"We're late."
Touma, who bit a slice of bread in place with his mouth, grabbed his childhood friend's hand, attempting to drag her to match his speed. She was walking too slowly.
"Why bother? We're already late. Let's just walk there."
His childhood friend who was Shokuhou Misaki yawned as she continued her leisure walk down the sloping road.
"We might as well not go to school." Touma said.
"Great idea! Let's go to the arcades instead."
Despite being warned several times by the school, Misaki insisted on her blonde hair. Also, her skirt was shorter than what the school allowed. Also, her results was one of the lousiest in school. In short, probably the worst student alive in her high school.
With her angelic looks, and a devilish figure accentuated by her large chest, one would call her a bimbo.
Touma stuffed the slice of bread inside his mouth, gave it a few quick chews and swallowed it down.
"Have you finished your homework yet?"
Misaki tapped a finger to her chin, pretending to be in deep concentration.
"What is this homework you speak of? Is it a title of the latest game?"
Touma slumped his shoulders and sighed, "Forget it. Why do I even bother asking."
"Are you free today? We can go out and... do whatever that's fun." Misaki said.
"We have a test this week. You're not going to study for it as usual, am I right?"
Misaki grinned, "So clever. Why bother if you're going to fail anyway? You always fail your tests anyway."
"I just didn't have time to study."
She folded her arms. "Oh please. This isn't Academy City where you have to save random girls because of your misfortune. Just admit you could make time for studying if only you weren't addicted to that shit RPG game. Because of that game, you always ignore my phone calls."
"I'm actually a misfortunate boy in reality. Having you as my childhood friend is enough proof."
Every morning, it would Touma's responsibility to wake Misaki up. The effort involved was comparable to waking Sleeping Beauty up without kissing her.
He did try kissing her to see if she would wake up. At first, it worked... at the cost of suffering physical abuse. But at least she was awake.
Recently, when Touma tried using this method because he was tired, Misaki seemed eager for more. Her physical abuse stopped as well.
Something felt amiss with her. He just couldn't put his finger to it.
Making breakfast for her was his responsibility. If he didn't make one for Misaki, she would skip breakfast. Touma didn't want Misaki to lead such an unhealthy life.
If it wasn't for fear of gossips, Touma would've just moved into Misaki's house and take care of her.
Her mother passed away, and her father was always too busy with work.
Maybe she would have been a different person if her family wasn't that screwed up.
The both reached the entrance of their school.
It was cold inside the principal's office.
But the atmosphere between Misaki and the principal was colder.
"This is the sixth time I'm warning you. Dye your hair black, and change your skirt. If you still refuse to listen, I have no choice but to expel you."
"Expel me? Whatever. It's not like you never cared about me anyway." Misaki said.
"I know it's been hard on you since your mother died, but could you stop being so rebellious?"
Misaki intensified her glare on the principal. "Says the father who's always not at home. I considered you as dead as well."
He sighed, "I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for you... but I'm busy with work, and if I don't work, who's going to earn money for you?"
"Work. Work Work. Do you care more about work, or your own daughter?"
"Of course I care for you more, but work is also important."
Misaki stood up, "I don't think you understand what I'm getting at." flung the chair to one side, and slammed the door shut before leaving.
She grabbed Touma, who was waiting outside for her.
"Follow me."
A confused Touma followed Misaki out of the school and into an alley. To hell with his attendence record.
"What are we doing here?" Touma said.
Misaki pushed Touma against the wall, and leaned against him.
"Stay still."
"Huh?!"
Touma felt his body turning hotter, and his heartbeat increasing with Misaki's sweet strawberry scent streaming into his nose, and her body so close to him.
"Will you let me be a little more selfish this time?"
"I don't un-understand."
Touma understood when Misaki kissed on the lips, with her tongue attempting to reach into his mouth.
He instinctively pushed her away.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Touma panted.
"Don't you want to have sex with me? Why are you rejecting me?"
"Why would I even want to have sex with you?!"
What exactly did Misaki's father say or do to her which made her become so impulsive?
Misaki looked to her right, her eyes vacant. Then, she looked back, straight into Touma's eyes.
"You're the only person left who cares for me. Please care for me more. I need you."
Touma stopped Misaki from inching forward with a hand.
"There are other ways to care for you. This isn't the only way."
Misaki stomped her feet, "But I want you to care for me in this way! If you do that, maybe I won't feel as lonely as before! It's killing me!"
"But..."
"Are you going to do it with me? Yes or no?"
Touma found the idea extremely uncomfortable. It felt like he was about to commit incest if he agreed. Touma wanted to say no, but would saying yes make her feel a lot better than just taking care of her normally?
