Chapter Six: The Penultimate Chapter
A Gathering Of Useless People
Last Order came to the scene riding on Misaka Worst's shoulders.
"'There are so many people gathered here,' says Misaka as Misaka is awed by the incredible crowd surrounding her."
The younger sister commented.
"The number of useless people in Japan have been on the rise for awhile. Gatherings like these isn't too unusual. Though…"
She glanced at the full moon.
"Misaka texted the most useless of the bunch… but it doesn't seem like he's coming."
"'That's too bad,' says Misaka as Misaka pouts sourly."
In the middle of the 4-way cross section…
The battle raged on.
Battlefield
The euphoric tune of clicking sticks and smashing buttons echoed throughout the area.
CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CL ACK-CLACK-
CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CL ACK-CLACK-
CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CL ACK-CLACK
( "Get outta my way…! I can't see anything…!" )
( "Damn it, just why can't this be livestreamed…!" )
As they played, the two competitors ignored various complaints from their audience. Or perhaps, they weren't even aware of the complaints. Being so absorbed in the game, one can almost say they weren't mentally in the same plane of existence as them anymore.
In 'their world', an even more intense struggle was occurring…
Level Beyond Reality
A barren wasteland of dirt and rubble where time had slowed to a crawl. Two figures appeared dueling under the dark moon.
Th-Th-Thff-Th-Th-Thff-Th-Th!
A series of jabs and kicks met with dull, unsatisfying 'thuds'. KeroKero Ranger Pink ( Misaka Mikoto) was being pushed back by KeroKero Ranger Black ( the Arcade Destroyer ). Even though she was blocking every blow, she was at a disadvantage. She had no screen control and the corner was quickly closing in. The balance of risk versus patience was meeting its tipping point.
And then she saw it. The distance was good. If she let her guard down, he would most definitely...
"...!"
Seizing opportunity, Pink started an opening animation at the same time Black went into his own animation…!
"Kero Kero Chaseeeeeer~!"
Pink spun her modest torso. And her leg came around in a swift kick…!
"It... passed right through?-!"
A good situation turned horrible as Pink's heel phazed through Black's side.
"Damn! Did I mis-time Black's invincibility frames…?-!"
What came next was instant. Black lunged in, closing the gap, his hand already at her throat.
"Kero Kero…"
He the used momentum to slam her into the ground.
And on command, the earth shattered to pieces.
"Heat Riser."
Come Forward
In the real world, the Arcade Destroyer spoke to Misaka Mikoto.
"I expected more from you. Did you think changing characters from Red to Pink would throw me off? How foolish you are."
"..."
A good chunk of Pink's lifebar had disappeared. But the older girl wasn't worried about that.
The Number 3 realized something.
"I-Impossible…"
The raincoat girl smiled.
"Are you now realizing how futile it is to fight against me? You must be starting to regret it, RGN. No, Misaka Mikoto."
"It's not that… I just... figured it out."
The little girl's eyes widened…
"If blaming the controller makes you an amateur… what are you if you blame the game?"
Come Back
"The first time we fought… I felt that there was something off."
Struggling to her feet, Pink took an uneven stance. The Black Ranger stood across from her with an eerie gaze.
"At first I thought it was on my end. Maybe a delay... or something wrong with my controls…"
Having found her footing, she slowly walked forward. Her pace quickened. And then it became a full on sprint…
"But the more I play with you, the more I realize…!"
Anticipating a frontal strike, Black lunged forward once more. But this time, his hands reached nothing.
"...!"
Jumping into the air, Pink stepped on the back of his head. He got caught in a cross-up and was now open to punishment.
"The one who was off wasn't me… it was you."
Call Back ( To Jokes That No One Remembers )
The Number 3 had closed off her hearing.
As if a limiter had been removed, Misaka Mikoto began to play significantly better. An unending barrage of attacks were chained together. Punches and kicks led into one another, and KeroKero Ranger Pink sent her black counterpart flying to the edge of the screen with a final punt.
( "They're even with each other now…! No, RGN has the lead…!" )
With no time to waste, she charged forward. And the difference in abilities became clear with a single chaser.
CRRAAAAAAAAAACK!
[ KO. ]
The first round was completed
"If I had looked at your hands, I probably would've noticed earlier. Pretending to press buttons while the AI did all the work… whether it was intentional or not, you threw off my timing, so applaud you for that much."
The little girl shook.
"I… I have no idea what you're talk aboooo- vzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-"
"..."
After making a weird noise, the little girl froze mid-sentence.
And towards the back of the crowd, Musujime Awaki could be heard saying:
"Ack! I tripped over a power cord! Where does this thing even link up to?-!"
Misaka Mikoto and the crowd noticed the long black cord running up the little girl's raincoat.
"SHE WAS A ROBOT…!-?"
( "How did we not catch that…!" )
Round 2, Fight
"...Okay. This just got a little bit more confusing."
Misaka Mikoto attempted to suspend her disbelief.
[ Does it really matter who your opponent is? The stakes are still the same. If I were you, I'd start focusing back on the match. ]
"...!"
Turning her head, the Number 3 realized that the arcade cabinet itself was talking to her. She blinked twice.
"Okay… this just got a lot more confusing…"
[ So it turns out the 'Arcade Destroyer' is an arcade machine. Is that all it takes to shock people? I suppose using a vessel was the right idea in those regards. But I wonder… Did you give up after seeing my true nature? ]
The Arcade Destroyer took advantage of everyone's bewilderment and began to drive Pink's life bar to its end with Black.
[ If that's so, I'd be happy to reconfirm my victory. And take away those arcades you seem to adore so much. But… just as a safety measure... ]
Victory Assured
( "Huh? What's happening?" )
( "Ah! Hot! Hot! Hot!" )
Something was happening within the crowd. People's phones were acting up. Screens started to glow white and began to overheat.
"Nnnnzz…!"
Misaka Mikoto staggered back a bit when she saw the robot girl coming back to life even without power.
"Kh-Kha-Kh-Kha-Kh-Kha-kh-!"
Popping sounds and steam emitted from her core, but the little girl moved forward regardless. Raising her arm, she slammed herself against the arcade cabinet before burning out.
"...!"
[ This is completely, absolutely my win. ]
And the Number 3 realized what just happened. Her side of the control panel had been smashed apart. While the surface buttons remained untouched, splintered wood replaced the area where the ball top joystick used to be.
The Number 1 Most Useless Person
Misaka Mikoto hand's shook
"No…"
With eyes that would not admit defeat, she denied that conclusion.
"Not yet."
[ What? Do you honestly think you can obtain victory in this situation? This is a corrupted game. You lost the moment you entered that arcade. No, even before that. You lost the second you were born human. Your foolish pride is hindering your reasoning ability. The only way to win is to not play. ]
"..."
She chuckled.
"Pride? Pride's got nothing to do with it."
"I just hate losing. I won't lose to him. I won't lose to you. And especially..."
"I won't lose to myself."
Misaka Mikoto smiled.
"It's true that games are meant to be played for fun, but right now… there's even more fun in crushing you into dust."
The girl slammed her palms onto the cabinet. Even without a joystick, she would still play.
However… there was no need…
The missing ball top joystick was handed to her.
"You'll probably want to use this then."
…
In place of a hero, a villain arrived.
