Hello, everyone! The previous chapter was a very important one, with Mikoto and Touma finally having sex. This chapter will cover what happens the following day.
bitbitbit11: That is a pretty apt song, and I'm glad you really enjoyed that chapter.
Nightfang123: Yeah, I wanted to slowly build up the sexual tension, so it's good that it was effective. Thanks for the tip about the exclamation marks, I'll try to tone them down a bit.
Toa Solaric: I'm glad it ended up being a surprise. Don't worry, they used protection, so they won't have to deal with a pregnancy.
Blankow: Yeah, when I first came up with the idea of them sharing a hotel room and a bed in Hawaii, I initially wasn't going to have them go all the way. But I soon realized that it made much more sense for them to sleep together. It would have to happen eventually, so I figured that it was best for it to happen in Hawaii, along with the rings. Kuroko influencing Mikoto to become more perverted is an interesting theory, and Roberto also had a big hand in this. It will indeed be fun to see everyone else's reactions to the news.
GG Vegito: Thanks, I'm glad you found the chapter fluffy despite it also being very dirty.
Sentient Mop: Yeah, they've finally crossed that big line. I'm glad you're enjoying this fic.
Steinfield: There was a bit of a flavor change in that chapter, but previous chapters were already building up to it. Did you not like Mikoto's wording of her final dare to Touma? I do indeed hope to continue writing good chapters, though most won't be as spicy as that one.
DBZLEGEND154: Wow, you bookmarked the chapter, that's a really big honor! I wanted to start the game as more innocent but make it dirtier as it progressed. Their diary thoughts were a bit silly, but dirty thoughts are often like that, especially for teenagers. I figured that this was a good moment of the story for their first time, since events will start getting really packed in the rest of NT. There will definitely be more perverted scenes, though ones at this level will still be rare.
LordChorizoCosmico: It was a really hot chapter indeed. Both of them held themselves back for as long as they could, but they couldn't avoid it in the end. Their relationship will definitely be a lot closer after this, and you're right that it'll probably lead to Mikoto finally overcoming her insecurities.
HARUZI0N: I'm happy you enjoyed the chapter. Maybe it's a bit earlier than expected, but I though Hawaii would be a good place for Mikoto and Touma to take that important step in their relationship.
Guest10032: Thanks, it was a very good suggestion! Yeah, I probably stretched the rating a bit, but I deliberately didn't write about the actual act itself, but just about the foreplay and the aftermath. You're right that they would probably end up having sex eventually, so I figured that this would be a good spot for their first time. It definitely won't be their last time, though. Touma will indeed have to leave for Baggage City soon. Roberto would be a very questionable president in real life, but he's a pretty awesome fictional president. Speaking of scenarios in the US, he was amazing in GT4. The Sisters were amazing as well, though I was disappointed that we didn't get to see them fight the Accelerator Five Over after their bold declarations. I also wish Mikoto was more involved, but her proudly gushing about her sisters looking cool was one of my favorite moments of the novel, and hopefully she'll get some more screentime in GT5.
Comrade-elmo1: Thanks, I'm really pleased and amused that you found the chapter where they have sex wholesome. It sounds funny to say that, but I was kind of trying to go for that vibe. There is obviously a lot of lust involved in sex, but it's also a way for a couple to express their feelings and love for each other, and I wanted to convey that.
Stryper88: Yeah, it's not too surprising in retrospect that this ended up happening. I have read a couple of six-digit numbered doujins, but I didn't refer to those when writing that chapter. I was inspired by the fanfics "A Certain Game of 20 Questions" by 61wisampa and "A Long Night" by Anonymous Insomniac. I don't know if Mikoto would want to tell Touma about all the girls that like him, since it would only cause him to feel bad that he couldn't return their feelings. It will definitely be funny to see the reactions of Mikoto's friends and sisters to the news. Baggage City wasn't my favorite volume either. Touma doesn't really do much until near the end, and it was difficult keeping track of all the different characters. I don't think there will be any major changes to that arc in this fic.
MC91: I'm glad the chapter was able to alleviate some of your stress. NT9 will definitely be interesting to write about, but I'm especially looking forward to writing about NT10, since that's when the real Mikoto appears and snaps Touma out of his regrets.
GerbilPL: Indeed, it did escalate quickly, though previous chapters have been building up to this point.
ToMyMaster: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and some of the intimate scenes in the previous chapter. I agree that the previous chapter pushed the T-rating limit, but I don't want to change this story to an M-rating. I deliberately didn't write them actually having sex, and the vast majority of chapters won't be as lewd as that one. They will definitely have more intimate scenes in future chapters, but I am going to try to avoid blatantly crossing the line. I'm honored that you're able to use my writing as inspiration.
