[SS] First Class

"No. But one of them is a big fan of yours."

At this, Mikoto gave a loud sigh. Just as she was about to give some annoyed comment however, Kuroko distracted her with a leaflet.

The effect was almost instantaneously. As soon as Mikoto’s eyes lay on the piece of paper, her entire expression brightened.

“This meeting better not take too long Kuroko. I’m absolutely starving already.”

Even her voice now contained a touch of vibrancy and her steps gained a light spring. Mikoto walked faster, urging Kuroko onwards; the determination to obtain the green frog toy slowly filling her mind and covering up her previous anger at the certain teacher.

**
At a certain restaurant...

Mikoto sat at their allocated table, arms crossed over her chest. Her fingers drummed her arm with mild impatience as she looked out of the window. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Kuroko leafing through a notepad with a suspicious daydreamy look. Mikoto’s eyes narrowed and she pondered briefly if the junior was planning some perverted action.

‘She wouldn’t dare to do anything here...’ Mikoto told herself.

But it was Kuroko she was worrying about. And the Teleporter (as Mikoto found out the hard way) was capable of anything.

Huffing loudly at this thought, Mikoto turned to Kuroko with a slight irritation edging her tone.

“Kuroko, where are your friends? I thought you said they’ll be here very soon.”

The words “only the first one hundred customers” danced mockingly through Mikoto’s mind.

“Kuroko, where are your friends? I thought you said they’ll be here very soon.”

"Hmm?" Kuroko looked up, not really hearing what was said for all her daydreaming. In fact it took her a couple of moments to respond and it was at that moment that they heard a tap on the window.

Outside Uiharu Kazari and another girl peered inside. Kazari's face lit up with recognition as she spotted Kuroko. The girl with short dark hair hurried into the restaurant eagerly and bowed, already in the process of apologising for her lateness.

"I'm sorry we took so long..."

Kuroko listened to the girl talk excitably as Kuroko studied her. Her co worker for the last few days was a good person, she had decided, if a little over earnest and naive. Still, she was extremely talented when it came to investigation and office work, specifically with computers, something Kuroko was thankful for. It meant there was someone else to deal with the paperwork after all.

The girl beside her was more of a mystery. Saten Ruiko had been silent until now, standing beside her similarly dressed classmate while Kazari made their excuses.

Kazari's eyes flitted over to Mikoto every now and then as she spoke, trying unsuccessfully to be subtle when catching glances of the level five. Ruiko on the other hand seemed less impressed by the two Tokiwadai ladies. It was likely she'd heard the schools reputation for producing horribly elitist snobs.

"It's fine..." Kuroko waved her hands to placate the still talking Kazari, who through her explanation had become increasingly more flustered until she was tripping over her own words. "We should go. I'll introduce everyone on the way." She offered, standing to leave.

Mikoto looked at the newcomers with curiosity, the thoughts of her awaiting Gekota trophy fleeing briefly. The girl who was frantically apologizing kept glancing in her direction. Mikoto wondered with a strangely deflated feeling if Kuroko had boasted about her friendship with the Railgun.

The Electromaster noticed with interest that the other girl with long black hair didn’t look impressed at all by the Tokiwadai students’ appearances. At this, Mikoto’s spirits rose; perhaps there was some hope after all. Taking in Kuroko’s momentarily bewildered expression, she realised that even her junior had not predicted the other girl’s presence.

As Kuroko left the restaurant, Mikoto followed out, sending a warm smile at the two strangers. She kept silent, waiting for Kuroko to initiate the introductions.

"Onee-sama This is Uiharu Kazari." Kuroko introduced her coworker. "She works with me at the 177th branch." Uiharu bowed again.

"An honour to meet you, Misaka-san." Uiharu added simply. Next Kuroko turned to Saten, gesturing confidently as she began.

"And this is..." She came to an abrupt halt, realising she couldn't remember ever meeting the long haired girl in her life.

"Saten Ruiko." She stated coolly, far from her friend's starstruck admiration. If she was aware of Mikoto's reputation she didn't show it.

It wasn't long before they reached the crepe stand. Uiharu in particular seemed disheartened by the long queue and she took he place at the end.

"Shirai-san talks a lot about you, Misaka-san. To be honest you're nothing like how I'd imagined." Uiharu smiled apologetically for her assumptions. She finally seemed comfortable enough in the older girl's presence to speak openly.

