Chapter_10 :
Ceiling... Of course, why not? Kamijou Touma lied on his formal hospital bed gazing up. He stared right at it for a sec before his vision was blurred gradually. He closed his eyes rubbing it abruptly in order to clean the vision. Finally, it returned to normal. He took a deep breath once after he thought about the 'deal' with Loki, then something grew inside him making he feel some sort of fire is restless in his heart. He knew what was going on but couldn't help except let it be. However, he was the one who making this deal.
Touma was still sequencing the situation while someone came in the room without his awareness.
"T-Touma?"
That familiar sound dragged him out from his thought.
"Mikoto!? Are you okay!?"
"That's my question! Your eye!"
"...!" He quickly covered his right eye avoiding her gaze. The previous tense atmosphere vanished as well. "... Oh. This? It's nothing. Fine at all. I had said with Doctor to remove it but he refused."
He then removed the gauze, showing her his normal black eye.
Misaka Mikoto gave him a curious look. She diagnosed all of his parts to make sure that he was okay like his words which making him feel a little awkward.
Both were still and silent. Finally, Mikoto let out a relief sigh.
"Gosh. To see you like this, honestly, I just thought you brought yourself to the very bad condition in order to help me again."
Touma gulped nervously.
"What about you?" He asked, making sure his tone was normal as she came closer looking for a seat near his bed.
"Did you think the worst patient can walk around like this? I'm totally fine."
Mikoto hauled out the chair and about to sit, she was dragged by unknown force with the hand grabbing her wrist strongly.
Touma was pulling her into a hug.
"Erpp! W-W-W-WHAT'RE YOU D-DO-DOING-G?" Her body temperature suddenly burst out. She tried to push him away by her instinct but it only made Touma fasten her more tightly.
"H-H-H-HEYYYYYY!" She tried harder to break free but it couldn't work at all. Because of Touma's right hand, she couldn't use her ability and without her ability, she wasn't different from a normal middle school girl. She punched... She pushed... She kicked... About a minute that she rejected this forced hug, she heard something which dug deep in her heart.
"...I thought I would lose you..."
Only one sentence that made her stop, freezing in place. The warmth filled her heart as she realized what meaning in those words. This was just the exact feeling of her at that moment, when the death whispered near her ears. She couldn't refuse that she feared, of course from the death but including that, specifically, she couldn't see his smile anymore.
"I'm glad... Mikoto... I-I-..."
His tone was trembling. As they always said, most people didn't aware how important it was unless they lost it. The unfortunate boy named Kamijou Touma already had that lesson now. But seem like he wasn't that unfortunate to lose her forever.
All of his feeling right now was sent toward Mikoto's heart and soul, making some tears form under her hazel eyes. She stopped pushing but wrapped around him instead. But before she could hug him back, the endearment timing she's seeking was interrupted when she noticed the red eyes with the risen twin-hair behind them.
"Enough already! YOU BARBARIAN!"
Kuroko teleported behind, giving him a nice drop kick.
"Oppppsss!"
"Kuroko!?"
"Let's go! Onee-sama! Do not waste your time here!" She dragged Mikoto along with her, completely ignoring the unfortunate boy who lying on the floor.
"W-Wait, Kuroko. I-I.." Mikoto's mind still couldn't manage to think or to do anything because the sudden act of Touma. She was dragged to the door, passing Heaven Canceller who stood there, watched the entire scene. As they passed him, she only said. "Dr. Gekota. Take care of him please."
Heaven Canceller gave a warm smile back, seeing the two Tokiwadai girls leave the room.
"I SAID WAIT! KUROKO!"
And the blue light was shining along the corridor, following by a flash of blackout. He only let out a boredom sigh before turning attention at the spiky-haired boy in the room.
"Fine? I'm very sure that wasn't the right word to describe your symptom, Kamijou-kun." Frog-faced doctor said raising his eyebrow while looking at Touma who still hold his head.
"It's okay, Doc. Don't worry about it." He stood up and back to his bed.
"Because it's not okay so I do worry it." He remarked. "I know your right eye's vision must be blurry now. If you leave it like this, you won't see with your right eye anymore. It will make you completely blind, including the left eye."
"..." Touma lied on his bed, gazing the ceiling again.