Gabriel: Thanks, I'm happy you're enjoying this KaMikoto fic. I am trying to follow canon while developing their relationship, so hopefully I'll be able to continue doing that. As for relationship drama, I don't want to have anything like another love interest trying to break them up, but there is some potential for tense moments between Mikoto and Touma as they decide how to balance fighting to save people and keeping themselves safe.
xellos540: They probably did brush their teeth together again. It definitely wasn't a boring game. Yeah, most of these dares end up being more like rewards. Necking is indeed very good, and Mikoto will have to deal with that hickey. Mikoto did get a critical hit, and later gained some insight into how guys think. She definitely finds him hot, though since I'm a straight guy, it's harder for me to describe how a girl would think about a guy she's attracted to. Mikoto does like it rough sometimes. Shokuhou is more of a queen than a princess, though she probably would like to be Touma's princess over Mikoto. Fortunately for them, Tsuchimikado isn't in Hawaii. Maybe calves are more sensitive than most parts of thighs, but the inner thighs are very sensitive. That fantasy was one of the dirtiest ones I could think of. I think Mikoto is a lot less innocent and naive by this point in their relationship, and she does end up wording her propositioning very strongly. Kuroko and Shokuhou probably do feel some foreboding, though Kuroko should have at least expected this to happen eventually in the back of her mind. The pill is probably available even to teenagers in Academy City, and I think some girls even use it to regulate their periods even if they're not sexually active. But since Mikoto is in a relationship that has been becoming more intimate, it would make sense for her to take birth control just in case. The president giving her some condoms is a surprise I kept for that chapter. I did want to show the immediate aftermath, since it would make for a nice moment between them. Mikoto did end up being pretty calm and even bold about it, but she's been developing that boldness over time in their relationship. Both of them actually did "the other thing," in fact! I think it does make sense that she'd let out shocks when she climaxes, given how she canonically emits sparks sometimes when she's angry or upset. Yeah, dealing with GREMLIN and Othinus BS will be hard for her and Touma, but there will still be some downtime for more fluffy moments between them. That chapter did push the limits of the T-rating, but I tried to avoid being too explicit and didn't write out the actual sex scene, so hopefully it's okay. And yeah, this is bad news for the rest of Touma's harem.
Bigboy101: I'm happy you like the steady development of their relationship. I'm definitely looking forward to writing about their next steps as a couple.
The next morning, Mikoto was the first one to wake up. Her face was buried in Touma's chest, and when she looked up, she saw that her boyfriend was still peacefully sleeping, with his hands loosely wrapped around her waist. She smiled while looking at his face, but she felt a bit miffed that he didn't talk in his sleep.
The girl then blushed as she noticed that their legs were still intertwined. She recalled what had happened the previous night. "Oh man, we actually slept together!" She felt a little sore from the previous night, but it was definitely the good kind of sore.
Mikoto reached up with one of her hands and started combing her fingers through his messy hair. She then pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, saying in a low voice, "I love you, Touma." After that, she continued just watching him sleep.
A little later, Touma finally stirred and opened his eyes. When Mikoto saw this, she gave him a smile and gave him a quick peck on the lips, exclaiming, "Good morning, Touma!"
The boy groggily replied, "Good morning, Biri-Biri." He instinctively tightened his grip on his girlfriend's waist and pulled her a bit closer to him. As he fully woke up, he also noticed that their legs were still intertwined from last night. His face reddened as he recalled, "Oh right, we actually did it last night." One of Mikoto's legs was pressed between his own legs, but because of their activities the previous night, he wasn't getting any morning wood. He then said to her in a content tone, "Wow, last night was great!" He felt really elated, as if he could now deal with any challenge that would come his way in the future.
Mikoto giggled and replied, "It really was!" She stretched one of her arms and wrapped it around him. They both silently gazed at each other and caressed each other's backs, and cuddled like that for a while longer, fondly remembering the previous night.
Eventually, they both disentangled their limbs and finally got up. Mikoto got off the bed and pulled out some clothes from her luggage. Touma was now sitting on the edge of the bed, so she casually asked him, "Hey, can you turn around?"
Touma raised an eyebrow at her and replied, "Mikoto, I already saw you naked last night, remember?"
Mikoto blushed, looking back at him and frantically replied, "Th-that was different! It was dark and all the lights were off then! It's embarrassing for you to see me like that in daylight!"
The boy found her reaction very adorable. He chuckled and said, "All right, all right, I'll turn around." He didn't want to be pushy if she was uncomfortable with it.
