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Guest (2) – 1) Tbh with you, I sometimes feel about not replying at all (depends on my mood or some stuff that I do) or I'd just give short ones although I do read the comments to have an insight. 2) That was you? Okay(?) If you want to see that though, someone have adopted it though I don't know when does he plan to post the story. 3) Grammar checker? Maybe I'll find one someday. I just feel like it's a hassle. 4) I don't know. I have no plans as of it yet. As I stated before, I sometimes tend to write without any plan ahead since I'm more comfortable with that.

"You know what? I'm surprised that you even thought of helping us. Normally, you would have kept this to yourself."

"Tee-hee! What are you saying Misaka-san? I was even kind enough to let you cool off in this hotel room that I rented!"

Shokuhou Misaki smiled rather childishly as she showed her two unsuspecting guests in Misaka Mikoto and Index Librorum Prohibitorum, who was just so happy that she can finally cool down in front of an air conditioning unit. As the two plopped themselves in the bed, the starry-eyed Shokuhou heaved a sigh as she brought out two shaved ice from the fridge and she doused them with guava jam and other fruit sweetener before she gave them to her guests.

"I never knew that my prince would become a soldier, much less someone who would enter a military academy." The blonde started as she sat in front of Misaka, who only wore a blank face. "But then, I guess it worked out for him either way. With not much opportunities for him in Academy City since he's officially ranked a Level 0, I guess it was just better for him to attend a school that can utilize his skills pretty well…"

"I hardly find a military academy a place where he can thrive…" Misaka tried to reason out as she licks her spoon since it was nice to eat something cold after travelling under the hot Israeli sun for many hours.

"It might sound strange but it worked for him under strange circumstances." Shokuhou smiled sadly. "In fact, I still don't know about what to do when I do find him here but for now, I simply wanted to see him after almost five years."

"As for me, we'll just bring him back to Academy City." Misaka bluntly stated while unexpectedly, Shokuhou was just surprised by her sudden decision. "I mean, if it would keep him safe from…"

"Misaka-san, don't you think that's a bit far-fetched?"

"Hah? What do you mean?"

"I mean is, my prince chose this path himself and as much as a loved him so much in my dreams, I know I can't stop him in choosing his career." Shokuhou then made her own analysis. "By the looks of it, it seemed that you wanted to take away his only proper job."

"What?" Misaka was slightly offended by the upfront accusation. "I never said anything about taking away his job. What I mean is I will bring him back to Academy City where it is much safer…"

"Geez, I don't think you get what I'm saying. Besides, you might actually offend him by doing that." Shokuhou pointed out. "Besides, my prince isn't someone who would put himself in danger just blindly as you might be thinking. And I'm pretty sure he had friends in his own career who are helping him."

"You both talk way too seriously." The two Level 5s turned their heads to see Index giving her opinion as she gleefully eats her shaved ice. "Touma is strong and so powerful that I doubt he would go down without any fight. Besides, as Shiina said to me one time, there is no one in their clan who is a coward. I may not know some of the details in Touma's mission but this one might be significant to him as someone who just started his career. And also, he's a sharpshooter! Every enemy would be too afraid to fight him!"

"I don't really get you too though Silver Sister's really incomprehensible to begin with," Misaka huffed as she eats her shaved ice cream, "Besides, we three are already here in Israel. There's no turning back unless you wanted to chicken out, Shokuhou."

"Who? Me? HAHAHAHA!" The blonde laughed rather mockingly as she glares straight into Misaka's eyes. "If that was the case, I would have abandoned you all four years ago but as you see, I had no intention on running away when the stakes are high. Or rather…" She pretended to be shocked as she covered her mouth, "Are you the one who wanted to back out considering this place is filled with terrorists?"

"Shut it…" Misaka vehemently denied as she nearly choked in her ice dessert, "And if you don't know, we used to join the protest against the JSDF. Don't you think it's quite contradictory for him to join such scandal-riddled organization?"

