Author's Note: Hey just want to say a belated Merry Christmas to all of you! New year is near, and are you guys excited about 2021 after the bizarre 2020? Haha.

Wish you all will enjoy a safe and healthy holiday!

Next chapter will be a new year bonus chapter, so do look forward to that!

Call for help. Scream for it if you don't get it. For the dignity of your life deserves it. -Author

Early Afternoon, 12 September, Tuesday

It's a sunny day. Uiharu walks out of the school gate with her hands holding her phone, and she's in a cheerful mood. As she rapidly taps the screen with her fingers, she hums a leisurely tune. On her phone, she has a news app that she uses to keep herself updated on the events around the world, and right now she decides to open it to see if anything major has happened today. As usual, there are articles about those wars that will never end and issues like climate change which world leaders will never want to do anything about. Uiharu can't be less interested in those mundane stories, so she skips them by scrolling down, but there are just more of the same there. Just as Uiharu wants to log out thinking that there's nothing worth reading, one piece of news suddenly catches her attention. The title goes 'NASA* reported the successful launch of the country's second rocket in the week'. Uiharu, always interested in technology, taps on it to read the full article.

(*A/N: NASA refers to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States.)

Right as she finishes reading the title, though, she suddenly feels a chill creeping up her spine, giving her goosebumps. It feels like something horrible is about to happen. In a second, the chill has spread all over her back as if danger has come really close to her. Uiharu nervously looks up from her phone and quickly scans the area in front of her. She can find no threat approaching her there, but she has not realised that the danger actually comes from behind. She is soon to regret that.

'U... i... ha... ru!'

That sound makes Uiharu begin to turn her head around, but she does not manage to do it soon enough. In a flash her butt and her legs have lost the cover of her long skirt, and cool winds poured in to fill the in-between space through the huge opening left by her flying skirt. That stuns her as she stands motionless as, and a second later her cheeks instantly redden as she has finally realised what happened.

'Ah! Today you're going with tiny pink dots against a white background!' staring at Uiharu's exposed underwear, Saten announces her discovery to the entire world.

'Ehhh!' Uiharu screams as she turns around and gesticulates to protest against Saten, her face flushed red with the public embarrassment. 'What are you doing, Saten-san!?' she yells.

'Mah, mah. Don't be this angry, Kazari-chan. You should be proud to showcase those cute underpants of yours to all our schoolmates.'

'I don't want my underpants to be shown to anybody! Please don't flip my skirt anymore!' says Uiharu, punching Saten's chest with her little fists - though she isn't quite strong and it looks more like she's just bopping the taller girl.

'Don't be so bashful! It's just a thing between good classmates, isn't it? Now once more to testify to our deep friendship!'

'Aghhh!'

...

'So where are you planning to go today, Uiharu-san?' Saten says as she walks beside Uiharu along a street crowded with students who are just dismissed, oblivious of the lowered head and the flushed red cheeks of the shorter girl.

'You were being so cruel to me, Saten-san!' after a few moments of silence, Uiharu whispers.

'Sorry, sorry. I just got carried away, and I promise I won't do it again,' says Saten, who has turned to face Uiharu. Somewhat apologetically, Saten furrows her brows and her mouth curled into a smile.

'You have always said that, Saten-san! But every time - every time - you would do it again sometime later. So I should return the favour to you as well!'

'Eh?!'

Saten has reacted too slowly. It seems that when someone does not expect something to happen, he or she will take really long to respond, let alone to do it effectively. That's the exact thing that has happened to Saten, as Uiharu dashes towards her and grabs the bottom of her skirt with both her hands. Before Saten could even yell in surprise, her skirt has already been flipped up in the air - in the full view of tens of surprised students walking nearby.

'Ah- ' she stands still as if in slow motion, and she lets out that voice as her skirt slowly falls back down.

'How does it feel to get the revenge from me, Saten-san?' Uiharu says, grinning at her 'accomplishment' and ignoring the startled expression of every passer-by.

'... Not bad, Uiharu! Let's do it even more!' Saten declares as she dashes forward and flips Uiharu's skirt, again.