"Thank you, sir." The vendor said to the customer at the front of the line. "Here you go. It's the last one." She smiled happily as she handed the keychain to the boy.

"Uhh. Thanks." Guy seemed a little confused as he examined the toy dangling from his fingers. He walked off still looking at it while he took a bite from his crepe.

Mikoto gave a friendly smile as Kuroko introduced the two girls. She noticed how differently they seemed to perceive Kuroko and her, and how different their attitudes were.

The Level 5 smiled at them; it wasn’t arrogant or condescending- just a friendly curve of the lips that appeared in sincerity of the words accompanying it.

“Uiharu-san, Saten-san, I’m Misaka Mikoto. It’s very nice to meet you.”

Soon, they were at the crepe stand and immediately lined up at the end of the queue. Mikoto kept sneaking glances at the Gekota prizes some people left with with longing. Soon, very soon…

"Shirai-san talks a lot about you, Misaka-san. To be honest you're nothing like how I'd imagined."

“Hmm?” Mikoto distractedly tore her gaze away from the Gekota toy a little boy was showing off in the distance.

“What do you mean?” She looked at Uiharu with curiosity, not entirely comprehending what the other girl was referring to. Mikoto became self-conscious, immediately thinking back to her actions previously and wondering if she had done anything that guaranteed a “weirdo” label.

Surely, she hasn’t realised that I really want that Gekota?!

Mikoto panicked a little inside. She had insisted that Uiharu-san and Saten-san line up before her, putting on the act of just wanting the crepes and smothering the desperation to quickly get her prize.

"Here you go. It's the last one."

Mikoto whipped her head back to the crepe stand at this, unable to believe her ears. She couldn’t see who it was from behind the line of people, but the words “last one” echoed in her ears.

Last one…

The only thing she could focus on was the Gekota toy dangling from the lucky guy’s fingers, everything else grew hazy and unfocused. It was so far out of her reach and now… now, she was never going to get that prize.

Mikoto fell to her knees and hands in despair, a dramatic act to any observer but a justified one in Mikoto’s devastated mind.

“What do you mean?”

Kazari touched her finger to her lips thoughtfully as she searched for the proper words.

"Well, I guess I always thought Tokiwadai girls were like royalty or celebrities or something." She started before turning to Mikoto with a genuine smile. "But you're a lot more... normal than I was expecting." She meant it as an honest compliment. Saten nodded her head in agreement. Though when the level five dropped to her knees in despair the two shared a confused look. Perhaps 'normal' wasn't quite the right word.

Kuroko looked on like a disappointed mother as Mikoto fell to the floor in defeat and she crossed her arms with a sigh. Mikoto must have really wanted that keychain.

"What is it?" Guy squinted at the small frog toy which stared back with a wide, dumb grin on its face. "Does it do anything?" He tried squeezing and pressing the plush figure which steadfastly refused to respond. Was this what kids these days were into? He shook his head, the keychain still dangled from his free hand as he stopped walking.

"Hmm?" He looked down at the girl who had thrown herself to the floor like a grieving widow. "Did someone faint?"

Mikoto stayed in her defeated position, tears slightly leaking from the corner of her eyes despite herself. She was never going to be able to get that Gekota toy. It had been a unique opportunity and now… Completely missed, thrown away, wasted…

In her daze, she almost didn’t hear the voice asking if someone had fainted. It kind of sounded familiar…

With bleary eyes, Mikoto looked up towards the sound of the voice. Traces of tears still lingered in the corners of her eyes, although her pride did not let them fall. It took her a moment to fully register just who she was looking at.

The black hair, the goofy grin. Those eyes and lips that had infuriated her only a few hours ago.

She blinked.

“YOUUUU!”

Mikoto leapt up, facing Guy with unreasonable anger. Her eyes caught sight of the Gekota toy dangling from his fingers and her fury doubled.

How dare he?! When she didn’t… When she couldn’t…

Sparks started to crackle loudly in the air from her bangs. A few passerbys stared at her in bewilderment, but nothing else mattered to the furious Electromaster at this present moment.

“It’s all YOUR FAULT!”