"I heard that Kamijou-san only agreed to join the mass movement because it was an alternative for him rather than being pushed back for another year due to his grades." Shokuhou stated a fact. "Of course, he would just do anything so that he can graduate. Ah…I hate this heavy atmosphere that you emit, Misaka-san. Why don't we just go outside and have fun for the moment?"

"There's no time for us to have fun, you know. We needed to find that idiot in this short time that I have and besides, don't you think you'll be marked as absent? We can do this on our own," Misaka insisted as she stood up.

"Coming from someone who is my classmate, I don't think you can make me leave that easily, Misaka-san," The Mental Out sighed as she stands up as well, "If it means I can get closer to him, then I'll go with you. We are both Level 5's Misaka-san so attendance shouldn't be a problem to us."

"Eh, you're right…"

The three girls then walked out of the hotel and as they were walking in the streets, they were all wondering the same thing.

How are we supposed to get to him that fast when we're encircling this place like idiots going nowhere?

It is at that moment when a convoy of trucks suddenly stopped in front of them. Normally, the three would have dismissed them as ordinary garbage trucks or concrete mixers but the color scheme of the vehicles made then stop and stare. The trucks are all painted in the camouflage colors of the JSDF and each one of them bore a sentence in the sides, saying "JSDF Detachment, Kiryat Shmona."

Suddenly, Shokuhou grinned like a joker as she suddenly stated, "Misaka-san, Index-san, you know what I'm thinking?"

Kamijou Touma sure knows how many guns he had handled today.

"This is the fifth one and it's the trusty M14 battle rifle of the Filipinos," he sighed to himself as he was lying down on the floor while the M14, which was borrowed to him by a certain Technical Sergeant Ramos, was rested in a sand bag. 300 meters in front of him is a Filipino private, who was calmly holding a short stick in his back with two small balloons attached in each ends of the stick.

As he was calming down his nerves, everyone from the SFGp and the Filipino peacekeepers are watching intently as well as the former classmates of Kamijou, Yomikawa, Tsuzuri, and a few Anti-Skill personnel who wanted to see this kind of a sniper contest between the Japanese and the Filipinos.

"Are you sure he would be able to hit that?" Himegami was slightly worried that Kamijou would end up shooting the legs of the unlucky Filipino instead.

"He'll be fine." Rapisura replied in a accented Japanese as he holds tightly into his M16.

"But that thing looks a bit heavy than what they're typically using," Fukiyose complained, "In fact, it looks plainly dilapidated."

"Sure it looks old but when used correctly…" Fujima interjected, "It still deadly, maybe even deadlier than an M16-based platform."

Replacing the venerable M1 Garand in 1959, the M14 battle rifle is a US-designed rifle that fires the heavier full-battle 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition. It was first deployed in the Vietnam War, where, despite its length and weight being a bane in a jungle-based warfare, the power of the 7.62 NATO cartridge allowed it to penetrate cover quite well and reach out to extended range and despite its replacement by the M16, some few troops preferred the heavier battle rifle over the early XM16 and M16A1 assault rifles in Vietnam.

"And if memory serves me right, it's still doing a good job ridding Communists and Islamists in the Philippines," Kurata added, "Don't be fooled by the looks and age of the gun. There's a reason that thing is still in service today."

"It would be interesting if Kami-yan would lose all his nerves in trying to hit his target. It seemed that the balloons are too close to that poor guy and the distance is even far," Tsuchimikado commented.

"Don't worry. He would hit his target." Tanaka said aloud, confident that their team leader would be able to hit his target.

Suddenly, they heard the first shot from the M14 ripped in the air. In a few seconds, everyone froze as Kamijou had just pressed the trigger. They then glance to see if the Filipino man is still standing.

They were relieved to see that the first balloon was hit cleanly.

They then held all their breaths as Kamijou prepares to take a second shot. This is even more mentally draining than taking a written examination. Fukiyose can feel the tension in the air as everyone's gazes were nailed towards the boy, who was prepared to make the shot.

And then he pressed the trigger and by some instinct, everyone's necks twisted 90 degrees towards the Filipino, who still had that calm expression in his face.

And the last balloon exploded, without hitting the torso of the Filipino.