"There is a reason behind of it, isn't there?" Heaven Canceller lifted his hospital shirt up. He checked on Touma's stomach with the four hole-like scars on it. "I'd never seen something like this before. Your wounds seemed very terrible but it was completely healed in a few hours. I guess, is this 'wounds' she'd talked about?"
"..." Still no answer.
"Stay out of trouble. Two days in the rows in hospital is not often."
"I will try, Doc."
"More than that." The frog-faced doctor took out a small glass tube which had some sort of black liquid in it. "Do you want me to examine this for you?"
"No need. I know what it is. But if you want, you can, doc."
"*Sigh* This's just the first time I couldn't understand my in-patient's symptom."
"Do not mind it so much. It's just an illusion." Touma said while closing his eyes. 'Yes, it was only the stupid illusion I don't want to see it again. Never and ever!'
"..." Heaven Canceller just gave a pity look at the boy. Even he didn't know what was going on, he could read his mind and it was enough to expect what happen in the future. "... Another darkness feeding?"
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"Nothing." He then finished his medical examination. "Oh right..." Before he took his leave, he turned back like remembering something. "I have the message from your classroom teacher to you."
"Eh? Komoe-sensei?"
"Let's see." Heaven Canceller took out a small paper from his pocket and read it to Touma. The frog-faced doctor intended to bend his tone to be high just like Komoe in order to tease him. "...A-hem... 'Kamijou-chan. I bet you have the good explanation about why you skipped my class. Your extra-class awaits for you so no more skipping, okay?'... That's it."
"D-Does she want me to access her extra-class while I'm still injured?" He gasped.
"I guess so."
"...F-Fukou-DAAA"
The morning sunlight hit the Tokiwadai girl dorm. The bell rang like announcing to everyone that life as the dorm student was begun as every day. Everyone was busy with daily activity but seems not all of them. Someone still lied on the bed, grabbing the blanket tightly as the eyes was still blank which did not suit her red cheek even the awkward-blissful grin at all.
"O-Onee-sama?"
The Teleporter, Shirai Kuroko, in the bathing towel watched her roommate's state with perplexed eyes and sweat dropped. She just finished her morning business in the bathroom.
"Onee-sama. The bathroom's free now."
"Yes~."
That answer... with high and drawl tone... Did she dream? Where was she now? With more sweats dropped, she asked again. "Does something bother you, Onee-sama?"
"Yes~." She knew it! Her senpai went to her little world again. And of course, she wasn't like this just only this morning but all the night. Only reason could be...
"Stop thinking about that ape! Onee-sama! I know what you are thinking."
"Yes~."
Kuroko threw away her towel with an edgy.
"It couldn't be! Seem like I must do something!"
"Yes~."
"..." She then looked at the hazel-haired girl and some evil thinking suddenly soared out.
"What is today?"
"Yes~." And the evil smile placed on Kuroko lips. She sat on her roommate bed beside the electric-princess who still was soulless.
"hehe, alright~. Would you mind if I'll give you a morning kiss~~." She leaned her head down at the girl on the bed without expecting any answer. Her lips went closer to the target. But...
She received something faster than her ability at her head.
"Not so fast!" As if she had the spring on her back, Mikoto quickly sprung up from bed and sent her amazing speed punch. "Don't take a chance when my guard was dropped down! You pervert!"
"Because you didn't pay attention at me, Onee-sama." Kuroko rubbed her head at the point Mikoto's fist was landed. "Mohh~~. Stop thinking about that man. Kuroko is here~~."
The Electromaster blushed. "W-Who says I was thinking about that IDIOT!"
"You... thought about his hug all night, didn't you? I could observe all of your emotion..." Kuroko stood up, clenching her fist and lowered her head. She wasn't in the good mood. "Why... Why... Onee-sama... Why is it not me?..."
And a tear dropped from her eye.
"Kuroko...?"
"Did you know how I feel when seeing you'd been like this all night!?"
"H-Hey... Why's so sudden..."
"Why... Onee-sama..."
Mikoto scratched her head as she was avoiding Kuroko's words. The teleporter still rubbed her eyes with more tears dropped to the floor.
"... *Sob*"
"Well, you know what... Kuroko... " Mikoto approached her, suddenly grabbed her wrist pulling it up.
"Eh?"