A small part of her brain logically informed Mikoto that the certain teacher had nothing to do with the fact that she didn’t get a Gekota toy. She quickly swept this reasoning aside though, wanting someone to take the blame for her lack of the prize she had so desperately wanted- no needed. This was the perfect opportunity to let loose some of her frustrations, and to payback for the embarrassment he caused her during his first class earlier.

As her narrowed eyes glared at Guy (occasionally shifting to stare at the Gekota), the Level 5’s blue sparks continued to leap dangerously close to the teacher, buzzing in a threatening way.

“YOUUUU!” Kazari leapt back, caught off guard by Mikoto's sudden jump to her feet. Clutching her hands close to her chest she glanced up at the boy in front of them and her face lit up with recognition.

“It’s all YOUR FAULT!” The confusion was written large across his face for an instant and he cocked his head to one side.

"What's my fault?" He looked to the other girls for an explanation. None was forthcoming. The snapping of sparks jumping through the air around the Electromaster seemed to be building to a crescendo when he said something unexpected. "Are you OK?" He had noticed the tears in the corners of her eyes and now he responded to her display of aggression with sincere concern.

If Guy could be said to have a weakness it would be a crying woman. Here, confronted with a pretty girl in tears his cocky exterior crumbled.

"Did something happen?" He couldn't have imagined the real reason for her display was as simple as the frog charm in his hand.

"Are you OK? Did something happen?"

For a moment, Mikoto lost hold of her anger due to the sincere concern he was showing. But she quickly reminded herself that the idiot enjoyed making a mockery of her.

Glaring at the Gekota still dangling so innocently our of her reach, her face went a bright shade of red at the thought of explaining her situation. He wouldn’t possibly understand. He (and the others) would only make fun of her. But Guy was looking at her expectantly, obviously wanting some explanation for the Electromaster’s current emotional state. She realised the other girls were waiting for her to speak as well; Ruiko and Kazari looking curious while Kuroko harboured a knowing smile. Mikoto cringed, fierce eyes glued to the Gekota toy.

“I…. You… I… It…”

Mikoto gulped audibly.

“You BAKAAAA!” She roared instead.

Thin electrical tendrils suddenly leapt towards Guy with unmistakable fury.

Her stolen glances at the keychain didn't go unnoticed and he followed her eyes with his own a few times, trying to decipher the meaning of the quick looks.

“I…. You… I… It… You BAKAAAA!” The bolts jumped forward.

He had already started to move. Perhaps, in his own way he had sensed it coming, or maybe it was simple coincidence.

But he was only human, and he couldn't outrun electricity. The bolts struck him and he felt his body go rigid, muscles tensing and locking him straight for a moment before the current stopped. Kazari and Ruiko cowered and even Kuroko was transfixed with an expression of awkward shock.

"Hey!" He barked. "What was that for?" He staggered on his feet, his body overcome by an uncomfortable sore ache and his skin tingling like a prickly heat. Thin tendrils of wispy vapour rose from his skin like smoke. "If this is still about this morning..." He finally matched Mikoto's combative tone.

"Wait? Misaka-san. How do you know Sensei?" Kazari asked, apparently recognising the young man.

Mikoto felt a good amount of satisfaction when her electricity hit Guy-- he obviously had that long time coming. A large portion of her anger already faded away at the knowledge that she had managed to pay him back to some degree.

"Hey! What was that for?"

The idiotic teacher’s expression of pain was mixed with annoyance, his voice taking on a combative stance now. Mikoto merely huffed, folding her arms across her chest and speaking with a calm and careless attitude.

“You obviously deserved it. Anyway, I didn’t even use that much voltage or current for that one so stop complaining.”

"Wait? Misaka-san. How do you know Sensei?"

Mikoto blinked, taken by surprise at the sudden question. She had almost forgotten that the others were still standing there. Kazari and Ruiko looked wary and guarded while even Kuroko looked shocked. Mikoto quickly swallowed down the first wave of guilt.

“Uhh… Well…” She rubbed her temple with a hand awkwardly.

“He’s apparently our new English teacher at Tokiwadai,” Mikoto rolled her eyes, speaking as if Guy wasn’t even there.

“More of an idiot if you ask me,” she muttered as an afterthought.

She looked at Kazari with a quizzical raise of an eyebrow.

“Wait, do you know him, Uiharu-san?”

“You obviously deserved it. Anyway, I didn’t even use that much voltage or current for that one so stop complaining.”

