Another original!? Where are these coming from!?

I seriously think I'm running out of things to say for these repeated parts. You guys know what to expect, you know what I'm offering, and I only hope you can enjoy what I have to offer. This is going to be light-hearted so don't worry about any feels. This has been fun and games recently, so I haven't had the opportunity to delve into feels as of yet.

Maybe they will arrive soon though?

Whatever the case, here is the Q & A:

ArmoredCoreNineBall: Basically, that was the impression I was trying to give last chapter; that while Tsuchimikado and Aogami are pure idiots, there is something loveable underneath their stupid skin. Thanks for your kind words.

Aminadab Brulle: Believe you me, if there was a back story for all those fictional girls that Aogami and Tsuchimikado created, it would be enough to fill various pages. While there were some feels, I'm glad that you also felt that the two friends being idiots here also some charm in and of itself.

Guest00: Hahahaha, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

whwsms: Somehow, I think alternating between laughing and facepalming is the correct answer for last chapter. But definitely, the two friends (?) of Touma are definitely his worst misfortune, especially when it comes to his romance!

Anime-ted Life116: I've always wanted to reach the realm of Idiot Gods… These one-shots are separate to ACUL0 but I have to agree, his misfortune is the pits in that series whereas I think other series have toned it down a lot. Maybe as writers, we're all used to extremes in the sense that we downplay or take Touma's misfortune too far? As for your theory, the only thing wrong with that is due to Imagine Breaker and also, it would mean that Touma would have to be created as a localised god… I have to say though, it's Touma misfortune in last chapter that has even led to the situation as depicted in last chapter anyway, so it's sort of like misfortune as a whole anyway. Hahaha, and some shameless self promotion there!

Kaichou9779: Thanks!

Chris: I'm actually wondering if the harem route is the end route or not…

MeowMyaMiao: Thanks! Although, seeing you reference NT 22R's epilogue like that made me laugh! I hope that you can manage to get something (anything!) down but whether you post it is entirely up to you.

Gako959: Thanks for the kind words! I can definitely tell you that if Touma did a Dump Them All, everyone here would scream. However, I'm not entirely too sure whether his life would be 'better' per se given that his misfortune always means he's getting into trouble in some way or form if you know what I mean. I can definitely say that he might have less girl troubles but whether it would make his life 'better' is something else entirely.

Red Glasses: …Now that I think about it, you're sort of correct in that those two idiots are Touma's reverse harem…which terrifies me.

DNWorks: I think that given the nature of the students of Academy City, it's not like they would stay in the City forever and eventually, would get normal jobs that may require the use of their esper powers if need be. I sort of get what you mean about being trapped in Academy City, but I don't think it's all doom and gloom. I think there's a positive outlook for the espers of Academy City as a whole when it comes to their futures, although what those 'futures' may be is definitely downplayed in the story.

Animan10: Personally, I loved it when it oozed stupidity – I need to write more of that in some way, both here and in ACUL0. I'm glad you enjoyed it overall!

fencer29: Hahahaha, I was the same – I knew the ending of last chapter would be Komoe-sensei taking back ever nice thing she had said/thought which was sort of the point of the ellipsis, as noted last chapter.

Ryder: Is that a request!? And sure, I can do such a story, even though the idea definitely seems interesting to pull off in the City of Science. Still, as long as oyu are patient, I will get to that story as soon as I can.

ShadowBloodedge9396: Okaeri! You want more of the Noir type story…? I can do that, even though the wait may be a bit long… I'm glad that you liked the overall premise of these stupid one-shots; there's a lot of ideas swimming in my head after all!

KyuremKing: Hahahaha, glad you like them! The Rumour is a bit of a strange one in that it's an actual story though… As for your idea, I can sort of see it happening, but the exact premise of that story would more be about Touma getting into hospital and everyone hearing about it, right?