"Fake or not. You aren't the type that needs to be consoled." Mikoto sent a weak electrical signal which enough to numb her roommate's hand. Kuroko suddenly loosened her fist and some sort of bottle dropped down. It was labeled 'Fake Tear'. Kuroko could feel the air in the room suddenly turning cold. Her face became pale as Mikoto glanced back at her. "A pervert like you has cried easily? Don't make me laugh. Also..."
"I'M NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT ANYONE'S HUG!"
The blue light was shining out from their room's window. Everyone saw and heard it but didn't mind at all. Dorm mistress only sighed. The dorm's time had stopped for a sec before continued like nothing happened.
Mikoto dropped a burnt-cookies-like Kuroko down on the floor.
"A-Ah... K-Kuroko loved your cruel whip-p punishment... Onee-sama... ..."
She sighed, looking at her pervert roommate before gave her a smile.
"Alright! Busy time now." Then she went in the bathroom for her daily activity.
'Hmm...'
Mikoto and Kuroko now were on the way to Tokiwadai middle school. Everything seemed fine. Yes, it sure was fine but not for the Electromaster who realized something. As she walked together with her Kouhai, she moved her eyes around and found that there wasn't the feeling of those 'gaze' which gave her the hatred feeling anymore.
'... I'm glad that everything returns to normal... but...'
Kuroko seemly said something that couldn't even reach her ears at all. Her mind was too topsy for listening else things.
'...It's strange... Just how easy it's end is too strange...'
The people passed by them greeting her like usual. A sec ago, she just waved to the group of Tokiwadai girls that she didn't know what class they were exactly, to greet them back.
"... ...ee... a ma."
'That werewolf guy... I'm sure that it wasn't a dream... ... I had no wound... No people hated me... I'm still alive... What happened?'
Completely unheard Kuroko's word, Mikoto frowned, didn't understand what was going on. It was too confusing. The only one who would know this might be the another one who was in the situation with her.
"..." She didn't notice that Kuroko thought to do something again...
'Maybe I will give that Idiot a visit. He surely knows something... Visit... him...'
And her head heat up at once. She shook her head in order to recall her sane before smiling to the kid who waving at her.
'No no no! I mean nothing. I just want the information!'
Mikoto cheered herself up clenching her fists to wipe away her embarrassment. Then.
"Onee-sama~~. Are you listening~." Kuroko leaned her head closer to her beloved onee-sama which made Mikoto felt a weak breath from the teleporter's lips at her cheek.
"JUST EVERYTIME!" And again... The amazing electric punch did it duty.
Kuroko cried, rubbing her head. "Moh~. That's because you didn't listen to me."
Everyone nearby watched the scene and giggled, some girls had gossiped in the group with red cheek which made Mikoto feel a little awkward. "F-Fine. What's it again?"
The Teleporter let out a sigh. "Well, I talked about the latest event that our school demands you as the leader."
"What's the event?"
"It's hunting game. They will create the creature to fight us in order to practice our skill."
"Not again... Why me?" Mikoto frowned.
"You said like other Level 5 would care about this."
Both Mikoto and Kuroko sighed altogether.
"Seriously, give me a break now... ... Wait. You said 'leader'... 'us'?" The Electromaster remarked as she realized some words hopping it would not be like what she was thinking.
"Yes. They demand us to form a team with three members. This event's just like the exercise for us to practice the work as a team. Of course, you're the leader, The Ace of Tokiwadai." Kuroko grinned, said in proud tone. Mikoto gave her the curious eyes. "And yeah! Kuroko will serve you as the second member, onee-sama~."
"Don't tell me... You were the one who brought me up in this." The dead aura radiated out from the Electromaster body made a smile on Kuroko face disappear in the sudden.
"E-Eh... No no no. Onee-sama. T-They just asked Judgment to help them find some contestant... And... Then..." The teleporter took a step back away from ragging electro princess with sweat dropped.
"Oh?"
"O-Onee-sama... You misunderstand here... P-Please..." More steps back were taken.
"Don't bring any business up to me without my permission! You pervert!" Mikoto was about to chase her partner but Kuroko moved quicker than her. She turned back and ran away without looking back. "Hey! Wait!"
"Spare me! Onee-sama! You misunderstand me~!"
"AND WHAT ELS'S IT CAN BE! STOP THERE!"