'Eh...?' Not expecting Saten to be turned on by her retaliation, Uiharu starts running and dodging to avoid getting her skirt flipped the third time. However, Saten isn't willing to give up easily. She chases Uiharu, bumping into a few students on the street in the meanwhile, and her face beams with excitement.

'Come on! Come on Uiharu!' Saten yells as she runs.

'That's so embarrassing! Just stop that already Saten-san!' Uiharu is truly afraid as she runs even faster.

'Who cares about that! Come on Uiharu!'

'What is all this fuss about?'

A rending feminine voice comes from behind a few bystanders, and despite the gender attribute it sounds powerful, even scary. Not only is it loud enough to overcome the shouting and screaming of the two girls, but it also gives the impression of a commander with the quick yet exact pronunciation of every sound, the intonation through the sentence and the discernible confidence that lies beneath it. The two misbehaving girls turn to look at the direction in which everybody has craned to see who's coming. Those bystanders back off apparently to give way to that person, and a girl, who is dressed in Tokiwadai Middle School uniform and has her pink hair tied into a twin-tail, emerges. Her eyes widen in surprise when she sees the two girls, but a second later she clears her throat and her face returns to a stern look.

'This is Judgement!* You two from Sakugawa Middle School! Come along with me at once!' she declares.

(*A/N: 'Jujimento desu no!')

'Good grief! I still cannot imagine that you guys could do that stupid thing in public!' Kuroko says, her chin propped on her hand as she looks across the table at Uiharu and Saten. Her other hand stirs her iced coffee with a straw, the ice cubes in it occasionally colliding to produce dull 'ding' sounds.

'Hehe... We were just having some fun, and now that I think about it I realise what I did was pretty stupid,' Saten says as she brushes the back of her head with her left hand.

'Are the two of you sure that you have recognised your mistake, huh?' Kuroko says monotonously with suspicion in her eyes.

'Yes we have, Shirai-san.' Uiharu replies.

Kuroko sits up and lifts her head from her hand. She leans her body forward and puts both her hands on her hips as she stares at Uiharu with narrowed eyes, making the smaller girl lean backwards out of fear. 'Uiharu...' says Kuroko, 'what you have done today is the worst imaginable, is it not? As a Judgement member, you have perpetrated such shameful acts in the full view of so many students - even while your armband is worn on your arm!'

'Eh... Erm... Shirai-san? That - that is...' says Uiharu, her arms defensively crossed in front of her chest as Kuroko stands up and leans her body further across the table, her hands pressing down on the tabletop.

'No talking back to me!' Kuroko scolds. 'You are lucky enough to have met me before anything serious happened! If someone had reported to Anti-skill or Judgement, Konori-sempai or other authorities might have gotten involved and you will be in deep trouble! So tell me, how should I punish you today, huh? I don't think writing an apology letter will do!' Though Kuroko is throwing all those cold words at her Judgement partner, she feels that deep down in her heart she isn't really that angry. Instead, she feels she's only doing this to tease Uiharu.

'Ehh... I don't know.' The all-too-serious looking Kuroko is almost scary but at the same time funny, and Uiharu nearly wants to laugh as she timidly looks into Kuroko's pink eyes. But she knows she can't burst into laughing right in Kuroko's face unless she wants to suffer, so she purses her lips to suppress that urge.

'Don't take this too seriously now, Shirai-san!' says Saten as she waves her hand with a bright smile. 'Now that we have gotten a happy ending, let's put what happened just now behind ourselves.'

'Hmph!' Kuroko lets out that sound as she sits down and locks her arms together. 'Since Saten-san has voiced out on this, I will let you go this time around!' she says, her eyes shut in disapproval.

'Phew...' Uiharu sighs in relief.

'Oh and by the way, why don't we call Misaka-san here? We can go somewhere and have fun together!' Saten suggests as she pulls out her phone.

'Don't call now,' Kuroko says as she waves her hand, 'Onee-sama is in a remedial lesson right now.'

'How come?' asks Uiharu. 'Isn't she the top in her cohort for academics?'