And also, the thanks. Firstly, to my beta reader PokeRescue18. Seriously man, for everything you have done, you have my thanks. I hope this message alone can convey what I feel but I really want to thank you for everything you have done now that you managed to have the time to beta read the chapter.

Also, you the reader. How long did you think this project would have gone on for? There has been a mix of themes, all of which has been crazier than the last, but I hope you can enjoy what I have to offer and I thank you for once again returning here.

From me then, there is only one thing I want to say:

Enjoy.

Mr Question Mark.


Tightrope Walking on a Fragile Bridge. Movie_Avoidance.

The darkness continued to surround Kamijou Touma but never before in his life had he felt it was this chilling. The cold and the iciness that surrounded him seemed overbearing and it had been more than once that Kamijou truly felt he had never experienced a deeper despair than this.

He had faced many things ever since being 'born' on July 28th but never in his life had he ever felt a deeper and more rooted fear than what he was facing. If the world were to explode and everything inside would die, Kamijou still felt the pressure he was feeling now would create a greater tension on his heart than even the apocalypse.

Now, for that normal high school boy, what exactly scared him so?

What exactly threatened his life so very much?

"Touma. Why are they still using wands? And in fact, why are the wands being used for a multitude of spells!? While you can misinterpret and interpret the usage of the wood for the wand, you can only do that in so many ways! It's impossible the spells they are using are ones that can be – S-See!? They did it again! Do they not understand the very basics of Idol Theory?!"

It was a movie.

Simply that.

But as Kamijou Touma sank down into his seat and placed his hands over his head, he felt as though the eyes staring at him now were ones he had never felt to be so piercing. Yes, he had faced actual magicians and even the #1 Level 5 esper of Academy City, but it was the glares directed at him now he felt had even greater power than those that could actually kill him.

It was autumn. A simple autumn weekend and through some lapse in brainpower, the idiot Kamijou Touma had felt that taking the freeloader nun Index out for some fresh air was the perfect idea. After all, given she was not officially registered as a resident of Academy City, the chances and the opportunities she had for free reign were extremely limited.

The only chances she really got to see Academy City for what it was worth was through the free guided tours Kamijou gave her even though these usually resulted in them being chased by something or rather, Index biting him or a combination of both, sometimes even at the same time. When looked at like that, the high school life of the spiky haired boy was rather depressing. Today Kamijou had suggested a change of pace for the nun in his care.

Namely, he took her to a movie.

The fact he had so easily suggested it when numerous boys would struggle to ask a girl out and numerous girls would struggle to ask a boy out to such told of the deep connection the two of them had. The fact Index had agreed without once even pausing showed the deep trust she had within the boy's judgment and as the two of them had walked down the City streets without a care in the world, the way they did so and the way they walked side by side suggested a connection others would only envy.

Even if, as Kamijou had thought before, the world ended, the way Kamijou and Index had wasted their days away together without a care in the world and without once thinking about what others thought of them or what the world said they had to do and when, it was clear the two were inseparable. Where one would find Kamijou Touma, one would also find Index; that was the relationship the two had.

A connection deeper than just between boy and girl: a connection they shared and acknowledged with each other and held onto with the warmth the other provided. Sure, they had their embarrassing moments but the inherent trust, the friendship they had and the honest affection they had for one another was something that would never die, never fade and would always remain.

If you were to give a book of names to the girl known as the Index Librorum Prohibitorum and she scrolled through it, looking at the names listed within, she would pause at the name of Kamijou Touma and softly smile. The smile she made and the memories that would flow within her would make her look at that name for a long time, staring at it and never would that small smile on her face fade.

If you were to give a book of names to the boy known as Kamijou Touma and he scrolled through it, looking at the names listed within, he would pause at the name Index. And he too would softly smile, likely leaning with a hand pressed against his cheek and playing with the page as he recalled the times he shared with that single girl and the connection the two of them had.

