Golden Century

Chapter 3: Serve the servants

Shokuhou Misaki was currently more than a little tired. It had been a long day. She had woken up at a time more than past what was acceptable this morning; it couldn't really be blamed on her though given that she was up late texting Kamijou. The subject didn't really matter besides that it had kept her awake past 11 which was an issue considering her clique had a meeting at 7.

It wasn't like she could just not go to them either-that would be counterproductive to the point of the clique. After dealing with a collection of teenage girls for so long, they went until 9ish come to think of it; she found herself heading to a new bakery just outside the school garden in the second district. Being summer break, it wasn't like there were any problems with her even leaving the area through during the school year she would be forced to sign out. Being a new bakery of high quality just outside the school garden and in the part of academy city with the most students, it was little wonder the place was packed. Not only the restaurant either the maybe 3x4 block area around the bakery was full-up on visitors. She even saw more than a few uniforms of Tokiwadai.

While she could have simply used her powers to part the crowd like the red sea she had chosen not to, it seemed like more effort than she wanted to consider her current state and the officer on traffic duty seemed quite adept, but the constant shouting was slightly annoying. She still moved through the crowd though, using more than a slight amount of her passive power to keep anyone from bumping into her. Coming to cross the street that was when she released something, she felt foolish for not noticing. Stood in front of her with a green band strung over his right arm was Kamijou Touma frantically waving is arms in signs to move, to slow down or to stop.

"Kamijou?"

"Oh, it's you Shokuhou; what are the odds?"

"Oddly high. This coincident ability would be suspicious under than other circumstance."

"This Kamijou think you are implying something."

"Oh, who knows? She put her hand underneath her chin and put on a faux look inquisitiveness. "It's just that we keep running into each other, once or twice I can understand, but this is the 3rd time we have bumped into one another sense Sunday."

"And?" Touma had moved slightly off to the side and gestured for her to come with him. If it wasn't for some rather impressive traffic technique, he might have brought the crowd with them.

"It's only Wednesday."

"I have a calendar you know."

"Really? With that kind of Adult ability, I think you would be able to get where this is going."

'Heh, that will show him.' It was the time that she finally had her time to make light of him.

He looked hurt.

"You know when a young girl finds herself running into the same boy so consistently, she can't help but wonder if it was planned." It probably wasn't all things considered; especially when one accounts for Kamijou's unique relationship with lady luck. She didn't mind either if anything it was nice to have daily run-ins with Kamijou-not that she would ever admit that to herself or him.

So, if she knew nothing was amiss and enjoyed the strange display of probability why was she bringing it up? Simply put she liked having to opportunity to speak with her friend, making it three days in a row now and what was their 6th meeting in total. Again, while unlikely to openly admit it to him she was glad of their encounters and did consider them friends- even if she was jumping the gun. That was the origin of their conservation, and given how much it had taken her mind off her annoyance from early it only served to further her opinion of the boy. One that seeing as she was breaking up the monotonous work day for the boy in question was likely developing just as well on the other end.

"I'm some kind of stalker then, that what you are getting at?" He seemed slightly distracted given the crowds he was directing but still managed to look at her with an amused look on his face.

"Yep, I bet you even put a tracking chip on me back at the station and have been using these opportunities to worm your way closer for your eventual crime."

"Not a bad theory, though I expected more analysis from a level 5."

It was time to hit her with the comeback he'd been think of sense her second sentence.

"I clearly would have a much better taste; I mean who would even want to kidnap you? If anything, it is me who needs to avoid you. A wild and dangerous mind controller who keeps dragging this Kamijou along for her schemes. I should be trying to hide myself from you."

While that may have been enough to send her on another ball throwing spree, she had been around him more than enough at this point to be used to him. Don't get it wrong though she was still displeased.

"I am gravely offended Kamijou, you mean to say I'm not worthy of your attention ability? How rude."

"If it makes things better, I would avoid getting involved with gangs as well." The validity of that claim was suspect given that he was doing just a few months ago.

"Well, in any case, my schemes involve you tagging along as well once again."

"I'm not just some mafioso you can bring along whenever."

"You would not give your life for your godmother!" she gasped with exaggerated poise.

"Nope, also I'm more than little occupied at the moment."

She signed dramatically before reaching into her handbag. She grasped one of her remotes, pointed at the crowds around them and clicked. Within a split second the collective eyes of the surrounding block flashed with a star, and those starry-eyed folks started to move with machine-like precision.