The two was chasing each other along the way to Tokiwadai.
Then, Kuroko's phone rang, made them stopped. The teleporter grabbed it and pulled the screen out which showed the name of her Judgment senpai. She phoned about a minute before she became serious rendered Mikoto looking at her curiously.
"What happened?"
"Konori-senpai seemly found some more clues about the girl that look like you. I better go. Onee-sama, don't forget a meeting with Saten-san and Uiharu after school, okay?" She said, using her phone to dial another number quickly.
"What about the school?"
"This is just the emergency. I will send the Judgment permission later... Ah. Uiharu?... Did Konori-senpai call you, too?... Yes-yes... Alright. Meet me at office at once."
"Are you okay? Want my help?"
"It's fine. Don't worry, Onee-sama." Kuroko smiled back and before Mikoto could say anything else, she teleported away.
The Electromaster just stood there, showing her anxiety.
'That reminds me... I had no clue about my Imoutos as well...'
She sighed and continued her way to Tokiwadai alone. Many people that know her even the stranger greeted her along the way. Mikoto smiled and waved even greeted everyone back.
'I hope she hasn't found out that they're my entire clone yet... Wait...'
She began to suspect why they kept greeting her more than everyday. This was too much. After the hatred, is it a love next? No, no, no. The Electromaster shook her head wiping out any mess thought. She tried not to consider it seriously. Then, she brought herself to Tokiwadai's gate that she didn't know when.
Mikoto saw someone with the long beautiful golden-haired and a small bag at her waist in front of the gate waving at her. The other two Tokiwadai's girls stood on either of her side. The electromaster blinked once time because of this unbelievable sight. Mikoto looked back to make sure no one was behind her and realized she just really waved at her. She mumbled herself in gasp like 'What the hell?'
"Mi~Sa~Ka~San~."
That Tokiwadai girl approached her with a playful smile, waving non-stopped. Her bodyguard-like walked following her closely. This girl was another Level 5 in Tokiwadai middle school who Heaven Canceller had mentioned her before, the girl with the strongest Telepathy ability in Academy City, Mental Out. Every one called her 'The Queen of Tokiwadai'. Mikoto just looked at the girl who really greeted her, with uncomfortable eyes.
"Shokuhou... Misaki..."
At the certain high school...
"Kamijou-chan!"
A spiky-haired boy flinched and woke up from his dream suddenly. Today was very boring for him because he was one of these three who had to stay for the extra class. Yes, the others was no one else but his friend in the gang, Delta Force, Tsuchimikado Motoharu and Aogami Pierce. They both were looking at an unfortunate boy with a grin.
"You must pay more attention. Or else I will charge you more extra class~."
A little girl with the short pink haired pointed her birch, smiling joyful toward him. She was his classroom teachers, Tsukuyomi Komoe, who was always caring about her student. Her appearance didn't suit her secret ages. Also, including specifically hobbies she liked.
"Hai-hai..." Touma answered in languid tone.
Her birch was lowered down promptly after that tone of answer. "Did my class bore you, Kamijou-chan..." She started sobbing, a small tear forming under her eyes.
And, as usual, he felt some aura of death fly at him.
"No. No. Sen-sei. I'm just a little tired."
"Is that so?"
"Kami-yan. Be careful in the answer." The blue hair boy who sat at the left seat leaned his head to whisper at him.
"Yeah-yeah. You don't want anything bad happen, do you?" Followed by the words from the sunglasses boy. He grinned wide as if this is always happen to his best friend's normal life.
"You guys..." Touma sighed in boredom.
"Stop chatting! Everyone~!" Komoe yelled again.
"Hai~~~."
The class continued in the way it was. Many hours passed by which only made Touma sigh every single minutes. He supported his chin as the boring attacked his mind, looking outside the window. He saw a several students were playing sport in the school ground. The dog barked. The bird sang, realizing how peaceful everything was. But somehow... he felt something grow strangely like some darkness began to eat this city little by little. There might be some really worst phenomenon happen again soon.
How could it be? He didn't know. He couldn't explain why he felt it. This sense had stayed with him since Loki left his body, more than that, he knew exactly something in him was changed forever.
Like the darkness was one part of him right now. And that's why he recognized the darkness existence everywhere.