Mikoto sighed and said, "Wait!" After Touma paused and looked at her, she continued, "I-if you really want to look, I guess you can. But I'm going to face away from you at first!" She figured that her boyfriend did have a point, and now that they'd already crossed the line, she didn't need to be so embarrassed.
Touma grinned and said, "Thank you very much, Mikoto-sama!" Mikoto rolled her eyes at his over-the-top response, but proceeded to change out of her pajamas. She unbuttoned and removed her shirt, and followed up by pulling down her shorts and stepping out of them. Touma took a moment to admire her rear and legs, but she quickly stepped into her panties and pulled them up. The girl then hooked on a bra, and turned around to face her boyfriend.
Touma looked at her up and down, wanting to preserve in his memory the sight of his girlfriend in her underwear. She blushed at his obvious attention, but she was also glad to have it. He smirked and teased her, "So you wear Gekota underwear too, huh?"
Mikoto rolled her eyes and snarkily replied, "Yeah, so?" She then pulled a t-shirt over her head, and stepped into another pair of shorts. She saw her boyfriend staring at her with an adoring smile. She sat down next to him and said, "Your turn!"
Touma got up and retrieved some clothes from his luggage. He saw that his girlfriend was eagerly looking at him with her head resting on top of her hands, and knew that she wanted to watch him change too. Touma was happy to indulge her, unbuttoning and pulling off his shirt, and then pulling down his pants.
Mikoto started appreciatively at his rear, and recalled how she'd grabbed onto it many times the previous night. Touma quickly put on a pair of boxers, and then put on his usual shirt and pants.
The boy sat back down on the edge of the bed, right next to his girlfriend. He wrapped his arm around Mikoto's waist and pulled her in closer, and she rested her head on his shoulder. She then turned on the TV so they could watch the news. As they snuggled together, Mikoto brought up her hand to touch a certain spot on her neck, reminding herself, "I'll need to heal this hickey with my ability before I take a single step outside this room!"
The news channel was currently discussing the defecting Academy City cooperative institutions, so both of them perked up and paid close attention to the broadcast. The institutions were apparently organizing a tournament called the Natural Selector to find people with supernatural powers. This tournament would be held the next day, November 13, in Baggage City, in Eastern Europe.
Mikoto frowned and noted, "They organized that pretty fast. It's only been two days since they defected, and they're already setting up this giant tournament?"
Touma sighed in exasperation, noting, "Yeah, and I guess Baggage City is where I'll have to go next to start fixing the mess I caused." He had enjoyed the past two nights and one day with his girlfriend, but he'd known in the back of his mind that those good times would get interrupted soon. "There's never too long a break for me, huh?"
The girl sighed as well, also feeling a little disappointed that their fun vacation together was about to come to an end. She asked him, "What exactly are you going to do there, anyway? Do you think GREMLIN is going to show up?"
Touma thought for a few moments before answering, "Probably? GREMLIN will certainly want to use this to go after Academy City and the Science Side. And Birdway will probably be involved too, even if she's using this for bait, like you said before. I don't know exactly what I'll have to do, but I can figure it out when I get there. That's what I've always done anyway." He then asked Mikoto, "So, do you want to come with me?"
Mikoto lifted her head up from his shoulder and looked at him, replying, "Of course I do! But my question is, do you want me to come with you?"
The boy was surprised by her question, and he felt her piercing gaze as he tried to figure out how to reply. Eventually, he scratched his head and said, "Honestly, I'm conflicted. It was great having you by my side when we fought against Saronia. You were such a strong and reliable partner, and I couldn't have beaten her without you."
The girl was flattered by his praise, but she questioned, "But?" Mikoto steeled herself to hear his reasons for not wanting her to join him.
Touma continued, "But you also got hurt, and I don't want to get you into danger. I know it's hypocritical, but I still feel like I should bear the burden of what happened here. Plus, GREMLIN is mainly after me, and I'm the whole reason they formed in the first place!"
Mikoto frowned and asked, "Is it really that important to solve this by yourself? I understand how you feel, hell I've felt the same way myself before about the situation with my sisters, but it's dangerous for you to go alone!" He had already almost died in Russia, and even the situation here in Hawaii had gotten dangerous at times, so she was quite scared of what could happen to him in Baggage City.
The boy sighed, "I know, I know. You did say that we're on the same path, and maybe I'm being stupidly prideful, but that's how I feel." He didn't want to reject his girlfriend's help after all they had been through together, but he also wanted to deal with the situation he had caused.
