Once again, another original!
For some reason, I have an affinity with Meigo Arisa. I have no problems with Shutaura Sequenzia but it's just Arisa as a character that always get me thinking of how I can use her in creative ways. I suppose that in a series of this size, it's only natural that you would get something like this where there is a 'black box' character of hidden potential such as Tatsugami Otohime and Saten Ruiko.
As you can see this is another part of an already written one-shot, so I hope that you can enjoy this one as much as you did the other one in this 'series' that I ended up getting together.
I've kept this one beginning short! I DID IT! Well...at least I tried to...
But here we are with the Q & A. But before we get into that, many people ended up commenting on the as fetish point last chapter. I had no idea such a thing would end up so popular but I'm glad it was I guess!
dragonrider66: Accelerator calls out the ass shaking back when he was chasing #10031 through the alleyway. If you have a copy of OT 3, I'm sure that he calls it out in one of the colour illustrations so if you want to see where it was, it's there. As for what made Kuroko have her big obsession with Mikoto…we know why she admires Mikoto as she stands at the head of the pack but as for the big obsession, that is anyone's guess.
wildarms13: I'll comment on this one before I get into other reviews because the point raised here is pretty relevant. The Parameter List is a big point to be considered with everything that Mikoto says about effort. While we can believe that everything that she says is true; that always striving forward does in fact achieve results, if we look at what she has achieved as being something that others decided she could, where does that leave everyone else? Does it mean that their effort is worthless and not going to get the same results? Does it mean that the words she said to those children are something that can never be realised as the truth? If you can agree with what Mikoto says, that in turn shows that you acknowledge that you and she know the benefits of effort but when Mikoto was pushed along without her knowledge in the first place, it sorts of raises the question if she can have the right to talk about 'effort' when it was pre-decided that she would reach Level 5. It's definitely an interesting question so if you re-read last chapter with those sort of questions in mind, you can an entirely different feel to it. Thanks for raising the point of the Parameter List; it's pretty important when you look at what Mikoto is saying about effort and the reality.
pop2ww: You did it again! Still love these long reviews. Moving forward here I think is something that we find to be the biggest obstacle of all despite effort. We know failure and we know success but it's turning the former into the latter despite the struggles we face that I think is perhaps the greatest challenge when starting something new. In this sense, seeing that Mikoto truly believes that we can all achieve something if we grasp and fight with everything that we have is truly an inspirational thing. But at the same time, ominous questions arise when we consider the Parameter List and how her own effort was due to someone else. But whatever the case, I like to believe that effort still pushes people forward and serves as a reminder that we can always move past failure and remember the benefits of success whatever situation we are in. And I'm also glad that you picked up the Heavy Object anime! It was worth it wasn't it? And I'd also like to thank you for viewing my works here as something that can be educational and motivational in a sense. I usually try and get across that people are 'human' in this series but it sometimes ends up with messages around morals or behaviour along the lines without me realising it! I'm not trying to say that 'my way is the best way' as it's subjective but seeing you look at what I say and comment on it makes me happy.
And the cannibalism idea is pretty mild given what I have planned…Still there is heaps of Kamachi stuff to keep you occupied until (or if) Season 3 comes out so I hope you enjoy. And I'll start by trying to describe the OCs in ACUL0 right now, covering the three main enemies in Mikoto's arc mainly because doing them separately when they all appeared at once is pretty pointless.
Imaizumi Yukiko: It was at this point that I wanted to try and make the enemies here a bit more structured and more than the standard 'goon' that appeared in the sidelines. Having the enemies as Tokiwadai students then added a bit of character to them but Yukiko's original character design in my head was maybe something along the lines of Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail with maybe shorter hair and a more adolescent girlish figure. She is a middle school student and I wanted to show that. As the leader as well I wanted to show that character design that added something that was different from the others too.
Tatsuno Yayoi: Her design was a lot like Irori from Unbreakable Machine Doll except maybe with a more intense face to show that she is part of a group instead of a standalone character. While I wanted her personality to be softer, she sort of had a feel for me that her true strength was with others rather than individually so I wanted to give her a more 'sheltered' appearance to reflect that reliance.
Higuchi Sumi: Her design fits with Kasugano Yukariko from Golden Marriage except again with a more intense face to fit her friends. I wanted to sort of connect the three of them in some way while at the same time making them seem like individuals but the success of that is up to you. Keep in mind though that all of these OCs are middle school students and their immaturity should be reflected in their face and bodies as well.
Hopefully that answered your questions for those OCs there. (I think I should make a proper note of these and at the end of ACUL0 post them all up for greater insight into the characters…)
ryuhayabusa298: I have another chapter of The Rumour up and ready to go but commitments means that I haven't had a chance to overlook it before sending it off to my beta. Maybe when the school term ends I'll end up updating but I can't make any promises.
Guest: I think we all wonder how Touma ends up surviving what he does. Perhaps with all of the chaos he has faced, his body has developed an unnatural resistance to death or something?
Agent Nine: Yeah, your comments really are taken to heart. I want to try and make it less wordy but whenever I get a pace up, I find it hard to take things down because I know there's a reason that the long paragraphs are there in the first place. I'll see if I can shorten the feel to 2 or 3 paragraphs without getting them too long but I sort of wanted to get clarity and the point across, even though that comes at the cost of a lot of words. Thank you though for pointing this out and sticking with me regardless. I'll see what I can do and your comments here really help me a lot.
ishak13: Hi there and thanks for reading! As for a Mahuoka crossover fic, I think it would end up having a structure similar to The Endless Hell where Touma comes across Tatsuya's world because of Othinus but I know next to nothing about the series. The first thing I sort of go for when I do these is getting the characters right and I feel as though I won't be able to do that for Mahouka. If I had time to look at the 18 novels I would but it would be a stretch. Right now, don't expect anything though. I'm sorry for letting you down in this respect but thank you for asking about it.
Red Glasses: Well….the girl that made an official appearance in April Fools will appear eventually…. Again though thank you for your kind words and I hope you enjoy this!
Anon (Guest): I have a feeling that the simultaneous tapping of the pencils might have caused a few major tremors however I'm not so sure about doing damage to the building. If though the entire structure of the building was weakened enough….
Yet before we begin, I want to thank two people.
