A 'Scientific' Double Date
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Original Title: Toaru Majutsu no Index/ とある魔術の禁書目録(インデックス)
Original Concept by Kazuma Kamachi
Written by: wrathie
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Author's Notes: A continuation of sorts from 'A Certain Scientific Experiment'
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'… I-impossible!'
That was Shirai Kuruko's only thoughts as she stared at the scene in front of her. Her 'Onee-sama', the 'Railgun' and the currently ranked third among the only 7 Level 5 Espers in the Academy City was actually speaking and laughing to a commoner?
To put that into perspective, Level 0 is a normal human being with no powers and Level 5 was the equivalent to 'God' or the being nearest to that of a Divine Being.
The girl in question is Misaka Mikoto and she is her, Shirai Kuruko's roommate, idol and desired 'lover'. Just seeing her Onee-sama being close to a member of the other sex was enough to drive her crazy but to see her holding hands shyly with him was enough to drive her mad.
'Onee-sama! Why are you wearing striped panties!'
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Kuruko then felt someone choking behind her and in the next second, she was dragged away from her current hiding spot to a corner of a nearby café by several strong hands.
'Ahh! L-let me go! I'm from Judgment!'
She declared as more hands covered her mouth and shook her to break her concentration.
You see, Shirai Kuruko was a teleporter and a Level 4 at that, she would normally never be caught with such simple tactics, but it seems that whoever was trying to kidnap her knew of her weakness.
If she was severely distracted, she would actually be unable to concentrate and use her powers.
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Judgment is an association that is responsible for the general peace and order in Academy City and as a result, Kuruko was like a police officer, kidnapping an officer was a serious crime and she repeated that for a few times till she was dragged to a Dark Alleyway and was dropped there.
"Now! You all will pay?"
She was confused and that was not surprising as she had just seen her 'Onee-sama' on a 'date' with a commoner, the boy named Kamijou Touma and yet here she was, leaning against the wall as she glared at her.
It was her Onee-sama alright, she was wearing bloomers instead of those panties and Kuruko sighed in relief as she laid down on the duty floor.
'W-wait! Two Onee-samas?'
Realizing her mistake, she stood up only to be bowled over by seeing even more Mikoto's surrounding her. There were at least 10 of them in the same place and she could only look from one to another in shock, trying to differentiate one from the other.
The only visible difference is that 9 of them were wearing goggles and one wasn't, was that her Onee-sama?
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"Onee-sama!"
Teleporting behind her, Kuruko flipped her skirt to see those delicious bloomers and she nodded her head in relief. This was her Onee-sama alright!
"Kuh! KURUKO!"
Even her electric shock was the same! This is the genuine one alright!
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"Misaka 15555 believes that if Onee-sama lowers the voltage by 5, Kuruko would remain conscious while being shocked, Misaka 15555 explains."
"Oh? Why is that so, 15555-chan?"
"It is a traditional torture method, by allowing them to remain conscious, one can continue to see what is being done to them and even feel it, Misaka 15555 explains with a dangerous expression."
"Ah… is that so?"
Smiling nervously, Mikoto looked at her partner, Shirai Kuruko and sighed. This was not the best way to introduce her to her 'sisters' but since she had appeared, things had gone out of hand and Misaka 10039 and Touma had disappeared somewhere.
It was her 'turn' for a date with Touma and although she was really unwilling, the other 'sisters' were adamant that everyone of them would have a chance to experience that 'Scientific Experiment'. Come to think of it, it was Misaka 10032's fault in the first place.
If that girl hasn't started this ball rolling, she wouldn't have to go through this madness during the Summer Break…
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'Let's go, we have to find them.'
'Misaka 10032 agrees, Misaka 10032 says.'
'Misaka 19090 will carry Kuruko, Misaka 19090 offers.'
"Must we bring her… she'll be a burden…"
Mikoto was just joking of course but Misaka 19090 did drop Kuruko to the floor roughly and she hurried over to check if she was alright.
