"Hey, Kami-chan! You'd better hurry up or you'll be in for real misfortune from Konoe-sensi!" came Motoharu's cheery jibe froim behind him as he closed the door to his apartment and almost ran into his friend and fellow classmate.

"Yeah, and she'll probably give you the same punishment just because you're dressed like a delinquent and have that easy, breezy attitude," as Touma ran to the nearby stairs and dashed down the steps.

Motoharu laughed and started jogging after his friend. Rounding the last landing, he leaped over the railing and landed in a traditinal ninja three-point stance before straightening up and waiting for Touma to catch up. They then turned and jogged down the street towards the bus stop, jumping on the bus just as the doors began to close.

Falling into the nearest available seats, they gasped until their breathing settled.

"OK, time to fess up. You were outside this morning looking for something, found it and then yelled at it before going back into your room. Did you and Index have a real set-to this morning instead of making breakfast," said Motoharu as he faced Touma.

"No, not that simple. Index is feeling sick and I needed ... to .. to contact a friend who knew her from before."

"So, you're standing on your walkway, holding a playing card and acting like it's a telephone or crystal ball or something?" Jibed his friend.

"You know bloody well what I was doing! You're a magician yourself!"

"SHHHHHHH! Don't say that out loud! You never know who might be listening in!" whispered Motoharu, going a pasty white and looking around to see if anyone was paying attention or studiously not paying attention. The bus was empty.

Touma leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "Index's memory is getting full and Stiyl says that the only thing that can be done is to reset it," he sighed.

"Yeah, the Collar program. Problem is the limited capacity that she's been left with, and you two have been piling memory upon memory since the first day that you two met." He chcuckled.

"Yeah, and you're making it sound like we've been doing 'this and that' when she's basically eating me out of house and home, and I have to defend her against every magic... er delinquent who's not an esper."

Motoharu laughed and held his side. "I'll tell Stiyl that the next time we meet. He'll laugh as well, once he stops pounding you into the ground and setting your ass on fire. Come to think of it, he IS a delinquent. At last, he is from this side of the fence."

Touma looked out the front of the bus and ignored his friend. "Collar program... memory capacity... I wonder if computer memory schemes can be applied. What do you think Motoharu?"

"Huh? Haven't you see when you try mixing the two?! My insides are still sore from helping you and Stiyl search for St. Peter's Cross... OOF!" The latter caused by Touma's elbox hitting his ribs.

"We're here, and we're going to have to run if we aren't going to be late," came from touma as he stood up and headed for the doors.

Stepping down from the bus, they turned and ran up the stairs beise the bus stop, heading for A Certain High School , well behind any other students using the stairs.

Finally reaching the top of the stairs, they leaned on their knees while they gathered their breath a bit and then started running for the school gates, now half-closed with a diminutive figure standing in the middle of the remaining opening with her hands on her hips. Putting a final push on, they dashed for the gate squeezing through the opening before it closed.

"Ah, the two that never learns their lessons, never has their homework done, and are always getting additional tutorials and time with their sensei..."

The two students in question were prostrated in from of her, hands rasied over their heads and begging for foregiveness.

"Oh all right, you can get up and get to class. No extra work if you can get there before me. No, go!"

Both students leaped to theri feet and took off at speeds that would have done credit to Olympic runners. One immediately, stopped and turned back.

"Touma, are you that eager for extra work? I can easily set you tasks that you can't possibly complete."

"No, sensei, but I do need to talk to you and ask you a quesiton. What are you doing for the next two weeks?"

Komoe-sensei blushed and looked at Touma coyly. "If I did not know you better, I would say that you were propositioning me. That won't change your scores - they've been in to the office a week ago."

Touma blanched and waved his hands in front of him in denial. "No, it's not that , Komoe-sensei. It's Index and her memory. Do you remember when she first appeared and you took us in when she was injured? She needs another session like that one and ... uh... Well, Sityl says that it would be easier if you were there ... and ... uh... He said that he'd cover all your expenses and ... uh..." He finally slowed down and stared at Komoe-sensei as if she fully understood what he was rattling on about.

She looked up at him, and started walking towards the school building with Touma walking behind. "You mean that she has to go into that trance state again, we call up the angel and the angel resets her? Correct? " Touma nodded. "I hope you aren't going to do this at my place again. I've barely gotten the roof repaired."

No, sensei. Stiyl thinks that we can do this while Index and I are visiting with my family in Nago, down in Okinawa. He said that he'll make all the necessary reservations, and just needs to know if you'll be coming. He also said that he'd pay you; suitably recompensed, he said."

"Oh, did he give you a telephone number where I can reach him to disucss this?"

"He's currently at my residence, looking after Index. " Touma patted his pockets, looking for his cell phone. "Such misfortune! I left my cell phone at home."

Komoe-sensei sighed. "I guess taht you don't remember your own cell number, becasue it's easier to have it be exchanged electronically rather than telling someone what it is? Yes, such misfortune. However, what sticking out of your breat pocket. Is that a playing card?"

Touma pulled the card out and looked at it. "That Stiyl! He tagged me with one of his runes! Look, just think of this as a cell phone of sorts and speak his name, Stiyl Magnus, and give him your cell number."

Komoe-sensei looked at Touma with the expression of "if this is a joke,... you'll have misfortune upon misfortune" and said "you'd better run to class before someone else sees you. I'll talk to this Stiyl Magnus and find out what's happening from him."

Holding the card in front of her, she said "Magnus Stiyl, call me at my cell number in one hour, Or does this rune work as a proper cellphone?" Sticking the card in her seater pc=ocket, she walked off towards her classroom and Touma, whistling a merry song.