"With the shield finished, I think I can start to pack all this stuff up. Say, Touma," Tachyon said after making sure they were out of Index's earshot, "how close are you with Shokuhou Misaki?"

"Hm?"

A complete look of confusion. Needless to say, Tachyon was taken aback by this unexpected reaction.

"You know, Shokuhou Misaki... this girl here." Tachyon pulled out a paper with a photo of the blonde girl in question.

Touma scrutinized the photo for a minute.

"Nope. I do not know this person."

"..."

How? But...

"Understandable," Tachyon shrugged as he guided his neighbor downstairs.


It wasn't understandable by any stretch of the word. It was simply impossible for Touma to not know Shokuhou Misaki. During Tachyon's quest to taste all the food in Daihaseisai, he observed Touma using his masculine wiles to its fullest extent; Shokuhou practically jumped on his shoulder to hug him. That lucky bastard; brazenly hugging another girl in front of Railgun... there really was no limit to his disease, was there?

But why did Touma deny knowing Shokuhou Misaki?

Tachyon rejected the idea of Touma lying to him; for one, Touma was not the type to lie about such a mundane event. He had no sense of public propriety in regards to romance, so there was zero chance of him lying to avoid possible embarrassment of being an acquaintance of an attractive female. He had no reason to lie, and even if he did he was not a good liar in the first place.

Perhaps... Shokuhou manipulated his memories using her ability. But that would also be impossible, considering the Imagine Breaker contained in his right hand.

Tachyon didn't know what to think. Perhaps he could contact Railgun to verify the facts, but they weren't close enough for that sort of casual talk, and he had a sneaking suspicion that her anger would flare up at the mere reminder of that incident.

He needed to know if there was anything between Kamijou Touma and Shokuhou Misaki. He needed to find someone who was up to date with everything regarding Touma. Someone with a particular set of skills which would allow that person to perform espionage with great ease...


Well, there really was only one person who fit that criteria while being also readily available. Someone who, while being Touma's good friend, was also a renowned dodecatuple agent.

Tachyon briefly wondered if a world-class spy like him would appreciate the allusion behind his G-Man knock. In any case, the door opened after few tense moments.

It was Tsuchimikado Motoharu who welcomed him. "Nyaa, well if it isn't Tachyon!"

"Tsuchimikado," Tachyon nodded.

It was a reunion of two old foes, now casual acquaintances. Especially now, they had multiple similarities with each other: they were both world-famous individuals who uneasily settled in Academy City with someone they cared for above all else. They were both aware of their own similarities in regards to their own respective histories.

As all rooms within the dorm building shared the same features and appearance, there was nothing particularly noteworthy about Tsuchimikado's dorm room, aside from assorted training equipments on the west corner and a bookshelf filled with incest manga. Tachyon personally found such visual novels to be more frightening than any grimoire he could imagine; he simply averted his gaze toward elsewhere.

Ten minutes later they were both seated in front of a wooden table across from each other. A steaming teapot lay on the table along with two teacups. Following the common custom followed when visiting a neighbor, Tachyon had brought a bag of tea leaves along with him for this visit. They were from Shokka's private store of collection.

Tsuchimikado gave a sour expression after his first sip. "Even an amateur like me can tell that this is a green tea... but the taste is... too earthy, nya?"

"Yes," Tachyon gave an understanding nod. "I, too, find it hard to swallow this. It tastes too bold; it almost feels like I'm chewing grass. But then again, that's the consequence of us whippersnappers attempting to pose like two old and jaded warriors sharing a cup of tea akin to a scene one might read in The Romance of Three Kingdoms."

Some minutes passed while the two mustered their discipline that was needed to drink their beverage.

"Say, Motoharu, do you remember the first time we made our acquaintance?"

"Nya, I do. It's rather hard to forget, I'd say."

"You were a professor of Feng Shui in Necessarius at the time when I made my infiltration. A simpler time, to be sure. I never knew I would come so close to being killed by a paper origami."