Perhaps to the world, they would be seen as the Magic God candidate, the Index Librorum Prohibitorum holding 103,000 grimoires, and the one meant to keep her safe and the holder of Imagine Breaker; Kamijou Touma.

Perhaps to a passer-by they would be seen as boyfriend or girlfriend or merely good friends with the way they bickered and talked back and forth without holding back or thinking they had to be careful.

But to the two of them, they were merely Kamijou Touma and Index. There was nothing else needed to describe their relationship even if it was complicated and even if there were times others looked at the complicated relationship with misunderstandings in their heart and a jealous look in their eyes.

Yet, to Kamijou and Index, they were merely each other. They were merely an existence that valued the other and cared for the other with the utmost of their being and it was for that alone that their connection, their relationship had worth. The thought of having the other by their side was so natural it was hard to think of a time and place where they would be separated, even if in reality there were plenty of occasions like that.

And, like any connection where that sort of relationship, respect and reliance existed, there were surely things about the other they wanted to change.

While Kamijou would never give up Index for the world, in his trembling heart, he definitely felt the situation he was in right now was one he wished he had never created for himself.

He had wanted to do something different with her. For the things they went through and for the times they spent together, Kamijou for once wanted to give Index a small amount of time she could enjoy herself that was not related to food. It for that reason alone and also getting her used to the Science side of things that he had accompanied her to the movies, something that was a rare occurrence for the both of them.

While most of the visual experiences Index had in Academy City usually were watching TV and Magical Powered Kanamin, it was the fact Kamijou felt she would be bored doing that that he had decided to take her out on a whim. He had recently gotten his payment for being a student of Academy City and while he was usually frugal with that sort of thing, the small elation that came with new funds had come with the impulse to do something extraordinary with them.

If that also meant Index could enjoy herself, then it was a bonus.

It was for these reasons alone that Kamijou had decided to take Index out to see a movie and show her the world of television and visual entertainment existed outside of the cooking shows she salivated at and Magical Powered Kanamin, which she also tended to salivate at.

The choice he had made was something he had felt was a stroke of genius despite his usual idiocy: a magic related film that had generally gotten good reviews around the world for its story but poor reviews for its execution. It was apparently one of the cases of 'good idea but badly done' and due to it, the movie itself was not that sought after in the minds of the larger community of Academy City.

The cheap movie tickets because of the poor reviews of execution might have had something to do with the choice of this movie, but that was beside the point for the poor high school boy Kamijou Touma.

The movie itself was to the extent it could be called a B movie although not as bad as moving into the C territory and due to that nature of rough classification, the movie theatre where Kamijou had brought Index was not as full as he would have thought but full enough to fill up a seat in every row. Not thinking much of it and hoping Index would enjoy herself whatever the case, it had the ecstatic look on Index's face that had made the experience worth it in his eyes.

The only thing Kamijou knew about the movie was that it related heavily to the concepts of wizards and spells. Given Index herself was a magician even if she could not use magic, it was with the thought that she would enjoy the movie that he had taken her to see it; being nothing but good intentions.

But…

Kamijou Touma, as always, had forgotten one very important thing.

Misfortune was his constant companion.

So, what would happen if he had good intentions and subconsciously felt that nothing could go wrong and that he would have a good time?

The obvious answer was displayed within the first 20 minutes of the movie when the first spell had been revealed to the protagonist, played by one Hitotsui Hajime. The special effects behind such had been pretty cool, however, instead of awe coming from Index's mouth, it had been something else entirely.

"What!? H-How is that even possible!? I-In none of my grimoires does such a spell exist!"

Kamijou had stared at her in surprise but not thinking anything of it as Index had stared in complete surprise at the theatre screen, eyes transfixed and completely engaged but with the way she was leaning forward and basically squeezing the chair in front of her for all its was worth, it was hard to tell if she was frustrated or excited. The looks given their way had been ones he had waved off with a smile, despite feeling extremely nervous, before he had turned back and enjoyed what was the rest of the movie.