'"Tokiwadai's Ace", that is. But this also means that teachers have very high expectations of Onee-sama, and any decline in her results will not be accepted,' Kuroko states. 'It seems that Onee-sama hasn't been scoring quite well for the recent class quizzes, and sometimes she even falls asleep in the middle of lessons.'

'Did something happen to Misaka-san?' Saten leans over to ask, concerned.

Yeah of course. 'No. I think she just lacks some sleep off late,' Kuroko replies, bitterness involuntarily spreading in her throat. Before her pretence of calm collapses, Kuroko sucks on the straw and looks outside the window, her eyes fast blinking to hide the wetting at the corners. Why has Onee-sama not gotten enough sleep recently? That's a very good question, for Kuroko knows exactly its answer. The truth is: How can Onee-sama sleep well? Kuorko knows. She saw Misaka's teary eyes on the night when she returned to the dorm after meeting the woman, and it broke Kuroko's heart into pieces. That was surely not a lone instance, for through countless turmoiling nights of near-sleeplessness, Kuroko often could hear her sleeping Onee-sama sobbing in her bed. It felt horrible. Every tear rolled down Misaka's cheeks etched a scratch on Kuroko's heart. Kuroko really wonders how Onee-sama could get good sleep when she's crying through it. That's not the end to her Onee-sama's suffering; Kuroko knows. She knows that Misaka once screamed as she woke up from her sleep. That loud sound shocked Kuroko and woke her up, but she lay still pretending to be asleep as she didn't dare to turn around to face the elder girl. She waited for Misaka to settle down in her bed again, and a while later, when she was certain that Misaka had fallen back to sleep, she silently sat up and looked at her. By that time, though, Kuroko's eyes were already full of tears, something she could never - never - let her Onee-sama see. She walked to Misaka's bed and hugged her shivering body, hoping that her embrace could dispel her Onee-sama's agony and comfort her traumatised soul. Kuroko wished she really could do that, but no, that pain is endlessly reborn every day. How could Onee-sama sleep well when day and night she was scorched by searing anguish?

Kuroko blames herself for all that - rightly. Is there anything more regrettable than hurting the person you love most? For too long a time Kuroko has dedicated herself to the pursuit of justice, yet she might have forgotten that an elder girl is waiting for her at home.

Nevertheless, though, Kuroko still believes that it is possible to make up for that mistake. She is happy that at least her Onee-sama continues to welcome her with open arms. Yesterday evening, the two girls enjoyed a fun time. After they returned to the dorm, took a shower and changed into clean clothes, they went for dinner together at a nearby restaurant and had lots of conversation. The topics didn't really matter though, for the two simply enjoyed their interaction and treasured the time they spent together. To Misaka, it was great to have Kuroko at her side, and to Kuroko, it was wonderful to see that smiles have returned to her Onee-sama's face. It was also quite a surprise to the younger girl that after all the drama that happened in the morning that day, Misaka didn't get mad at her after all. Perhaps the truth is that what Misaka needed most from Kuroko was not an apology, but her company. And there's no reason why Kuroko shouldn't offer what her Onee-sama wants. If Misaka could grab Kuroko and dash with her full strength just to take her to a shelter, Kuroko must do whatever she can for Misaka, which means she must stay with her and protect her no matter what will happen from now on.

She suddenly recalls a sentence. Even if the world falls apart, it will be fine if I have you.

Kuroko feels much happier now, as if those tears have been turned into some inner power. She looks outside the window next to her. There in the azure sky a blimp slowly flies across the city, its screen displaying the report on the successful launch of the US rocket that Uiharu read about on her phone just now. Kuroko finds it quite interesting.

'Doesn't it seem that countries around the world have intensified their space exploration efforts too much these days?' Kuroko says as she recalls the news yesterday that Russia has launched its fifth rocket in the month.

'Oh that!' Saten says, her eyes lit with thrill, 'I have recently heard of some urban legends about this one!'

'Not those bizarre theories again, Saten-san,' Kuroko says as she narrows her eyes. 'How many times must I tell you this? Urban legends are just some baseless claims and don't deserve a single bit of our attention.'