"Hooyah!" All the SFG operators cheered for their dear leader, who was all smiles as he hands back the M14 rifle to its real owner. "That was nerve-wracking, to be honest," he sighed as he walks back to the sidelines as the other men decided to have their turn with the Confidence Firing test, "Now, I know why these Filipino guys are really good as advertised."

"But you're good too," Himegami complimented him.

"In fact, you should be proud of yourself," Fukiyose added.

"What a lucky shot…" Yomikawa muttered to herself as she was still bitter about the events if yesterday.

Kamijou just chuckled as he then stretches his arms, "I just kept practicing until I was able to finally hit my targets. And speaking of that," He then checked his men, who are busy taking their turns in the target firing, "It looks like that we still have to finish our activities for today."

For the rest of the day, the two foreign contingent had made themselves accustomed with one another. The JSDF and their SFG elite group exchanged notes and discussions with their Filipino counterparts. At one point, Kamijou and one private from the Philippine Army talked in broken English on how to handle an M60 machine gun and they had a test in the firing range where they the young man was quite clumsy with the weapon as this particular type of weapon isn't fielded or even studied in their course classes. The others also swapped weapons for the day and at one point, Kurata test-fired an M79 grenade launcher which he commented as a handy weapon in times of needed firepower.

Aside from the official exchange, they had a series of sports events in their barracks where they played basketball and soccer as part of their activity for the day. It was in the basketball game that Kamijou found out that in terms of running speed, Rapisura was faster at this point than the time he was in the NDA. "He must have gotten better when he got engaged in combat in their jungles." He said to himself.

But aside from the usual participants, the two contingent also invited the Anti-Skill and medical staff of Academy City to their fun activities as a way of getting to getting themselves comfortable with the presence of one. The people from Academy City gladly accepted it and not surprisingly, the Anti-Skill personnel decided to try out the equipment of the Philippine Army and despite the fact that the men in blue had derided much of the Filipinos' equipment as too worn-out, they soon found out that that might not be the case.

Case in point: Tessou Tsuzuri and the M14 battle rifle of one of the few Philippine Army Scout Rangers present.

"Yo-Yomikawa-sensei, this rifle is too heavy!" The timid lady complained after she missed all of her targets. For someone who got used in the lighter SIG assault rifle, firing a 7.62 battle rifle with a powerful recoil must have been a shock for the glasses-wearing lady, who felt her shoulder began to ache.

"Tessour Tsuzuri! You're an Anti-Skill and a Academy City denizen!" The blue-haired Yomikawa looked a bit irritated for this day, "You're letting this men think that you're weak?! Show them our strength!"

"Pare, mukhang di tatagal iyan. (Bruh, looks like she won't last.)" One of the Filipinos made a comment but in a way that the Japanese won't understand.

"Pero maganda siya! (But she's pretty!)" Another Filipino made a comment followed by a whistle which fortunately wasn't heard by Yomikawa or Tessou.

"Tarantado, manahimik nga kayo dyan! Mapahamak pa tayo kay CO! (You fools, shut it! We might get in trouble with our commanding officer!)" Another one who is wearing slippers instead of combat boots chided his two countrymen.

Amidst all of this, Othinus, who was savoring the rare moment of watching the Japanese and the Filipinos drill with one another, smirked as she realized that the newly-arrived Filipinos weren't pushovers at all, "Seems like you made interesting allies, human."

Lately, Kumokawa Seria has been experiencing sleepless nights.

The former senpai of a certain Level 0 is now working in an official basis at the office of Academy City's Board of Directors and it has been two years since the graduation of the batch that she loves to run onto although is she would be asked, this meant having a showdown with that batch's Iron Wall Girl. How fun those memories are! She once said.

But this day, she was just about to prepare to go to work after having another bout of insomnia, which she blamed on the fact that she was the one tasked to oversee a construction of a self-sufficient refugee town which is a project wholly funded by Academy City not only as a humanitarian aid but also as a way to project itself around the world and to reinforce its prestige that was severely damaged some years back.

