Chapter 11
Hi guys! I'm back, this is kind of short but I didn't want to add anything on that might spoil the next chapter. Thank you so much for the reviews and likes. I really enjoy reading your comments and ideas on where the story might go and such. They really help me in continuing the story so please continue to support me.
The headmistress of Tokiwadai looked on to the open window, wrinkles appearing in her forehead at news she was hearing. "Ms. Misaka Mikoto had been delivered to the nearest clinic from the park. It was a small clinic connected to a school but it may have saved her life. After she was stabilized, the clinic itself took the initiative to transport her to one of the larger facilities in the area. She will have the best care. She's been placed in priority attention and tagged as a high-profile patient by the hospital itself. Doctors and researchers will try their hardest to identify and cure whatever ailment she is experiencing. The full medical report will come around in 10 minutes. I'll make sure to call you then", the officer told the headmistress from the phone.
"And what of her health?", she asked.
"They think she'll wake up today or tomorrow. She's doing very well given what she just experienced. They think she'll be safe and healthy in no time", a cheerful voice said.
"That's good. I do think we need this to be as private as possible for the time being. We cannot deny that Misaka is an esper and a prominent one at that. It might cause unnecessary ruckus while she's still weak.", she ordered.
The stern voice of a man covered the room, "Loud and clear".
oOoOo
"Onee-sama", Kuroko's concern was palpable.
Misaka Mikoto was dressed in a hospital gown. Her uniform, neatly washed, was folded and placed in one of the chairs by her side. The sight she saw, Onee-sama coughing up blood and falling unconscious, it unnerved her to the very core. She was the Railgun, the third-ranked Level 5, only a handful of people could outwardly harm her. She had grown to think that she was near invincible. It was her mistake. No matter how powerful of an esper her Onee-sama might be, she's still human. She just witnessed the greatest evidence for it.
The headmistress had been notified of the events and there's even an interrogation for a prospective assault case. If her Onee-sama was subjected to intentional harm by that gang called "Snakes" or that officer or that girl, they could be charges placed against them. Although, Kuroko knows that it's not any of them by hunch. If this really was done on purpose, it might mean someone is really targeting the Railgun and the three groups just look to naïve for such a stunt.
She was really worried. She really ought to stay and guard her but the headmistress urges her to go to class for at least a few hours "There's also judgement too", she sighed. Uiharu and Saten could be here while I go to class. I'll just tell the teachers that I'll be absent in most of the classes for the next few days. I'll need to make up an excuse. "No, I'll just say it as it is. The higher-ups of Academy City and the staff already know that the third-ranked is confined in a hospital. I'm her best friend and roommate.", she thought to herself. She picked up her phone and texted Uiharu and Saten if either of them could take her place for half an hour after lunch. She explained the situation and thankfully, Uiharu can make up an excuse about Judgement to get out of the gym class she hates. Saten would be here after class though.
"Onee-sama will surely hate how everyone is making a fuss about her but Shirai Kuroko will stay by her side.", she thought.
"You don't always have to be alone", she spoke to her Onee-sama as she brushed her hair back.
A sudden blush covered Kuroko's face at the realization, "Onee-sama is alone right now and she's defenseless Ehe-Ehehehehehe". She was being summoned by temptation and she's too weak to stop it, "A little hug here and there won't hurt".
oOoOo
Uiharu sat near Misaka with a laptop taken out for judgement work. She had to detach Kuroko who was sleeping beside Misaka on the hospital bed. "Seriously", a slight smile showed on her face as she thought about it.
She stared at the sleeping face of her friend. Her hair was free of its clips and a tube went around her nose. She really isn't used seeing Misaka like this. She always thought she could be indestructible. "I wonder what her illness is", she thought to herself, "Well, Kuroko will be here any second and then we can ask the doctor more about her condition".
Not long after, an elegant blonde girl entered the room with no word. "H-hi", Uiharu couldn't help but stutter. This girl was the picture-perfect ojou-sama. She had long gloves and elegant high white socks. She also carried a white bag with a pink star. Shokuhou only looked into the unconscious state of Misaka, seemingly ignoring Uiharu.
"Ahhh. You're from Tokiwadai? Are you perhaps a friend of Misaka?", Uiharu started to make a friendly small-talk but she only sat down in an empty seat.
Finally, she looked at her, really looked at her. Uiharu couldn't help but look into the golden hue of her eyes and the stars that seem to glimmer on it. "Wait, wait, the eyes. Golden hair, golden eyes, white bag and pure elegance?! This might be the fifth-ranked level 5. Oh no, had she made a bad impression? Kuroko never told her about another level 5 visiting and the last time Misaka mentioned her, they seemed to not get along! Maybe they became friends?!", Uiharu was thinking on overdrive.
Suddenly, the door opened to reveal the pink-haired judgement girl. "Shokuhou Misaki?! Wh-what are you doing here?", Kuroko said in surprise. Uiharu was about to combust and Shokuhou couldn't care less.
Kuroko's voice took a serious tone, "Why are you here? Are you involved with whatever is happening with Onee-sama?".
"Sit down", Shokuhou said with a smile.
Her face always had that seemingly friendly ambiance but Kuroko couldn't help but be put-off by it. Still, she sat down.
"Why are you here?", Kuroko asked again.