'But they often contain some elements of truth!' Satan says in justification.

'Most of them are lies in any case! Seriously, how can you believe in urban legends in such a scientific place as Academy City?'

'Just listen to me now.' Saten has stood up and stretches her body across the table. Uiharu has leaned towards Saten to listen, but Kuroko doesn't seem to share Saten's excitement or Uiharu's curiosity. 'They say that this whole space frenzy is in fact all about aliens!' says Saten, looking at Kuroko as if trying to get her attention.

'Aliens?!' Uiharu exclaims, 'You mean those tiny, grey-skinned creatures from the movies?'

'Wrong, wrong, wrong! They say they actually look like us humans! It is said that an observatory in England has discovered traces of the spaceships owned by aliens in the near-Earth orbit, and as a result every country is in a rush to contact those extraterrestrial visitors!'

But Kuroko still looks unimpressed despite Saten's best effort at piquing her interest. 'That is just such a wild guess,' she says, 'and there can be no proof that that is correct.'

Saten isn't convinced, though with Kuroko's cold rebuttals she now sounds slightly less upbeat. 'But they do have some proofs, as many YouTube videos have pointed out,' she explains, 'they've even got some photo evidence.' She quickly pulls out her phone as she says that. 'Look here!'

Kuroko, with mockery written on her face, leans over to look at Saten's phone screen. It turns out that Kuroko's expectation is right; nothing interesting or convincing is displayed there. Against a dark background, there is a circular silvery object that looks like a cloud because of the poor quality of the picture. In Kuroko's mind, this horrible piece is far more likely to have come from a glitch in a camera than to have been produced by a serious photographer. It certainly cannot serve as evidence for anything. Kuroko just takes a glance and sits back again, having deemed that that blurry photograph has no real value.

'This picture taken from the International Space Station captures the spaceship used by those aliens as they approached our planet,' says Saten, agitated.

'It just can't be that,' Kuroko replies after taking a sip at her straw. 'To begin with, the ISS, with all the cutting-edge technology, would never produce such a low-quality photograph.'

'It could also be the crew who took the photo with their mobiles! But this really is the proof of an alien visit!'

'Whatever you might say then...' Slightly annoyed, Kuroko looks down at the tabletop in front of her. 'But to be honest, it is really absurd that so many countries are in such a frenzy to get up there with expensive rockets.'

'The reason behind must have been this alien thing!'

Kuroko sighs at Saten's insistence. Despite all the puzzlement Kuroko still has with this issue, she doesn't want to pursue this conservation with Saten any further.

Uiharu has been sitting at the side all quiet as the two argued, and now that the two have sat back down and the group has fallen silent, she voices out. 'All that aside, though, where should we go later on?' she asks.

'I can still spare a few moments with you guys,' says Kuroko as she looks at the time on her phone. 'I happen to know quite a good place to visit for an afternoon, and we can go there. After that at 4 pm, I will go back to the 177th branch for work. Uiharu, you will be coming with me then.'

'Understood.'

'Can I go to the branch along with you two later?' Saten asks.

'Sure.'

Today there are more people in the park than yesterday, which Kuroko assumes is because they have come here earlier. The sun is much hotter too, maybe because there aren't many clouds, so most people stay under the shades formed by the rows of trees planted along the pathways. Most of those in the park are students, who have the entire afternoon to waste and are leisurely hanging out in groups. There are also a few adults, including couples who are relaxedly strolling around, dog-owners who have brought their cherished pets out for a walk and joggers who are using the afternoon hours to get rid of some of their body fat. All around those people, birds - mainly sparrows, but there are other species as well - happily chirp as they jump around on the ground like they are extolling the beauty of the world with a song and dance performance. When humans inadvertently approach them, the frightened little creatures would flap their wings to escape into the sky. The park is just as great as Kuroko would like it to be, and it seems that her decision to bring her friends here was quite right as the first steps into the park have already brought Uiharu and Saten to smiles.

'Hmm... Haa... The air here... smells so sweet!' Saten exclaims as she takes deep breaths.

