. I wonder if she changed her clothes in time.
Oh, this is Misaka we're talking about. I think she's fine.
Ah, Kongo!
We have to split up, everyone.
--Right! --Right!
A competition to break the balloons on each other's heads, huh?
Tokiwadai has lots of other espers besides Misaka who are amazing, right?
They're going to win with no trouble, aren't they?
Hmm... good question.
Why don't you give up already?
A telekinesist...
Let me guess, you lured me here?
Heh-heh, it seems pretty juvenile to do this against a girl,
but don't worry, I'm not going to hit you in your face!
If that's your best, you're not even a Level 3, are you?
I, too, am a telekinesist.
One who is in a class way above yours, to boot.
Damn!
Do you think you can keep dodging them all?
Contestant Omoshi is out!
At this rate,
I could take all of you on, and still have change left over.
Your schoolmates will soon be--
Contestant Kirifu is out!
Huh?!
But didn't that attack happen after he was disqualified?
It was completely invalid!
It would be, if I had done it.
H-Hi, there.
She's the one who telekinetically threw it at you.
You dropped your guard, thinking it was over,
Level 4 telekinesist Kirifu Megumi.
Why do you know my full name?
Because we're all weak. We checked out everything to know about you,
and came up with some strategies.
Is everyone in position?
I can confirm that moments ago, at least five members of the other team
came into this alleyway.
We are in control of all three exits leading out of it.
I will telepathically give the signal to move in.
All right then, three... two...
...one...?
M-Miss Kobayashi, take it easy...
Screams that are delivered telepathically echo directly within the brain.
It amounts to a sonic weapon that can't be blocked out.
Oh, and that's just a toy, so relax.
"Kobayashi Satori: LV3 telepath" "Weaknesses: bugs (especially spiders)"
They just keep scampering away.
They don't know when to quit!
M-Mud?
We have to go through there?
Our shoes are going to get dirty.
How about we go around?
Y-Yes, let's do that.
There they go.
They don't even realize they're being led around.
Incredible. We're playing Tokiwadai like a violin.
Just like you said we would, Baba.
Oh, I just collected some data and made some suggestions.
But how did you get such detailed information?
Including personalities and weaknesses?
I have a friend over at the Garden of Learning.
That's how.
Hey, what do we do next?
Oh, hold on a second.
--Sure enough, wars are won by detailed intelligence --Let's see... Next, we move.
--and a leader who can make effective use of it. --Let's see... Next, we move.
--and a leader who can make effective use of it. --We rendezvous with Nomura and the others at Point 5A.
--and a leader who can make effective use of it. --Where is Point 5A again?
--Know the enemy and know yourself, --Where is Point 5A again?
--Know the enemy and know yourself, --That would be...
--and even these knuckle-draggers will make good pawns. --That would be...
--and even these knuckle-draggers will make good pawns. --...the stockyard over on Block 2.
Over there, huh?
Okay, let's get going...
Baba?
Hmm? Okay, let's get going.
Things are going pretty smoothly so far. We're way in the lead.
Stay on your toes, though. They have Misaka Mikoto on their team.
That radar warning thing she does means sneak attacks won't work.
She's like her own fortress.
Still,
there's no need to eliminate all of them, is there?
Yeah. No reason to go out on a limb.
We should spread the word to not go near her.
Isn't that the way?
If we didn't have enough numbers, we couldn't move the plan forward,
so I intervened here and there,
but now that we're overwhelming them, the real goal is getting left behind.
What a pain.
Well, let's see what shakes out.
No way! No way!
Why did I have to run into the Level 5?!
I-Is she gone?
There was an incident in this alleyway previously,
so the layout, not to mention the locations to hide
and from which to attack are all familiar.
Damn, that was a stretch, all right!
Ah, that way is dangerous.
"There, you see?" says Misaka with a sigh.
Contestant Misaka defeats her second opponent!
Can Tokiwadai bounce back in the time remaining?!
Did you see that, kitty?
Miss Misaka is amazing.
That really is an adorable cat, huh?
It looks as though this is the end of the line for me...
Ecaterina, limit yourself to only one rat per day...
That's fine and all, but please hurry along to the sidelines, okay?