The girl looked silently at her boyfriend for a few moments. She reached out her left hand and intertwined his with his free left hand, placing their rings in contact. She then suggested, "All right, how about we make a deal? You can go by yourself to Baggage City, but you need to keep your promise to protect yourself. I'll go back to Academy City and wait for you to come home. That way, you'll get a chance to make up for your mistakes. But if GREMLIN attacks Academy City, I'll fight by your side then." She hoped that this compromise would be acceptable to Touma.
Touma looked at her in awe, thinking, "She really understands me, doesn't she?" He gave her a warm smile and squeezed her hand, replying, "Okay, Biri-Biri, you have a deal! I promise I'll come home safe and sound." He then remembered something important and added, "Oh, when you get back, could you check on Index? She's been by herself for a few days, and she can only mooch off of Maika for so long after she finishes off all our food."
Mikoto laughed, "Sure, I'll check on her for you." She knew it might be a little awkward to be alone with Index, but maybe it would give them a chance to talk with each other without Touma around.
In any case, their Hawaiian vacation would soon be over, but both of them would retain fond memories of the trip that had advanced their relationship in many different ways.
Mikoto was now back in Academy City. Touma had left for the airport first, wanting to get to Baggage City as quickly as possible. A couple of hours later, after using her ability to heal the ruptured blood vessels causing her hickey, she had checked out of their hotel room before heading to the airport to catch a flight back to Academy City.
In addition to her luggage, Mikoto was also carrying some shopping bags. She was going to Touma's dorm to check on Index and drop off the food she'd just bought. As she walked towards her destination, she ended up running into one of her sisters.
Mikoto glanced at the other girl's flower necklace and then greeted her, "Hey, 13577-chan, how are you doing?"
"Misaka is doing well enough, replies Misaka, though she wishes you could identify her without using her necklace."
Mikoto gave her sister a nervous smile and replied, "Sorry, I'm still working on that." She hoped that she could soon learn to at least tell apart the Sisters she knew personally.
"Anyway, how was the rest of your trip with the boy, asks Misaka while recalling Misaka 13650's encounter with you two in that Hawaiian shopping mall."
Mikoto fondly smiled as she remembered all the moments she'd spent with Touma. She answered, "It was amazing! Oh here, let me show you some pictures." She pulled out her phone and displayed the photos she and Touma had taken at the beach.
Misaka 13577 leaned over and looked at the phone screen, seeing the gallery of photos. Once Mikoto reached the sand sculpture photos, her sister perked up. "Misaka is not surprised that you made a Gekota sculpture, Big Sister, but she is intrigued by these cute little sculptures, says Misaka. How were you able to make them so intricate, questions Misaka in an impressed tone."
Mikoto gave her sister a smirk and said, "It was pretty easy to do by manipulating some iron sand!"
"That's incredible, gushes Misaka, impressed at her Big Sister's abilities. By the way, did you and the boy share a hotel room in Hawaii, asks Misaka with curiosity?"
Mikoto blushed at her sister's question, knowing that her answer could lead to an embarrassing line of questioning. Nevertheless, she replied, "Yes, Touma and I stayed in the same hotel room."
"Interesting, mutters Misaka as she ponders the possible implications. It's possible that you two were boring and slept in separate beds, but it's also possible that you shared a bed. But you're already wearing rings on your left ring fingers, which according to a certain women's magazine means you've already won. So, Big Sister, have you and the boy finally consummated your relationship, bluntly asks Misaka."
Mikoto's face reddened even more, but she replied, "Wh-what kind of phrasing is that? But to answer your question, y-yes." She was a little surprised that it was so easy for her to admit it, but she didn't regret doing so.
"Wow, Misaka is actually surprised by your boldness. But with that in addition to the rings and the Hawaii trip, you've definitely won for good, concludes Misaka."
Mikoto chuckled and replied, "Well, don't get ahead of yourself there. Those were all big steps for us, but it's not like we got married or anything." Despite saying this, she couldn't help but fantasize about being married to Touma.
"You might as well be, argues Misaka, though she does note that you don't cohabitate yet. By the way, was the boy good in bed, asks Misaka with a teasing grin, wondering about his sexual prowess."
Mikoto nearly dropped her shopping bags when she heard her sister's question. Trying to regain her composure, she frantically replied, "H-hey, don't just ask that so bluntly!" She then brought up her free hand to her face and shyly continued, "H-he was really good. Mostly gentle, but also r-rough at times."
Her description caused Misaka 13577 to blush a bit. "R-rough, stutters Misaka, becoming flustered as she pictures the scene."
