Panting, Ruiko leaned against a wall just before turning a corner. Mikoto had long since vanished.
Seriously, that Misaka-san…I wouldn't be surprised if I see her in the Olympics in like five years…
That speed was certainly insane. Ruiko wouldn't catch up any time soon. But still… she remembered the directions the blue-haired guy had given them. Maybe if she takes a bus, she would make it in time for…
For what exactly?
To high-five Mikoto should she give that boy the chocolate?
To give her a push should she get cold feet?
Or to help her hide Kamijou's body should her temper get out of hand?
After recalling the fire in her friend's eyes, Ruiko got really worried for the boy's wellbeing. The third option seemed very probable.
"Where is the bus stop?"
She looked around the corner – and her anxiety evaporated as she spotted a familiar figure with short tea-colored hair in the Tokiwadai uniform.
Had Misaka-san run out of steam already?
Confused, Ruiko nevertheless breathed out in relief and wobbled towards her friend.
"Geez, Misaka-san, don't leave me behind like that!" she nagged, and the figure turned to the sound of her voice.
"Wait, where is the bag? Misaka-san! Don't tell me you had a feat and threw the chocolate away?!"
"Misaka would appreciate if you didn't talk about chocolate, says Misaka still depressed about yesterday's fiasco. Also, Onee-sama ran that way, Misaka points in the direction but naturally her overly athletic sister is long gone."
"That way of speaking…" Ruiko muttered. Only now did she notice the goggles on the girl's head. "Oh, you are one of Misaka-san's sisters!"
Clones of Misaka Mikoto are wandering the city – such was an urban legend. A ridiculous rumor. They had even joked about that with Mikoto. But it turned out to be true, as on Christmas Eve a certain horrific experiment had been made public. Eventually, Mikoto had even introduced some of those girls to her friends.
Ruiko wondered if she had already met this one. Then she startled and looked down. A black cat was rubbing against her leg. That instantly cleared things up.
"Hey, Hold, long time no see!" Ruiko beamed and patted the cat. "Long time no see, Misaka-chan," she said beaming at the girl next.
The clone gave her a long blank look.
"Actually, that is just a stray cat and this Misaka is not Misaka 10032, says Misaka matter-of-factly."
Ruiko froze and then looked from the cat to the girl and back to the cat again. Her beam slowly soured.
"Seriously?"
"Haha, gotcha, says Misaka smugly while still a little miffed that her only distinguished feature is her pet."
Dumbfounded, Ruiko stared on unsure how to react. Her awkward smile turned plastic.
"Haha, aren't you a prankster?"
"Sense of humor is a proof that you have a personality, says Misaka repeating something she read in a magazine."
"I see… I see… So, ugh… you said Misaka-san ran past here?"
"More like flew by. Has she unlocked a new ability? Misaka wonders in amazement."
"Well, that's the power of love for you!"
"But Onee-sama looked more like she was heading to a duel, says Misaka confused."
"Haha… haven't you heard that love is like a battlefield? That's especially true for your sister."
"Does that make that boy a prize she wants to win? Or an enemy she wants to crush? Misaka asks recalling that her sister's psyche is rather tricky."
"Well… knowing Misaka-san… she probably wants to crush Kamijou-san first and then take him prisoner as a prize…"
"Seriously, Onee-sama is impossible sometimes, mutters Misaka slightly embarrassed of being related to such person."
"Valentine's makes people crazy. You should have seen her yesterday when she was making chocolate. Sparks were flying everywhere; my kitchen turned into a starry sky, I swear! Well, it also almost blew up in a big-bang a few times, but that was a small price to pay for seeing Misaka-san in her maiden mode!"
For a little while Misaka 10032 stayed silent. With the same blank expression, she crouched and patted her cat. It felt like she lost all interest in the conversation. But just when Ruiko was about to bid her farewell, the clone spoke in a low voice.
"Did Onee-sama's chocolate turn out well? Misaka asks unsure if she really wants to know."
Ruiko tilted her head. This girl was acting strange – stranger than usual. What could it be about?
"Hm, quite well, I would say. Though she kept worrying about the taste. Ate like half of what she made trying to figure out if it's good."
"Hmmmmm, fumes Misaka feeling a little guilty that she wanted to hear a "no"."
"Misaka-chan… did something happen to your chocolate?"
"Yes! Misaka worked hard on making it but her ass of a sister switched sugar and salt and ruined everything, complains Misaka barely holding back tears!"
Caught off-guard by the sudden outburst, Ruiko almost fell back on her butt.
"That's… a nasty prank…"
"But Misaka had her revenge, haha, laughs Misaka remembering the look on her stupid sister's face. Now she has to eat all of the chocolate she ruined. Haha, haha."
