Golden Century

Chapter 1: Golden days

Kamijou Touma was not feeling particularly well today. Well, that was misleading; in fact, he hadn't been feeling well all week. No, his problems weren't related in any way to the strange and fantastic academy city, not at all, his troubles were of a much more mundane nature: paperwork. Yes, for all the superpowers and groundbreaking science occurring all around him it was the fact that he was stuck filling out damage reports for that Esper duel that happened Tuesday that was the source of the misfortune in his life. On that bright side "was" (as in the past tense) should be the focus as he had just finished the last one and was now able to have some Touma time properly.

"Nothing beats the mountain breeze, clear air and the rustle of leaves!"

Touma did not feel the need to keep such thoughts to himself; he was out in the middle of nowhere; only loons would be out here. Himself excluded of course; he had a perfectly valid reason to be here. Besides it was like 11: something PM. While he knew full well that he might get lost out in the woods but that wasn't exactly a concern, one could only care so much when clearing the mind of the specter of paperwork. While heading northwest out here all the way from district two may seem extreme Touma could always justify the trip to himself one way or another. First off, he took the metro most the way thank you very much. Secondly, he was a young man fully capable of doing a little hike.

Matter of fact he found himself doing just that fairly often, as such district 21 and the line across district 13 were becoming somewhat familiar to him. He discovered that he needed such distractions, joining Judgement was perhaps a poor judgment on his part.

"Oh, that one's good. I have to write that down." Once again Touma felt little reservation speaking to himself all the way out here so making his inner dialogue into a monologue was normal.

Following the trail up another small timbered hill, he began to glance about, trying to plot out his next course o-

"Maybe I should just press the button," a voice came from the clearing off to the left.

'Such misfortune. Of course, someone had to be in earshot, bet they think I'm some half-mad researcher.' While Touma was trying to stifle his embarrassment a much more crucial decision was about to be made in the clearing to the left.

"All I need to do is hold down this button and then I can end it all. I can be free from these heavy thoughts, the guilt, and… Dolly". The last part was choked out through the beginning of tears.

Overhearing this Touma's embracement was quickly replaced with a much more appropriate emotion-that of concern.

"I'm sick of it all; my weariness ability just isn't the same as it used to be. Sick of memories, sick of faux-relationships, sick of everything. Sick…of living". Such heavy thoughts have hung heavy on the mind of Shokuhou Misaki ever since Exterior, well probably before that as well but now things had reached the boiling point. Her tears only served to exemplify the pointed emotion of despair.

She took out one of her remotes. They were symbols of her power, of the domination of the human psyche, and yet she couldn't even grasp her own. With a quick spin around the palm, she pressed the remote into her temple. The juxtaposition of the cutesy and stickered remoted compared to the action being committed was lost on all those present for the time being. The gravity of the scene overcoming any potential humor to be found.

All her life she was occupied with goals: learn more, develop your ability, help the kind adults research the mind. But now, with her independence, there was nothing to distract her from her actions, her thoughts. Maybe they were new, the situations she had been in likely could have created this dread. Or perhaps they were always there, just out of her focus, but now?

"Why not reset everything inside my head? Would that free me from all these heavy thoughts?" Just saying it aloud had made it all the more appealing. So simple only one click and it would be over. One quick activation of Mental Out and she could finally be free, to rest. Like a shark instinctively swimming the drive to live was present, but the heavy thoughts and their weight in her heart? Much, much stronger.

The remote was gripped, her thumb rested on the button, her finger twitched, and her powers flooded her mind. It was all set; she could once again be innocent. Fate had other plans in mind.

"Hey, now what are you doing all the way out here, past curfew even; such things hardly seem appropriate for a lady." A voice stopped her from moving, from acting out her fatal decision.

The voice was male. Probably one of the workers from the geothermal plant nearby. It came from the tree line off to the right. Though the voice seemed too young, it was probably just some student like herself set out past the no entry signs. She doubted it was for the same reason though, more than likely a stargazer; the nights out here were quite beautiful. Despite the thought she had just put into her mysterious tag-along she couldn't even muster the willpower to face him when she replied — choosing to stay on the ground, and not even moving her hand with its deadly device from her head.

"What do you care?" came the reply barked out in the way she had seen Dorm Manager tear into some of the braver girls in her building.

"I really just don't think you should be doing that."

"Well damn, why didn't I think that. Are you with judgment or something?" Again, her tone was harsh. In her defense, she wasn't exactly in the right mind for this conversation.

"Err, yes I am actually, but I don't think that's the point here…"

"Then what is!" she exclaimed. At this point, her frustration and emotional stress had boiled over into something resembling an actual rage. Such passion did lend itself to her facing her guest (still laying on her back) from the tree line to the right.

"Well, I mean it's just that…" He trailed off, seeming to either be stupid, indecisive or terribly embarrassed, almost mortified. Perhaps all three. Was this some attempt to hit on her, gone horribly wrong. Maybe some half dead (it was quite late) judgment kid called up because some good Samaritan saw her walk right into a restricted area? Whatever they the case he responded before she could properly get a good look, still, on her back, she could only really see his outline.

"I mean… When you're lying all sprawled out like that, I can see right up your skirt from over here. You should really cover up."

The Girl in the clearing to the left turned completely red.

Shokuhou Misaki, the queen of tokiwadai, 5th ranked Esper in a city of 2.3 million, completely forgot her mental state, her worries, and hang-ups, everything was left behind in her state of mortification. In fact, so was the remote that just a moment before had been pressed so tightly against her head.