Mikoto lightly chopped her sister's head and exclaimed, "Don't picture it!" She didn't want her sister, or the rest of the Misaka Network, to get weird images in their heads, thinking to herself, "That would be really embarrassing!"
"Ouch, exclaims Misaka as she rubs her head to soothe the pain. By the way, is he also back in Academy City, asks Misaka, hoping to see him again."
Mikoto frowned for a moment before replying, "He went to Baggage City to deal with GREMLIN in case they get involved with the Natural Selector tournament, since he felt responsible for those cooperative institutions defecting from Academy City."
"And you didn't go with him, asks Misaka, tilting her head in confusion."
Mikoto sighed, "I wanted to, but he felt it was something he should do on his own, since he feels responsible for causing it in the first place. Plus, he didn't want to put me into danger. I didn't like it, but I decided to let him go alone this one time."
"And are you satisfied with that result, wonders Misaka. She would have expected you to make every effort to fight by his side. Or are you okay with being the girl he can come home to instead, asks Misaka, wondering what kind of partner you want to be to him."
Mikoto took some time to think about that question. Her sister had honed in on a key issue in her relationship with Touma. Eventually, she scratched her head and answered, "I do want to fight by his side, I want it more than almost anything! But I already got the chance to do that in Hawaii, and I'll probably have plenty of chances to do it again in the future. So I'm fine with waiting for him to return home to me this one time."
"All right, if you're fine with that, then Misaka won't interrogate you further about this subject, shrugs Misaka, hoping that Big Sister knows what she's doing."
Mikoto smiled at her sister and ruffled her hair, saying, "Thank you for looking out for me, 13577-chan!" She then looked down at her shopping bags and said, "Well, I think I should go now, before this food gets bad."
Misaka 13577 walked towards Mikoto and pulled her older sister into a hug. ""You're welcome, Big Sister, says Misaka as she embraces you."
Mikoto wrapped her free arm around her sister's back and replied, "I'll see you around, okay?"
"Yes, farewell for now, agrees Misaka." The two sisters then pulled apart and headed in separate directions. Misaka 13577 started making her way back to the hospital, and Mikoto continued her journey to her boyfriend's dorm.
Mikoto was now right outside Touma's dorm room. She knocked on the door and shouted, "Index, are you there? It's me!" She didn't want to just enter the room, so she hoped that the nun was actually home.
A few moments later, the door opened, and Index appeared in front of her, saying, "Oh, it's you." Her eyes were immediately drawn to the shopping bags in Mikoto's hands, and she exclaimed, "Ooh, is that food for me?"
Mikoto grinned at her and replied, "That's right!" Index stepped aside to let her in, so Mikoto quickly made her way to the kitchen, putting away the groceries in the fridge and in the cabinets.
Index took the opportunity to quickly open up and eat some of the snacks that the other girl had bought. In between bites, she asked, "Where's Touma? Is he back from Hawaii?" She was a bit confused as to why Mikoto was here instead of him.
Mikoto nervously scratched her head and replied, "No, he actually left for Baggage City, in Eastern Europe. The incident in Hawaii caused some Academy City cooperative institutions to defect, and they're holding some kind of tournament in Baggage City. We figured that GREMLIN would strike there next, so he went there."
This information annoyed Index quite a bit. She crossed her arms and angrily muttered, "So he went off to another place while leaving everyone else behind." She wasn't at all surprised by the boy's decision, but she glanced at the other girl and said in a louder voice, "I'm surprised you didn't go with him."
Mikoto sighed and replied, "I wanted to, but he felt responsible for the situation and wanted to take on the burden himself. I already got to fight by his side in Hawaii anyway, and I trust him to come home safely, so I let him go alone."
Index uncrossed her arms and conceded, "He does always come back home, doesn't he? But I wish we wouldn't leave me behind all the time." She knew that she didn't have any direct combat strength, but her knowledge of magic was greater than almost anyone else, so she wished he'd make use of that more often.
Index's eyes were then caught by a shiny object on the other girl's left hand. When she looked closer, her eyes widened and she demanded, "Is that an engagement ring? Did Touma give that to you?"
Mikoto shyly smiled and started fidgeting with the ring, replying, "No, it's more like a promise ring. And I was actually the one to give a matching ring to Touma. I colored them using my electricity, and he really liked it!"
Index's mood dropped as she digested what the other girl just said. Even though Mikoto and Touma weren't engaged, she knew that a promise ring meant a serious commitment in a relationship. She forlornly walked away into the living room and sat down on the bed.