"If only I had my cute little kouhai to play with…" She groaned as she then remembered that the last time that she had seen that kouhai of hers was almost….four or five years ago? She cannot remember the exact amount but the last time she had seen him, he was barely given a pass to graduate in high school and that boy was all smiles as he takes his graduation photo.

The moment she had entered her office, she rubbed off the dust in her black pencil skirt and her red office polo as her high heels click off the tiles of the place. After getting herself dusted off, she then walked rapidly towards the elevator in hopes of catching up into the batch of people about to go to their respective destinations, which she fortunately did.

When she finally reached her small office, she was greeted by her male colleague, who then presented to her some piles of documents.

"Kumokawa-san, the papers," The man smiled as she lays down the papers in front of the exasperated Beauty Senpai, who cringed at the sight of the thick compilation, "Oyafune-san wanted you to sign these documents before you can fly to the Middle East with me."

"With her?" Kumokawa raised her eyebrows.

"Yes," The man sighed as he knew that the young woman in front of her preferred working alone if possible, "The thing is, that refugee town is her brainchild in the recent meeting between the 12 directors and the Superintendent."

"And he accepted this?" Kumokawa raised her eyebrows, knowing that the particular person in question isn't one to agree with charity-related works.

"More like, he agreed so that he won't be pestered anymore," The man replied as he takes a seat while mixing some coffee drink, "By the way, is there news about Yomikawa-san and the Anti-Skill security force that we sent there as well as the medical staff?"

"We would be there to check their status but as far as I'm concerned, they're safe ever since that incident which some of our nurses, including one of my former bratty kouhais, were kidnapped and it forced the Anti-Skill personnel to raise their before the Israelis takes action," Kumokawa then sipped her coffee, "But apparently, the shock force of the JSDF which is stationed their apparently got their distress call and managed to rescue them the same day. In fact, I'm impressed at the fact that their special forces managed to do it cleanly and without any political consequences."

"That's right…" The man trailed off as he sipped his coffee. There was a momentary silence in the office as the pretty young woman was busy signing the papers. Then after like five minutes, the man opened his mouth again, "That reminds me…there was a certain rumor circulating around this office about the Japan's Special Forces Group."

"And what would that be?" Kumokawa didn't even raise her head, implying that she isn't even interested.

"That the SFG's urban battalion that was sent to Israel was apparently led by a former student of Academy City…"

That was all it took for Kumokawa to stop signing the papers and looked at the man with raised eyebrows, "What? You're saying that that particular commander was from Academy City?" She resisted the urge to laugh, "I think I should remind you that just mentioning the word "JSDF" among the general population in Academy City is a taboo and in fact, there was a general protest four years ago…"

"Well, not to be rude but that was what my colleague who was assigned there had said when I asked him about that particular rumor…" The young man insisted, "Of course, I'm not even in Israel so I don't know if it's just a bluff but from what I heard, his sniping ability is particularly respected and feared at the same time. Oh…and from what my colleague said, he looks like that student from that certain high school of yours…"

"Oh…" Kumokawa can only utter that word as she learned that this particular man could be from her former high school. Suddenly , she then suppressed those thoughts of hers as she knew it was only a rumor. It can't be my cute kouhai, right? As far as I know, he also joined the protests four years back so I doubt that he would even join the JSDF organization. Oh well…

She then poured more coffee into her cup as she had just finished signing her papers.

I'll just meet this man when I get there with Oyafune-san. At the very least, his mysterious identity alone intrigues me.

The fall of the night in Kiryat Shmona has once again come, followed by the blanket of powdered pale stars lighting up the whole area and giving mountaineers and the sailors in the lands of the Maori and the Amazon people their directions to their destined paths.

It was a festive mood once again at the inn where the medical staff from Academy City is staying and at this point, they were all cooking not only meat cuisines but also other dishes that is now being prepared by the Filipinos, who are using the kitchen at the inn to cook for everyone who is present. For Yomikawa Aiho and the rest of her fellow officers, it was another tiring day which was further added with salt to their injury by the fact that Tessou Tsuzuri messed up their mini-competition when she found the M14 battle rifle too heavy for her size and she ended up hitting an army truck instead, the bullet narrowly missing a Filipino driver who was sleeping in the driver's seat.