'It really is! I regret not knowing this place earlier!' That's from Uiharu, who has closed her eyes. Perhaps it is easier to enjoy the smells and sounds of nature when one's sight is disabled.

'How have you known this place, Shirai-san?' Saten asks, looking around and stepping further inside the park.

'Onee-sama brought me here yesterday...' As she speaks, Kuroko recalls the wonderful time spent with Misaka. What Kuroko especially cannot forget is being in the embrace of the elder girl - though she was forced to do it - and taking shelter from the rain side-by-side with her. Kuroko feels her cheeks gently warm up as the memories of her Onee-sama's numbing body heat and enchanting cheerful smiles come to her mind. Kuroko looks up at the sky she's so familiar with, and it appears exceptionally blue and elegantly pure. It can't be bluer or purer, and life can't be better.

'By Onee-sama, were you referring to Misaka Mikoto Onee-sama? Asks MISAKA after she overheard parts of the Judgement girl's conversation and got interested.'

That monotonous voice comes from behind. The three of them turn around and see a girl dressed in Tokiwadai uniform. She has hair that matches the colour of the pair of ambers in her eyes, and with a pair of dark-green goggles worn on her head, her bangs are partly covered. Her left arm is folded in front of herself forming a space where a little black kitten can roll around, while her right hand strokes the kitten's body, earning a few purrs from that little creature.

'Oh afternoon Misaka-san!' Saten greets without thinking much.

'Erm, she isn't exactly Onee-sama,' Kuroko interjects as she steps in between Saten and Misaka(?).

'But she is Misaka-san, right? Who else can she be?'

'Erm... Yeah... but no...'

'What do you actually mean, Shirai-san?' Saten says, bewildered.

'Eh - not exactly that. What I mean is...'

'She's Misaka's twin sister,' says Uiharu, causing Kuroko and Saten to turn their heads to look at her.

'Erghh... Yeah, that's right. That's exactly what I wanted to say! haha...' Kuroko awkwardly says as she steps backwards.

'O - ohh. No wonder you look so similar to Misaka-san!' Saten smiles to Misaka(?) as she steps forward and bows slightly as a greeting. 'Good afternoon,' she says cheerfully. 'My name is Saten. What about you?'

'MISAKA's name is MISAKA, says MISAKA as she states the obvious.'

'Eh. But isn't "Misaka" your family name?' asks Saten, puzzled.

'Don't get concerned about so many trivial details, Saten-san!' says Uiharu, 'look, she's got an adorable cat in her arms!'

'Oh yeah it's so cute!' Saten says excitedly, 'can I hold it?'

'Sure, says MISAKA, but you must not hurt it, warns MISAKA as she stares at you suspiciously.'

'That's for sure!' Saten says as she uses both her hands to lift the kitten from the Sister's arm, and she gently places it in her embrace. The kitten is quite obedient as it doesn't try to run away or anything, and it is quick to treat Saten like its new owner. When Saten pets it, it pleasantly purrs as it rolls around and rubs against Saten's shirt. Apparently, the cat has given Saten a bright mood as her face is bright sunny with a big smile.

Kuroko stands beside Uiharu. She looks in front as her lips very slightly move. 'Uiharu, is it really fine to lie to Saten-san about the Sister's identity?' she whispers.

'It's fine, Shirai-san,' Uiharu whispers back, 'some things are better kept secret.'

Kuroko nods in agreement. Saten doesn't have to know how many times this girl standing has been slaughtered. Just let there be a twin of Misaka Mikoto in this world.

'Come little kitty! Would you tell me your name, please?' Saten says as she touches the cat's head with her forehead and looks into its eyes.

'It's a cat, and it can't answer you no matter how much you ask.' Kuroko says, acting all cold. But she feels she might not behave any more rationally than Saten if she is the one holding this charming kitten.

'I also want to touch it, Saten-san!' Uiharu walks ahead and stretches her hand trying to reach the cat, but Saten turns around to reject her.

'I asked first, and I'm only gonna let you touch it after I feel satisfied!'

