Prologue

"Don't look at me like that. You know there were no other options."

"I know."

"Is that it? Just 'I know'? I didn't think you would be accepting the situation so easily."

"It's been 13 years, hasn't it? So much progress and yet it all comes down to this. Everything that has been done is now for nothing. What will happen to us, the others, the 'doc, the… the…"

"Everything else. Doesn't matter. You and I will continue on with what we do best or just simply retire. The rest, the same. The 'doc… I'm not so sure. He's probably taking it the hardest than anyone else. This project has been more than just scientific accolades for him. A lot more personal, that is."

"I know. No one will even know about this. They will just know that another research group has dissolved. All of our discoveries will be lost."

"No. They'll be securely kept by the higher ups. Who knows what they'll goddamned do with them."

"Right. What about… you know?"

"What about you? You were here since the beginning right? You helped design the virtual?"

"Yeah. I was completely stoked that the doc chose me to be the lead engineer. It wasn't easy. Playing a virtual reality game is one thing, but putting one's subconscious into a virtual world is on a completely whole other level! All actions acting as if they have real world consequence… Wow! Wait… You still haven't answered my question, though."

"God damnit. I know. I don't know. Shit, I don't even know why I care. Why do you care? Fuck, it doesn't matter. Those little… bastards. We're all ending up in the same place in the end. Give me a piece of that."

"Heh. 13 years and still breathing fine, at least."

"13 years of hearing that, too."

Part 1

A spikey haired boy stands in front of a soda machine in the middle of a park. With a sigh of defeat, the boy punches the soda machine and looks up into the sky.

"Déjà vu. Just my luck."

This actually hasn't been the only time this young boy has lost to the infernal soda machine. The amount of money lost to this machine that could have taken multiple students to their dream universities sits mockingly within the confines of the metal contraption that continues to wait for victims passing by through the park.

A blimp slowly flies through the air doing its daily routine of weather reports, daily news, and loud rumbling noises.

"Eye witness reports say that the research facility disappeared into thin air. Researchers present within the facility were found unconscious in front of Tokiwadai Middle School. Two remaining researchers, however, remain missing."

"Tokiwadai? That's Mikoto's school, isn't it?"

While the boy continues to ponder, a loud clank noise is heard. The sound of explosions and rustling gears can be heard from the soda machine as it starts shaking left and right.

"W-what's going on?"

After taking a few steps away from the raging machine, a soda can suddenly shoots out of the machine and hits the boy directly in the forehead, knocking him out and causing him to fall over.

Part 2

"What's with you?"

"W-where…?"

"Hey, are you okay? You've been laying there for quite a while."

Who knows how many people passing by saw this boy lying motionless in the middle of the walkway? It could be possible that someone believed it to be a corpse and called service for assistance. Then again, this is possibly one of those times where it's best to just ignore it.

The boy laying on his back lazily tilts his head getting a better view of a young girl wearing a school uniform that looks like it belong to someone who is rather rich standing over him. In a bored sigh, he notices the girl is wearing shorts under her skirt before the girl gets down on her knees and places a hand on the boy's forehead.

"Do you remember who I am? You must have lost your memories. I am Master Mikoto and you are my pet. When I found you as a small puppy, you agreed to do everything I say. I hope we can continue being close friends, Little Touma."

"Nice try, bug zapper."

"What, are you serious? The name's Mikoto!"

"Uh! I'm joking, I'm joking!"

The second Touma feels vibrations through his head, he quickly grabs Mikoto's wrist with his right hand. Any electricity running through Mikoto's fingertips have ceased. Any second later and Touma's brain would have definitely been fried.

With an annoyed look, Mikoto looks down at Touma with her hand still on the spot where the can hit him in the forehead. Suddenly, she tightens her grip, squeezing Touma's forehead between her fingers with all her might.

"Ow oww! What are you doing that for!?"

Touma grabs Mikoto's arm with both his hands, declaring war to see who the rightful owner to the boy's forehead is. In a clear victory, Touma breaks free of Mikoto's death grip and steps back, panting heavily as he talks.

