Hi.
This chapter is a bit rushed, I kind of came up with the ideas on a whim. Sorry if the story defies logic a bit too much.
I don't have much else to write here, so let's get started.
It's been 5 days since Emilia met Jason.
And they were a pain.
Everyday, Emilia would beat up a bunch of prideful thugs.
Due to the level upper, most people Emilia had to deal with had even stronger abilities. Not that it mattered, she had to deal with level 4s almost all the time. These people ended up being more confident and aggressive because of their newfound abilities. This made it easier for Emilia, more pride only meant more openings, so she was completely untouched throughout the week.
Kuroko on the other hand, had it much more rough. Maybe it was because she fought more, or maybe she was inexperienced in fighting higher leveled espers, but she had to be patched up a lot.
"Todoroki-san, how is it that you are unscathed?" Kuroko asked. She winced as Kazari fixed up her wounds.
"I told you to call me Emilia." She said, rubbing her eyes. "I didn't get involved in many problems myself. Not as much as you at least."
Kuroko rested her head. "Yeah, you're right."
"I'm going to sleep." The black haired girl said. She put down the pencil she was holding and lied down on the green couch.
She raised her arm out next to her head so she could use it as a pillow and shut her eyes.
Kuroko sighed and let her be. After working with Emilia for a while, she has gotten used to Emilia's blunt and lazy behavior. She always gets the work done anyway, so she couldn't really complain.
Just as they expected, the forcible change of brain waves started to put the level-upper users into a coma. Judgement spread the news and the use of the level upper was banned. Of course, this didn't stop people from using it.
"Hey Emilia, what do you think was the point of making the level upper?
"Beats me." She said, her eyes still closed. "Money?"
"Possibly. But I feel like there is more to the situation. Why wasn't it advertised? How can such a convenient item be so cheap?"
Kazari walked in front of Emilia, who is unresponsive. "She's asleep." She reported to Kuroko. She continued to take a closer look at Emilia, surprised with how quickly she can take a nap.
Even though Emilia was their friend and colleague, she was still an enigma to them. She doesn't talk much, and she rarely stood out in the group. It looks like she doesn't like talking about her past, judging by how often she ignores or dodges questions.
Kazari spotted Emilia's phone in Emilia's pocket. "Hey, want to look at her phone?"
Kuroko flinched. "We can't! It's her phone. As a member of judgement, we cannot invade other people's personal life!" Though Kuroko realized that she too was almost dying to skim through her friend's phone.
Kuroko gave in. "Okay, maybe just a peek." She teleported by Emilia's side to avoid making any noise. She reached out to her friend's phone. She only needed to touch it. That way, the phone would teleport into Kazari's hands.
Kuroko's hands trembled, and Kazari held her breath. They didn't want to wake Emilia. If she did, who knows what would happen? Emilia's ice-cold death stare was scary enough to kill someone.
Kuroko's hand was hovering over Emilia's back pocket. Just a little closer…
Suddenly the door burst open. "Kuroko, do you need any help?" Mikoto said. From the silence the two girls were so used to, it almost felt like Mikoto was shouting.
Kuroko and Kazari yelped and made a shushing gesture to the electromaster. Mikoto made a confused look and walked over slowly. "What are you up to?" She whispers.
"We want to skim through Emilia's phone. You in?" Kazari whispers back. Mikoto nodded.
Kuroko teleported the phone into Mikoto's hand and walked over to her to have a look.
"A pretty plain looking smartphone." Mikoto noted, taking several steps away from the sleeping girl. Kuroko and Kazari followed.
Mikoto opened the phone and there was a background consisting of Emilia, and three other girls. They looked like they were about 9 to 10 years old, and they were all smiling at the camera.
"Is that a childhood photograph?" Kuroko asked.
"Looks like it, they all look a lot younger." Mikoto said.
"Look, Emilia's eyes aren't bloodshot in this photo, and she's wearing a ponytail." Kazari added.
Mikoto tried snooping through the phone more, but much to the girl's disappointment, a password was required. They slowly returned the phone to Emilia's pocket and sat together in relief.
"I never knew Emilia treasured her old friends so much." Kazari said.
"Yeah. Well anyway, how is the investigation going on?" Mikoto asked.
"Well, thanks to Emilia, we managed to find out that the level upper uses synesthesia to change the user's brain waves. We still can't seem to find out who is responsible for all this though." Kuroko sighed. "To think that that's the only thing we don't know."
"You know what? I'm going to call Harumi-san to check if this info is true." Kazari said, leaving the office. "I'll see you soon!"
"Bye."
After waking up, Emilia came to the hideout in broad daylight.
"Hello Emilia-tan. Had a good sleep?"
"How did you- oh never mind. Also don't call me that. It's creepy." Emilia adjusted her hair. "So, what do you want from me this time?"
"I've heard you joined Judgement." X said in a calm tone. He continued to drink the tea he was holding onto.
Emilia held her breath. "G-got a problem with that?"
X raised his eyebrows. "Oh, heavens no. I think it's quite beneficial if you ask me. It'll improve your reputation to other people. Especially the judgement members."
He stood up from his comfy looking chair and walked closer to Emilia. "I'll get to the point now. It seems like scientists want to know even more about you." He sighed. "Though they already promised they wouldn't press further, they're still hungry for more. They looked desperate too."
X handed a backup mask and cape since Emilia's is still at her dorm. "So, I came up with a compromise. I wouldn't want you doing any more missions and "tests". So I'm signing you up for a certain project. The details are confidential. It's something about reaching level 6. You're just going to help them out, no big deal. So while they hire you, and they gather data we get money and protection in return."