The first: as usual it's PokeRescue18. I always write this in, merely because it is that important to thank him for his work. I can't do so enough and I really want to express my thanks once more.
And to you, the reader. I seriously can't thank you enough either. I hope that my thanks can be expressed through this medium in a proper way and that you do what I hope you always do here:
Enjoy.
But I guess due to the nature of this one shot, I should make the disclaimer that would apply specifically to this one-shot just to be safe and avoid any legal trouble should it arise.
Disclaimer: I do not own the songs and the lyrics that are mentioned in this fanfiction. They are owned by the singer Sachika Misawa, the writer, composer and arranger Iuchi Maiko, the staff that produced the movie A Certain Magical Index – The Miracle of Endymion (an excellent movie) and the producer of the album that the songs mentioned here are in, Warner Home Video as well as other related parties. Overall, I own nothing that is mentioned in this fanfiction.
There. There's the disclaimer for those that didn't think it would apply and once more I hope that you enjoy.
Mr Question Mark.
The Work that No One Considers. Misfortune_Talk.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, here we are."
A male voice resounded through the air, sounding rather tired as two figures that were walking in front of him turned around, one of them looking rather apologetic while the other looked as if they were rather disappointed given the male figure's slowness.
Kamijou Touma though only ignored Index's upset glance as he, Index and the third figure found themselves standing in the underground shopping mall in District 7. People moved up and down the stairs where the trio of people were currently standing as they all moved out of the way to the side in order to prevent blocking them.
Kamijou and Index looked at the passing people before the former turned towards their companion.
"So, where exactly are you performing today?"
Kamijou asked the final member of their group, someone that currently was dressed in a rather clandestine way, probably because of the fame that they had accumulated over the past few days with the opening ceremony of the space elevator Endymion coming up, held by Orbit Portal. Although it was only two days away, there was still a busy feel within Academy City as anticipation rose for the ceremony itself.
Tickets had apparently sold out within the first 12 hours of them appearing online and the disappointment of those that had missed out could be felt in the air. Either with the sight of adults or students looking at the space elevator in melancholy, it was easy to tell who had missed out on the tickets that had been online.
True to form and keeping with his usual unlucky self, Kamijou himself had tried to purchase tickets however the internet at his dorm had suddenly broken down on the day that he had tried to order. When he had actually managed to reach somewhere with internet access, his forgotten credit card information meant that he had to track down Index and her companion through the City in order to purchase the tickets as they had his credit card and would not answer their phones.
He had been literally 6 seconds late after everything had sold out, causing the boy to truly feel both disappointed and rather embarrassed at how he had forgotten his credit card information in the first place.
Naturally, Index had been disappointed but none more so than their current roommate and also the third person of the group that made up their trio.
Meigo Arisa looked up at Kamijou as he held all of her performing equipment, such as her piano, switchboard and other electronics as she fidgeted with her thumbs before looking down.
Currently, she was the one that was dressed in a clandestine way, much like the models that wanted to avoid the media photographing them furiously as they did something as insignificant as going to the shops to purchase food.
With black sunglasses and her usual light blue near grey newsboy hat, her face was covered from the curious crowds that ignored her presence as she hid her face. Her pink hair was tied into a bun underneath her hat, giving the impression that it was short instead of long and the casual clothes that she always wore with the Kamijou-Index duo were currently donned, her blue jeans and white jumper.
On the other hand, the casual clothes of Kamijou, his usual white shirt with blue sleeves and brown pants along with Index's nun's habit made the both of them stand out (the latter more than the former) meaning that as people's interests were taken by Index and her clothes, Arisa was relatively unseen in the trio.
"Y-You didn't have to come here Touma-kun. I mean after all; this is nothing more than me trying to blow off some steam…"
"Don't be ridiculous. I can't just let you do this on your own. I'll help when I can and besides, I may as well do some shopping while I'm here. All of a sudden, I have to basically consider two girls with Index-like appetites and there's no way that Orbit Portal is going to reimburse me for Arisa…." Kamijou said his words cheerfully although the last comment seemed rather dark as he hung his head.
Arisa though only tilted her head in response to her confusion as Index looked at Arisa and took her by the hands.
"Come on then Ar-!" Index stopped before she said Arisa's name in public for fear of exposing her when she tried so hard to conceal herself. "Where are you going to do you-know-what?"
"W-Well Index-chan, there is no 'set' place. You know what I'm going to be doing right?" she asked in a careful tone as to ensure that no one recognised her distinct voice among those from the crowd in the underground mall.
"Right! That music thing that you were doing when we first met!" called Index cheerfully as Sphynx within her arms meowed as if to say "Please owner…let me feel the warmth of your habit…".
"It's called busking Index." explained Kamijou as he lowered the equipment that Arisa was going to use for busking to the ground. "Do you have any idea where you are going to be doing it at all, or just-"
"N-no." said Arisa as she fidgeted once more with her thumbs, clearly embarrassed that he and Index had come along. "Before I was selected for the Endymion ceremony, I would just find a good spot with a lot of people and just play. I wanted to return to my normal routine without Orbit Portal's permission so I wonder if it's alright…."
Arisa said that as she looked around herself, clearly worried that an Orbit Portal representative would walk up to her and prevent her from doing a live concert without any backing or preparation of any kind.
Whether it was to relax in order to get prepared for the big event of the opening ceremony or merely to get back into a routine that Meigo Arisa did before becoming the Meigo Arisa, Arisa at her core merely wanted to sing to the crowds in front of her.
With the strangers that had attacked her when she had been with Kamijou and Index before as well as the explosion in the mall, it seemed as though her singing did nothing but bring harm to others that managed to get caught up in its claws.
But even so, it was these two, Kamijou Touma and Index that had vowed to find a way to protect her and find a way for Arisa to sing without harming anyone. She was truly thankful for the both of them and yet now it was her selfishness that was making them work hard once more.
"I think it should be fine. After all, you work for them!" called Index with that same cheerfulness as both Kamijou and Arisa looked at her and smiled to each other.
"There's no one stopping us for now and that means that it should be alright. Just find a location. I'll set up the way that you told me to and then I'll leave everything to you. I have a feeling though that it might be better to at least get your recognition over and done with so that you don't have people swarming you for an autograph." noted Kamijou casually to which Index merely crossed her arms and shook her head as if she were the most important person in the world.