It was only a one time thing, right? It wouldn't happen again, right?

It had been those optimistic thoughts that had filled his head, however, they had hardly been listened to as Index had gone wide eyed at the explanation of the spell that had followed not three minutes later.

"What is this…? What is this, Touma?!"

"Eh? What?!"

"Willpower? The force of the heart?! Those aren't the basis of magic! It's refined through mana, through the life force and had nothing to do with the force of the heart and willpower! Sure, you can use that in order to enhance spells; magicians in a pinch do it all the time but to think it comes from that?! Isn't the master supposed to be an ages old wizard? He's got the very foundation of basic magic theory wrong!"

The yell Index had made had been one where she had stood up and cries of "Shh!" entered the air of the cinema. Kamijou was forced to hold down the struggling nun with everything he had. Holding her mouth with his hands, he had forced her down and as she gripped onto his arms and chewed at them, it was with those teary eyes of pain that Kamijou had begged her to stay silent for the sake of everyone else watching the movie.

She had relented, as she should, and sat back down, although with the pout on her face, it was hard to tell whether she was doing so because she was asked or because she had to do so for the convenience of the others in the cinema.

But, like a real life police detective who was watching a police drama with a beer in hand and laughing over the complete lack of inconsistencies between the police drama and real life, the Educator Index kept up the lessons about magic no one had asked for.

During the scene where the main protagonist was naming their wand…

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? B-But the basics for names comes not from the names you give the wand itself but from the name carved within. Even then, that applies only to exorcism tools which relate to the carved name being the demon! Is that wand supposed to be the accumulation of dark forces instead of being the medium for the progression and the influence upon the external world of tempered life force?!"

During the scene where the group of heroes was learning of the ultimate villain who was revealed to have tormented the world by tapping into the life force of it…

"Th-The villain of this story has the ability to tap into the Power of the World!? A-And the main characters only have basic abilities that come from their mana and the wands they have. They didn't even engrave them with the names they had set for them so how are they going to tap into the demons contained within!? Not to mention that I've never ever heard of the demon called 'Toverij'!" [1]

During the scene where the master wand needed to defeat the ultimate villain was finally acquired…

"…It's all wrong. IT'S ALL WRONG! This is not magic… This is not magic! Touma, in what world, in what world does the ultimate villain leave the wand that can defeat them guarded with nothing but traps!? Assuming the traps function with the Power of the World given they have been created by the ultimate villain, then destroying them needs to have a phenomenal amount of mana! And the main protagonist has only had their wand for three days!? Even assuming a magician has access to grimoire which can extend their magical prowess, the fact such poison does not enter the mind of the main character means he does not hold them. But he manages to take on the Power of the World's traps…with nothing but fire?! That's what the spiritual item of a wand is for; that's the medium for flames! Even the cardinal directions in which he was facing at the time given the sunlight coming through the hole in the ceiling suggests he was facing south; the direction for water! And yet his master did not even tell him that!? What is the world coming to when a thousand year old magician cannot even tell his pupil the importance of cardinal directions in basic magical theory?!"

It was hell.

It was pure and utter hell.

Index at this point had forgotten entirely about the chair in front of her and was constantly hitting Kamijou in the side of the arm, speaking her outrage at the inconsistencies made between the knowledge of the movie and the magical knowledge within her head. The boy in question did not even care as he sat in his seat, slumped into it to avoid the gazes with what looked to be a piece of his soul leaving his body. No, it had gone beyond just poking in the arm as Index had entirely grabbed the front of his shirt and was shaking him back and forth while basically screaming her complaints to him.

What was even happening anymore?

Kamijou had no idea.

The screen flashed as the main character fought against the ultimate villain using the ultimate wand he had gotten in the middle of the film, the fight scene coming with a combination of cool special effects, intense choreography…and a commentary which ruined each and every moment.