Nevertheless, the rest of the people enjoyed it and by now, Fukiyose and her fellow nurses as well as their former physical education teacher is already seated on the round table while they were cooking another set of Yakiniku. If there is anything different with this set-up last night, it was the fact that Tsuchimikado and Aogami are now fighting over who had the type of console that is the best.

"Dammit, Aogami! This console with skinny women are the best!"

"Shut up, Tsuchimikado! This one is the best! It has cute gals!"

"I know! Let's ask Kami-yan which is the best…"

"Moron. He would just shoot your two consoles with his pistol of his," Fukiyose sighed as he look at the particular spot where Kamijou's SFGs and Rapisura's Philippine contingent is staying, "And besides, he's busy entertaining the Filipinos in their first night."

"Which reminds me…" Yomikawa then took a glance at the Iron Wall Girl and asked something, "What's your first impression on those two friends of his as well as that Rapisura guy? For me, they look nothing more than troublemakers."

"But sensei, they're at least decent in nature…or at least well-mannered since I can't say decent when they have that guy who eats using his hands," Fukiyose felt disgusted as the image of Rapisura eating with his bare hands remained ingrained in her health-conscious mind.

"Seiri, I don't think you should say things like that," Himegami squeaked, "And what are they doing? They seemed to be in a singing session."

Well, to be frank, they were in a singing session, albeit the first song is actually a Filipino Gospel music.

"Panginoon, turuan mo akong maging bukas palad…Turuan mo akong maglingkod sa inyo (Lord, teach me to become open…teach me to serve you…)," Julian Robles, the same man who borrowed his M14 to Kamijou and Tessou, was singing in high spirits as he was strumming his guitar. Surrounding him is his fellow Filipinos and the SFG operators, who are listening to him sing despite nearly not understanding the meaning of the Gospel song. "Na magbigay ng ayon sa nararapat…Na walang hinihintay mula sa 'Yo (To give according to what si due…without asking any favors from You…)."

"Rapisura, what's with that beads on his the barrel of his rifle?" Kamijou noticed something strange as he spotted something peculiar in the M14 rifle slung behind his back.

"It's a Catholic Rosary, bruh. It's a sign of peace and reverence for us Christians." The burly guy replied as rests his chin on the buttstock of his M16 rifle that was pointed downwards.

Somehow, that's a bit ironic. Kamijou thought.

"Na makibakang 'si inaalintana…Mga hirap na dinaranas…Sa tuwina'y magsumikap na…Hindi humanap…Ng kapalit ng kaginhawaan…Na 'di naghihintay…Kundi ang aking mabatid…Na ang loob Mo'y…Siyang sinusundan…"

"What do those lyric means?" Kurata asked in slight curiosity.

"In a figurative way, it simply means that we do anything according to God's will…even if it means death…" Rapisura replied.

"You guys really love professing your faith." Tanaka replied, somehow impressed at the Filipinos' boldness to display their loyalty to Christianity.

"I was raised that way, ya know." The Filipino replied.

After the gospel session of Robles, he then handed the guitar back to Rapisura, who decided to play some few songs on his own. It wasn't that long before the troops suddenly urged a sleepy Kamijou, who was nudged in his ribs by Tanaka, to sing a Filipino song as a challenge. "I don't want to do it!" He was flustered but because of the sheer determination of the mixed contingent and the fact that someone had already brought out a karaoke machine in their spot, the spiky haired young man had no choice but to give in to their request.

Since the area was an open one, Yomikawa and those in the table heard that he was going to sing and so, they decided to lend their ears for the boy.

After letting Rapisura choose some songs which Kamijou is actually familiar due to his interaction with the former in their NDA days, he then started to hum after inhaling deeply. "Di maamin ng damdamin…Na ngayo'y wala ka na sa aking piling…" Surprisingly, his voice is smooth while pronouncing the hard Filipino words that everyone, be it a medical or a military personnel, stopped in their tracks and turned their attention towards the young man. "Araw araw ang dalangin…Ay mayakap kang muli at maangkin...)"