It was a struggle inside his mind, but he hated the idea of saying yes.
He let it show in his face, and Misaki noticed it.
His answer was no.
"Fine!"
Misaki turned around, and sprinted off. She didn't want to let Touma see the tears on her eyes.
Touma ran after her.
Ignoring traffic, Misaki dashed onto the road.
When a truck appeared out of nowhere, Misaki stood there rooted.
Was this the end of her life? Would she be able to meet her mother in the underworld?
Touma pushed her aside, and he got knocked into the air by the truck instead.
An incredible scene played out in front of Misaki.
When he crashed onto the asphalt, a green portal swallowed him inside before disappearing.
Meanwhile, Touma found himself at the waterfall with a bucket filled with dirty clothes beside him.
The transition from chasing after Misaki to calm her down to washing landury felt unreal.
This is definitely not Heaven nor Hell.
If this was one, a someone named God or Satan would have made his appearance by now.
According to his "master" Louise, this is a place known as Halkegenia where nobles are people who can cast magic while the rest are commoners.
Academians had a lower status than commoners because of how different they looked, and the fact that society viewed them as lunatics didn't help.
Am I right to say that Academians can be considered as Japanese if they say I'm an Academian... from 3000 years in the past?
Touma grabbed a few pieces of dirty clothing, rubbed soap onto them, and began scrubbing against the washing board.
Because Louise said that he was weak, she didn't expect much from him, but at least he should be able to do odd jobs like washing clothes.
"Am I doomed to wash clothes for the rest of my life?" Touma muttered.
If I'm not actually dead, maybe I can get out of this place.
'How' was the big question here.
I wonder how is Misaki now.
Touma hoped that Misaki stay strong and not consider suicide because the only person in her life who cares for her has disappeared from her world.
All the more Touma had to find a way to return. Still, how?
His arms started to ache after some time of washing.
Touma shook his arms. "If only washing machines existed in this medieval setting."
"It must be hard trying to adapt. I heard that washing machines existed 4000 years ago in Academia."
A maid with short, black hair and green eyes smiled at him as she put down her own bucket filled with dirty clothing. Unlike the rest of the nobles, her skin colour and appearance looked Japanese.
"I'm actually from Japan, but I suppose Japan doesn't exist in this world."
"Japan? I don't remember a Japan existing in Academia. Not even 4000 years ago."
"It's a different world where we have computers, televisions and even electricity. You have none of those here."
"Academia had whatever you mentioned 4000 years ago."
"What?!"
Touma found it incredible that this world has been devolving since 4000 years ago. What happened in between?
The maid grabbed a few pieces of dirty clothing, soap, washing board, and started on her landury as well.
"I'm technically half Academian since my father is a Halkegenian, but I still resent Halkegenia for invading our land 4000 years ago."
Her scrubbing grew more intense. "They took away whatever that was Academia. That's why you don't see things like washing machines or computers here. That's why nobody understands us when we say that the air is made up of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen."
"Everyone keeps saying that the mages 4000 years ago won by destroying whatever Academia had by using their magic easily. Well, I suppose magic is more powerful than science after all." Touma said.
To Touma, magic was an unknown yet powerful force. It wasn't surprising if magic won. After all, how do you defeat somebody who could survive anything by conjuring a magical barrier?
"That's what was written in the textbook. History can be changed to suit people's needs. But the fact was that in the end, Academia lost."
Touma noticed how dejected the maid had become from talking about it.
"Let's talk about something else. What's your name? My name is Kamijou Touma. Nice to meet you."
"Oh, my Halkegenian name is Siesta." Her lips curled into a smile, "As for my Academian name... maybe I'll tell you when I get to know you better."
The mindless process of washing clothes continued in silence.
Siesta looked around, and whispered.
"Do you want to leave this place?"
Touma nervously looked around as well.
"You have a way out of here?"
If he wanted a way to escape this world, leaving this academy would be the best choice. The problem was his powerlessness. It takes only one mage to recapture him, and he might not have the chance to escape again.
"Of course. All you have to do is to wait outside in the castle in a specific area during dinner, and somebody will pick you up." Siesta said.
"But why are you helping me? No... what is your purpose in wanting me to leave this place?"
Not even once did Touma mention that he wanted to leave this place. Yet the maid already had a plan in place before she met him.
"Very observant. But it's not me who wants you to leave this place."
"Then who? And why?"
"I don't know. I'm just a scout sent to this Academy. Those were direct orders from my leader. I don't have enough authority to question her orders."
Siesta looked at Touma with a serious expression. "My job is to ensure that you get to that specific area during dinner, whether through your own free will or by force. Which option do you choose?"
Leaving is definitely better than being stuck here doing chores for the rest of eternity. Not only that, he might just find a way back home.