'Ehh! That's unfair, Saten-san!' Uiharu tries to go around Saten, but Saten dashes off.

'Only if you can chase me!' she says as she runs.

'Ehhh! Just let me touch it already!'

Kuroko sighs at the surprising childishness of her two friends and shifts her eyes to look at the Sister, and a strange feeling starts to rise in her heart. In Kuroko's mind, this girl standing before her is not like any other girl. In this world, there are nine thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight other girls who look exactly the same as her. They have the same thoughts as each other and share the same memory - including that of being killed more than ten thousand times. Yet despite their so many commonalities, they exist as separate entities. They live in different places, they are doing different things at any given moment and they live their own share of excellence on this planet. Sure, they may not be able to experience emotions yet, but as they bathe in sunshine, catch raindrops with their palms, feel winds blowing on their faces and - for some of them who live in colder countries - rub snow into tiny balls with their hands, Kuroko believes that they have begun to learn to appreciate how nice it is to be alive. When imminent deaths no longer face them, their lives become open to innumerable exciting experiences and opportunities.

To Kuroko, they are really special. They represent both the agonising past deaths of so many of them and the hopeful continued lives of so many others. This fact, above anything else, is the source of their power and strength. As long as they continue to exist, there will be nothing that can break the bond between them.

Kuroko is glad to have taken part in saving them.

'How long has this cat been with you, Misaka-imouto?' Kuroko steps next to the Sister and asks.

'It's been 22 days, an hour and 6 minutes, states MISAKA as she reports the exact amount of time since MISAKA first met the cat.'

'Oh that's cool. Do you like it?'

'MISAKA doesn't quite understand the meaning of "like", says MISAKA as she seeks clarification.'

'Erm... Well, I guess to like something means that you would want to always stay with it.'

'If that is what it means to like something, MISAKA does like her cat. MISAKA want to always stay with it to keep this fragile life away from dangers, says MISAKA as she states her thoughts.'

'Hm. How has your rehabilitation been?'

'MISAKA's physical rehabilitation wasn't too much of problem, but social rehabilitation poses a greater challenge. Nevertheless, all MISAKA are doing quite well in their respective rehab centres, says MISAKA as she offers reassurance on MISAKAs' well-being.'

'That's good. But has your life been pleasurable? Are there any practical worries that bother you right now?'

'MISAKA doesn't quite know how to determine whether her life is "pleasurable", but there aren't many worries in MISAKA's mind. This MISAKA is grateful to continue to exist after the designated time of MISAKA's death. The Sisters are still exploring the meaning of life and it will take a long time, but MISAKA thinks she must thank you on behalf of all MISAKAs for contributing to the termination of the Level 6 Shift Plan, says MISAKA as she turns to you and bows by ninety degrees.'

'No please don't do that! I was just doing my job as a member of Judgement when I intervened!' Kuroko waves her hand with red cheeks.

'Nevertheless, you have inspired MISAKA a great deal, states MISAKA as she straightens her body. 10032 and thousands of other sisters now understand the importance of their lives to people around them, says MISAKA as she reflects upon the suffering that her deaths have caused to you, to that boy and to Misaka Mikoto Onee-sama.'

'That's not your fault. We were just doing what we thought was right. In any case, it's great that you guys now enjoy your lives, isn't it huh?'

'Yes, MISAKA affirms. MISAKA's will not die again, for MISAKA's know that someone would cry if MISAKA's lives are trampled on.'

'That's great to hear.' Kuroko says as she looks in front at the black kitten which is now held by Uiharu.

'How's life been for you, Judgement girl? asks MISAKA as she gets curious.'

'You can call me Kuroko. It's been quite fine I guess.

'Oh. But is Kuroko a famous person here? asks MISAKA as she recalls seeing Kuroko's pictures many times on newspapers and televisions.'

'Kind of. But I can't really see why they like me so much since I have just been doing my job in Judgement.'

'How about Onee-sama and that boy? says MISAKA as she continues to ask.'

'I haven't heard of that boy since that day as well. I guess he's busy. But as for Onee-sama...'