Huh? Oh, really?
You were awesome. There were seven of us, too.
Given the power of Kongo Mitsuko, it is no surprise!
--She apparently just transferred in, so there was hardly any data on her. --You should be proud that you managed to beat me at all!
Just transferred in, and she's still that pompous?
Bad news! Nomura and the others were wiped out!
For real?!
This is bad. Our lead has been nearly eliminated.
What's worse, so is our precious Level 3.
Nice!
Maybe we should go after Misaka Mikoto after all.
Huh?
Right now, the other team isn't acting cohesively,
but with the time limit approaching and no time to spare,
they might start working together.
If they team up against us, it will be hard to maintain our slim lead.
But if we take out their head right now,
we can shake them up, and their leadership will get muddled.
Yeah, we get that, but...
...there's no way to beat her.
Don't you worry.
There's a stunningly simple way...
"#3 Balloon Hunter"
...to bring her down.
Heh-heh, looks like I got away clean!
Judgment!
You are under arrest for flagrant snatch and grab-- Huh?
You would be better off not making this harder for both of us.
I am in an especially poor mood right now!
After all, so far today...
--...I have not seen Sissy even once. --What is this?! Damn it! Pull them out!
Sissy must be competing right about now.
Where is the largest street monitor around here again?
"Strange," says Misaka, tilting her head.
That girl does not appear to have any desire to fight,
but she also does not seem to be running away in any random direction.
Rather, perhaps the reason she came to an area with open vantage points
may have something to do with her ability,
or perhaps...
...this is a trap.
If you can't hit your opponent by throwing at them,
then don't throw anything.
Huh?
The rules of the competition
state that you have to break the paper balloons using the designated beanbags,
and that's all they say.
In other words, you can break them by holding the beanbag in your hand.
If Misaka Mikoto tries to use her electric shocks against the beanbags,
it counts as attacking an opponent with her ability, and she'll be disqualified.
By simply holding the beanbags in our hands, we can lock down her shocks.
If she can't use her ability, then the playing field is level!
In that case...
You're mine!
"Misaka has engaged in combat over 10,000 times with someone
who could take her life with a single touch.
It will not be a simple matter to catch her," warns Misaka.
Don't let up! Everyone charge her together!
Oh! Contestant Misaka, faced with a flurry of hands,
dodges, dodges, and dodges! This is incredible!
Good grief,
it took a lot of work to set up those conditions.
Typically, Misaka Mikoto emits faint EM waves around her,
which can serve as a kind of radar if she pays attention to them.
And it's nearly impossible for an electronic device,
--even a small one, to get near her undetected. --Everybody, close the gap!
--even a small one, to get near her undetected. --Don't give her any room to dodge!
However, under these circumstances, with her focus distracted by the contestants closing in,
and the rules of the game preventing her from using her ability...
Listen!
Everybody, together--
A hole in the wall has opened up.
Now is the chance to--
Contestant Misaka is eliminated!
Huh? No way! We did it!
We beat her!
Misaka is...
...defeated.
Mission accomplished.
Man, that was an unusual mission, though.
I mean, incapacitate Misaka Mikoto?
The Balloon Hunter competition is now over!
Tokiwadai Middle School, which was favored to win,
has been beaten by a razor-thin margin!
Their first black mark in the tournament.
One might say this is the greatest takeaway
from competing in the Daihasei Festival.
Yes. There is much that can be learned from defeat.
For those who are conceited because of their Level or status,
it's just what the doctor ordered.
It won't do to have them worrying about soiling their clothes over winning.
Yes, indeed.
Shall I add scrubbing toilets to their dorm chore rotation?
That is a good idea.
"Misaka did not remain vigilant, and fell for the opposing team's plan,"
says Misaka, reflecting on her own mistake.
She was unable to fulfil her role as your substitute.
Did you have fun?
Did you have fun competing?
Y-Yes.
Then there's nothing to feel down about.
The switch itself wasn't fair play,
but you couldn't help it that you got mistaken for me,
and it's also my own fault for being late.
Besides, there at the end, I think you held out longer than I would have.
I'm impressed.
It's just about lunchtime.
Have you had anything to eat?
No.
Here.
These are street stall vouchers that they gave out to the students.