Mikoto frowned as she saw Index's reaction. She winced and chided herself, "That was probably a bit too much!" She then walked into the living room and sat down on the table, across from Index, and asked, "You okay?"
Index let out a forlorn sigh before saying in a soft voice, "You know, I was the first one to confess to Touma."
Mikoto was stunned to hear this. She'd figured that Index hadn't confessed to the boy despite living with him. Recalling that Touma had lost his memory in the process of saving Index, Mikoto asked, "Really? When?"
Index looked down at her folded hands in her lap and revealed, "It was on the morning of July 28, right after Touma saved me and lost his memories. The doctor had told me that Touma had lost his memories, and when I talked to Touma, he seemed like he didn't remember who I was. I confessed to him, but he ignored it and made a joke about my name. He then laughed and said that he didn't actually lose his memories, thanks to his Imagine Breaker."
Mikoto frowned, feeling pretty bad for the other girl. She couldn't imagine how she would've felt if Touma had jokingly brushed off her own confession like that. She gently replied, "So he pretended that he didn't lose his memories?"
Index nodded and replied, "Yes, he did. I did notice that he acted a little differently, so I had some suspicions about it. But we still got along well, so I didn't think I needed to bring it up. He finally told me at the end of World War 3." She and Touma had a lot of good times living together, so she had been content to keep things as they were.
Mikoto tried to think of a way to cheer her up. Eventually, she replied, "You know, I only found out about his memory loss by accident, when I overheard him talking to Terra of the Left through a phone. But you're the only one he told directly. And even though he and I are together now, I know that you're still one of the most important people in his life, Index."
Index wasn't completely cheered up by her words, but she smiled and said, "Thank you, Mikoto. I still love Touma, and it's really hard to see him with another girl. But I can tell that he's very happy with you. At first, I didn't get it, you seemed like such a rude girl, and I had no idea why he'd ever fall for you. But ever since he started dating you, he can't stop talking about how amazing, fun, and kind you are. And I guess I'm starting to see that too." After all, Mikoto had become more friendly to her whenever they'd seen each other, and she'd even brought Index food multiple times now.
Mikoto softly smiled on hearing Index's heartfelt words. She reached out her hand and rubbed Index's head, over her nun habit, saying, "Thank you, Index." She was glad that she could come to an understanding with the other girl who her boyfriend cared about so much.
Index then said, "I've been wondering. When exactly did Touma first save you?"
Mikoto smiled and answered, "It was on the night of August 21. It was very personal for me, so I don't want to say what it was exactly, but he basically solved a problem I had created myself and that I'd been trying to solve myself for almost two weeks! If he didn't show up to help me, I don't even want to think of what would've happened."
Index's eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "I remember that date! The next morning, Touma was in the hospital again. When I visited him and asked who he was fighting for this time, he said that he was fighting for himself!"
Mikoto was a little surprised to hear that, but she soon laughed, "That does sound like something that idiot would say!" She remembered thinking that he'd say something like that when she thanked him for saving her and her sisters. She then stood up and announced, "All right, I have to go. But don't worry, Touma should be back home soon!"
Index remained on the bed, but waved at her and said, "Okay, bye Mikoto!"
Mikoto waved back at her and replied, "Bye, Index!" She then left the dorm room, ready to go get dinner with her friends.
A little later, Mikoto was now sitting with her friends around the dinner table in Saten's dorm room. She was glad to see them again after a few days away in Hawaii.
They had just started eating dinner, and since Kuroko was sitting to Mikoto's left, she was immediately able to spot the colorful ring on the girl's left ring finger. Kuroko grabbed onto Mikoto's hand and exclaimed, "Onee-sama, what's this? Don't tell me that Kamijou-san already proposed to you!"
Mikoto sighed and thought to herself, "Here we go again!" She answered, "No, this isn't an engagement ring, Kuroko."
Kuroko then took a closer look at the ring and muttered, "Hmm, you're right, this doesn't look like an engagement ring. There's no diamond, and the form is rather plain." Her eyes widened and she exclaimed, "No, is this a wedding ring? Did you elope with him in Hawaii?"
Mikoto pulled her hand out of Kuroko's grasp and firmly replied, "No, I did not get engaged or married to Touma. We're way too young for that. This is a tag ring from Cupid Arrow, it's basically a promise ring. A-and I was the one who gave a matching ring to him." After saying this, she braced herself for the teasing from her friends.
Uiharu gave Mikoto a teasing grin and said, "Wow, giving a ring to the boy, as expected of Misaka-san!"
Kuroko sighed and chimed in with Uiharu's sentiment, "Indeed, Onee-sama continues to be rather unladylike."