"But Touma, we have her living with us! Don't you think that we get something better than an autograph!? Ah, have you at least taken a picture of her with your beeping and ringing thingy?!"
"It's a cell phone. A. Cell. Phone. You have one so can you at least remember the name of it? But yeah, having the real thing in the flesh is something of an honour." Kamijou turned towards Arisa fully and went to one knee, holding out one hand as if he were proposing to her. Or at least that was how it looked to Arisa.
She went red in the face as she slowly backed away, trying to stop her racing thoughts at the scene in front of her as Kamijou spoke, oblivious to the embarrassing action that he was doing.
"It is wondrous to be in your presence, our great Princess. Please, grace us with the pleasure of your voice once more than us humble mortals may bask in its glory." He said, his posture attempting to be that of a handsome (or rather average-looking) knight rather than a proposal although Arisa still could not get the latter image out of her head for some reason.
She shook her head and hands in front of her face violently in a desperate attempt to calm her racing heart as she spoke in flustered tones.
"N-No, Touma-kun you don't have to do that! It's embarrassing!"
Index though only seemed to hop on the band wagon that Kamijou had provided, doing the same as he was, the both of them acting rather humorously in the grand scope of things.
"Indeed! Please, make us worthy to see the Lord's world as a whole, to see the beauty it provides!"
"I-Index-chan!? Please stop! It's embarrassing I told you! B-Besides, having the 'real thing' with you isn't all that great! Like that time when Touma-kun-"
Arisa stopped speaking; having trouble continuing as her face continued to go red from the memory of perhaps the only bad thing that had happened to her while she had been in the company of the two of them at Kamijou's dorm. After all, having her naked body seen was not something that she wanted to be reminded of but the fact that it was the only bad thing that she had experienced spoke volumes of the times that she had spent with the Level 0 Kamijou Touma and the nun Index.
Index looked up, her own face red as she recalled the incident where Touma had walked in on them both naked. Yet she narrowed her eyes at Arisa slightly as if she were suspecting something before Kamijou rose his head up and tilted it in confusion.
"Huh? What did I do?"
"N-Never mind Touma-kun…" Arisa said in a wooden voice as she was somewhat glad that he had forgotten the incident although was rather amazed at the fact that he had. Was it really not that memorable, her own body? She started having self-conscious thoughts as Index merely turned towards Kamijou.
"Touma! Did you really not even bother to recall the embarrassment that the two of us faced when you walked in on us?! Was it that horrible a sight that you erased it from your memory!? Think about the pride that us girls have won't you!?"
Those words were the kicker as numerous people instantly turned to where Index, Kamijou and Arisa were standing, going wide eyed and their mouths dropping as they heard what the boy had done to the girls. What did that nun mean 'walked in'? What did that lucky bastard 'see'?!
"Y-You mean that?! Well, no I didn't forget but it was just that there's a lot going on for me at the moment such as thinking of a way to feed you Index and, no, I'm not trying to make a comment on your body or the other one's either!" Whether it be out of consideration to not mention her name as to not attract attention, Kamijou indicated to Arisa although she hung her head, feeling rather annoyed at the fact that he had called her the 'other one'.
"So you have nothing to say to us!?" asked Index, recalling the fact that Kamijou hadn't even apologised (or had he, it was rather a blur given all the screaming and crying of "Such misfortune"?).
"Y-You want me to actually comment on it!?" Kamijou though reached a misunderstanding of what Index wanted him to say as he racked his brain for thoughts on the matter as he turned away with a rather red face himself and coughed.
He knew this trap. He had fallen for it on August 31st. Saying nothing would surely get him bitten so in order to make sure that he came it of this unscathed he needed to complement the girls like he had never complemented someone before!
It was embarrassing as heck but anything to avoid this biting hell!
"W-Well if I had to say something," Kamijou started as he gave another cough. "It would be that despite both of your ages, y-your skin gave a soft scent and had a shiny smooth-gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?! Wh-what did I do wrong this tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?"
Kamijou yelled out as Index, with a blushing face, grabbed onto his head out of pure embarrassment at his words while Arisa nearby hid her face with her hands, squatted and turned away from the both of them, a burning on her face clearly not going away for the time being. She was sure it was the same with Index but from her reaction it seemed as though she had something going on with Touma more than she had let on when the two of them were in the bath.
She felt her own eyes narrowed when she looked at Index however seeing Kamijou on the ground, trying to get Index off only made the red on her face return as she looked away and made soft squealing sounds because of the embarrassment.
"Waitwaitwait! C-Come on Index-san, we have things to do! We have to find a spot to busk so that you-know-who can at least gain some peace of mind and relax after everything that has happened!" Kamijou pleaded with some additional whimpering as Index let go of the boy's head and looked at Arisa who was squatting on the ground.
"You're right Touma. This can wait until later."
"Later?! I wanted to say this for a while but for someone that takes care of you 24/7, you don't really have much respect for m- Hey! Are you listening?!" Kamijou yelled at Index as she ignored him and walked over to the squatting girl as she placed a hand on her hat.
"Come on now Arisa. We have to try and do our best to make sure that you are the most relaxed. After all, you are the star!" Index whispered into her ear as Arisa looked at the nun. She turned to Kamijou that was slowly dragging himself along the ground to reach Arisa's equipment as it seemed to her that he was ready to leave, just as Index was.
Index took her by the hand and lifted her up as Kamijou reached and picked up the necessary equipment that he had to set up to make sure that Arisa had the chance to busk to her heart's content.
"I look forward to your performance." He said as he gathered all of the equipment together as she merely slowly nodded, trying hard to keep up with the change of pace.
But soon, it would be her that would start that change of pace. It would be up to her to show just how much effort she had put into working hard and making sure her dream came true. Out of all of the auditions to perform in the opening ceremony of the Endymion space elevator, she had been chosen out of all of them.
Yet what she was doing right now was not a part of any of that. It was only her own selfishness trying to calm her own racing heart. But even so, that did not mean that she had to slack off in the face of such a thing.
She would give it her all and she let that thought fill her entire being.
And so she nodded.
"I'll make it something that you can be proud of."
Meigo Arisa breathed in as she sat at her piano, surrounded by people as she watched the crowds around her.
This was it; crunch time.
