A Certain Unknown Level 0

by MrQuestionMark

Accelerator and the Railgun. Two level 5's that have been subjected to the same rumour: they have been defeated by a Level 0. But who is this mysterious esper? These are the numerous investigations made by characters in the ToAru universe into this Level 0. People who don't know him will learn the truth and those who do know him will catch a glimpse into his life. Will have action.

163. Shutaura Sequenzia: Part 5

And here we are once again, with another chapter of the Shutaura arc! …Who surprisingly did not appear last chapter.

Whatever the case, I think it's time for us to get back into the swing of things from here on out. In a way, while we left off the chapter at something serious, I have this habit of moving between both serious and comedic so whatever direction this chapter takes, I only hope you can come to enjoy it fully and the future of this arc as well. We're in early days but it's time to kick start a lot of things!

We'll start this beginning note with the Q & A:

GG Vegito: I'm not going to give spoilers on future arcs, but one of the three you suggested is a definite 'yes'. Which one though…?

whwsms: If we're talking karma, doesn't Othinus need a lot more? As for the maid costume, it was something that Itsuwa ended up bringing over and landed in Touma's hands when he visited London but failed to send back. I wonder, is the unknown baby a KnT reference…? I think last chapter and this chapter though are going to be a bit slow before things start picking up again.

Kamijou Touma1: I want to have this happen as well! …But I'm the author so can I do this?!

paeluclucas: ¡Muchas gracias! ¡Espero que este capítulo te guste y te emocione!

onilink500: Imagina a Misaki haciendo que Touma le compre cosas, ese sería el final de la serie seguro. Creo que Misaki estaba más sorprendida por el traje de conejito porque es de tamaño completo. Tengo que estar de acuerdo en que Touma sería un gran padre; cariñoso pero no demasiado estricto con un ojo para sus hijos! ...Tener a Misaki como madrastra me está dando ideas...

Kami: I sort of see what you mean where Touma is the one knowingly going to the front line for the sake of saving others (and I'm pretty sure punch-happy is a word now!). I sort of feel like Touma has the same 'impression' as being the healer who does what he can to save. Another analogy I have would be the shield that protects but always ends up being chipped as a result as he is used.

craytherlay: I've had enough of you cliffhanger-kun! I'm not going to give anything away when it comes to the baby so I'll leave it to you to guess! I want to see more haughty Othinus but having serious Othi-chan every now and then is also a good thing I think. One of these days I'm going to return back to reasonable update times… But given that new chapters come out every two months, does the cliffhanger really lose its effect?

DNWorks: Once more into the fray gentlemen!

LoneVirgo98: I think it's been more in later chapters that Index has been a bit more reasonable, mainly because of all the shit Touma has ben through. He's been tortured, beaten around, had his left arm copped off; I think Index has given him a 'tiny' bit of a break (even if she still bites him). I hope that I can keep you guessing when it comes to the mysteries of this fic – I'm not just adding in random characters and there's a reason for it!

patiphat1998: I haven't even seen Ultraman but now it's stuck in MY head!

TheDarkPublisher: Why can't Kamui leave our heroes alone?! And thanks for the kind words. And thanks also for the kanji lesson – I've been taking more Japanese myself so having this as a reference is always cool. But what I also find interesting and cool is how you've interpreted the message of the story – there's no right or wrong answer here but seeing your viewpoint is also pretty cool in itself. In terms of what you suggested about the OCs getting an arc, I'm of two minds about it, especially given how long the arcs are getting – I think I'm more leaning towards the idea that the OCs will feature more prominently within each arc but not necessarily be the focus if that makes sense. The one thing I don't want is for the OCs to overshadow the main cast; even if they have a large role, I need to know who I play favourites for.

WwEpsilonwW: W-Well, Touma is a cousin even if he is 'another character's big bro. And you think the baby was a product of magic hmm…?

tommthecommie: I did sort of write Gakuska to be that way…

ShadowBloodedge9396: Okaeri! I think we're both not too bright on the possibilities, but having it anything other than Touma's dorm would make the arc too long (and that's saying something). I'm glad you're loving it and thank you for the kind words – there's an answer for everything so I won't say anything now, but I'll leave you to guess…

Toaru Lover: If you thought up to Chapter 20 was heavy on torture then you dropped at the right place…

Agent Nine: Somehow though, it also feels like a step backwards in a way? Then again, Touma hasn't been one to choose his fights as his fights choose him so maybe it is development?

Bestest: …I seriously hope you are getting enough sleep because those working conditions aren't exactly humane… There's nothing wrong with being stepped on though! And also, thanks for saying that I write the slow moments well: I'm always on the fence about them so having validation really helps! I hope that each chapter (even the gory ones) help you out in any way they can! I need for Mugino for you…

And the thanks. Firstly, once again, to my beta reader PokeRescue18. Really man, from the depths of my heart, you have no idea how much I want to thank you for what you have done for me. It means the world and for the contribution you have made for me over the past few years, you have my endless thanks.

And to you, the reader, once again. I realise that 'reader' might be a bit impersonal but if I listed everyone who has read this and made their contribution, I would be unable to comprehend just how much all of you have done for me. For this alone and for the things you have done, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

And I think we'll get past this final message from here! For this chapter, I hope you do what you always do:

Enjoy.

Mr Question Mark.

---

The splash of cold water on Kamijou Touma's face ripped him from the abyss of darkness and suddenly restored him to the realm of consciousness. He gasped for breath and panted heavily. His vision filled with water and as he roughly wiped it away, his thoughts panicked. He rose roughly and suddenly, standing up, his thoughts shaking and heavy with the last thing he remembered.

He had been attacked by some unknown soldier, taken out with barely three moves and everything had gone black. With the unknown soldier having come straight from his room, it was with desperate thoughts that Kamijou felt his mind go to the people who would have been in that room yet had not seen when he had opened the door. Instead, he had seen numerous soldiers in skin tight uniforms.

Index, Othinus, Tatsugami Otohime and the girl who he had forgotten but had vowed he would start things over with; Shokuhou Misaki. Given how Kamijou had gotten lost after his counselling session with Yume, the small baby with a phi symbol carved into her stomach and being chased by 50 delinquents through Academy City, his lateness when coming back to his dorm was understandable, but all thoughts of those things were swept from his mind now he had regained consciousness.

What had happened to those girls?

That single question, especially how he had run away from his dorm room so he could act in some way and oppose the soldiers who had been in his room, filled his head. Shame and guilt came with it but given how easily the soldier had dispatched of him as soon as he had caught up, it was clear what trying to engage in head on combat with them would result in. Even so though, the fact he had tried to save his own skin so he could do something about what had happened to those girls served as a poor excuse in his mind and one he could barely justify.

He panted heavily, wiping his eyes and staring forward, realising he had been attacked in the same as he had once before. Hasn't it during the chaos with Othinus and running through Denmark that he had been taken out in much the same way as he had now; a chokehold to knock him unconscious?

The weakness he held as nothing more than a normal high school boy you could find anywhere bit at him with frustration, but he withheld any remarks. What came now in this unusual situation was understanding and finding any information he could about where he was, what was happening and where the girls who he had wanted safe were; not berating himself for losing so easily.

And yet, as Kamijou's vision cleared, he felt his heart rate calm.

He knew the place he was in.

The tiled floor, the scent wafting through the air and the door in front of him were all things he instantly recognised but even as Kamijou's mind slowly came to terms with where he was, his disbelief caused him to slowly form words that described the exact place he had found himself in.

"My…bathroom?"

Technically, it was his bedroom but the familiarity of the place he had woken up in surprised him. Like most Japanese bathrooms, the 'bathroom' was actually a small section to the left of his dorm room that was separated into a number of sections. When one walked into the 'bathroom' immediately, the first thing they would see was not the bath but rather the small part of the room that held the washing machine and the dryer. Beyond that, behind a door, straight ahead was where the bathroom was and to the right was where the toilet was, hidden behind another door. All in all, the 'bathroom' Kamijou had found himself in comprised of three rooms; the one that held the toilet, the one that held the bath (or his bed) and the one that held the washing machine and dryer.

However, his location was strange. As soon as he had been knocked out by that soldier, they had locked him in the same room they had broken into? A shiver came down Kamijou's spine as he considered whatever motives were being held by the people who had broken into his room.

"Touma?"

A voice came through the air, filling the clearing mind of Kamijou. He blinked once, staring down at the person in front of him, not even having noticed the girl in his frantic thoughts. Again, in disbelief, Kamijou could only go wide eyed and stammer out the name of the person who had called his name.

"I-Index!?"

"Touma!"

Index dropped the bucket she was holding (which was usually held for the sake of washing oneself with) as she leaped towards Kamijou, throwing her arms around him into an embrace. The action was fast and sudden, Kamijou not even having time to catch himself as he slipped and fell backwards, landing hard onto his butt. He winced, but it was the girl holding him who Kamijou stared at in surprise.

Immediately, all thoughts of himself and what she was doing here were gone from his mind, the only thing he had to ask being the one thing that came from his mouth.

"A-Are – "

"Are you OK?!"

Index beat him to the punch though, tearing herself away from Kamijou. There was a wetness at the corner of her eyes. She immediately approached, grabbing at Kamijou with her hands and touching him along the stomach and also his neck.

"Y-You came in here being carried over the shoulder of one of the men so we all assumed the worst! He just dumped you in here and no matter how many times we called you, you wouldn't wake up. Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you!? Are there any lasting injuries!?"

"I-I'm fine! I'm fine! And don't lift up my shirt! There's nothing to see there and I'm fine!" Kamijou cried out to the frantic and panicking Index, swatting her hands away from him as she desperately tried to assess whether he was injured.

"B-But - !"

"Nothing hurts. I'm telling everything is good!"

"How can you even say that when you haven't even checked your own state!?"

Index though did not stop, staring at Kamijou with a desperate look as if she did not believe a word he was saying. Kamijou decided it was not until she properly believed him that her concern would disappear, lifting up both hands and trying his best to smile a little bit.

"See? Fine. You should know better than anyone that it takes more than just being beaten around to make this Kamijou-san go out for the count. I was just...a bit out of my league with that guy, that's all. But I'm fine. Seriously."

Index stared at Kamijou who did his best to placate her, the girl trembling as she stared at Kamijou all over. But even then, she stared mostly at his smile, that one small part of Kamijou being the thing that told her the most about the state he was in and how he was faring with whatever injuries he had. She nodded, wiping the edges of her eyes and sniffling slightly. Kamijou smiled at her, slowly lowering his hands and felt his expression soften.

Whatever the case and whatever his injuries were, Index was safe. Alive and safe. And for him, that was the only thing he needed to know, feeling as though one of the biggest weights on his shoulders was released and had given him room to breathe. But…if Index was here, then what about…?

"I told you. Kamijou-san's endurance ability goes beyond a mere soldier being able to take him out."

"As a God, I have to agree. Was your body forged in the fires of the forges of Dvergr?"

"Onii-chan, are you sure you're OK?"

Three voices came through the air, Kamijou rising his head and to the side, finally realising the others there. He sighed in relief, slumping as he spotted the trio of girls, staring at them with the same relieved smile on his face. Even though they said what they did with confidence, the expressions of relief on their own faces told just how worried they had been for Kamijou and their true emotions upon him waking up.