She was jumping to her feet all the while frantically pulling down her skirt and shirt as low as they could go in an attempt to regain some sense of dignity. Like a vengeful god she turned slowly and slightly, and still beat red. The remote, at ready to end her, now found itself pointed at the boy at the tree line to the right, armed with a new command.

"Delete! Erase his memories! Restore my honor ability!" All of these statements came flying from her mouth in quick succession and each syllable was marked by the pressing of the remote and the activation of her ability.

He swayed, no doubt affected by her Unmatched power, for Mental Out had never failed. Which of course was why with the clutching of his head in his hands and a brief pause, the sound of breaking class echoing around them came as such a shock. Her ability ceased to exist, at least at its target.

"Hm? I get that you're embarrassed, but why would you think that would erase someone's memories?" he said with a dazed look on his face. "And I don't know who you think is interested in you what with that washboard of yours, but I won't tell anyone, so just cool it yeah?"

He course didn't mean any of the sentiment, at least not maliciously. The girl was quite pretty, and he didn't discriminate against the bussomly challenged. Nor was he actually all that concerned over the panty shot he had gotten. What was really on his mind was finding a way to keep the girl in front of him from doing what he overheard her planning to do. So far it seemed to be working. Sure, she was trying to mind control him, but it was nothing Dream Seeker couldn't fix. The methodologically was crude, but he wasn't a professional-sue him.

"w-wh-at?" She was sputtering now. His memory was normal- unscathed even, and he was committing more and more of her shame to memory every second. Just to be sure this was happening she asked a question.

"Do you by any chance have the recall ability to tell me what I'm wearing right now?"

"The spider webs? I mean it seems a bit much, and you certainly don't fit the target demographic, so this Kamijou is going to stay tight-lipped on his assessment." That was absolutely not the correct response.

"Delete! Erase his memories! Restore my honor ability!" The same reaction from earlier occurred but perhaps even more frantic than the last time.

No matter how many times she tried however the result was always the same. Click - dizzy- touch- return to start. If anything, the boy had an increasing look of displeasure on his face.

After the failure of the powers she had absolute faith in and what seemed like a tremendous obsession with her panties, Shokuhou Misaki threw aside her ladylike aura and let out a shout.

"I've erased your memories thirty-eight times now, so why are your eyes still glued to my underwear!? Just how great is your pervert ability!?"

"Hm? Wait. Don't tell me you really have a power like that! That's a bit of an overreaction to some panties, don't you think!?". He took a breath before starting again.

"I'll have you know that I am an upstanding and moral member of society if anything it is you, oh exhibitionist, who is at fault!"

While she was gravely offended and prepared to argue a feeling she had had in the back of her mind came forward.

"You! With the toast and the papers. You're the guy who ran into me at the station."

"I did not have toast; it was a bagel. Come to think of it that means you're the one that brought my forms to Anti-Skill, right? Thanks for that."

She grew suspicious as he pulled his hand from his pocket and waved it a little. He was smiling all the while in some odd display of gratitude.

"So, this was all of this some new way of hitting on girls?"

"Oh, I get it now. That's Tokiwadai's uniform, isn't it? I've run into a painfully self-conscious little lady, haven't I?

The reaction to what he hoped was an icebreaker not pleasant.

-Scene break-

Given that he was an upstanding and morale officer of the peace and was well versed in the landscape on top of that he took it upon himself to lead their merry band out of the forest and into the 13th district.

Misaki was less than thrilled, not only had her honor been violated so thoroughly she also had to face…Dorm Manager. She shuttered to think of it.

The boy who she had been up until just recently convinced was trying to pick her up, seemed to notice her trepidation.

"What's wrong?" He had turned to face her, slowing his walk as they were headed down a street very close to the 21st district. Real concern painted on his face. Little did Misaki know he was very much worried over the situation, not of the dorm of course but Misaki herself.

'Ah screw it!' He had seen her panties at this point there was not much to hide.

"It's my dorm manager; she is well."

Misaki gave herself a moment to phrase it right, worried that somehow the Dorm manager would discover her disrespect.

"Less than forgiving and given that I absconded into the night and the current time of-." She paused to pull out her phone and check the clock.

" 12:23, I don't much fancy my chances to return unscathed. It seems my delinquent ability is going to receive some ill effect." She had sighed out that last part, hope more than a tad crushed and the dread building in her chest. More than likely it was the lactic acids caused by her stress, but you get the point.

The boy she was speaking to's face seems surprised, before a pleased and what looked like relieved smile spread across his face.

" Oh, don't even worry about that."

Misaki was confused and looked at the boy just in time to see a slightly arrogant smirk cross his face as he pulled out his green judgment band from his pocket.

"This Kamijou isn't the upstanding boy he pretends to be. I have zero qualms about walking you home and using my privileged status and trust as a member of judgment to fabricate a story to get us out Scott free." A pleased grin was now facing her when looking at the boy.

'perhaps' she thought;' Tonight won't be so bad after all.'

Author's note

So this is the first thing I've written like ever. Pretty nerve-wracking. I'm sorry if the chapter is a tad short, I wrote this all spur of the moment like so its going to be a bit before the next chapter-which will be longer, is written. I'd give it about two weeks tops. I plan to do a fairly similar recreation of NT11 for this part of the story. My story arcs will hopefully be of at least semi-similar lengths to the actual story arcs and the chapters should ideally be of similar comparison. This being the expectation as it was written in a 4 hour burst of creativity following a particularly killer jog. Fair warning I have every intention of naming every arc and chapter after songs. Anyway I hope y'all enjoy my first piece of writing here and find it up to your standards.