Misfortune No One Sees, Until Now

by WwEpsilonwW

"All of you share bonds with that boy in some way, and so I present an opportunity. I will show you his memories, and the despair and hardship that lurks within. So, if you think you handle the amount of darkness behind that smile- then by all means, I welcome you...! To The Misfortune No One Sees... Until Now...!" -The stage has been set. Let the hell commence...!-

14. FORGET ME NOT - Shokuhou Misaki: Part 2

Story time!You guys wanna know what the original plan for this story was? It wasn't even supposed to be a Reaction Fic. The original idea was to have a news camera pick up all of the events that occurred during the Infinite Hells, and that would be broadcasted to the world.I'm sure you can see why I went with my second idea. Lol.Anyway, I hope you like what I have prepared.

[ I DO NOT OWN THE AWESOMENESS THAT IS A CERTAIN MAGICAL INDEX ]

---

In the room, there was a girl trying to make sense of what was happening to her. And that girl was none of there than Hokaze Junko, as she had found herself in a situation that surpassed her wildest expectations.

(This is- This is all just so...)

First and foremost, she had been displaced into some unknown space, and what she was doing before such a crazy occurrence happened, she did not know. Although, she wasn't the only one. There was her most precious friend and Queen, one of the few Level 5's, Shokuhou Misaki. Her joy upon seeing her face couldn't be described so easily.

Oh! And she got to meet up with Sogita Gunha-san again. Hokaze was pleased at this, as the boy- as eccentric and peculiar as he was- was pleasant to be around.

(I don't think the Queen likes him very much though...)

Hokaze thought sheepishly.

But... apart from that... there was another girl, one that she never thought she would get the chance to see again.

Mitsuari Ayu.

Throughout that experiment in Ideal, she wanted to grow closer to the girl, and it was always her biggest regret when she lost the chance to do so upon her leaving.

But now, they were here together again, all of them. But for what, exactly?

That's what trumped Hokaze's mind more than anything. All these people, most of them girls, which is a a fact that Hokaze herself hasn't quite figured out just yet, were of many differing nationalities and levels of power. And to that end, they had all been gathered (unwillingly) by someone who can't even be described, as she only has spoken through that mysterious monitor.

The Voice, as she is called, has one objective in mind. To watch the memories of Kamijou Touma.

"Kamijou... Touma..."

Hokaze said, trying the boy's full name out on her lips.

And wow... did a lot of things happen to him. Some good, some bad, completely beautiful... immensely tragic.

Hokaze shuddered at the key things that were imprinted into her brain as a result of Shokuhou-sama's ability.

The boy had been shunned as a freak of nature in the neighborhood he grew up in, and was brutally maimed as a result of that hatred.

Choosing to step out of his safe normal life, the boy offered his hand to a girl running from pursuers, freeing her from the endless loop she was forever stuck in, however not without a cost. He had lost all his memories as a result of this choice.

While struggling to find himself in a world he couldn't possibly understand, the boy chose to get involved in another incident for the sake of someone else. And as a result of that choice, he was once again maimed.

Hokaze couldn't imagine what it would feel like to have your arm cut off, and she didn't want to.

But that wasn't the end of that. Because amidst the blood, bone, and tissue, something else emerged from his body.

It was terrifying. It emulated the exact emotions the boy must have been feeling at that moment- terror, despair, anquish- but had them amplified by ten...!

Those eyes that were looking at nothing but mere prey, those teeth that shined ominously while sticking out of it's maw, and... that roar. A bellow of noise than commanded obedience.

Hokaze was glad that she didn't witness that in all its glory. But if she was that scared just with that brief glimpse, how frightening must it have been for those who saw it first-... no, for those who were actually there when it happened?

Hokaze rapidly shook her head, forcing herself to parse through the information of the next memory. And chronologically -as her Queen had so graciously provided her- the next one was about Misaka-san.

How sad such a tale was... the death's of all those innocent girls. The one's that bore an uncanny resemblance to the clone Dolly. But once again, Kamijou-san got involved, and despite his opponent -the one who was killing those girls for power- being Accelerator, he didn't let that deter his actions in the slightest. Kamijou-san kept his promise that he made to Misaka-san, no matter how injured he got as a result.

And then the Daihassei was showcased, and was she surprised to know what happened beyond her notice. Misaka-san was being forcibly turned into a fabled Level 6! How crazy was that!? However, thanks to the efforts of her Queen and once again, an appearance of Kamijou-san, she had gotten the help that she needed. But if that all wasn't distracting enough, Kamijou-san -amidst his battle with a rampaging Misaka-san- had lost his arm once again!

Yes, while reviewing this memory, Hokaze remembered it, the inevitable and raw dread that coursed through her at that time. After all, the last thing she wanted to do was to see that thing again, that creature. But two things happened that she didn't expect.

First, it wasn't one dragon that came out of Kamijou-san's arm, but SEVEN! All creatures of fantasy in their own right, with their various shapes, colors, sizes and textures.

But then... the second thing she noticed was even stranger, if that was even possible to top.

Those creatures of killer blood lust that should have made her feel the insignificance of her own life beyond her wildest nightmares...

(I... wasn't afraid...)

...didn't spark any degree of terror within her, not like before. If anything, Hokaze would say that their appearance was... captivating.

And upon looking back on it now, she understood why.

So much of these memories were bred and fueled by negative emotions such as hate and fear; that's what that boy's fight with the Alchemist connoted anyway. But this time, even she could feel it.

A boy's desire to protect a single girl, that was all there was.

(It was comforting, like... a warm pleasant feeling of protection was running through me. It made me feel safe...)

Hokaze had these thoughts with a smile.

Even as Kamijou-san's arm was hurdling through the air, Hokaze had not removed her gaze from the boy's face; she found that she couldn't! Because despite any of the pain he was no doubt feeling, Kamjou-san had not once lost that determined gleam in his eye. It was as if... he did not care whether his body was screaming at him to stop, as something as trivial as that would not and could not stop him from saving the girl in front of him.

That drive, that motivation, what caused such a thing...?

Hokaze truly wondered that from the bottom of her heart.

And then... she saw hell.

(T-That place... such a place...!?)

Hokaze didn't know what to say. Even after all the previous landscapes of misfortune that she had thus far witnessed, it was always focused on what her human mind could conjure up as 'believable' or 'realistic'. So from a logical standpoint -which is one that you start to apply especially in somewhere like Academy City- everything she saw was within the realm of possibility, no matter how misfortunate or unlucky it might be.

But...?

(But those worlds... that blonde haired witch, how...!?)

Her dominion ruled over everything, nothing was out of her reach. It was like... the magic of the gods. And that magic was used to shatter Kamijou-san's heart into a million pieces. It was horrible...

One scene stood out, and for the life of her, she could not get it out of her head.

He... had been stabbed by those who he cared about. A classmate and a teacher, grinning madly and savagely as they soaked in Kamijou-san's blood.

Hokaze grew nauseous at the memory.

(What if... What if it was Shokuhou-sama who did that...? Or even Misaka-san...? Would... Would I have been able to bear it...? Would I have been able to keep moving forward with that in my head as something that had happened in reality?)

Hokaze asked such a question to herself.

.

..

...

(No.)

Who was she trying to fool? Of course she wouldn't have been able to bear such intense mental strife.

...Not when she would be surrounded by nothing but empty darkness... Not when the whole world saw her as a villain... Not when a supreme being was finding new ways to kill her... Not when she would be forced to forget who made up Hokaze Junko... Not when...

...she would have to kill herself for the sake of everyone else.

(I-I can't.)

Hokaze thought, wanting to banish those scenarios in her head. She didn't want that to happen to her, ever.

But... he didn't get that same choice, did he?

(Kamijou-san...)

Kamijou had braved all those horrors, only for the sake that he'd be able to see everyone again.

That...

That was...

(Love.)

That was the first word that popped into her head, strangely enough. Now, even though Hokaze did not everything about such an emotion, this was it.

There couldn't possibly be any other explanation, could there?

(Kamijou-san loves this world. He loves the world Shokuhou-sama and the others are a part of.)

Hokaze began to tear up.

'I would never want to screw up a person's life that badly just for my own self satisfaction. I don't think I could live with myself if I did that to her.'

But... even though he loves everyone, loves this world, he does not get any in return. The boy who gives the most does not get what he is more than due.

That wasn't fair.

It wasn't fair that his life was geared to make him suffer.

It wasn't fair that he thought that way about himself.

It wasn't fair that so much darkness is behind such a blinding smile.

(It wasn't... fair...)

But... why should things remain as they are?

A flickering feeling burned from somewhere...

(Ah... this is my heart isn't it?)

This feeling was no doubt caused by a variety of things.

Her Queen's admiration and devotion for the boy...

The fact that her most special person was able to have a connection with someone who genuinely appreciated her and made her happy, filled her heart with overwhelming joy. Shokuhou Misaki trusted another person, and that trust was forged from a bond that she treasured with her very existence. Kamijou-san's actions to save her despite the possibility of him being manipulated...? Hokaze was sure that saved Shokuhou-sama in more ways than one.

Not to mention beyond his heroic exploits that Hokaze had come to know, there lay a casual kind nature and selfless attitude. Coupled with that un-flickering resolve of his, even amidst all the pain and suffering he's been through.

Hokaze Junko felt emotions on Kamijou's behalf, as if they were affecting her as well. What did that mean?

(Hopefully, I can find out the answer...)

Hokaze thought with finality, a smile in her face.

Because like she said- why should things remain as they are?

And thus, this girl with the violet ringlets was determined to make a single boy smile, along with the rest of them.

...

"(He loves the world, huh? How fitting- hehehe~)"

Somewhere... the girl belonging to that Voice was surely smiling.

...

---

Next Scene:

FORGET_ME_NOT - Shokuhou_Misaki: Part 2

---

Everyone was prepared, or at least- they hoped they were.

They had all seen the many happenstance encounters that a boy and girl shared in that past summer. And they felt like they understood a little more about the girl known as Shokuhou Misaki because of it.

(Shokuhou-san holds those memories as precious beyond measure. Not that I can blame her...)

Itsuwa thinks.

If she was in that girl's position- something she longed for- she would feel the same thing. But that's exactly why; that's exactly why Itsuwa and the rest could relate so much. That's exactly why the thought of those precious experiences that only belonged to them and them alone disappearing was absolutely terrifying.

And thats what Shokuhou had to go through. But now she knew it was all a fallacy, an illusion meant to trick her, the greatest mental esper.

So... with all of that in mind, Itsuwa- and all the others, snapped to attention to find out just how this memory would conclude.

However...

...they weren't prepared for the revelations that would make themselves known.

"(Here we go...)"

Mitsuari thought with a frown.

She had a role to play after all.

"Mitsuari-san?"

Hokaze questioned, confused.

"I know it isn't enough Hokaze, but... I'm sorry."

And, while looking into that violet haired girl's eyes, that was all she said, all she could say.

"Let's begin part 2, okay~~~!?"

---

[ Scene Start ]

Chapter 3: True Motive Gallery

Another_Answer

Part 1

---

Did she really have to go back there?

Annoyance filled Shokuhou Misaki as she imagined the path back to the power station and artificial lake in the mountains of District 21. For an instant – truly just an instant – she seriously considered controlling twenty or so people and creating a luxurious palanquin for herself, but she rejected the idea at the last second. Even she had a concept of shame appropriate for her age.

Riiiigggghhhhhht.

"B-but she said 'At the last second'..."

Mikoto said dryly.

"You really need to exercise, Shokuhou."

"Hmph...!"

The girl huffed and looked away.

(I don't have to do~ anything.)

While gasping for breath on the winding and pitch-black mountain path, she held her phone to her ear.

"I looked into it some more since you left, but Ground Geo is definitely the one you saw," said Kumokawa Seria. "I checked the construction blueprint, the photos attached to the basic overview, and even the government office bulletins that no one would normally be able to see, but it all matches. Or at least, all the official records depict it that way."

"So there was some secret conspiracy theory going on!"

Satan declared triumphantly.

"Hm? That was an odd way of putting that."

"All of the documents my searches turned up had their 'last modified' dates altered. It looks like all of those were actually put in quite recently. What do you think about that?"

"It's hard to say."

A few days ago, she might have been overjoyed and latched onto this news.

She would have seen the evidence of altered data as proof that her memories were accurate.

"If they could change those dates, we can't be certain about what you say 'actually' happened either, can we? It's possible someone in the past added in the data with the time set to the future "

"True."

"She's not underestimating her opponent, that's good."

Shutaura commented approvingly.

"Also, we can't say altering data is the same as altering the truth. They might have overwritten the accurate data with identical accurate data. That way I would assume the data is false when I found the evidence of their altering ability."

She had already seen the Strobila and Emergency Aid.

She still did not know who the enemy was or the full scope of the incident, but she needed to assume this much given what she did know.

When you took the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse, did you end up with the original or the reverse?

As confusing as it sounded, that was the kind of thing Shokuhou was dealing with at the present moment.

How much effort and planning went into it? Was her enemy bluffing? Did she purposely make information available to trip her up?

Shokuhou had to ask herself questions like these. She had already figured she was dealing with someone insanely smart, so that much was a given.

It was not a battle of strength per say, not like a certain Railgun girl was used to, but a battle of twits. They kept this in mind as they watched.

"At any rate, the altered files were classification rank S. Whoever they are, they can easily reach a level a step beyond the highest classification level known to the public. They've clearly broken away from their loyalty to the Board of Directors. I can't tell if this is real or a bluff, but I do know they have the power and conviction to do something like this for nothing but a step in their preparations. You should be careful."

"R-Rank S...!?"

Uiharu muttered in awe.

"That's pretty high up, right Uiharu?"

Shirai asks, even though she already knew the answer.

"Y-Yes. Judgement only gets Rank B classification, Rank A in case of emergency..."

Saten and Mikoto, and even Misuzu nodded at the new information.

"I already know that." Shokuhou elegantly wiped sweat from her brow with a handkerchief. "Besides, this already went well past my predictive ability from the moment someone knew enough about the incident with that boy to pull off an attack like this. I will not be foolish enough to look down on them."

The person who was doing this knew Kamijou Touma.

That was a thought that put many people on edge.

But just like a certain goddess, they had no idea that same person was among them.

"..."

Mitsuari stayed silent.

"I don't really care about you or anything, but he isn't strong enough to handle someone's death. So don't go off and die. If you do die, I'll give you the proper decorations, so make sure you contact me."

"That goes for both of us "

With a quiet laugh, Shokuhou Misaki ended the call.

Everyone froze at that.

It was strangely sad that such a conversation needed to happen, and of course the indifference that was displayed along with it.

But... it was true, wasn't it? That boy was an advocate for life and peace. Someone like that...

(That boy wouldn't be able to handle another's death if he thought he could have done anything about it...)

Kanzaki said sadly.

She then stared into empty space and muttered in her heart.

(When did that hag gain that impudent skill for being tsundere?)

"Hahahaha..."

Tsuchimikado immediately burst out laughing.

Thinking about it was not going to give her an answer and it disturbed her to get too involved with that older, large-breasted tsundere who was actually an immature old hag who refused to grow up. Shokuhou decided spending any more thought on this was a waste of her time and so changed her train of thought.

"She's really got you there, doesn't she, Kumokawa-senpai~?"

The boy said, stretching out her name in a teasing tone. However this earned him a a heavy glare in response.

Meanwhile, everyone else was confused as to the tense atmosphere they were feeling.

(Since when were things like this with Kumokawa-senpai and Tsuchimikado?)

Himegami wondered. She was just now questioning those two and their... relationship?

(I really don't think that's the right word. Its like they secretly hate each other as well, but that can't be it, right?)

Holy shit, she got it right.

She could see the artificial lake and tower now.

The facility was so massive that it was difficult to hide. Normally thinking, it would be impossible to remove it without affecting the surroundings at all. The fact that it looked so very different from her past made it the singularity for her personal mystery and contradiction.

"Um... What?"

Hamazura asked.

"She's saying its the key feature that this whole conspiracy comes back to, retard. Were you even super paying attention?"

Kinuhata retorts back with bite.

Hamazura can only sweat in response.

"R-Right."

It was supposedly constantly monitored by countless cameras and sensors, but all she saw from the outside were a metal fence surrounding the lake and a gate sealed with chains and a padlock.

Whether it had changed form or not, it was still the place she had once wandered into and collapsed on the ground.

Despite her miniskirt, she climbed over the gate and inside.

"(There's been a lot of focus on my skirt since this memory started...)"

Misaki couldn't help but think as -once again- the camera angle was zoomed in on that fluttering fabric.

"(...Almost like these memories are all from the perspective of some guy...)"

...

"(I think they're onto you, Kanmachi- hehehe...)"

The Voice says with mirth in her tone.

There, she walked along the concrete shore.

"…"

Even this created an intense discrepancy between her memories and reality.

It was not that a specific aspect was wrong; she was having trouble finding anything that was the same.

And that went beyond the lake. When she looked over her shoulder and down from the mountaintop, it was blatantly obvious that the shape of the dark forest and mountains were completely wrong (or that her memories were). The locations of the rising surfaces of rock and the taller trees were clearly different.

"Although... when the brain wants to find imperfection with something, humans are usually always able to find it, so it only makes sense that she won't be able to find anything of similarity..."

Komoe mentions.

(Of course, landslides and development can easily change the natural landscape, so it isn't that strange for it to differ from my memories.)

She removed her glove and traced her fingers across the ground, but she found no information connecting it to that day. Her mindreading power was no comfort.

Even so, she faced forward again.

She looked to the circular lake surrounded by concrete and the metal tower standing up from the center.

This was where she had sprawled out on the ground back then.

It was the exact spot where she had met the boy named Kamijou Touma.

But this spot was no exception.

"It's different too," she muttered aloud without thinking.

(That place as well...?)

Mikoto thought with confusion.

(You would think that would be the one place that she wouldn't mismatch...)

It was becoming more and apparent that there was something else at play here, more than just some mere forgetfulness.

At the very least, nothing she could see matched her memories. The difference was so thorough to make it almost refreshing.

She tried lying down just like on that day.

Not only were the lake and forest different, but the locations of the stars were too.

Saten immediatley froze with wide eyes.

"Surely the person responsible for this couldn't have changed something like that too, right!?"

(Well, that was summer and this is winter, so the constellations will naturally be different.)

She made that decision and then reached a conclusion.

"Oh... ah-hahaha..."

Saten suddenly laughed sheepishly at her mistake.

When something was different, there was a reason for it. This discrepancy between her memories and reality would not happen for no reason. Were her memories wrong or was the scene before her eyes wrong? And was it intentional or coincidental? Setting all that aside, she knew there was a cause somewhere.

What a perfect way to sum up the situation.

"As expected of the Queen, getting right to the crux of the issue just like that."

Hokaze beamed at the girl's intellect.

She then sat straight up.

She reached for a cheap plastic bag from a discount store that she had brought along with her handbag. It contained an item she had bought earlier.

It was a twelve-piece screwdriver set.

In addition to different Phillips head and flathead varieties, it included one for removing frames that resembled an awl. She removed it from the case.

"Eh? A screw driver? What would she need that for...?"

Index asked with a tilt to her head.

She brushed her palm across the area she had just been lying on.

She felt the solid sensation of concrete. It absorbed the chill of the late night mountain air and seemed to reject the warmth needed for life.

And then she swung down the awl as if hammering in a metal nail.

"!"

Many were surprised at the sudden action, but more confused as to the point of it.

Normally, she would never have been able to pierce the concrete meant to hold in the massive amount of water filling the artificial lake. Even if she slammed a hammer against the bottom of it, the cheap screwdriver would have broken first.

But her wrist felt an odd sensation much like something crumbling.

It was like the sensation of hardened sand losing its form.

"Wha...?"

Arisa said in bewilderment.