Shokuhou Misaki, Othinus and Otohime (along with Sphynx) sat next to Kamijou on the floor as well, their expressions staring back at him with smiles filled with a true sense of relief. They were matched equally, Kamijou realising the girls he had been looking for were now in front of him and seemingly unharmed. However, whether that was the case was truly unknown to which he nodded in response to Otohime's question and asked one of his own.

"What about all of you? Anything hurt?"

There were shakes of the head but, just like the girls when it came to Kamijou's answer, the concern for injuries that the girls did not know about but still had came through Kamijou's mind. The concern on his face clearly showed and it was Shokuhou who smiled, tilting her head slightly in a somewhat endearing way.

"We're all fine. Unlike you, we were rather easy to deal with. As much as I am ashamed to admit."

"! That's right! What the hell happened?! What's going on?" Kamijou instantly sat up, leaning his back against the bathtub and staring at the girls who all seemed to want to reach out and support Kamijou. He was having none of it though, waving his hand to swat away the hands reaching out for him and frantically moved towards the bathroom door. His expression was strained and all thoughts of the relief he had shown upon realising they were fine had disappeared.

Now that one issue was over, the rest of the mystery had yet to be solved. With frustration in his mind, Kamijou walked out of the bathroom, past the washing machine and dryer and heading for the main door towards his actual dorm room.

"You can't just break into someone else's house and then keep them hostage in it! It's just bad manners! Who the hell do these guys think they–…" Kamijou reached for the doorknob, moving it and pushing it, expecting to and not really caring he was going to face an entire room of soldiers.

Yet the door barely moved.

It opened barely, Kamijou finding resistance as he stared at the door in shock. It was barely open but through the gap in the door, Kamijou saw there was now something blocking the way of the bathroom door. He had no idea what it was, but it was heavy enough to block Kamijou's rough movement.

Gritting his teeth upon realising the exact position he was in, Kamijou stepped back, observing the door as if it were the greatest enemy he had ever faced in his life.

"Don't you think we would have already tried that, human? Unlike you who has been sleeping soundly away, we have been trying to figure out what is going on as well." Othinus's haughty voice despite being just as trapped as Kamijou came from across the bathroom. It came closer and Kamijou felt, despite his increasing frustration staring at the door, something lightly poking him in the back of his leg.

"What's going on here?"

Without even thinking about it, like a response ingrained within in from the depths of time, Kamijou lowered his body down and laid his palm flat on the ground. Othinus walked right on up to it and Kamijou lifted his hand up to his left shoulder, something Othinus responded to by kicking him in the hand lightly. The knowing action caused Kamijou to move his hand to his right shoulder to which Othinus jumped off and sat there comfortably.

"We all thought you would have the answer to that." Othinus replied with the same tone as always but the way she shifted seemed to suggest she was truly comfortable where she was sitting.

"Why would I have the answer!? Aren't you supposed to be the all-knowing one!?"

"…That stung more than I thought it would. Since when did you get so advanced in giving backchat?"

"Touma, you were out so late, so we thought you were out doing your usual thing…"

"What usual thing?!"

Kamijou cried out in response, trying the door once more and finding that no matter how much he pushed or pulled it, nothing would make it budge. Whatever was on the other side of the door holding it shut was significantly heavy and Kamijou leaned his head against the door, finding the voices on the other side muffled and hard to make out.

"And this isn't my fridge is it!? What did you bastards put in front of my bathroom? I know you have no intention of putting this back, but can't you bring this pain in the ass kind of thing to someone else!?" Kamijou had no idea whether his voice was being heard either as he kicked the door in frustration.

He groaned, leaning against the door and sliding down to the ground, rubbing the bridge of his nose with that same frustration and slamming a fist against the door in anger.

"Great. Just perfect. Such misfortune. Today has been trouble after trouble and this doesn't make it any better!"

"I-It does seem as though you are taking this well. I have some experience with kidnapping ability myself and I can assure you that the first things to come into my head were not that it was bad manners or how I was inconvenienced by whatever was blocking the door." Shokuhou, having moved into the dryer and washing machine part of the 'bathroom' gave that response to Kamijou, trying her best to remain calm. However, it was clear by the look she was giving Othinus on Kamijou's shoulder that the mysteries of Kamijou were far from being solved despite the situation she found herself in. But, because of the crisis she was in, Shokuhou refrained from saying anything, focusing on more important things.

The headache in Kamijou's head increased and he groaned. He hit the back of his head against the door he was leaning against and looked at the rest of the girls who had joined him in this part of the bathroom.

"Onii-chan…did you get into some kind of trouble again?" Otohime asked, Kamijou pulling a sour face as he realised it was already assumed he was the one who had brought these soldiers here.

"I did…but nothing I think would warrant people like this entering my home. No…come to think of it, does this have anything to do with me?" Kamijou frowned, turning his head back towards the door in interest.

"What do you mean, Touma?"

"Don't tell me you're suggesting your misfortune ability has increased to the level where you are spontaneously chosen to be the source of trouble."

"That actually hurts, Shokuhou! Because that was exactly what I was going to suggest!" Kamijou cried out to Shokuhou who looked rather stunned. She tilted her head as she sat against the wall, frowning along with everyone else.

"What…do you mean?"

"These guys…when I entered the room, they were surrounding the bed. And the way they were looking at it suggested there was something there of interest to them. Not only that, but the treatment of you guys and me: if they wanted something from me, why chuck me in here the moment they captured me? Same goes for everyone else here. I mean, we have a Level 5 with us by chance and yet, they throw her along with the rest of us in the bathroom? If they wanted something from us, that makes no sense."

Shokuhou blinked, realising the logic behind everything Kamijou had said and rather ashamed she had not realised it herself. She put a hand underneath her chin.

"…They took my remotes."

"? Shokuhou-san?" asked Otohime with a tilt of her head. "What about your remotes?"

"My power, Mental Out," explained Shokuhou. "Uses remotes as the focus of my power because of how broad it is. One of the downsides to using them as my focus is that I can't really do anything with my power without them unless I'm really pushed. But they took them away…so they know who I am. And yet they have not questioned me or chosen to isolate me from everyone else? In terms of information or raw data ability people in this unsavoury business would want, I am a goldmine. But the way they are ignoring me…"

"Suggests they aren't here for the knowledge within your mind." finished Index. "We were gassed as soon as we opened the door after those soldiers knocked. And I can't feel any disruption to my own library of knowledge."

Kamijou's frown further deepened at that, feeling the headache in the back of his mind growing. Although Shokuhou clearly felt confused as to what Index had said (judging from her facial expression) the weight of what Index said was felt by Kamijou, especially as Index's 'manager'.

With 103,001 grimoires inside that head of hers, any magician who came to infiltrate Academy City could probably be put into two categories: here to cause trouble in some way or form or after the knowledge within the head of the small girl in front of him. It was no exaggeration to say that the knowledge inside her mind, and even that of Othinus's as someone who had reached the level of a Magic God, was a goldmine even greater than the knowledge held by Shokuhou Misaki, a Level 5.

For someone wanting knowledge on Academy City, if they came into this room, even if Shokuhou had been their original goal, one look at Index or even Othinus would have been enough to change their objective. Simply using one grimoire inside Index's mind or the knowledge to reach Magic Godhood within Othinus's mind had the ability to give someone immense power. And yet, as she had said, Index did not sense any disruption to the knowledge in her mind. Othinus herself seemed physically fine too.

There was no guarantee, but it was looking awfully like whoever had taken control of Kamijou's room had no interest whatsoever in the Science or the Magic side implications. Anyone else would have been salivating at the knowledge within this bathroom and yet, the people outside wanted none of it.

And yet, for some reason, the people who had captured and now held Kamijou and the others had chosen this room out of the numerous rooms within Academy City as their base for whatever operation they were conducting.

Out of a seemingly random choice, they had chosen this one room out of hundreds of millions.

"So…are you saying that since they didn't want anything from you, Shokuhou-san, or you, Index, or from Othinus, me or Onii-chan, then the only reason they are here is…"

"Misfortune? Sounds like it. Congratulations human. Now you have to determine which you attract more: trouble or women?"

"How is this my fault?! A-And although it's clear these guys are not here for any of us and yet still chose my room, while we can blame misfortune for this, I think I deserve some sympathy for being stuck in this mess even though it has nothing to do with me! I'm not proud of it, but I clearly attract more trouble; it isn't even a question! If I wanted to attract women, which I obviously don't, then it has to do a dorm manager! Such misfortune!"

Kamijou yelled out to Othinus, Shokuhou's expression clearly showing she was confused as to how Othinus could function so freely when she thought Othinus was nothing but a gyro doll, but again, the mysteries around Kamijou only increased.

Even so though, amidst Kamijou's complaining, Shokuhou's momentary silence and Othinus trying to hold onto Kamijou's shoulder as he moved around, allowed Index to speak.

"So…what now?"

All heads turned to Index in confusion. She tilted her head and pointed at the door.

"They don't want us. Whatever they are doing in Touma's room has no need for us, so do we really need to be here? Can't we just ask them to let us go?"

"I…I don't think it works like that." Shokuhou butt in with a calm voice. "Naturally, they don't want anyone seeing or reporting to others what they are doing. It's why they've captured us in this way and prevented us from doing anything until they decide the way forward."

"H-Hang on though," Otohime said with a tremble and a gulp. "I-If they don't want anyone reporting what they are doing, then what happens when they are done with whatever they are doing? They took my phone so I can't contact anyone on the outside! T-This isn't going to be like the movies where they have to kill witnesses is it!?"

Otohime's concerns immediately became apparent to everyone else. Although they were safe now, what would happen when the people beyond the bathroom were done with whatever they were doing? They had captured everyone else to prevent anyone from leaking information so, when they were done, what would happen to the loose ends of Kamijou and the others?

Silence came through the air as pale faces went around, especially for Kamijou who realised he had also been relieved of his phone as well.

"No… That doesn't make sense either."

Index was the one to speak up amidst the silence. She shook her head and turned to Otohime.

"If they were going to do that Otohime, they would have done that from the start. Keeping us alive has no purpose if they want no witnesses. Why do that if they don't want anyone reporting what they are doing? No, they would have killed us from the start. But they didn't. So…they need us alive. Or rather, are keeping us alive."

"…Why though Silver Sister?"

"I don't know."

Kamijou felt a shiver down his spine. It was unnatural for the words leaving Index's mouth to come out so easily and the fact she was speaking of things such as killing gave him an unsettling feeling. This was not what today was supposed to be like. Through misfortune and whatever methods these assholes had decided to choose Kamijou's home out of the millions of others in Academy City, entirely ruining the small aspect of peace he had.

Did these guys know what they were stepping on when they had so brazenly attacked him and everyone else? How they could so easily step on something else that did not have worth to them but worth to others made Kamijou clench his right fist as he stared at the door he could not open.

What could he do? Whoever these people were, they wanted them alive. Or, at the very least, they saw no need to kill them. Kamijou hoped that was a status quo which would remain but whether they were in danger or not was unknown to him right now.

The only thing he hoped was that whatever these people were doing, they would do it and then leave. Kamijou wanted no part of it. Yet, given how he could only sit here and do nothing sent waves of anxiety through him.