"Did he just…" Tsuchimikado can't believe what he's hearing.

"Sang in a foreign language?!" Aogami shrieked.

Himegami's heart softened at hearing his soft voice.

Fukiyose's eyes turned into shapes of heart.

Four years, huh? A lot of things can really happen in those four years of college. Yomikawa sighed.

"Ngunit pa'no nga ba ang pag-ibig mo magbabalik…Batid ko na nasaktan kita ng labis…" Kamijou didn't realize that everyone was already staring at him with amazement, shock and surprisingly, anger (from his former male classmates at a certain high school). "At sinabi ko sa o na kaya kong limutin ka…Bakit ngayo'y hinahanap kita..."

Suddenly, everyone from the Filipinos put their arms towards their fellow countrymen and their Japanese counterparts and they all opened their mouths.

"IKAW PA RIN ANG NAIS KO…DAMANG-DAMA NG PUSO KO!" The Filipinos sang along with the Japanese young man, "Mahirap na dayain ang isipa't damdamin…Ikaw pa rin ang hanap ko…Mapapatawad ba ako…Muli't muling sasambitin…Sinisigaw ng damdamin…Mahal pa rin kita, oh, giliw ko..."

Before they knew it, Kamijou was finished in his karaoke challenge and he ran away from the karaoke machine and wailed against his two fellow SFG operators, "You guys! You were having much fun watching me suffer there, right?" He cried with crocodile tears, "You traitors…"

"Ah…sorry for selling you out like that," Fujima chuckled, "We're just curious to see you sing in a foreign language and as a team leader, you didn't disappoint us."

I hate you all. Kamijou mentally wailed.

After the karaoke session and the chants of "Death to the Kami-yan Bloodline" coming from the boys of the medical staff with Aogami as the ringleader, everyone settled down and started to eat their meal. In contrast to the people from Academy City, who had their own tables and are eating with chopsticks, the Filipinos and their Japanese counterparts are eating with their bare hands and although it felt awkward for Kamijou, who nevertheless complied and he washed his hands thoroughly before joining in the long table that contained mountain-loads of rice, roasted chicken, two roasted piglets, cooked vegetables, and fruits. This was a tradition in the Philippines, particularly in its military culture, where the meal is laid in the long table and everyone shared their meal while they used their hands in scooping up the food.

"We call this the Boodle Fight. It's a way we share food with the others," Rapisura replied.

"Sorry to interrupt you but it's more important to fill our stomachs right now," Kurata replied as he was waiting for the butler to give the signal to eat.

"Ready to left! Ready to the right!" Finally, the signal was given, "Commence boodle fight!"

And at once, they all dug in as everyone hands was beginning to chisel out the rice while they all began to pluck out every piece of meat that they can grab.

After the dinner, every one of the men began to return to their barracks while the others are already cleaning up the table. Fukiyose and her company decided to return to their quarters while the rest are cleaning up the mess. Since it was already late in the evening, both of the contingent decided to resume their activities for the next day as everyone had already stowed their firearms away in a nearby armory while the assigned guards began to patrol in the outskirts and vicinity of the place. As Kamijou and the rest of the SFG and the regular JSDF moves out of the inn to return to their quarters, the young man asked to be excused as he wanted to be alone. Kurata nodded as the former hands him his M4 carbine and after that, he then went on his own way.

After some five minutes of walking alone, Kamijou found a spot where he can sit down and calm himself as he wanted to be alone for a few minutes. For someone who just got his bloody baptism not more than two days back, he needed to be alone for a while as it seemed that the recent events have been tearing him down.

And heck, we haven't even captured that crazy ringleader that smuggles arms into the Middle East! He groaned in his mind as he then looks up into the constellations while he thought of a lot of things.

He didn't know if he was just being played by his own mind but the stars seemed to formed images of a boat, an anchor and a horse.

"Am I getting PTSD now or it's just my fatigue?" Kamijou thought aloud.

"Idiot, you're not imagining. They're really star systems that form just like that."