She- nor anyone else- could believe it.

"I knew it," muttered Academy City's #5 Level 5.

This had actually completely fooled her and filled her with confusion, so that comment was disingenuous. However, this was the only method she could think of that could have actually fooled her.

She pinched the crumbled sand between her thumb and forefinger and rubbed the fingers together to feel it. Meanwhile, she looked back across the lake.

Shutaura voiced the collective exclamation.

"You mean... its not real concrete...?"

...

"Wait but if it's not concrete, then what the heck is it all made out of?"

Agnese wondered.

She looked at the giant concrete structure and the dark forest and mountain surrounding it.

She looked at all of it.

"That's right. The entire landscape visible from here was transformed by covering it with this."

V-Visible from here..."

Kanzaki said in utter shock.

That means that whoever changed the landscape only did it to a portion of the otherwise large Geothermal Station. Furthermore, knowing exactly where Shokuhou Misaki would be to reminisce about her memories.

That was... That was just...

(Frightening. That level of premeditated calculation is terrifying...)

A certain technology had competed with OLEDs before quietly vanishing from the stage.

That technology was magnetically-controlled monitors.

Whether CRT or LCD, the standard television used the RGB color system or added in black for a four-color composition. On the other hand, the magnetically-controlled monitors constructed the image using the CMYK structure.

The basic idea was simple. A fine powder given the basic colors was mixed into an ultra-thin water tank and magnetism was used to manipulate them and form the image.

Incidentally, that unknown television technology had later been used in an entirely different field.

Namely, military camouflage.

"Military... camouflage..."

Musujime said, sounding it out.

With that word, the pieces had all lined up for them. But even then, they still could not believe it.

The pattern could change in real-time just like a television and the bright colors did not require a backlight as LCDs did, so they had become the next generation of high-tech deception.

"That was placed over everything I can see from here," muttered Shokuhou Misaki half in annoyance.

Even her mindreading powers had found nothing about that day in the lake or even the surrounding guardrail. But that was not because reality had changed. It was due to the magnetically-controlled monitor powder covering it all.

Even if the infrastructure for mass-production was established with a large-scale factory, it was feared a single television would have cost over a million yen. And yet the basic component for those televisions had been spread all across the mountains visible from here.

It had all been an illusion. Smokes and mirrors and all that.

"That's crazy, it was all just one massive distortion..."

Lessar said in shock.

"Academy City really is more technologically advanced if they can make something like that happen."

Birdway breathed out in amazement.

(But if that's the case, what another things can they do...?)

"They certainly went a long way to mess with a girl's memory. Well, that must mean they actually have the ability to see the true value of the #5."

At any rate, her memories had not been wrong.

The lake had looked exactly as she remembered. She had only thought it had changed because it had been overwritten by massive amounts of a camouflaging substance.

However, this would not happen on its own.

Someone had done this.

And would they merely accept that she had found the truth?

The answer was a resounding no.

This was where it truly began. The enemy would contact her no matter what now.

"That's right. They even went as far as to send out men disguised as emergency aid after her, so they must be at least cognizant of her actions and positioning..."

Shirai muttered.

The enemy heading in the shadows would be revealed, freeing everyone of their pent-up curiosity.

Just who was it? Who was the person that went so far to make a Level 5 think she forgot what she truly remembered?

A slow exhale was heard from that girl, Mitsuari was a little anxious.

"Here we go I guess, time to be the bad guy, ha ha..."

She laughed dryly, however she wasn't feeling any kind of amusement in this situation. She just wanted it to be over and done with, no longer having to be chained down by these feelings of regret and guilt. No longer did she want to be plagued by the darkness, because she wanted the chance to stand with that boy in the light.

So... if they blamed her, spit on her, cursed her... so be it. If that's what 'atonement' means in this life, then she should accept it with open arms... right?

But Mitsauri forgot to recall something she spoke of atonement. She had forgotten what had happened when all of this was said and done.

---

Part 2

---

Just as Shokuhou Misaki expected, someone began to move.

"!"

Everyone widened their eyes as the view began to change.

Academy City's #5 Level 5 was sometimes told her body did not look like a middle schooler's and the same could be said of this person.

However, it was meant in the exact opposite way here.

Labored breathing filled a vehicle.

The forty foot container was pulled by a large truck and was by no means small. In the West, it was not uncommon for people to make similar modifications and then live in them. Even if it had been built here to constantly monitor District 21's Ground Geo and the area around the power plant, the intense oppressive feeling undoubtedly came from the girl's appearance.

"That's one big missy..."

Shira displayed shock at seeing the... girl?

...

"W-Wha..."

Fukiyose let out in shock at what she was seeing.

In fact, everyone was of a similar state. Although... what exactly were they seeing!?

She may have weighed as much as three hundred kilograms.

The Tokiwadai Middle School uniform was pulled tight and looked about to burst.

Not only did she have no division between face and neck, her silhouette even had an unclear division between face and shoulders.

Her breathing sounded so labored because her own flesh was crushing her windpipe.

"I-Is that really a girl...?"

Mikoto had to ask this question.

(And that uniform!? Wouldn't I have noticed if someone like that went to our school!?)

"Hee hee. Doo hoo hoo. …Ahh, ahh. So she has at last crossed the final line. Now I can't back off either."

In strange news stories from the West, one would occasionally hear about people who grew too fat to walk on their own and had to be rescued because they were too big to fit through the door and leave their own house.

This girl looked like she fit that description.

With a wet dripping sound, this thing that had lost all resemblance to a girl licked her lips. While continuing to have trouble breathing despite no one strangling her, she gave a laugh that seemed crushed by her own flesh.

This was her!? This was the allusive enemy that had one of the strongest Level 5's doubting the credibility of the one thing she should have had the most pride in!?

"How... what... that's..."

They truly did not know what to say, as Misuzu was also as tongue tied as the rest of them.

"..."

Mitsuari herself recoiled at the sight of her old... outfit.

(It really is disgusting looking at it like this... just what was I thinking...?)

That last part of her thoughts was in jest, because she already knew why she did it.

She was ugly, and she knew it. And no, she wasn't talking about her appearance. She had some semblance of confidence in her youthful looks, as arrogant as that sounds. But... she was ugly inside her heart.

Stained by thoughts of revenge and hatred, she put on the one mask that would suit an ugly girl like her, and what better way to do that but to show something that would make people recoil in disgust. After all, that mirrored her soul.

She grabbed a headset with a sweaty hand and placed it against one ear. The action resembled a DJ from an older era, but she had no other choice because the standard equipment was too small for her head.

"Wheeze wheeze… How goes the OS's synchronization?"

"It is running smoothly."

"And the other one?"

"The capture was somewhat rushed, so it will take a little longer to test it and make sure the various sensors don't cause any conflicts."

"How much longer? Cough cough."

"My estimate is forty minutes at the most."

"Then…cough…that's fine. But try to force it through ahead of schedule."

They had no idea what the girl was talking about. The words that she used were lost on that people in the room, as they did not even understand what they were seeing in the first place.

Who was this girl?

However... a sense of unease began to churn at the bottom of Hokaze's stomach.

(What's... this feeling? And why... does that face look so familair? It is just because she wearing our uniform, or is it something more...?)

Hokaze tired to figure it out, but nothing came to mind.

"(Where... just where do I know her from...?)"

Mitsuari heard this from the girl, and hee heart began to pound anxiously because of it.

With that, she tossed the headset aside.

Her eyes turned to one of the countless monitors on the container's wall.

Shokuhou Misaki was displayed there.

That girl had just regained her life and looked brighter than anything else in the world.

"She's super watching her...!"

Kinuhata stated the obvious, although she was just that surprised.

"Wait... doesn't that mean the Fifth is super walking into a trap?"

She asked.

"Hm... most likely."

Mugino responded.

"Although if that bimbo is as smart as I think she is, she knows exactly what she's walking into..."

"You have still stolen 'me'."

She used her partially-crushed vocal cords to speak in a very, very low voice that just about left the audible range.

"So it is time you were punished, Miss Bee."

Misaki made a visible grimace at those words, reminding her of the sin she had committed, no-... the various sins that she had unknowingly committed against the girl known as Mitsuari Ayu.

...

Everyone else however- couldn't be more confused by the statement. But still, it was by no means lacking in significance.

Because now, they had more than conspiracy theories as to the question of 'why?' Yes, because now they had a motive.

"This girl... has a grudge against Shokuhou-san?"

Uiharu came to that conclusion.

She had something stolen from her and she wants the person responsible to be punished.

"Or maybe not Uiharu. You know, because she said 'stolen me'. Not stolen from me."

Saten pointed out.

This is when Mikoto interjected.

"I think you both have good points... maybe the real truth is further in the memory..."

---

Part 3

---

When Shokuhou Misaki first noticed something was off, she thought it might be a breeze. That was because a wave ran through the entire scene just like unseen wind blowing through wheat.

But that was not right.

This was not a field filled with wheat; it was the thick concrete shore of an artificial lake. The wind would not be enough to create a wave there.

Her common sense rejected the scene before her, but her knowledge soon told her that common sense did not apply.

The scenery around her was technically a collection of magnetically-controlled monitor powder. Everything she could see was a giant screen that could display any image.

"…! They're already here!"

Everyone suddenly grew tense.

"Here we go..."

Stiyl muttered to himself.

She took a few steps back, tossed aside the screwdriver set, and reached for the handbag on her shoulder. She selected the remote she wanted by touch alone.

Her opponent responded.

With the sound of scattering sparks, a portion of the scenery burst. Less than ten meters in front of Shokuhou stood what looked like a giant mass of flesh.

"Bahh," said the figure jokingly.

The girl was standing right there, finally making an appearance in front of Shokuhou for the first time. There had been so much buildup for this single moment.

And then-!

Shokuhou did not hesitate to pull the remote from her bag.

Like a fast draw from a western, she used her thumb to spin the volume dial on an audio set remote.

The battle commenced.

"Category 330 / Prevent the indicated individual from detecting the passage of time for sixty minutes."

(That's an order she can give out!?)

Lessar thought in unabated shock.

She wanted to comment on the incredulity of such a command and how it could even be possible-

But…

"That won't work "

She heard a voice, but it came from directly behind her.

"What!?"

(Was the figure approaching from the front just an image!? Can the powder create sound and voices by rubbing together like a cricket's wings!?)

"This girl is really good at using technology. In fact, she's the perfect rival for someone who specializes in manipulating the human brain."

Musujime said, starting to see exactly what the highschool girl had pointed out before.

She frantically turned around and a mass of flesh surrounded by feminine subcutaneous fat filled her vision.

But that was not just because the figure was so close.

This person had to weigh two hundred or even three hundred kilograms. It was doubtful she could even walk on her own and she wore the same Tokiwadai uniform as Shokuhou, but it almost looked like someone had drawn the uniform on a balloon before inflating it. At first, Shokuhou had not recognized the uniform that was about to burst from within.

Looking like that, Shokuhou was certain she would have at least heard of this person even if she was in a different class or year.

And so she asked a natural question.

"Are you really in middle school?"

"Heh heh heh. I could ask you the same thing."

Shokuhou felt like the figure's oddly sweet tone of voice was an imitation of her own, so an unpleasant feeling rushed across her entire body.

"So even Shokuhou doesn't know her."

Mikoto commented.

But beyond what the girl had mentioned, there was another thing they were all wondering. Even despite that obese look, why did it all seem so... ominous- like... this was all leading up to some sort of grand reveal.

"What the hell was going on...!?

Mikoto wondered.

She took a few steps back with uncertain footing.

She moved away without even thinking about it.

What was this thing?

Academy City's #5 once more pointed the audio set remote at her target.

"I already told you that won't work," said the mocking voice. "If I thought it would, I would never actually show myself to you, now would I?"

"That's true... whoever this person is, she's at least shown she's more than capable of thinking of everything Shokuhou-san could do in any given situation."

Fukiyose said.

"So then... how does she win?"

Shokuhou heard a bizarre sound like gathering static electricity or an old CRT TV being switched on.

"What?"

Her right arm changed color up to the shoulder.

"Eh?"

They were all startled by the sudden change.

The glove and sleeve of her winter uniform blazer did too. A shiny black pattern covered her arm as if someone had drawn a marble pattern with sticky heavy oil.

Next, "it" arrived.

The low rumble resembled the previous static electricity sound, but it was something else.

This was the sound of countless insect wings.

Many girls instantly recoiled in disgust, some in fright.

"Are those bugs...!?"

Arisa stated in fearful uncertainty.

It was a swarm of giant hornets that could attack as a group and even kill a large bear to protect their hive. There were a thousand or maybe even more and they rushed at Shokuhou with the density of a sandstorm. Specifically, they rushed at her right arm.

"Ugh... disgusting."

Even Shutaura was bothered by the off-putting sight.

"Did you know? Hfh gfh. Even children know that giant hornets will gather on black things."

"You…!"

What a terrifying sight right out of a horror film.

"S-So many... and they're so big too!"

Misuzu muttered in morbid fascination and a little unease herself.

"And Mental Out only works on people. It's useless against a military dog or a swarm of insects. Isn't that right?"

Meanwhile, the swarm of hornets the size of her thumb approached to envelop her.

But a moment later, orange light flashed in the late night.

An incredibly powerful mass of flames appeared in empty space and intercepted the swarm of hornets. The insects were roasted in an instant and their corpses fell while twinkling like sparks.

An outside attack!?

"Wh-What happened!?"

Saten asked in shock, confused as to where the sudden flames came from.

However, not even Shokuhou's Mental Out allowed her to use a different esper power with a remote.

So what had happened?"

"Doo hoo hoo. Found one in the forest."

The mass of flesh laughed.

Shokuhou followed her gaze and saw someone trying to hide by slipping between the trees that swayed in the night wind. However, that single portion of the dark forest changed to a neon pink. The pink formed an accurate circle with a five meter radius. It was much like a painted-on spotlight marker.

"That's... a Tokiwadai girl- but what is she-... Ah..."

Orsola said in confusion, but then she realized it.

This was a girl who had come to Shokuhou's aide.

"I believe you can only accurately control about fourteen people at once. All of your hidden pawns are powerful espers, aren't they? Now, where are the others hidden? Once I cut off all your arms and legs, only the head will remain. Only the brain that can't even crawl along the ground."

Many winced at that violent declaration of violence

(Just how much does this girl hate the blonde one...?)

Agnese thought.

"Category 330 / Prevent the indicated individual from detecting the passage of time for sixty minutes."

Shokuhou ignored her and turned the remote's dial.

The enemy's giant round head shook back and forth.

But…

"I already told you," continued the voice. "That won't work "

"You're…kidding."

(This one isn't an image made with the display ability of the magnetically-controlled monitor. I really truly did activate the remote toward her. Does that mean…my power really doesn't work on her!?)

"Why doesn't it work, surely she doesn't have a ability like Kamijou-chan, right?"

Komoe asked, becoming more and more familiar with just rare and peculiar her students power was.

"No, it must be something else, some loophole that she's using..."

Himegami muttered.

Little did she know though, she was exactly right.

...

It didn't matter if you were a Level 5 boasting immeasurable strength and battle powerless, there was always a weakness to exploit.

Those two boys, one a zero, and the other a five, knew that better than anyone.

(That damn Kihara knew exactly what could get past my power...)

"Tch...! Just thinking about it pisses me off."

Accelerator said in annoyance.

...

(At the end of the day, they're just human like the rest of us...)

Hamazura thought, remembering how quickly a certain crazy Level 5 could take damage by utilizing certain weapons.

Although, such a blood-thirsty battle was not something the boy wanted to remember, for both of their sakes.

Before she could gather her thoughts, the next oddity attacked her.

A swarm of tiny insects crawled up from her feet and toward her neck. An indescribable sense of revulsion travelled from her fingertips and up her spine.

"O-Oh dear..."

Orsola couldn't help but shiver in place, just imagining such a thing happening to her.

"No, this is just paint made to look like that!"

"Well spotted. But there is such a thing as a primitive fear you can't avoid even if you know it isn't real. The descriptions of the hallucinations had during withdrawal can be used to analyze a 'pattern of fear' common to the entire human race."

The talking lump of flesh shook oddly.

"Wait!? The bugs are super just paint!?"

Kinuhata exclaimed in surprise.

"I guess it's not that surprising. After all, we already know she can create anythi g she wants using that illusion tech."

Hamazura surmised.

A moment later, a giant eyeball appeared on the swollen flesh.

"Ah!?"

If they thought they couldn't get anymore creeped out, they were just proven wrong.

As soon as its gaze pierced through her, Shokuhou almost stopped breathing. She seriously felt the movements of her diaphragm slow from a mere mental attack.

"Ah…kah…!?"

"!"

And if it was even possible, this abomination of skin and fat's power became even more terrifying in the eyes of those watching.

"All girls love Greek mythology which we're familiar with from astrology, but that mythology also included Medusa. You know, the female snake monster known for her petrifying eyes."

This intentionally "transformed" person gave a thin, thin smile.

"Medusa...!?"

Fukiyose turned to recall that myth.

The visual fear that everyone held had been drawn out and transformed into a technology to drive that fear into a target's heart.

Many couldn't help but analyze that piece of mythology and what exactly it meant to the girl trying to replicate its horrors.

"Real life pretrification!? No way..."

Shirai uttered out.

"Gasp…gasp!?"

"Keh heh heh. Ha ha ha ha! I see you're finally talking like me, Miss Bee."

Shokuhou ignored the mocking laughter and doubled over.

Talking like me...?

They all couldn't help but feel... that this person was trying to look as disgusting as possible on purpose...

"(But why would someone want to do that...?)"

Lessar muttered.

She couldn't imagine anyone -a girl for that matter- wanting to make themselves unpleasant to to the eye.

She clenched her teeth and made up her mind.

A roar burst out a moment alter.

A tremendous impact struck the entire area, including Shokuhou and her enemy.

"!"

A trembling pain ran up from her feet and spread from her bones and into the surrounding flesh. This was electricity. For an instant, the magnetically-controlled monitor dust lost control. With the sound of a sandbag's contents spilling everywhere, the insects crawling on Shokuhou and the giant eyeball both vanished.

"This time it is lightning!? Misaka Misaka says in surprise and shock! The Shokuhou-lady used it even though she was caught in the blast radius!"

Last Order couldn't contain contain her curiosity at such an action.

"Gyah!? Keh heh heh. But now I've found the second."

The enemy produced a wet sound while trembling.

Another portion of the scenery turned an unnatural neon pink.

"How many more? As long as I know where they are, I can go crush them. You may arrogantly control people, but you couldn't stand to see one of them die, could you? Now, how much longer can you maintain control of your pawns?"

(She was right about that... but I won't and will not ever see that as a weakness.)

Misaki thought in her heart with a smile.

(Isn't that right, Kamijou-kun?)

"…!"

"Oh? Does that look on your face mean you ordered them all to withdraw? That only saves me the trouble."

Was Shokuhou Misaki losing all her allies? Did she already lose the moment she stepped foot onto this battlefield?

They all asked themselves questions like that as they watched this abnormal fight in front of them.

Shokuhou Misaki could only wonder who this enemy was.

Even after all this, she had no idea who the girl could be.

Even with all this technology, outdoing Mental Out in psychological warfare was not normal. To Shokuhou's knowledge, only Kumokawa Seria could pull that off. That was why she always kept tabs on that girl's actions. She did not know what kind of life this person lived, but Shokuhou's network would have caught her if she used this kind of power on a daily basis.

Also, this enemy was too familiar with Shokuhou's personal past and the loopholes in her powers. Was she simply a dedicated stalker or…

"Do you have some connection to me?"

Finally, a question that everyone was also wondering.

Everyone's eyes lit up in interest.

"Heh heh heh hah hah! Cough, cough. Of course I do. Geh heh heh. Otherwise, I would have no reason to resent you!"