"That's not the point!" He snapped back before regaining his composure. He grumbled quietly to himself as he was ignored.

“Uhh… Well… He’s apparently our new English teacher at Tokiwadai. More of an idiot if you ask me."

"Hey!" He started to protest, only for the girls to ignore him once more.

“Wait, do you know him, Uiharu-san?” The girl nodded.

"We met the other day while I was training for my Judgement exams." She confirmed. "You probably don't remember me, but you gave me some advice that really helped me out." She smiled sweetly at the boy.

"No, I remember you." Guy half lied. She did look familiar, but he had never been good with faces. "You're..." For a few awkward seconds he tried to remember her name. "...Sorry." He smiled apologetically at her with a pang of guilt. Kazari's maintained her cheerful expression as she waved it off.

"It's fine." She said before turning away with a deflated look. Ruiko tried to raise her spirits with some comforting words.

"So this shady character has been causing you trouble, Onee-sama?" Kuroko eyed the boy sharply. She'd known he was trouble since the moment she first encountered him during the Kurama incident.

" 'Shady' is a little harsh, don't you think?" He interjected again only to be confronted by another pointed glare from Kuroko.

Mikoto watched and listened with mild interest at Kazari and Guy’s exchange. He really was an idiot, pretending that he could remember Kazari when it was so obvious that he couldn’t… And then making the poor girl feel disappointed.

"So this shady character has been causing you trouble, Onee-sama?" came Kuroko’s sharp question.

" 'Shady' is a little harsh, don't you think?" the teacher protested before Mikoto could reply, only to be given another pointed glare from the teleporter.

Mikoto smirked as the rest of her previous anger dissolved to leave her in a rather amused mood (at Guy’s expense of course).

“Ahhh~ well,” she drawled lightly, continuing to speak as if Guy wasn’t there with them, “he is a trouble maker and a complete moron, but it’s nothing I can’t handle, Kuroko.”

“Ahhh~ well, he is a trouble maker and a complete moron, but it’s nothing I can’t handle, Kuroko.”

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here!" He yelled, becoming increasingly frustrated by the girls' banter. He felt suddenly outnumbered as the tables turned unexpectedly.

"But really, Onee-sama. You shouldn't be using your ability like that." Kuroko chided Mikoto gently. In the short time they had been room mates the twin tailed girl had already learnt that it was next to impossible to rein the Electromaster in. If she wanted to punish someone then there was little Kuroko or anyone else could do to deter the impulsive girl. "Especially not on a villain like him."

As the two girls continued the conversation in front of him the young man affected a look of boredom, taking a bite from the crepes in his hand. A buzzing from inside his jacket pocket caught his attention and he fished out his phone, holding it to his ear.

A furious sounding voice bellowed at him from the device loud enough that he held it away from his ear, his expression never once shifting from disinterested deadpan. Without another word he calmly switched the phone off and slipped it back into his pocket along with the Gekota charm.

"Well, it's been a pleasure." He said dryly. "I'll look forward to next time. I do so enjoy it when you 'handle' me." He winked at Mikoto again. It seemed his temper was as quick to calm as it was to trigger and he wasn't about to pass up the opportunity for one last jibe.

The comment hadn't escaped Kuroko's attention and she sputtered, unable to believe her ears. What was this cretin suggesting about her beloved Onee-sama? The very thought made her blood boil and three steel spikes materialised between her fingers. She stared at the boy's back as he left, seemingly weighing up the price of murder.

“But really, Onee-sama. You shouldn't be using your ability like that. Especially not on a villain like him."

“Jeez Kuroko, what else am I supposed to do then? If he’s such a villain that’s more a reason to use my ability.” Mikoto lazily glanced at Kuroko with one eye closed.

The Electromaster found herself enjoying this for some strange reason she couldn’t quite grasp. Talking about the idiot while he was standing there was another form of interesting payback, she supposed, but there was something else…

"Well, it's been a pleasure." Guy said suddenly, his voice sounding dry and almost sarcastic.

But what he did and say next completely threw Mikoto off.

"I'll look forward to next time. I do so enjoy it when you 'handle' me."

Guy winked at her yet again, before leaving. Her face slowly turned the colour of beetroot as the strange use of the words in his final sentence made her feel absolutely embarrassed somehow.