He sighed once again and tried not to consider about it very much. He turned in the room once again and noticed that Komoe was staring at him.
"U-Umm... Sen-sei?"
Komoe rolled her eyes away and looked at her watch. "I think it's enough for today."
The joy atmosphere replaced the serious room made The Delta Force relax. They prepared to leave but being stopped by Komoe.
"Wait. Kamijou-chan. Here." She picked out some kind of paper and sent it to him.
"What's this, sensei?" Touma reached his hand to receive that paper from her. It said 'Hunting Event Sign up form'. Both Motoharu and Aogami perked their head looking with curious.
"Can't you read? This is for you had skipped even slept in my class. That's not including you looked outside ignoring me. Humph!" She said touchy, flicking her head away.
"Eh? But I'm still injured, sensei. You want to send me into the real death?" Touma said with sweat dropped.
"Of course not. But this is a chance to up your level, you know?"
"...B-But..."
He stopped as he sensed the light darkness flew out from her.
"...I-I guess I have no choice..." Maybe this was the advantage that he could feel the darkness from everyone.
"So, work hard on it, okay? Kamijou-chan." She could smile finally before took her leave.
"Komoe-sensei always cares about you, Kami-yan. Hahh~ I'm a bit jealous now~." Aogami teased him.
"Well, how about swapping with me, Aogami. And you will know this's not fun." He read a paper thorough and found that there are blank spaces for sign up up to three people in the member name part, realizing that they wanted to form a team in this event.
"Look like not only me Komoe-sensei had cared."
"Then I will do anything for my beloved loli sensei." Aogami grined.
Touma continually read its details. It explained some rule in there.
Hunting game rule.
All of player must form into a team. Three people. No more. No less.
Each team can vary the member's level.
All of abilities and weapons are allowed.
The score that everyone in each team makes will sum together. The final score will use the total score divide by the sum of member's level. In the case of Level 0's team, the final score will be the double of total score.
For the scores.
Small size creature. Poor grade 1 point.
Medium size creature. Normal grade 5 points.
Large size creature. Good grade 15 points.
Special creature. Advance grade 50 points.
Player. Level 0 1 point...
Finishing the recent line, Touma stopped and frowned.
'What is this!? They demanded us to kill each other? This is not a game!'
At that moment, the very tense atmosphere covered their class-room in the sudden. Both Motoharu and Aogami were frozen in place. They stopped their breath for a second before the blond hair boy held his sane grabbing Touma's shoulder.
"Kami-yan! Stay in there!"
"H-huh?" The pressure suddenly loosened. Aogami finallly regained his breath again.
"W-What happen? I just felt very bad a sec ago!?" He yelled in confuse.
"Well, Just your imagine, I think. Maybe, you were sick." Motoharu was the one who replied him.
"Ouhh... Suddenly sick... I feel I need some rest now..."
"Anyway. I thought they would have a good security to protect our life in the game, Kami-yan. So, don't worry." Once cleared with Aogami, the spy boys turned to Touma and said the relief words.
"Y-Yes. Sorry." Touma surprised that his spy friend knew what is in his thinking. Well, not surprised that much for the person like Tsuchimikado Motoharu who always know everything. Then he continued reading.
Player. Level 0 1 point.
Level 1 2 points.
Level 2 5 points.
Level 3 10 points.
Level 4 30 points.
Level 5 100 points.
Alright, they said 'Level 5' which had only seven in the city. Yes, that including his challenger rival ever, Misaka Mikoto. And he bet she would be sign up in this event for sure for the sake of Academy City while the other of them seemly didn't response any event. He hoped this game wouldn't his last event in his life. Surely, she would zap him for the sake of score even it was only 1 point.
The winner will earn 'The Artificer' in return. Including invitation of our success party and many more.
...
Touma stopped reading and threw away the paper. He decided to refuse this Komoe's task.
"Did you not want to make Komoe-sensei happy? Kami-yan." Aogami asked him.
"Not like that. I just... don't like this kind of event."
"I knew it. Ah... Well... Also, I need some rest. I'd really felt sick since the class had ended. So, if you changed your mind just calling me, okay?" He said with pale face before he limped carefully out from the room.
"W-Will he be okay?" Touma asked in concern with sweat dropped. Some of his friend's sick cause was his fault.