Mikoto rolled her eyes and retorted, "Come on guys, it's the 21st century, there's nothing wrong with a girl giving a guy a ring."
Saten decided to come to her friend's defense, "Yeah, I actually think it's cool that Misaka-san isn't afraid to take the lead in their relationship." She then gently held onto Mikoto's left hand and exclaimed, "This ring is really pretty and colorful!"
Mikoto grinned and revealed, "It is, you know, I actually colored both of our rings with electrolysis! They're made of titanium, so I was able to make different colors by varying the voltages I applied to different parts of the surface."
Uiharu sat up from the floor and gushed, "Wow, that's really romantic, Misaka-san! What a thoughtful present!"
Mikoto shyly smiled as she remembered her boyfriend's reaction. She replied, "Thanks, he really loved it!"
Saten then asked her, "So what did you guys do during your trip to Hawaii? It must have been great skipping school for a vacation there!"
Mikoto chuckled and replied, "Well, I convinced Touma to do some clothes-shopping with me, and we ran into another of my sisters who lives in Hawaii, 13650-chan! We also went to the beach." She then pulled up the beach photos on her phone and showed them to her friends.
They were all amazed in particular by Mikoto's sand sculptures. Saten said, "Wow, these are all so detailed!"
Kuroko mused, "Let me guess, you made these using your iron sand ability?" Not surprisingly, she was the most familiar with the applicability of Mikoto's powers.
Mikoto smirked and nodded, "That's right!" Pointing at the sculptures of her sisters, she added, "Look, the one in the military uniform is 10777-chan, and the one in the dress is 13650-chan!"
Uiharu then told her, "Your swimsuit is really cute, Misaka-san! It's like the one you were too embarrassed to try on when we modeled at that swimsuit company studio!" Back then, Mikoto had initially been looking at a two-piece swimsuit, but she'd eventually gone with a more modest one-piece swimsuit instead.
Saten laughed as she recalled what happened that day. "Oh yeah, and she ended up wearing it later and broadcasting to the entire city!"
Mikoto blushed and covered her face with her hands. She shook her head, exclaiming, "N-no, don't remind me of that!"
Saten couldn't resist teasing her more, "Hey, I wonder if Kamijou-san saw that broadcast." She found that possibility very hilarious.
Mikoto dropped her hands back into her lap and sighed, "I would've been so embarrassed back then if he'd seen that." Of course, she knew that he wouldn't remember it, since that photo shoot had been a few days before Touma had lost his memories.
Saten then brought up they key point, asking Mikoto, "So did you and Kamijou-san share a hotel room, or did you get two separate rooms?" She knew that the answer to this question would be very important.
Mikoto nervously fidgeted with her hands in her lap and admitted, "W-we did share a hotel room, actually. After all, getting two separate rooms would've been a lot more expensive, and Touma already didn't like me paying for him."
Kuroko narrowed her eyes and looked closer at her onee-sama, sensing that she was hiding something. She began muttering, "You seem a bit different, onee-sama. You're in a better mood, and your skin seems like it's glowing." Her eyes then widened and she exclaimed, "D-don't tell me, you gave up your first time to him already?"
Saten and Uiharu immediately learned over with teasing smirks, presseuring Mikoto to reveal the truth. Mikoto internally cursed Kuroko for being perverted enough to be able to discern those subtle changes in her.
Mikoto sighed and revealed, "Yes, on the first night, we just slept in the same bed together, but on the second night, w-we had sex."
All of her friends' jaws dropped at this revelation, especially since Mikoto had been able to say it without blushing or stuttering that much. They couldn't believe that she had taken that important step so soon after starting her relationship with Touma.
Saten soon exclaimed, "Wow, how bold of you, Misaka-san! So I guess you've become a mature woman now! Oh, you two used protection, right?"
Mikoto nervously laughed and replied, "C-come on, it's not that big a deal. I'm still the same person I was before, you know? And yes, we both used protection."
Uiharu then pointed out in a gushing tone, "Misaka-san, your trip was very romantic! You went to the tropical paradise of Hawaii, you exchanged rings, and you made love to each other for the first time!"
Kuroko nodded and observed, "Yes, you basically went on a honeymoon trip with him, onee-sama. The only thing missing was getting married beforehand."
Mikoto blushed as she briefly fantasized about what an actual wedding and honeymoon between her and Touma would be like. But she then retorted, "That's a pretty big difference, Kuroko."
Kuroko pouted and crossed her arms, "Yeah, whatever. I see how it is. With Kamijou-san, you celebrate your one-month anniversary with a honeymoon trip, rings, and sex, but for our one-month anniversary of being roommates, you just brushed me off." She was mostly teasing her best friend, but she still felt a little hurt by this disparity.