"You can't do that with wands! They are meant to represent fire. FIRE! Why it happening to the world, Touma, where you can use wands to levitate objects in the air!? Not to mention the fact they are shortcutting the spells! Why do you need to announce them? They've used them so many times so simply memorising the movement of the wand into the same direction and then repeating the process to lead to a specific spell like a shortcut would need no incantation! How is this an ultimate villain? The Power of the World and the use of ley lines means they should be more powerful than this!"

"For the last time, can you super shut up!?"

"Who said that? And ignore the basic fundamentals of what is a flawed magic system!? Willpower? You expect me to look at this film and ignore the contradictions experienced in the real world? As a nun, no, as a magician, I cannot let this insult to pride stand! I shall defend it!"

Index started to stand up and it was only through the quick thinking of the boy next to her that Kamijou grabbed her by the waist and, with what energy he had, forced her back down into the seat with what was left of his soul drifting out of him in the process.

"I-Index-san, if you could please calm down and keep your mouth shut as we watch the movie…"

"Touma, as a member of the Anglican Church, it is my duty to correct inadequacies in a flawed system where I see them! And right now, the inconsistencies in the world of magic I see in front of me are too numerous to leave alone. How can I call myself a member of Necessarius if I cannot defend the position of the craft we are meant to protect? Actually, if this is the case with this world on the screen in front of me, where is the system that prevents such characters like the ultimate villain showing up!? I demand to know!"

"It was said at the beginning of the super movie he existed before magic and before those systems were in place! Can you shut up now!?"

"HOW CAN ANYONE EXIST BEFORE MAGIC YET STILL HAVE MAGIC?! Given that magic formed because of the incapable wanting to grasp power with their own hands, I can accept that but to think someone managed to pierce into the Power of the World on their first try, without the safeguards that modern magical societies have in place and without the proper theory!?"

"I-Index-san, no one really cares about that so could you please just sit down and watch the movie!?" Kamijou cried out at the top of his lungs, forcing the nun down into her seat as the two of them struggled, Index trying to stand up and Kamijou basically dragging her down with everything he had. It seemed the rest of the Japanese people in the cinema were content with staring at Index with icy glares but it was only Kamijou and this 'super' person in the crowd that were intent on trying to calm Index down from the ferocity she was showing.

"N-No one cares!? How can that be true!? The words and the teachings of the unenlightened are not ones to be readily accepted. Are you satisfied with being unenlightened?!"

"YES!"

The entire cinema screamed out at her and Index twitched, taken aback by the unanimous vote before shaking her head and spreading out her arms.

"The answer given to us relies on the truth of the world and the things there! Are all of you really satisfied with looking at the disrespect being given to the magic system provided here?"

"YES!"

Index pouted, turning and facing Kamijou who was clinging to her and trying to drag her down, the tears on the edges of her eyes giving away entirely what she was thinking.

"T-Toumaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

"I-I don't know what you expect from this Kamijou-san at a time like this, but I think you need to reflect on your actions here a bit too, Index-san!"

"H-How can you say that?! Do you not sense the inherent wrongness coming from the screen in front of you? I never knew you to be the type of person that accepted everything he reads and sees, Touma!" Index said as she stared down at the boy holding her down, eyes wide. Kamijou yelled back at her with bloodshot eyes.

"I am! This Kamijou-san, a normal high school boy, goes with the flow! Tell me anything and I'll believe it and I'll listen to anything anyone has to say. B-But if you could please just sit down and shut up, then that would be the best thing that has ever happened to me!" Kamijou pleaded from the bottom of his heart. Index stared down at him, her face being twisted in different directions before she turned it away and seemed to mumble something beneath her breath.

"…tor…"

"Huh?"

"Traitor! As someone who knows of the true essence of the Magic side, how can you look at this moovee and think of it as being right?! What of the contradictions to real life? What of the inconsistencies in the plot line?! Are you telling me you are the type of person who is going to be satisfied with the worst answer as long as it fills the answer sheet, Touma?!"