"And now Kamijou?" She turned to look at him with mischief in her eyes

"This Mafioso is coming along Don Shokuhou." He was looking around at the now automated crowds with a look of "not bad" in his eyes.

"Oh, don't be like that. If anything, I think of us as more a beautiful princess and her noble knight." She gestured for him to follow before heading off down the street once again.

"So, there is this bakery I've been hearing good things about with some killer crumb cake."

"Such misfortune." He sighed. He was feeling hungry though.


The two of them did indeed try to crumb cake and found that it was as good if not better then suspected. Touma got himself a club sandwich to go with the pastry. He was pretty hungry and given the opportunity he didn't mind filling up. With Misaki, he figured she would have mentioned his order, however, if she was going to say anything about his apparent gluttony then it was ignored in favor of baklava she had ordered when the waiter came around.

"Do you have to do that often? You seemed to know what you were doing out there." She had just finished chewing her bite and deciding to speak again; she had gotten talking to continue their conversation from early.

"Not too often, it just that with summer break being here there's a lot more to do and my superior is a real taskmaster." He had a minor chill go through him think about that damn amazon.

"That's unfortunate; your tolerance ability must be pretty high. Say when don't you have judgment?" Misaki asked curiously while cutting into her baklava with the spoon provided.

"Why, are you asking if I want to make plans with you?" He quickly found himself falling back into his habit of teasing the poor girl.

She turned her face back down to her dessert and took another bite. Desperate to ignore his line of questing and to hide the blush that was now creeping its way across her face.

He just laughed and took another bite of his sandwich.

They had finished shortly after that. Misaki had paid the bill. While it slightly hurt his pride as a man, this was academy city and such feeling where undoubtedly outdated. Plus, she was level 5; her bank didn't hurt one bit. It was a good look for her as well; she seemed really mature doing that. At least In Touma's eyes.

They had headed their separate ways shortly after, Misaki heading back to the school garden and Touma to his dorm.

She did what most teenage girls did at that time of day and by nine found herself settled in for bed. Junko-her roommate was still sitting at her desk studying with her earphones in her ears.

She, of course, was texting Touma at this time. She had little else to do, wasn't tired and they made gotten into the practice a few days ago. Looking at Junko studying she had an idea hit her. A great idea in her humble opinion. She sat up in bed and began to type away at her phone.

A fair distance away a boy was cooking himself dinner in his small dorm room. Setting out the egg he would crack in later he was just about finished with his udon. Settling his wooden spoon down on the cool side of his stovetop he looked over at his phone that had recently buzzed. Moving over to pick it up he was greeted with another message from Shokuhou.

So, since you have tomorrow off again, I was thinking. You have entrance exams and so do I so would you like to study?

He looked over the text and sent back his reply.

Sure. What time and where do you want to meet up?

I'm so sorry I'm late, I got held up in my dorm, just heading down the street now.

Well, would you look at that? It seemed lady luck was more interested in messing with him indirectly today. That had only happened a few times before. He supposed ruining a perfectly good studying secession was as good a plot as any. He usually wasn't too keen on taking this kind of help from anyone, especially regarding tests.

On the other hand, she was a level 5 and well, an expert was putting it lightly when describing her academic prowess. Plus, he was used to this kind of stuff, level 5s helping him study. He supposed he had Kakine to thank for that. While he knew what he was doing his ability to learn was much more stagnate without having a genius on hand. Luckily enough Shokuhou was kind enough to help on that front. She was something else. Maybe he should change her contact to something other than golden-girl?

It probably wouldn't be a bad idea, and she deserved something more personal at this point. Touma had to wonder- would Misaki to be informal at this point? Their sudden closeness was on his mind more often than not, his day had gone from judgment and whatever else he had needed to do to judgment, Misaki, then whatever he needed to do. She had become part of his schedule. He wasn't surprised he got so familiar with someone so quickly, Kamijou had been pretty isolated since he left SCHOOL so looking for genuine friends was normal, but for Mis-Shokuhou, well it may be like with him. Lonely. While he'd been known Kakine for good long while he had said that he had a rough time of it as a child error before they met. Was that it? The old idiom "it's lonely at the top" was probably fitting here.

If that was the case, then he was flattered. Hopeful even, he was enjoying his time, and it never hurt to improve. Looking over his shoulder, a thought crossed his mind.

'Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.'