She stood stock still, unable to form a single coherent thought as she gaped like a bewildered goldfish at the teacher’s retreating back.

As he ambled off into the distance Kuroko holstered her weapons. Assault wasn't on the cards for today, it appeared. So the cocky teacher escaped with only a light singeing for his troubles.

Ruiko watched him leave with a bemused expression.

"So that guy's the new teacher then?" She pondered something for a moment. "Come to think of it I remember some of the others talking about a new English teacher..." She said, unaware that he had already gained a sizeable fan club at Sakugawa Middle School.

"Still, it's a shame about we didn't get here in time." Kuroko spoke up, eager to change the subject from the irritating boy. She cast a sidelong glance at Mikoto. Her plans would need some adjusting now, it seemed. Still, there was always room to improvise, she thought with a devious glimmer in her eye. As soon as they reached the front of the queue she ordered a pair of chocolate crepes handed her senior one. Ruiko and Kazari stood, trying to decide before taking the strawberry flavour.

"Onee-sama. Would you like to try some?" Kuroko offered, thrusting the sweet at Mikoto's mouth and ignoring the fact that they had the same flavour.

"So that guy's the new teacher then? Come to think of it I remember some of the others talking about a new English teacher..."

"Still, it's a shame about we didn't get here in time."

Mikoto was thankful of Kuroko changing the subject, even though it reminded her with a painful pang the terrible loss she had suffered… Gekota. Still, anything was better than that annoying idiot. Her face was still flushed as she tore her eyes away from where he had disappeared into the crowd. She was strangely quiet while the girls bought their crepes, and Mikoto allowed Kuroko to buy hers.

"Onee-sama. Would you like to try some?"

A chocolate crepe was suddenly thrust at her mouth and Mikoto only just managed to close it in time.

“Eh?! What the… NO! I have my own, thank you very much! Anyway, you have the same flavour as I do!”

With that, Mikoto aggressively bit off a huge chunk of her own crepe. She watched with slight jealousy as Kazari and Ruiko enjoyed their crepes with quiet satisfaction side by side.

Why couldn’t Kuroko just be normal?! Heck, why couldn’t anyone around her just be normal?!

Resisting the urge to tear her hair out, she calmly turned her back pointedly on Kuroko to face Ruiko and Kazari.

“These are delicious, aren’t they? Oh, you guys got strawberry? I haven’t tried that flavour in a while.”

“Eh?! What the… NO! I have my own, thank you very much! Anyway, you have the same flavour as I do!”

Kuroko winced, realising too late the error in her plan.

“These are delicious, aren’t they? Oh, you guys got strawberry? I haven’t tried that flavour in a while.”

"Would you like to try some, Misaka-san?" Kazari offered with an innocent smile. Her intentions couldn't have been further from Kuroko's. "It's really sweet." Kazari's naivety was usually endearing in its own way. But right now Kuroko couldn't help but hate her.

The twin tailed girl watched, mortified as her partner offered up her dessert.

None of this had escaped Ruiko's attention, who stood back, enjoying the show.

"Would you like to try some, Misaka-san?"

Mikoto smiled brightly as Kazari offered her crepes.

“Sure, thanks!”

The older girl took a small and careful bite of the offered food.

“Mmm… Ah, delicious. Here,” Mikoto offered her chocolate sweets to Kazari, “you should try some of this, Uiharu-san. It’s even sweeter!”

Mikoto was enjoying herself very much- this warm feeling of being able to stand on even ground with friends was something she didn’t get to have very often.

Swimming in her own happiness, it was little wonder she didn’t notice Kuroko’s deadly glare and Ruiko’s amused looks.

“Sure, thanks! Mmm… Ah, delicious. Here, you should try some of this, Uiharu-san. It’s even sweeter!”

Kazari took a bite, also blissfully unaware of their other friends' reactions. Kuroko watched on jealously.

The explosion shattered the peaceful atmosphere, the steel shutters of the bank tearing open like paper as smoke billowed out. Three men emerged. From their masks and the conspicuous cases they carried it was obvious that they were the perpetrators.

Kuroko reacted instantly.

"Uiharu, contact Anti-Skill at once." She ordered her partner, a steely look of serious determination crossing her face. "Leave this to me." She declared to her friends as a group, though it was obvious that the words were intended for Mikoto in particular.

