Chapter Three: The Break-Down Chapter ( aka "The Sad Chapter" )
Dreamers of the Day
It was the following day after previous events had been rewritten...
While one girl had a lot on her mind...
Everyone else was acting normally. Like nothing of consequence had happened.
To an extent, this was true.
…
But for her... to believe that...
It was impossible.
Thoughts of nothing weighed heavily, clouding her mind.
Clouding her heart.
And so...
In this hazy state of mind...
We begin again.
When Losing Isn't The End Of The World
A certain electrifying esper was paying half-attention in class...
"Misaka-san..."
...
"Misaka-san..."
Staring blankly at the empty notebook in front of her...
...
"Misaka-san...!"
…!
Finally reacting, the girl jumped up from her seat.
"Y-Yes!"
"…"
A short silence followed. And a breath was let out.
"Class is over. You're free to go."
At that moment, the Number 3 noticed she was the only one in the room. Even the clock on the wall had continued on without her.
She reddened slightly and lowered her voice.
"...S-Sorry."
She hurriedly gathered her things and made her way out.
But before leaving, she nodded her head towards her teacher in a sort-of goodbye.
When The Small Things Don't Matter Anymore
Her steps were slow but sure, the girl went about her day listlessly...
"I received a gift from my family in the mail... But something like this is a little... I wonder if there's anyone who'd like to take this off my hands..."
"I wonder."
She walked past Saten Ruiko as she displayed the frog-printed pajamas she received.
"O-Onee-sama! This is...! An accident...! Yes, an accident! I tripped and fell...! I would never have such ill intentions as to satisfy my own perversions in this type of direct manner...!"
"Is that so."
She ignored Shirai Kuroko as she nervously gripped the electromaster's upper region with one of her hands.
"Such Misfortune! I have two tickets to Gekota-land and no one to go with! Hey Biri-Biri! Are you free today?"
"I'm a little busy."
As the girl went on through her day, she had no particular destination in mind. But she kept on walking...
As if there was a place she needed to go...
That's When You Become An Adult
The sidewalks and streetlights blurred into a single mess, and before she knew it, the skies went black.
"..."
Warm wind felt sticky across her skin, but... it didn't bother her.
"..."
Finding herself in a recreational area, away from the nightlife of the inner city...
Where no one could see her sulk…
Where no one could see her cry...
She stopped herself.
"...I lost."
The girl admitted it. And a thin smile stretched across her face.
"Aha... haha..."
Looking towards the ground...
...
She finally felt cold.
Hey! Lighten Up The Mood A Bit!
Under the the sterile light of a streetlamp...
Two Misaka Sisters sat on a bench.
"'Hey ho!' says Misaka waving her hand."
"'Ho hey!' replies Misaka doing the reverse."
They both began some intense thinking.
"'It's been a really long time since our last appearance… Do people even remember who the Bench Sisters are?' asks Misaka wondering if bringing us in was a good idea."
"'More troubling is the fact we appeared in something called 'The Sad Chapter'... Misaka knows our segments weren't always popular, but were they really that 'sad'?' questions Misaka as she makes the unintentional connection."
They both crossed their arms.
"'Well, I guess it can't be helped,' says Misaka nonchalantly."
"'That's right. That's right,' says Misaka nodding along."
Misaka Mikoto popped into the frame.
"I'm kinda having a moment here. Can you guys... just end whatever it is you're doing..."
Dreamers of the Night
"'And so, a long awaited guest joins the Bench Sisters! The Original: Misaka Mikoto!' says Misaka as she introduces the most popular girl of the series!"
Misaka Mikoto frowns.
"I… have no idea what's going on… And I'm not feeling up to doing whatever this is."
The two girls panic.
"'Ack! The Original's being a buzzkill! There has to be a way to lighten up the mood!' says Misaka as she desperately tries to figure out a way to not make this segment even sadder!"
"'Quick! Stick to the standard 'To Aru Super SS' formula! 'Dream ending' sequence go!' says Misaka as she bails on the skit!"
…
It's revealed that the 'real' Misaka Mikoto had collapsed on the ground from exhaustion.
What the hell...!
Sleeper Hit
Step. Step.
...
While the girl's consciousness was fading in and out, she noticed.
Step. Step.
…
She was being carried on someone's back.
This was a rather dangerous situation...
But she was too tired to do anything about it.
Step. Step.
...
All she could do was slightly bury her face into the back of this person's hair.
…
And make a mental note...
A useless thought that meant nothing...
...
'It... smells nice...'