"Yikes… But you still had some ingredients left, right? Using everything at once…"
"Misaka was very eager, explains Misaka while completely agreeing that wasn't smart of her. But she managed to scrape up enough for this."
What appeared to be a small round-ish candy clumsily wrapped in foil rested on her palm.
"And Misaka is out of money to get anything better, says Misaka as her spirits plummet even lower."
This is bad, Ruiko thought shivering on the inside. The waves of depression coming from the girl were just too strong.
"It's alright, it's alright! What really matters are the feelings you put in your chocolate!"
"But Misaka can't really remember how she made this one, says Misaka thinking back to how angry and frustrated she was. Maybe she actually made poison…"
"Haha, no way! Really, you are just making excuses at this point. Like that big sister of yours! It's Valentine's! No better day to go on the offensive! So, girl up, go find that boy and smite him with your chocolate!"
Hopefully, not in the literal sense, Ruiko added to herself.
The girl listened on with the same blank expression. It was impossible to tell whether Ruiko's little speech touched her even a little. But then she looked at the single candy in her hand – at the small piece of her heart – and nodded slowly.
"Thank you, says Misaka as the tightening in her chest eases down and she grips her fist. Misaka is now all fired up, she will give that boy her chocolate."
"That's the spirit!"
"But later. Right now it's Onee-sama's turn, says Misaka a little annoyed that she has to wait."
Ruiko frowned, her smile fading, "Misaka-san's… does that mean…? Oh boy…"
From a romcom to a drama – this day just might be a little more hectic than she had expected.
"Well, in that case, I better go and make sure Misaka-san isn't dawdling."
"There is no need, assures Misaka. We are on it."
"We? Wait, do you mean…?"
"Yes, the Sisters are joining in. Operation "Do it already" is in progress! Misaka announces as she tunes in for the show."
Once more, the Network was bustling with messages. Only now, instead of taking jabs at each other, the Sisters were serious and composed. Well, for the most part.
"Chicken is en route. Repeat. Chicken is en route to the coop, reports Misaka 13570 barely following along on her bike. Also, permission to rename the target to "Missile"."
"Denied /return. Just keep pedaling /return."
"But Rooster is not in the coop. He went off course and now appears to be lectured by Piggy. Should I take her out? Misaka 19090 asks patting her rifle through the leather of her bag."
"No hasty actions /return. She is keeping him in place anyway /return."
"Chicken arrived at the coop. Climbs the stairs now. Does she have infinite stamina? Misaka 13570 wonders while trying to catch her breath."
"Piggy is leaving with Cat and Mouse. Rooster is staying. He looks troubled, says Misaka 19090 carefully getting closer to her target."
"Don't let him see you /return."
"No worries, Misaka's disguise is perfect, boasts Misaka 19090 as she looks in her reflection in a window and adjusts her hat. Also, it's super cute."
"Misaka now sees why only she had money for the chocolate, mumbles Misaka 10039 displeased with how her sisters manage their allowances."
"Focus on your own target, 10039 /return. What is Fox doing /escape?"
"Smoking on his balcony. Doesn't seem like he is plotting anything, says Misaka 10039 checking through the scope of her rifle."
"Is he really just smoking /escape?"
"Yes, says Misaka 10039 slightly annoyed you are doubting her. Wait, now he is doing something with his hands. It appears to be sign language. "Am I in trouble?" Fox asks."
"I knew he would notice you eventually /return. Signal him that as long as he doesn't rope a certain boy in his schemes today, we are cool /return."
"Roger, says Misaka 10039 as she uses the laser scope to pass on the message."
"Chicken is on the seventh floor, banging on the door now, reports Misaka 13570. Loudly. And now Chicken demands "the idiot" to open up before she blasts the door open. Hopefully, no one sees our resemblance…"
"Message passed, reports Misaka 10039 as her quickness surprises even herself. Now Fox is laughing. He must have heard the commotion. Oh, more hand signs. "I see the boy has enough on his plate today. I'll try and leave him alone on White Day too," he says."
"How generous of that blond bastard /return. Well, I guess we can leave him be /return. 10039, change position /return. You are now on Rooster watch /return."
"Roger, says Misaka 10039 as she quickly packs up."
"Rooster is trying to call someone but to no avail, says Misaka 19090 pretending to look at the cake shop instead. Oh, these chocolate rolls… mmm."
"Don't get absorbed in character, 19090, or Misaka will take over your role, warns Misaka 10039 jumping from building to building."
"The banging stopped – Chicken got a call, says Misaka 13570 peering with her binoculars."
"Rooster's call just got through, hurriedly says Misaka 19090 because she had to let 13570 finish."
"Now, this is interesting /return. Will they actually be able to meet without our help /escape?"