Two chary chuckles rang throughout the room.

Some more minutes passed by.

It was as clear as day that no casual talk could be sustained between them; the unspoken tension within the room was too obtrusive for that to occur. Finally, Tsuchimikado spoke up.

"Now..." His face became rather serious. "I know you came here to ask for something. Might as well say it already."

Tachyon gave a wry twist of his lips. "True. One can't be too careful when dealing with an agent of your caliber. Nevertheless..."

Reaching inside his jacket, he pulled out a picture depicting the Fifth Level Five Esper.

"Shokuhou Misaki," Tachyon stated.

The atmosphere of the room considerably grew more strained at that moment.

"I have a good reason to believe that she is attempting to manipulate the ones I care for."

Similar goals. That was another common interest Tachyon had compared to Tsuchimikado. Both had an individual they cared deeply for.

Tachyon subconsciously leaned in before making his next statement: "I know for a fact that Kamijou Touma is acquainted with Shokuhou Misaki. So why is it that he cannot remember her at all?"

Tsuchimikado was not an agent of world renown for no good reason; it was almost as if his fixed expression was carved out of granite. The sunglasses he wore certainly enhanced that effect.

"The reason I came to you today is because I'm willing to bet my left hand that you know the details surrounding this mystery. If I know you, Tasuchimikao Motoharu, - and I believe that I do, - you are up to date with every major event Kamijou Touma has been involved in since day one. I don't claim to know you well, but I know this much."

"..."

The first person to speak loses, Tachyon reminded himself. Come on, Motoharu. I need this bad.

After a minute of scrutiny, he finally replied:

"Tachyon, as old foes we know the peculiarities of each other's personality. Ones who have viewed your actions and behavior will most likely label you as a Knight-Errant, an action-searching being who does not have a fixed home to come back to. Upon reading novels such as The Three Musketeers or Don Quixote, teenage boys often dream about becoming a hero. You took it multiple steps further beyond the common expectation. I'd say it almost reaches a point where your yourself create a whole new type of hero. And you yourself know why you constantly wonder around; you never settle down in one place. Like a politician who switches parties, or like a gamer who buys and returns the game all in one day, or like a philosopher always seeking new things to talk about... you break relationships just as quickly as you make them... you are never truly immersed in something; you constantly look for something else.

"And, undoubtedly, you know the peculiarities of my personality also. I make connections when needed, and I do not hesitate to betray them for my own benefit. I've back-stabbed multiple men and women who trusted me without a bat of an eye. However, even a monster like I have boundaries. Kamijou Touma is a significant candidate for that 'boundary'.. You're asking me to divulge a significant part of his history; however, I refuse to do so; not without his consent."

"Everything you have said so far is reasonable." Tachyon readily admitted. "However, can it truly be considered part of Touma's history if he indeed has zero recollection of it? And another thing; I'm willing to bet I hold Kamijou Touma in just as much esteem as you do. You know me, Tsuchimikado; am I a type of person to harm Touma in any way, shape, or form?"

"Such reasons you just gave do nothing to change my stance on this request of yours. But, even if I were to pretend otherwise, just what could you give me in return that would justify such an act?"

Ah, a pivotal point in the conversation! Tachyon knew that this was a crucial part toward his objection. Tsuchimikado held Kamijou Touma with great respect, something which he already had expected. Even a fool could see that this unreasonable request of his would be denied immediately. However, Tachyon had a chip of his own up his sleeve. All he needed to do was to appeal to the existence of a human being a tier higher than Kamijou Touma when it came to Tsuchimikado's personal priorities.

"Everything does indeed have a cost," Tachyon said. "It's akin to bartering; a tit for a tat. You seem to believe that I have nothing to offer you that will sufficiently compensate you. But, what if I share you a memory in exchange of a memory?"