Touma was willing to risk his life in leaving this place with an unknown stranger in exchange for a breakthrough.
"I'll leave this place."
She broke into a smile. "Great. I hate using force, so I'm really thankful for your cooperation. Come, I'll familiarize you with the meeting point."
Vestri Court.
It was the meet up point for tonight's idiot-proof escape plan.
Located between two towers, in which one tower contained the dining hall where everyone would have their dinner, it was easy for Touma to sneak behind, and then disappear.
Both Siesta and Touma each had a tray containing deserts as they passed through this area. The nobles were having their afternoon tea in another area, and their job was to serve food to them.
"Do you have any idea who's coming to pick me up?" Touma said.
"Most likely, an esper will pick you up."
"Esper?"
"Academians who wields science as a form of magic. You can say that espers are a different kind of mages you see here."
Touma had a rough impression about espers from his RPG game which Misaki complained that was shitty just today. They were really like mages, but perhaps less flexible. They can only use one type of power, but mages could use different type of powers.
"Are you an esper then?"
"Nope. But as a scout, I naturally have my ways to protect myself if discovered."
From a distance, Touma spotted two mages chuckling as they casted water magic on another maid like Siesta. Cakes were scattered around her, and the tray on the ground to her left.
She raised both hands in a v-shape to defend against the water streams sprayed against her, but the intensity sent her backwards, crashing onto the grassy ground.
Touma threw his tray aside and rushed to pick the maid up.
"Are you okay?"
The maid nodded.
"What do you think you're doing?"
One of the mage with smooth, black hair looked at Touma with such condescendence that Touma clenched his fists, wanting to punch him hard right here now. He held back his urge.
Those two were bullies. Touma hated bullies.
"You think its fun to pick on somebody weaker than you?" Touma said.
"We were just practising our water spells..." The mage squinted his eyes,"Wait a minute, aren't you that Zero's familiar?"
"So what if I am." Touma said.
"Then I'll be magnanimous and give you a chance. Leave and we'll pretend that nothing happened. Or else..."
The bullied maid who was clearly an Academian turned towards Touma, her eyes thanking him for his kindness.
But there's a limit to how far kindness should go.
"It's okay. Just leave. It's better this way."
"What do you mean by its better?! If you don't stand up against those bullies, you always be bullied forever! Since you don't have the power to do so, then I'll stand up against them for you."
"It's not as simple as that. You'll die! That's why, please just leave!"
The maid was almost on the verge of tears. This black, spiky-haired boy was the first person who ever stood up for her. His kind act touched her deeply, but this is why such a kind boy should be spared from any other trouble.
The mage took out his wand, "Since I'm bored of this maid already, how about you fight me? To make things interesting, I'll apologize to her if you defeat me."
"And stop bullying her."
The other mage whispered to the mage with smooth, black hair, "Academians are so weak that you could safely bet your entire assets in a duel against them."
"Alright. I'll promise you that."
The maid grabbed both Touma's arms. "Are you serious?! I'm not joking! You'll die! You're just a human, not a mage! You don't have magical powers like him!"
"I don't care."
Touma pushed the maid aside, and stepped forward, ready for his duel.
Just then...
"What do you think you're doing!"
His "master" Louise had arrived, together with Siesta. It must have been Siesta who alerted her.
"Oh, if it isn't the Zero." The mage said.
Louise pointed to the mage, "I order you to apologize to him and leave."
"No."
"Ar-Are you defying my orders?"
The mage started laughing, "As expected of a familiar from the Zero. He doesn't even listen to you."
Louise shook in embarrassment and anger. It was bad enough to summon an Academian. Now he's a familiar who's also disobedient to its master.
Her familiar was a total failure.
She had to instill discipline into this failure of a familiar.
Louise took out her whip, and started whipping Touma.
Touma blocked the strikes with his arms, which felt hotter and painful with each successful strikes.
He didn't know whether to run, or punch his master out of self-defense.
If Touma did either one of the above, it might sabotage his chance in leaving this place during dinner.
From the corner of his eyes, Touma saw the mage casting a water jet in his direction.
The rune markings on his right hand flashed once, and Touma found his body turning to face the jet head on with his right hand outstretched.
The sound of glass shattering reverberated through the air, and the water jet vanished.
"What in the world was that...?"
The mage couldn't believe what he just saw. Touma's right hand had negated his spell with just a single touch.
Touma himself couldn't believe what he just did.
I have superpowers...?
It must be the rune marking on his right hand.
The mage recovered from his shock. "Oho, this will be interesting. So your familiar isn't that pathetic after all, Zero."
Waving his wand, the mage fired a few water balls towards Touma.