"I'm here; I'm here; I'm here, I'm here." She breathed out between quick breaths. She was exhausted. Getting hold up by dorm manager over lack of uniform and being forced to change only to get interrogated regarding her destination was both time-consuming and nerve-wracking. After realizing that she was late by the time she left Shokuhou began to do something she never did-run. Cleary, she didn't do so often judging by her lack of breath after what was actually a rather short distance. Regardless he had a textbook on psychology before him when she had reached the picnic table he had set up.

'Is that a picnic basket? She'd only seen old folk use one of those in the parks. She doubled-checked the table, and right beside the pile of textbooks he'd brought there was indeed a basket. 'Old fashioned but fitting' was the thought running through Misaki's head when he spoke to her again.

"There you are, do you mind explaining this to me?"

'Hm. Could he be studying psychology to have more to talk with me about?'

He was way off the mark if that was the case, but why not help with his efforts? Plus, it may help him given that he's with judgment. She sat next to him, and he continued to look at the passage in the textbook before him.

"Yeah, my teaching ability is very much able to do that." She said after looking over the book. "Although psychology isn't actually something I'm well versed in, understanding personalities and mind control aren't actually all that connected on a basic level."

"Oh? I figured getting in somebodies head on a personal level would help on a physical one."

"Well, it does, but there are only a few telepaths in this city where that level of precision even needs to be taken into account."

"You being one of them?"

"Of course."

"Well, then it's worth learning about then right?"

She was defiantly not blushing. It was only that she was still fatigued from the run over. Never mind that her heart had begun to beat more than that was necessary. She frantically grabbed a water from the basket before then and began to chug it down in an attempt to cool down.

"Okay if you insist. See here, where it talks about the Super-ego? When I control somebody its important to understand this. It controls social standards, so if you want to be more subtle and less active in control of someone, then it's much easier to manipulate that to have them act in a certain way. Doing this, rather than just puppeting them s much easier on the telepath." she began to teach the boy about the intricacies of her ability and the more delicate concepts behind it. She may not be an expert, but she was a level 5.

They continued to study following this method throughout the morning, stopping to each lunch with each other. The past week or so in mind it had turned out this past week the two of them had eaten with each other more often than not. They had done so from Sunday to today and today being Thursday even if they stopped hanging out it was still 4 out of 7 days.

After Lunch and pleasant conservation about classmates, they moved on the personal realities, the most delicate part of being an Esper. Though Something about his classmates rubbed her the wrong way, she didn't want Touma to be around those perverts he called acquaintances or most of the girls in his class. She supposed she was getting over barring (she couldn't be jealous after all), but after all this time that kind of request was more than reasonable at least to Shokuhou. She didn't make it yet, even if she understood her reason, she was scared of coming on too strong.

"Well, I think that is all I need to cover for today." Touma took his time to stretch back from the bench leaning almost far back enough to see up her skirt, of course, she was sitting, and he wasn't that type, so it wasn't an issue.

"Well about personal realities? That the most difficult for any Esper to understand, no matter their comprehension ability." She was puzzled, after all this effort why cut off before the most crucial part?

"Err, well I don't exactly see the point, I think I have the subject down pretty well."

"What? No way Tou-Kamijou, your Esper ability can always get better, look at me for instance." She didn't understand why he didn't want to try and improve his power, that was the point of being an Esper and 5th levels were the experts on getting more numbers.

"While I'm colored to hear you say that I think if I could have been a level 5, they ought to have told me by now." He said this after snapping his body upright again and looking down at her to his side. He started to scratch the back of his head lightly and seemed slightly embarrassed.

If Misaki were drinking any water, then she would have done a spit take. She was shocked, Touma didn't exactly seem like he was only one step behind her. Well, that and his ability had been pushed out of her mind thanks to other more critical material. Come to think of it he had mentioned a 'Dream Seeker", that was probably his ability come to think of it.

"level 4!?" she relayed her surprise.

Touma seemed somewhat confused by her reaction.

"Well yeah, I mean what did you think; that anything less could have faced down Mental Out? He said thinking back to all the times he cancelled her localized active AIM diffusion fields. Or saw them radiating off of people on the street-Misaki was practically vibrant just sitting here if he activated his ability. He was pretty sure he'd mentioned the precognition at some point, though she may have just assumed he had a hunch.

Misaki was having a minor internal crisis. Sure, she assumed he was a reasonably well of Esper, but after pushing anything of that sort to the side in favor of Lunch plans and Touma trivia, it was odd to learn the seeming unsuspecting boy before she was only one level off behind her. She didn't even know what his ability was besides that glass sound and her ability not working. That oversight was probably a bad idea. She was pretty much his best-friend at this point and not knowing his ability? She was actually pretty embarrassed.