Kamijou opened his mouth to answer, even though his eyes were tearing up given his test performance since forever seemed to have been summarised within a few words before the sound of someone else filled the air, the sight of someone else standing up in the cinema filling their vision. However, with the light of the projector shining on them, the way her smallish figure blocked the light of the projector onto the screen, it was clear she was quite short.

It was that small figure that yelled into the air, everyone else shouting for her to get out of their screen although she easily ignored them.

"Don't disgrace the greatness of B movies with your chuunibyou nonsense!"

"What-nibyou?!" called Index, her eyes flashing as Kamijou roughly held onto her and was dragged with her as she moved as well.

"The inconsistencies in the plot? The good idea but directed and executed poorly? Or alternatively, a terrible idea executed well? Or even better, the super double whammy of bad story and execution?! I won't let you taint the greatness of B movies, you non-stop motor mouth nun. Come here and we'll talk about what is greater; the B movie we are watching or this truth you speak of! In the name of B movies…!"

The figure standing, although Index and Kamijou could barely see their face with the light of the projector shining on them, looked ready to move. Index was moving now so she also blocked some of the light of the projector onto the movie screen and the crowd made a 'boo'ing noise at the movement but as Kamijou sweat and truly felt like dying as he clung to the side of Index, it was the figure who had spoken that now moved.

And she did so by posing in an overdramatic fashion.

"I!"

She changed pose, going from putting her fingers to her forehead towards maintaining what looked like a pose seen in most action flicks to taunt the opponent into coming closer.

"Will!"

Another change, going into spreading out her arms.

"Super!"

Another change, bringing those arms upwards to have her hands meet in the air above her head.

"Defeat!"

Only to bring them forward once more to hold her fists in front of her in challenge.

"You!"

Index stared at her opponent, standing up onto her chair and putting her leg in front of the one in front of her, her eyes sparkling with an intensity Kamijou had never once seen before, not even when he made Index her favourite food, which was practically anything. She narrowed her eyes, holding her hands together as if in prayer, a light shining off her and giving her a radiance that otherwise would have been lost to anyone else who would have been watching.

Kamijou realised it was just the light of the projector she was blocking shining on her and giving her that appearance, but that impression she was radiating a brilliant light was not lost as she spoke.

"Poor, lost soul. The ignorance the medium of technology has given you is truly painful to see. But as someone that feels the right to correct you in how the world is, I shall be patient. I shall show kindness and teach you the system shown in this so-called 'Bee moovee' is contradictory to the world of Magic in itself. There is truth and I shall show it to you. However, I shall do so with words. And with those words, I shall reveal just how the real world of Magic operates and you shall see for yourself the world of Magic as shown in this moovee is false."

The words were clear, consistent and held a kindness in them that showed Index was not going to resort to violence to get her point across. The only thing she needed was the desire to show another that the world of Magic was different from the one shown on the screen in front of her. The prayers and the truth she was going to reveal to the unenlightened, to those who only believed in Science, was a truth she was not going to force, merely going to use words to show it was real.

It was calm, rational and most of all beautiful as the special effects of the movie flashed across her white and pale skin, making the gold lining on her habit and her silver hair sparkle as if touched by God Himself.

Yet…

"Magic doesn't even exist in the first place, so in the end, this is going to be the victory of the B movies! In the face of that super cheap Magic system you think is real in that chuunibyou head of yours, I'm going to show you that B movies aren't going to be looked down upon!"

"…Magic does exist."

"Pfft. I wish! Although it is said that 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic' there is no such thing as magic. Only science!" [2]

"It does exist."

"…OK, you're super too far gone. Defeating you and showing this Magic system in this movie is supreme to your delusions is going to be a super easy piece of cake."

"H-Hah! I don't see how an unrefined and false system of Magic is going to trump the real world!"

"Do you want to say that to my face, you three-bit nun with a mental problem?!"