'What's happening, Kuroko? asks MISAKA as she gets suspicious and touches Kuroko's hand to record her biological measurements.'

'Heh...?'

'Your heart rate is irregular, and your blood pressure is fluctuating. You are experiencing extreme emotions, MISAKA concludes from her analysis.'

'It - it's nothing!' Kuroko says, quickly pulling her hand away, 'I - I'm just...'

'Are you feeling sorry for Onee-sama? asks MISAKA as she looks straight into Kuroko's eyes.'

'I swear I'm not! Don't try to read my mind like that!' Kuroko folds her arms in front of her and looks away from the Sister as beads of sweat start to appear on her temples.

'MISAKA would not forgive you if you make her Onee-sama feel sad, warns MISAKA as she feels an urge to defend her Original.'

'She's also my Onee-sama - just if you haven't realised that! I will protect my Onee-sama to the best of my abilities as well!' Kuroko now looks back at the Sister, and she seems much more confident.

'She can only be MISAKA's Onee-sama, says MISAKA as she confidently asserts, brutally rebutting Kuroko without consideration for her reactions.'

'She's mine, and I will never give my Onee-sama away to you!' Kuroko says, her hands on her hips as she leans towards the Sister provocatively. 'Are you trying to start something here with me?'

'She is MISAKA's Onee-sama because there wouldn't be MISAKA without her, says MISAKA as she reminds Kuroko of the obvious and pretends to not have recognised the anger boiling in the person she's talking to.'

Kuroko instantly stands up, and her face was gloomy with a smile that apparently hides some fangs behind. 'I'm not being angry! Besides, your situation makes her more like your mother, right? I am her junior, so I can rightly call her my Onee-sama!' She says, her face merely centimetres away from the Sister's.

'MISAKA will never give in to Kuroko on this matter despite the respect she has for her, says MISAKA as she stands up to face the Judgement girl.'

One can't detect emotions by looking at the Sister's face for it is expressionless as usual, but her harsh words do suggest that she hasn't backed down and is not willing to compromise a single bit. As she abruptly stands up, Kuroko's physique is immediately dwarfed by the Sister. Kuroko, with a physical age of mere 13 years old, not only is half a head shorter than her rival; her body is also narrower, though not necessarily weaker. However, while it may seem that the physical disadvantages leave Kuroko not much perceivable chance to win in a fistfight, it doesn't mean that Kuroko is at all frightened by her apparently stronger enemy. On the contrary, she seems to have only been turned more aggressive with that provocation as she pulls out some metal darts from those holsters around her thighs.

'Huh! Now it's down to this, it's to eat or to be eaten! Even if it's through a fight, Kuroko won't give up her ownership of Onee-sama!' she screams as she somewhat backs off and cranes her body forward in a fighting position.

'MISAKA has fought someone who can take her life with the touch of a finger for 10032 times, so you can never catch me, warns MISAKA as she prepares to dodge the attack from Kuroko any moment.'

Before Kuroko initiates one, though, she notices a familiar figure walking past. She turns to look, and it's a certain brunette dressed in Tokiwadai's uniform walking along the street outside the park. Kuroko suddenly has an idea, and she teleports off.

'Onee-sama!'

'Eh- Kuroko?! Why have you suddenly...?'

Kuroko has emerged above Misaka and hold her tightly with her arms from behind, and excitedly she rubs her cheek against Misaka's. Misaka is startled by the sudden force on her back, and she tilts her head to look at her kouhai, her face written with surprise.

'What is this all about? Why are you suddenly on my back?'

'Help me, Onee-sama!' With a fake anxious face, Kuroko pretends to sound urgent as she pleads.

'Are you into some trouble, Kuroko?' Misaka immediately becomes worried upon hearing that.

'Onee-sama?' the Sister calls as she walks out of the park and stands opposite Misaka a few metres away.

'Ah, good after-'

'It's her!' Kuroko screamed as she gets off Misaka's back and points a finger at the Sister, 'she threatens to take you away from me!'

'Huh?'