"But I've never seen you. I don't know who you are."

"Doo hoo hoo! Of course you don't. If you had ever met me, I wouldn't have been able to resist killing you then."

Such direct hated, what could have caused such strain? Was it simply the hatred for the existence of Level 5's, like the group of Deadlock advocated for?

Or... was it deeper than that...?

Either way, they could only continue guessing. But... the way this battle was playing out, they wouldn't have time to do that.

Their lives were closely related, but they had never met before.

They had never seen each other before, but intense hatred had grown within this girl.

After going over the available information, Shokuhou came to a conclusion.

Breathing halted as they wondering what the girl had come up with... but-

"You really are insane."

"Gyaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! That's the thing! That's the thing, Miss Bee! People like me… People like us readily manipulate people's minds, so who can prove we still have sound minds of our own!?"

Shokuhou did not bother hearing her out.

Misaki had come to a conclusion that was most likely true. Similarity, her opponent had also risen a good point.

After all, could the continued act of manipulating people's psyche really be good for one's own mental stability? To see the world in a way that revolves around you?

Although perhaps that was just Academy City in a nutshell for you. Children are taught from a young age that in order to advance their ability, they must manipulate the AIM fields around, their Personal Reality,

(It really makes me wonder... what they were thinking giving kids such powerful abilities...)

Misuzu thought with a grim frown at the content of the conversation she was listening to.

With the useless remote in her hand, she faced the mass of flesh head on.

Of course, the enemy noticed and calmly began to alter the surrounding magnetically-controlled monitor.

But first, Shokuhou threw the remote toward the mass of flesh's face with all her strength.

"Wha-…!? Abhah!?"

Everyone was surprised at this, but then quickly smiled in amusement.

"Haha! Someone's been paying attention!"

Lessar said with a sly smile.

...

Misaki smirked in accomplishment while seeing this again.

(I took one out of you're book. Hope your proud of me, Kamijou-kun...)

"Shokuhou-sama's so cool!"

Hokaze praised.

"Why do you look so shocked? Since you set foot in my memories with him, you should know these remotes can be used like this."

Shokuhou approached as she spoke.

She reached into her bag, pulled out another remote, and threw it. In truth, Shokuhou had difficulty even throwing a plastic bottle in the trash, but she managed fine here. The target was simply that large.

Difficulty throwing... a plastic bottle... in the trash.

It did not matter what what going right now, that had to be addressed.

Mikoto was immediately started snickering, followed by Aogami, followed by Tuschimikado, and then followed by Lessar. Next thing you knew, everyone is now laughing.

"I know it's not the time but- REALLY!? I can totally imagine you being the type of person to continually keep missing the shot, even as you try to scoot closer- Hahahahaha!"

Whilst picturing that in his head, Tsuchimikado said aloud, causing many more snickers and giggles.

That girl was reaching for her bag.

"N-No Shokuhou-sama you can't!"

Hokaze instantly latched onto the girl's hand, not letting her commit mass murder on everyone's memories.

"Tch...!"

An undignified response came out of Misaki's mouth.

And to top it all off.

"Heh."

Mitsuari was having the time of her life watching this blonde succubus' suffering, it being a nice change of pace from the viewing of her past self on screen.

But, we must go back into the fray.

(Ah mou... I swear they're never going to let me live this down!)

Was Misaki's last thoughts about her exposed lack of athleticism.

As the dull sounds of impact continued, the mass of flesh gave a short cry and tried to cover her face with her hands. This may have been a shockingly pathetic fight from a combat professional's point of view, but Shokuhou knew anyone who took the easy route by controlling people's minds would not bother to train their body. All the while, she made her way closer and closer.

"Oh... so she's aware of her own weakness, but does nothing to diminish it..."

Hamazura says dryly, referring to Shokuhou in this case.

Either way, this knowledge was clearly working against her opponent, giving her the means to get in close.

But what was she going to do?

She knew what she had to do.

(Even if something seems mysterious at first glance, it isn't just a vague and mysterious phenomenon. Just like the lake was covered by the transformation ability of the magnetically-controlled monitor, there has to be reason my powers don't work on her.)

Her opponent was easily three hundred kilograms. Classes of martial arts were divided by weight because differences in body size could sometimes mean more than the presence of a deadly weapon. However, Shokuhou did not hesitate. She doubted the bloated girl before her had a method of transferring her weight into destructive power.

They all listened and heard as the girl tried to deduce the outlier.

(And I've already seen a technology that could provide a resistance to my Mental Out, even if the odds of success were low.)

Her goal was the mass of flesh's neck.

"Her neck?"

Orsola asked.

The young woman wondered where a weakness could he found in such a mass of fat.

More accurately, the back of the neck.

She accurately grabbed a small plastic point attached like a larval jellyfish.

"A Strobila. You tried to trap me using this, didn't you!?"

"She has one in her too!? Then.. what does that means... what?"

Fukiyose exclaimed in surprise, then quickly turning to confusion.

Kumokawa chose to answer.

"I assume... that the Strobila is what has been acting as the interference with Mental Out. Although... something still doesn't add up..."

The busty highschool girl stated.

She pulled with all her might.

The terminal was apparently attached directly to her heart, but Shokuhou had experienced the same thing and so showed no concern for her opponent.

And…

"Category 011 / The indicated individual must answer accurately to all questions."

"Will it work this time, without the Strobila attached...?"

Kanzaki questioned with urgency in her tone.

They all wondered.

"Ah…gah!?"

The mass of flesh let out a short and thick cry, but that was all she could manage.

She stopped moving and a dead look entered her eyes.

"!"

Surprise and a bit of joy reclaimed many who were watching.

"She did it!"

Uiharu cheered, surprising many people with her sudden excitement.

"Ah- sorry."

That was the sign that this still-unknown enemy had finally, finally, finally fallen under Mental Out's control.

"Huh, fifth rate actually pulled it off..."

Accelerator muttered, sounding slightly impressed

(But...)

Something was still not right.

(All that planning and outmaneuvering, just to get done in by someone sneaking up behind you? Doesn't sound very realistic, not for the one who was supposedly pulling the strings this whole time...)

The boy further deduced.

---

Part 4

---

Shokuhou Misaki spun the television remote in her hand.

The three hundred kilogram girl stood stock-still in front of her. She moved back and forth in front of that enemy while trying to gather her thoughts a little.

But she simply could not gather them.

Everything this enemy had said had made no sense whatsoever.

"I guess I'll just have you give me some spoilers for everything I don't understand."

Was it finally time? Would they finally hear the answers they wanted from the source?

Everyone listened in anticipation.

(This girl has so much hatred inside of her... I want to know why? What happened for a precious student to become like this?)

The childlike adult wanted to show kindness to this girl. And she hoped that it would be given to her in one way or another.

She stopped the spinning remote, pointed it forward, and asked a question while pressing the button.

"Are you the one behind this? Or is there someone beyond even you?"

"No, I am the deepest point. I was the only one – cough – giving orders."

It seemed the coughing was legit and not just an act.

"So she is indeed the one who was manipulating Shokuhou Misaki all this time."

Shutaura confirmed.

But... if this was her, then wasn't her capture too easy?

(I have a bad feeling regarding this...)

"What is the backbone of your power?"

"I work alone. I simply control useful-looking people from valuable underground organizations, research institutions, prestigious schools, and the like to give the illusion of an organization."

"And how do you control them?"

"Five Over OS."

"Five... Over...?"

Uiharu asked in confusion.

Most people have never heard of that term before.

"Be more specific."

"A Five Over is a military technology that reproduces a Level 5's power with pure industrial technology. However, OS stands for Outsider, so it exists outside that mainstream method. Simply put, it uses techniques fundamentally different from the Level 5's power to produce a phenomenon resembling the Level 5's power."

At this information, the reactions varied.

Some were incredibly shocked at the simplified explanation.

"Reproduce it!?"

Fukiyose exclaimed.

She could not believe such a thing was possible.

"It makes you wonder, right? If they have the means to reproduce the abilities of Level 5's, why even give them to humans at all?"

Kumokawa said, making it clear that she was already knowledgeable about such things.

"B-But why would they even need something like that!? Aren't the Level 5's they have enough? What would be the point of replicating their powers further...!?"

Shirai asked incredulously, building onto that very same important question.

The answer came to her swiftly, however not from Kumokawa.

"Hehe- isn't it obvious Kuroko-chan? It's insurance, plain and simple."

The Voice said, a little too gleefully for her tastes.

"Insurance...?"

Mikoto said slowly with her brow furrowed. She -along with everyone else- had the feeling that they would not like the answer.

"Toddlers with the means to cause destruction with a thought? Impressionable youths amassing power to take down entire cities or countries? Do you really think that the adults of Academy City wouldn't put counter-measures in place? To deal with threats that no normal police organization can face? For a city of science, it only makes sense for them to give machines role that can triumph over a human in case of emergency."

That... was all true. Not a single fallacy was spoken by the Voice.

"That's... horrible. The adults approved of projects like that... ?"

Arisa said softly in shock.

"Yes... it is... but it makes sense."

Shutaura commented hesitantly, causing to Arisa to gaze at her in surprise.

"As we've seen in these memories, those with power will use it for their own benefit, even in the most trivial of situations. Similarly, sometimes even emotion is directly linked to one's ability. Can those who are not even adults yet really control their power in such a way that exemplifies restraint?"

Arisa could not argue against Shutaura's logic.

"Yes, you are right, I just hope that the Five Overs aren't used to cause anybody distress in the process..."

(I see. So the concept behind this large-scale magnetically-controlled monitor might be a version of me using a different method.)

Shokuhou Misaki directly manipulated the internal structure of the human brain.

However, the "knowledge" within the larger category of one's "personality" was defined as that which adapted to an unknown environment.

There was a report that sounded more like a dubious urban legend that said, if a human was closed inside a pitch-black and empty room, their personality would collapse within only a few days.

"...!"

Index stiffened at that rumor.

Although, even with that knowledge being the case, the girl herself still did not readily understand the repercussions if what it meant for one's personality to dissemble itself.

"..."

However Othinus was so very silent, thinking of a whole different matter altogether.

(If that's true of a human, then-...)

Yes, Othinus was thinking of a time where she had used that same method of torture on someone.

(What does it mean that he held onto his soul? Does that make him strong willed...? Or...)

If someone maintained their personality and social sanity even amidst endless darkness as far as the eye can see, and true hell even beyond that... then...

(Human, are you broken...? Does it... Does it still bother you... Touma?)

Othinus implored in her thoughts, however she wouldn't get an answer.

No directly that is.

"He has not forgotten, Odin. He has just kept the 'episodes' from you, from everyone."

Tearing into Othinus' thoughts, the Voice answers, to everyone's confusion.

"(...! Hu...man...)"

Othinus throat suddenly went dry. She was frozen at what that meant.

Kamijou Touma had not forgotten his experience, nor shouid it have been possible for him to do so. But it still bothered him, pained him, HURT him.

He has not healed. And... What was it? What twisted nightmare does he recall then?

These questions were stuck in Othinus' mind, however she would get the liberty of answers, as that...

...That was a story for another time.

That was the opposite of Shokuhou's process.

Instead of controlling the mind from within, they would thoroughly decorate the external world to convince someone the contents of their mind were wrong.

It was the same thing Shokuhou had experienced at the artificial lake.

"Why did you do this?"

The question had been asked.

They wanted the 'villain's' reason for being, her motive for spite. They had been wondering that from the very beginning. But... as they would soon find out-...

"You aren't as ready as you think you are..."

Anxiety arose from the lots of their stomaches. The Voice's interruption did not bode well for their worries.

"For revenge. To punish you for stealing 'me'."

"Be more specific."

"I do not think I can retrieve 'me'. I am simply fighting to satisfy myself."

Her responses were too abstract.

But if that was what she believed, no more information could be drawn from her.

"That's right. What does it mean for her to reply like that while under Mental Out's influence? Either she's insane... or..."

(Wait!? Is she-!?)

Mugino trailed off, coming to a conclusion that made what seemed to be a very easy fight make sense.

Also, Shokuhou had forgotten to ask the most important question.

"Who are you?"

"I…"

Shokuhou's powers meant the enemy had to answer accurately to any question asked of her. That could not be fought with willpower and the Strobila had already been removed.

That meant it was impossible for her to lie.

And yet…

"I am Shokuhou Misaki. I am here to take revenge on you for stealing me."

Wh...at...?

That answer had surpassed anything they were expecting.

---

Part 5

---

She did not understand what that meant.

"Huh...?"

Itsuwa uttered out.

She did not understand, none of them did.

How... How could they!?

Ever since this whole wild goose chase started, pieces had kept falling out of place, not making any sense whatsoever.

They knew the girl known as Shokuhou Misaki shared a link with the forgotten memories of Kamijou Touma, and she valued that past with every fiber of her being. And how could she not...? Kamijou Touma had treated her like an equal, not a tool to be used for the sake of experiment or some ideal like social prestige. Kamijou Touma was was someone she could be herself around, and she absolutely loved that.

And then he had then saved her, not caring in the slightest of what her power could do or the implications of such. And what was a simple grounding to reality blossomed into a far more passionate emotion.

Shokuhou was... for lack of a better word... smitten with the boy.

And they could understand that feeling, and they could understand the logic behind it.

But this? What has happened next? It did not make sense one bit.

An unknown person had tricked Shokuhou Misaki into thinking none of her memories with Kamijou were real. It was so intricate, that this person needed to re-form the place where her memories began.

And when she finally found the culprit, this mass of a woman, she gives off the most confusing and illogical statement ever as to her identity.

Yes, suffice it to say, many were perplexed.

"What the hell is super going on here!?"

Kinuhata cried out.

---

Part 6

---

Shokuhou Misaki's legs and mind grew unsteady.

The massive three hundred kilogram girl still stood in front of her and she had called herself Shokuhou Misaki. They looked nothing alike and anyone asked if they did would have asked if you were joking, but Shokuhou herself knew better than anyone that this girl could not lie.

In that case, what did she mean?

What was that answer?

"Wait! Wait a second! You're Shokuhou Misaki? Do you really think that?"

"Yes."

"Argh! This is all so confusing!"

Mikoto cried out while scratching her head rapidly.

"Is she some sort of clone or something!? Why did she believe that to be true!?"

You can tell what sort of life the young girl lives as she jumped to the most benign answer possible. Either that or she reads a lot. But it's the former, yeah.

In fact, this is what Misuzu was thinking as she gazed at her daughter.

(Mikoto!?)

"Then who am I? Who is the person everyone else believes is Shokuhou Misaki?"

"I do not know. I thought I would reveal her true identity here."

"Reveal her identity here- so then what? Is just some quest to reclaim some mistaken identity that she thinks she lost...?"

Lessar asked in wonder, getting caught in the pace of the moment.

"But…but you can't be Shokuhou Misaki. Shokuhou Misaki is more beautiful and cute! She has a figure anyone would be jealous of and she shines all the way to the tips of her na

"Not even gonna comment on this... too much of a hassle."

Kumokawa said with a tired expression.

"Really...?"

Musujime asked dryly.

"Is that really how you affirm your existence...?"

Aogami then added with a perplexed expression.

"I-It's true isn't it?"

Misaki replied unabashed, okay- slightly abashed.

The blue haired pervert was silent for a few moments.

"Tch! Dammit you've got me there!"

Aogami couldn't be expected to deny when someone is attractive. You could say that's how he affirms his existence.

"It is not my fault I ended up like this. It was the malice of a third party that turned me into this."

"…"

She could not think of anything else to ask.

What was this?

THAT WAS THE QUESTION EVERYONE ELSE WAS ASKING!

What did it all mean!? This is beyond whatever some B-grade movie could concoct as a plot twist. This was an irregularity that created more answers than the query defined and resolved.

"Ugh... I have a headache..."

Fukiyose grumbled out.

...

"Um... I think my brain is too small for this~."

Lessar says cutely while bonking her head with her fist.

"Yes, clearly you're too stupid, please refrain from speaking at all from now on."

Birdway said rapid fire.

"N-Now hold on!"

That girl was under an inviolable rule forcing her to accurately answer all questions, so she could not lie. This was not a lie, but it was a delusion far removed from reality. So did this girl truly believe this delusion?

Or…

Or…?

(No, wait! Wait, wait! Don't let her trick you. Or rather, don't get swallowed up in her delusion. No one would let something like this be a transformed Shokuhou Misaki. Besides, I have Mental Out. This's the power of Academy City's #5 Level 5 and it can't be mass-produced. It proves I'm the real one beyond a shadow of a doubt.)

But did it really?

"Shokuhou-sama!"

Hokaze cried out in concern, a-and a little heated anger?

"Don't second guess yourself just because this classless hack is delusional!"

Oh shit, Hokaze was pissed.

The ringlets girl said this, clearly adding more fire to her personality. Clearly, the thought of her precious Queen doubting herself was too much to bear.

And also...

(Classless hack... Ouch. Rude...)

Mitsuari sent the girl a dry look.

"(Are these the kind of insults I'll have to deal with once the secret's out?)"

"R-Right..."

Misaki replied with a slightly surprised face.

What if the Strobila in her neck had not been a method of avoiding Shokuhou's attack and it had instead been used by a third party to restrain her power?

And it had already been proven that the Strobila or Five Over OS could control a human mind on a high level without relying on Level 5 powers.

What if some strange technique had been used without her knowledge?

No.

What if she had been under that technique's control and she had only thought she was controlling others?

"…"

What was it?

What was the answer?

"Why does this seem so familiar...?"

Shirai muttered to herself, perplexed.

Not knowing for sure who you are, why did that strike a chord with those watching? Where had they seen it first?

"..."

They could not put there finger on what it was...

Which one was the real Shokuhou Misaki? Was there any way of objectively proving it one way or the other with only the two of them here? She of course truly believed that she was Shokuhou Misaki, but what value did that belief or her memories hold when faced with techniques of freely manipulating the human mind? If she overturned all of her assumptions, could she even say who she really was?

'Is someone who merely sits around complaining really the Kamijou Touma everyone knows?'

Oh... that's why.

"... It's because this can be likened to what Kamijou-senpai experienced in that one hell..."

Shirai finished, finding her throat dry all of a sudden just remembering it.

Everyone was truly and utterly stumped at this.

The same question that boy asked himself, Shokuhou was doing the exact same.

Just like how that magic god created falsity after falsity to convince the boy he wasn't 'Kamijou Touma', Shokuhou herself was stuck in the same situation, hanging on the edge of her sanity.

Because really it all came down to one question, didn't it?

What aspect of one's self makes you who you are?

"Shokuhou-sama..."

Hokaze bore a concerned look, as her Queen's increasing doubts did nothing to ease her soul.

Just like that, a disturbing sense of floating assaulted whoever she was.

But then a supposedly impossible voice reached her ears.

"Just kidding."

"!"

A mocking voice came from the motionless mass of flesh.

Everyone froze without fail.

"Wha..."

Kanzaki let out a confused gasp.

However, before they they could even question such an impossibility, something else happened.

That alone was enough to overturn Shokuhou's assumptions, but the next thing she knew, something long and thick yet obviously not a rope had wrapped tightly around her body.

"What!?"

"! ! !"

Widening their eyes in shock, they stared as a weird looking tentacle that had suddenly grabbed Shokuhou.

Things had surpassed any and all expectations that they had. But it wasn't over yet, not even close.

Things were just getting started.

"Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Gefh, geheh. I already told you! I already tolllld you! How many times do I have to say it? Your powers don't work on me!"

Tremendous pressure squeezed at Shokuhou's organs.

"Shokuhou!"

"Shokuhou-sama!"

Mikoto and Hokaze both cried out in concern.

And as she struggled to breathe, she saw something.