Using her own knowledge of good busking areas before she became famous, Arisa had found a good spot for her to busk in the public eye. Not an event that was a part of the official Orbit Portal campaign for the Endymion, this was nothing more than a selfish request from her in order to try and calm herself.
Her dream was to play on a big stage, in a hall that was filled with numerous people.
Yet to achieve those dreams, she had to take small steps. She was on the way to achieve that dream, constantly playing in halls to impress her fans for the Endymion. Yet the biggest stage of all had yet to be reached, the stage on the Endymion itself.
Even so, it had been those small steps that had allowed her to be recognised in the public eye, contributing to her own fame. And somehow, she just couldn't let go of those small steps, wanting to return once more to that small stage so that she could play to those that listened.
Such a thing was incredibly calming for her, more than she knew and she knew that in anticipation for the big event that was to come for her, she had to be calm and relaxed.
Just like she was feeling right now as she sat in front of her piano, facing the crowd that walked around her, often looking at her in curiosity as she had yet to play.
This feeling within her, an electricity that seemed ready to burst as soon as she played and sang; she knew how soothing it felt and the happiness she got from it. It was more than she could ask for as she watched the only person that stood directly in front of her right now.
Index looked at Meigo Arisa, who was still wearing her disguise, with anticipation, holding onto Sphynx rather tightly as the cat squirmed in her arms as if to say "Please….let me go…". Arisa smiled at her, as the sign stating that it was the Meigo Arisa performing had not been put up by Kamijou, but at the same time let her gaze wonder.
She knew she had to start soon.
But where was her 'bodyguard'? The boy that had set up all of this, receiving the occasional electric shock, and allowed her to sing and achieve her dream? At the very least, she wanted him to see her perform, as he had before. But she never caught sight of him after he had set everything up.
Slightly disappointed, she took off her hat and undid her bun, letting her pink hair slowly down her shoulders. It was an incredibly simple action yet that one action made people that were walking past suddenly stop as they saw that familiar long, pink hair.
She slightly grinned at that as Index started jumping up and down in enthusiasm as she slowly reached for her sunglasses and took them off, revealing the pink eyes that were underneath. People stopped just walking past as they froze as they saw the person that was the poster girl for the Endymion.
Those that saw her turned and walked towards her now, standing next to Index who managed to get the front row seat as Arisa placed her hands on the keyboard in front of her. The crowd slowly gathered in front of her as she took a deep breath, turning her lips into a smile as she put pressure on her fingers as they touched the keys.
It was this one pressure that started everything, had set her on this path and had carved her way forward. It had been what allowed her to be involved in so many wonderful things.
And to meet so many wonderful people.
And she used that pressure to play the first chord, starting the song that she had played when she had first met some of those very wonderful people in question.
Index's eyes went wide with happiness as she recalled the song in question as her own face broke into a grin upon hearing that very first chord, something that Arisa matched by looking straight at Index. Cameras flashed and recorded around her as she started that very first song of the mini-concert that she had begun.
And it began with the song she had played when she had first met Kamijou Touma and Index.
Gloria.
The Pegasus shines in the sky afar (Pegasus toui sora)
Reaching out to seize glory (Gloria todoku you ni)
Still, as she played there was something that she could not shake. Her fingers were so used to the song that she was playing now that they seemed to move on their own yet at the same time, there was a strange loneliness to them. She knew the source of it, breaking her concentration slightly as she took the time to look around the place where Kamijou had set her up.
After all, almost as if in tribute to their meeting, she had played that song with the hope that he would hear it. She knew that Index would however what about the second party of the group that had taken her in and protected her?
Where was Kamijou Touma?
Your footprints slowly disappeared in the long, long rain (Kimi no tsuketa ashiato ga nagai ame ni kieta yo)
Your kindness and voice I've lost will remain in the sky as a star (Natsukashi koe yasashi-sa wa itsuka hoshi ni narudeshou)
The time in the summer ticks with my heartbeat (Natsu wa isshun no kodou de toki o utsu)
She continued despite her own thoughts as the crowd seemed to think that Arisa was looking around in order to bring the audience closer to her. After all, if it seemed as though Arisa was looking straight at them, it closed the distance between them that existed between 'idol' and 'observer'.
The supposedly unreachable idol would be looking straight at them, as equals and thus destroying the inferiority that they might have faced when they were in her presence. Simply looking straight at them had such an effect, causing more people to come closer and crowd around Arisa but that in turn troubled her.
While she did not want people to think that she was better than them and was happy that they were crowding around her, there was still one face that she was trying to distinguish in the crowd. She could not see it though as she continued regardless.
Now, I am born (Watashi wa umareta)
And there, in the distance.
She saw it.
The person that she had been searching for all this time.
I'm a Pegasus (Pegasus)
Passion appears as rings of light (Jounetsu wa hikaru ringu no you ni mieta)
I rest all loneliness on the wings on my back (Sabishisa wa senaka (se na) no hane ni noseta)
Her eyes caught his, although the male that was next to him thought that she was looking at him and blushed before moving to the crowd with his own phone open, probably to film her. In doing so, he pushed past the boy that Arisa had actually been looking at, roughly shoving him out of the way.
Kamijou Touma's eyes broke from the contact if only for a minute before he apologised to the other boy despite him not being at fault before returning the gaze with Arisa. In his hands was a shopping basket filled with a number of different ingredients that was probably for dinner tonight.
But even as Arisa was glad that the boy was in the distance, that distance between them was something that bothered her greatly.
All the clouds reflux (Awadatsu kumo no reflux)
The updraft is my blowhole (Joushou kiryuu no blowhole)
Why was he so far away? Why was he not in the front of the crowd?
She realised that there were still things that he needed to do; he had said so himself. But the gap between the both of them seemed as though it was on purpose.
Almost as if he had put it between them for the sole purpose of making sure that they were not seen together or considered friends in any way.
Here I come, diving into space (Meguri meguru uchuu ni dive)
Now, I take flight (Ima o tobu yo)
Kamijou though only nodded, smiling with a bright smile that made Meigo Arisa return it on instinct as the boy turned and went back to his shopping as if it were natural that they were supposed to be apart.
It stumped Arisa as to why he was acting like a stranger despite everything that they had been through as she turned back to face the crowd in front of her.