He rolled to the side, dodging all the balls.
"Why are you running away? I thought you'd be more interesting after you displayed your ability, but you disappoint me."
Touma remembered his right hand negating the water jet which the mage casted just now by touch.
If that's the case, I assume that this negation power applies only to my right hand.
The mage raised his wand in the air, and with a quick twirl, water bombs materialized mid-air and rained down towards Touma.
"This is my strongest spell which I've been practising day and night."
Even from a distance, Touma felt the slight tremors hitting against his body.
Confused at how to deal with such a situation, he could only run while the water bomb exploded in succession when they landed behind him.
Before that, Touma was just an ordinary high school boy dealing with problems like homework, and his RPG games.
Now, he was thrown into a life and dead situation where the slightest mistake could kill him.
Yes, the maid was right.
There was a real chance of him dying for real in this world.
I was too impulsive.
Without even thinking about how is he going to fight against a mage with just his bare hands and minimal street fighting skills, he agreed to a deal to save that maid.
The other mage levitated in front of Touma and smirked.
He casted the same spell that his friend had casted.
With water bombs falling 360 degrees around him, Touma realized that he was in a hopeless situation.
However...
He would at least punch the living daylight out of the despicable mage who interfered with his duel.
Touma swung his right fist upwards across the mage's jaws, hard enough to send him reeling on the ground.
With his right hand already in the air, he squatted down, minimising any other exposed body area, and shielded himself from the incoming water bombs by swinging his right hand around.
Fortunately, his body could still handle the damage from the other water bombs landing on his body when he charged forth to punch that mage.
The mage, upon seeing his friend being injured by a lowly Academian, he summoned a single water bomb as huge as a soccer ball and fired at Touma.
It knocked him unconscious in one shot.
Night fell.
Siesta stood alone in Vestri Court, waiting for the esper who was supposed to pick Touma up.
Because of the mage who fired that large water bomb on Touma, he was still unconscious in the healing ward.
Apparently, those water healers had problems in healing Touma. Their healing spells refused to work on Touma for some reason.
It would probably at least take about a week before Touma awakes.
Siesta felt the air turning prickly as a dark figure emitting sparks popped out from a tree behind her, and landed in front of her.
It was a girl with short, brown hair. She wore a black t-shirt, and mini pants which exposed most of her thighs.
Only her leader would wear such an attire. The traditional and banned attire which represented the identity of Academia.
Misaka Mikoto.
"Wh-Why are you here?!" Siesta said.
"Why can't I be here?"
Why was her leader the esper responsible in picking Touma up? Was Touma that important?
"What if something happens to you? The whole group would collapse without you. We have other espers equally as capable to do the job. You don't have to do it personally."
Mikoto glared at Siesta, "You doubt my ability? I'm the Electric Princess after all."
"E-Eh? No, of course not!"
She broke into a chuckle seeing how scared Siesta became, and poked her forehead to calm her down. "Just kidding."
"But why are you here? I believe that it was originally someone else who was supposed to be here instead of you."
"That's because he has earned my admiration."
According to Siesta, Touma landed in such a state because he was an idiot who rushed to save a maid from being bullied without pausing to think if he actually had the ability to handle the mages in the first place.
Mikoto deeply admired his attitude, though idiotic.
"Where's the map? I still need to get him out of here."
Author's Note: I honestly don't have much confidence in this chapter. I have no idea why.
Because the Guiche fight is so overdone, I skipped that part for an original part which does its job well enough to make Touma realize that he has a power.
I hope you realize that Touma is really just an ordinary high school boy. And when I mean ordinary, I mean ordinary just like you and me. So please understand that Touma would have lost because of lack of experience. Anyway, if it wasn't for Touma forgetting that he was fighting two enemies instead of one, he might have won.
Also, I would like to point out that history can be changed to suit people's needs. Is it really true that Halkegenia won easily? All of this information you know so far up till now about Halkegenia invading Academia are mainly from textbooks. They do not represent the whole truth.
But the one thing that remains the truth is that Academia lost.
Anyway, if you guys really want a Guiche fight... Mikoto will most probably be his opponent. And like every Guiche fight in fanfiction, he gets trashed.
To Guest: No. When he was summoned, he had no Imagine Breaker. After he was summoned, he had Imagine Breaker. Simple. And yes, I'm aware of the fact that my Chapter 1 is fucking unoriginal, but I'll try to change that from Chapter 2 onwards.
To Warning: Well, I just try to do my best and write to the best of my ability. HOPES and FEARS is a good story though :)
To lector: Even with Google Translate, I can only understand Justin Bieber and Paris Hiliton. Sorry :/
Hope you liked the chapter :)
See you.