"I KNEW ONEE-SAMA WILL NEVER LEAVE ME BEHIND!"
GAAH! She was faking it!
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By her sudden tackle, Mikoto was about to topple over but was suddenly supported by Misaka 15555 and Mikoto asked her darkly what is the voltage for that 'treatment'.
"ONEE-SAMA!"
There was no helping it, she'll have to be carried with them…
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"Eh? This are all Clones made from Onee-sama's D.N.A map? So the rumors about the 'Sister's project' was real?"
Sitting in a booth that was facing the couple, Kuruko seemed to have calmed down after the initial shock and was behaving like her usual self as she conversed with Mikoto about the current situation.
"Gomen, I wanted to tell you about them eventually but I never quite got the right opportunity."
"… Kuruko understands, it is a hard thing to accept… especially since all of the 'Sisters' wear panties and Onee-sama wear bloomers… they are totally diff-"
Pausing as sparks were flying again, Kuruko swiftly changed the topic when she noticed that Misaka 10039 was feeding Touma a spoon of ice-cream and the subsequently spoon was licked clean by a very embarrassed Misaka and she slammed her face onto the table, causing Mikoto smile at that weakly.
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"Ah… even though Kuruko knows it is just a clone, I still associate Onee-sama with it… … why is the 'sisters' so obsessed with… Kamijo-san? He is no one special… right?"
Sipping her own drink, Kuruko looked about while Mikoto just blushed red too and fidgeted in her seat as she tucked in to her own ice-cream. She was imagining herself in 10039's shoes and she couldn't help but flush madly at the thought of that 'indirect kiss'.
'Onee-sama?'
'Ah… well, he… kind of saved the 'sisters' and me…'
Admitting it slowly while trying to avoid showing any obvious signs of embarrassment, Mikoto was glad to see that Kuruko was too shocked to notice anything odd.
'He did? He saved Onee-sama? From what? Onee-sama is the 'Railgun' and the Tokidawai Ace, she can't be beaten!'
It was a well-known fact that Kuruko really idolized her, that must really be a shock to her as she simply rubbed her chin while thinking of the possibilities.
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'You do know of 'Accelerator', the strongest Esper in the Academy City? He was the reason why the 'Sister's project' was started… I couldn't defeat 'Accelerator' to stop the project…'
Even just thinking about that painful memory made her heart hurt, she was ready and determined to give up her life to stop the project. But that boy, Kamijo Touma had stopped her while risking his own life to do so… no matter how many things she wanted to deliver the fatal blow to him, he had just stood right up and told her to stop again.
His dream of not sacrificing anyone seemed impossible, the 'Accelerator' would not stop killing her 'sisters' and there was no way the project would not stop until he was a true 'Level 6'. The easiest way to stop the project was to have her, a level 5, be killed and for him to be called a 'Level 6' immediately.
That is the easiest and best plan… but why was he adamant that he can stop that?
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'… Do you remember the rumor that a Level 0 defeated Accelerator? Touma was the one who defeated him, he defeated him in front of me and my 'sisters'… that's why he is the one who saved us… if he didn't, we'll be killed.'
Smiling awkwardly, Mikoto blinked in surprise when Kuruko seemed to accept what was being said to her.
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"Geez, Kuruko has just met all of Onee-sama's 'sisters', knowing that the Accelerator was defeated by him isn't really surprising. But is he really a Level 0, Onee-sama? What is his power?'
It seems that Kuruko was getting curious about him but before she could reply, Misaka 19090 reported to her that the two of them were moving and she quickly urged Kuruko to eat before they followed.
'I'll tell you on the way there, let's go!"
"Onee-sama is sure worried about those two…"
She smiled wryly but followed nonetheless.
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"Onee-sama, Misaka 15555 sees them heading towards the rendezvous point, the 'Experiment' is about to end, reports Misaka 15555, Misaka 15555 will meet up with Onee-sama in 10."
"Roger that, is 19090-chan and 10032-chan coming too?"