There was still a bit more to do in this concert of hers, but even so, lingering questions filled her mind.
I take flight (Tobu yo)
She continued to play the chords of the song but even so, those lingering questions continued. Although there might be a playful innocence about Kamijou, it still bothered Arisa that he was keeping his distance.
What was the reason for it?
Was there one?
Meigo Arisa did not know but as she entered the next verse, she promised herself that she would get those answers and reasons out of him no matter what.
The hardest part about being an idol for sure was that whenever she wanted to do her own thing, there were always people that wanted to stop her and ask for her autograph. It was surely Murphy's Law and Arisa did not mind it at all yet the lingering of unanswered questions at the back of her mind wished that all of this would disappear.
She had tried to push past all of her fans yet the underground 'concert' had attracted a lot of attention. Even Index had been smothered by the crowd as she tried to push through to where she had last seen Kamijou.
When she reached the convenience store though, the amount of fans increased, all of who showered her with questions such as 'Where are you staying', 'Can I have your autograph' and 'Can you kiss my baby', thrown at her from left and right. She turned her head at the last one; she wasn't exactly some kind of god, but she could hear the word 'miracle' being thrown around here and there.
It bothered her, to hear that word here. She had overcome her own fears and concerns about the word and how it was associated with her with the help of Kamijou himself but it still bothered her nonetheless. Yet there were more pressing issues at hand than just that.
She had to find Kamijou Touma and ask him why in the world he was so distant to her when she was performing. There was nothing wrong with him on the day that they had met, when they were strangers. So why was it different now, when they were no longer such?
Even though she got a good look inside the store, he wasn't there. Just like he had disappeared once more from her sight, he was gone and she couldn't find him. Surrounded by her fans, she should have naturally been happy but uneasiness came over her as she felt herself wondering where in the world the boy had gone.
This crowd though was hampering her chances of finding him though. She knew that they meant well but she had her own life to live as well, something that she wanted to get back to doing as soon as she dealt with everyone here.
She faced all of the people that had gathered around her and tried not to show those negative emotions within her on her face as she did her best to show a perfect smile. She could have sworn that she saw some of the boys blush at that but paid it no mind.
"Thank you everyone for supporting me! I hope that you'll come and see me again. Until Endymion!"
With that she spun around, weaving her way through the crowd that seemed to understand that that was her parting statement as she waved to the crowd behind her as some of them seemed disappointed that she had managed to escape from them.
She turned to face the front though, feeling a little bit guilty as she once more donned the sunglasses and put her hair in a bun as to make sure that no one that hadn't already recognised her did so. She moved through the crowd, once more a silent face. Where was Kamijou Touma? In fact, where was Index and Sphynx? She had lost all three in the crowd so where had they gone?
She stood up on a bench in order to try and find them, feeling her own heart race as she suddenly found herself alone. She had been so before, in fact she had spent three years without anyone by her side, alone given that she had lost her memories, yet now that there were people with her, that loneliness seemed to be a stake driven through her heart.
"Where are you Touma-kun? Index-chan?" she asked aloud, slightly in desperation. Was it possible that they had returned to where she had played before?
With that thought in mind, she moved from the chair and headed to that location, stopping in front of it and breathing a sigh of relief as she saw the people that were there.
Index was sitting on the bench near where she had performed, looking around and Kamijou was doing the same next to her. All of her equipment was already placed in bags as Kamijou blew on the wounds that he had gotten, once more probably from light electrocution from dealing with the equipment. Index turned her head and faced Arisa's direction, eyes lighting up as she stood up and raced to where she was.
Kamijou looked surprised at Index's actions yet understood them as he looked and saw Arisa in the distance. He waved, stood up and picked up the shopping that he had done which was next to him as he leaned against the wall where the equipment was.
"Ari – I-I mean you were great!" called Index as she reached for Arisa's hands, something that made Arisa smile as she slowly lowered her sunglasses now that she was with the people that she trusted.
"Thank you Index-chan. And I see that you already managed to put things away." said Arisa as she looked upwards to Kamijou. There was something that she had to discuss with him however she was unsure whether or not to discuss it in front of Index. It was her personal issue with the boy, meaning that it would be preferable if he was alone.
"Yep! Touma got sparked a few times but everything turned out fine! And, and we're having a special dinner tonight! Or at least that was what Touma said!" cried Index with glee as Sphynx meowed on her hood in order to establish his presence. Arisa smiled at them both before being led to her destination by Index.
"Touma! We can go now right?" asked Index to which Kamijou nodded.
"Unless there is something that you want to do beforehand. And your performance was lovely Arisa. I'm glad that I could be here to watch it. As unfortunately, this Kamijou-san was unable to buy the necessary tickets…" Kamijou complemented her before going into a slump as Arisa waved her hands in front of her face.
"N-Not at all. It's not your fault Touma-kun. You've couldn't have predicted that things would have turned out the way that they did!"
"….I kind of should."
"He's right Ari – I mean, he's right." said Index, once more trying to avoid using her name even though she had her sunglasses down slightly, showing her eyes. It was clear that Index was still trying to make sure that Arisa did not have her identity revealed publicly once more even though she had performed. "But that means that this might be the last time we see you perform before the big concert!"
"I'm sure that things will work out. After all, I get the feeling as though the CD that is coming with the opening ceremony will land me the chance to get a big record deal." said Arisa, hopeful for her dreams and speaking optimistically.
"Really?" asked Kamijou, obviously impressed. "Then you never know, this might be the only chance that you get for a while that you can relax. You want to get some kind of afternoon meal to fill you until dinner?" His question, although kind left Arisa rather curious as to what he implied.
"What do you mean 'for a while'? The record deal is not set in stone Touma-kun."
"Well yes, but even so the aftermath of the opening ceremony means that things might be a bit hectic for you. I think that you'll be busy in some fashion or form meaning that you won't come over for a while. My door is always open for you but right now, you don't have a place to stay. That might change after the opening ceremony though…" remarked Kamijou, leaving Arisa somewhat stunned.
While it was possible that she would be busy with the Endymion preparations and the like after the opening ceremony, she hadn't really thought that far into the future. Surely, there would be conferences and press events that she would have to attend meaning that she might have to pull a few all-nighters doing nothing but work. If that was the case, then as Kamijou had said, was it possible that this was the last time they might be able to hang out for a while?
