Scavenger Hunt

[ACSRT: The Daihaseisai Has Begun!]

Joule headed over to the starting area for the scavenger hunt at the required time. Everyone competing had to show up early so they could give the lists away properly so it was still five minutes to ten.

She waved to Misaka who waved back and they both went to grab their list of things they needed to find, additionally they were each given an armband.

They were listed from "Should be easy" to "Near impossible" and whoever could get their items the fastest won with second, third and all other places dependent on how many of their items they had gathered by that point.

Joule took a look at her own list and sighed.

"A red balloon, A hotdog, A natural gemstone, A tourist and a level 5 esper not competing in this game."

The sigh attracted Misaka's attention and they swapped sheets for a moment to check.

Misaka scowled at the last thing "Now that's just unfair."

In comparison, Misaka's fifth object was "The armbands of twenty different competitors."

A quick look around the starting field showed that there were probably something like thirty of them in all. Not impossible, just difficult.

"Aren't all the items we're hunting for supposed to be in this area of the city?"

Misaka nodded "Do you think they just asked Gunha or someone to stand around somewhere?"

"I'd hope so, otherwise this is quite unfair."

Misaka nodded thoughtfully "Hey, if you want I can help you look for them. I'll trade the help for your armband when it comes to that."

Joule nodded and smiled "Sounds great."

"Would all competitors for the scavenger hunt prepare, one minute until start!" A voice came over a loudspeaker.

Misaka and Joule walked over to the edge of the allowed area and prepared themselves.

"Any ideas for your other items?" Misaka asked.

Joule nodded "I saw stalls for balloons and hotdogs on my way here. That will be easy enough."

"Do you have money on you though?" Misaka asked. Joule's eyes went wide and Misaka laughed softly.

Joule realised she'd have to ask people for help. That would be mortifying.

"On your marks!" The voice spoke over the loudspeaker again. Misaka stopped talking and the two of them got ready.

"Go!"

Misaka dashed off far faster than Joule who was a much slower sprinter. Joule still managed to get to the balloon stall before a minute had passed.

"Very sorry." She apologised "Can I have a red balloon please? I need it for the hunt."

The woman manning the stall looked at her and shrugged "Do you have any money on you?"

Joule softly shook her head, the woman sighed and passed her a balloon "Bring it straight back, if it pops you'll have to pay for it somehow."

"Thank you!" Joule ran back the way she'd come, she made her way to the scoring stalls and showed the balloon. When she had got the point she took another minute running back to drop off the balloon.

The hotdog stall was actually easier. They sometimes had hot dogs that didn't cook properly or otherwise were not fit for eating. The list didn't say the hotdog had to be edible though so it didn't matter. She got a hotdog for free and again ran back to hand it in.

Misaka was there handing in something of her own when she reached it so they ran off together.

"Have you seen another level 5 yet?"

"No." Misaka looked annoyed "I've got three of my items already but I haven't seen any of them."

"Go back to looking, I'll try to do a scan of my own in a bit."

They split up.

The two easier items that she still had were the natural gemstone and the tourist. Maybe if she was lucky, she'd find a tourist with some jewelry?

But finding a tourist though might be hard, she'd need to talk to everyone to confirm if they were a tourist. Wait, maybe not everyone. The adults here would be where to search. Most of them would be from outside academy city, having come to see the festival.

Let's hope this works. She ran up to a man nearby and quickly asked "Are you from outside academy city?"

The man shook his head "Sorry, I'm a local."

"Sorry for bothering you then." She blushed as she ran and almost bumped into someone.

The woman she bumped into looked a little underdressed. Her clothes were almost bursting out at the size of her- Joule cut off that line of thought and shook her head "Sorry, are you from outside academy city?"

The woman looked at Joule as if judging her but nodded "Yeah, I have a visa though?"

Joule nodded "Could you please come with me, I needed to find a tourist for my scavenger hunt?"

The woman raised an eyebrow and nodded "You know what? Sure."

Unfortunately, she didn't have any jewelry in that big package she was carrying with her. Joule thanked her anyway and continued searching.

While she was searching for a gemstone, Misaka caught up with her panting "Found a level 5, Misaki is a few streets that way." She pointed behind her before taking a breath and asking "Armband?"

Joule passed her armband and went running the way that Misaka pointed.

She was right, Mental Out was checking the stalls. She didn't have her bag with her and was wearing her sports uniform.

Joule really didn't want to talk to her though. Joule didn't dislike her, she just didn't trust her.

However, Misaki took the choice away when she turned and saw her.

She waved softly and walked over.

"Hey, this is our first proper meeting isn't it?"

Joule looked away "Can you please come with me, I need you for the scavenger hunt."

She gave a slight snort and asked "They made me a target? That was rude."

Joule just showed the list and Misaki shrugged and nodded "Sure, but I want a favour."

Joule blanched at that but the level 5 laughed "Was that worrying? Sorry about that. Theres a slight chance that I might need you to do something later, if it does come up I want you to help."

Joule sighed "I'll want you to explain your request in full when the time comes." Joule noted carefully "But okay. As long as it isn't anything dangerous."

"Don't worry, I think it's more likely to keep you and your friends out of danger actually." She gave an odd 'I know more then what I'm telling you' sort of smile. Was she trying to act untrustworthy on purpose?

Misaki began leading her back to the stations but before reaching it there was a buzzer "Mikoto Misaka has collected all of her items making her the winner. May everyone gather so we can tally scores."

They actually took the fact that she was travelling back with Misaki as "having collected the item" so Joule had four items. All together she didn't do too poorly.

Misaka was sharing a drink with Touma who had apparently been her fifth item.

Misaki wandered off with a laugh and a "I'll call on you sometime this week. Enjoy yourself until then."

Honestly, Joule felt like she had made a deal with a devil and had been cheated.

Her head fell, hopefully this wouldn't cause problems later.

End chapter.

And yes, there we go, the start of every plot thread in a single chapter.