I have a date to eat lunch with my mama, so you can use them if you like.
Street stalls, you say?
The festival is going on anyway,
so let's both enjoy ourselves.
Oh, you still have the gym clothes on that you borrowed from Miss Wannai.
Get them back to her as soon as you can.
I know it's okay to bring your own food in,
but I'm not so sure that includes cheese fondue with your own pot.
Oh, now, mother and daughter,
sitting around a pot during the sports festival is pretty nice, isn't it?
How so?
Aw, but it's gonna take a while before the cheese is melted.
I should have cut these up smaller first.
Okay, I'll go buy us something to drink.
I'd sure like some wine.
There's no way they have that here.
Ah, man...
It sure is crowded, huh?
You, too, huh?
You, too? This is aggravating, huh? There are lines everywhere you go.
Yeah. Ol' Kamijo here very nearly wet himself, even as old as he is.
What are you talking about?!
How the restrooms are so crowded, you nearly whiz in your pants, right?
I just came here to buy some drinks!
Oh, that.
You really do have no delicacy...
In that case, I'll go buy enough for you all, too.
What my old lady prepared for us probably won't be enough.
Just sit tight for a bit, okay?
Plus, he's an unusually nice guy...
See? Just like I told you, right?
Yes, indeed.
Still, I'm surprised you could tell from the video footage.
Mental Out can be used many different ways.
I'm not telling, though.
Okay, then. I guess I should expect as much from a Level 5.
You can skip the brown-nosing.
Just keep up your fine powers of observation.
Well, well...
Miss Misaka, enjoying a relaxed lunchtime?
Relaxed?
What, are you training somewhere out of sight during the lunch break?
Don't be silly.
I had all my afternoon competitions cancelled.
Huh?!
After everything this morning, I'm exhausted.
Listen to you.
Do you think this will be enough for lunch?
It's mostly tea, though...
Um, and who is this lady here?
My classmate.
Sort of.
She's in your... class...?
O-Oh, she's your classmate, huh? Okay, okay.
I detected his gaze dropping 30 cm just now!
Nice to meet you,
Mr. Kamijo.
I am Miss Misaka's friend, Shokuho Misaki.
It's a pleasure.
Wh-Who are you calling a friend?!
Ooh, how scary!
Miss Misaka doesn't seem to like me. She's always so bristly with me.
Y-Yeah, she's always prickly with me, too...
Oh, yeah? So she's bristly and prickly, huh? How funny!
Stop describing me...
like I was a sound effect, and hitting it off after just meeting!
See you later, Miss Misaka. Compete hard enough for the both of us!
Hmm...
Is something the matter? You look unusually lost in thought.
Uiharu, how's work going?
There were three fairly large-scale server attacks,
but they were only slightly worse than amateur level,
so I dealt with them in no time at all.
O-Oh, yeah?
What about you, Miss Saten?
Tell me,
where would Shadow Metal be lying around?
Are we still talking about that?
If it's created wherever esper powers engage with each other,
it would probably be on the grounds where powerhouse schools competed.
Didn't Miss Shirai warn you about this?
You're not having financial trouble, are you?
Uh-uh.
I mean, I'm not exactly well-to-do, either.
How can I put this? It's the adventure, you know?
Of obtaining something that isn't conventionally recognized,
and which you'd otherwise never find in your day-to-day life.
Just like being a Level 5.
Ah, what the hey.
I'll follow your lead on this. "Shadow Metal," did you call it?
I'll check around for whatever information I can find.
There's my Uiharu!
How come you're wearing gym shorts under here?
So I can go out and compete right away.
Um, please don't tug.
Cotton candy...
...and candy apples... What must they taste like?
The yakisoba might have egg in it, so rule that out.
"Ah, cats are able to eat ikayaki," says Misaka...
Oh...
...no... These clothes... are borrowed, too...
Now they're dirty...
"Next episode preview"
Sissy, at last, the two of us are alone together!
"Next episode preview" "#4 Tampering"
It's not that big a deal.
Oh, no! It has been 23 episodes since the two of us did a preview together!
So, Sissy, go ahead and lay one of your usual passionate kisses on--
I do not even get to make a quip?!