Sighing in relief that the 'date' was over again, Mikoto leaned against the bench that she was spying from as Kuruko simply looked at her while thinking.
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Her Onee-sama was really concerned about what happened during these 'dates'. Why is it that Onee-sama is so concerned every time he was raised by the 'Sisters'? It was really too much for her to absorb in one day but she has to know, what does Onee-sama feel about him.
If she was right, this Kamijo Touma was her savior but it seems that they knew each other a long time ago. She remembered that her Onee-sama has a close rival that she would always challenge… was this person Kamijo Touma too?
If so, than that means that Onee-sama met him much earlier than she had expected! She even looked happy when discussing about that mysterious rival…
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"Onee-sama, Kuruko has a question."
"Hmm? What is it?"
Still staring at how Touma was speaking to 10039 and then presenting her with a hairclip, Mikoto answered absentmindedly as Kuruko questioned her.
'Is this Kamijo Touma the same person Onee-sama is unable to defeat?'
'Uh huh… he's that irritating jerk… but I won't challenge him now…'
Still staring at the pair, Mikoto fidgeted when Touma seemed to be praising how nice 10039 looked and that caused her to answer the next question without thinking again.
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'Then, is he an important person to Onee-sama?'
Kuruko waited with baited breath as she prayed it not to be truth but the answer came from an unexpected source.
"Allow Misaka 10032 to speak, he is an important person to us 'sisters' as well as Onee-sama, Misaka 10032 replies."
'Allow Misaka 15555 to speak, that is accurate, Onee-sama does show jealousy when the 'sisters' engage in this Scientific experiment of a 'date', answers Misaka 15555."
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Kuruko's mental processes just collapsed at that point and she fell in a dead faint into the arms of Misaka 19090, who seems resigned and fated to carry her as Mikoto attacked her 'sister's in embarrassment.
"I DO NOT!"
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Waking up in the dorm room, Kuruko looked up to see the familiar face of her Onee-sama, only it wasn't her Onee-sama, it were her 'sisters' as the usual spark of life in her eyes were absent in them.
Another fact was that almost all of them were wearing those oversized goggles over their heads as they looked at her.
'It seems that Kuruko has awakened, Misaka 19090 reports. Can Misaka 10032 remove Kuruko's hands from Misaka 10032 chest now, Misaka 10032 asks.'
What? Was she…
Looking up, she saw with delight that she had one hand on one of the 'sisters' chest and was groping it delightfully and she could almost swear that she could go to heaven at her letting her do that 'willingly'.
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'Oh thank you, Kami-sama for letting Kuruko experience that!'
'…'
The sisters just looked at her oddly till one particular one spoke on their behalf.
'Allow Misaka 10032 to speak, it is an experiment to increase the chest circumference by allowing a person's desired one to rub their chest, explains Misaka 10032."
Bowing as she turned away, the 'sister's backed away when Misaka Mikoto rushed into the room, apparently being informed of what was happening by another 'sister' of hers.
"Are you alright, Kuruko? You scared me by fainting that way!"
Petting her chest and feeling her forehead for her temperature, Kuruko saw that the 'sister' that had accompanied Mikoto in was wearing a hairclip, this must be the 'sister' that had went on a 'date' with that boy Touma and she scowled a little seeing how delighted she was with the gift.
Even though they were normally expressionless, they showed emotions when talking about Touma and that made her even more curious about who he exactly was to them.
Her Onee-sama too was not immune to his apparent 'charms' as she was warning the 'sister's about what he might do to them when she was away.
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Who exactly is he, this Kamijo Touma…
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"A normal High school student, lacking in his studies and is a Level '0'… is that all we have on him?"
Although she knew that were little that she can find on him, records on Level '0' espers were rarely detailed, she had hoped that Uiharu would provide more information.
But it seems that the superiors have decided some information were deemed highly classified and was not available to them. Even his power was unknown and that made her remember the one time that she had met him when Onee-sama was acting odd.