"(Onii-chan?)" Otohime had moved up close to Kamijou, huddling up to him and whispering in his ear. "(I can use magic to get through the door. Using my SCALE spell, I could–…)"

"Rejected. Outright."

Kamijou did not even bother thinking about the option Otohime had said. She went wide eyed for only a minute but the bluntness in which Kamijou had spoken indicated he wanted no argument and no further discussion on the topic. She nodded, although it was reluctant and Kamijou felt a small smile come onto his face. He patted the head of Otohime lightly, smiling as he looked at her although Otohime stared back with a fraction of disappointment.

Kamijou knew where Otohime was coming from. Having her charge through the door and take on everyone inside was an easy task for her given her Magic. She probably wanted to do it too now that she had chosen her Magic Name. But even though the intentions were there, the risk it posed was too great.

A single stray shot from the weapons held by these soldiers could easily kill either him, Othinus, Shokuhou and Index. Not only that but given what had happened to Index the last time she had been hit with a bullet, Kamijou did want to have to repeat another massacre.

There was simply too much risk despite the reward. He hoped that despite him not explaining things to Otohime that she would understand. While he could have easily have told her up front what he meant, it was Shokuhou he wanted to keep in the dark about Magic, even if for a little bit more.

He did not know how she had interpreted seeing Otohime, Index and Itsuwa of the Amakusa Church in action during Kongou Mitsuko's incident. How she had explained seeing Magic and using what set of rules Kamijou did not know but the less he spoke of it and the less she was exposed to it, the better.

Thinking of Shokuhou though made Kamijou realise something he had yet to do, turning to Shokuhou and facing her fully while bringing his knees underneath him, sitting seiza style in front of her. The movement caught her attention.

"Kamijou-san?"

He stared at her, knowing exactly what he had to say and how he had to say it. For what had happened to her over the past few hours and how it had all gone to shit, this was the least he could give her and the fact this was the only thing that came to mind bit at him severely.

"Shokuhou, I don't know what you were expecting out of me today." Kamijou started, staring at her and never letting his gaze waver. "But for whatever you were expecting, it surely was not this. And yet, through some twist of fate, you have ended up in this situation, having been caught up in my misfortune. By entering my home, you were in my care and yet, I let you down by allowing you to get caught up in this. From the bottom of my heart, I apologise for the experience you have been caught up in. I don't expect it and I don't think I deserve it for getting you caught up in this…but please. I hope you can forgive me for allowing this to happen to you."

Kamijou bowed his head, Shokuhou going wide eyed. She stared, her mind racing so fast that she could barely think of anything to say.

None of this was his fault. In fact, because he had gotten caught up in it, he was just as much a victim as she was. And yet, despite it all, the one thing he had thought about when it was not necessary whatsoever was her state of being and how she was handling things in this situation. Out of everything he had to worry about, it was her and ensuring he apologised to her.

Hadn't they both said they had to start again? And yet, what had happened? They had been captured and attacked by soldiers who had locked them inside the bathroom until they completed whatever they were doing. And amidst it all, it was Kamijou who asked for forgiveness. Forgiveness for what had happened to her and also, in Shokuhou's mind, forgiveness for letting their chance to start their relationship over again turn into this.

Had anything gone to plan? Shokuhou and Kamijou had looked forward to today for the chances to start things over again and yet, this was how things ended up. For that alone, Kamijou was asking for forgiveness in his failure to meet the expectations Shokuhou had set for him.

He had wanted to give Shokuhou Misaki the best possible experience to start over with and he had failed in that regard.

But the fact he had felt the need to apologise for what he had done when he had done nothing wrong told how much these meetings meant to Kamijou. It told her how much he had been looking forward to rebuilding what he had lost with Shokuhou and how much he had been looking forward to learning once more who the person called Shokuhou Misaki was, how much he was looking forward to spending time with her and getting to know her for who she was…so that the two of them could walk together again, side by side.

Her connection and her restoration of the relationship with Kamijou had meant so much to Shokuhou too but, in a way, in her elation and happiness, she had not realised how much it had meant to Kamijou as well. Only now, in the face of the words being said did she truly understand the miracle she had been given was two way: one in that Kamijou was able to remember her…and two in that she was once more able to be fully exposed to the kindness, consideration and caring nature of that boy.

Right now, if only for a moment, Kamijou Touma only had eyes for Shokuhou Misaki. His apology and desire for forgiveness stemmed from how he felt he had failed to rebuild the connection the two of them had and gave Shokuhou a terrible experience. And that small amount of caring nature directed at Shokuhou herself made her pause.

How long had she waited for that boy to look her way and think about her? It seemed endless and in the face of this miracle, Shokuhou felt a tug at her heartstrings.

Here he was.

Her Prince.

Looking and caring for her, if only for this moment.

And the fact she had been given this made that girl happier than anything else in the world.

"…What am I going to do with you?"

Kamijou rose his head slightly at the response Shokuhou had given him and she smiled. She pulled her knees to her chest as she leaned against the wall and rested her head on them, looking at Kamijou while tilting her head to the side.

"You really…really know how to make my heart skip a beat, don't you?"

"?"

Shokuhou coughed, purposefully ignoring the glares given by Index and the doll on Kamijou's shoulder, rather intimidated by how lifelike the malice was.

"There's no need to apologise or for me to forgive anything. I knew what I was getting into by once more connecting with you. So, let me assure you that no matter what happens to you or around you with or without misfortune, as long as you're there with me every step of the way, I will have no regrets and no sorrow. You can't expect forgiveness…when I've never been happier, Kamijou-san."

Kamijou sat there for a small moment, staring at the girl and her smile. If anything, if there was one thing he thought in the back of his mind as he stared at her…

It had to be that he never wanted to let go of that smile again.

That was merely how much Shokuhou Misaki's smile meant to the boy who could now remember her.

"…Right. Thank you."

"That's my line."

Shokuhou nodded to Kamijou with a large grin, the other girls not knowing exactly what to make of what she had said but at the same time, realising they did not have a place to stand here. Much like everyone, Shokuhou had been through something with Kamijou and the words she was speaking only hinted to that small past. But, it was hers and hers alone, something the others could not step into or interfere with and for that alone, for the respect they owed that girl, it was the change of topic that came naturally which everyone used to get things back on track.

"Anyway, that just brings us back to the original question."

"…What exactly do you mean?"

Shokuhou paused a bit before answering, staring at Index. No matter the things she wanted to say or wanted to express to Kamijou, it was only when the two of them were alone that she would even allow herself the chance to do that. For now, despite the beating of her heart and the things she wanted to say or do, she knew as well as anyone that she needed to focus on the core of this issue.

"I mean, let's look at what we know. We know that whoever is outside that door," Index pointed to the door Kamijou was leaning against. "Is doing something. We don't know what and we can't hear them. We also don't know what they are doing and whether they are going to keep us alive either. But from their actions thus far, it doesn't seem as though they have a reason to kill us. In fact, and this is just my own guess, locking us in here seems more to separate us from what they are doing. Like they don't want us to know, that it has nothing to do with us. Either way, they are going to finish whatever they are doing…and then something is going to happen to us."

The implication Index gave with her words made a chill go up Kamijou's spine. Yes, at this stage, nothing had happened. They had been kept alive but when whoever was beyond that door finished what they were doing, what then? Were they just going to leave? Or were they going to come back in here and 'dispose' of the witnesses?

The uncertainty and the silence weighed down on Kamijou, but as he stared at Index, the one thing in his mind, the one thing endlessly egging at him and he could not let go made the decision within him.

"…We need to find out what those guys are doing. And depending on what it is, that's going to determine how they are going to react when they are done." Kamijou said. Index, Shokuhou and Othinus seemed to silently agree. It was only Otohime who frowned.

"Umm…Onii-chan? What…do you mean?"

"Think about it," Shokuhou said, her high class Tokiwadai aura bleeding into her manner of speaking. "What are those soldiers beyond that door doing right now? Are they counting money for instance? If they are, it seems unlikely they would then kill us after counting it when we have seen none of it and have no idea what they are doing. On the other hand, if these individuals are from a more unsavoury background…let's just say that we'd prefer they were counting money."

Shokuhou said that without a care, Otohime feeling a chill go down her spine. However, she frowned again, holding the silent calico cat to her small chest and turning once more to her cousin.

"But we're stuck in here. And Othi-chan – "

"Don't call me that!"

"Already said the gap underneath the door, while she can get underneath it, is not one she can pass because of the thing blocking it being too low to the ground for her to go under or around. And we can't hear or see past the door without causing some kind of chaos where someone can get hurt. So how are we going to find out what those guys are doing Onii-chan?"

Everyone turned to Kamijou. They were currently stuck in the bathroom with nothing better to do and the uncertainty that came with not knowing what was going to come next was only going to be solved once they figured out what the soldiers beyond the door were doing. From that alone, they would be able to guess the actions they would take after they finished their work.

But with no phones and no remotes for Mental Out to work as well as numerous guns and other weapons on the other side, trying to figure out what those soldiers were doing without them noticing seemed impossible.

Yet, despite that, Kamijou Touma held up his pointer finger with a fire burning behind his eyes.

"Oh, I sort of have an idea for how to do that. And there's basically no risk to it either because of how there's no way anyone is going to notice. We have the world's best surveillance system within our hands and it's going to give us the answers we need."

"What are you talking about Touma? We have nothing on hand to do anything, let alone get what we need without those soldiers noticing! We'd need a miracle!"

Kamijou Touma only grinned.

"You're a nun, Index. So you should know how important what we need to do is."

"?"

"We're going to pray to God."

---

"…I refuse to do this."

"Why are you complaining now we've assembled this human Jenga tower and you're already in there, you idiot!?"

"If you looked at what I'm looking at, you'd do the same, so I don't want to hear that from you!"

Othinus yelled at Kamijou Touma, her Understander, who replied with the same energetic fever he always did. Their bickering back and forth though did not happen with Othinus on Kamijou's shoulder but rather with Kamijou below Othinus on the floor of the bath part of the bathroom and with the 15 centimetre former God above him, hanging over the edge of the ventilation shaft to the bathroom.

As Kamijou had suggested, they had prayed to God, and she had responded to the offerings and the kindness shown to her by complying with the plan Kamijou had formed, namely being that she was to traverse the ventilation shafts from the bathroom to the kitchen where she would be able to see what the soldiers who had captured them were doing.

The method for getting her up there in the first place was one that did not use Magic, Kamijou's desire to prevent Shokuhou from being exposed to it preventing him from making Otohime make Othinus float up to the ventilation shaft and go inside. Instead, what the idiot had suggested was rather simple.

As he had said, they had simply made a tower of human bodies.

With Kamijou on the bottom, he had lifted Shokuhou up and placed her such she was sitting on his shoulders while grabbing her thighs and holding her steady. On top of Shokuhou was Index who Shokuhou had on her own shoulders. Why it was Shokuhou, the guest, who was in the middle was something she had asked Kamijou quite forcefully, only for the boy to reply that he figured she would have shoulder problems anyway given her extra 'baggage' so would be used to 'weights'.

This had naturally resulted in quite the spectacle but through much apologising and begging, Shokuhou Misaki had finally managed to comply. But with the situation she was in now with her blushing face while she had her legs around Kamijou's head, he gripped her thighs and she had his head pressing up against various important bits, it was clear the thoughts going through her head were far from savoury while she ignored Index on top of her.