The three hundred kilogram girl's flesh split open at the wrist and something flew out. Overall, it was cream-colored. It was a joint-less, flexible manipulator arm with countless suckers covering it just like an octopus or squid tentacle.

Five_Over (Out_Sider).

Modelcase_"MENTAL_OUT".

"What the hell!? Is that a legit tentacle monster!?"

Hamazura yelled out in shock.

"I must be super watching a cheesy horror movie, right? Right!?"

Kinuhata was also plenty shocked.

...

"I'm not really a tentacle guy myself, just regular bondage is fine..."

Aogami uttered these ridiculous words, however no one seemed to care as they were focused on the incredulity of the scene before them.

Shokuhou's face froze when she saw those words written on the cream-colored side.

"Designers' Gel. That's the name of this artificially redesigned fat."

Shokuhou had forgotten until now.

The Five Over OS would need a base unit like a powered suit.

It would have to be hidden somewhere.

"The 'ink' that sprayed out on my command is part of it too, you know?"

Many girl's shivered as it was becoming more and more apparent that this was a tentacle monster.

"Uwaa...! That thing's freaky...!"

Uiharu wailed out.

...

"Hm... I kinda wanna punch, see if a that thing has any guts..."

Sogita seriously started with a level stare.

...

"Hehe... would it be a bad time to mention I had a dream like this too?"

What's more concerning? The fact that it wasn't Aogami but Lessar who said this, or that a girl was the one who said it in the first place?

Either way, very much ignored in light of the situation.

With a sticky sound, something clearly split off from the three hundred kilogram girl. It was a yellowish cream-colored object much taller than a person. Countless tentacles extended from the bottom half of the giant sphere, so it looked something like an artificial octopus.

"Oh boy the innuendo's getting worse. Now we just need a girl in a swimsuit and I swear this would be %*$*."

Aogami said, causing someone to sputter out in embarrassment, her face going completely red.

You already know it was Mitsauri. She was that girl in a swimsuit.

This was Five Over OS – Modelcase Mental Out.

The surface of the round head-like body had large eyeballs written on it like hieroglyphics. Perhaps using the magnetically-controlled monitor, those drawn eyeballs rolled about and even blinked

"Ew... that's gross..."

Musujime stated with a disgusted face.

"Everything that has happened since that girl appeared has been gross!"

It seems Fukiyose was losing it

Shokuhou was still restrained by one of its tentacles, but she was focused on something other than the bizarre technology.

She was focused on the obese girl…no, on the girl who had worn that artificial fat.

"!"

(That's right!)

Shirai thought.

They all widened their eyes as a realization took hold.

The obese girl was nothing more than costume. Everyone focused their gazes at girl's appearing face.

Finally they would see, who the mastermind was.

"Heh heh."

The far-too-big Tokiwadai uniform fell to her ankles and revealed a special outfit that resembled a racing swimsuit and looked like thin rubber made to match a human silhouette.

"Ah..."

Aogami said.

The swimsuit had appeared.

"Wait a moment! I might be familiar with cultured materials but I really wasn't ready to see this transform into a full on *%$ ."

S-Stop Aogami! You're making it worse for Mitsauri. She's so embarrassed right now! What's she even imagining!?

It was a good thing that her face was not revealed just yet, although that would change in a matter of moments.

But other than that, the girl standing before her was Shokuhou Misaki. The long honey-blonde hair, the plentiful breasts that looked out-of-place on a middle school girl, the narrow waist, the long legs, and everything else were the same as the ones she saw in the mirror every morning.

Their hearts gripped in fear as a nightmare was realized. That Shokuhou was indeed correct when she thought that this girl was her.

However...!

As she watched in a daze, that face suddenly melted away.

It was like a collection of giant leeches or slugs had been forcibly shaped into a human face. While watching her own face crumble away and splat onto the ground, Shokuhou let out a cry.

"Wah! It's really melting!"

Agnese cried out in shock.

"Who in the world are you!?"

"You still don't know?"

With that reply, the grotesque cascade of flesh suddenly stopped.

The magnetically-controlled monitor dust attached to the other girl's body burst away in an instant.

This time, her true face was revealed.

And...

"Eh?"

And...!

Shokuhou Misaki spoke in confusion.

AND! ! !

That confusion was matched on most in the room. After all, they and not yet realized that such a girl was present. Or more like, they had forgotten.

Well- except for one.

"Y-You are...!?"

Hokaze's heart stopped.

She was a girl who had just found found out a most shocking truth. She was so surprised, she did not know what to do or say, she just stood there with her mouth agape.

The girl did not resemble her at all. Her chocolate-colored hair was as fluffy as cotton candy which was the exact opposite of Shokuhou's straight honey-blonde hair. Shokuhou's breasts were larger, but the other girl's legs were more beautiful. They were more than just long and slender and Shokuhou honestly felt she had lost to the flowing lines of this other girl's legs.

Altogether, this was a complete stranger.

But wait...? Hadn"t they seen this girl before. Everyone wondered that, however there curiosity would cease on this matter.

"Why does she look so familiar...?"

Kanzaki wondered.

And then...!

.

..

...

"Mit...suari-... san?"

The quiet, broken, beyond confused voice of Hokaze resounded through the room.

A name. It was a name that had been called out. And in this situation, that was definitely not ignored. So, they all looked at who Hokaze was staring at.

And there she was, for sure.

Mitsuari Ayu, the girl on the screen, wearing a expression of discomfort at the attention.

For a solid thirty seconds, nobody moved, nobody said a word. Not a thing happened. And then...

"Why...?"

Hokaze's eyes turned from frightened shock to focused seriousness. She asked the girl a question.

But even amidst everyone staring at her, Mitsuari still laughed at such a question.

"Hehe... hehehehe... hehehehehehehehe! Why? You ask me why? Surely you all are suprised right? That I was the big bad villain whole time. And you ask me why!? I SAID IT BEFORE!"

The girl's voice then got heated, changing from the giggling amusement that she had been trying to force out.

She was dredging into emotions she convinced herself she had given up. But that wasn't true. Feelings weren't that easy to deal with.

"SHE STOLE ME! Every... thing about me... was stolen."

Mitsuari cried out in rage, however tears began to fall as well.

(Even him...)

And with that, everyone dropped their guard. Why you ask?

Because hadn't they seen this before?

A misguided soul did evil with the intention of good in their hearts. And then, a boy had forgiven them, because he knew there was light amongst the darkness.

So... how was this girl any different. Were those tears fake, surely not.

Did anyone know what this girl had gone through to warrant being the person behind all of the tradegy that happened to Shokuhou? No.

Did anyone have the right to judge her when most of their consciences weren't even clean? No.

They had no right to judge, however they still has the right to listen.

"Please continue watching."

No emotion, no flair, no personality at all came through the monitor. It stunned them, but- begrudgingly- they turned back to the screen.

And yet she sensed something familiar in this girl that she had never sensed in anyone else before.

She could not put it to words and not even she could quite grasp what it was.

"You are similar."

She gave voice to this powerful sense of unease.

"You are undoubtedly similar."

"Of course I am."

The other girl replied with a slight smile.

"My power is Mental Stinger. I'm stuck at Level 3 now, but I was originally meant to reach Level 5."

"Eh?"

The girl's identity aside, Saten had a question.

"Meant to? What... does that mean...?"

...

(Oh boy. Here we go...)

Tsuchimikado thought with a strained grin. He had a feeling that nobody would take the upcoming news well.

"There is a secret file known as the Parameter List. It is an internal document used to pick favorites. It tells them whose powers to develop and whose to give up on for the sake of research, for the sake of profit, for the sake of developing the human race, and just for the sake of what the adults want. Have you heard of it?"

.

..

...

Once again, it was like time had truly stopped moving.

"""""""""""""""""W-Wha...t!?"""""""""""""""""""

---

[PLAY MUSIC]

Punishing Gray Raven - Frozen Darkness - Rosetta Boss OST

---

Shokuhou recalled what this girl had said.

They had never met, but she hated Shokuhou to the point of wanting to kill her.

They had never seen each other before because she would have killed Shokuhou right then and there if they had.

"I am Mitsuari Ayu, the ant who could not become the bee."

That was what had happened here.

Sometimes, people would take someone's life from them without ever even passing them in the hall or seeing them. They could be the loser in an idol audition or the person whose lottery number was just slightly off.

Had this girl been caught up in a similar situation?

"And I am the other fruit that was cut from the branch in order to let you grow."

Because it dictated by the Parameter List, Mitsuari was cut off from her potential. A document of hand-picked favorites, where the adults were the ones deciding who gets powers, and who doesn't.

Meaning...

"Oh g-god...!"

Mikoto uttered, face contorting with grief.

(This meant... this means...)

Meaning it was all true.

What they say about Level 5's were all true. They didn't work their collective asses off to get to where they were. The adults just took one look at their power and said 'Ooh pretty'.

So, thus and therefore...

(I... was just lucky? My effort.. my hardwork... it was all.. just a fluke? In order for my esper development to become more successful, they had to... they had to...)

A cold feeling entered Mikoto's heart. It hurt. It hurt so much she wanted to cry.

(They had to cut off someone else! People like Level 0's!? People like-!)

Ah.

"I'M THE REASON SATEN COUDN'T DEVELOP AN ABILITYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!? AHHHHHHHH...! AHHHHHH...! ITS ALL MY FAULT! I NEVER WORKED HARD, I JUST THOUGHT I DID! I JUST TOLD MYSELF I WAS GETTING SOMEWHERE WHILE I WAS CHEATING THIS WHOLE TIME!"

Mikoto screamed this from the depths of her soul.

You could say the very core of Mikoto's identity resided in the effort she had accumulated in order become a Level 5. It was an accomplishement that gave her pride as a human being, a title that meant something to her.

It validated her existence.

But... take that all away-... and all you are left with is a girl who just cheated to get to where she was. And this girl was breaking, inside and out.

"Onee-sama..."

"Misaka-san..."

Shirai and Uiharu didn't know what to say. They were completely and utterly stupefied. And Saten wasn't faring much better either.

She was completely despondent, refusing to look up from the ground she was glaring at with lifeless eyes.

Oh, but Mikoto wasn't done yet.

Mikoto's whole ideals were based off some sort of justice, a justice that -while to others may seem foolish- she takes very seriously. And adding onto that justice, she believed her hard work in ascending to the legendary Level 5, was proof of that ideal.

But... if her effort was non-existent, then what? What did that mean for her? For her life?

"If that's the case... if I trampled on the hopes and dreams of everyone else then-... why am I even here? What was the point of going to Academy City and meeting everyone? If none of it was ever real right from the beginning then-..."

Ah... yes.

"Then what good am-?"

"DON'T YOU DARE FINISH THAT SENTENCE YOUNG LADY!"

The mother was silent no more, stopping Mikoto dead in her tracks.

"I won't be accepting any kind of talk like that, do you understand?"

The woman said sternly, making Mikoto flinch slightly.

At first Misuzu felt sadness for her daughter.

As much as Mikoto didn't like to brag about her ability and Level, it was definitely apparent she was immensely proud of where she was at and the strives she had taken to get there.

But now? To hear her own daughter think she wasn't good enough? For her to even go as far to deny her life? Absolutely not. Misuzu would not stand for that.

"And... you can't be taking this seriously Mikoto, you don't even know if what that girl says is the tru-"

"It is."

The Voice interjected solemnly, causing the words to die in Misuzu's throat.

"That is one of the many hidden truths of Academy City. Mikoto Misaka- out of many other electromasters- was handpicked by the Board of Directors to become a Level 5."

Mikoto further flinched in despair. And... all the mother could do was tightly embrace her quivering daughter as she cried in silence.

Ah... was this it?

Was this when one of the only sane Level 5's would break, for good this time? She could have broken when her sisters were being massacred, but no, a hero had saved her from further heartache. But... there was no hero this time, was there? That boy was not here to make the bad things go away, like he did before.

Shirai was still in shock. So for lack of better word, useless.

Uiharu was trying to comfort the equally- if not more distraught- girl, Saten Ruiko, but to no avail.

Imouto sported a concerned face for her sister, not like a doll in anyway, full of melancholy emotion.

Misaki was frowning silently, unable to figure out what to say in this situation. She should have known there would be an outroar of some kind.

Hokaze couldn't figure where to stare, at a dear acquaintance suffering, or at a long lost friend as her past self just revealed the crux of that suffering.

Regardless, as she was stared at with such an uncertain gaze, Mitsuari bore an uncomfortable expression, filled with sadness and guilt.

...

And everyone else?

The magic side didn't really know what to do. After all, they could say they understood, but was that really the case?

"(What if my becoming a saint was... just a coin toss...?)"

That's what Kanzaki muttered.

"That's horrible..."

Itsuwa said.

She couldn't even imagine what those girls and boys were feeling at this news.

"Those poor children..."

Orsola further supplied.

However, Agnese was indifferent on the whole matter.

(So what? They didn't earn their power fair and square? They should just be happy with the power they have then, make sure it wasn't wasted on them.)

Surprisingly, Agnese hit the nail on the head, but she didn't know that.

But even so, that logic only applies to those with power. What were Level Zero's to do with such information, to know that they were denied before they could even get the change to prove themselves?

That was the kind of atmosphere the room held.

...

"Why am I not fucking surprised..."

Accelerator muttered. He wasn't as shocked as he thought he would be.

(It figures those damn scientists couldn't resist amplifying a power like mine. After all, I am the perfect weapon, aren't I?"

"This Misaka thought you'd be more disappointed..."

Worst said with a questioning gaze.

Accelerator just raised an eyebrow in response.

"And why should I? Being Level 5 has nothing to do with my ability. I was dangerous to touch before I even reached the fucking top spot, so why should it make a difference if I got some more drugs or shit like that."

For Accelerator, it just didn't matter. His ability was not so simple that a Level would make or break it, He's always been like this... and probably always will be.

"Although, maybe if I was even a Level 2 or 3, those damn thugs wouldn't stop attacking me every damn minute."

He muttered wistfully.

...

"!..."

Mugino inhaled deeply, her shoulders shaking in apparent rage.

Hamazura almost shit himself in fear for what was about to happen.

"Wait Mugino! Calm down- we can talk about-"

"Sigh...!"

-Only for her to let out a simple exasperated sigh of annoyance...? Eh?

"M-Mugino?"

"Hm?"

She responded, cracking an eye open to see the boy.

"Y-You're not mad?"

"What? No, I'm mad. I'm bloody furious. In fact, I wanna find one of those scientists and tear their fucking #*$%'s off."

(Did she just s-say...!?)

Hamazura thought in fear, involuntarily reaching downwards.

"But...! Who the fuck cares. So I was chosen instead of some other shithead? Who the fuck cares, if they have a problem like the chocolate haired bitch does, then they can talk to my Meltdowner."

In a very Mugino-esque fashion, the girl replies.

"(Right, why did I think it would bother her...?)"

Hamazura wilted. He quickly found Takitsubou rubbing his back in a soothing manner.

"Its okay Hamazura, at least you tried. But... we should be asking you. Aren't you bothered by this...?"

Takitsubou asked the valid question. After all-

"Aren't you super bothered by the fact they took one look at your ability and decided you weren't good enough? You could have had some kind of power?"

Kinuhata says, with her usual lack of tact. And for the response, Hamazura just responded as honestly as he could.

"Well when you say it like that- yeah! It kinda pisses me off, but...- Haha- you guys are misunderstanding something..."

The boy laughed slightly

"?"

Takitsubou, Mugino, and Kinuhata all wore confused faces. It was rather amusing to be honest.

"Why do you think I would want to be anything other than a Level 0?"

Out of all the things they expected the boy to say, they did not expect that.

"H-Hamazura, you mean your okay with being a Zero?"

Hamazura just smiled at Takitsubou's question, and said the first thing to pop up in his head.

"And why wouldn't I be? I wouldn't have gotten to meet Takitsubou if I had some dumb flashy power, you know?."

Never leaving her eyes, he said those words.

'...wouldn't have gotten to meet Takitsubou...'

'...wouldn't have gotten to meet Takitsubou...'

'...wouldn't have gotten to meet Takitsubou...'

Takitsubou's face blushed up to her ears as she repeated what the boy said in her mind. Then, she felt her heart beating crazy fast, very loudly as well.

And then she smiled in glee.

"W-Well I'm glad I'm Level 4, o-otherwise I might not have met Hamazura e-either."

The girl meekly replied right back to him, with a blushing visage

Hamazura looked shock for a second, then smiled all the same.

"I see. Then, I'm glad."

"And there super flirting right in front of us again."

Kinuhata said with a dead tone.

"I've learned how to tune them out at this point."

Mugino replied offhandedly.

...

"I feel bad for them, even Short Hair too..."

Index said sadly.

Index was staring at the two most affected girls, Saten and Mikoto, not to mention the ones trying to process as well, Shirai and Uiharu. But sympathy was all Index couid offer, as she wasn't in the same situation as them.

"Yes, Misaka is always so happy all the time with her progress as a Level 5. I know for a fact that it gives her a sense of home beyond where she lives..."

Arisa said with a soft tone.

"To think the adults would do something like that... its horrible..."

"Horrible yes, but from the very beginning it was probably inevitable..."

Shutaura said suddenly confusing both girls,

"What do you mean?"

Index asked.

"It makes sense that they lied. For a place like Academy City, no matter how much more advanced it is, the funds they have access too are not indefinite. They probably did not have enough resources to advance everyone, so instead of telling people that, they let them work hard without knowing that its meaningless."

Shutaura continued.

"Its cruel but... if they started out telling people that some would get favoritism and others wouldn't, Academy City would have been unable to thrive. Especially when most of the population are students, a demographic that needs success to survive."

"That's..."

After Shutaura was finished, Arisa did not know what to say. The girl was right, however that did not make accepting the news any easier.

...

With all of this going on, a certain teacher was downtrodden.

"This... cannot be..."

Komoe said, with tears already forming in her eyes. But she wasn't sad for her own well-being- no... she was sad for all her precious students.

Students that she encouraged not to give up.

(How much false hope did I give then...? How many times did I lie to them?)

These thoughts were assailing the young looking teacher.

"Komoe-sensei..."

Fukiyose called out worriedly, not knowing how to comfort the woman. She did not want to see a teacher that's kinder than most people deserve act in this way.

(But to find out it was all just a lie? A hoax to keep people in the curriculum?)

Fukiyose herself wasn't that bothered by the Parameter List. Shocked sure, but its not like her world was crumbling all around her. After all- the whole Level system never really affected her life that much.

But she still couldn't forgive the adults that put such a system in place.

Actually, Himegami was the same in that regard. Not to mention she was a gemstone, and her ability didn't apply by the same rules as everyone else.

Musujime wasn't that disappointed either.

(While I am sad that I would have never made it as a Level 5 teleporter, it really doesn't matter, does it?)

After all, how much further can a teleporting ability ascend from teleporting yourself and objects.

She just didn't see the point.

(Although maybe that upgrade would get rid of my fear... haha... doubtful...)

And then there was- Oh boy.

And then there was Tuschimikado and Aogami. What did they think? Were they mad, disappointed, angry, sad? What did those boy's have to say in this crippling situation.

.

..

...

"LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOO! I FUCKING CALLED IIITTTTTTTTTTTTT!"

What the-!? Aogami screamed this out, and everyone had no idea what the boy was talking about.

"Damn... what was it, 50?"

Tsuchimikado grumbled in annoyance.

"Yessir! Pay up!"

At the boy's request, Tsuchimikado reached into his wallet and handed the boy the bills.

"Haha!"

Aogami was grinning ear to ear.

What was going on?

"Wait, what are you talking about? What did you bet on?"

Fukiyose asked quickly, a bit annoyed that she lacked the context.

Aogami quickly answered.