And even then, he said that his door was always open for her. It was as if he only saw her as a normal girl rather than an idol. It was a relaxing stance to view her in, something that Arisa did not mind but at the same time, it only made the distance that he showed beforehand all the more mysterious.
Why had he been so distant?
Why was it the case, when he could speak to her in a normal way that suggested that he didn't care about her position as an idol?
Those questions filled her mind but she managed to crack a smile and let loose a small chuckle.
"It's like you're my manager Touma-kun."
"I'm not paid enough for that." He responded immediately. "But, as your so-called 'manager' it is the obligation of this Kamijou-san to get you something that you want as an afternoon meal! So, where do you want to go? I'll get you any one item." He said, addressing both Index and Arisa as the former responded.
"Then I want to go over there! Those ice creams are said to be made with genetically enhanced dairy products from special milk but I don't care! As long as it's food and tasty, I'm fine with everything over there!"
"I said only one item! One. And that doesn't mean you can use the loophole of buying the same thing numerous times!" Kamijou replied in desperation as he felt his wallet cry a bit as Index raced over to the ice cream cart in the distance.
Kamijou sighed as she did so, looking at everything that he had to carry as Arisa came over and started to reach for the strap of her own piano.
"Huh? Ah, no Arisa. I can't let you do that. Let me." Kamijou reached out as he tried to pull the piano strap out of her hand yet meaning that his hand and her hand touched lightly. Arisa pulled back at the contact with a slightly red face, realising that it was a stupid thing to get embarrassed about as Kamijou blinked as he looked at her.
"Sorry, it's just that-"
"I-It's fine. L-Let me at least carry the shopping bags will you?" asked Arisa as she started for them, carrying them in her hands as it was clear that she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
It seemed as though there were a number of things that Kamijou wanted to say in making a girl do the manual labour but it was clear that Arisa wasn't going to back down. He sighed and scratched the back of his head in response before nodding.
"It would be a big help." That was all he said as he grunted, lifting the piano and other sound equipment that Arisa had used. She did the same with the bags, finding them a little bit light given that she had always carried her equipment as the two of them set off to follow Index who had reached the stand.
It was while they were walking that Meigo Arisa suddenly found herself with the perfect opportunity that she had been waiting for. It was this moment where Index was off in the distance and she was next to the boy that she had the perfect chance to interrogate him about the problem that she had had with him.
She turned to face him, Kamijou realising that she was looking at him before he stared at her. She had an unusual expression in her eyes, like she had found an obstacle she had to climb yet was unsure about how to do it.
"Is something the matter?" he asked to which Arisa was silent for a moment before speaking.
"Touma-kun, did you enjoy my singing?" she asked. The suddenness of the question threw Kamijou back slightly, surprising him.
"What are you saying Arisa? I said that I did and I meant it!" Kamijou seemed to go on the defensive as if Arisa did not believe him however she did not pay it any mind, turning to Kamijou with a hurt expression that shocked him even more than the question that she had posed beforehand.
"Then why were you so distant before? Was there something wrong?" Arisa asked that question, leaving Kamijou blinking in surprise. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then closed it, sighing and rubbing the back of his head or at least trying to with the equipment that he had in his hands.
"I waved to you so I thought that everything was OK but…."
"Touma-kun. Were you keeping your distance…because of me? If, in any way at all, I'm being a bother then I want you to know that I want to make sure that I don't incon-"
"You're not being a bother." Kamijou said that rather readily and without raising his voice. Doing so made it seem as though it wasn't forced but merely an established fact that had been in place since the Big Bang. Arisa blinked at that as Kamijou frowned as he tried to think about what to say.
"Is…there something wrong with me? Was that why you were keeping your distance?" asked Arisa, noting the nervousness of her own voice and the fact that she was feeling rather anxious right now. She wanted to know the answer sure, but what did that mean for her? She didn't know but the fact that she had to know the answer only scared her.
What type of answer was she looking for right now anyway?
Was there one that would satisfy her?
She felt as though Kamijou wouldn't lie to her. After all, she was clearly distressed and doing so to relieve her feelings was something that he wouldn't do because should Arisa learn the truth then it would only make her stressed out even more. But even so, it seemed as though Kamijou was rather reluctant to say what was on his mind.
There was a slight pause as Kamijou turned to her, seeing in his eyes something that she hadn't seen before.
It was resignation, as if he had given up a point, merely accepting it because he knew that there wasn't anything that he could do to change it.
"Arisa, I'm a person that is full of misfortune."
Arisa seemed rather surprised at the way that he said it. She knew that this was the case; after all she had lived with him for a few days so it was sort of hard not to notice. But the way that he said it right now was filled with a solemn tone, as if he was looking down on himself for it.
"There's nothing wrong with you Arisa. But you chose a place that I visit quite often. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that and I'm all for you trying to calm yourself by sticking to your own routine but in this underground mall, there are places that I pass where I'm pretty well known."
"Because….of your misfortune?" asked Arisa.
"Partially. There are some restaurants that know me as one of their most well paying customers, but that's only happened because of that nun over there. But yes, most shops know me for my misfortune. Clothing shops know me for changing curtains falling down, electronics shops know me for electronics breaking and the ATMs and banks know me for getting my card stuck. You get the overall gist right?"
Arisa nodded slowly. While what he was saying was rather amusing looking at it as a whole, there was something else there. Kamijou said those things without emotion, as if he had merely gotten used to it. It was similar to him saying 'I have to go to school'. His misfortune was merely part of his routine and he had come to accept it without hating it or loving it with any particular force. It was just merely 'there' and there was nothing he could do about it.
But his voice seemed to gain that emotion near the end of what he was saying meaning that Arisa felt that the point he was reaching was coming soon.
"But that means that sometimes people and places here and near other places that I visit often get wary of those that are around me. Index and I come down here a lot and there are some places that we avoid because of…certain things that have happened there. But I guess the both of us know that the moment we walk into those shops anyway, we'll get thrown out." Kamijou explained as he looked to the side of where they were walking and pointed to it.
Arisa looked over, seeing that there were a set of benches near the ice cream stand where Index was still choosing as they both sat down and Kamijou explained as they put their things down.
"But do you understand what I'm getting at?" he asked to which Arisa shook her head.
