Disclaimer: To Aru isn't mine or else Kamikoto would be canon now.

Also, please don't throw things at me XD

VII: Saten's Album: Shopping with the Boyfriend

"Aa~ah, why did Uiharu and Shirai-san have to have Judgment work today?" Ruiko sighed as she walked with Misaka-san in District 7 with no particular destination in mind.

"Well, it can't be helped, right?" Misaka-san shrugged, "Work has to come first."

"Yeah, but we haven't been hanging out for a while now and when we finally find the time, they have to work? Really..."

"Sorry, Saten-san, it's partly my fault," the older girl smiled apologetically, "Lately, I'm the one who keeps skipping out so we don't get to hang out much."

"Ah, it's alright, really!" Ruiko reassured, "We know we can't just take all your free time. You have Kamijou-san now so we completely understand. You want to spend time together," she smiled when the Electromaster blushed. Preventing a laugh from escaping, she asked, "Speaking of Kamijou-san, how is he?"

Misaka-san seemed grateful that she didn't pursue her teasing, "Ah, that idiot? He told me earlier that he's going grocery shopping. He should be done by now though so maybe he's out with some friends. I remember he told me their whole class wanted to try a new ramen shop or something."

"But don't you always have dinner together though?"

Misaka-san blushed at her remark, "N-not really... I-I just... I mean, his cooking is really good so..."

Ruiko grinned. It was amazing how easily flustered the Electromaster could be. "Anyway, we have two hours until we go meet Uiharu and Shirai-san. Wanna go to Seventh Mist for some shopping, Misaka-san?"

"U-uhm... okay."

"And while we're at it, we can buy you some cute clothes to show Kamijou-san!"

"W-w-what?! There's no way I'm—"

"Let's go!"

–

"How about this one?" Ruiko showed Misaka-san a maid outfit complete with a frilly headband, black stockings and a white apron. "Don't you think Kamijou-san would really like it if you serve him food wearing this?" she asked the older girl enthusiastically.

Misaka-san, on the other hand, was red as a tomato since the younger girl started suggesting different kinds of embarrassing clothes in the cosplay store they ended up going into. The poor girl couldn't even reply as she stared at the clothes in her arms, given by Ruiko, which she was supposed to try on later.

Unfortunately, later had already come.

"Now try them on, Misaka-san!" Ruiko said as she pushed the Level 5 towards the fitting room, "We have to see how they look on you!"

"E-eh?! B-b-but I'm not w-wearing them for—" Misaka-san tried to protest, but Ruiko wouldn't listen to her.

"There!" Ruiko cheered, having successfully forced the older girl into the fitting room, "Now change into them and show me, okay, Misaka-san? Oh, and don't take too long if you don't want me to go in there and help you!"

"H-hai..."

Ruiko grinned as she waited for the Electromaster, sitting herself on one of the nearby seats. It was so much fun choosing clothes for Misaka-san! Though the older girl adored cute things, it seemed like she couldn't handle the more mature and sexy types, thus making the Level 5 blush in all shades of red whenever she suggested something quite revealing. If only the others were here... or better yet, if Kamijou-san could see this...!

"Yo, Saten-san. So it was you after all,"

"Speak of the devil!" Ruiko yelped when Kamijou-san suddenly called out to her. He had just entered the store when she caught sight of him, approaching her as he looked around.

He whistled a little as he stopped in front of her, "I didn't know you like these kinds of stuff. Are you here with someone?"

She blinked, realizing what great timing it was for Kamijou-san to arrive. Misaka-san was just about to finish changing too, so with that thought, she smirked mischievously, "Actually, I am with someone, Kamijou-san!"

"Really? Who's with you then?"

"S-Saten-san," Misaka-san suddenly called out as she pushed aside the curtain of the changing room. Again, the timing was perfect! "Are you sure this is a good..."

Misaka-san trailed off as she saw Kamijou-san who was staring at her and the frilly maid uniform she was wearing. Neither of them moved for a good five seconds, until the scene finally registered in Misaka-san's mind and quickly closed the curtains once again.

Ruiko grinned widely at her reaction whilst the older girl stuttered, demanding, "W-w-why are you here, you idiot?! I thought you were out with some friends!"

Ruiko saw Kamijou-san cover his face with a hand, but the red tint on his cheeks and ears were too conspicuous to hide, "I-I was... we went out f-for some ice cream at the newly opened store here. The ramen house we were supposed to go to was closed for some reason so we headed here instead. And didn't you say you were going to hang around Judgement?"

"Ch-change of plans... we won't be meeting Kuroko and Uiharu-san in another hour and a half."