"I guess so its just that-. Misaki trialed off unsure of what to say. She looked Touma right in the eye before starting again. If she wanted to make this workout, she needed to step up her game. "I'm sorry it's just that anything like this sort of slipped past my recall ability."

"it's not your fault; it's mine, I should have said something. But, yeah level 4: Dream Seeker, AIM sight and comprehension, precognition and active AIM manipulation. The first two make sense, and I get the idea pretty well, the last ones odd though."

While the first two seemed like rather simple abilities and defiantly an offshoot of the same personal reality that last part was strange, like it was removed from any meaningful ties between applications.

"That explains a lot. I see that you mean though with the manipulation. I assume that's how you turn off my ability?"

"Pretty much, I just need to come into contact with an active AIM field, and I can have a field day. The only issue is I don't really understand it, and it's like it's not even tied to the other ones."

"I'm sure its nothing, if your personal reality resolves around AIM fields from what I hear it's no wonder something like that manifested." She said this all while trying to wrap her head around the application of his ability.

"You think so?" He sounded hopeful actually.

"Well what else could it be magic?" she paused as they both snickered at the idea. When put like that it really did make his concern seems minor. "Anyway, what else can your ability do?"

"Okay so if I'm in any sort of danger than the AIM fields passive calculations consider that before- "

That went on for the foreseeable future.

The rest of their time together at the park went well, after finishing his ability description they found themselves back to the subject of classmates again. She was already concerned about those two perverts so imagine her worry when he started to mention an upper-class man who was "sure amazing" "Able to do anything" "capable of motorcycles, working part-time and casually answering anything asked." Having made the "Amazing step between middle school and high school" and worst of she was apparently "really an adult."

It was like he had been trying to piss her off. Shokuhou had only just entered the middle school zone this year, so she did not like the sound of that direction of thinking. It made her feel several levels behind. On what she was behind the competition on she would be undoubtedly unable to say the answer without breaking down in mortification. Seriously who the hell did that hag think she was. She was moving in on her-Mental Out's turf! She had the dark desire to find the girl and leave her forgetting anything that Touma found so mature. It may have been extreme, but she was distressed. She was so angry she didn't even notice what her subconscious labeled as hers along with the shock if the truth came out and she would be forced to acknowledge the line of reasoning.

Regardless just as they had found themselves doing for days know at this point, they finished saying their goodbyes before heading to their respective homes.

'See you tomorrow Misaki." He waved before crossing the crosswalk in the direction she assumed his dorm was.

"You to Touma, I'll text you if I have anything pressing."

He simply waved his hand back at her in agreement. At the moment after the passing words, they were content to sit in the pleasing silence following their departure on their way back. At least before very similar thoughts crossed their minds.

'Wait, Misaki? Also, why so much confidence in another meetup!" the girl started to turn radish red once again.

'Touma? Well, I guess we have gotten pretty familiar.'

Returning home, they both faced different results. Touma had come up his stairs opened his doors before settling down on his bed, it would still be a number of hours before sleep or even diner but after so much studying his head hurt so a nap was in order. Misaki, on the other hand, was greeted by the self-assured face of Junko looking at her.

"My queen, were you out with that boy again?"

Misaki could only sputter in response when Junko's eyes lit up. Figuratively, however, she wasn't in the right state of mind for Mental Out.


Touma wasn't expecting a trip to district six when he woke up in the morning, again this as one on his days off. It was a Monday, August the 11th and he was greeted with a picture from Misaki. Misaki now actually not golden-girl; he had changed it to something more formal. She also had a profile picture nowadays; they had taken it at the movies on Saturday. It was a good picture of both of them smiling.

It was for two tickets. Touma didn't understand until he read the text she just sent.

Make sure you dress well; we're going to the amusement park, so your presentation ability needs to match mine.

Well, it seemed his day plans were made. He rolled up and out of bed over to his closet and got dressed for the day.


The line was surprisingly small. Misaki didn't need to "convince" the crowd to part for them. She supposed it was because it was Monday, but she wasn't coming to start complaining about the turn of luck. Still, a nice turn of events; however, even if it was summer break the mental conditioning most students had experienced at this point was likely responsible for the lack of people. They were still there, of course, they indeed were not alone but the benefit of going to theme parks on the weekdays showed once again that it was very material.