Tachyon slammed his imaginary chip onto the kitchen table.

"The circumstances that led to the deaths of Tsuchimikado Maika's parents."

Tachyon, at this moment, engaged in a very dangerous game. Tsuchimikado Motoharu was not a person to be underestimated by any means; and yet, he resorted to this guile move of almost taunting that memory in front of Motoharu's face. It was akin to one fluttering a red flag in front of a bull.

I've snared his curiosity. There's no way he'll refuse now.

He held his breath while carefully watching Tsuchimikado's expression. That stone-cold mask of his threatened to break into pieces.

"The way you casually mention my sister pisses me off."

His casual demeanor was now completely gone; to be truthful, there weren't any in the first place.

"Apologies; I know how deep the care you have for your sister goes. However, her history and my history intertwine in a way you currently may not fathom. But before I elaborate on that; do we have a deal?"

...

"Fine," Tsuchimikado snapped. "But only if you talk first."

"I cannot do that." Tachyon shook his head. "Once you hear what I have to say, you will most likely be enraged to the point where you refuse to uphold your end of the deal. I know your Magic name, and, furthermore, I know your personality."

"What, you expect me to trust you?" Tsuchimikado scoffed.

"True." Tachyon paused for a moment. "Then, how about this?"

He stretched his hands out toward the air. At the moment a folded index card appeared in a flash of blue light; he grabbed it with a single nimble motion.

Gazing upon the folded card, Tachyon read its message out loud.

"'I, Tsuchimikado Motoharu, affirm that the man named Tachyon has upheld his end of the deal. September 22nd 201X.'"

Below that was Tsuchimikado's signature.

"This," Tachyon continued while handing the index card over, "is proof of my cooperation. This note is from the future; I have obtained your statement and signature as shown here after I upheld my end of the bargain. Then, I sent it back to the past to this point."

An average uninformed individual would have been completely baffled at this turn of events. However, this was not Tsuchimikado first time dealing with time oddity. Snatching the paper from Tachyon's grasp he began to scrutinize the note and the signature.

"And what proof do I have that this is not forged?"

"Do you really think I forged both your note and your signature? You have observed me during our classes; you know that I write kanji like a child. I have no problem speaking Japanese, but I only recently am learning how to write it. You know this."

Another stretch of silence ensued as both parties determined their next action.

"Why is this note folded?"

"Written on the inside of that index card is a statement which is the crux of the memory of mine I will tell you in return. You must not open it until I say so after you finish your own story."

A feral glare now bore into Tachyon's skull.

"If I did not know any better, I would have killed you by now."

"But you do know me, and you do know my genuine sincerity in situations like these."

"..."

After taking another swig at that detestable tea, Tsuchmikado slammed his cup down on the table.

His mask made its return; not a single hint of ire remained on his face.

"I first met Kami-yan in April last year, which was also when I first came into this city. An immediate friendship was made between him and I, as it is wont to happen to those who meet him."

"Yes," Tachyon nodded. "He has extreme charisma."

"That was also when I underwent Power Curriculum Program, which greatly inhibited my magical abilities. Months passed, and summer came. August of last year is when Kamijou Touma met Shokuhou Misaki for the first time."

Tachyon hung on to his every word.

"Apparently, he ran into her by pure circumstance. As the summer went by they met again and again, and, well... I'm sure you have seen the effects of 'Kami-yan disease' first-hand during your time here."

"Of course," Tachyon replied with a chuckle. "This savors distinctly of Touma. I'd imagine that it took him less than three meetings to 'capture her heart', so to speak."

The elephant in the room was the fact that they both were aware of Tsuchimikado using vague details in his tale in his attempt to give away as little information as possible; Tachyon knew better than to give in to Tsuchimikado's disinterested mannerism. He was willing to bet that Tsuchimikado, being the spy that he was, pulled out all the stops in his attempts at snooping into all the intricate details in lives of his friends and foes.