Due to his fatigue, Kamijou didn't immediately detected the familiar voice as he was too drowned in his own thought but the moment he had snapped his neck while drawing out his .45 pistol in case this was an armed intruder, he was frozen in his spot as his pistol was aimed at the neck of the tall man, who just came into the scene.

"It's been a while, Kamijou Touma and can you seriously put down that pistol of yours? I don't bite in peace time."

This tall man stood taller than 190 cm and he was wearing dark priestly robes and a tattoo barcode in his face while he smoked a cigarette. Kamijou didn't need to see his red hair to see who this person is.

"St-Stiyl?! What the hell are you doing here?"

"To be honest, I don't want to be here. But I needed to be here to see you for an important message."

Somewhere in the north, a convoy of trucks was smoothly and peacefully threading the road.

"Dammit, Silver Sister, stop squishing me here!"

"Uwah! Short Hair, you're squishing me as well!"

"Oh my, can you two keep quiet? They might hear us."

In the driver's seat, the men behind the wheels thought he heard something, "Ah, must be the fatigue from driving all day long. I needed to rest when get back to the base."

"How's life, Kamijou Touma?"

"It's fine although I hope you didn't forget what happened seven years back."

"Idiot. That was the past. Today is an entirely different matter and by the way, good job in taking care of Index."

"Hnn. Not like I had a choice."

After leading the priest in a secluded spot, Kamijou Touma and Stiyl Magnus spoke as if yesterday was the time when the two first met. As the young man watched the priest light up another cigarette, he then scanned him from toe to head. Yep, he still hasn't changed a bit.

"So what is this thing that you wanted to talk about?" Kamijou didn't want to waste time and decided to ask right away.

"Oh yeah. Since I know you're still pissed off with even though it has been a long time ago, then I guess I should tell you now," Stiyl cleared his throat. "Have you and your fellow soldiers talked about arms smuggling in the Middle East?"

"What? How the hell did you know that?" Kamijou demanded.

"Idiot. Who do you think I am? A dobe like you?" Stiyl had the audacity to insult the young man, "Well, let's say where chasing the same person and I personally know who this person is."

"What do you mean?"

Stiyl then threw an envelope to the lap of the seated Kamijou and as the latter reads it, the priest began to speak, "Grandmaster Smith of the Masonic Lodge of London. He was also a former magical member of our organization and was the former interrogations chief of our branch. Unfortunately, due to some reasons related to money, he decided to betray Necessarius and form a smuggling business here in the Middle East and in Japan where he was once posted in Academy City."

Kamijou Touma read the file and looked up to the priest, "Hold on…this guy had a band of talisman-carrying bandits formed from splinter groups of the Hezbollah and Hamas?"

Stiyl nodded, "In terms of raw firepower, your SFG is capable of destroying them in a blink of an eye with all the firepower that you got but when they are shielded by their talismans, then you all have no means to fight them off without your right hand. By the way, their talismans are called the Black Iron because tradition says that they are made from fragmented pieces of the Black Stone that the Muslims revere as an Islamic relic. Further Muslim tradition even says that they are from the time of Adam and Eve."

"And what the hell can it do?"

"It might be just child's play for us sorcerers but it could be a source of concern for you," Stiyl Magnus replied, "Basically, it is said that it can turn your bullets into mud and your grenades into water. At this point, you'll have no choice but to work with me. Think of it as a mutual cooperation. You'll get to stop the smuggling operation and I'll get to execute the traitor in our ranks. Oh and before I forgot, keep out Academy City forces in this. You know what I mean in this."

Kamijou was silent before replying, "Okay, if that's what you meant, then I guess I can't really do anything," He sighed as he tucks his pistol, "It's not like I wanted to work with you as well but I wanted to finish this once and for all."

"The same goes for me." The priest continued. "By the way, I was just curious. I hate to pry but seeing you in a soldier outfit is a strange phenomenon. What made you decide to join the military?"

"It's a long story, Stiyl," The young man replied, "Not that I regret it but I rather forget the details that lead me to this organization."