"Well I said that that the female Level 5's were all hotties and had to have been picked because of their appearance. And Tuschimikado said that being hot didn't equal having good esper potential, WHICH HE WAS CLEARLY WRONG! Now we know why all of them are bombshells! It's because those pedophile adults picked them! Hahahaha! And I fucking called it!"

"..."

Everyone was too stunned to speak.

Wow... they had no words. Just wow.

"So... just to be clear..."

Fukiyose said whole shaking for some reason.

"You guys aren't bothered by the fact that some adults basically said you weren't good enough, and they could have given you better powers...?"

"No, why would we be? Unless its x-ray vision, who the fuck cares?"

From Tsuchimikado.

"No, why would we be? Unless it can melt off clothes, who the fuck cares?"

From Aogami.

Right. Fukiyose clearly forgot who she was dealing with. Two absolute morons.

"I'M GOING TO KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO YOU THIS TIME , YOU IDIOTSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

And for the umpteenth time since they got here, fists were flying courtesy of that Iron Wall Girl.

...

But apart from that comic relief...

---

A/N: The following ideas are not Light Novel Canon, but rather Fanfic's Mr. Question Mark's Canon. If you want to know more about the original events, check out 'A Certain Unknown Level Zero: Chapter 113. And yes, I've been referencing him so much it makes me look like a fanboy, but this is too good of an opportunity to pass up~

---

PLAY MUSIC

Moonlight On The Dream World - Beautiful Emotional Piano Music - Part 2

---

What a solemn melancholy atmosphere the room held. Some were on the brink of despair, others were trying to come to terms with a cruel reality, and there were some who just accepted it because for them- it just didn't really matter in the long run.

But for people like Mikoto and Saten, it DID matter.

For Mikoto, none of her effort was real. She lived her life in Academy City spouting off such hypocritical words about how if you work hard for something and push past your limits, your dreams will come true- if you truly believe in them that is.

For Saten, every time she hoped for new result, resolved herself to keep trying, convinced herself that next time it would be different, it was all pointless. She was just fooling herself.

What complete and utter nonsense it all was. For the both of them, it was honestly laughable.

"Hehehehe- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Yes, keep laughing at the ridiculous dreams of grandeur they held. Wait...?

Both girls stopped.

Laughter?

That's right, someone burst into uncontrollable laughter in this situation.

Saten and Mikoto's eyes grew bloodshot as they glared at the source, not caring if such an action was unlike them at all. But they weren't prepared for who it was.

"Y-You...?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-! I'm sorry, I just can't stop- HAHAHAHHAHAHA!"

It was the Voice, those feminine giggles of amusement were easily distinguishable. The girls' rage instantly turned into confusion and dumbfoundment.

Was she... making fun of them? Ah... maybe that's right in this case? After all, aren't these feelings in their hearts pathetic? The truths that kept them going, and the lies that they told themselves in order not to give up. Doesn't it make sense to laugh at someone like that?

Yes, with that murky darkness in their hearts, they sank further and further into oblivion.

.

..

...

Or so they thought

Before they could lose their hearts completely, the Voice spoke.

"No... I'm not laughing at you all- Hahahaha! I'm just laughing at how- haha- even in this totally random happenstance situation, yet again... he fits into it as well."

"..."

What?

They did not understand what that meant.

"What... What does that mean...? Are you... talking about Kamijou-senpai...?"

Shirai spoke up for the first time since she was stunned into silence.

Everyone lit up immediately, Mikoto, and Saten included. After all, wasn't this way too confusing? What did Kamijou Touma have to do with this situation? The Power Curriculum? The Parameter List, the divisions between Levels?

Wasn't it clear where that boy stood regarding that?

"What are you talking about...?"

Misuzu further prompted.

"Did I never tell you, what happened when Kamijou took Academy City's power curriculum?"

This lead in threw them in for a loop.

"Wha-... Kamijou was branded as a Level 0, right?"

Itsuwa asked, many nodding at answer.

There was nothing more to it, right?

"That's true, Kamijou Touma went through the esper development and as a result of such, he was labeled as the City's lowest. However..."

She paused.

"Do you wanna know what happened during his medical procedure...?"

They froze.

"H-His... procedure...?"

Arisa asked worriedly. Additionally, Shutaura furrowed her brows in concern.

Bad. This was bad. Stop. She needed to stop talking. They didn't want to-...

-... Ah. But they did, didn't they...? They did want to find out. So...

"W-What happened to Kamijou-chan...?"

Komoe asked fearfully, her lips quivering.

Also, Mikoto and Saten's despair had been temporarily replaced with curiosity, as only mentioning that boy could do so.

"In a normal situation, the student would have to go through a precise needle precision to the back of the head, pumping their brains with the epserin chemical. Such a technique is a lot safer than directly manipulating your neurons by electrical currents, wouldn't you agree?"

Mugino nodded.

(Where the fuck is she going with this...?)

"Officially, Academy City's Power Curriculum has been perfected in a way that ever since the surgeries had started, there hadn't been a single complication or injury to speak of. They pride themselves in that fact. And why wouldn't they? Haha!"

The Voice said finished with a chuckle.

That was when Musujime lost her patience.

"If that's the case then what the hell are you talking abo-"

"However, UNOFFICIALLY, that is not the case."

Their hearts dropped at that.

"U-Unofficially...!?"

Agnese stammered out. Beside her, Orsola bore a worried look as well.

"There was one such incident that got redacted from Academy City's official medical data, because an... accident occurred. The person who underwent the curriculum that day suffered severe mentally and bodily... stress. Anyone wanna take a guess as to who the unfortunate soul was...?"

They knew. They didn't want to know, but they all knew.

"(What went wrong?)"

Uiharu whispered, not thinking her voice would have worked.

"Please don't tell me..."

Hokaze said with a pleading voice.

"..."

Misaki just stood there with widened eyes.

(No. Please no- please don't let it be-.)

"His misfortune struck at the worst possible timing. Due to an accidental shifting of the cranial equipment, the boy was subjected to extreme pain as neuron signals were continuously shot into the pain receptors of his brain."

Everyone gasped in fear, their hearts beat in absolute fright.

"No..."

Fukiyose stated with emotion, her heart beating in agony.

"Kamijou-kun..."

Himegami said with tears in her eyes.

"Fuck. Kami-yan..."

Aogami said solemnly, immensely bothered by this news as well.

"..."

Tuschimikado already knew about his, but it's been a while since he's heard it. Nevertheless, there was still a frown on his face.

...

Misaki squeezed at the fabric of her blazer, just over her chest.

"Its not fair. Why...!? Why does he only suffer!?"

The girl cried out.

"Did you think that was all...!? His misfortune didn't stop there. The doctors would have seen the mistake that was happening... had their machines been working properly. The heart monitor Kamijou was hooked up to showed a loop of healthy vital signs, not giving any indication of the boy's pain. As his body was unable to handle the immense pain he was in, it was then that he fell into a coma."

It just kept getting worse and worse.

Accelerator widened his eyes in undeniable shock.

(That damn-... Kamijou... How the fuck are you still the way you are...? How the fuck did you even want to save the fifth rate and that nun girl...?)

Even when he still had his memories, still had THOSE EXPERIENCES, that still didn't deter him, not in the slightest. He still stuck his neck out for those in trouble.

"Damn..."

Worst said quietly, not even having the will to mock such a situation.

...

Komoe spoke up, a contradiction at the forefront of her thoughts.

"B-but that's a medical impossibility! Something like that- its not possible for those devices to generate a loop in vital signs-!"

"Why are you trying to use logic? Surely you know how his misfortune works by now right?

That stopped Komoe and- everyone thinking similarly- dead in their tracks.

After all wasn't that correct? Haven't they seen how that boy affects his surroundings in a way that doesn't seem physically possible?

This... couldn't be real, could it?

"After experiencing two months of excruciating torture, Kamijou Touma finally woke up, with absolutely no powers to speak of, but experience of pure hell in his mind."

Everyone gulped anxiously as their throats grew dry.

Did-... Did they hear that correctly...?

"Did you just say two months!?"

Mikoto gaped in shock, horror evident on her face.

"Kamijou-san... No..."

Saten said with a shocked look of pure dread on her face.

Both girl's previous feelings of discontentment and inferiority were now completely gone. After all... what was their pain in the face of his? How could they be sad about their effort not meaning anything when-!...

(-...he had to suffer for nothing...)

They both thought in unison.

"N-No...! Kamijou-kun... You... had to go through all of that...?"

Mitsuari croaked in heartache. Even she didn't know about any of this.

...

"Why... why did that have to happen to him...?"

But Kumokawa did. As close to the Board of Directors as she was, she had access to a variety of classified information. The unofficial medical record of Kamijou Touma was no exception.

However, despite already knowing about it, that did nothing to lessen the pain of hearing it for a second time.

...

"Human..."

Othinus did not know what to say.

Before her, how many times had that boy been tortured, because of his misfortune!?

...

"Now do you see? I'm not going to say your feelings of betrayal and hurt are worthless... but... that boy went through hell... and as a result? He didn't get a single thing to show for it. For those of you who still think that Imagine Breaker is a power that grants an easy life for its wielder, do you now see how wrong you are?"

They did. how could they not?

"The Parameter List? You didn't get the power you could have had? You were picked from the beginning? Tell your complaints to the boy that risks his life to protect people despite having that curse for a hand...!"

They heard a little rage coming from the Voice's words just now.

.

..

...

She was right. Oh god, she was right. What did they have to cry about? Did they suffer any real pain because of the Parameter List? Or were their ego's just clipped? Were they tortured in a coma, unable to move, unable to cry, unable to scream the words 'help me'?

No. They were just mad that their super powers didn't come in the way they had hoped they would.

"What... was I even complaining about...?"

Mikoto said.

"Even with that accursed ability, Kamijou-san still suffers so other people don't have to..."

Saten said.

Before, the Level 0 girl would have thought that Kamijou didn't understand what it felt like to be a true Level 0, as he had that power in his right hand. But... can it really be classified as such? It was apparent in the recent memories they saw- no... that ever since Kamijou was born, his ability had caused him nothing but suffering.

Could Saten honestly say that if given the chance, she would want that power of his?

"...I wouldn't..."

Her weak voice said.

The coward in her heart didn't want to face such pain on a momentary or even daily basis. She didn't even want to try to imagine that.

...

"I apologize for going off topic like that, but do you understand why I did? Do you understand why your worries and insecurities always fall short of his? In actuality, its unfair for me to compare misfortune like that, as without a doubt, you will always lose. But... this both has and will NEVER be about you."

She said that with finality.

"Whether it's the Queen Bee longing for a connection, or an Ant-turned Wasp looking for revenge, it all falls back to one thing. One person... so please. Continue watching with that in mind..."

And that was it.

Everyone shuddered, as the information they were just given was truly enough to make them feel chills in their soul.

The Voice was right, and as she continually reminded them, this wasn't about them at all, but him. And without this opportunity that the Voice granted them, these secrets would still be just that- secrets.

Kamijou Touma's past memories would have been lost in the abyss, and the ones he did remember, he would have kept them to himself because he didn't want to worry anyone.

That was just who Kamijou Touma was.

"H-Hah-hah..."

Shaky breaths was heard from both Misaki and Mitsuari.

They were ready to finish this. Let the rest of the memory commence...!

---

Between the Lines 3

---

Confidential.

For the Board of Directors.

I have received an interim report on Shokuhou Misaki and Mitsuari Ayu, so I am submitting it to you.

The old theory that they were controlling bio-electricity has been proven false. We have learned they actually manipulate moisture to produce a variety of phenomena.

Primarily, they control the secretion of chemicals in the target's brain and control the distribution of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, etc. in the brain. Rather than directly controlling the bioelectricity, it seems they change the conductive efficiency by controlling the fluid that acts as a catalyst for the electricity to flow through.

Was this... a analytical report on those girl's powers?

"Its directly for the Board of Directors..."

Musujime said in awe.

As such, there seem to be cases when their powers do not function against espers who can directly manipulate their bioelectricity, such as Electromasters. However, some speculate they would be able to force their way through that defense by raising their power.

Mikoto made a visible noise of fustration.

"Great, now I have to worry about you getting stronger..."

Misaki just slightly smirked in repsonse.

"Why of course Misaka-san~. How else would I have you running around in her underwear? Oh, and maybe I should send you his way at that time... What do you think~?"

The honey-blonde Level 5 teased, knowing full well that she wasn't helping her opponent-

"W-What are talking about you-you-you pervert! Hmpphh! I-I bet even in that situation he wouldn't even bat an eye. T-That idiot..."

Mikoto went red imagining such a scene-... and apparently not minding it.

"Um... Misaka-san, it was supposed to be a 'what if' scenario..."

Saten said wryly, with a slight smile. It seems she too had forgotten her earlier misgivings, participating in the playful mood that Shokuhou created.

Wait... she created it? Saten gave a surprised look to the girl, then it turned to a soft expression of joy.

"(Tch! What have I done!?)"

Misaki made a disgruntled face.

(Ahh~ My Queen is so nice! Making Misaka-san feel better like that.)

Hokaze chirped mentally.

Their method of reading minds without relying on another's brain is likely also related to moisture.

Based on their genetic information and their school counseling, we can find no points in common between their bodies or minds. Nevertheless, the basic theory and scope of the power that has manifested in them is almost identical and the Tree Diagram has given both of them the possibility of reaching Level 5.

(*Important Note: This point holds the possibility of overturning the fundamental idea of researching the brain to develop esper powers. The brain is a necessary component, but there may be more than just that. I hope you treat this part especially carefully.)

While this is an extremely unique situation, the two of them will end up plateauing at around Level 3 if they are given the standard Curriculum.

We must prune one of them and focus on the other.

We must make the decision before they enter the harsh hormone fluctuations of adolescence to ensure their talent is not crushed.

To decide between Shokuhou Misaki and Mitsuari Ayu, please reference the attached Parameter List.

And whichever one is chosen as the master, I recommend leaving the other as a slave. If the master happens to die, the equipment and funding focused on her can be reinvested into the slave for a second chance at developing a Level 5 under the same circumstances.

A slave.

The one who could not measure up was labeled a mere slave to the other? What did that say about the girl in question's motives if even the adults were referring to her as such? How much darkness accumulated in her heart because of such treatment? Knowing that she'd never be good enough, never as good as the one chosen?

And... the fact that she wasn't chosen, even when it was supposed to be fifty/fifty...

Either way, everyone was appalled by the blatant cruelty that was shown to them. But... what did that girl think? What was she feeling due to this obvious belittling of her life?

Hokaze couldn't take it anymore.

"Mitsuari-san, I'm so sorry. I didn't know this was your life after you left. I'm sorry you felt the need to do all of this because you felt you weren't good enough-"

"You have it backwards Hokaze!"

Mitsuari said forcefully, more than she intended, especially since the ringlet haired girl winced. She just wanted her to top talking.

"I'm sorry, but you're really misunderstanding something. Sure, I'm pissed that they chose her over me, but... that wasn't why I did this. It wasn't about the power curriculum. No, that Bee stole something far more precious..."

Mitsuari's words and tone caused many to look in confusion... and Misaki to look down.

---

Chapter 4: Chance Meeting Audience Chamber

—

Duel_in_the_Mind.

Part 1

---

Bees and ants.

They were both known as insects with a high level of society centered around a queen (although a lot of bees lived solitary lives), but the species were actually extremely closely related. By the technical definition, they both belonged to the Hymenoptera order.

But that did not mean they could coexist.

The fiercer bees or wasps would attack ants and the more clever species would even lay their eggs in the ants' underground colony. Ants on the other hand would mercilessly swarm a bee that lost its strength and fell to the ground and they would carry its corpse back to their colony.

They could all see the symbolism at play here.

""Wha...? That's really freaky..."

Agnese said with a slightly weirded out face.

These two separated girls may have been similar.

The Five Over OS was made up of an artificial fat called Designers' Gel. That wearable weapon resembled a giant cream-colored octopus and one of its tentacles was wrapped around Shokuhou Misaki's body.

"Ugh..."

Misaki involuntarily started shivering in disgust, as did many other females.

"Our relationship might be similar to Shirai Kuroko and Musujime Awaki's," said the girl named Mitsuari Ayu.

Both girls gasped at this.

After all, based on the current situation, they knew exactly what this meant.

What if they too had the chance to become greater, but it was up to the adults looking over there data?

Shirai and Musujime frowned. Their apparent rivalry aside, they both did not like the idea of playing into the whims of those selfish adults.

She gave a smile that did not at all match her appearance and she pulled out a palm-sized smartphone as if preparing for a card trick.

"!"

Everyone was startled at the sadistic- borderline predatorial look the girl was wearing on her face.

"Mitsuari-san..."

Hokaze said- not in fear- but of sadness. Sadness that the girl she was knew even had to make such an expression.

"It was not the Strobila or the Five Over OS that deflected your power. My power may be weaker than yours, but it is the same. All I did was use it to obstruct the interference you caused "

As she spoke, the number of smartphones grew.

It was reminiscent of all the remotes Shokuhou used.

"That makes a lot more sense. If she's the same type of esper as Shokuhou-san, then its only logical for their abilities to cancel each other out..."

Birdway said in a matter of fact manner.

"So that's why you've directed all your hatred ability my way?"

Shokuhou groaned while held by the giant tentacle that looked like it could crush a small car like balling-up a tissue.

"Everything was chosen based on some file called the Parameter List and our futures were decided based on what the adults wanted, so you're the victim and I'm the culprit?"

Yes, that is what Shokuhou believed to be the root cause of Mitsuari Ayu's spite. And naturally- with a few exceptions- that was everyone else's belief as well.

However, even with all the hints that have been laying around, the real crux of that darkness would leave them all shocked.

"I can't wait..."

The Voice said gleefully.

"What about it?"

Shokuhou wondered what she would have done if the situation had been reversed.

What if some stranger she had never even met had used her as a stepping stone and stolen every possibility from her?

What if her talent had been crushed?

What if she had never been allowed in Tokiwadai Middle School?

What if she had not been a Level 5?

They too imagined it.

Mikoto was one of them.

(What if some other electromaster came in and stole my spot. Stole my chance to meet the people I care about. My classmates, my friends, and... even hi-)

However, before she could come to realize that crucial thought-

After considering that, the girl named Shokuhou Misaki spoke.

"Are you an idiot? That's nothing more than an excuse for falling to a life of crime."

Mitsuari remained smiling.

"!?"

They were stunned.

They did not expect Shokuhou to so readily dismiss the girl's reasons so quickly.

And while smiling, a disturbing spasm came over her face at not quite her temple and not quite her cheek. It was as if small insects were running around below the skin.

Shokuhou ignored it and continued.

She found herself able to ignore it.

"Your success was stolen from you? You had talent, but you weren't placed on the proper stage? You can find similar situations anywhere you look."

"…"

"That's..."

Fukiyose stammered out.

Shokuhou had not let the girl's words damper her spirit in the slightest. In fact, it only served to urge her to a more passionate zeal of confidence.

"Do you think every country can provide their Olympic athletes the same funding and equipment? How many countries do you think want to go to space but can't carry out realistic space development? It isn't rare for competitions to be influenced by more than just one's pure skill. Competing in the exact same environment and under the exact same conditions is something you only see in the lukewarm miniature gardens adults prepare for children. That only applies to school tests that have no bearing on your actual life."

Her words stabbed out at the other girl.

Her words mocked this girl who had lost her way.

Even though they were harsh, she spoke the truth. Even though they were inconsiderate, it was not a fallacy. In a way, what she was saying was this:

Why should the winner give everything to the loser out of pity?

"Is that way of thinking... wrong... or is it right?"

Kanzaki wondered.

And those clear words continued.

