Ruiko Saten sighed dejectedly, leaning her head on her propped up arm and staring out of the diner window.

"If only it wasn't so hot outside." She complained, indifferently watching sweltering people walk by in the bright summer sunlight. The air just above the asphalt shimmered with the promise of scorching heat. She drained the rest of her melon Fanta, the fizzy liquid tickling her throat and leaving a mellow, sweet aftertaste.

"Yeah, otherwise it would have been a perfect day for the rooftop event at Seventh Mist." Ruiko's best friend Uiharu sighed in accordance, working away at a gigantic vanilla sundae.

Although the air conditioners in the diner were keeping the interior cool, even the thought of going outside made Ruiko slump her shoulders. She'd really wanted to take a look at the swimsuits on sale at the mall but she hadn't expected the temperature to rise this much.

Summer break was all good and dandy, but what good was it when it was too hot to go outside? Ruiko let out another sigh. She eyed the empty cup in front of her, and turned an imploring gaze toward her friend. Uiharu pretended not to notice and kept spooning bits of her sundae into her mouth.
"U-i-ha-ru." Ruiko called her name beseechingly.

"Hai?"

"Would you be so kind to –"

"No."

"I haven't even sa –"

"Noo, do it yourself." Uiharu wailed. "You always make me get you a refill."

"Because you sit closer to the drink machine! Pleeease?" Ruiko clapped her hands together in a begging gesture.

Uiharu, a kind and cordial person through and through, found herself rising out of her seat and taking Ruiko's empty glass. She sighed. Her best friend always knew how to manipulate her. Ruiko beamed in gratitude.

"Mellon Fanta please!"

"I know, I know."

"Thanks!"

Ruiko watched as Uiharu made her way toward the drink machine, and after confirming that she wasn't looking her way, plucked a strawberry from the half-eaten sundae and popped it into her mouth.

"Mhm." She murmured, savoring the sweet taste. After stealing another glance at Uiharu's back, who was just about finished with filling a glass with green Fanta, Ruiko stole another strawberry and ate it. A moment later Uiharu turned around and started marching back toward their table.

"Here you go." Uiharu placed a glass of Fanta in front of Ruiko and plopped back into her seat.

"Aww thank you!" Ruiko beamed.

"Hai, hai. It's not like I had a choice."

"Don't be like that." She giggled. "In exchange, I'll make you dinner sometime soon."

Uiharu smiled and looked at her best friend. And froze. Her spoon clattered onto the table. Ruiko felt a bead of sweat run down her cheek.

"W-what's the matter?" She laughed weakly. Her friend's eyes were concealed behind her bangs, hiding her expression.

"You… ate my sundae."

"I, I…" Ruiko ran the back of her hand across her mouth and felt a bit of cream smear across her cheek. She gulped.

"I'm really sorry, it just looked really good…"

"You're always taking my food!" Uiharu wailed. "I'm never going to get you a refill again!" She pouted and glared off to the side, shoveling bits of her sundae into her mouth.

"I won't do it again, I promise." Ruiko pleaded, but Uiharu flipped her hair indignantly and made no response. Ruiko sighed and decided to silently sip her drink, knowing that her friend would forgive her in a few minutes.

.

The awkward silence was saved by the arrival of two friends.

"Hey, Uiharu-san, Saten-san. Sorry we're late." Two girls approached their table. They were close friends, students at the famous Tokiwadai Middle School. Misaka Mikoto was wearing a slightly apologetic smile, and raising her hand in greeting, her chocolate hair swept neatly to the side and pinned.

Ruiko and Uiharu turned in their seats to greet them.

"Ah, hello Misaka-san, and… Kuroko-san… eh?" Ruiko stared in surprise at the scorch marks on Shirai Kuroko's uniform, and the faint smoke wafting off her.

"My Onee-sama's love whip is always so merciless." Kuroko stated in adoration of her roommate, sidling up to Mikoto.

"It's your fault for feeling me up in public!" Mikoto yelled, a cute blush adorning her face.

"Oh, so I can do it as long as we're alone?" Shirai murmured seductively.