"What the hell? What did I do to deserve this? Not only did I lose my money to that wretched machine, but it also sent a demon soda can at me and knocked me out! Then you appeared. Ah, just my luck!"

"Shut up. What do you know about it?"

"Huh? Well, it still hasn't been fixed. Maybe you've been kicking it way too many times lately?"

"No, fool. That."

Seeing Mikoto looking pissed off, Touma decides not to disobey and follow where she is pointing.

"Oh, you mean the news? Something about disappearing researchers, right?"

"So you do know about it?"

"Hey, hey! Don't look at me like that! I found out about it before this machine knocked me out! I don't know anything!"

After attempting to send Touma to hell with a menacing glare, Mikoto looks down defeated.

Just moments ago, Mikoto looked as if she were about to kill Touma any second with an attack that even the Imagine Breaker wouldn't be able to deflect. With this sudden change in the mood, Touma comforts Mikoto by resting his right hand on Mikoto's head.

"Hey, what's the matter?"

"They took Kuroko."

Part 3

"If what they are saying is true, then they'll let Kuroko go safe and sound."

"Is it really that easy? A building disappears and the researchers suddenly appear in front of Tokiwadai. If you only look at the surface, it makes a lot of sense that it could be one of Tokiwadai's most proficient teleporters. I'm not saying she actually did it."

"I know, but Kuroko is only a Level 4. There's no way she can suddenly teleport a large research facility and all those researchers at the same time!"

Touma can see Mikoto is holding in her rage. ESpers with teleportation powers are rare and those with exceptional talent with that ability is even rarer. Kuroko Shirai is one of those talented ESpers.

"Relax. You're making a mess."

Mikoto snaps out of her train of thought and realizes the strawberry cream from her crepe is starting to drip onto her hands.

She nonchalantly licks the cream from her hand and continues to talk.

"That's not all. I checked the area where the research facility used to be. I checked to make sure that it was definitely the area where the facility was located. The area looks as if it was never used before. Flat cement. No hints of construction or drainage or anything. Teleporting a building is one thing, but teleporting a building and removing all signs that a building used to be there? That's impossible."

"Sounds like one big magic trick. A disappearing building and no signs that a building was ever constructed. That is some riddle. Are other Tokiwadai students being suspected? Oh man, this is delicious!"

Mikoto looks over at Touma happily taking a bite out of his chocolate banana crepe. She smiles seeing the pleasure on the boy's face.

"You know, this is where I usually hang out with Kuroko and the others. Sitting on this bench while eating the crepe of the day."

"Is that so? And are you usually late to get in line?"

"Shut it!"

A special edition Chef Gekota strap were available to the first 100 customers. Long story short, an embarrassing scene erupted when Mikoto realized why a Gekota strap didn't come with her order.

Taking a large bite out of her strawberry crepe to calm herself down,

"It's not like I need any more Gekota accessories you know. Everything I own has its own Gekota flair. There's just no reason to show them off. Besides, how about before you make fun of my interests, you clean the chocolate off your nose!"

Finally noticing the spot of chocolate on his nose, Touma wipes it off with the napkin that came with the crepe.

Mikoto sighs in disappointment at Touma's boring reaction.

"Other Tokiwadai students that also have some skill in teleportation have also been taken, but I don't believe the officials are focusing too much on them. ESpers with powers to manipulate metal, gravel, and various minerals are also being taken to account, but I think Kuroko is the only one they are paying attention to for now. I just don't get it."

"Then I guess there's nothing for us to do until this all settles. It's being taken care by Anti-Skill, right? I'm sure once they realize that just teleporting a building away cannot fully explain the holes in the evidence, they'll let her go. It's going to be fine, Mikoto."

Hearing the boy say her name soothes her heart. However, the concern over the health and safety of her closest friend continues to stings deep inside her. She reaches over to grab the arm of the spikey haired boy.

"I even looked at the database. I also asked a friend of mine in Judgement to have a thorough check. There doesn't seem to be any records of the lost research facility. It really is as if it didn't exist at all."