It was a lovely day as well. The sun was out; it wasn't as hot as it had been during the Summer city flood prevention program. Which according to the girls in her class was actually planned t become an annual event. Though thinking about how it had turned out, Misaki wasn't opposed to repeating of the last time; as long as she wasn't humiliated like the last time. Regardless the clouds covered much of the sky, and the theme park was heavy shaded, so the heat was bearable — the perfect day for some time out with friends, and that was just what she was doing.

It seemed Touma had actually listened to her request, even if it did sound more like a command.

Despite her repeated attempts to wear something more flattering, she was still stranded with the Tokiwadai uniform. She had tried to change it up; she had gotten a red blouse with a checked skirt and leggings when she went to the underground last. Her plans to dress to impress were foiled when her dorm manager confronted her on the violation of the dress code. Suffice to say that much like the last attempt she had made she was wearing the summer uniform when she met up with Touma.

Back to Touma however and she was pleased he did what she had wanted him to do. It left her feeling partially light in the chest. He came up to their arranged meeting spot finally out of his school uniform. Dressed in a blue shoulder-length button down and some khaki shorts it seemed he cleaned up well. He even combed his hair down some. Again, she was more than just pleased he had taken gone to such lengths on her behalf. Surely, he didn't have any more motivation than only in entertaining her request? Did he think this was date and he had to go all out?

She was suddenly very red again.

"Oh, Misaki you look a little red. Did you need some sunscreen?" he finally got to the bench she was seated on and asked the question with more than a hind of concern. Misaki forced down her embarrassment before she could continue.

"Nothing to worry about! Nothing at all; the heat had just gotten to me sitting her is all." She covered quickly. The time they spent together was forcing her to get better at that every day.

"Damn, sorry it took me so long then, you must have been waiting for some time." He sounded apologetic.

"Don't worry yourself about that; my patience ability is perfectly fine; besides I wasn't here that long, I'm just not in the shade." She couldn't in good faith leave him feeling down.

"That's good then." He looked over at the park entrance, his left hand shading his eyes while looking. "So, should we head in then?" he posed his query will looking down at her while stretching out his right hand for her to take.

"Yeah let's" she smiled before taking his hand and allowing herself to be pulled to her feet.

They walked down the paved path and got in the check-in line.


"That is a terrible idea; this Kamijou is putting his foot down." He was not too pleased with the current plan of action.

"Come one, its just a rollercoaster what is there to be worried about." She was nearing whining, why hasn't he just caved already.

"Whiplash." He hoped that sounded convincing, in truth he was more concerned about his stomach's disagreement with the plan, rather than his own.

"You made me learn to win; this is the least you could do." She knew just what buttons to press at this point.

'She got me' his though. Maybe if he just ignored it, he could get away. Looking at the sad pout on her face quickly stomped out any possibility for that. He was such a sucker.

They were in line for ten minutes before they got to get in on the ride. They settled for the two-person chart in the middle and strapped in. Misaki sent him a cursory look when she saw him strapping in more than necessary, but he ignored it. When the attendant came by, she had a knowing look on her face and wished the "young couple" a good ride. Both of them refused to look at the other after that, both of them blushing up a storm.

The ride started, and what was collective excitement and nervous twitching from Touma became very nervous twitching from the both of them the closer they got to the top. By the time they could see the park spreading out beneath them Misaki was thoroughly spooked and latched onto Touma's arm much like during the pool incident. The difference this time is that she wasn't embarrassed to do so and Touma not only fond himself with not feeling the need to get her off but was actually enjoying it in some back part of his mind.

When they had reached the zenith, neither was saying a word. Misaki just clutched onto his arm with a panicked look in her eyes, and he was gripping the bar over their legs with enough strength to turn his knuckles white. They descended only all other matters were dropped in favor of simple reactions. Touma's eyes were shut tight, and he was fighting to keep his stomach under control while the feeling of being weightless while also accelerating towards the earth reached him. Misaki just screamed.

This series of events would repeat more than a few times in the following hours.


"I think I'm going to hurl." Touma was holding his hand to his mouth as he voiced his complaint at Misaki. They had just gotten off a ride with far too many lops for even him, and his worst fears were coming true. He had gotten motion sick.

'So, this is why he tried to avoid the rides. My cruelty ability is too high though, something about his is funny." Her thought may have been malicious, but after how much he teased her they were more than justified.