Index had lifted up the ventilation shaft quite easily and with Otohime standing next to Kamijou, she had thrown Othinus up towards the nun who had lifted her into the ventilation shaft. But one look at the space in front of her had made the previous God's enthusiasm quickly disappear.

"What's the problem?" Kamijou, on the bottom, yelled up at her, moving his head against the thighs of Shokuhou who immediately went more red faced and trembled. Although it seemed her personality was one that enjoyed teasing, it seemed she was the type who was unsure how to handle sudden situations that went against her will; of which this one was.

After all, she had come for a meal and yet, here she was, being carried by Kamijou while being captured by a group of soldiers. It was hard to tell whether she was displeased or enjoyed what was happening to her but Othinus fired back.

"I can barely see anything! And there's dust everywhere. You expect me to go through that?"

"What are you complaining about a little bit of dust for? Aren't you supposed to be the Almighty Othinus that pierced the hearts of many and made children around the world cry?"

"! Wh-What's that image of me?!"

"Aren't there legends about the fearsome Odin in the first place that have stronger opponents than the dust you're talking about?"

"Actually, Touma, the legends of Odin suggest that–…"

"A-Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Don't tell him that! That's worse than someone's ex giving out dark secrets! I'll do it. I'll do it! Just stay silent about those legends! You owe me for this, human!"

"Yes, yes. I'll be giving you a whole packet of fries."

"! T-Touma, I want some of those as well!"

"Don't treat it like a special event when you'd eat them all anyway! And you're rocking the tower when you move like that!"

Otohime, at the bottom, was clapping as she watched Kamijou step back to adjust the tower as a result of Index's sudden movement, Shokuhou yelping in surprise as he grabbed onto her thighs a bit tighter to give her the support she needed. She trembled in response and it seemed like the heat going to her head given how close Kamijou was and what he was doing prevented her from grasping the words of others around her, only focused on the warmth around her bottom half. Othinus glared down at the carefree people beneath her before shaking her head.

"Honestly, the things I do…"

"Make sure you don't get caught!"

Othinus coughed and nodded in response to Otohime's words, lifting up her cape to cover her mouth. Even if she were to be moving in the ventilation above everyone else, she needed to be as silent as possible. Given her 15 centimetre size, there was no chance of the shaft beneath her sinking from her weight but if she made even the slightest noise, then the soldiers in the other room were sure to notice her in the shaft above them.

As Kamijou had said, in this situation, she was the world's best surveillance system as long as she remained entirely quiet.

Othinus moved through the shaft, glad that calico monster had not followed her inside as she made her way through. The dust beneath her moved along as she used the wall to guide her way, using her memory of the room beneath her to guide her to her destination; the kitchen.

(Even so…it's strange. If I can move through the shaft as easily as this, sound should be able to as well. So why can't we hear the people in the other room?)

Othinus found her answer as soon as she moved further inside, seeing a pitch black foam blocking the vent shaft before her. She moved towards it, touching it and finding the material was soft.

(Soundproofing? Even in the vents? That human was right; these people are not messing around. Whoever they are and whatever they want, it's clear they are professionals. So why choose this room for whatever they are going to do? I doubt people such as this merely got the room wrong and were planning on storming the room of that spy next door; this is the room they wanted. But what for?)

Finding herself more curious than anything, Othinus pressed her hands against the foam soundproofing material, running her hands along it to find a gap she could use to pry it open enough to get herself through.

(The things I do. I was even gassed… If GREMLIN heard about this, they would be in stiches. Especially that cheap imitation of a Lightning God.)

They had never understood her.

Despite the time they had spent with her and despite them all wanting to achieve their own goals, they had all never taken the time to understand the being who had brought them all together. Instead, the only thing they saw in Othinus was merely a means to an end: a method for them to achieve whatever goals they had set themselves. Her allies had meant nothing to her as Othinus herself was nothing but the same: only using those people around her as a means to an end for the sake of her own goal.

Not trusting her allies and hated by her enemies, the girl known as Othinus had truly been alone.

And yet, it had been the one enemy who had stood up to her at the very end of everything who had truly been the one to understand her.

For that alone, Othinus owed Kamijou Touma everything. But even then, it was only in hindsight that she realised what exactly he had done for her and what exactly the relationship connecting the two of them was. During the time when they had been enemies…Othinus had not even bothered holding back with the things she had showed him and done to him.

Although she had only bothered using her full power once, the limits she had pushed Kamijou to for the sake of breaking him for her own goals were truly inhumane. She had not been expecting forgiveness after everything she had done to that single boy and yet, somewhere within his heart, he had found the smallest light that had enabled him to do the impossible and forgive her.

She did not expect it, nor did she deserve it. Instead of being overwhelmed by hatred as the world had been, instead of cursing her for putting him through hell, he had decided it was kindness instead of pain that should rule and had given that endlessly to that small girl.

Kindness, even though she had not bothered once showing that to him, only giving him endless pain, had been shown to the girl who had been hated by everybody.

The time and the things Othinus was experiencing now she did not even remotely deserve; she knew that better than anybody. And yet, through some miracle, she had been given this time and this world where she could stand by the side of the only person she knew she would ever need in this life.

But, now as Othinus thought about it, there was something dark in the things she had learned only a few days ago.

Kamijou Touma had lost his memories.

Normally, Othinus would not have cared. Given the timing of when it happened, it seemed that all his memories prior to July 28th had been destroyed. Othinus, having met Kamijou after that, did not need to know or need to think about the destruction of his memories because the time she had spent with him came after he had lost them. While it was Tatsugami Otohime who was surely struggling more with the news than Othinus, despite not letting it show, the news made Othinus realise one thing.

Kamijou Touma…when they had met in November, he would have only had something like four months of memories. He had definitely been through a lot during that time but as Kamijou stood now, oblivious to everyone else, the memories he did have were not measured in terms of months.

But rather years.

Even if Kamijou did not recall all of the memories he had made during his time battling Othinus, the girl who stood frozen still against the foam inside the ventilation shaft realised now, with pain, that the time he had spent facing her went into the hundreds of billions of years.

And all that time, the memories he would have made would have been nothing more than endless pain and suffering. During the four months prior to meeting Othinus, the memories filled with happiness and peace were surely ones he treasured and yet, the moment he had foolishly challenged Othinus, his mind had been cruelly overtaken with the torture Othinus had given him.

Before meeting Othinus, it was likely that peace and happiness related memories had taken up something like 90% of his mind. No, given his misfortune and the things he got into, it was more like 80%.

But now?

After facing Othinus and making memories of hundreds of billions of years of endless dying at her hands and being killed over and over again until he broke?

What percentage of his memories were now filled with peace and happiness?

Four months vs. hundreds of billions of years.

Even assuming he had spent those four months living in happiness and peace, which he had not, and using the best case of 100 billion years of torture…

What was that as a percentage?

Something like…

0.000000000003% or 0.000000000004%?

That was how much peace and happiness related memories filled his mind in the best case. Not even 1% and easily rounded to 0%.

Kamijou Touma had literally given her everything: her life, happiness, peace and an Understander.

And yet, she had taken everything away from him and filled his memories with nothing short of endless pain, suffering, blood, violence and death.

Even if she had never once thought about it, realising he had lost his memories and doing rough calculations made it clear to Othinus just how deep her crime against Kamijou had been and how deep the torture she had given him ran deep within his mind. She had filled his mind with poison and despite that all, he had chosen to forgive her. Even if his memories had to be forgotten to fill up more space within his brain or even because they were so terrible, his brain was clearly at full capacity with memories but not filled with memories he could look back on with happiness.

But rather memories he could only look back on and tremble in response to.

That had been Othinus's gift to Kamijou.

Who had chosen to forgive her for that.

Othinus should not have cared about Kamijou's memory loss.

And yet, when faced with it and what she had done to his memories upon thinking about it, Othinus felt shame in her heart.

Shame not only because she had caused Kamijou that pain.

But shame in knowing she would probably do it all again for what it had given her in return.

"…I truly am disgusting."

And yet, someone had chosen to accept, understand and forgive that disgusting person. Someone had chosen to reach through the mountain of his own corpses and the river of his own blood to grab the one hand of the girl trembling all alone in the darkness, pull her up through that mountain and river and show her the world she belonged in.

How could she return that? What could she do to give back to that when forgiveness to her had been impossible from the start? Could she even begin to atone for what she had done and for the peace given to her now despite her realising she deserved none of it?

"…"

Othinus did not have an answer.

Not because she could not think of one.

But rather she was not sure one existed in the first place.

Standing silently for a moment, Othinus shook her head. This was not the time or the place to consider her crimes or her position: what she needed to do had been given to her and she intended to do it. Even if her crimes were so great she was unsure whether she was worth the forgiveness or the Understander she had been given, at the very least, she owed it to Kamijou to return the peace he had lost.

Not only for himself but also because of how much that peace belonged to her as well.

Kamijou Touma was not the only one who treasured the room and the peace there after all.

Nor was Othinus the only person who treasured that boy more than anything in the world.

Othinus finally managed to find a gap in which she could squeeze through the foam soundproofing material. Given how soft the material was, the move was fairly easy and it was with a grunt that she slipped through it, adjusting her witch's hat in the process. Silently once more and pushing the cape around her mouth to ensure she did not get dust in her mouth and that she could muffle whatever coughing sound she made, she made her way through the shaft once more but stopped before she could go any further.

The dust around here had cleared, because of whoever had placed the soundproofing material in the shaft having moved a lot of it and gotten it on their clothes. But what caught Othinus's attention was not that small detail.

It was the opening in the shaft directly in front of her.

In order to place the soundproofing material close enough to the shaft when they opened it so there was not much hassle crawling into the vent so that they could place it, it seemed that the soldiers had positioned the soundproofing material awfully close to the vent itself. Voices came from the opening in front of Othinus, ones she did not recognise but could clearly hear given how close she was to the vent that led directly to the kitchen.

"…tain? Captain?!"

"Calm down, Crow 14. The Captain is fine."

"How can you be so calm, Crow 22!? Because of us and our failure…not only the Captain but Crow 1 as well…!"

"You think I'm not frustrated!? That the Captain is in this state and that we've lost all contact with Crow 1? You think it doesn't hurt? That I don't care?! I have to swallow this, just as much as you, but despite how shitty this ends up, Crow 14, the only thing I have to do is rely on both the Captain and Crow 1 to push through this and make it out OK. No, it's not something I have to do, it's the only thing I can do. So I have to believe, no matter how much I want everything to be resolved, that the Captain is going to make it out fine. I have to be calm to prevent myself from falling to pieces from the fuck up we made! You think you're the only one who is frustrated by this!?"

There was a bang against the wall, coming from underneath Othinus. She moved her head down, seeing that the vent was still attached to the roof. The only thing she could do was angle her head through the small gaps in it so she could see but even then, she could tell from the voices that whatever was happening had clearly stressed these soldiers to a large degree.

(They're talking to someone. This 'Captain' but receiving no reply. I have no obligation to care about any human but my Understander, but I can't just ignore this. Is this Captain injured? Then why not take them to a hospital? Why here when it requires going up stairs? It seems…illogical when carrying someone wounded.)