That was probably the time when she was facing the 'sister project' alone and that thought made her feel a little hurt that her Onee-sama had not asked her for help and instead sought help from Kamijo Touma instead.
Wasn't she her partner?
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That was the reason why Kuruko had used any means to locate one of the 'sisters' that her Onee-sama has. If Onee-sama was going to hide details from her, she would have to ask from the 'Sister's instead. Surely they will be more honest and open to her!
Of course, Kuruko did not know that she should never consult Misaka 10032…
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Sitting in the booth of a famous café with her, Kuruko started smiling as the 'sister', Misaka 10032 dug in happily. It seemed that food was one way to let the 'sister's open up to her as she watched her wolf it down, saying her critiques about it happily.
Differentiating her was easy, she was the other one who wore something different than the other 'sister's and her Onee-sama. With a heart-shaped necklace displayed prominently around her shoulders, Kuruko wondered what does it mean and asked her about it.
To her surprise she blushed like her Onee-sama while replying.
'Misaka 10032 received it from Touma, it is Misaka 10032's most treasured belonging, Misaka 10032 admits shyly.'
'So, 10032 likes Touma very much?'
'Misaka 10032 answers positively and affirmatively. Thanks to the Scientific Experiment, Misaka 10032 concludes that she does her special feelings for Kamijo Touma, Misaka 10032 answers in happiness.'
Going back to her eating, Kuruko looked at her and sighed. She still had to convince herself that this was not her Onee-sama but it is going to take some time to accept it.
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'Then, who is Kamijo Touma?'
'Is that a request for information, Misaka 10032 asks?'
'Yes it is, take it as repayment for this food.'
Kuruko smiled deviously and the 'sister' paused before closing her eyes and nodding.
'Misaka 10032 agrees to the deal, what does Kuruko wishes to know, Misaka 10032 asks.'
'Everything, what is Kamijo Touma's relationship to Onee-sama and you.'
Information is power and after a brief pause, Misaka 10032 looks at her and shrugs.
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'Misaka 10032 can only answer that partially, Misaka 10032 explains. Kamijo Touma is a Level 0 Esper with the ability, 'Imagine Breaker' to negate and destroy all esper related abilities and is a person that is responsible for saving us 'sisters', Onee-sama despite us not asking him to do so.'
Taking a breath to eat the pie that was served up, Kuruko listened intently, this was something new. 'Imagine Breaker'? That ability is not listed in the database.
'Kamijo Touma is a stubborn and reckless person who fought with 'Accelerator' in our behalf, defeated him while teaching us 'sisters' on the importance of our lives and our individuality, Misaka 10032 explains while breathless.
Kamijo Touma is the person who us 'sister's views as someone important to them and a person that we wish to protect and wish to be protected by him. Onee-sama said that he has promised to protect Onee-sama as well, Misaka 10032 reports and believes that to Onee-sama he is something special, Misaka 10032 explains.'
It was a lot to take in one go and Kuruko was left scratching her head as the 'sister' continued to eat.
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'How is he a special person to you, 10032-chan?'
There was an awkward pause as Misaka 10032 stopped eating and looked away for the first time, light in her usually expression-less eyes and she was unable to answer.
'Misaka 10032 is experiencing confusion and is unable to reply without compromising herself and Onee-sama, Misaka 10032 explains while embarrassment. Please do not ask Misaka 10032 to answer that, Misaka 10032 asks.'
"tsk…"
So even she wants to hide things from her, well it was not that she didn't expect this to happen.
'Misaka 10032 suggests that Kuruko take on another 'Scientific' Experiment to discover that herself, Misaka 10032 explains'
A surprising suggestion and Kuruko watched as Misaka 10032 started on dessert, finishing a whole banana split by herself before speaking again.
'Misaka 10032 recommends a Scientific Experiment of a 'Double Date', Misaka 10032 offers seriously.'
'Eh, what?'
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She did not know how she managed it, but she was not the only person that had been overwhelmed by Misaka 10032 over the past few weeks. First there was Mikoto and her 'Experiment' of a date, then it was Touma and who knew how she managed to make him accept him to take the 'sister's out on dates every single day since that incident.