"How about we take a break?" she posed looking over from her place on his right to see his reaction. Judging by the manic head shaking, she assumed that was a confirmation. The rides weren't the only things to do after all.

Touma stood with a comically oversized mallet in his hand. Be it because the prize of a stuffed bee being too fitting or from his desire to show off was unclear. Touma was plenty fit, his habit of getting into brawls from the past and his current judgment work kept in more than fit. That was not going to cut it for how extreme the hammer test seemed, however. On the other hand, Touma was not over abusing his abilities. He had after all connived Misaki to send some telepathy over. She hadn't liked the lack of explanation or the ride of being inside his head but acquiesced.

'Alright, just move those through my arms and shoulder and swing!' he did just as he planned. He was very expecting that strength burst it gave him; he knew it wasn't practical, so he wasn't well versed in doing it. The procedure took to much effort for too little a reward. Moving AIM waves was hard much less controlling where they went. In this case, however, he only needed just a moment of the AIM boosted strength. Judging by the ringing sound of the metal piece absent the bell and the surprised look of the carnie in front of them the idea of anyone much less the teenager in front of him getting the metal to the top was a surprise. In all likely hood, it wasn't humanly feasible, he knew how carnies worked, but that was just more motivation to pull his little trick out.

If Misaki had a question or complained, it was silenced when a smirking and self-satisfied Touma pushed the prize into her arms.

"How did that happen?" she was more than a little confused, Touma was undoubtedly not weak, but that kind of strength didn't match up. Judging by his smirk and the wink he had the explanation ready to give to her.

"What? Do you not think this Kamijou is in peak physical condition?" he knew she'd keep grilling him he didn't actually give a reasonable response, so he leaned down to her ear.

"Dream Seeker, I just had to run some AIM through my body to mimic super strength." The look of humor left her face as she realized how close they were.

"Come along there are other games we need to play." She quickly started to move in the other direction to avoid the looks from the people around them, and that of Touma himself. "I want a more coherent explanation too."

He could only sigh and follow after her.


Just as Touma realized the only way actually to win any of these games so had Misaki. She had "Convinced" the carnie in front of the bottle throw that she had knocked them all down in one go and won herself the fancy looking jewelry. Touma sent her a look, but that was put down when she raised an eyebrow and gestured to the Bee she was making him carry. Just like that he promptly stopped his attitude ability. He started to resume the requested explanation so that he could deflect.

"This Kamijou can manipulate any active AIM fields." He paused to make sure she was listening. Judging from her perch on the stand as the attendant was fetching her prize she was, so he continued. "When you sent yours at me, I was able to move them because I was in contact, so I ran it through me, and a got super strength for a moment."

She certainly looked impressed. "So why don't you use that more often?" She asked

"it's pretty hard to do, and it's only temporary, usually not worth the effort." He replied

"I get that; my one concentration ability doesn't last long when using Mental Out either." She looked happy now that she had gotten the explanation. "Anyway, Touma I want more prizes; let's go."

Using her talent in a creative way still counted as winning right?


After recently mugging more prize stands Touma found himself being dragged over to the go-carts. He found a place to them down before hopping into the cart next to Misaki's. The challenging look in her eyes told him that some Initial D shenanigans were underway.

'When in Rome' he mused before sending the look right back at her.

While his effort was great Misaki was concerningly good at drifting for a girl without a driver's license. He took his defeat graciously however giving that his failure was actually understandable in the circumstances.

'She's too good; I don't think her racing skills could be beaten.' He found himself thinking when looking at his happily humming companion. It seems there was a physical activity where the queen of Tokiwadai wasn't wholly inept in.

She had led them to a funnel cake stand. She ordered the thing, and the two of them had sat down. Touma wasn't eating.

"What's wrong? Don't tell me your eating ability is still in the rebound from the rollercoasters? She asked. The Thought that they were sharing a meal was in her head, but she couldn't find herself to care all too much over that little detail.

"This Kamijou's eating ability is perfectly fine. My issue is that I am hesitant to eat his dubious collection of diabetes and tooth decay." He said this while poking at the unholy creation with his fork.

She simply fixed him a look before shoving her fork with a piece of said dubious diabetes into his mouth. While part of her was worried over the indirect kiss, she once again found herself unable to care.

They found their way to a photo booth after the "meal." Before he could even get his mouth open to suggest they go inside the actual photography building nearby for something more professional Misaki had dragged him into the both, paid the fee and was anxiously awaiting the camera.