Frowning now, Othinus moved around the vent and the openings giving her a view of the people below. Just as Kamijou had said, they all wore the same skin tight suit, held weapons and were made up of both men and women. Instead of being soldiers for hire, it seemed more like they were a part of an organisation what with the matching uniforms. Furthermore, just as Kamijou had also said, it seemed as though they were all focused on the bed on the edge of the room.

Othinus moved around to the vent so she could angle herself and see what was on the bed, but it was something else that caught her attention. Instead of it being sound or sight, it was a different sensation that picked up the oddity.

Scent.

(This iron scent in the air. Is that blood?)

"Crow 27," More voices came from beneath her now. "Why isn't the Captain regaining consciousness? You removed the bullet minutes ago!"

Othinus's only eye went wide.

(…Bullet?)

"What do you expect me to do about shock, Crow 9? Magically whip up a fucking cure out of my ass?!"

"Crow 27…what can you tell us about the Captain's condition? As of right now?"

"R-Right now, Crow 7? What's there to tell; she was shot in the chest and she received most of the wounds instead of Crow 14 and 22. I imagine some shock would be felt but the bullet didn't go straight through; a little bit more to the right and back a few centimetres and it would have hit her spine. It's a miracle her suit absorbed as much impact as it did, but you know as well as I do that these are more for increasing our compatibility with our mobile weapons instead of being used for strict combat. Taking a bullet straight through the chest and surviving? That's an accomplishment in itself. But even if she survived, my medical training is saying she can't be moving any time soon."

"…That sounds just like her. Pulling off miracles even now."

"B-But what happens now? Especially with the people inside this safehouse?"

(Safehouse?)

Othinus moved closer to the space within the vent she was looking through as soon as she heard that word from one of the numerous men and women inside Kamijou's dorm room.

However, it was never elaborated on.

A groan echoed through the air, coming from the girl lying down on Kamijou's bed, who was now in full view of Othinus as she peered through the vent.

---

A familiar scent.

That was the only way to describe what Shutaura Sequenzia smelt.

It surrounded her as she felt her body lose herself in a familiar softness she knew she had experienced but could not place. She had felt this sensation before, smelt it as well and the feelings that coursed through her in response to that sensation was a stronger sense of security than she had ever felt in her life.

Here, she felt safe.

She felt protected.

But even though that was the case, Shutaura could not place why she was feeling what she was feeling. If she had felt these emotions in response to some place before, then she knew she would have been able to pinpoint exactly where she was just by these sensations. This softness she was lying on and this scent; just from those alone as well as the feelings within her, picking out where she was out of the possible locations within Academy City would have been easy.

And yet, despite feeling so safe and secure, Shutaura could not place exactly where she was despite it being so familiar. The place was on the tip of her tongue but even though she knew this place to be somewhere she knew and felt safe, at the same time, she knew that she did not know it at all.

If that was the case, then were the emotions she feeling not hers?

Was this sense of security and safety coming from this softness and familiar scent only familiar to Meigo Arisa instead of Shutaura Sequenzia? This place meant nothing to Shutaura but now she had merged together with Arisa, was it possible the things she was feeling were Arisa's emotions around this place bleeding into Shutaura's heart?

Just like the times where Arisa within her took over her body and left her with an awareness of what Arisa had done but not an actual memory, this sensation coming through her only told Shutaura just how much Arisa had carved this place into her mind and body. The sensation of safety and security was not Shutaura's but rather the former idol; Arisa's.

And for that alone, the caution Shutaura knew she had to place on this location was such that she could not let her guard down.

Even if this place meant something to Meigo Arisa, it was not the same for Shutaura Sequenzia. Here, she was nothing but a stranger, nothing but an intruder and for that alone, Shutaura knew that the caution and the possible danger in this place was such that it would override the feelings of security and happiness Arisa associated with this place. Given that Shutaura was the dominant 'mind' (the relationship between Shutaura and Arisa was strange in this sense as they were literally cut from the same cloth), the emotions of Shutaura took priority.

And yet, that sense of security and safety never faded.

The scent and the familiar softness coming through her gave Shutaura a feeling as if she were never alone and would never be harmed again.

It confused her to no end.

What was this place?

What were these sensations that Arisa placed so much reliance on that they would not fade, even in the presence of reason and logic given Arisa had no physical body left?

Shutaura did not know but the small aspect of a soldier's caution came through her, willing her to lift her sluggish body and open her eyes. She only got halfway through both, Shutaura trying to lift up but finding that a sharp pain ran directly through her chest, the weight of it so much that she was unable to fully lift herself up.

She groaned, unable to withhold the reaction to the pain she was feeling and opened her eyes, her vision becoming much clearer.

(I…don't know this place.)

And yet, the sense of security and safety grew ever stronger within Shutaura's heart.

The roof above her was unknown to her: a simple rooftop you could find in any dorm anywhere. But as Shutaura moved her eyes down and tried to sit up once more despite the pain rocketing through her chest, she caught more details. A kitchen in front of her, a table to her right along with a television against the wall, an opening to the balcony against the very far wall and what looked to be a fridge against the wall where the entrance to the bathroom would be although the edges, sides and the back of it seemed to be covered in a black foam like material.

Shutaura's hazy mind picked up that it was for soundproofing purposes but despite the features of the room coming to her vision, it was the people standing by the bed that caught her attention even more.

"Captain!"

A voice cried out to her, too loud for comfort but she did not bother to silence the man who had spoken. She knew the voice talking to her although found it was much too frantic for how the man usually spoke given his previous medical training made him a bit more used to crises. It seemed she had underestimated his capacity to panic as she spoke, trying to lift herself up once more but finding the pain in her chest too great.

"Crow…27." Shutaura managed to choke out, forcing herself to sit up but finding a hand gently placed across her chest, pushing her back down.

"Don't push yourself, Captain. You were shot in the chest."

"I was…shot?" Shutaura frowned at the words, her clearing vision meant she was able to pick out more and more faces staring down at her with concern. Her clearing senses though caught the whiff of something metallic, her training and her previous experiences with the scent making her eyes go wide.

Blood.

All of a sudden, the words, the scent of blood and two faces she saw among those looking down at her threw the memories which she barely remembered due to the shock of being shot back into her mind. It felt like a physical force was slamming into her brain. Shutaura recoiled from the mere shock of the memories coming back into her as she managed to piece everything that had happened together.

That…was right.

She had been shot.

She had been ambushed by MINUS and some other strange group when she had tried to rescue Crow 1 who had been kidnapped by MINUS. Hayashida Mari of MINUS had managed to intercept and disrupt the signal to the explosives within the mobile weapons of Crow 14 and 22, blowing them up and, in her anger, she had shot the mercenary who had initially blown up her District 7 office. In his surprise, he had fired back…and that was all she knew.

But even then, as the memories came back to her, Shutaura ignored the pain and the advice Crow 27 was giving her, rising back up with desperation in her voice.

"Crow 1. What happened to Crow 1?! He was kidnapped! What happened after I lost unconsciousness?!" Shutaura winced, finding that shouting ran pain through her chest. For the first time, she looked down, finding the top half of her skin-tight suit had been parted with a bandage wrapped thickly around her chest. It made it hard to breathe but the sight of it and the plate filled with blood and a small metallic object to the side of the bed made it clear that partial surgery made been performed on her.

"Captain, calm down." The voice of another of the Black Crows, Crow 7, came to her. She felt a hand on her shoulder to try and calm her down, but it barely restrained her racing heart. "We know everything that happened. Crow 14 and 22 gave us their report on what happened; the other group who attacked you, MINUS, the girl with a spear and how you were shot. …As well as how Crow 1 was captured and taken away by MINUS."

The two Crows mentioned, 14 and 22, hung their heads in shame. Shutaura stared at them but the relief they were alive despite the bandages that covered some of their open wounds was drowned out by the knowledge she could not just sit around waiting.

"Did anyone intercept them?"

"No, Captain. By the time we all arrived at the scene, Crow 14 and 22 were barely hanging on with the shrapnel within their bodies and everyone had made their escape. Although we have no idea who this other group was, we know who we are up against. …They won't get away for long."

Another Crow in the room, Crow 9, spoke up. Shutaura gritted her teeth, sitting up fully now and leaning against the wall, noting the futon and the sheets she had been lying on were covered with her own blood. No, perhaps it was also the blood of Crow 14 and 22 but the sight of blood also on the floor beneath her told her it might not only be her who had had surgery performed on her.

"...How long have I been unconscious?"

"A couple of hours." Crow 27 replied and Shutaura turned to face him. She grunted as she moved, the bandages against her chest rubbing painfully against her skin.

"Then that's a couple of hours where Crow 1 has been in the dark with MINUS!" Shutaura spat out, slamming her fist against the side of the wall. She grit her teeth, rubbing the bridge of her nose but trying to catch her breath before she even tried to stand up. "Do you have any idea where he is? The tracking devices we keep within our uniforms for cases such as these…is his still active?"

"No, it seems as though that has been...disconnected."

Shutaura grit her teeth upon hearing Crow 7's words, twisting her mouth into a snarl as she hissed out the name of the only person she could think of who had the ability to disarm such high grade technology such as the tracking devices within their uniforms.

"Hayashida…Mari." Shutaura had no idea how the girl had managed to turn off the tracking device but it did not matter; the reality of the situation was obvious. "Do we have any demands from them?"

"You think…this is a case of ransom?" Crow 14 asked, incredulously.

"Remember what happened throughout today, Crow 14? Nothing, and I repeat, nothing has seemed to have a tie with the Black Crows. Instead, the only thing that MINUS, or whatever is left of them, seems to be interested in is me. They specifically said my name and wanted me to surrender and come with them. And yet, when push came to shove, they ended up with Crow 1 instead of me. And given how I am what they want, I can see there being a ransom demand."

"You can't be serious, Captain."

"I'm more than serious." Shutaura grunted once more, reaching for the bandage around her chest and tugging at it a small bit to release it and give her space to breathe. "If this is a case between Crow 1 and myself, there's no other choice. As Crow Leader, it was my job to ensure the safety of the other members of the Black Crows. And today, I clearly failed in doing that. The responsibility and the course of action I need to take from here on out is obvious."

"B-But Captain - !"

"Crow 14." Shutaura butt in without even taking a beat to hear the man's complaints. "I know what you are going to say. And I refuse. As Captain and as someone Crow 1 trusted to get him out of the hell he is in, I clearly failed. As much as I failed to protect you and Crow 22 from what happened to you. Tonight, we were underprepared, outmatched and defeated by a group of kids who had nothing more than a little bit of planning. And as Crow Leader, that failure falls on me…and is something I need to take responsibility for. Do you understand?"

There was silence, everyone inside the room staring at Shutaura with shame on their faces. Tonight had been a defeat for the Black Crows, but like every single defeat, the punishment for what happened did not seem to be handed out to the people who had failed, but rather to the person who was overseeing them and their work.

Even now, Shutaura Sequenzia stood up to try and protect the people and the soldiers who she called her family in the wake of everything that had happened. The mentality of the soldeir to protect what they held dear was clear in her words and the importance of chain of command was also clear in how no one bothered to say anything against Shutaura for what she had suggested despite the rejection being clear within everyone's eyes.