'Onee-sama rightly belongs to MISAKA, states MISAKA as she reiterates her stance.'

'Onee-sama will never be yours! She belongs to Kuroko!' Kuroko says, glaring at the Sister.

'Wait wait,' Misaka says, 'what are you guys even arguing about?'

'Onee-sama, you are my Onee-sama, am I right?' Kuroko says as she props her cheek against Misaka's shoulder like a little kid.

'Onee-sama is MISAKA's Onee-sama, says MISAKA as she rushes to her Original and holds her by her arm, in a sign of intimacy.'

'Eh? How has this even become a problem between the two of you?'

'There can't be two Onee-samas, so you have to belong to one of us!' Kuroko exclaims, 'and you are Kuroko's Onee-sama, right Onee-sama?'

Misaka chuckles at that. Whose Onee-sama is she? That's a really interesting question. Misaka is amused at how the two girls view emotions like commodities that can only be used once. What is right for commodities may not be right for emotions. Sure, a chair can only be sat by one person at a time and a bowl can only contain one dish at a time - unless you want sitting down to become more challenging or your food to have a weird taste. Nevertheless, feelings and sensations aren't commodities. They are formless and cannot be counted, so they do not need to be dedicated to merely one person as they can be duplicated and hence magnified. One does not have to choose between loving his/her parents and loving his/her grandparents; he/she can love all of them at the same time. Besides, emotions like love aren't diluted when they are dedicated to more people because they will actually become stronger and more powerful. In someone who appreciates everything in the world you will unsurprisingly find lots of love and appreciation, while in someone who hates many things you can hardly find positive emotions. Misaka believes that that works the same as who and who she wishes to dedicate herself to like a good 'Onee-sama'. Besides that, Misaka is more than willing to treat both Kuroko and her clones as her younger sisters. To her, being their "Onee-sama" is not only about just having that title; it's also about sharing a stake in and taking up responsibility for her younger sisters' lives. The more Kuroko calls her 'Onee-sama', the more she is reminded of the tie between them as close partners and the duty that comes with that. Every time a Sister calls her 'Onee-sama', she recalls the brutal killings they suffered because of her and strengthens her resolve to protect their lives at all costs. In the end, Misaka just wants to protect them, so it's fine to be the Onee-sama of both of them.

She should do what every good elder sister does - assure the younger sisters. So Misaka holds both Kuroko and the Sister by their shoulders and presses them closer to herself. 'What are you guys even talking about?' she softly says, 'I am the Onee-sama of both of you, and there's no way I would care less about one of you than the other!'

'Ahm...! Let me go, Onee-samaa...' Kuroko, her face flushed red, moves around trying to break away from Misaka. She's quite bashful, but Misaka likes it when Kuroko is like this, so she presses Kuroko even tighter to herself.

'Is that so? asks MISAKA as she tilts her head to looks at her Original.'

'Of course! For now, let's go inside the park and have some fun together!'

She swears she will always be a responsible Onee-sama.

'MISAKA 10777 connects to MISAKA network, says MISAKA as she urgently seeks all other MISAKAs' attention.'

'Why are you here, MISAKA 10777? MISAKA MISAKA cheerfully asks as she enjoys the food she is chewing in her mouth.'

'You are being way too loud, serial number 20001, reminds MISAKA 19090 as she complains about the childishness of her fellow MISAKA, with much regret.'

'Hmph! All that you guys will ever do is bully the younger MISAKA here! MISAKA MISAKA exclaims as she protests against her dictatorial fellow MISAKA's!'

'Please ignore her, serial number 10777, says MISAKA 10032 as she licks the ice-cream that Onee-sama has bought fo-'

'That's unfair! Why does 10032 have the chance to meet our Original!? MISAKA MISAKA screams as she also wants to spend time with her Onee-sama!'

'Your erratic behaviour will only annoy our Onee-sama, replies MISAKA 10046.'

'What did you want to say, serial number 10777? asks MISAKA 10032 as she ignores serial number 20001 and proceeds to ask her question.'

'Our lives are under great threat, MISAKA 10777 reports from Baikonur Cosmodrome.'