Mikoto's fist bonked down on Kuroko's head.

"NO!"

"Ow…"

Ruiko and Uiharu chuckled at their antics.

"Here, please sit down." Ruiko invited, and scooted inwards. Uiharu made space as well.

"Ah, thanks." Mikoto replied, and sidled in beside Ruiko. The faint, gentle fragrance of citrus filled the air, and Ruiko unconsciously took a deep sniff.

"Oh sorry, do I smell funny?" Mikoto asked uncertainly, turning her deep brown eyes on Ruiko.

"Eh?" She blushed. "No, not at all, it's just… I really like the smell of your shampoo."

Mikoto smiled. "Thanks. I like yours, too."

Ruiko's heart fluttered. "I-it's not as good as yours, though." What was this feeling? She was drawn into Mikoto's gentle gaze.

"Here." Mikoto drew out a handkerchief from her pocket and tenderly dabbed the side of Ruiko's mouth. She froze in surprise.

"You had some ice cream there. All clean now." Mikoto explained, and put the handkerchief away. Ruiko could feel the blood racing to her face as she stammered her thanks and turned toward the floor, trying to hide her blush with her hair.

Luckily she was saved by Uiharu, who exclaimed that Saten-san had stolen her strawberries. Mikoto laughed, and Kuroko deftly pointed out that it was only to be expected, since it was Saten-san. The conversation flowed on, and Ruiko was able to recover from her state of shock and join the talk.

But what was that?

She'd always thought Misaka-san was cute, but now she realized her feelings for the brunette girl may run a lot deeper than she'd known. Ruiko was pleasantly surprised that the idea of being gay didn't cause her any discomfort. She'd never even thought of herself as gay, but feeling this way because of a girl seemed enough reason to change her mind. Anyway, she decided to wait and see how her feelings developed. Ruiko didn't know if Misaka-san was into girls or boys, but she figured having a secret one-sided crush wouldn't hurt anyone. She was content to be a close friend for now, until she was sure of her own feelings and an opportunity were to present itself.

While lost in her thoughts, Ruiko had been gazing outside the diner window. The other three girls chattered on without her, knowing from experience that Ruiko would join in when she wanted to. As she stared at the people walking past the window, she noticed a trio of large men right across the street, dressed in casual clothes but wearing large brimmed hats and sunglasses. Since it was a hot day, that in itself was not unusual, but there movements seemed stiff and unnatural. All three were holding rather large instrument cases.
Maybe they're a street-performing group? She thought, and realized she was right when one of the men started unzipping his case. It stood almost up to the man's shoulders. Perhaps it was a cello of some sort, although Ruiko couldn't really tell since she didn't have much musical experience. She watched as the second man started to unzip his case as well; the third unzipped his own to produce a set of large speakers, which he set on the pavement and connected the plug to some portable generator inside the case.

Well that's convenient, but aren't they hot? Ruiko thought. The sun was still high in the sky, and there was little wind.

However, in that moment, her misgivings about the trio of men were proven right when two of them pulled military-grade machine guns out of their instrument cases. People near the trio noticed the ominous weapons, and started shouting and running away. It happened all too fast that Ruiko could not believe her eyes.

"…Eh?" Ruiko gasped in disbelief. Uiharu, Kuroko, and Mikoto turned toward Ruiko, then toward the scene unfolding in front of them. It seemed to happen in slow-motion. People were panicking, desperately trying to get out of the area.

Then, the third man pressed a switch on the set of speakers he had set out a few moments ago. Ruiko heard a high-pitched sound grating against her eardrums, but it's effect was much more profound on her esper friends. She watched in confusion as her friends gasped in pain and clutched their heads.

Capacity down?! But… why…?

Ruiko gasped and turned toward the trio of men. And stared, horrified, at the machine guns that were now pointing directly toward them.

She was paralyzed by fear. So this is what a deer feels in the headlights of a car? She couldn't believe that she was thinking this irrelevant idea facing imminent death.

Yet, there was nothing she could do as the gunmen opened fire on the diner, directly at the area where Ruiko and her friends were seated.