Shutaura did not say anything, glad the men and woman around her had the peace of mind and the sense to realise her choice was by no means an easy one either. By declaring that she had to take responsibility for the failures of not only herself but others, Shutaura had to accept that they had failed in the first place.

And given how their work relied upon success and failure could literally sometimes mean the difference between coming home or not, the fact she was willing to accept the failures of others as her own and state them as such had made the aura of charisma around her seem so bright. To her, and in the eyes of those under her, the people working for Shutaura were not merely soldiers and pawns who had to deal with their own mistakes.

They were family and had to be protected.

Even if Shutaura would take those who failed aside and give them a lecture on what they had done wrong and how, the fact she would even do that instead of throwing blame endlessly on them made her someone anyone would want to stand beside. Her anger at her own failure of letting others be hurt, especially those within her own organisation showed just how much she cared for those who worked for her and the natural response those soldiers had to ensure she was safe as well showed how much they cared for her too.

But despite them being a family, there was a strict chain of command that had to be followed.

The orders from above, that Shutaura would be the one to take the place of Crow 1 if a ransom demand came in, had been spoken. And the professionalism of the soldiers in front of her accepting that decision, although reluctantly, with little argument showed just how excellent they were as allies.

Even if their faces suggested they wanted nothing more than to reject the suggestion Shutaura had made, their understanding of their position prevented them from speaking out. Nor did they speak back to Shutaura out of respect for her and what she had done for them and their lives by accepting them into her organisation.

The silence in the air was the only thing Shutaura needed to hear from everyone else. She knew exactly what they were thinking behind those faces and it stung more than anything to see them have to accept something she had decided by herself, essentially a selfish decision on her part and hers alone, but her failures as a leader were not the ones those following her should have to endure.

That was a code she lived by, even if she did not realise that code made the failures of others hurt so much more for those that made them.

Shutaura slowly moved her head against the wall and grunted, assessing what she knew and how to move from here.

"Crow 14. 22."

"Y-Yes?"

"Captain?"

"Your injuries. Give me an update."

"O-Our injuries?"

"Yes, yours."

"What about yours, Captain?"

"We'll get to that later. I'm not dead yet." Shutaura said with a small smile. She felt tired and exhaustion ran throughout her body but she knew in her heart that nothing would give her more relief to know that her subordinates, even if Crow 1 had been kidnapped, were alright. "Status?"

"Sh-Shrapnel, Captain." The medical officer, Crow 27, spoke up first. "Mostly shrapnel wounds but they did not sink in too deep despite the large sizes. In itself, that is a miracle too given that from what they told us; how Hayashida Mari exploded the mobile weapons from the inside. Burns too, but they are light." Crow 27 gave a wave over to the table where Shutaura looked despite herself, wincing both at the movement and at the pieces of shrapnel, both large and small, on the table, dripping with fresh blood.

The decision she had to make now was obvious and instantaneous.

"…Hospital. The both of you. Now."

"C-Captain!"

"Look!" Shutaura said that with a grunt, gritting her teeth. "Whatever MINUS, or the remnants of such, want with me, it is only with me. Crow 1 was nothing more than a way to get to me. Which means that from that alone, you two are perfectly safe going to a hospital, even if I am not for fear of the exposure it would give me. Report what happened to Anti-Skill; we may as well given our collaboration with them. But for you two, given your wounds, I am not permitting you moving too much, or at all."

"What about you, Captain?" Crow 22 asked nervously.

Shutaura only felt a grin come onto her face all the same.

"Like I said. Not dead yet."

Despite having said it in a reassuring tone, the expressions of everyone else indicated just how unsure they were about the words.

"You two need rest. Don't worry. I'm sure there is something the two of you can do in the meantime. But your safety is what matters the most, you understand?" Judging from how bad Shutaura felt just from being shot in the chest, it was clear how Crow 14 and 22 were feeling after having been struck with small and large bits of shrapnel and having been burned lightly.

Again, the silence that came with the decision indicated how much the others hated having to listen to the words of Shutaura knowing it was good for their health but also knowing they would have to abandon her. Just because they were professionals and followed orders did not mean they had to like them.

"…Good. Crow 27, if you could give me a laydown of my own position?"

"O-Of course. Umm…the bullet didn't pass straight through but managed to avoid any major organs. There is some light damage to your ribs but the bullets went in at an angle: judging from how you have been moving and talking just from now, it does seem as though the bullet barely grazed your ribs. Surgery was…difficult because of that angle but the bullet was removed successfully. If you want my medical opinion, like Crow 14 and 22, you need to go to a hospital right away."

"I'll keep that in mind."

The doctor/soldier spoke hurriedly and Shutaura grunted as she nodded with a small smile, realising his words were true, but at the same time, unfollowable.

Something was going on with her.

Something about Shutaura Sequenzia had made her hunted by MINUS and had resulted in this chaos which now gripped the Black Crows with her at the centre. Everything about it told her she needed to deal with it alone but given her state, she knew she would barely even manage another day. Not to mention that if she wanted to figure out exactly what was going on, she needed what resources she would have on hand.

It was for that reason and that reason alone that she was willing to keep the Black Crows within this small problem of hers for even a moment longer.

But still, what was the plan from here? Shutaura had nothing but ideas at this stage but the lack of information she had to make them into proper plans meant she had to fill in the gaps nonetheless.

"Any news on the attack that happened in District 14? Has it already reached the news?"

"Yes," This time, it was someone else inside the room who spoke up who had been silent up until now; Crow 30. "Media outlets have reported there were numerous explosions from within the facility but as we cleared out before Anti-Skill got there, we managed to avoid any detection."

"Inform Anti-Skill right away of our involvement." Shutaura's order was blunt as she managed to drop her legs over the edge of the bed and used her hands to grab at the wall for support. "My blood is already over the floor of the facility and it has been registered for our use, although privately. I'm sure Anti-Skill will go further with the checks but we don't want to be the ones hiding information from them like they are doing with us: it will unnecessarily strain our already complicated relationship."

"Already done." Crow 30 smiled, the woman's eyes sparkling as it seemed she had predicted the exact response Shutaura would have given. "And in return, they gave us the name of our suspect. The cosplay one who broke his wrist to get out of the Anti-Skill van holding him and was viewed as suspicious when he was at the scene of your bombing? The permit under the Swords and Firearms Control Law places him as one Orion Phoenix. Mercenary for hire."

Shutaura flinched, the name standing out to her, picturing the face of the boy who had shot her. Wearing a black trench coat that clacked when he moved, a Western suit underneath like he was going to a funeral and a sword by his side, he did seem as though he was one of those impressionable youths who had seemed too much anime and dressed up to be like his favourite character.

But it was that name that struck her.

'Orion'.

The name of the spaceplane that had taken her father's life and created Meigo Arisa from her own body. Although it was barely followed within Academy City, 'Orion' was also the name of the ancient Greek hunter and the constellation named after him.

The name struck her; just like an 'Orion' had struck down her father, she had been moments from being struck down by another Orion, a hunter, as if he were searching for her and her family to wipe them out until he had claimed their bloodline.

(No…)

Shutaura closed her eyes, mentally shaking her head as she pulled herself together.

(Orion is just a name. A coincidence. He's nothing more than the person who shot me, just as I am nothing more than the person who shot him. There's no connection there. Even if the name is related, there's nothing saying he is here to hunt me down. There's nothing saying he is an obstacle I need to overcome for the sake of my future and safety. Orion…is just the name of the mercenary who is on the opposite side of the battlefield this time. Nothing more and nothing less.)

"Do we have a location on this 'Orion'? It was him and MINUS who took Crow 1."

"Nothing as of yet. But the Crows who were originally after him, Crows 11 and 25, are now working with Anti-Skill along with others, under your orders, to track him down. Given how the bombing in District 7 wounded others, he is currently wanted by Academy City authorities."

"That will make things easier for us."

"Captain?" asked Crow 30.

"Yes?"

"What…now?"

"What now?"

Shutaura responded with that rhetorical question, lifting herself up from the bed and leaning against the wall for support. The nearest Crow, Crow 27, reached out to her but she held up a hand, her pride determining she not receive assistance with this. She gasped in pain as she slowly stood on her own two feet, holding herself against the wall as she moved.

It was amazing, in her mind, that she could even move like she was after being shot in the chest but it came as an afterthought as she looked at the men and women in front of her. She closed her eyes, thinking about the next step and took a slow breath in, trying to get herself together.

"Now…we rest. We need to have all resources with us tomorrow if we're going to get Crow 1 back. We have the information and although we have no idea what MINUS, or the remnants of it, wanted with us, we know they are after me, or something related to me. Crow 14 and 22, I want you in the hospital, I can't risk putting your lives in danger any more than they need to be right now. You two, like the rest of us, need to rest too."

Shutaura smiled as she pushed herself off against the wall and stared at everyone.

"Today…has been chaotic. And it has been because of me and whatever MINUS wants with me. Crow 1 has been kidnapped, our safehouses have been compromised and nowhere is safe. And despite my better judgment on not involving all of us, you have not chosen to flee or run away when I would not hold it against you. All of you…you need to rest. Because I'm not going to have anything happen to any of you under my watch. Because, from the bottom of my heart, for everything you have done for me, I thank you. All of you."

Shutaura wanted to bow in thanks, but knew that with her injury, she should not attempt the action. Instead, holding the same smile in front of everyone else, she lowered her head a tiny bit.

Just how much had Meigo Arisa changed her?

Instead of the forceful personality she had always maintained, the empathy, kindness and the desire to see the safety of everyone else who was with her seemed to be heightened from when she had been Shutaura alone. While previously, she would have felt what she had said in her heart, the chances of her saying it out loud had been very slim. And yet, now she had merged with Arisa, the chances of her not saying it now seemed slim.

Had this kindness always been within her? Had this capacity for caring for her comrades always been within her heart? Truly, in the bottom of her soul, Shutaura had never once felt so at home, so safe and so proud to have the people in front of her by her side and fighting along with her throughout the crisis that had gripped their small world. Her anger which had seemed so unlike a soldier had been because of how much she valued what she had in front of her and how she did not want to see it taken from her despite her knowing that emotions would cloud her judgment. If it had just been Shutaura before the Endymion incident, the chances of her making the same mistakes she had today and being so aggressive were ones she would never have made and she would have been able to truly save Crow 1 from those who had captured him.

Caring had clearly been something which had caused her to lose sight of the proper course of action. Caring and her longing to keep this without having lost anything had caused her to lose Crow 1. As such, it was clear for the soldier called Shutaura Sequenzia that caring was not an advantage on the battlefield.

And yet, the girl called Shutaura Sequenzia could never once think the caring she was openly expressing like she had never done before would ever be a disadvantage. Because with it, she had something she had over a solider who was satisfied with nothing but combat.

And that was something to return home to and protect at the very end of the day. Combat was not the ends for her; merely the means so she could once more return to this place where she had felt safer than anything else in the world.

Inside this safehouse, with these people by her side, Shutaura Sequenzia knew she could ask for nothing else: right now, she was with her family and with the people she cared for, or had come to care for more deeply and openly after fusing with Arisa.

She felt the warm smile grow on her face as she looked at her family before her…before it dropped as she considered something she had not before. No, she had noted it, but it was only now she found it truly unknown to her.

Where was she?

