Last Order stopped moving for a moment, as if she was communicating with someone in the network. She often just stopped what she was doing to listen to whoever had said something. Usually she would respond right away and continue what she was doing. After a few more seconds Last Order slipped her hand into Accelerators again and continued skipping next to him.

"Misaka got a request to buy a special version Gekota from that shop. Says Misaka as Misaka points the way."

Accelerator sighed deeply and glared at the girl. "You realize that you're using my money for that, right?"

The grin she gave her made him sigh once more. "Of course. Says Misaka as Misaka knows that would can't reject her request because you're way too kind."

"Cut the crap, brat."

He handed her a 1000 yen bill and waited for her to exit the shop after she rushed into it with a bright smile. The girl really took over his life. Everything he did revolved around her. Was this what it meant to care for someone? That he had to look after her until she grew up? Would she ever grow up? Honestly he didn't want her to leave him. It was a promise they had made without even saying it. They wouldn't leave each other. Accelerator didn't care how she thought of him, whether as a friend or a parent, or even a lover, he wouldn't leave her.

"What are you thinking about? Says Misaka as Misaka hands you the change."

Last order was holding a colorful paper bag, likely filled with the toy she had wanted to buy. He put the money back in his wallet and headed through the mall.

"No more requests. We're just here to buy what Yomikawa wanted." He reminded her when she took his hand again.

Last Order nodded with a bright smile.

It was a second both didn't pay attention, a mere heartbeat. Her hand slipped out of his and she was knocked down by someone who had run into her. The girl crashed to the floor and hit her head on the hard tiles after she helplessly tried to block her fall with her hands. Accelerator was torn between chasing the man who was obviously in a hurry and helping the girl. The man had disappeared into the crowd already, making pursuit more or less impossible.

A strange feeling spread inside the white haired teen when he crouched down next to the girl on the floor. A few bystanders had noticed the commotion but neither seemed to care too much about the girl.

"Hey, brat. Get up." Accelerator's voice had a gentle tinge to it that surprised even himself.

The girl sniffed away some tears and slowly sat up. Her hands and knees had scratches the new tights Yoshikawa had bought her with flowers and dots were ruined. Her chin was bleeding a bit too but wasn't anything too bad. The teenager boiled with anger anyway.

"Misaka is alright. Confirms Misaka after she checked her body for serious damage." She sniffed again. "It hurts though..." her voice was silent and the tears in her eyes threatened to fall.

Reminded of a different situation, Accelerator held his hand out and pulled her back to her feet. She winced a bit, but it seemed bearable. She grabbed the sleeve of his jacket as if afraid that he would go away.

"Misaka remembers a similar event... mutters Misaka as Misaka tries not to think about it."

The teen next to her flinched slightly. He had been thinking about it too. Without a word he picked her up, carried her with his free arm while she was clinging to him and refused to let go. Accelerator then pulled out his cell-phone and called Yomikawa, asking her to pick them up. The woman agreed after a bit of arguing and the white haired esper was on the way to the main entrance.

"Won't she be angry when we go home without buying what she needed? Asks Misaka as Misaka tries to hide that she doesn't want to do any more shopping today."

"I don't fucking care." He growled angrily. "We're going home now."

It was raining heavily outside the snow half molten, half frozen, making the roads and pavements dangerously slipper. In order to avoid any more accidents, he sat the girl back on the ground and tightly gripped her hand as they waited for Yomikawa's car to pass by.

After a few minutes they saw a familiar woman with long hair running up to them. She was holding and umbrella and stopped in front of the two.

"What happened?" was the first thing she asked after she had reached them. Both had thought that she might scold them for not doing what she had asked them to do, yet they must have looked so disturbed that the woman couldn't bring herself to get angry.

"A man ran into Misaka. Explains Misaka as she tries not to cry again."

"That doesn't look too bad though. It'll heal soon." The tall woman reassured her and glanced at the teen. He seemed pale, was trembling slightly. Was he afraid?

"Let's get you two home. Worst is already complaining about being Bored." She had hoped that at least one of them would say anything, but both were just following her silently to the parked car. Neither of them spoke a word until they had reached an apartment and Last Orders scratches were treated.

The girl then climbed into the couch Accelerator was lying on and curled up next to him. He didn't say anything when he wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.

"Thank you. Whispers Misaka as Misaka is grateful that you didn't leave her alone this time."

"Hmm." The teen grumbled and slowly drifted into sleep.

Yomikawa watched them for a moment before she covered them with a blanket and tried to figure out why both of them were so out of it after something that happened to pretty much everyone sometimes.

"Since they didn't get to buy what I needed for dinner tonight, I'll take you with me." Yomikawa then said to Misaka Worst who was jealously eying the two on the couch.

"let them sleep, they looked like they need it."