[Dedicated to God Bro's tsuntsun-ness]

[None of you will know what that means]

Chapter 3

I really didn't want to wake up that morning. Honest. I really didn't. I'd only end up embarrassing myself today. But naturally, there they both were. Good friends knocking on my door to wake me up, chanting things like "You'll be late!" and "You must not want to go up a level, huh?"

So there I climbed out of bed, got dressed, and readied myself to waste a whole day away.

Today was another Ability Testing day. Just grand. Of course due to my COMPLETE lack of "traditional" Esper abilities, I'm probably going to fail once again. The thought has occurred that my computational abilities could actually be used practically, but what the hell's the point? Not like I even want to deal with them.

Sana and Shinks were chatting away on the way to the school, almost oblivious of my presence. They were actually discussing the matter at hand, for once. I guess it is possible for them to do things beside flirt and argue. I tuned into their conversation.

Sana-hime chimed in, "I don't think I'll graduate to a Level 5 just yet. Think about it, the jump from a Level 4 to what are considered the highest tier of the elite is a pretty big one. Of course I'm clearly deserving." She said with a highly prideful tone. Shinki, despite obviously wanting to assure her otherwise (I could tell by his expression), was inclined to agree. "I'm not sure if there's much more you can do the way you are, unless you work really hard to gain new abilities." Sana gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm sure you'll shine though Shinkkun~" Such a sickeningly sweet nickname. "I think you're ready to become a Level 4. You've been a Level 3 long enough." I was sorry I did it immediately, but I had to interrupt.

"That's not how it works." I interjected. Sana frowned at me. "Then what about you? You think you are ready to become a Level 1? Maybe then you'd be less useless as a butler." I looked away, half in annoyance, half in embarrassment. "I'm not your damn servant." Sana smiled devilishly. "Then how about this? Either you become a Level 1 Esper today or you have to do whatever I want for a day?" It must have been the high. You know, how you lose all sense when you're mad, but I agreed.

We came up to the school. We divided into groups, organized by Level. Of course, the Level 0's were first. Shinks would be right up before Sana too. And then the real show began when the Level 5s show up. Of course that's less of a test, and more of a show off session. Isn't it impossible to achieve Level 6 anyways?

I half-heartedly listened to the administrator drone on. Not like I'd give any effort this time. Then again, I never gave any effort. Quizzes, essays, calculations, reports, all that stuff was easy. But when the time came to use my abilities practically, I always failed.

I joined with the other students, and psyched myself up. I was going to win this bet.

I stared at the big fat 0 with a mix of disdain and an almost alarming lack of surprise. Son of a-. Well that was it. I'd have to avoid her. Change my name. Move out of the country. Grow a beard. Live in a cabi-

Ugh.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful.

I avoided the Level 3 and 4 testing areas for obvious reasons. (Rumors spread easily though. The princess didn't go up a level, and neither did her "undeserving" boyfriend.) I wasn't surprised by the results given the conversation earlier in the day. The Level 5 tests were approaching. I was, to be honest looking forward to them.

Mikoto Misaka, that was her name. That's right; she was attending this school now. She'd be testing along with the Level 5s in her own specified examination. This I had to see.

I followed the spectators, and emerged to see a large crowd. Damn, I expected a turnout but I wouldn't be able to get through there. Then I saw them. Two guys cutting their way through like they owned the place. I slipped in with them.

The examiners told the Railgun she was allowed a few practice shots. She stood in front of a large pool. On the opposite end sat the examiner's booth. I saw her ready a coin. They announced her previous record, sitting at 1,030 meters per second. What did they mean by tha-?

BOOM

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Shot after shot, water blasted into the air, then settled harmlessly back into the pool. My eyes were probably flying from place to place. I wasn't sure. The numbers bounced around in my head. As the demonstration continued, I felt myself becoming increasingly less impressed by Tokiwadai's Ace. I glanced at the crowd. Wait. That guy I was following. Don't I live next to him? What was his name? Kuro-something. Ryo. Yeah, let's stick with that. He seemed to be highly interested. I sighed.

"She's holding back." I directed towards him. He nodded towards me as if he was still too absorbed by the demonstration, then my statement clicked in his mind. He asked me what I meant. I obliged.

Every shot sent off about 160,000 gallons shooting into the sky. Average height was 240 meters. This equates to 950 meters per second. He stared at me dumbfounded for a minute, and then continued watching. It looked as if he was centered on a target. His friend said something to him; I didn't exactly care what, and then started dragging him off. I was curious, and followed.

So that's what he was looking at. Tokiwadai's Ace herself stared at Ryo almost contemptuously. Somehow though, she looked relaxed at the same time. Weird. Ryo started coaching her. Wait. Ryo knew Mikoto Misaka? Then my memory switched back a while ago. Hadn't he beaten her in some other exams too? I think I came in third or fourth around there too.

I'm getting off topic. I completely missed the coaching, but suddenly the Ace looked a little more confident. Whatever the guy said worked. She flipped the coin into the air.

BOOM

Holy.

Shit.

I mean just.

Whoa.

It takes a lot to get me dumbstruck like that but… I had no idea that she could. I uttered the calculations as if in a trance. 210,000 gallons at a height of 300 meters. 1,200 meters per second. I think that's a record breaker.

I heard Ryo say something to me, but my brain was somewhere else. I kind of had to stop being amazed because approaching at a speed of 5.7 KPH at a distance of a mere 32.7 meters, I saw an angry looking puff of pink hair and a short skirt and I had to escape fast. I bolted off in the opposite direction with Sana-hime on my tail. She caught up to me in seconds and yanked me by the collar.

"Hello, Level 0."

I was nauseous.

"Son of a… Fine. Screw it. Name your price." I gave up. There was no way I was going to get around this bet, was there?

Sana-hime smiled, and let me go. "Fortunately for you, I'm kind of busy with Shinkkun today, so you're free to go."

What? Like I would ask questions. I think she said something about it being a waste anyways since the day was nearly over in the first place but my mind was a little bit more centered on how absolutely terrified I was of what the next day would bring.