Shifting focus away from a small photo booth in a theme park we come to a collection of middle schoolers in oversized hats and coasts, passing around binoculars and speaking in hushed, conspiratorial voices.

"It's true."

"The queen is actually with that boy."

"So that him; the prince?"

"No one is good enough for our queen!"

Junko was ignoring the hushed and manic speaking of her fellow clique mates. She was instead thinking all the changes her queen had gone through on the past week or so. Just the Sunday before last the queen had run off into the night. She knew Misaki was not well when she had done that. The weeks and months preceding that she had grown increasing detached, depressive and isolated. Junko could sleep one bit that night then her queen had run off. But then she had returned — escorted home by a nondescript young man with a judgment band in the dead of night. Dorm manager had seemed furious at first, and she certainly was over Misaki leaving but then the boy told a battle with a resurgent skill out using a "Mental down" and a battle the two of them fought her heart had melted. Junko was listening in on the conservation and was shocked, such things to happen to her queen, and who was the young man to help?

When the queen was back in her dorm, she was expecting a look of shock or maybe trauma on her face. Her queen had looked so shook during the story and was just as passionate when telling her side of the tale as well. So, then she came into the room with a smile on her face and giggling Juno didn't know what to do. She indeed to ask her queen what happened, if she was okay, and if she needed to talk but could muster up the courage to do so. Her queen had simply smiled at her, apologized for any worry she might have caused and went to bed laughing lightly about the "solid cover."

The next day the school and the clique were abuzz with rumor and talk of the event. Shokuhou remained tight-lipped, however, and so did Dorm manager, and so nothing came of the incident. At least until the Summer flood prevention preparation day. Her queen was gone the entire day, and much unlike the sad and dull girl from before came back the picture of expressiveness. She was angry, happy and tried all at once. She asked, and her queen had said she had spent her day with a friend.

In the following days, this response became more and more frequent, along with that Junko could only assume was communication with said person judging by her newfound texting habit. Junko should have been worried about his change in her queen, yet she seemed so much happier, busier and alive again. She simply stayed quiet and let this happen. She eventually learned the truth, that of her queen spending time with the judgment boy from before and their activities. She was happy and relieved for her queen. She no longer came back into their dorm like a living corpse, but excitable young women that she was.

She eventually spoke to the queen about it and in place of the icy and dismissive reply she was expecting she was greeted with embarrassment and denial. In school the queen was more personable; she spent time and interacted with her clique. She started going to class with a light in her eyes again. Everyone noticed faculty, clique, and other students. Once again rumors spread and Junko has a high ranker in the clique, and the queen roommate was asked about this positive change, she, however, in respect to her queen's privacy stayed mum on the subject at hand. This change was good, no matter how she may have felt about the boy and his virtues he was making the queen happy, like she wanted to live life again. And so she was thankful. She addressed the gossiping girls behind her and told them as much.

Initially, surprise was written on their faces, but that gave way to expectable and relief. Soon the clique was not investigating for any purpose other than to state their curiosity. Her verbal tongue whipping and settling things straight had utterly changed the mood of the group.

"If the queen is happy then so must we be."

"The prince must be something special if he brought this about."

Junko, despite never having met the boy found herself agreeing with that assessment. It was only right for her queen to have a prince.


Back in the photo both a young man found himself sneezing.

Stopping from looking over the photos the look of pleasure was replaced with one of corner written across Misaki's face

"Touma are you okay?" she asked now placing her favorite photos in her handbag and handing the others to Touma. He took them and put them in his pocket before replying

.

"Just some allergies, nothing too serious. Touma looked at her and then off into the distance. "I know it's getting late but do you want to do one last ride?" he asked.

She answered the question by grabbing onto his arm and walking in the direction with Touma.


His motion sickness came back in full force. That funnel cake certainly did not help the situation any. As should be expected they left the park shortly after, heading back out the entrance they came through and crossed through an actual park on their way again; however, something unexpected happened. Something sinister.

Shokuhou Misaki could no longer hear the loud cicada cries.

There was a simple reason for that.

On that summer day, pidgeons completely covered her.

"…"

"Wahh, wahh, wahh!"

She had lost her Stuffed prizes the swarm of sky rats. She didn't know if they came first for the bag of popcorn or her soul. Regardless the fiends had sensed her weakness and attacked.