"But it's human nature that leads us to win regardless. If doing everything right isn't enough to win, the winners will work two or even three times as hard. They'll show off what they can do by with a method no one else had thought of. That's what leads to the instant an athlete who trained by running through the wasteland defeats the elite athlete who trained in a cutting-edge gym. If you want to reach space, you make your way to a realistic launch pad even if it means leaving your home country. …When adults fight, it comes down to a conflict between adults with childlike looks in their eyes as they work to both stay true to the type of race their predecessors established and also to produce shocking results that completely overturn those expectations."

So there was no reason to feel inferior.

There was a reason she had been chosen.

Mitsuari Ayu was no different from the people who shamelessly begged a lottery winner to treat them to something. Except she was not even an old acquaintance; she was someone Shokuhou had never even heard of before.

Shokuhou was not about to let someone like that take everything from her.

She had heard the girl's circumstances and still held fast to the belief that she did not need to feel guilty.

Was that irresponsible her? Probably. But, it was also irresponsible of someone to make someone else atone just because they couldn't measure up.

"As much as I get where the Mitsauri girl is coming from. What the super hell is she expecting as compensation? And if not that, what? Is she out for blood? That's a bit much for just for the chance to be Level 5..."

Kinuhata said.

...But, that would only be the case if what was being demanded was clear to both parties. In this case, it was not.

Not. At. All.

The loss of a single possibility had been enough to make Mitsuari rot and she now wanted to be a child with a mature look in her eyes, so she would never have been able to withstand the pressure of holding Academy City's #5 ability.

"And I happen to know something else."

Shokuhou continued to challenge the girl even as her stomach was squeezed to the limit.

"I know of an 'older boy' who stuck to his own path without rotting despite being a Level 0. On that day back then when he spoke with his back turned and protecting me, he clearly surpassed me and my all-too-pathetic Level 5 ability. Your actual skill doesn't matter. Coolly calculating out all the numbers is pointless. No matter how many arguments you prepare, you have no choice but to accept defeat once he walks in from beyond the horizon. I am very familiar with a Level 0 like that."

They smiled.

(A description like that suits Touma-kun.)

Arisa thought warmly.

They also commended the girl's bravery for talking about her feelings in this manner, even if her opponent would have no idea who or what she was referring to.

...Or so they thought.

What was it that kept Mitsuari from shining like that?

Not becoming a Level 5?

That was not enough to deny someone their humanity.

Having her possibilities stolen by the adults?

If that was enough for her to give up, had she truly put in any effort in the first place?

Did that mean any crime of hers could be forgiven?

That was the same as treating all Level 3s and below like criminals.

"You are weak," summed up Shokuhou Misaki. "From the moment you could only use your life as an excuse for committing crimes, you insulted that very life. You didn't notice, you were afraid of noticing, and you went around destroying everything that could make you notice, but you have also crushed your ability to ever gather respect. Even if you managed to reach the position of Level 5."

You could say-... that Shokuhou Misaki was shining right now. She would not give in to the despair her opponent wanted to give her, and she would not feel obligated to pay out for the loser.

They all wondered if it would all end like this.

(Would this be enough to make that girl calm down...?)

Orsola thought anxiously.

"Hehehehehehehehehe!"

The Voice began to giggle earnestly.

But you see- no matter how bright a light shines, there is always a limit to how much it's vessel can take. Overexert that vessel, and-... well...

... It could short-circuit.

"Heh."

At that point, Mitsuari Ayu switched from listening to laughing.

And the crazed expression from before had changed.

"Heh heh heh. Heh heh heh heh. Heh heh heh heh hah hah. Ahh, ahh. It sounds like you met a lovely person, Miss Bee. Was this what you were hoping to say to get me to give up? 'If you had met him, a different path might have opened for you'?"

"…?"

There is no darkness without light. Neither, is there no light without darkness.

What was happening? Were they wrong? Was there something they were missing? Where was it...? Where did the core of Mitsuari Ayu lay!?

It was a calculated expression.

It was not the expression of a girl going mad with rage after having her entire identity rejected.

There was something more there.

Did the core of Mitsuari Ayu lay elsewhere?

"But that won't work here."

The ant stood next to the bee and that other queen played her final card with a calm smile.

"After all, I too spoke with Kamijou-kun quite a bit."

"!"

Everyone truly froze.

"Eh...?"

Things were progressing in a way that no one could predict after all. Especially after the Shokuhou Misaki's prideful words about that boy. And because of those words, they had truly not expected his involvement to be thrown back into Misaki's face.

But... should they have been so surprised. Weren't... the hints all there from the beginning...?

"Mitsuari-san... knew Kamijou-san...?"

Hokaze asked in shock.

All Mitsuari did was lightly smile in response

"….Eh?"

This time, Shokuhou's mind truly, truly went blank. This blank was larger and deeper than when her own memories had been rejected or when she had learned her own Mental Out powers were the result of being chosen for the adults' convenience.

"I told you, didn't I?"

The smile vanished from Mitsuari's face.

The smile vanished from the face of the girl who had continued to smile even as her very existence and the path she had taken were rejected.

"I'm taking revenge to take back what you stole from me. …How would you feel in my situation? What if someone you didn't even know stole that person you were so proud of."

"…"

"T-Then... the reason..."

Shirai began to realize what a certain motive might be.

But whatever Shirai or anyone else were thinking, they had it wrong. It was not just a spat of jealously of stealing one's special person. It was far deeper than that.

"I was there back then too."

She approached Shokuhou whose torso was still restrained. With a smartphone in each hand, she gently grabbed the sides of Shokuhou's head.

The chill of the LCD screens tormented her mind.

And then the decisive words arrived.

"It may be a beautiful past for you, but I was not saved by Kamijou-kun. That is why I can say you stole everything from me. If it wasn't for you, he would have made it in time."

What... did she mean by that..."

"She... wasn't saved...?"

Mikoto uttered.

"He didn't make it in time...?"

Uiharu gasped out.

Everyone thought of what such line could be mean, and for some reason... it absolutely terrified them.

She brought her face so close that Shokuhou could not focus her eyes.

And a moment later, Shokuhou felt a strange sensation pass through her mind. It was like invisible wires running through her head had been gathered together and suddenly pulled out from her forehead.

While pressing their foreheads together and placing the smartphones on either side of Shokuhou's head, the other girl spoke without even a hint of a smile.

"This is Mental Stinger. In my case, I set the target with cameras and my fingertips."

(Stinger, huh...? That's fitting.)

Shutaura thought. Such a power could only be utilized by ant who transcended into a hornet.

"Ah…kh!? But with identical types of power, any interference can be deflected regardless of strength!"

"Only if we both reject it."

With the strange sensation in the center, the outer edges of Shokuhou's vision grew distorted.

Bright colors danced about.

"But what if I accept it all? What if I intentionally open a port and allow an exchange of identically-formatted packets?"

"!"

(That would work...)

Kumokawa thought with a slight sweat.

"This…isn't your power."

Shokuhou finally caught on.

"This is an ignition to make me lose control of my Mental Out!?"

"Well done. I can drag you into my head using your own power. Welcome to a life of despair and resignation. It's time you experienced what I did when you stole everything from me."

With those words, all of Shokuhou Misaki's senses far exceeded the threshold of what could be described in terms of the real world.

Things were not looking good for Shokuhou. They could only stare with worried expressions as she was pulled into a darkness by the volition of another.

"Shokuhou-sama...!"

Hokaze called out worriedly.

---

Part 2

---

A girl stood alone on the shore of a geothermal power station's circular lake.

Her consciousness had been dragged into someone else's mind. That was what she had been told anyway, but it may have been an image constructed around Mitsuari Ayu's memories, much like a child listening to a picture book before going to sleep.

However, the feel of the place suddenly changed. The massive amount of water turned to bright green melon soda, the dark mountains turned to masses of cream, the thick trees became cookies shaped like playing cards, and even the round concrete structure holding the water was replaced by an overwhelming amount of chocolate.

It looked like a kingdom of sweets.

.

..

...

"What in the absolute fuck..."

Accelerator said out-loud.

Everyone was just as equally shocked.

"ITS A CANDY LAND! Shouts Misaka Misaka as she can barely contain her excitement, jumping up and down!"

And Last Order was doing just that, reveling in the cutesy and childish dream that she was looking at.

"Ugh... I wanna throw up..."

Worst mumbled, but... she felt a masked connotation behind all the colors and apparent happiness, something that only someone like her could pick up on.

Hidden despair.

The bee and the ant were fighting over the sweet nectar that was their memories of this artificial lake. This may have been how "she" pictured this stage.

The oppressively sweet aroma surpassed hunger and stimulated one's desire to vomit.

Both salt and sugar were necessary, but too much of either was harmful.

Had "her" memories reached that lethal dose?

"I…"

The voice came from behind.

Shokuhou turned around and saw Mitsuari Ayu wearing a Tokiwadai Middle School uniform. She wore a summer uniform despite the season.

"I died here. I stuffed lots and lots of large rocks in my clothes, stood on this concrete shore, and jumped into the lake with my hands together like diving into a pool. And I sank. This happened a mere three days before you thoughtlessly tried to destroy your own memories."

And then all of a sudden, everyone's fascination and curiosity with the imaginative world came crashing down.

Their faces turned form shock, disbelief, despair, and regret- all in the span of ten seconds.

"No..."

Misuzu whispered, her heart dropping in agony.

She did not care it she didn't know the girl. She was still just that, a girl who was around her daughters age, who suffered a traumatic ordeal.

...

"..."

Sogita's expression turned rigid as he began to sweat slightly. He was not prepared for such story.

This revelation came suddenly, but Shokuhou did not laugh it off.

Her own memories refused to let her reject this.

On the night when she had met "him" at this lake, she had sprawled out on the ground and pressed her remote against her temple like committing suicide with a handgun. But that scene was now repainted in entirely different colors.

"Wait a second. You mean…the reason he was at that power station so late was…"

She had found it odd.

Meeting him around town by chance was possible.

But District 21 was a long way from District 7 where they lived and most of it was deep in the mountains. Ground Geo was at the peak of a mountain, so he would not simply have been there for a late night walk.

So why had Kamijou Touma been there?

Why had he been able to meet her there?

"He did not make it in time."

"And to lament that fact, he visited the site of the suicide?"

Their faces bore grimaces of grief at this information.

How horrible must that boy have felt?

"Touma-kun..."

Arisa said sadly.

She recalled what Kumokawa Seria had said.

Shokuhou and Kumokawa had both spent time with Kamijou at the same time in the past, but the only connection between the two girls was that common acquaintance. Neither had set foot in the other's private business.

Kumokawa did not know about Shokuhou's incident.

Shokuhou did not know about Kumokawa's incident.

What if?

What if another individual had also spent that time with him and dealt with another incident besides theirs?

The joking thought of 'Of course there was another girl' passed through Aogami's head, but even he did not have the strength to say it.

"I don't really care about you or anything, but he isn't strong enough to handle someone's death. So don't go off and die. If you do die, I'll give you the proper decorations, so make sure you contact me."

What if those abusive words of Kumokawa's had held an entirely different meaning?

"And when he arrived, he saw another girl in the same Tokiwadai uniform as the one he had not arrived in time for. He didn't know what she was trying to do, but he saw a younger girl who was obviously wallowing in despair. He could not help but call out to her. He did not want a repeat of his previous failure."

Shokuhou remembered the boy she had spent time with when she would occasionally see him around Academy City after that incident at the lake.

"..."

Their mouths felt dry at this information. Many felt tears sting their eyes.

"That sound sounds like him alright..."

Agnese said in a melancholy tone.

...

"L-Loverboy..."

Lessar said pitifully.

She had decided not to peek at his memories.

But what had been her subconscious reason for that decision? Had she not wanted to find any boring reasons or motives behind that small miracle? Had she wanted it to remain pure coincidence?

Kamijou Touma may have been worried about her.

And he may have been comparing her to someone else.

"So why do you think he didn't arrive in time for me?"

Thats right. They were right back at that question.

It was going to be sad- but even so... they wanted to know...

"What…?"

"He has no esper power, he has no superhuman strength, and he isn't particularly smart. …But for some reason, his drive has saved so many more people than anyone else. I agree with that. But then, why did that miracle not occur in my case?"

"Mitsuari-san..."

Hokaze said softly.

Many began to feel sympathy for Mitsuari and her plight, each word spoken continuing to drive a stake through their hearts.

"…You…can't mean…"

"That twisted result would not happen for no reason."

With those words, the kingdom of sweets crumbled.

The entire melon soda lake flickered like a giant screen and it displayed the kind of intersection found anywhere in Academy City.

An intense tremor filled Shokuhou's mind.

She recognized it.

That was the intersection at which she had run into Kamijou Touma like a false start. They had simply collided, barely even exchanged words, and then went on their ways. That initial meeting had seemed like some kind of mistake.

But something must have happened then.

Everyone gasped at they realized.

"It...was then...?"

Index said with disbelief in her tone, terror in her heart.

Something an outsider like her would not have noticed, but something those involved could not overlook.

"He accidentally gave me something of his," she muttered in a daze. "There was a cheap cellphone I didn't recognize mixed in with the things he handed me."

"Yes."

Mitsuari Ayu agreed with a difficult to describe expression.

It looked angry and on the verge of tears yet also relieved at finally conveying the truth.

How daunting must those words have been for the girl? Admitting that the her life wasn't saved due to some happenstance meeting of another?

"I-I- This is..."

Hokaze said with an audible sob in her throat.

"That was why he did not arrive in the very, very end. A simple lack of communication caused that perfectly reachable salvation to slip from his fingers."

And then Mitsuari had jumped into the lake.

Orsola thought it was horrible, that Mitsuari was in such a state where she wanted to end her own life.

(And she was waiting for Kamijou-san to save her, just like he saved me...)

She couldn't help but draw a parallel to her own coincident where that boy had came to rescue her.

"I was not the only one suffering due to the Parameter List," she said as if to remind Shokuhou of something that had already ended. "You stood at the center of your own incident, didn't you? Deadlock. Those poor students who held an unreasonable hatred of the Level 5s and believed your AIM Diffusion Field was the reason for their lack of growth."

"…"

"But that was not the true reason. They may have hated the right person, but killing you would not have put their lives back on track. Just like me, they were fruits cut from the branch thanks to that Parameter List the adults had created."

The ferocious group of misguided espers came to be because of the inferiority that was bred from the Parameter List.

When placed in a true dilemma, people had two options: external destruction or internal destruction.

They could blame their failure on society and their surroundings and begin stabbing or shooting random strangers in the name of revenge.

Arisa and many others flinched at that.

Or they could place full responsibility for their failure on themselves and desire to be "anywhere else" even if it meant taking their own life.

The attackers of Deadlock had made one decision.

The girl named Mitsuari Ayu had made the other.

Such extremes sent shocking revelations to those watching. But it was true nonetheless. There was always another choice that could be made. It might not be the most pretty one, but it could be made regardless.

And Mitsauri felt like she had to choose in a way that would 'save' her.

"..."

All they could do was just gaze on in sadness and what they were witnessing.

"Oh."

In that case, Shokuhou Misaki's bright memories were repainted in entirely different colors.

She recalled their conversation at that artificial lake.

"You're the guy who ran into me at the intersection with toast in his mouth."

"I did not have toast in my mouth. Come to think of it, that means you're the one that brought my phone to Anti-Skill. Thanks for that."

What had Kamijou Touma really thought back then?

"...!"

They froze at that. After all, wasn't that a really good question to ask?

When he said that, he had to have known that the disappearance of that cellphone had prevented him from protecting a life.

Whether by coincidence or not, she had been the root cause of his failure to save a girl. So what feelings had filled his heart when he had seen her blindly wishing for her own destruction at the scene of that very suicide?

"He didn't show any misgivings... not once holding her in contempt..."

Musujime uttered softly, letting the words sink in as she said them.

(Just why kind of person can do that...?)

He should have shouted at her.

She could not have complained if he had punched her.

So why had he hidden it? Why had he hidden it and worried for her instead?

Just how endlessly good-natured was he?

Kamijou Touma should not be that kind.

That's what they wanted to say. But they couldn't, because if they did, that would be disrespecting that kindness, and that warm feeling that saved so many of them..

Kamijou Touma had not shown any ill-intent to that girl who got in his way of saving someone.

What did that mean? Did that mean the those feelings did not even exist to bring out...? Or...? Did that mean that the boy's feelings remained bottled up, hiding the despair inside?

Thus... Kamijou was the second type.

If people choose to react to despair in two ways, Kamijou chooses to blame himself. That's the only way of looking at it, right? He does not lash out at others, he lashes out at the true person responsible.

Himself.

"Kamijou-kun, its not your fault..."

Himegami said with clear heartbreak in her voice.

"Touma-chan... why must you always..."

Komoe questioned with slight tears in her eyes.

Why must that boy always place the burden on himself!?

"I wanted to be saved," said Mitsuari.

She directly stated her own desire.

"Taking my own life may sound irresponsible and selfish, but even so, I really did want to be saved."

It was unclear just how serious Mitsuari had been about committing suicide.

Had she truly intended to die or had she wanted to go through the actions so someone would worry about her?

She had waited for her own personal hero, but Kamijou Touma had not shown up.

He had not come.

And so that lonely girl, that life left behind by the world, had felt throwing herself to the depths of that dark water was her only choice.

---

[PLAY MUSIC]

Betrayal Music - Subversion Of The Sovereign

---

It was then- and only then... did a terrifying thought overtake all of them. And why was it just now that they thought of it?

What if... What if Kamijou Touma had arrived too late for them? What if... that miracle he always brings was lost on them as well?

They thought of such horrible things, and while they did, something happened.

-A graviton bombing claimed the life of Judgement member Uiharu Kazari and a little girl she tried to shield, with Misaka Mikoto suffering serious injuries-

-Endlessly erasing a poor girl's memories, two magicians of Necessarius were driven to the point of despair and insanity-

-The Witch Hunter and The Alchemist fought to the death in Misawa Cram School. The resulting cataclysm brought the building down, killing both magicians, as well as the girl that was supposed to be protected- Himegami Aisa herself-

-Trying to save her sisters, Misaka Mikoto was slain at the hands of Accelerator... only for the experiment to kick right back up where it left off-

-A family by the last name of Kamijou triggered a highly destructive spell called Angel Fall, obliterating everyone's live's in a 800 kilometer radius-

-After killing and killing and killing, Accelerator tried to save a little girl's life, but ended up getting shot in the head as a result-

-A innocent nun by the name of Orsola Aquanais was executed by the Roman Catholic Church, screaming in pain to the very end... as she had no faith left in the world-

-Misguided by his group's ideology, a Skill Out member by the name of Hamazura Shiage murdered an innocent woman, the thought of further prestige inciting him into madness-

...

"Surely that's enough right? Anymore and even I might get a little sad..."

And with that Voice, it was like a spell had been lifted.

What... was that?

Everyone blinked their eyes in shock, unable to decipher the meaning or the 'how' of what they just saw.

(I...I was thinking it but... that level of detail...)

Mikoto thought, clearly dazed.

.

..

(Wait!)

Had... had she done something to them...!? Were these memories a scenario where HE hadn't shown up?

Mikoto did not want to accept that such a thing was possible.

"I... I can't believe..."

Uiharu mumbled in shock, her voice not being able to articulate.

"That was terrifying..."

Misuzu said while grasping at her beating chest.

...

"Those thoughts... why did they feel so real...?"

Kanzaki croaked out, clutch her head in pain.

...

"That was the past, but it wasn't..."

Himegami said with a terrified look in her eyes.

...

"Shit..."

Accelerator said while shaking slightly.

...

"Damnit...damnit... damnit!"

Hamazura said while repeatedly slamming his fist on his legs. What he was feeling transcended the emotion known as guilt.

...

Agnese was feeling similarly...

"I'm so sorry, I... I didn't-..."

Agnese can't even get her words out because she's frozen stiff.

"What a nightmare..."

Orsola whispers out with a noticable tremble.

...