Mikoto narrowed her eyes and replied in an unsympathetic tone, "Oh, you mean the roommate anniversary where you tried to drug me with aphrodisiacs?"
Her sharp response caused Kuroko to defensively raise her hands and stammer, "N-never mind, onee-sama."
Saten then turned to Mikoto and asked, "So how did you guys end up doing it, anyway? And how was he in bed?"
Mikoto was quite hesitant to give out all the details. She eventually decided to reply, "Well, it happened as a result of us playing Truth or Dare. The game started out normal, but as we went on, the questions and dares became more and more erotic." Her face then reddened as she continued, "H-he was gentle with me for the most part, but there were times he got a little rough." As she remembered what happened that night, she had both of her hands clenched into fists, once in front of her mouth, and the other in her lap.
Mikoto's expression, which none of her friends had ever seen before, caused the rest of them to blush as well, especially when combined with her descriptions. Saten grinned at Mikoto and said, "Wow, that sounds really hot!"
Kuroko felt conflicted. On one hand, she liked seeing Mikoto like this, but it pained her to know that she wasn't the one to make her onee-sama feel that way.
Uiharu then commented, "Misaka-san is naughtier than we thought, huh?"
Mikoto shook her head to compose herself and get rid of her dirty thoughts, saying, "A-anyway, that's what Touma and I did on our trip."
In response to this, Kuroko recalled a piece of news she'd heard recently, "Hold on, on the day you went to Hawaii, there was some mercenary group that invaded the islands and wrecked Pearl Harbor. Did you get caught up in that, onee-sama?"
Mikoto nervously scratched her cheek and replied, "Yeah, we did, unfortunately. At one point, we had to face down a lot of soldiers, but I was able to take them out with my ability."
She hoped she could pass it off as just a military operation for now.
Saten brought her hand up to her chin and mused, "I see, so you guys ran into trouble just like when we went to Liberal Arts City. At least you were able to stay there afterwards this time." After the incident at Liberal Arts City, the four girls had immediately returned home, since Academy City had immediately proceeded to demolish Liberal Arts City.
Mikoto smiled and nodded, "Yeah, it more than made up for all the trouble we had to deal with."
Saten then changed the topic to an upcoming event, saying, "So, the Ichihanaran Festival is almost here. Are you guys going to visit any high schools?" During this annual festival, the schools throughout the city would allow visiting students from other schools. This provided a good opportunity for middle schoolers to check out any high schools they were interested in.
Uiharu shook her head, "Judgement has to step up its operations during the festival, so Shirai-san and I won't be able to visit any schools. What about you, Saten-san?"
Saten shrugged and replied, "I don't have any particular ones in mind. I'll probably just go around to a few different high schools. What about you, Misaka-san?"
Mikoto answered, "I'm going to visit Touma's high school. From what he says, it sounds like an interesting place."
Kuroko frowned and chided her, "Come on, onee-sama. I understand that you want to spend more time with him, but attending that high school would be a waste of your education. You already know all the material that they teach there. You should be aiming for a high school like Nagatenjouki Academy."
Mikoto had expected Kuroko to react like that. She replied, "I'm not sure I want to go to such a strict school. Touma and his classmates have a lot more freedom, and fewer silly rules to follow."
Saten grinned and said, "Yeah, I went to his school for my punishment for using the Level Upper, and it's actually really nice. Obviously not as nice as Tokiwadai, but pretty good for a normal school."
Uiharu nodded and added, "And you could see Kamijou-san every day, eat lunch together, and help him study even more! I think it's really romantic!"
Kuroko sighed and said, "Still, you shouldn't be holding yourself back like that. I don't even think Kamijou-san would want you to sacrifice your education just to go to the same school as him. And are you that eager to leave Tokiwadai and me behind?"
Mikoto felt a bit bad for her best friend. She patted Kuroko's shoulder and reassured her with a smile, "Don't worry, Kuroko, I'll still be in Tokiwadai for the next year and a half. And besides, just because I'm visiting his school doesn't mean I'm committing to go there. There's plenty of time for me to decide."
Kuroko smiled back and said, "Thank you, onee-sama."
Mikoto was glad she could cheer her up. As she and the others continued eating their food, Mikoto hoped that Touma would return home from Baggage City soon enough for her to spend time with him at the festival. However, she knew that there was a good chance of GREMLIN or someone else causing an incident that they'd have to deal with, so she knew not to get her hopes up too much for a peaceful festival.