A certain spiky haired teen rekindled his memories of a certain event.

A month ago

August 21 (20:23)

'Something seems off about this...'

Kamijou Touma ran around Academy City in search of the remaining sisters. That middle schooler girl, Misaka Mikoto, asked for his help in saving the 9969 sisters that were being ordered to be killed by Accelerator to achieve level 6.

He just knew her for a day (or not), but he felt like she's the type of girl who shoulders everything by herself. With this in mind, Touma felt so restless. There was something wrong about this, and he didn't know what it was. He continued to run as he panted heavily. He decided to find at least one of the sisters to let them know of the situation. He didn't know what was it for, but he couldn't do anything other than that. As he ran into a corner, he saw one of the sisters, fixing the position of her goggles. He stopped and bent down in exhaustion as he muttered.

"Finally... "

"'What is it that you want?' says Misaka as she is confused of your behavior. "

"Your sister wanted me... to gather all of you... But I don't know why... "

He panted heavily as he spoke. Running around the city is a bad idea afterall.

"'Misaka is still in a mission,' Misaka says. "

"A mission...? "

"'Yes. Misaka is needed to stop Onee-sama and Accelerator from fighting, because this may affect the experiment's trajectories,' says Misaka stating the situation. "

"Misaka is fighting him to stop this experiment, that's why we should get going. We need to help her. "

Suddenly, the clone jolted a little, almost unnoticeable without sheer observation. Touma noticed this, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. He felt something bad is going to happen, and asked the girl to ascertain his prediction.

"What's wrong? What happened over there? "

"... Onee-sama..."

A course of panic ran down his tired body as he heard her terrified whisper. He immediately brought out his cellphone and dialed her number.

"Answer... Answer it, please ..."

He's becoming restless. Suddenly, the girl answered the phone. He breathed out a sigh of relief, and immediately reported his progress.

"Biribiri, I've gathered them all. I'll go there too..."

No one answered, but he can hear faint breathing on the other line. Confused, Touma asked the situation.

"Oi, what's happening there? Biribiri?"

His doubts and fear doubled. With no one answering the phone, a cold sweat ran down his forehead. Suddenly, he heard a distant voice from the other line. It was not Mikoto's, but he was sure it belonged to a guy.

"Are you really that obsessed on dying that you accepted all my attacks? Don't fucking play with me, third-rate."

'Obsessed in dying?' What does that mean? '

Then realization hit him like a ton of bricks. 'That's her plan! I'm so stupid! I knew something's wrong, but I'm a step too late in realizing it! '

"What the hell are you doing Misaka?! You promised me right?!"

He waited for an answer, and he heard a huff from the other line. A female's voice reverberated from his cellphone's speakers. It sounded so weak and fragile, but apologetic and earnest at the same time. He knew who owned that voice, and he was not mistaken.

"I'm sorry, but I'm the one who will finish this myself."

"Misaka! Wait-"

The call ended. She hung up on him, making Touma stare widely at his phone.

'Sh-she's... '

He closed his phone and stared at the darkness infront of him. Everything became clear for him. She planned to die from the start. The request was a diversion, devised for him not to interfere with her plans. He clenched his fists and determination glittered in his eyes.

'I don't have time for this! I need to go there immediately!'

"You! Stay here!"

He turned his back and ran away. He's going to stop what Mikoto is planning to do, no matter what. He panted as he continued to run, sweat covering his face. After a few minutes, he reached the railyard. It was filled with cargoes and old trains, and gravel covered the ground. He brought his cellphone out and checked the time. It's already 21:44. As he continued to search around, he heard crackles of electricity. He searched for the source of the sound, and found Mikoto with her sister, sparking in intense electricity. The place was filled with bursting electricity, and every iron in the surroundings dangerously vibrated in a weird manner, like it was following a rhythm of unknown sorts.

He tried to approach them, but was immediately stopped by the bursting electricity. Even if he had his Imagine Breaker, it would be impossible to go near them without getting unscathed. And he also had a feeling that if he interfered, something more terrible will happen, that's why he tried calling her name to get her attention rather than to get closer to them.

"Misaka! What are you doing!"

He saw Mikoto turn her head to him, and she smiled. It was a smile that was sincere and bright, free from regrets and from guilt. She looked like she's already free from her chains, like a renewed human.

"I'll see you again... That's a promise..."

'Misaka...'