"I see…" Stiyl lights up his fifth cigarette for the day before he began to speak again, "And Othinus, don't even try to hide in the chest right of Kamijou. I know you're there."

The former Magic God in question then snuck out of the magazine pouch and smirked, "Oh, and it's pretty good to see you after seven years, sorcerer and human, are you trying to go in a battle without me or perhaps, you are planning to lose?"

"Othin-chan, you do know that I have fifteen men plus six women under my command? I would be hold accountable for their deaths if anything bad happens," Kamijou frowned, "And besides, Stiyl would assist me in this fight."

"Bring me to your battlefield."

"Othinus, you're better off in sneaking to the hornet's nest to get off their talismans."

"Fine by me human since I can see that you have warriors by your side who knows how to fight, especially the new comers," Othinus seemed to held the Filipinos in high regard.

"They've had an insurgency problem since the 1960s. Of course they would know urban warfare." Kamijou shot back, "And on another note, I don't plan to drag Rapisura and the others in this one."

"Human, that is no fun at all."

After a few bickering that included the priest wanting to shut the young man up, the three decided to go back to the barracks, with Stiyl opting to sleep in the on the extra bed that Kamijou have. As they entered the military camp, Tanaka, who was guarding the gates for this night, nearly fired his carbine at the priest if it wasn't for Kamijou, who acted quick enough to pry down the rifle before explaining that he is a guest for that night.

Who the hell is that weird guy? Tanaka thought with a weird expression as he watches the two (or rather, three) go off on the barracks of the officers.

The next morning, Kamijou woke up to the sound of tired rumbling and engines roaring as his alarm clock strikes at 5 am. It must have been the logistics truck that came as they needed to have fresh supplies. Yawning as he slowly walked out of the room, Kamijou went outside of the room after briefly looking at Stiyl, who was still asleep. He then saw Fujima, still in his jogging pants, running outside of the barracks.

"What the hell is happening?" Kamijou asked as he yawned.

"The trucks have arrived. We needed to unload the needed supplied and the ammunition." Fujima replied briefly before he ran outside.

Well, as the team leader, I guess I should take a look. Kamijou then took out his M4 carbine and went out of the barracks.

The trucks are aligned as from the looks of the driver and the smoke coming from the hood, it seemed that it had undergo a 24-hour journey going into this place. But as the spiky haired boy was about to lend a hand in carrying the crater containing 5.56 ammunition and some STANAG magazines, he swore he heard a familiar voice that he knew it should belong to her.

"Touma!"

Huh?! Kamijou looked to where the voice came form but before he can even turn a glance, a blue of white suddenly passed him and in an instant, he got tackled down to the ground.

"Touma! I missed you so much!"

"I-Index?!"

Yes, the person in question was none other than Index Librorum Prohibitorum, the carrier of 103,000 magical books.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Kamijou pried off the nun before shaking her in the shoulder part, "And for record, how the hell did you got here by yourself?!"

"Eh…" Index looked at her partner with some hint of confusion, "But I didn't go here along…"

"What?!" Kamijou demanded, "And this is a military camp, for discussion's sake! You shouldn't be here!"

"Eh? But aren't you happy to see me?" Index tried to act cute.

"Not that but there is a war zone near this region," The spiky haired man wanted to strangle the English nun, "And it's not a joke when I say that terrorists can strike everywhere and anytime!"

"My dear prince…"

Hearing another soft voice, Kamijou turned to his right to see a blonde girl standing there and gaping at him like she knows him but she haven't seen him for the long time. Great? Who the hell is this, now? The young man can't help but feel something is very much familiar to her.

But most of all…

"Hey…"

Oh no… Kamijou froze as he turned to his left and standing there was a girl with brown hair and a backpack. She was also wearing a nursing suit similar to the ones being used by Fukiyose and her fellow nurses.

"Mi-Misaka-san?" Was all that he could mutter out of his mouth.

Misaka smiled sadistically as she ran ahead to beat the young man with her electric shocks, "YOU IDIOT!"

I'm not going to like this day at all! Kamijou wailed as he raised his right arm in an effort to defend himself.

I won't really like it.