Lastly it was how she persuaded the 'sisters' and Mikoto to help assist them to make sure that the 'dates' were generally free from interruption and bad luck.
Naturally, Kuruko had no idea of this, but she would be very familiar with how Misaka 10032 run things at the end of her unfortunately 'Scientific Experiment'.
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'Misaka 10032 thinks that Kuruko would understand it better if she experiences first-hand what kind of person Kamijo Touma is, Misaka 10032 explains while hiding her joy."
"Wait, I never agreed to this!"
'Unfortunately, Misaka 10032 has sent details of the plan to Touma, us 'sisters', Onee-sama and the other two participants of the 'experiment' and by now, they would no doubt be replying.'
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Kuruko took a deep breath before punching the nearest object to relieve her anger. Did that 'sister' find joy in doing this? She had not signed up for this but before her words and her rebuttal of her protests, Kuroko had found herself accepting the Double Date that was happening in 15 minutes time the following day.
Watching Onee-sama's expression as Misaka 10032 had reported to her, Kuruko was dismayed to find that she was actually taking it very well and was quite amused at the prospect.
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'Kuruko on a date with Touma? A double-date? AHAHA!'
She had doubled over laughing and when she recovered with tears of laughter in her eyes, Mikoto had smiled oddly at her and mumbled something along the lines of: 'Hopefully she'll realize that men are interesting too'.
Anyway, she had her blessings from Onee-sama to partake in this little gathering. To be seen with a commoner like him was frustrating, but perhaps he can find out what kind of person was special to Onee-sama and her 'sisters'…
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But she was worried as well, when Onee-sama found out the other pair, she had been stunned for a few moments before doubling back to laugh so hard that she couldn't stand for an hour or so, rolling on the bed in her laughter. That was when she noticed a small but unmistakable mischievous smile on Misaka 10032…
Why did she feel like she had just been suckered into something that very bad?
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'Ah… Shirai.'
It was the commoner and he ran towards her as she just flicked her hair back to look at his appearance, dressed in an orange shirt with a matching pair of black jeans and jacket, he looks like some random punk she has to take care of during her Judgment rounds and her appraisal of him dropped.
Seriously, this is a date, couldn't he dress well like what she did?
Unlike Touma, she was taking this seriously as since she had accepted, it would be rude not be in her best. In a pale pink dress that showed her figure well, she curtsied to Touma as he tried to catch his breath.
"I'm sorry I'm late, I had to help Index get the cat off the tree…"
So he was helping someone? But that name, Index, was that a name?
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Raising an eyebrow, Kuruko still offered her hand to Touma who looked at it blankly.
'Well, aren't we on a date? A gentleman should kiss a lady's hand before we commence.'
It is something she made up of course but she was still amused to see him flush red at her teasing. At least first impression is that he won't take advantage of her…
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'Do you know who are the other pair that is coming with us?"
Asking him as they sat by a bench in the shade, Kuruko took the opportunity to study this boy. He was not good looking, some might say that he is actually quite average looking but is covered with many bruises and marks like a street punk.
Altogether someone she did not expect her Onee-sama to feel fondness to, this requires more investigating…
"Nope, 10032-chan just told me to wait here and they would naturally come. She said it is someone I and Shirai-san would know and not know…"
"is that one of her 'sisters'?"
Logically that would make sense, only her 'sister's would be people that they would jointly know and not know at the same time as they are different.
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"hmm… but what about the other guy coming with us?"
'…'
She got him there and they pondered about it for a moment till approaching footsteps caused them to look up, and their jaw dropped at the same time.
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"Slow down brat, I can't walk as fast as you in these…"
'Misaka Misaka says that she sees the other two now! Misaka Misaka believes that is a good thing as that means they are not late, Misaka Misaka states!'
It was the strongest Esper in the city, Accelerator and… Onee-sama?
Author's Notes: It got too long for a one shot!