"This world would be so screwed without you Kami-yan..."

Tsuchimikado mutters with a grimace.

EVERYONE looked to the monitor in fear.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST DO!?"

Birdway screamed out, as she was extremely bothered by the faux memories that popped into her head.

"Me? I only gave you a brief preview of what you were all already thinking. Terrifying right?"

The Voice responded casually. And before anyone could get any more pissed off-

"Good! Remember that feeling of terror. Notice the significance of that boy's intervention in this world. While I did not show you everything, it should be more than enough for you to UNDERSTAND. As well as- see it from the perspective of someone who didn't get a miracle like you all did..."

Ah... was that really what it took for them to understand, to go through some bullshit simulation!? Just how uncaring could they be!?

But they were all only human. Without emotions, we can't value the significance of experiences, without memories, we can't cherish the good times, and without pain... we can't figure out how to feel joy.

Even though Mitsuari Ayu want ed to feel the joy of bring saved by her special person, that didn't get happen.

She was denied her chance by some cruel twist of fate.

...

"M-Mitsuari-san...!"

Feelings that were brewing up for a while now exploded with intensity.

Distraught with grief, Hokaze suddenly launched herself at the girl, embracing her in a hug, one that Mitsuari was not expecting.

"H-hey, just what are you- Hokaze!?"

Sobbing. Wretched Sobbing.

"I'm sorry Mitsuari!. I'm so sorry I'm so weak! I can't do anything for you! You didn't deserve to feel that way! I can't imagine how sad you felt! Just please! Don't ever do something like that again. I couldn't bear it!"

That... was what the girl had said while clutching onto the Mitsuari in a tight grip, as if letting go would be catastrophic.

Mitsauri could only stand there in surprise. And then she felt it, the warmth Hokaze was transmitting to her. And it was a warmth that went beyond simple body heat, it was a warmth only reflected by the feelings that the one giving it to her felt.

It was genuine.

(Really- what the hell is with this late timing? Say that to me before I do the deed, stupid girl...)

Mitsuari thought with a wry smile, her shoulders drooping in an exhausted manner.

"Hokaze- you don't have to worry about that anymore. 'Cause to be honest..."

Mitsauri then gave off a brilliant smile to those watching.

"I have way too much to live for now...!"

Seeing and hearing this declaration, Hokaze could only smile and nod, as tears continued to fall. However they weren't so bitter this time.

(Oh.)

Mitsuari had said she was taking revenge on Shokuhou for taking everything from her.

According to her, Shokuhou had twisted her entire life even though they had never met and had avoided contact because she would have killed Shokuhou the second she saw her.

It all finally clicked in place.

They had shared the same time in the past, but they also had no real connection.

Even so, every last thing had been related to Shokuhou: the Parameter List that had led to her suicide, the cellphone that had been the final trigger, and even that spot next to Kamijou Touma after her suicide.

What if their situations had been reversed?

Mitsuari showed surprise as such a thought entered Misaki's head.

Shokuhou might have been able to handle the Parameter List issue.

But what about causing him to lose his phone?

What if the girl who had unknowingly given that final shove was then happily walking by that boy's side?

(I probably couldn't have forgiven her. Whatever else may have happened, that alone would be unforgivable.)

"Heh... I guess we really are similar..."

Mitsuari mumbled out.

As Mitsuari was now attacking her as a real threat, her suicide must have ended in failure. And once she had woken, she would have learned everything. That was what had broken her. That was why she had sunken into the deepest darkness of Academy City and gathered enough power to reach the Strobila and Five Over OS.

People will often say they could handle despair better with hindsight, as the feeling of being totally helpless is not something we often want to think about. And why would we? Why would we imagine ourselves being in a despairing situation? But if we did do that, we will tell ourselves that with knowledge of the outcome, we wouldn't feel as sad, and we would be able to handle it without breaking.

But throw another variable into the mix? Such as not only stealing one's advancement, but stealing one's... sweet and gentle memories?

That was something the most couldn't even begin to understand.

"If it were me, I'd be super fucking livid..."

Kinuhata said. Mugino scoffed right beside her.

"Is there even a need to say it, of course I'd fucking kill whatever bitch decided to... to-"

(Eh?)

Suddenly Mugino stopped, her expression sporting a disbelieving frown.

"Mugino...?"

Hamazura question, as just like the others, he was confused by her actions.

"Its... Its nothing, nevermind."

She said softly while looking away, which spoke for itself as an action very unlike Mugino.

(Just now... when I thought of that...)

The older girl thought...

(Why was he the first one to come up...?)

The moment Mugino had thoughts of killing someone in that manner, she had imagined Kamijou getting in the way, sending her a serious look of disapproval.

Had she...? Had she subconsciously wanted someone to stop her- him to stop her? And if so... what did that mean...?

Mugino Shizuri was left with these thoughts.

"Answer me one thing honestly, queen ant."

"Just one, Miss Bee?"

(Is there even any point to asking questions anymore?)

Musijime wondered, getting a feeling that the time for talking was over. Or maybe that was just her battle sense kicking in.

"Why did you wear the Five Over OS? The unit made from Designers' Gel can move on its own, can't it? Then you wouldn't need to swell up to that three hundred kilo body."

"It's easier to see people for who they are when they look down on you, so I intentionally ruined my looks to-…"

"No, not that."

Shokuhou cut her off.

The bee and ant were similar.

She had asked the question after already realizing the answer.

"Then... there was another reason she put on that... persona...?"

Shutaura said in confusion.

"What other reason could there be...?"

"It was shame..."

Mitsuari immediately responded to Shutaura. That girl spoke before her counterpart had the chance to.

"I did it because I was ashamed."

Mitsuari finished.

As confused as they all were, they wouldn't have to wonder for long.

And Mitsuari must have realized that because she spoke in resignation.

"I couldn't exactly let myself be seen like this."

"Oh..."

Agnese said she understood.

If it were her? Would she want to do the same thing?

Mitsuari being covered in fat like that was not the issue. Even if that was her insecurity, Kamijou would have still accepted her. He wasn't so superficial to deny someone because of their outward appearance.

No, what she was truly terrified of was-

She was covered in the filth of pitch-black hatred.

It was her darkness, and the self she had created to match it.

And the cracks in that hatred allowed a glimpse of the girl who had to have exited back then.

"I said I wanted to help people. I really did say that during that same time you spent with him. And yet…this was the only path available for me. I could never let him know that the Mitsuari Ayu he knew still lives as the utterly-changed ruins of that person."

"He didn't want to show him how much she had changed..."

Itsuwa muttered, looking over at Mitsuari in sadness.

She didn't want to face her hero with the darkness she had accumulated. While one could say her appearance was surely that of a beautiful girl, she saw her internal self as ugly.

"But you understand now right, you are both not the same as you once were."

The Voice said. Was she talking to-?

"Yes, he made that clear."

Mitsauri answered in kind, confusing all of them with her answer. Even Misaki.

(What is she talking about? When did he say something like that?)

Shokuhou heard those words.

She confirmed her own thoughts.

She had grasped the core of this girl.

And now she could not abandon her.

Huh!? Had they... Had they heard that correctly!?

"!"

Everyone stiffened in shock. Even Mitsuari wasn't prepared for those sudden thoughts.

Shokuhou Misaki had finally found just one thing that allowed her to think that.

She switched to a new train of thought.

A clear difference appeared in the colors filling her vision.

This changed nothing of what Mitsuari had done. She was a criminal who had immersed herself in Academy City's dark side, altered all sorts of documents, attacked Shokuhou using men disguised as Emergency Aid, used the Strobila and Five Over OS to have her destroy her own memories or personality, and was even now trying to take her life.

But even so, something changed inside Shokuhou.

It may have been the same for that boy. She had been the root cause of that girl's suicide, she had been the one to give the final shove, and she had even defiled the site of that suicide, but he may have found something inside that thoughtless girl.

It only had to be one thing.

Just the one thing that made you not want to kill them.

Those words washed over them like a wave.

'Just the one thing that made you not want to kill them.'

Everyone thought about that. What it meant. What it meant in this situation- and in all the others.

Many girl's hearts started to beat rapidly as they realized something crucial.

(I-Is that what he was looking for at that time...? A reason to save me, a reason not to kill me...? And...)

Agnese felt her face burn crimson.

(...Does that mean he found it...? Found what he was looking for? So the reason he saved me back then during Orsola's inquisition, and at the Adriactic, was because he found something inside me that made him want to save me...?)

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Those same feelings were raging in her heart, just like the salvation she had once felt during the incident in Italy. Such thoughts were sending her poor heart into overdrive.

And now, just like what Kamijou had found in her, Shokuhou had also found in Mitsuari.

A reason to care. A reason to-

"Hey, Mitsuari Ayu."

"What?"

"It may be too late and nothing I do now may have any ability to actually change things."

Shokuhou Misaki made an announcement as if challenging the other girl.

"But I'm still going to save you Because I know that's what he would do."

-Save her.

He had saved her like that.

She stood here today because of his decision.

And so no matter how pathetic, ridiculous, or meaningless to others it might be, she refused to reject that salvation.

No matter what.

Even it it all seems meaningless, even if its all pointless.

"Wow..."

Fukiyose couidn't help but utter that while she was impressed by the girl's light.

Shokuhou was paying it forward, wanting to extend a hand of salvation to a girl who had lost hers. Not because she had to, but because that infectious idealism of HIS had rubbed off in her it seems.

But its not just her, is it?

"To influence even a Level 5- no... the both of them it seems. Kamijou-chan really is amazing..."

Komoe said with a proud tone, oblivious to the warm smile she was wearing.

---

Part 3

---

She thought back over the basic assumptions.

Shokuhou Misaki and Mitsuari Ayu stood at a circular artificial lake of a kingdom of sweets where the scene was constructed from cream and melon soda. In truth, the #5's Mental Out power had been used to drag Shokuhou's mind into Mitsuari's mental world.

However…

(Even if you have a method of doing that, I am the Level 5 with the strongest mental powers. No one would want to expose their mind to me.)

"Man this really confusing..."

Hamazura said while rubbing the back if his head.

"Why can't she escape the mental prison she's in? Isn't her power stronger?"

While valid, Hamazura didn't see the over glaring issue. Which was-

"Weren't you paying attention idiot!? Its because her power's so strong that she can't escape. She tried to read the chocolate haired girl's mind, which means she had to go in her head first. That's why she's stuck. She can't escape now that their both on the same wavelength. Understand? "

Mugino explained angrily. But... Hamazura just blinked owlishly.

"Uh..."

...

"(Its like I"m looking at his doppelganger right now...)"

Othinus whispers in shock as she stares at an uncanny resemblance to a particular face Kamijou Touma often makes.

Shokuhou powerfully and deeply searched out the pieces she needed to turn this tiny sensation into a victory.

(In that case, she must have a reason to force herself to use this strategy. For example, what is happening to my body right now? If she had preprogrammed the Five Over OS, it could be dragging my body away, implanting something inside it, or whatever she wanted.)

"Hee hee. I can read all of that."

Shokuhou frantically turned around and saw all of her thoughts written out in melted chocolate ink on the cream mountains.

"Whoa... so cute..."

Uijaru says with awe in her tone.

"Whaa! Putting aside the really cutesy subtitles! She can hear her thoughts!?"

Saten exclaimed.

"This does not make any sense at all..."

Shirai grumbled, graphing her head in exhaustion.

"And the work is already done. Even if you begin fighting now, there is no way to turn it around."

"Is that so?"

As soon as she spoke, her words appeared on the sweet mountains.

Her mouth and the writing had the bizarre synchronization of movie subtitles.

"If you really had that much time, you wouldn't have needed to reveal everything about your embarrassing past to me. It was valuable to me, but it was meaningless to you. In that case, I can only imagine you were stalling for time. The situation is not progressing as smoothly as you would like."

"But that changes nothing."

The audience widened their eyes at this.

"So she was right... Mitsuari was stalling for time..."

Fukiyose muttered.

"I will make sure it does."

(What is she trying to do with the Five Over OS? Kill me while I don't have the ability to defend myself? No, then she could leave it to that tentacle that could crush a car. My ability doesn't work on machines, so Mental Out wouldn't be a problem if she left it to a program. More importantly, I can't even sense the pain while my mind and body are separated. This situation doesn't fit with her supposed intent to take revenge by killing me.)

Even though her thoughts were leaking out, she kept thinking as quickly as she could.

If that was the case, then what was Mitsuari planning to do with her?

They all wondered what could possibly be the motive? What other motive would a crazed vengeance seeking girl try to employ?

"She could have killed her already... so then what...?"

Lessar asked.

"It probably not anything pleasant. I'm sure that Mitsuari Ayu wants the person who wronged her to feel unimaginable pain..."

Birdway said slowly,

The mountains were already filled with chocolate ink writing and it began to fill the terribly bright night sky that had candy sprinkled through it.

(So she must be after something beyond that.)

She was being buried by her own thoughts, but she did not waver.

She stared out at Mitsuari's world.

(She must have in mind a crueler punishment than merely killing me. But what is it? How is she planning to use the Five Over OS to bring an end to that awful past that began with the Parameter List and ended with me being saved instead of her?)

"You won't find the answer."

A voice disturbed her thoughts.

That voice interrupting Shokuhou's thoughts startled them for some reason. After all, how many instances did one have to read someone else's thoughts?

-Oh wait.

"Whistle~ Whistle~ Whistle~"

But it led Shokuhou to realize something: that voice was clearly unnecessary. Her thoughts were getting nowhere fast, so not giving her any new information would be the best option as her enemy.

And yet Mitsuari spoke those unneeded words.

"Just like my words and thoughts are set to be exposed in chocolate ink as time goes on, are you not able to lie inside your own mind?"

"So... what? Since she can't lie to herself, she's just giving Shokuhou hints that she can't do anything with? Rather than... being silent and fully thinking of the plan? By her constantly talking, she has a way to calm down her thoughts in a way that controls how they form and what is shown. In this way, her secrets won't be revealed..."

Musujime says, trying to deduce it all. Then she started to scratch the back of her head in annoyance.

(Ugh... what I doing? This is all so confusing...)

"That's right. But either way, you won't make it in time. It is already here."

"It's already here? Not just on its way?"

"And that is why you did not make it in time."

She used the past tense again.

A moment later, a great shock ran through that mental world. The cream and chocolate kingdom of sweets melted away as if intense sunlight washed over it.

"What was that!? What's happening on the other side!?"

Shirai exclaimed.

All this talk of mental talk of riddles and ambiguity was seriously bothering her.

(This isn't good. She's throwing away the mental cage herself. That means she has no reason to keep it around and she has already put my body in checkmate back in the real world!)

That mean's she already winning then..."

Mikoto said solemnly.

"Shokuhou-sama..."

With that worried call, Hokaze furrowed her brow in concern. As much as the girl didn't want to choose sides, her reluctance instantly fell at that thought.

But the truth was... she didn't want anyone of her friends to die. She wanted them all to go back home with a smile on their faces. Sure, it might just be wishful thinking in the long run- but!

(If Kamijou-san can do it, Shokuhou-sama can make it happen for Mitsuari-san as well!)

Hokaze was right, that it is possible to get that fabled happy ending. But she was also wrong about something. Shokuhou Misaki can not achieve it by herself.

She's going to need a little push... from that person who will do it properly this time.

"I want to make that past mine and mine alone."

Mitsuari Ayu's expression remained unchanged even as she too was swallowed up by the torrent.

"That is why your memories are not needed. And if I can't alter them with the Five Over OS, I have to bring in a higher-level machine."

"You don't mean…"

The Five Over OS was a devilish device that rewrote the scenery surrounding the target and used that twisted information to indirectly influence their memories and mental state.

If there was a truly superior machine, it would have to be…

"It can't be!"

What did she mean by that?

"Wasn't it already established that there wasn't a higher machine to use? Is she gonna just pull one out from knowehere for the sake of plot or some shit like that?"

Aogami said confused.

"I think..."

Kumokawa said, anwering Aogami's question.

"I think when she said machine, she didn't really mean machine at all- well not in the way she has planned..."

And with those ominous words, the battle for mental dominance and submission continued with earnest.

---

Part 4

---

It resembled a bee or a wasp.

However, this was not a honeybee or giant hornet that created a hive and lived as a group. This was a lone-wolf species.

It was a scorpion wasp.

Like a crane fly, it had six oddly long legs and a slender abdomen. Its most notable feature was the stinger which was formed by a delicate tube that extended more than three times the length of its body. Normally, that stinger was used to pierce into the larvae eating into a tree and then lay its eggs inside them.

This weapon was designed after that bizarre parasitic wasp, its main body was four meters long, and its thin wings were twice that length when extended. Its abdomen was a translucent device filled with a sticky fluid. If anyone had seen it, they might have compared it to a coffin because it was clearly meant to contain a human body.

This was the Five Over Modelcase Mental Out.

Naturally, many in the room were disgusted and freaked out because of the uncanny likeness to insect-arachnid hybrid.

Lessar shivered.

"Man, I'm getting real sick of the creepy crawly theme she has going on. Can we go back to the overweight girl please...?"

Lessar said with clear revulsion on her face as she stared at the... creature before her.

"Agreed..."

Birdway said, agreeing with her for once.

It used pure industrial technology to completely reproduce the phenomena of a Level 5's powers and, unlike the OS, it used the same basic theory as the Level 5's powers. On top of that, it was meant to exceed the original's output.

This was the final trump card the ant had hidden away to challenge the bee.

And then... there was another thing that was clear to those watching.

(Is that a coffin!?)

The room thought in worry.

"Th-That coffin... surely that doesn't mean what I think it means right?"

Arisa asked worriedly, hoping to hope that her worries are unfounded.

(I think... she's right though...)

Shutaura thought with a grimace.

"Shokuhou-san..."

Index said with anxiety portrayed on her face. Even though she wasn't too familiar with the honey blonde haired girl, she and others have come a long way to understanding and grasping the core of the girl known as Shokuhou Misaki- and how similar at times she was to a certain boy.

So of course Index and the others were concerned.

---

Part 5

---

A giant form stood at the center of the world as everything melted together and formed a marble pattern.

It was a bizarrely long and narrow weapon that looked like a crane fly given the details of a wasp.

It was likely due to that weapon that Shokuhou and Mitsuari had been able to "compare answers" in that world of no lies.

"Five Over…?" muttered a dazed Shokuhou Misaki. "I'd heard one modelled after that foolish #3 had been mass-produced, but I didn't know there was one for me. In fact, I thought even the researchers couldn't agree how exactly Mental Out works."

Ignoring the insult, Mikoto flinched at this.

She remembered the swarm of Railgun-based death machines that were sent out to kill that boy, Kamijou Touma, during his trek with Othinus.

"Back then was certainly surprising however I was able to deal with it... but for Shokuhou, how can she measure up...?"

"By myself, I would have failed- died I wasn't alone..."

Misaki replied with a sweet tone.

"Hee hee. To be honest, this thing breaks the rules. I doubt the higher ups would have agreed to build it under normal circumstances."

"?"

"After all, it doesn't contain anything to reproduce an esper's powers using industrial technology. It doesn't fit the definition of a Five Over."

"Um... did she just say it doesn't do anything? Then how is it a threat?"

Saten asked, tempting fate.

It was then that Imouto gasped softly.

"Could it be... that's what the coffin is for...? Misaka says, eyes widening in realization."

"Huh?"

Saten let out a confused sound. Shirai, Uiharu, and Misuzu followed.

Shokuhou did not understand.

That would mean it was nothing more than a flying powered suit shaped like an insect.

But she rejected that idea.

"No, nothing that lacking in ability would show up after all this."

She had a point.

"At this stage, the final boss won't just run out of battery or some gag like that. There's something else at play here..."

Birdway said with narrowed eyes.