At the moment her companion was fending off her attackers while she huddled over her last untouched procession-the stuffed bumble bee Touma had won for her; while in a defensive curl. Despite the swinging of his bag and that she assumed was martial arts the swarm of around 50 pigeons was not letting up.

Within a few moments the rest of her popcorn was eaten and her prices that she "won" were little more than stuffing on the ground. She had only eaten a few pieces on the way out the theme park before the attack happened. With their victory the gang of marauding avians few away, they are leaving her covered in feathers and with a massive hole in her pride.

"I was gone for like 2 minutes, and you got jumped by a swarm of birds! What were you even doing?" he sounded exasperated. He was additionally out of breath from fighting the bird's swarm.

"But…I… That wasn't my fault! I was the one attacked by the park's pigeon posse!"

"This goes beyond simply being unathletic."

"What?"

"Why does it seem so familiar? Do you maybe have the same tendency for misfortune as me?" he was looking worried. Did his relationship with lady luck sour her own by pure osmosis?

"N-no, I don't. A perfect queen like me would never have that kind of negative ability displayed on her status screen! If I did it was your fault, I've seen the effects of your feud with fate."

This likely would have continued with not for the boy before her to stop and fished something out of his bag. It took her a second, but she recognized it as the silver whistle he as directing traffic with a few days before. He had a pitying look in his eye when he addressed her.

"Just, just take it. You need it more than me." He handed it to her acknowledging the confused look on her face before continuing.

"You need this with you; if you didn't have it, I would be worried sick."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she was slightly offended by the concern.

"Use it if you're in trouble. It might give me more chances to save you." Her heart beat a little faster at that.

Once she took it "because he said to," she realized he had pretty well tamed her. She would never have admitted it, though. At the least, the taming went both ways judging by the direction today had taken under her intent.

'Honestly, this isn't like putting a bell on a cat's collar.' While the idea of having something that marked the two of them as together was very appealing, it was still slightly degrading. At least the whistle was nice. She'd seen it used before, it was ingrained with the judgment symbol on its top and was made of shining metal. It had a decent weight behind it and seemed to be of high quality.

The slender girl, now completely covered in feathers (both her uniform and hair were smothered in the foul material) put the silver whistle around her neck, like she had seen Touma do.

"That's my traffic whistle; it makes a sound I can recognize anywhere heard it enough. It got it from my branch but I'd rather you have it at this point." He seemed both worried and disappointed at the same time.

She moved to put it in her mouth to try it out before a thought crossed her mind.

'Wait, given this thing's second-hand ability doesn't that make this an indirect kiss? I've seen him out his mouth all over this thing!"

Her face grew red, but Touma only continued to look on nonchalantly. She almost wanted to hit him for that attitude but thought better of it. This as a big deal, however. The casualty in the scene irritated her a bit, but he relaxed and placed his whistle in her mouth.

"Do you think It will actually help?" he merely shrugged from her question.

" I mean probably, at the very least it will be more comfortable on the throat hen screaming; trust me I've used it plenty, and the sound is distinct.

The bright and ear-piercing noise rang out through the park.

An indirect kiss still counted did it not?

That was a novel thought. One she should have been surprised to be having but couldn't help it; in fact, she was happy to be moving along the chain on progress, closer to the boy. A heal faced turn had been made, but she was very content with the direction she was headed in.


Author's note:

Well here's the next one. I'm pretty pumped with the repetition I've done in the last few days and judging on the rush I get when a fanfiction email comes in a doubt ill be stopping anytime soon.

On closer inspection I've not done a disclaimer so: I don't own or am I affiliated in any way with this franchise.

This is actually the second time I've written the author's note, I clicked off when I tried to read the reviews so there's that. Anyway this chapter got finished early riding the coattails of post-test relaxation. Expect next chapter anywhere from a few days to 2 weeks from now.

Time for reviews(again)

Fortitude501: Glad you liked it. I uploaded a bit early than needed because I was up late and not uploading on mayday could have been a same.

Guest1: Yeah I see no problem with that. I'll just write that down in the story notes from when I need an OC.

Ultra Instinct shaggy: :) hope this chapter keeps up that feeling.

Bluejack22: Good to hear that my dialogue isn't disappointing.

Sergio644: Jazzed to hear that. I love 'em too but I wasn't able to get my fix so I wrote this for my fellow people of taste out there. Judging my I can say that I have every intention of finishing this story.

Well that's I got at the moment. Read, review and all that jazz. Last note before departure is that I've listen to a lot of music writing this and have a backlist of chapter titles that need to be used.