***

Guy turned at the sound of the explosion, looking off into the distance at the quickly rising plume of smoke that rose into the air. His brow furrowed in curiosity and concern as he quickly realised where it had come from.

"Uiharu, contact Anti-Skill at once."

Mikoto immediately stepped forward, readying for the action to come.

"Leave this to me."

Although Kuroko said this to the entire group, Mikoto knew the statement was aimed at her. Mikoto was about to protest when the raw determination flashing in her junior’s eyes silenced her.

Instead, the Electromaster gave her a short nod of understanding. It was the matter of trust, and this was Kuroko’s fight.

Ruiko looked on in wonderment at Mikoto and Kuroko’s short and silent exchange. She stood next to Mikoto, eyes wide with worry.

“Umm…” Ruiko began, unsure of how to phrase her concerns.

“It’s fine,” Mikoto flashed her a knowing smile, “Kuroko can handle herself.”

"I'm from Judgement!" Kuroko announced as she appeared in the path of the would be robbers.

"Shit! Already?" The masked thieves looked alarmed for a moment before assessing the girl standing before them. "Huh?" They looked confused. "Are Judgement short on personell these days?" One of them laughed, dismissive of the girl who looked to be half the size of any of them individually.

"Outta the way, little girl." The largest of them, a round looking man with a bald head stepped forward and lunged at her suddenly. Kuroko pivoted on her heel, his arm brushing past her as she span, taking his cuff and pulling him forward. Her foot kicked away his leg as he stepped and he cartwheeled, head first through the air, landing hard on the pavement with his back. Kuroko turned her attention to the remaining thieves.

"Impressive, but you're not the only one here with an ability." The next man spoke. He was tall thin, with short cut dark hair and cruel, sneering eyes.

While the second thug distracted Kuroko the last of them darted into the crowd that had formed around the incident. People had been trying to keep their distance, but not well enough as he snatched hold of a small boy's hand. He dragged the child back towards his partner. The situation had escalated suddenly and without warning.

Mikoto watched with unmasked pride in her eyes as Kuroko dispatched the largest of them with stunning ease. Ruiko stared wide-eyed at the fight, her mouth gaping wide open.

“No, you can’t! It’s too dangerous!”

The Electromaster turned her head to see where Uiharu’s alarmed voice was coming from. The girl with flowers in her hair was holding onto a woman’s arm, begging and arguing with her.

Mikoto immediately ran up to them, and she felt Ruiko just a step behind her.

“What’s going on?” she asked quickly, trying to assess the situation.

Uiharu opened her mouth to explain when the woman interrupted with a voice full of worry.

“A boy is missing!” she cried with desperation, “he said he had forgotten something on the bus a while ago, but he’s been missing ever since!”

“Uiharu-san and I will look for him.” Mikoto offered immediately. The seriousness of the situation truly dawned on her and her brown eyes grew determined.

“Wait, I’m going to!” Ruiko insisted.

Mikoto was about to protest, but something in the girl’s expression stopped her. Instead, she nodded in agreement.

“Alright, let’s split up and search.”

For a moment, Ruiko looked completely stunned at how easily Mikoto had agreed. Then the determined expression switched back on again, and Ruiko decided that she would not let them down. Even if she was a Level 0.

Kuroko prepared to make her move and she stared down the tall thief. His hand erupted in flame. She would attack from behind using her teleporting ability. He'd never know what hit him. She stepped forward when the second robber returned holding the small boy.

Kuroko stopped in her tracks.

"Heh. That's more like it. Now stand still!" The pyrokineticist lunged at her with a flaming punch. Kuroko dodged, weaving backwards with nimble, skipping steps as the punches sailed past her head with mere inches to spare.

Though she was quick, she wouldn't be able to keep this up forever, and as long as they had a hostage she couldn't take the chance of ending this. If she made one wrong move...

Ruiko looked around with absolute focus, trying to spot the lost boy. She had split up from Mikoto to cover a greater area, and was steadily growing frustrated at her own lack of process.

Oh man~ Where is he?

“Hey, Onii-chan, that hurts- what are you-?

“Just come with me, dammit!”

Ruiko turned her head, eyes widening at the sight of a small boy struggling in the grip of a man.

For a second, she almost shouted out for Mikoto or Uiharu, but a determined thought crossed her mind and she ran towards them instead:

“I can do it too!”