Kamijou explained it to her then in black and white.
"Simply by being with me, people might start to think that you're filled with misfortune as well. You might be banned from places merely because those places think that because you are with me, I rubbed some misfortune off on you. People might avoid you as well. Someone that wants to be an idol and live their life as one…can't be surrounded with superstitious thoughts like that. It might not happen but it could, it definitely has with Index before but she thinks I haven't noticed. It's not major and usually only affects the minority but…"
Kamijou smiled at her, something that she felt was aimed to reassure her but only placed a weight on her heart.
"That's why I stayed away. I didn't want people to associate 'you with 'me and 'misfortune'. Doing so might affect your dream in a small way and there's no way that I can stand that after all of the effort that you are putting in."
Arisa felt herself go cold at those words.
In this City of Science, there was something wrong with those words. Superstition? Luck? Those were words that one would never find being thrown about, even though District 12 had a number of theology system schools but even then, religion was studied using a scientific standpoint.
Yet there was somehow a truth behind it. Arisa herself felt herself lucky but from a scientific standpoint, that thought was something she knew to be nothing more than her own casual interpretation of it. But seeing Kamijou Touma and the things that happened to him, she somehow found herself believing in things like 'bad luck' and 'misfortune' especially.
But was it only her? What if others were affected and let those thoughts overtake them and drive their rationale?
Doing so was unfair to the boy but it seemed as though he had gotten used to it, to the extent that Arisa wanted to shout at him that he should at least complain in some way. But there was something else that bothered her despite that.
It was the fact that Kamijou was willing to throw himself away just for her sake. It wasn't that he saw her as an idol. He saw her as a girl that truly dreamed to achieve something. He had protected her from things that had threatened that dream but, in a cruel irony, he felt as though he was one of those things.
Being seen together in public might make those people that believed in bad luck think that Arisa had that same luck. Would it affect her dream in any way? It might, it might not. But Kamijou wanted to turn that possibility into a zero by staying away from her when she was showing herself off. He hadn't done so beforehand when they had just met because they weren't overly familiar.
But what about now?
He was carrying her stuff, setting it up and putting it away and now the two of them, with Index were out buying some food. They were no longer strangers in Arisa's mind and she was sure that that was something that would be reflected in the minds of others as well.
And as a result of that, Kamijou needed to keep his distance in order to do one thing.
To protect Meigo Arisa.
From himself.
He was treading on his own name, throwing himself in the mud with a lack of self-worth that only made Arisa want to embrace him and tell him that everything was alright. It was entirely unfair to him but he treated it as normal. While it might be (in the sense that he had accepted his misfortune as his life sucking in aspects), there was something that Arisa felt that she truly feared.
It was as though he was drifting away.
He would always accept her for what she was. It was a wondrous part of him that she hoped would never change but he would need to keep his distance in public in order to not step on her dream that might be threatened because of him.
But there was an increasing distance between the two of them, as if the boy were drifting away into the distance. As Arisa achieved her dream and got closer and closer to becoming a celebrity in the eyes of many, something that she definitely was working to, would she even be able to meet with Kamijou Touma anymore?
In order to protect her from misfortune, he might keep his distance entirely; doing so in an effort to make sure that Meigo Arisa's name was never trampled on or associated with 'misfortune'.
It was an extreme case but given what she had just heard, she could not discount the possibility that if she achieved her dream, she would lose contact with the boy entirely as he cast himself aside to ensure that Arisa didn't get associated with misfortune.
He would throw away his own smile to make Arisa the happiest person he could.
But…the wrench that was inserted into Arisa's heart made her tremble as she grabbed at the boy's hands.
"Touma-kun….I…That isn't what I want." Her voice was barely a whisper as Kamijou slightly pulled away at her touch, whether out of embarrassment or the fact that they were gaining attention.
"Maybe that's true. But I don't want to be the thing that ruins your dr-"
"That isn't what I want!"
Arisa suddenly shouted, surprising the boy and making people stare in surprise. Even Index looked over at the two of them in surprise, looking at Kamijou who seemed to indicate with his eyes that this was something that he would deal with. Index responded by merely turning back to the ice cream cart, trusting the boy but keeping an eye open, watching the two of them in the reflective glass of the ice cream cart. People hurried along, not wanting to be a part of whatever was happening.
"Touma-kun, what I want….if my dream means that I have to throw you away, then I won't do it! I can't cast you aside after everything that you've done for me!"
Kamijou blinked in response, looking at her with an almost stunned look before trying to form words with his mouth.
"Arisa, you're the one that has worked hard to reach this stage. I told you before that as a Level 0, I see you as an inspiration! I can't have you throw everything away for a misfortunate loser like me, with no academic ability or special talent that only I possess. Doing so would be stepping on your name in the worst way possible."
"But what about yours?"
"Mine?"
"Your name! Yes, you're everything that you say you are, but Touma-kun, you are the one that took me in! You are the one that's done so much for me! I won't let you drift away because of what other people think and I'm not going to give up my dream either! I want to accomplish my dream, but I want you to be the first person that sees me after I do it. You and Index-chan both!"
Kamijou frowned as Arisa suddenly gripped both of his hands, leaning in closer towards him as she shifted closer to him.
"I want to sing to a large crowd and then when I go back stage, I want to see you there, smiling back in the way that you do, telling me that I was good! I don't want to see you doing it over the phone or through mail. I want it to be from you and you alone, no matter what other people say about you. And the same goes for Index-chan as well! I can't throw you both away to achieve my dream!"
"But Arisa-"
"I know what you want to say. I know that people might think that your misfortune has rubbed off on me. But….but what about it? The past few days have been the best for me! Performing, being with you and Index-chan, there's nothing that I regret! And if you think that your bad luck will bring misfortune, then…..then I only have to rely on the miracle that my singing brings to counter it."
Kamijou seemed rather taken aback at what Arisa suddenly declared as she steeled herself, forming a desire within her heart and carving it into her soul as she once more made that declaration.
"I will use the extreme amount of good luck I can create and create enough of a miracle to counter your bad luck. And I will use my singing to do it. So, I say this to you Touma-kun. So that I can ensure that no one thinks that your bad luck will rub off on me, I need you to always be there when I sing. So that you can experience the miracles that I bring."