His words were stuck in his throat as Mikoto fell lifeless on the ground. Despite her battered condition, which was actually an understatement for she lost her right arm and was pierced by a piece of a railing, her bloodied face looked really peaceful, almost like she was just sleeping. But she wasn't. Her body showed no signs of being alive. The gravel that covered the ground was painted with burn marks and dried blood, because of the intense heat that emanated from the electricity earlier. Her sister's body also fell into the ground, but she was still breathing, unlike Mikoto. She was just unconscious.

Then Touma's eyes traveled from them to a pale guy several meters away. He was just standing there, watching the whole scene with confusion and irritation painted in his face. He knew who that guy was, and it was Accelerator, the person who killed 10031 sisters and also Misaka Mikoto, the original. He eyed the guy with disgust, and decided that he will finish eveything in her place.

"I...

"Huh? "

Accelerator turned his attention to him. He was now more confused that a random civilian suddenly barged in the middle of the experiment. Touma lifted his face, and he glared at him with anger and determination that sparkled in his eyes.

"I'm going to finish this!"

And he charged at Accelerator, and the rest of it happened quickly. Touma won against the strongest, but he actually felt really unsatisfied. He could have saved Mikoto if he figured it out earlier, but he failed. He actually regretted his incompetence, and felt guilty for her death.

'If I just arrived sooner, nothing like this would have happened...'

After the fight, he carried Mikoto and her sister to Heaven Canceller and asked him to treat her sister's wounds. He also checked upon Mikoto's lifeless body, and found something really weird. The results indicated that she didn't die from blood loss, but from a complete mental shut down. Her brain died first before she ran out of blood. Her nerves also looked like it was burned, like she forced herself to her limits and suffered the side effect.

But actually, the hardest thing next to grieving her death is to inform her friends and her family about her fate. With Heaven Canceller's help, they covered up everything for they don't want the darkness to be known to the public. Even the city's administration also covered it up, in which he didn't know if he'll get grateful or scornful instead.

He knew that some people wouldn't believe what he was saying, an example of that is Mikoto's best friend and roommate, Shirai Kuroko. Because of this he was actually avoiding her since the incident, because he didn't want his tongue to slip whenever she would interrogate him.

A month has passed and he still felt guilty of the things he failed to do. He just distracted himself by doing his everyday routine like a robot in autopilot. Sometimes he would visit her grave, but there are times he wouldn't. But right now he wanted to visit her again to clear up his mind.

He rode a bus until he arrived meters away from his destination. It was the mausoleum. He noticed that the lone guard outside was actually sleeping, so he took this as a chance to be alone beside her grave. He needed a time for himself, and this would be the best place for him to contemplate his actions.

But...

He stopped as he noticed an auburn haired girl in pig tails entered the vicinity. He held his breath and hid behind a tree.

'Oh crap... '

It was Shirai Kuroko. She would be the last person he would like to meet right now, so he had no choice but to hide. It seemed that his misfortune took its effect again, that eventually left him in a tight spot. He decided that he would wait until Shirai left the place, and he will proceed to his original plan.

3 minutes...

5 minutes...

10 minutes...

Waiting for a few minutes felt like forever for him. He didn't knew why, but he was starting to feel impatient. He breathed out a sigh, and decided to just go back home. Knowing Shirai, she would stay there for many hours. He can't wait that long.

He was about to turn back when he saw 4 people nearing the mausoleum. Those people were actually 4 of Mikoto's sisters. His eyes grew wide in panic.

'What are they doing here? Shirai is also inside... So... This means...'

This actually meant the end of their secret, the revelation of the level six shift project to the young Judgement officer. He stood still, trying to figure out what he should do. He needed to stop them.

But he's too late. The sisters were already inside, and he had no means to stop them anymore. A chill ran down his spine, feeling a bit frightened of what Shirai would do to him if she learned about the truth. In the end he decided to wait again, much to his chagrin. He just observed the whole place from behind the tree he was hiding at.

A few minutes passed, and he saw a flash of light emanating from the interior of the room.

'Lightning...? '

His curiosity perked up and he somehow forgot that Shirai was also in there. He immediately walked into the source of the lightning. He was somewhat mesmerized by it, as he was drawn closer to the museleum. He was about to enter when the sleeping guard had finally awaken from his slumber. He looked younger, and anyone could see that he's still a neophyte. It was actually the first time that Touma saw this guy, and he sensed something bad about this...