"I see..."

Ruiko had to hold back a snicker at how adorable the couple were acting. "Well then!" she clapped her hands once before announcing, "Since Kamijou-san's here, why don't we all go shopping together? Is that alright with you two?"

"Uhm—"

"What?!" Misaka-san burst out from the changing room, once again revealing her outfit. A second later though, she realized that Kamijou-san could once again see her in the embarrassing clothes and promptly retreated behind the curtains with a squeak.

Oh, this was going to be so much fun...

–

Dragging both Misaka-san and Kamijou-san was easy enough, especially when they're both a little flustered. In a stroke of genius, Ruiko suggested that they go find a dress and pick an outfit for the Electromaster. Misaka-san disagreed vehemently at first, but Ruiko's aptitude in convincing the older girl to go along with her whims had once again showed itself. It also helped that Kamijou-san seemed very interested with the idea, thus resulting to no objections from his part.

Misaka-san had already been given (forced with) a dress to wear and was changing as Ruiko and Kamijou-san lightly conversed. The shop they went into was both cheap and stylish, offering both male and female attires. Because of this, there were quite a number of costumers inside. There seemed to be a sale of male clothes and accessories though resulting to more male students coming in every now and then.

Ruiko and Kamijou-san were idly talking, sitting on one of the cushion seats near the dressing rooms when Misaka-san opened the curtain, stopping Ruiko's story about the latest Urban Legend and making the two stare at the Level 5.

Misaka-san wore a simple maroon summer dress that stopped just above her knees. There was thin string that goes around her neck starting and ending on the dress's chest, leaving her shoulders and collarbones exposed.

Ruiko's grin widened as she stared at Misaka-san while the older girl blushed. "U-uhm... is it... okay...?" the Level 5 asked shyly.

Ruiko could feel her own cheeks warm up at how adorable Misaka-san was being. "It's perfect! You look great in that, Misaka-san!"

She mentally congratulated herself for suggesting this. No doubt, Kamijou-san would like the outfit as well and he'd probably go all stuttering as he tried to compliment Misaka-san. Ruiko could feel her success already!

But when she turned to look at Kamijou-san, he wasn't even smiling. She caught his eyes darting to the side as he frowned, crossing his arms before saying, "It looks horrible. I don't like it." Ruiko's eyes widened at his words. He stood up before stating. "We should leave."

She snapped her head back towards Misaka-san just in time to see a flash of hurt in her expression before it turned to anger. "Fine then." Misaka-san growled, aggressively closing the curtain.

The younger girl gaped, looking back and forth between the two parties involved. What just happened in the last twenty seconds?!

Sweating profusely, Ruiko thought to herself.

'I screwed up! I screwed up and I don't even know how!'

The walk to the park had been quiet and tense, Kamijou-san and Misaka-san walking on either side of Ruiko. The younger girl couldn't stop her unease, fearing that the two parties would suddenly start fighting and she'd have no idea what to do.

She didn't really fancy being caught up in the middle of a lover's quarrel, even if it was between a close friend and said close friend's boyfriend. She knew it'd just end up badly, most likely with her being the referee (or worse, the net) in their argument. And she did not want to be in that position.

So when they finally arrived at the meeting place—(the usual vending machine at the park)—she immediately excused herself. "Ah, Misaka-san, Kamijou-san, I need to go to the bathroom. So uhm... yeah, wait here, okay?"

To her credit, Misaka-san actually sent her a non-aggressive smile. "Sure, Saten-san. Do you want me to come with you?"

Ruiko shook her head vigorously. "No need!" She replied, maybe a bit too eagerly. "I'll just take a minute." And before Misaka-san could respond, she high-tailed it out of there.

...and promptly hid herself amongst the closest bush that she deemed safe from Misaka-san's electromagnetic senses. But just to be safe, she took her phone out and turned it off before putting her attention back to the couple.

There was a few moments of stillness before Kamijou-san looked at Misaka-san and said something Ruiko couldn't hear. Misaka-san turned away in response to the boy's words but talked back as well. Ruiko could feel her palms sweat as she watch what was happening and not knowing exactly what it was that they were talking about only added to her nerves.

That was until she heard Misaka-san shout, "Well, I don't know! Why don't you ask that ugly dress back at the store?!"

Ruiko cursed herself. Be careful what you wish for.

"What the hell do you mean by that?!" Kamijou-san bellowed back.

"What do you think, you idiot?!"

"Look, I asked you properly! Can't you just answer me straight without that 'you're-an-idiot-you-should-know' tone?!"