Arisa realised that she might be thought of as selfish for her request. After all, this was nothing more than her expressing a selfish wish to the boy in the hopes that the kindness in his heart would mean that he would answer. Yet she did not let go of his hands as she looked straight in his eyes.
"Because I want you to be there Touma-kun. I don't want you to think that I don't need you. Because I do. So please, I don't care about misfortune or anything like that. I only care that you are with me. Can….can you please stay with me?"
Arisa's voice was soft as she turned her gaze down, Kamijou trying to think of something to say right now given the desperate expression that she was making. Numerous things crossed his mind but only one thing came out when he actually opened his mouth.
"If that's what you want, Arisa. I'd….be honoured to stay with you. And wherever you are and whatever you sing, I'll always be there, listening. I look forward to the next miracle."
Kamijou smiled and Arisa somehow felt as though it changed somehow. Instead of the resigned smile that he had made earlier, there was something like true happiness behind it. Almost as if since Arisa had said that she would accept Kamijou for what he was, then he had the right to stay with her.
That he was happy to be by her side. That by her accepting him, he could stand by her side and support her as he wanted to, instead of in the shadows, slowly drifting away.
It pained Arisa to see Kamijou think of himself and his misfortune like that. And it pained her that he felt he had to distance himself from Arisa because her dream was in such close grasp that even the slightest change could lead to disaster.
But even despite those thoughts, the boy smiled. Arisa had felt as though the distance between them had grown as she advanced but that smile seemed to close the gap in an instant. They were together and by the other's side, ready to support the other when it was needed.
And in response to Kamijou Touma's wish, Arisa could only return that smile with her own, the same smile that had used to make that stranger boy beforehand who had been next to Kamijou blush. But this time she directed it straight to her target, as she spoke.
"You better Touma-kun. Because the next time I sing, I want to make sure that everyone can hear it. And then surely the miracle that you want will appear."
Kamijou nodded, turning and noting that Index was approaching as he looked at her. He didn't wave or anything, something that was attributed to the fact that his hands were currently trapped by Arisa.
She had grabbed them without thinking but now that she looked at the situation, it was something that was rather embarrassing. But Kamijou hadn't made a note of it meaning that Arisa had all of the time in the world to hold those hands.
He might have been distant before but it was with good intentions, to help Meigo Arisa achieve her dream. It felt like he was fading away but with that tight grip, Arisa had managed to hold onto the person that had made her feel more special than she thought possible.
Not as the idol Meigo Arisa.
But rather, the girl Meigo Arisa.
She didn't want to lose the person that made feel that, so she was determined to hold on for as long as she could. But now that she considered it and had managed to prevent Kamijou from drifting away, she truly felt herself lost in the warmth of his hands.
Those hands ready to grab Arisa when she fell and push her forward when she stumbled.
Those strong hands that could only contain warmth particular to him.
She let go of one hand and waved to Index who had been hesitant to approach because of the shout that Arisa had made beforehand. Index's face seemed to lighten up as she approached Kamijou and Arisa, having chosen what she wanted and wanting Kamijou to pay but never noticed one thing.
And that was that Arisa had only let go of one hand.
The other was still placed on Kamijou's right hand where he sat. It seemed as though Kamijou thought that Arisa wanted to keep that hand there because it served to remind him that she wanted him by her side so he didn't seem to mind. And that in itself was more than enough of a miracle for that girl.
In order to ensure that he did not drift off and that he would stay by her side, she needed to hold onto that hand for as long as she could. And for her right now, the warmth and reassurance that came from it gave her the strength needed to face the next day.
Miracles came in different sizes and forms. The one that Meigo Arisa was going to give to Kamijou Touma was a song that would surely allow him to stay by her side regardless of what he felt about her dream and the possible rubbing off of misfortune.
But without knowing it, the joining of hands that was between the boy and girl that closed the distance between them to zero was enough of a miracle for her.
And the only thing that Meigo Arisa wanted to do was to make that miracle last as long as she could with a bright smile on her face.
And this is the end!
Looking at the end scene, I hope that this was as fluffy as a soft pillow and you just laid down in it and enjoyed it for the most part.
As you can see, I really like Arisa. And I hope that you did too after this chapter. Again, this chapter was more focused on perhaps Touma's personal limiter on his relationships and how that would affect Arisa. While he wants to help everyone and push everyone forward to achieve their goals, I think that he would step back at the last minute not out of fear or cowardice but to allow that person to achieve that last, most important step themselves. In this sense, making people reliant on themselves rather than him is an important part of his character.
For Arisa then, who was extremely close to her goal, this step back was more out of kindness in order to make sure that he didn't get in her way as she carved her own path. But in doing so, he stepped on his own life which was something that Arisa couldn't accept. She is someone that only wanted to return once more to that 'dorm room' which became her home without losing anything.
Touma stepping back then likely crushed what she wanted at the very end of the day. It might have been interesting what would have happened to Arisa if she hadn't merged with Shutaura. Would she have returned and been another freeloader? Or would she have become a full-fledged idol, scouring the world as creating a bunch of fans while at the same time remembering the boy and girl in that dorm room she called home.
Still, Touma stepping back here because of how he considers his misfortune affecting her is both his kindness and his pain. In the end, the one thing that Touma can never be saved from is his misfortune and although he feels that it makes him lucky in the sense that he can sense other people's pain, it is his own pain that is always pushed to the side. Looking at it like that, however Touma is unbelievably selfless in that respect makes me like him as a character even more as well as Arisa as I wrote her for wanting to accept that anyway (but then again, it makes me enjoy all the other characters that have accepted Touma because of such as well!).
Hopefully Arisa wasn't out of character for you guys in this respect!
Also with the lyrics, I only hoped that you imaged the actual song in your head as she was playing and looking for Touma. It's an upbeat song however I felt as though it fit strangely well with her Arisa's own worried thoughts.
But for the resolution at the end, Arisa resolved in a way to sing for Touma so he could stay with her and overcome the problem of misfortune. If you think of it like that, it becomes a bit fluffier don't you think?
And as always,
Review if you please.
And I'll see you when I see you and I won't if I don't.
I think I enjoyed writing the last bit a bit too much. The ways that their hands were locked together…even though Arisa raised a number of death flags here, I hope that you can imagine that scene in your mind and smile at it. I certainly did.