"... It's quite hilarious, now that I think back to the details I have dug up ... Kami-yan, being the bastard that he is, used his masculine wiles to the fullest extent ... some examples include voyeurism, swimsuits, hypnotism; basically the likes of which you could find in any sort of eroge games ..."

But Tachyon was fine with the minimal information he received; he did not need small details. As long as he knew the general turn of events, that was adequate for now.

"From what I currently hear, Touma appeared to have been very close to Shokuhou Misaki..." Tachyon thought back to Misaka Mikoto and inwardly remarked the similarities between the two in terms of personal history. "From what I've heard so far, I'm now inclined to believe that the current state of affairs would have been very different today had that relationship been kept going."

"Perhaps. However, that all came to an end at the end of that summer."

Tachyon's attention span reached its peak; now came the time to listen to the reason why Touma could not remember Shokuhou Misaki.

"You are, of course, aware of Kami-yan's tendency to... defend those he cares about in dangerous situations. Unfortunately, the conflict he jumped in in order to protect Shokuhou Misaki did not end well for him."

Only then did Tachyon realize the vice-like grip he had on one of the kitchen table legs. Reckoning that breaking a furniture as a guest in this household was in multiple ways a bad idea, he removed his hand and clasped it with his other, attempting to still his beating heart.

"Kami-yan and I are Level Zeroes; in terms of Esper Abilities, we are a lost cause with no hope. He and I of course have our own unique abilities which we use to their fullest extent for our survival, but the same cannot be said of other students deemed as 'failures' in the system. At times, the despair they experience can lead to, how should I say, destructive outputs."

Tachyon thought back to the deathly struggle Magicians went through in order to get even an ounce of talent, but decided against voicing that comparison.

"Then there are those who have made progress in their abilities, but have reached a standstill in their advancement; a 'plateau', if you will. Despondent at their lack of potential, they often look toward the Level 5's with anger and envy. And when Shokuhou Misaki ended up being a target by one of the organizations formed by those dissatisfied Espers, Kami-yan of course felt the need to jump in- and, well, I'd imagine you already have an idea what happened next."

"His misfortune." Tachyon replied. "It's been only a month or two since I have met that monster named Kamijou Touma, but then again, a month is more than enough. His misfortune is such that he will never find a girl to settle down with, but will continue to accumulate the love of multiple others. It's even more infuriating due to the fact that you cannot really blame him for something he is subconsciously doing outside of his will. His misfortune will never allow him to settle down to a peaceful life; as long as he has that right hand he will spend the rest of his life continuously increasing his fame and legend by surmounting deadly situations. It's one of those ways of life everyone dreams of living; they do not realize how desperately they will wish their old lives back when thrown into such situations. And to top it all off, he will find no respite, even in death- his misfortune will assuredly prevent him from truly dying."

"That's our Kami-yan!" Tsuchimikado gave a wry grin.

Then, the somber atmosphere made its quick return as Tachyon prepared himself for the conclusion.

"He fought over two dozen opponents armed with blades and propulsion rockets in order to protect Shokuhou Misaki. While he did manage to succeed in the end, I consider that event to be one of those times where he came especially close to dying.

"Here's where the details become fuzzy. Shokuhou Misaki did all she could in order to prevent Kamijou Touma from going into shock from the sheer amount of pain. However, her attempts at using her ability on him during that critical state led to catastrophic side-effects. I am not exactly sure what happened to him, but the damage done to his brain and the extreme measures taken to protect his life led to a single irreversible impairment within his neural pathways. He cannot and will not ever remember anything regarding Shokuhou Misaki. If he were to meet her, he will forget everything about her after that meeting. Any mention of her will never settle in his memory. I'm no doctor, but that sort of brain damage is not something I have come across before."

"..."

Never in a million years would he have anticipated this sort of outcome.

"Such a cruel, unusual, and poetic punishment..." Tachyon muttered.