"How about you say that to my face, you midget in that knit dress?!"

"You super starting something?!"

"You can't win. Not when I have the greatest weapon of all."

"Oh?" The figure standing in front of the cinema started to bring her fists up once again. "Don't think anything you do will be a match against me, a Level 4. Do you think your greatest weapon is one that can match me?"

Silence filled the entire cinema. Kamijou Touma, clinging into Index's waist, had tried to find an opportunity to butt in but found himself tossed along for the ride and it was because of that he suddenly found himself staring at two girls who had nothing to do with each other sending small sparks through their gazes. The other movie goers who had constantly spoken out against Index as she had been speaking meaning no one had an idea of what was going on in the movie itself (something had happened with that master wand but Kamijou had no idea what) were silent. There was no noise apart from the bad acting of the cast.

Sparks flew and there was a greater tension than Kamijou had ever felt before, staring up at Index with nervous eyes and gulping.

This was serious.

How in the world it had turned serious was beyond Kamijou. Why did Index have to defend Magic in the City of Science? And who was this idiot that seemed to want to defend B movies so much!? Sure, with his budget, they were the only movies Kamijou could afford to see but they weren't that good!

Then again, if you loved something, then no matter what was said about it, you felt you had to defend it no matter what. There was an admirable thing to be said about this random girl and Index but such kind insights into their character were entirely lost on the spiky haired boy who stared at his freeloader with worry in his eyes.

Sure, she was a pain in the ass sometimes but the boy had never seen her go in a head-to-head clash with an esper before. Not to mention that facing them was a Level 4! What the hell was Index even going to do!?

Bite them!?

…That might work.

Disregarding that though, how had a simple movie experience turned into a fight with a Level 4 esper?! Not to mention that Index had her 'greatest' weapon. Just like in a movie where the main character had a massive power up at the end due to some assistance from his long-dead sensei or something like that, the tension in the air from the question the knit dress girl had asked was one that pierced the souls of everyone there, even Kamijou.

What was this greatest weapon?

And what could it do against a Level 4?

Any and all questions were answered as Index did one thing.

"My greatest weapon is more than enough of a match for the likes of you, who defends these 'Bee moovees' and their false Magic system."

"Super bring it then."

"With. Pleasure."

Index grinned as she slowly, ever so slowly lifted up her finger and pointed at the girl in front of her, everyone in the cinema watching the action and holding their breath, not even bothering to say or do anything lest the moment of truth be dispelled and the greatest weapon to be revealed be lost from a moment's lost concentration.

Index breathed in…

Before turning her head down and looking at the spiky haired boy clinging to her.

"Touma, go get her."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…I'm sorry?"

"Go get her."

"…What exactly do you mean by that Index-san?"

"Imagine Breaker is my greatest weapon. Go and show her that Magic is real!"

Kamijou Touma stared at the girl in shock, blinking once before sighing. He stood up, putting a hand to his head and rubbing the bridge of his nose, the knit dress girl tensing slightly as she stared at Kamijou. There was silence for a tiny moment, the tension in the air making everyone freeze up on the spot before Kamijou nodded.

"Right. I'll fight her."

"I knew I could count of you, Touma!"

"DID YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU AIR-HEADED NUN?! JUST WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET ME ARRESTED FOR, HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?!"

Kamijou screamed, took both of his fists and placed them on either side of Index's head, grinding them back and forth. Index screamed, responding in the only way she knew how with tears in her eyes. Given Index was so close to Kamijou already there was nothing else she knew how to do except for the only offensive tactic she would only ever use against Kamijou.

The line of teeth enveloped Kamijou's upper face and he found his vision filled with nothing but the darkness of Index's mouth. He too screamed and the two of them collapsed to the floor, screaming but otherwise keeping up the attack they had going; Index grinding her teeth against the side of Kamijou's head and Kamijou grinding his fists against the side of Index's head.

There was much to be said about that.