She had thought this was a safehouse just from first impressions but as she looked around, the initial impression stuck out to Shutaura even more now.

(Where…am I?!)

The familiar yet also unfamiliar place stuck out to Shutaura even more now she properly thought about it and it was the changing of her expression from thankful to confused as she looked around that caught the attention of everyone else in a different way than before.

"Captain?" asked Crow 27 before the girl turned to face the man.

"Where is this?"

The question was blunt and although Shutaura knew her mind had been preoccupied with finding out the details of what had happened to her and the steps she had to take in the future, the sudden realisation she had been careless in asking this question meant she asked the question with a tone that suggested she wanted an answer immediately.

"A hidden safehouse." The answer came exactly as she wanted, coming from Crow 7, who reached for the kitchen countertop and handed her a piece of paper. "As noted by yourself."

Shutaura frowned, taking the paper and staring at it in surprise. It was her handwriting, apparently having written down the address of a student dorm: this one mostly likely given she was here.

"Hidden?"

"Do you remember that time we had that drinking party a few months back, Captain?"

"No."

"…I'm not too sure whether that is a good or bad thing."

"Crow 7?" Authority entered the tone of Shutaura as she stared at Crow 7 with displeasure. The man turned his head to the side but shook it all the same, looking Shutaura directly in the eye now.

"On that night, Captain, you told us, while writing down this address on that piece of paper, that this location," Crow 7 gave a wave of a hand to the surrounding area. "Was a secret safehouse that only you knew of. A location that was our final option in safehouses when we had run out of options, which in this case, with you wounded and hunted and with our safehouses all compromised, is right now."

"Here?" Shutaura frowned, turning and looking around her with great scepticism. "I said here was our final option? This is a student dorm! And given what you're suggesting, I wasn't in my right mind either to suggest anything coherent!"

"No…you also said something else, Captain. There was just…something about the look in your eyes when you said that that made me think it was worth hanging onto. And it works out, for better or for worse."

"…What did I say?"

"That this was the safest place in Academy City."

Shutaura felt a headache coming on, the serious words Crow 7 was telling her something she wanted to reprimand him on. An irritated look entered her eyes given the risks of believing something she had clearly said when she was not all with it. She opened her mouth to say something, however, something in the back of her mind, a tugging feeling that was growing every stronger by the second caused silence to come from it.

The feeling when she had woken up. Being surrounded by the soft sensation of the bed and the familiar scent, Shutaura had felt a strong sense of security and safety. But as she had never once visited this dorm room before, she could only assume the feelings of safety coursing through her now were ones from Meigo Arisa.

But, no matter how much she wanted to deny them, those feelings were strong.

Was it possible that in a possibly drunken state, Arisa's personality and desires had come forth, taking over Shutaura and making her write down this address for the sake of safety? Was it Arisa who had chosen and thought this place to be the safest in all of Academy City?

And if that was the case…

Then what did this place mean to Meigo Arisa?

Something rose within Shutaura, an anticipation and also a fear but right now, she had no idea which came from the heart of Shutaura Sequenzia and which came from the heart of Meigo Arisa. There was something here, something connected to the heart of Meigo Arisa and in the face of it, Shutaura was unsure what emotions were hers and what were Arisa's.

The only thing she felt leaving her mouth was mere words, shaking and trembling in the face of the unknown that existed within this very space.

"T-The student who lives here…what did you do to them?"

Crow 7's eyes went wide as he stared at Shutaura, the girl not even knowing what the expression on her face was but knowing that the trembling of her body, the pale face she was making and the cold sweat running down her back was such that whatever expression she was making was just as shocking as the emotions running through Shutaura right now.

Crow 7 did not answer with words immediately, instead finding himself wavering for the slightest of moments before raising his hand and pointing to the fridge against the wall.

"W-We locked him and his guests in there. We also attached soundproofing material to the walls and the gaps to ensure we were not heard so if we want to make a silent getaway, we need to – "

"Get him out of there."

"…I'm sorry?"

"That student. Get him out of there. I want to see his face."

There was no authority within the words of Shutaura, only a trembling and a shaking that came from her body into her voice. She clenched her fist, unsure if the weakness she was showing was good or bad or whether it should be showed in front of her comrades. The soldiers stared at it, looking at each other and unsure of what to say but replying with their actions rather than their words.

Slowly, and with some frequent glances back at the girl shaking and trembling, a nervous sweat down her face, they moved towards the fridge and moved it fairly easily with the numbers they had dedicated to the task. It was a quick movement getting rid of the foam soundproofing material but with each action and with each movement, Shutaura felt her heart constrict and the pain in her chest escalate, as if she were finally beginning to feel the pain of having been shot in the chest.

Something was beyond that door, something that related to the life Arisa had once had. Shutaura, now after they had merged, had refused to be part of that life and had cut herself off from all aspects of the life of Arisa but now, when faced with it, the temptation was too overpowering for her to think light of. Whatever was beyond this door had made Arisa feel safe and the overpowering flood of emotions that came through Shutaura from two sources battled inside of her, making her both ecstatic and also very afraid for what she was about to see.

She moved along the kitchen countertop from the wall, finding each step being smaller than the last. The pounding of her heart as she stared at the door was one of either fear or joy but she could not tell either with the cold sweat coming down her face as she now stood in front of the bathroom door. Her breathing felt laboured and like it was an effort to take each breath, the whirlpool of thoughts through her head making her truly terrified.

What was she going to see?

Not even Shutaura knew but the significance of this place to her other self, Meigo Arisa, could not be denied. And after cutting herself from all things related to Arisa, Shutaura was unsure if the space beyond this door was a space she should tread on whatsoever.

But she was here.

And for that alone, the time to think about what action to take had passed.

It was only time to act.

Voices, now that the soundproofing material had come off, came from the closed door.

"Human! Human!"

"Huh? Othi-chan, is something happening!? What about Onii-chan?"

"Don't call me that! No, forget it! You need to – "

Whoever was speaking never got another word out as the Black Crows who had done quick work, and also staring at their Captain with glances of nervousness, opened the door, revealing to Shutaura the person within.

Whatever she had been expecting, Shutaura Sequenzia was sure it was not this.

"They're coming! Don't just stand there, you fool!"

"Hmm? Touma, did the door just open?"

"Huh?"

The tower of people in the bathroom leading to the ceiling had the bottom most layer turn his head. The spiky haired of his brushed up against the thighs of the girl sitting on his shoulders, his hands around her thighs and in response to the movement, the honey blonde girl jumped and hung her head, her expression entirely red faced.

But what initially was confusion turned into shock as he stared at the person staring back at him, his eyes going wide and his mouth going open. The two of them held a stare, the soldier going white faced and pale (while having her top half covered with nothing but a bandage that luckily supported her breasts given she had been shot in the chest) while her victim blinked a few times (while having two girls on top of him while carrying them in a tower, one of which was blushing furiously and the other who could not be seen).

Nothing was said between them, the two of them only exchanging a glance at each other until the silence was finally broken.

"Y – "

"Sh – "

"You?!"

"Shutaura?!"

---

"We failed to capture Shutaura Sequenzia. The only thing we got was…one of her subordinates."

Hayashida Mari spoke carefully in front of the man before her, his back turned. His blond hair was tied back into a small ponytail and the lab coat he wore was perfectly cleaned: giving an eerie sense of white to Hayashida given she knew the darkness that lay within this man's heart, or rather, mind.

He turned from the console in front of him, revealing his face and his red eyes flashed with a hint of irritation before it passed almost immediately. His features were young, that of a man within his early twenties with hip clothes to match, but even then, the personality that had infected him was of someone else entirely.

The man before her was Kihara Kamui.

He had not been born that way.

He had been made that way as a result of the project Personality Swipe which had claimed his previous personality and turned it into that of Kamui's. It had turned him from whatever human being he had once been into someone else entirely, his actions insane and his mind such that a rational mind could not comprehend it.

Hayashida had seen this man take a life after all.

The life of an old man who had had the same personality implanted within him had been taken by this young man. An old man who had once used Mugino Shizuri to test the second stage of Personality Swipe had been killed by this man in front of Hayashida.

And yet, for him, it was nothing more than a drop in the ocean of blood for the purposes of his wonderful science.

"Oh, yes. I heard." The man said, smiling slightly. Hayashida stood her ground despite the urge to scream running within her: the smile was nothing more than a borrowed body with a foreign mind and personality. "The General of MINUS, or it is former General…? Anyway, he told me. It was a bit of a shame he got himself hurt in the process; he was quite livid. I imagine Shutaura has gotten herself a new fan? Of the bad kind though."

"…"

"Although that was not all. That mercenary you hired proved to be fairly useless; attracting the attention of Anti-Skill for escaping that van and also getting shot in the chest. Frankly, he's more use to us dead because of all the trouble he's caused. I'm more surprised that Faith girl sticks around with him: she seems much more capable."

"…"

"But from what the General told me, it seems as though despite your planning, despite that Quotient Extreme of yours, Shutaura Sequenzia got away. Why was that again?"

"There were some…unexpected developments."

"I heard. The Magic side. Ever the persistent thorn." Kamui, or the man implanted with his personality, shook his head and walked away from the console, shaking his head all the same. "But you see, that's what I find strange. I mean, wasn't your power supposed to be such that you could solve any problem before you if you had the timing to think about it in advance? You laid a spectacular trap, I'll give you that. But at the same time, it was entirely useless given Shutaura escaped, even if you got a member of her team."

Kamui had walked right up to Hayashida, smiling slightly as he reached up and stroked her hair, tied back into a ponytail just as his was as she had grown it out.

"Now, I don't have your power, Hayashida-chan. But if it were me and I did the amount of planning you did, I get the feeling I would have been able to account for that uncertainty and…what did you call it? The unexpected development?"

Kamui smiled before he reached down the back of her head and pushed it towards his, Kamui's snarl being made clear as he spoke and sprayed spittle into her face.

"Come to think of it, even the beginning of your fucking plan was suspicious. Bombing Shutaura so she could escape when you could have had your mercenary stay in that room and wait until she had let her guard down? You've always been against my plans and the plans of the Original. You've always said you can't accept the madness of Kihara Kamui. Is this your rebellious stage, Hayashida-chan? Is this breaking the stalemate between us where you're too skilled for me to kill you and you have yet to give me a reason to do it?"

"…"

"Hell, you should be glad you met the Original after Personality Swipe was given the go ahead. You and that Gakusha Bakin. So, given this current fuck-up, does this mean you are overtly taking action against me? Against the entirety of the personalities of Kihara Kamui?"

Hayashida was silent for a moment but the way her yellow eyes trembled despite her clenched fists and stone hard body gave away the small feelings within her heart. Even so though, despite that trembling of her eyes, she gave a small answer.

"…No. Like I said, it was just–…"

"An 'unexpected development'." Kamui spat out and pushed Hayashida away shaking his head. He ran a hand through his yellow hair and laughed. "You know I can't prove that. Amazing. The personality within my mind has done so much and contains so much knowledge and yet, I can't prove whether the Magic side interfering was an unexpected development or not. Simply amazing."

Kamui stared into space, shaking his head again before turning back and facing the console in front of him once more. He tapped a few keys on it before turning his head and facing Hayashida.

"No matter though. Shutaura Sequenzia was merely Plan A. The plan with the easy difficulty."