"I don't need protection." Emilia said grabbing the mask and putting it on. "Where am I going to meet them?"
"Your phone."
Emilia checked her phone. X had recently sent her the address. "Right." She said, leaving the room. She adjusted her mask and put on her black cape. It was going to be hard going unnoticed in broad daylight, but if she stayed in the sky, it would be unlikely she would get noticed. Hardly anyone walks looking up in the sky after all.
Emilia accelerated herself off the ground. Her cape flapped in the wind as she leaped from building to building. Some project for level 6s huh? Are they trying to investigate what level 6 is supposed to be, or are they trying to make someone a level 6? Emilia paused for a moment on a building, then shrugged. Well, I guess I could find out later.
Emilia suddenly got a phone call. She was still travelling to a shady research facility. So she had to answer it on the run. "Hello?" She responded, picking up her cellphone. She lifted her mask slightly so she could use the phone properly.
"It's Uiharu. Saten is in a coma, she used the level upper."
Emilia choked on her own saliva and started coughing uncontrollably. Emilia landed on a roof and sat down to better comprehend what Kazari just said. "Pardon?"
"Saten used it. We were so into figuring out the developer of the level upper, we didn't notice that Saten had one of them all along."
Emilia clutched her teeth. I'm such an idiot. I promised myself that I wouldn't let this happen. I can't dwell on my mistakes, the present is more important than anything. "Which hospital is she in?"
"She's put in a certain hospital. You know, that one."
"Okay." Emilia put her phone back and adjusted her mask again. She took a little detour towards the location Kazari told her about. Conveniently, it wasn't far. It was almost on the way to her destination. X didn't tell Emilia a designated time, so she thought it would be fine.
Emilia arrived at the hospital. She had two options here. She could either hide her outfit somewhere and visit Ruiko, or she could visit her dear friend through stealth. She picked the latter. She wasn't sure about visiting a friend half naked.
She shut her eyes and attempted to find the heat signature of Ruiko. But it was no use. Each patient was too similar. Emilia desperately checked each room through the windows. Then, she finally found her roommate, peacefully lying in a hospital bed.
Emilia sighed in relief. If Ruiko really was in trouble, the doctors wouldn't leave her in a bed unsupervised. Though she still needed to find a way to get her out of the coma. Having her brain waves forcibly changed is probably what is causing Ruiko to fall unconscious.
Wait. What are her brain waves being changed to exactly? Are the brainwaves matching anyone else's? If so we should-
Emilia suddenly sensed someone's presence behind the door. Thinking fast, she leaped upwards, landing on the roof of the building.
But she ended up face to face with two Tokiwadai students.
Emilia whirled. Of course my friends have to be here. I'm still masked, so if I play my cards right, I should be able to get out of this situation.
"Stop! Why are you climbing buildings? As a member of judgement, I'm going to have to interrogate you."
Geez, straight to the point huh? If I talk, they might recognize my voice. Should I just run? I'm not sure if I can outrun the Railgun.
Emilia simply stood there, not responding, quickly trying to find a way to get out. The scavengers thought I was a boy, maybe my friends would too? No, that's too risky. Just booking it would be the better option after all.
Emilia saluted and leaped off the building. Ideally, she wanted to go to an area without much metal, and near the place she was going to have to go.
"Hey!"
Just as she thought, Kuroko went on to chase her. She didn't see Mikoto yet, probably because she's just a citizen. She knew that sooner or later, the Railgun would be joining the fray.
Even though Emilia was a level 5, losing a level 4 teleporter was easier said than done. Kuroko probably had many years of experience.
Emilia threw a light fireball at Kuroko. Though she hated attacking her friend, she needed a distraction to get away.
Just as expected, the projectile caught Kuroko by surprise. Emilia took the chance to create a wall of ice, blocking Kuroko's light of sight and then landing on the ground. Emilia successfully lost the judgement officer, she peeked at her friend, who was bewildered at Emilia's "multiple" abilities.
Emilia sighed in relief that Mikoto wasn't going to come for her. Things would have gotten tricky and Emilia may have had to use her absolute zero move.
Speak of the devil. Emilia froze and felt someone's presence right next to Kuroko's. Emilia sighed. I just had to think that huh?
She immediately started skating away from the scene. The further she was, the better. Emilia didn't want to deal with Mikoto's black sword made of iron sand she witnessed during her fight with Kamijou.
"You better stop now." The Railgun said confidently. Emilia made a wall of ice to block Mikoto's path. She considered jumping into the sky again, but that will only get the Railgun to follow her into the sky, as well as risk attracting more attention from other people.
The wall of ice was shattered, and the chase continued. Mikoto continued to attack Emilia as she was chasing her, and all Emilia could do was dodge.
Emilia needed a plan. I can't out skate her. She accelerated herself faster using her ability. She was getting tired. She's been skating for too long.
The masked girl suddenly had an idea.
Mikoto kept firing more lightning spears in hopes of finally hitting the mysterious figure. But little did she know, her target was analyzing her attacks.
Emilia drifted to the side to avoid one more spear. However, when the next spear came flying by, she removed her right glove and held her right hand towards the spear.
Thanks to Mikoto's consistency, Emilia was able to calculate the spear's speed, angle, and power.
Electrons, stop flowing!
The spear vanished. Just as Emilia thought, Mikoto hesitated in shock. She couldn't pull a stunt like that again, but it made a good bluff.
Yes! It worked! My calculations were correct.
Emilia vanished in sight, and went to her destination.
It was the afternoon, and Emilia walked to the building, panting like a dog in the summer.
"Oh you're finally here." A researcher said. "He looks younger than I expected."
"Okay, let us introduce ourselves, shall we?" Another one said.