But if there was any one thing to be said, it was that no one knew what was going in the movie anymore so they only joined in and cheered on the live action fight taking place before their eyes.

It was clear in the mind of the spiky haired boy (as he rolled around on the floor but also dished out punishment to the girl who had acted without restraint that it had effectively ruined the movie) that there was never to be an experience such as this one again. Judging from the actions of Kamijou and Index on the ground as they fought and rolled down the stairs of the cinema and in front of everyone else, it was hard to say what their relationship was.

But, for those fighting each other with their utmost strength with blood and tears flying in all directions, there was definitely one thing to be observed.

And that was the relationship between the two of them was simply that of Kamijou Touma and Index.

Nothing more and nothing less.

While it might not seem like it, there was worth in that and that alone.

An endless worth that no one could even remotely comprehend just from mere appearances. An endless worth that could not be known just from this one incident.

But an endless worth to Kamijou Touma and Index nonetheless.

Found in nothing but the other, their smile and their presence.


[1] Toverij is Dutch for 'Magic'. As you can probably tell, naming a wand with such a name would probably increase the ability of it to cast magic but for Index, who thinks that names only really relate to exorcism tools and that the names are the names of the demons contained within, it makes no sense that a wand is called such.

[2] This quote is from the science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke and makes up one of his three laws. You probably know it from some of the Apple ads that are going around with it every now and then.

And there we have it! What did you think!?

I've noted for a number of these one-shots, particularly in later chapters, that there is a lot more 'amusement' to them. What I mean by that is that they are becoming the stories I've been trying to tell this entire time; short stories that you can think to yourself "Huh, this could happen at some point in the timeline we don't know about". And this was another one of them that really hit that point home for me.

For the previous two of Nun and her Keeper, we had some kind of heavy emotional struggle and questions and ultimately, their solution. Index accepting the old Touma is 'dead', also accepting the fact there is one day where they will eventually be separated and that they cannot be together forever as Index so desperately wants, I decided to deal a bit more with the more relaxed tone with the third part and just focus entirely on a fun idea that popped up in my head one day that I felt as though I HAD to do.

Basically, as you can see, it's simply that of Index being that one person who we probably all know that provides the annoying commentary during a movie that no one really needs. It was nothing more than that and having Touma's misfortune blow up in his face when he tries to do something nice, only for it to turn around and bite him in the ass as he comes to realise that maybe the movie he took to see with Index was a movie better left unseen because of how outraged Index was at seeing how the magic premise worked in said movie. I've always wondered what she might think of the magic systems introduced into the world through things like fiction and movies and the like so I thought I'd have a crack at it and see what type of reaction she would have.

And what I ended up with was this type of conclusion where Index would outright deny everything she would see and try and educate everyone else as to what magic really is. Her pointing out the flaws in the movie (we all know someone like this) and then commenting on how things SHOULD be is very much a part of her "Magic is real" sort of mentality and I hope that as she kept making note after note that you found that you could really imagine her sitting in a cinema and just yelling out "It's not supposed to be like that Touma!" whenever something she would disagree with would come up. If you felt as though this would have really happened at any point in time, then I think my job here is done.

If there was anything I really wanted to show this chapter, it was that I really just wanted to have Index and Touma doing something fun together that ultimately results in something outrageous happening as a result. Was there an overall 'point' to this? I don't think so, but I think this type of normal occurrence and normal thing that can happen to the duo is something that really reflects their life together: one that can't really be explained with mere words but one that depends on the other's presence, their smile and simply being there, even if it ends up with stupid situations such as the one noted above. I hope in your heart you think I captured Index's and Touma's relationship as being something more than friends but at the same time, explained in a way you can think to yourself "They are just themselves" where that explains every single intricacy and part of the duo that started it all in this series we love.

I hope you came to enjoy this chapter and the small cameo of a character that was never named but I ended up having fun with.

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 had Touma fight back…