"Do not worry. Just a little shock. Take some rest and he will be okay, Kami-yan."
After Aogami left, Motoharu picked up a paper before came to talk with him. He said something which really surprised him.
"I know what happened back there."
But, from the recently moment he knew where those tense atmosphere came from, it wasn't hard to expect.
"Am I going to be surprised? You know how to work, Tsuchimikado." Touma smirked. Even the truth was his words really surprised him.
"We found you after the situation. Along with your little railgun." He sat on the table. "Now tell me. What did you lend in the change of power?"
"..."
"Well, I don't mind if you don't want to answer. It wasn't hard to expect." Then he looked at the paper in his hand. "You know, after the kidnapping. They seem stopped every move they had planned. Like waiting for something."
"Maybe, they gave up."
"I don't think so." Motoharu looked outside the window. "They're Loki follower. They'd tried and failed to release Loki for centuries. To fail again can't stop them."
Touma sighed. "Yeah, so you know who are they already, huh?"
"Yes, but I don't like this easy information, you know?"
"What do you mean?" Touma asked curiously and sat on the table beside the spy boy.
"First, we didn't find any information about them. It's not that top secret but NO any detail in database, then, it suddenly leaked out a several hours ago after The Railgun kidnapping." Motoharu said in very serious tone.
"Hm... You tried to say that there is someone behind all of this?" Touma raised his eyebrow, tried to follow the topic his friend was saying.
"Yes... Information leaked out in the Academy City's public communication system. So, I expected the people in science side were involved as well." He thought carefully as if he missed something major.
"Okay. We will worry about it later. Therefore, what have you found out?" Touma tried to make thing easier. He couldn't deal with many problems at once.
"You had faced one of them, hadn't you? The golden werewolf."
He frowned again when he thought about it as he did his best to hold his anger. "...That bastard..."
"They're all lost creature in the legend, the mythical creature who survived from the Loki's rampage which was stopped by The Chosen. The golden werewolf was one of them."
"I see... So, why they hate The Chosen who stopped it..." Touma mumbled to himself lightly but being stared by his friend.
"You seemly believe in the legend now, huh? Previously, you just told me that it was only the legend, Kami-yan?" Motoharu turned at him looking at him in surprise.
Touma only smirked back. "Human can change everytime."
Then, he realized something in those Motoharu's details...
"Wait... Creature..." He pondered it carefully and being aware how gloomy the darkness was this time.
'The Artificer... Imagine Creator... Des-truther...W-What's a perfect time!'
"Yes, Kami-yan. Whatever you think is true. They're surely waiting for this event which will rush their plan." Like reading his mind, Motoharu sent a sign up paper to him.
Touma just kept thinking for a sec before he grabbed the paper back.
"I guess I have no choice. So, what about the third member? You didn't demand Aogami to join our business, did you?"
All of he got back from those questions was a grin from the greatest spy boy.
"Or I will say that; the strongest level 0 team ever."
Sorry(again). I got a new work and didn't pay my attention in writing. Then, sorry about a slow update. I'll back on track after this work has done. And it will be done soon.
In the next chapter of The Legend of Chosen One!
Receptionist : Alright, First team! Report yourself now!
Touma : Yes, Kamijou Touma here!
Motoharu : Tsuchimikado Motoharu, Nyaaah~.
Aogami : Aogami Pierri~!
Touma/Motoharu/Receptionist : ...
Aogami : You guys are no fun... Aogami Pierce here!
Receptionist : Wow, the first team was all level 0! Tell me how will you manage to fight?
Touma : None of your business!
Receptionist : Right, right. And next! Second team! Report!
Mikoto : Hai-hai. Misaka Mikoto here.
Kuroko : Shirai Kuroko here, too. With my beloved onee-sama~~~~~.
Touma : Level 5 and Level 4? Are you going to be kidding me?
Mikoto : Ha... If you said we are going to cheat. I think you are the one who cheat!
Touma : I'm just a Level 0, you know?
Mikoto : Yes-yes. whatever you say. And who's the third member, Kuroko...?
Kuroko : Just who are you greeting with now?
Mikoto : ... ... (processing mod) ... ... (*PING*)
Unison : EHHHHHHHHHHHHH?
And when two face of coin become one, the world is going to change, the miracle is happening!
Unison : Ja-ne!