"Please be friendlier. I am here as a caring visitor. Oh, and your friend is—quite interesting", Shokuhou and Kuroko looked at Uiharu who had a nosebleed.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Kazari Uiharu.", she pretended to be in control.
"Shokuhou Misaki", she smiled and at the click of her remote, Uiharu stilled.
Kuroko immediately stood up, her fingers brushing up on the spikes on her thighs. "Relax, I needed to tell you something and I think both of us would want her out of it", Shokuhou waved her hand.
"What do you need to tell me?", Kuroko was still on high alert.
"Of course, I could just make you do the things I want you to do but I think it would actually be beneficial if you went on your own accord. You'd go all the way on helping your precious onee-sama and Misaka won't chew me off on forcing you.", Shokuhou stood up. "Right now, something is wrong with her and this attack was intentional. Misaka is experiencing the effects of a bioterrorist attack. Her body has been injected with a synthetic chemical that's supposed to weaken espers to death. The symptoms are too subtle to tell from the start, a very small amount in heightened emotions. It goes higher until you reach the part where you're nearing death. Unfortunately, that's the part where you can really see the symptoms. There are very heightened emotions, coughs, high temperature and a quick sudden heart attack. The only reason she's alive is because she was treated fairly early".
"Onee-sama… wh-what am I going to do? She's getting healthy though, isn't she? The doctors said not to worry. Wh-who did this?", Kuroko lost her composure.
"She had the chemical since the terrorist attack at Tokiwadai. There's a large chance that it must have been administered at that day by needle, by gas or whatever undetectable means", Shokuhou replied.
"Th-that long?!", Kuroko shivered.
"That's not all. There's a chance that there are some students with chemicals in their body too. Who knows? Seno Ayume might have it. I could have one too, maybe even you", Shokuhou said.
"That's insane. We'll need to treat the students one by one, get rid of the thing in their bodies. Who-who did this?!", Kuroko asked.
"Listen, the doctors won't tell you what I'm telling now. They'll say the part of Misaka's heart attack and the chemicals that placed in her body. They'll pump it out of her system before she leaves. First, you'll need to pretend everything is okay because the headmaster will be the only one to know that there might be a connection to a terrorist attack. Of course, she'll fix this. It's guaranteed that she'll make a mandatory check-up as a disguise to fix whatever this is. Let her. Meanwhile, the people behind this will remain hidden. We need to root them out.", Shokuhou said.
"Why-why are you helping us? You-you could've just saved yourself. I- Why did you even visit? We could've talked at the school.", Kuroko tiredly sat at the chair.
Shokuhou sighed as she looked at the unconscious form of the Railgun. "Misaka is a Level 5.", she looked straight at Kuroko. "What do you think will happen when word gets out that the third-ranked is immobile and unconscious, basically powerless? I'm sure you are aware that there are forces in the city besides Anti-Skill and Judgement."
Kuroko's face was painted with worry, confusion and a feeling of anger at the situation.
"This might sound confusing but my short visit, my known presence, it will alert people. In this city, a Level 5's support has a bit of influence. This'll rule out the low people that would try something stupid.", Shokuhou continued. "At this moment, I'm one of your most valuable allies".
"Why though? I just- Why help us?", Kuroko couldn't help but ask. "A-are the rumors true? Do you care for her? Is this some kind of act to get to her good graces?! Are you in love with Onee-sama?!", Kuroko turned accusatory.
Shokuhou couldn't help but blush and look away from the shameless perv accusing her of indecency. "It's not like that.", she cleared her throat and got back to a more serious tone. "I just find it advantageous for her to be alive and kicking, being the muscle-head.", she then rushes her words in defense. "Besides, it's not like we're going into war. My guess is on some low-level weeds trying to make it big, the work is too sloppy. This can be solved quickly and efficiently with minimal effort", she paused then sighed. "Your Onee-sama is involved with a lot of things, Shirai. You might think that we're strangers at most but we are connected more than you think, more than even Misaka thinks.".
"We're more similar than you think", Shokuhou was moving out the door. She clicked her remote and it seemed like Uiharu was back to normal.
"Wait", Kuroko's determined voice stilled Shokuhou. "It might be true that I don't know some things about Onee-sama but I'll always be by her side, ready to help her. You might be a Level 5 but she's still very different from you.", Kuroko declared with passion.
Shokuhou, for a moment, turned solemn but she soon smiled. "Goodbye Shirai, we'll discuss with each other later", she waved.
Kuroko could only stare at the retreating form. She even looked down the window to see her enter a black car, complete with a driver and a guard.
"Why did I do that, Kuroko you stupid!", she whined as she sat down at the bedside. "There's no telling what happens to people who outright insults Mental Out, Ahhhhh!"
oOoOo
In a research facility, four young adults were wrapped in a heated conversation. The man's nerves were about to explode.
"Call anybody! Hire anybody! This is the best chance we've got. She managed to survive, we all expected as much. Now, we have to collect the goods before she wakes up", a man shouted.
"Can you hear yourself? We don't even have any money for ourselves. How will we hire an organization?", a woman asked.
"I don't know and I don't care. Hire someone and when we get the money from our research results, we give them the money. We can make millions for this. Nobody would think of us as losers, we'll be in the top. Our ingenious idea will make them look dumb.", the man pressed on.