"You want a straight answer?" Misaka-san stepped closer towards Kamijou-san and poked him hard on the chest as she said. "I'm talking about you calling your girlfriend ugly when she obviously dressed up to try and be pretty for you!"

"I never called you ugly!"

"Yeah, you did! When you said that I looked horrible in that dress? Remember now, you idiot?!"

"I said I didn't like it. Not that you looked horrible in it!"

"How is that any different?!"

"Because I thought you looked beautiful in it!" That caught Ruiko and Misaka-san off guard. Kamijou-san messily ran his hand through his hair while his girlfriend continued to stare at him in surprise. "If it had been just the of us there, I swear, I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from kissing you until we both can't breathe. But I saw a couple of guys eying you like you're a piece of meat and I didn't like it one bit. So sorry if I didn't like that dress!"

There was a moment of silence as Kamijou-san tried to calm down from their recent shouting. Misaka-san was still staring at him in shock and Ruiko couldn't look away. That may have been one of the sweetest things she had ever heard.

'No wonder Misaka-san likes him so much,' Ruiko thought.

The continued silence seemed to have unnerved Kamijou-san because he glanced at Misaka-san, who was still frozen, and asked uneasily, "What?"

Misaka-san blinked, as if broken from a trance, and burst out laughing.

It seemed like Ruiko wasn't the only one who was surprised of Misaka-san's reaction, because Kamijou-san's face contorted into a grimace of disbelief which only caused the Level 5 to laugh even harder.

Even from afar, Ruiko could see Kamijou-san's cheeks redden before he exclaimed. "Why are you laughing?!"

Misaka-san shook her head, trying to calm her giggles, and wiped her eyes from the tears of laughing so hard. She approached Kamijou-san and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before pulling him into an embrace. "You're an idiot, you know that?" She said affectionately.

At this point, Ruiko could no longer hear what Kamijou-san was saying, but he frowned (almost pouted) and Misaka-san laughed again in response.

Ruiko sighed in relief, glad that the misunderstanding was resolved between the couple. She mentally noted not to try any of her plans on the couple any time soon. She wouldn't want the guilt of making them fight hovering over her again.

The couple's conversation seemed to have become more intimate, because when Ruiko looked back, their foreheads were touching as they murmured to each other. Her eyes brightened and quickly took her phone out. She watched patiently, readying her camera as she saw them lean in, their lips closing the already small gap in between—

Click.

"OW!"

Only for Kamijou-san to get dropkicked by Shirai-san.

Ruiko stared at the picture she got. It was the exact moment that Shirai-san's foot connected with the side of Kamijou-san's face.

She sighed at the scene—Kamijou-san on the ground rubbing his head while Shirai-san was standing in front of a blushing Misaka-san. The teleporter just had to ruin the moment. Ruiko extracted herself from her hiding place as they went on.

"Thank goodness, I made it in time!" Shirai-san said, turning towards Misaka-san with a concerned expression, "Are you alright, Onee-sama?"

Misaka-san seemed to have only realized what had just happened. "W-what? Kuroko?"

Kamijou-san sat up with a glare. "What the hell was that for, Shirai?!"

Shirai-san matched his heated gaze. "Did you really think I'd let you defile Onee-sama's lips? Not on my watch, you uncivilized ape!"

"D-defiled? You mean kiss?"

"Kiiiiiiiiiihhh! Don't you ever speak of that word in relation with Onee-sama! You are not worth of her gracious lips!"

His eye twitched. "Look here, Shirai-san. If there's anyone defiling Mikoto, it would be you who's always trying to feel her up!"

Shirai-san gasped dramatically, putting a delicate hand in front of her mouth. "How dare you make such atrocious accusations! I am Onee-sama's herald! Her body is only mine to protect—"

"She needs protection against you!"

Ruiko made her way to where Misaka-san and Uiharu stood, watching the other two with equal amounts of amusement and exasperation. Ruiko just let out a laugh and took another picture for memories.

Author's Notes:

Uhmmm... so hi XD been a while. Sorry about the delay but school... need I say more?

I'm not very satisfied with this XD It's unbeta'd and I pulled a big chunk of this out of my ass in a futile attempt to finish it. Still, i hope it wasn't that bad and that you enjoyed it enough to stick a little while longer :))

The chapters here are getting progressively longer... I need to remedy that haha and also, thanks to those who answered the poll on my profile! This got the most votes so your wish is my command XD I won't be updating this for a while, primarily because my notes for this fic is a mess and though I have a lot of chapters planned out, i don't know how to write them XD

okay, actually, I won't be updating for a while. Period. Last month of the semester is always the busiest so I hope you guys will understand.

I'll see you guys next time! :D

~61wisampa