"Uhh... Who are you? Are you a visitor?

The guard spoke up with a confused face. He really was someone new after all. He looked at Touma and eyed him suspiciously. Then he asked again.

"Are you in the list? "

"Uhh... A-actually... No, I'm not... "

The guards actually had a list of people who could enter for security purposes. Unfortunately, Touma's name was not listed in the list, for Shirai insisted not to include him. Thanks to Heaven Canceller, he can actually enter the place even though he's not in the list because he notified the guards to let him in. But this new guy was certainly uninformed. His superiors may have forgotten to tell him. Such misfortune.

"I'm sorry but you couldn't enter. It's written in the rule that only people that are listed in the visitors' list could enter this place. "

"W-wait! Actually I got permission from Heaven Cance-"

"No excuses! You can't enter no matter what. "

"But I really need to-"

"What is this noise all about? "

A new voice rang amidst the ruckus. It was Shirai Kuroko, the level 4 teleporter. She must have heard the rambling because they're actually just behind the door. Her eyes traveled from the guard then to Touma, and she eyed him dangerously. A chill ran down his spine, and another bad feeling bubbled up in his chest.

"What are you doing here, you lying ape?! "

Her glare pierced Touma like the spikes she held between her fingers. A cold sweat flowed down his forehead. How many times did he encountered such misfortune today? He already lost his count. Before he could answer, a new voice joined the conversation.

"What's happening here? Oh, Kamijou-san! You're here for a visit? "

It was the older guard who guarded this place when he last came to visit. It seemed that he came back from a break or something.

"Uhh... Yeah. But it seems that this new guy's superior forgot to inform him about something really important..."

"Eh...? Oh, I'm sorry about that, boy. Hey! Kawaguchi! Let Kamijou-san in!"

"Are you sure about that, sir?

"Yeah. Heaven Canceller gave him permission, so let him in. "

"Roger, Sir-"

"NOOOOOOOOOO! DON'T LET HIM ENTER THIS PLACE! "

And Shirai forcefully interjected in the conversation. She blocked the door, like she was hiding something inside.

"A LYING BARBARIC APE LIKE YOU SHOULD NEVER ENTER! I WON'T LET YOU SEE MY ONEE-SAMAAAAAAAAA!"

"Uhh... We'll just leave the two of you right now... Seems that we're disturbing you kids... "

The guard said while inching away from them. They're actually weirded-out at Shirai, so they decided to get away from them.

"Even if it meant neglecting your duty?"

"She's from Judgement, she can handle everything... "

"Seriously...? "

He faced Shirai again, with sweat running down his forehead in confusion.

"Uhhh... What's wrong with you all of a sudden..? "

"You can't enter right now! Even tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and for eternity!"

She was breathing heavily after that declaration. Touma only released a sigh at this and ignored her rambling.

"Yeah right. I still can enter though."

"Oi, Kuroko! What's going on out there? "

A voice was heard coming from the inside. It harbored a nostalgic tone, a tone he last heard a month ago.

'That can't be possible... Is my brain playing tricks on me right now? Did I just misheard it? '

"Who was that Shirai...? "

"H-huh,? What are you babbling about, you ape? T-there's no one in here... "

A drop of sweat ran down her face as she made a troubled look. He ignored this, and shoved her away from the door. He forced himself inside, and he saw the 4 sisters. There's something different about the other one though. She had a surprised look on her face, something that you won't see in a sister's face. Her eyes also glinted a light that the other sisters did not have. He just looked at her with his mouth agape, and she also did the same.

'No way... '

"Biribiri...? "

She actually smiled at this, then placed her right hand on her hips arrogantly.

"It's Misaka Mikoto, you idiot. "

Author's note:

I actually enjoyed writing this XD This part is told on how Touma sees the situation, and how he met Mikoto again after her 'death'.

It's really amazing that I subconsciously wrote the three chapters on how they see the situation.

Chapter 1: Kuroko;

Chapter 2: Mikoto; and

Chapter 3: Touma

Hehe XD See you again in the next chapter. ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄

Oh, and for the other readers' information, a mausoleum is a tomb, sometimes it would include a room to accommodate the visitors. These extravagant tombs were mostly built for rich people by the way.

And yeah, finished editing this chap. (I wish I spotted all of the errors, I got bad eyesight XD)

Thanks to that certain person who mentioned it :)