"Chicken is going full on tsun, says Misaka 13570 utterly disappointed."
"And Rooster looks like he wants to hang up. Why are we doing this again? Misaka 19090 wonders sharing 13570's feeling."
"Oh, Chicken is calming down, getting a little flustered. So like her, showing her dere side when no one is watching, complains Misaka 13570 as she peers even closer."
"13570, stop acting like a peeping tom before someone calls Judgement /return."
"Misaka wonders what Rooster is saying, mutters Misaka 19090 curious as she sneaks up to her target. Oh, Misaka hears Piggy's name and chocolate in one sentence."
"And sparks are flying again, and the line is disconnected – again, says Misaka 13570 not surprised in the slightest."
"No worries, Misaka's plan accounts for that, says Misaka Misaka confidently! We just need to guide one to the other!"
"And how do you propose we do it, 20001 /escape?"
"Isn't that basically what Misaka's role is? Just let her go all out already!"
"No, Worst, you stay put /return. You are the back-up /return."
"Pfff, Misaka knew this plan sucked when she didn't get a codename."
"What do you mean /escape? Your codename is Worst /return. Anyone who commits such sacrilege against chocolate does not deserve any other /return."
"Indeed, adds Misaka 10032 still sulking about her ruined effort."
"Oh, bite Misaka!"
"Hey, just so you know, while you all were chitchatting Misaka recruited someone for help, says Misaka 13570 matter-of-factly. Right now Vixen is going up to Chicken to tell her where she had happened to see Rooster a few minutes ago."
"Can Vixen be trusted not to give the game away /escape? She can be as devious as Fox sometimes /return."
"She was more than happy to help, notes Misaka 13570 thinking back. Actually, it surprised Misaka how Vixen seemed to know what it was about before she told her… Oh, there goes the missile again, says Misaka 13570 pedaling after her target without much enthusiasm."
"See? Misaka's plan is working just fine, fu fu fu, says Misaka Misaka laughing smugly."
"And what of Rooster /escape? He'd better not have gotten himself into trouble /return."
"On the contrary, he is just walking about and looking at the shops' windows, says Misaka 19090 watching from the other side of the road."
"10039, you have neutralized all the possible threats in the area, right /escape?"
"Correct, Misaka so far has helped an old man cross the road, stopped a mugger and rescued another kitten from atop of a tree, reports Misaka 10039 wiping the sweat off her forehead. Now she really wishes for a drink."
"That's nothing compared to what Misaka had to do, says Misaka 15687 huffing. Seriously, there are too many dark alleys with shady characters in this city."
"You'd have had an easier time if you let Misaka join the fun."
"And have all those people run around looking for the one who kicked their asses and robbed them /escape? No, thank you /return."
"One missile inbound, cuts in Misaka 13570 as her legs are about to give up. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…"
"Chicken spotted, at the end of the block, says Misaka 19090 casually hiding behind a lamp post. She sees Rooster but he is too focused on the cake shop window to notice her."
"But why is she standing still? Misaka 10039 asks peeking from an alley where a malfunction cleaning robot almost exploded."
"Catching her breath? Misaka 13570 guesses as she does the same."
"That athlete monster? Impossible, disagrees Misaka 15687 as she looks at the target through her scope. Oh, she just hid behind the corner."
"And now she peeks out to look at Rooster, says Misaka 19090 holding her breath."
"And now she hides again, catches up Misaka 10039 as she crosses her fingers."
"And… peeks out again, says Misaka 13570."
"And hides again, says Misaka 15687 hanging her head."
"This is getting nowhere, nags Misaka 19090 as she lets out the heaviest sigh in her life."
"Well, you got what you wanted, Worst /return. Go out on that stage and give it your all /return."
Misaka Worst grinned. After shoving the money she had just counted into her pocket, she kicked a beaten-up guy sprawling on the ground one last time and checked her disguise. Kneaded hat, sunglasses, face mask, slightly baggy clothes – no one would even think there was a girl under all of that. Personally, she didn't care but her idiot sisters had insisted she can't be recognized.
Although, looking like that, she was more likely to attract attention of some busybody from Judgement or those annoying teachers from Anti-Skill. But as long as Yomikawa didn't find out…
Boiling with anticipation, Worst walked out of the alley and headed straight for the spiky-haired boy. He was still looking at the cakes in the window as if they could solve all of his problems. Troubled, clueless as ever. In his right hand there was a grey flip phone with a strap and his thumb kept tapping on it.
Perfect.
Worst's grin widened under the mask. It was truly a wild grin worthy of a villain.
And then she dashed off, ripped the phone out of the boy's hand and ran.
Heading right to where that Bakaneki was hiding.