Hayashida's eyes went wide and she felt her heart drop into her stomach. Something choked within her throat and she struggled to breath, only managing to force out the words.

"Plan…A?"

"Yes. Plan B goes past the easy difficulty and sends a bunker cluster right up its ass. I expect results this time, Hayashida, even with these bullshit 'unexpected developments'."

Kamui clicked something on the console and the large 4x4 array of LCD televisions in front of him all removed what was on them, being replaced by two people of which numerous pictures had been taken of, that covered all the screens. Hayashida felt herself feel slightly sick as she looked at both people Kamui was showing her…and the company they kept.

"You're kidding."

"Both of them. I want both."

"Are you kidding me!? No amount of planning is going to allow me to get both! Not to mention we'd have to hit both simultaneously to avoid Anti-Skill noticing! It's impossible!"

"I agree."

Kamui said that easily before turning around and glaring at Hayashida with a look that would have killed a man on the spot.

"So make a fucking miracle."

Hayashida Mari trembled, unsure of what to say as her head swirled with thoughts, not even managing to make a sound before something squeaked out of her timid throat.

"…Why do you even need them? Or Shutaura Sequenzia for that matter?"

Kamui paused for a moment, hitting some more buttons on the console and the 4x4 screen against the wall instantly changed; filled with four images, each taking up a 2x2 corner on the display.

"You remember these, don't you?"

"…How could I forget?"

Hayashida gave a sneer as she replied staring up with some trepidation at what lay on the screen.

The four projects, the four pieces of madness escalating within Academy City right now, sat in front of Hayashida and glowed without malice, a poor representation of what they really held.

"All of them, as you know, have already made waves in some way or form." Kamui said, tapping the console as he leaned against it. "Personality Swipe is already in effect. The FIVE_Object has already gotten all the parts in and construction is beginning. The ZERO_Over had already infected its host. The only thing yet to have the finishing touches before we can go ahead with it is the Break Queen Package."

"…The robot?" asked Hayashida, unaware the ZERO_Over had even managed to be given the go ahead or who the host was. The details and specifications of each project had been kept from her but whether that was a good or bad thing was unknown, even to Hayashida.

"No," Kamui said, shaking his head once more with the sense of self-importance. "It's a cyborg."

Hayashida frowned.

"Cyborgs are fusions of both human parts and technology. The Break Queen Package, from what I've seen, is only machine. In fact, it's got no human parts. The only thing you're doing is creating a body that is nothing but an empty shell. Without a brain to put within it, there's nothing human about it."

"And that's why I need Shutaura Sequenzia. Or Plan B, because of your fuck up. It is one of those two which is going to finally give me an understanding of the proper consciousness that I can use to implant into the Break Queen Package to bring it to life. Much like Frankenstein's monster, no?"

Hayashida stared, finding something within her rising and finding it was not only scepticism.

"What…the hell are you talking about? You can't…materialise a consciousness out of thin air! Thought processes and rational thought don't just appear out of thin air and infect random mechanical bodies just because you want it! Even if you managed to create some kind of vessel that could have a consciousness or a working brain fill it, there's no way it would even develop such in the first place. You can't expect a machine to suddenly create emotions and human characteristics spontaneously and expect to call it a cyborg merely because it thinks and has a consciousness like a human!"

"Is that so? Well, then, Hayashida-chan, I guess I'm lucky."

"How…so?"

"I don't need you to fucking understand what I'm doing, do I?"

"Wh-What about Dual Skill? Didn't you mention that? What does it have to do with this project?"

"Dual Skill? That's nothing but an afterthought for what I'm doing, Hayashida. Now, get to work and do your planning. I expect Plan B to be a success."

Kamui turned around and tapped on the console once more, the girl standing there in stunned silence and realising there was nothing she was going to get out of Kamui. Nor did she think she would ever be able to understand his line of thinking.

The idea that Dual Skill, the much sought-after condition where an esper could have more than one ability, was nothing but an afterthought to whatever Kamui was planning only revealed how twisted his mind worked and how poisoned it was. It sent a chill up her spine as she watched the back of the man whose thoughts processes were so beyond hers that she could only tremble as she stared at him.

She turned and walked away, her legs trembling as she did so, instinctively reaching for the lanyard around her neck and holding it tight in her hand. She said nothing, walking and clutching the card inside, her thoughts being the only thing she had with her.

(It wasn't supposed to be like this. Am I the only one sane enough to realise the chaos this is all going to cause? Am I the only one who is willing to do anything about this?! Even if I purposefully let Shutaura Sequenzia escape to impact whatever plans Kamui had…but to think he had a Plan B?! This is bad. And if I screw this one up…!)

Hayashida Mari stopped, falling to her knees and trembling against the wall she was leaning against. She tried to calm herself but the rapid breathing coming from her seemed to possess her, the girl choosing to clutch the lanyard around her neck tighter now and remember what was inside.

(No… Endure. Endure and wait. Because if it is Kamijou Touma…then maybe we all have a way out of this madness.)

"Ma'am…?"

A voice directed at her. The girl looked up and found the boy mercenary, Orion Phoenix, walking towards her, face filled with pain and leaning against his handler. Faith Townsend winked at her, nodding her head over to the boy leaning against her. No, given how he was trying to push away from her and his annoyed face, was she the one grabbing him instead of the other way around?

"Hey, Brainiac. This stubborn bastard wouldn't shut up until he saw his client again."

"Let me go, Faith. I can walk by myself."

"Dude, if I did that, you'd crumble faster than a drug addict in an opium shop. You were shot in the chest so I don't think you're one to say you can walk properly."

"Leave me alone and let me go."

"What?! Sorry, I can't hear you over how dumb you're sounding! Could you repeat that!?"

"Leave me alone and let me go!"

"WHAT!?"

"FOR FU–…!" Orion winced at having to shot so suddenly, Hayashida turning to him with some surprise.

"Orion? Are you…even OK to move?"

"Forget about me…Ma'am." The mercenary grunted, catching his breath and shifted his weight away from Faith, the girl allowing it with a frown on her face. Orion stared Hayashida straight in the eye as he spoke. "What's our next step?"

Hayashida Mari blinked once, trying to steady her breathing as she stood up and opened her mouth to speak, looking carefully at the mercenary in front of her and redeciding the words she had to say.

She wanted someone else to help her end this madness.

But it would mean nothing if she did not try to do the same by herself.

"Orion…what happens next isn't going to end well. For anyone. What I'm going to ask of you is going to be hard, but I need a favour."

"I work for you, Ma'am."

"You're not going to like it."

"I don't have to."

"Do you like anything Orion?" Faith asked as she approached from behind the mercenary, draping an arm over his shoulder. "This guy, I swear. Not happy with anything."

Hayashida Maru let out a soft smile at those words before turning back the way she had come, her eyes blazing with something she had always felt when exposed to this madness.

(This can't be allowed to continue. It just can't. So, if you think you've got my hands tied where you won't kill me because I'm too useless and I won't do anything too rash to stop you to avoid being killed, there's only one thing I have to do to end this stalemate, isn't there?)

Magic vs. Science?

Hayashida didn't care.

The former Lieutenant General of MINUS had her own agenda for the future.

(I just have to get checkmate in one move. That'll teach you Quotient Extreme and Hayashida Mari aren't going to let you do whatever you want however you like it, Kihara Kamui.)

---

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

In a way, this chapter really sets the basis for what happens next in this arc, if you could not tell by that last bit. But at its core, this is still going to be the Shutaura arc despite it being Plan B being put into place so I hope you can look forward to the future of this arc. Although this chapter was mostly conversations giving the way forward from here, at the same time, I really wanted to let this be an insight into three main things for the characters.

The first: being the time Misaki and Touma can have together. After the resolution of their problems and the way forward now being given to them, what exists now is the time they have to spend together and grow from where they once stood. Naturally, for Misaki, the person Touma is now is the same as the one he once was before he had lost his memories, so in that sense, her 'remembering' and forming something new with Touma makes little sense given she already has what she wants. In this sense, the importance of Touma and Misaki beginning again lies within Touma: the fact he knows nothing about Misaki and has to start again so he can form something he once lost. The apology he gives emphasises not only his guilt in what he has lost but also his hidden shame in that Misaki has chosen to stay with him all the same despite his crimes.

However, just as Misaki had said this chapter and at the end of the Kongou arc, she has forgiven Touma and would never part with him, knowing what she has gotten into. In this way, although forming something new and rebuilding what they have might have worth for Touma who knows nothing while for Misaki is her chance to understand Touma 'a bit better' as he is now, it is the time she has now that really means something to her and is her 'miracle'. For that alone it has worth and there truly is nothing for Touma to apologise to her for. In a way, the small line where she says there is nothing to forgive because he has already given her everything is a line that holds a lot of weight and definitely shows how much her time with Touma also means to her.

Second: Othinus and the issue of Touma's memories. Othinus, by all rights, should not care about the issue of Touma's memories. Out of the two when they learned of it, Otohime should be taking it much worse than Othinus, however, the knowledge, I think, would have given her a further insight into just exactly what she did to Touma by endlessly torturing him. In this way, although the aftermath of NT 9 has never been said, for Othinus, simply thinking about that aftermath is boggling in itself. We know that Othinus killed Touma for hundreds of billions of years so while the question of his age is also important in this sense, so are the memories he made during that time. Because, if Touma spent that long just fighting, then how much of his memories are made up of that? In a way, this is Othinus's lamentation in that she knows she has filled Touma's memories up to capacity with memories of endlessly hurting and pain, something Touma chose to forgive Othinus for when he had every right to condemn her for what she did.

Looking at the issue of his memories, for Othinus at least, only shows her just how much she took from him by placing him within that hell. In a way, jut looking at the small statistic of how much 'space' peace and happiness should be within his mind before he met Othinus should give an indication and further weight to the PTSD issue he has been facing: the memories that torment him fill up practically 100% of his brain and just thinking about that hammers into mind the horrors of what Othinus did to Touma.

And yet, despite that, they both gained something and they both found something of worth in the aftermath. For many, the relationship Touma now has with Othinus was worth that torment but once again, Othinus realising just how much she did not deserve forgiveness and just how much she deserved to die, only to have Touma save her, makes her realise the worth of what she has.

If I had to say though, that small reflection where Othinus makes a note of how she would do it all again because of what she gained from it tells just how much she values what she has despite knowing how disgusting she is for having it.

And finally, third: the gap between Shutaura and Arisa. Although it was barely touched upon here, in a way, the person Shutaura is now should feel a bit different compared to the version presented in the movie. A lot more compassionate and kinder but also frequent to bursts of anger and is a lot more emotional. The fusion of Arisa and Shutaura then has created a person who has emotions and thinks things on various levels, not just through one lens and mind. In this way, her 'battle' is about trying to figure out what are 'her' emotions and what are 'Arisa's'. I hope that where this goes and how she discovers who she is and also who Touma is is a ride you stay on until it ends.

And yet, it's not over. It's time to head into darkness now Touma and Shutaura have finally met and Plan B is now in play. I mentioned so many projects throughout this series but I think it's now that all of them are being worked on in their own way that adds a bit more presence to them.

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 Shokuhou do a lot of teasing but I felt it perfect to have her unable to handle it when things go her way without realising it.