"Very true. To correct what you said earlier, I believe they understood the general process Mental Out uses, but the exact distribution was a mystery. Even with a refrigerator full of ingredients, you can't reproduce the flavor of a restaurant's dishes without the recipe. This was the same."

Mitsuari's voice filled the melting world.

"That is why I will put you inside the machine."

"…"

"!"

They were completely stupefied at this claim.

"Put her... in the machine...!?"

Itsuwa gasped.

"Oh dear..."

Orsola said with a concerned expression

"I know it's getting the priorities hopelessly reversed, but it's the only correct answer. That Five Over is crammed full of eight thousand output devices. By placing you inside and having you activate your powers, it can monitor exactly which devices to use and how. By taking sample data from the real Level 5 just once, we should be able to mass-produce it without end."

For just an instant, Shokuhou imagined a world where Mental Out could be bought at any store just like a cellphone.

"She'd be treated like a machine, her power being used by the highest bidder..."

Shirai said in stupefied shock.

"If that happens, how can you even call that living anymore...?"

Mikoto mumbled angrily.

"You're completely insane."

"Ha ha! So you're allowed to have it, but no one else is? No one's going to listen to you if you say that."

Mitsuari's words gave no thought to the future.

She was not thinking about what would happen to the world even three days later.

"And it's a little late to be shocked by this. This was tested quite a long time ago."

"What?"

"What!?"

This abomination was already tested!?

"When!? Where!?"

Komoe asked in fright.

"Let's talk about the past again. Remember Deadlock, that group of students who attacked you for the wrong reason, even if their anger was justified? Do you remember one peculiar element of their Queen Diver weapon systems? That's right. The helmets blocked your mental attacks by putting a program in control once their brainwaves shifted."

"Are you saying they did more than that? Did those thoroughly scan the brain structure of the people I was controlling and send a report back to someone?"

"So they weren't just simple helmets, but one's designed to send data back to the higher ups. Interesting..."

Mugino said.

"Yeah interesting! Along with messed up!"

Hamazura said with shock.

"In the end, that information failed to produce a working Five Over. That said, I don't know if it was a simple technical issue or if it was because the adults leading the project were blown to pieces in a highly unusual accidental explosion."

Mitsuari's tone was entirely unconcerned.

Based on that, Shokuhou decided those "adults" were not anyone Mitsuari had particularly known and the girl had likely not been involved in the supposed accident.

Many grimaced at that- especially at the girl's non-committal concern.

Hokaze had been clenching her fists tightly for a while now, saddened that her friend has bred a mentality like this whilst she was alone in the darkness.

(Mitsuari-san... please stop this...)

She couldn't say it out-loud though. Those words wouldn't mean anything. After all, this all was in the past.

All she could was watch, and hope for a happy ending.

"And the people leftover decided they would never get anywhere even with data from tens of thousands of victims. They realized they would never create a true Five Over without data from the culprit herself. That meant they needed a system to force your power out of you using electrodes or something like that."

The present was built on the past, but every single thing was intertwined with "those days". It felt like the past itself was a giant arm dragging Shokuhou away.

"I will complete your Five Over."

Was that Mitsuari Ayu's revenge?

Would she fill the world with Mental Out to reduce Shokuhou Misaki's value to nothing?

No.

Shokuhou knew that was not it.

Once again, the Bee and the Ant were remarkably similar. Just like how Shokuhou said that she could have accepted just her ability being pruned for the success of another, Mitsuari too had that modicum of patience.

However that wasn't what made her snap, that wasn't what made her spiral into this chaotic darkness.

The core of that girl's heart was not her comparison with Shokuhou. That core was somewhere else.

"I have no future and I don't care who is there now. But…in the past…in those days, I played the leading role. I will take that back. You are not needed in my memories of him, so I will erase you. I will use your own Mental Out to smash your memories to pieces."

Who exactly was she directing her revenge toward?

Shokuhou Misaki? That boy? Academy City? The entire world?

"Those days should be mine and mine alone. You are not wanted there."

You could say that Mitsuari Ayu was living in the past, as the past is where the only memories she can trust lay. So from that logic, what she is trying to do now is the next step. She is trying to make that past her present and future once again, and get rid of any obstacles in her way.

"I have a feeling... that things won't go as you want..."

Mikoto said sadly, not spiteful of the girl's behavior whatsoever, just... honest.

Mitsuari laughed slightly, catching her off guard.

"Haha- yeah... don't I already know it. From the very beginning it was an inevitability. But, that's okay."

Remembering his words, that promise? Why would she be dissatisfied?

All of a sudden, Mitsuari was nowhere to be seen.

That melting and crumbling landscape was her mental world, so she might have melted into it.

Shokuhou had lost track of her target.

The already hard-to-bear saccharine smell mixed together even further.

Only Mitsuari's voice filled that marble-patterned world.

"This is already over. The Five Over simply has to place you inside while you can't even touch your own body. Once the electrodes are attached across your body and your powers are forcibly drawn out, this will truly be over. You can drown in this melting world until then."

"Do you really think I'll let you do that?"

"..."

They all heard that girl's defiant voice, reminding them of that boy honestly.

But... where was she getting such confidence from? What could she do to overturn this situation?

"Isn't it all hopeless?"

Agnese said in confusion.

(What more could this girl do...?)

"There's nothing you can do. Your mind is split from your body and trapped in my head, so you can't move your body back in reality. You can't even blink. Meanwhile, both the Outsider and Five Over are programmed to move on their own. And don't forget you are trapped by the OS's tentacle, so you couldn't do anything even if you could move. It is only a matter of time before you are automatically brought inside the Five Over."

Shokuhou listened to that and thought on that hopeless checkmate.

"This is... this is all crazy. I can't pretend to understand half of what is going on here, but... aren't you trapped Shokuhou-san? What did you do...?

That question came from Misuzu, wondering how on earth this young lady triumphed in this situation.

But honestly, the answer wasn't quite so difficult, at least- not to Misaki.

She said those words again.

"I had help Misuzu-san. Undeserved and altogether unfair based on what she faced, but... I had help from very precious people."

Of course, Misaki was talking about her loyal subordinates, her friends. And... she was talking about the boy who had saved her again, even when she didn't deserve it this time.

However, her next words contradicted that.

"Are you sure?"

A tremendous shock ran through the sweet marble-patterned world.

"!"

Everyone displayed bewilderment at the change, but mostly at the obvious shift in Mitsuari's assured demeanor.

"What just happened?"

Stiyl asked. He too was unsuspecting that the girl had any way to overturn the situation, so he was as flummoxed as everyone else.

This was blatantly different from the previous smooth flow of melting.

This strange scenery was Mitsuari's mental world, so any change here signified a change in her.

"What?"

"I would suggest returning us as soon as you can." said Shokuhou in a mocking tone. "I didn't have enough spare ability to hold back, so it could have killed you if you were unlucky."

"Wha- could have killed her...? Then does that mean...!?"

Shutaura's face showed obvious confusion at the words and actions of the girl. But then- it the meaning of them caught up to her.

"Kssshhh!? What is – kshhhh! – going on here? What did you-…?"

"What do you think?"

"How did you attack my body in the outside world!?"

"How do you think?"

Shokuhou Miskai had somehow attacked the body of Mitsuari Ayu in the real world.

"Holy shit. How did she do that!?"

Completely bamboozled, Hamazura exclaimed.

"There's nothing... right? What could she have super done with her body unconscious?"

Kinuhata was equally as stumped.

---

Part 6

---

"Ghah!"

As if forcibly dragged out by her body's warning signals, Mitsuari Ayu got up on the shore of the artificial lake.

Something was wrong with her organs. They were convulsing and she could not breathe properly.

Hokaze was suddenly fretting over the pain the girl was experiencing, but ultimately froze as her eyes chose to widen instead.

In fact, everyone was surprised at what they were witnessing.

To find the source of the oddity, she looked down to her stomach.

It was only then that she realized what was happening.

"O…S?"

A giant yellowish-white octopus tentacle had sunk into her stomach as if performing a body blow.

"Agh!? Why…Why have I lost control of the Five Over OS?"

She just barely suppressed the rising urge to vomit and slowly looked up.

There she saw the #5 who had been constricted so tightly she should have been spewing her organs from her mouth. However, the girl had escaped the grasp of that giant tentacle.

"Its attacking... Mitsuari? Then that means...!"

Shutaura trailed off.

In fact, the Outsider's giant form had changed position to protect her instead.

"You…took control of it? But…that's impossible. Your Mental Out is supposed to be useless against pure technology!"

"That's amazing!"

Hokaze shouted with an excited tone.

"Nice job Number 5! Controlling that squid monster takes a lot if guts!"

Sogita also compliments, shouting at Misaki.

However she just gave him an unamused look.

"Don't taint my intellectual prowess ability by calling it 'guts'..."

She scolded.

"That's right."

Shokuhou spun a television remote around in her hand.

"So here's a question. You used a variety of methods to locate the bodyguards I had hidden around and I ordered them to leave so those unrelated espers wouldn't die. But where exactly did I send all those powerful espers?"

"You can't mean…"

The bodyguards.

They mouthed those words in shock.

Thats right. They had completely forgotten.

Where had they gone? Did Shokuhou really send them away, or had she really-?

"...sent them off to execute plan B..."

Accelerator muttered.

"When I thought about it, it didn't make sense."

The #5 lady smiled with her intense exhaustion visible on her face.

"I get why my Five Over couldn't be mass-produced. After all, it was an incomplete product that lacked its core Mental Out ability, so it had yet to prove itself worthy of mass-production. …But what about the Five Over OS? Its effectiveness has been proven and it has a detailed blueprint, so why hasn't it been prepared for military use?"

"?"

Fukiyose and Himegami were both thoroughly confused. They did not understand what the blonde girl was getting at.

In other words…

"The Five Over OS is a prototype with plenty of unresolved problems remaining. For example, it can't perfectly overwrite the scenery from just your viewpoint. After all, you're using the magnetically-controlled monitor to overwrite an entire power station…no, to overwrite the entire landscape visible from here in real time. To pull that off without anything feeling out of place, you need to monitor the entire target area from multiple angles to check for abnormalities."

Mitsuari looked down at her own smartphone.

"Are you saying you went after that? Did you locate the people providing the Five Over OS's different 'viewpoints', attack them, and steal their lenses!?"

"Correct " Shokuhou laughed.

"Ah..."

A collective wave of understanding went throughout the room. Then that quickly turned to awe.

"This girl is something else..."

Kanzaki smiled in amusement.

"So. What if we took over all of the lenses forming that ultra-wide range network that even crosses into other districts? What if we used those lenses to provide malicious feedback? Could that maybe allow us to take control of your precious toy like tugging on a marionette's strings?"

"…"

"Besides, we are two sides of the same coin. Just like me, you should be ridiculously strong against people's minds but weak against pure machines. You weren't giving detailed commands to the Five Over OS, were you? Once the data being sent in from around the area was gathered together, you would give general instructions with small gestures and the machine would take care of the rest. …In that case, can someone so terrible with machines recover from this even if you know what's going on?"

She had understood her own weakness- and conversely- her opponent's, and used it against her.

"Your friend really is impressive Mikoto."

Misuzu said warmly, sending a smile Misaki's way, catching the receiver a little off guard. However Mikoto was the one who took issue.

"Hey! We are not friends! Just... familiar acquaintances who happen to help each other out on occasion..."

Mikoto got several blank stares as a response.

"Misaka-san~! My feelings~! You wound me~!"

Misaki playfully retorted with a smirk.

"You couldn't possibly pull that off. I have thirty-nine different 'viewpoints' that perfectly blend into the city as normal people. Do you seriously expect me to believe you instantly located, attacked, and defeated them all to take control of the OS without me noticing?"

"Think what you want," said Shokuhou with an air of importance. "But it's because we can do that sort of thing that we're called Tokiwadai Middle School's largest clique."

Hokaze was grinning ear to ear with a smile of pure warmth. She was so happy to hear her Queen's words of praise.

"I'm so happy that you feel that way Shokuhou-sama!"

Misaki just gave a pleasant smile in response.

---

Part 7

---

A girl with black twintails ran through the trees at tremendous speed. She ignored the winding mountain road and dashed along the steep slope of that deep forest with the momentum of a racecar.

"Target incapacitated. Please give me the next target."

In a distant room, a girl with bobbed hair traced her index finger along a map with her eyes closed.

"Next. District 7, exit A2 of Western Mountain Station. The target is a man in a knit hat sitting on a bench."

A girl with voluminous ringlet curls quietly stood behind a man in a knit hat who blended into the city while messing with a smartphone.

"Understood. I will now incapacitate him."

They all watched in fascination as they got to see firsthand how that famous clique worked.

"They're good..."

Musujime found herself muttering.

(They can even rival some dark side organizations with that efficiency...)

It no longer mattered to the girls whether they were being controlled.

They did not care if this would only help the one who stood in the center.

They may not have been powerful enough to be called Academy City's #5 or #3.

They may not have been powerful enough to be called an ace or a queen.

But one could not forget that they were young ladies of Tokiwadai Middle School.

That position alone meant they played more than minor roles.

Every single one of them did.

While a beehive had a queen, it was mostly run by the soldier bees who flew around the surrounding area.

Hearing such a powerful proclamation followed by equally impressive actions, those high class ladies in the room couldn't help but get spurred on by the passion that was so clearly shown.

"Good job girls, I'm proud of you."

Misaki said softly.

---

Part 8

---

"Now," said Shokuhou. "I think I'll take this toy of yours "

The entire landscape changed. Like switching off a television, it transformed into the dreary gray of the artificial lake at night. This scene matched Shokuhou's memories perfectly.

The sudden change of light startled most, creating an ethereal haze of the darkness that was only rivaled by the illuminating moon.

"Uwaa... I totally forgot it was night-time..."

Saten said with noticeable surprise.

And the tentacles of the giant octopus device rushed toward Mitsuari.

"Now, how about we enjoy this!?"

"…! Five Over!"

As soon as Mitsuari Ayu shouted out, the true Five Over that resembled a scorpion wasp collided with the imitation OS.

It was truly a weird sight to behold, as two freakish creatures of nature attacked with the intent to subdue their respective targets, with both of them having differing motives for doing so.

(Who's going to win...?)

Hokaze thought anxiously, as such a thought churned her stomach in worry.

The two girls did not follow the weapons with their eyes.

They both pointed their television remote or smartphone lens toward each other's faces.

They had nothing left to trick each other with.

No further truth remained hidden.

(When it comes down to pure power, I should have the advantage with my upwards compatibility. But her inferiority complex should give her the ability to know that all too well, so she won't choose to fight that way!)

With a dull sound of impact, the scorpion wasp Five Over slammed into the octopus Outsider. As it did, the long, thick tube that resembled a scorpion wasp's ovipositor snapped like a whip and forcefully struck Mitsuari's back.

The impact knocked the breath from her and launched her forward.

Everyone winced.

"This-is-not-the-type-of-tentacle-play-I-was-hoping-for! Ah ha! I said it- ow!"

Tsuchimikado said quickly, only to get smacked upside the head by Fukiyose.

"Now's. Not. The Time! You Idiot!"

Fukiyose stressed as she hit him.

(Worth it...!)

The boy praised himself.

As she flew through the air, she turned a look of clear hostility toward Shokuhou.

(She's going for a physical battle instead of a psychological one!?)

Deadlock had once cornered her in the same way.

To kill her before she could control them, they had approached too quickly for her to use her remote. They had even taken the concept to its extreme with their Queen Diver equipment.

Mitsuari tightly clutched her smartphone and swung her fist toward Shokuhou's face.

The girl shot toward her.

"You…!?"

Shokuhou cried out while forcibly blocking the fist with both her arms.

She once more tried to thrust her remote toward the girl's head, but the girl grabbed her arm at the wrist and shoved it outward.

And now that she was unguarded, the girl swung her smartphone-holding fist at her face.

"And now we have a catfight? But where's the mud!? The Bikinis!? THE BOOTY SHORTS! You're ruining all my fantas-Bwehhh!"

Aogami tried to issue his given right to free speech, but quickly found a military grade flashlight impacting with his face, knocking him to the ground.

"Just shut up you pervert..."

Musijime said with a tired look, not even sparing her downed opponent with a glance.

(They've become so used to this... the both of them...)

Himegami thought, giving alternative gazes to both Musujime and Fukiyose.

"Glad to see your fitting in Musijime-chan..."

Tsuchimikado said, still rubbing his recent injury.

Pain could leave one in a dazed state.

A stun grenade was known as a non-lethal weapon that blinded people with a flash of light and loud noise, but that explanation was not quite sufficient. By assaulting people with more information than they could handle, they were left in a daze for a few seconds to a few dozen seconds. A fist to the face could produce a similar phenomenon.

As they were watching this fight, hearing such a description, an unconscious thought began to form in the minds of those watching.

And Shokuhou had not lived a life that left her accustomed to pain.

...But Kamijou Touma did.

In fact, maybe this was a result of his stubbornness when it came to his chosen weapon. Using only fists in life or death situations, the boy left himself open to countless dangers, and surely made it more difficult to overcome them as well.

So of course people wondered why that was the case. Why did he only use such a primitive form of combat? If he learned how to use a weapon, even a standard melee, anything would be an upgrade to what has been his normal, right?

But in actuality, he would have already lost.

A certain person had told him that Kamijou Touma's greatest strength was his willingness to break down barriers and talk.

-Othinus smiled at that memory-

A weapon with a sharp edge, or a firearm with the chance of killing, using those would only serve to 'cut people off'. That would stray away from the ideal that the boy has sought for so long.

Not the power to kill, while assuming the worst of your opponent, but the power of human compassion.

And as a result, how many people has those 'weak' fists saved?

They couldn't help but think of such things with a smile.

(I always admired you for your unwillingness to use weapons, Kamijou...)

Kanzaki thought with no small amount of pride and affection within her heart,

The gap between Level 3 and Level 5 was obvious, but who could say what would happen if the Level 3 power was used against the Level 5 in the short "gap" this created.

But…

(If you think this remote is my only weapon, you're sorely mistaken!)

"Outsider!"

Rather than the machine, she was speaking to the girls of her clique who had stolen all of the nearly forty smartphones which were sending massive amounts of data on the changes to the landscape.

They were all snapped back to attention at Misaki's sudden call.

What was she going to do?

A moment later, a giant hieroglyphic-like eyeball attached to Shokuhou's body. This was the same method Mitsuari had used. One of the sources of fear that people of all cultures and regions shared was the face of a beauty swinging her hair around in rage. This was an effect extracted from that and it was designed to stir up people's emotions as much as possible.

Once Mitsuari fell for this and her movements dulled, Shokuhou could use her remote.

However, Shokuhou saw the other girl hold up the smartphone in her palm to cover her eyes.

Instead of using her own eyes, she viewed the scene through the camera after running it through some kind of filter.

"Oh no! She countered it!"

Arisa said in concern.

"Ah."

Shokuhou recalled that Mitsuari had mentioned the story of Medusa when using this tactic.

In that story, hadn't a shield polished into a mirror been used to avoid her gaze?

"You will…"

Mitsuari's other hand grabbed Shokuhou's honey-blonde hair.

She tugged downwards to point Shokuhou's head toward her own clothes.

"You will be the one to experience this digital petrification!"

"Oh, no…"

Shokuhou's entire body stiffened.

Soon, the fist holding the smartphone flew toward her.

It jabbed into her cheek, shook her head, and briefly blanked out her thoughts with the sudden pain and the vibration of her inner ear.

"Shokuhou-sama...!"

The violet ringlet girl called out.

(Not good.)

Mitsuari pointed the smartphone lens toward her.

A disturbing number of blood vessels were swelling out on the girl's small face. Most likely, she had failed to completely escape the origin of fear used by the OS.

She moved her arms and legs as if they were being eaten into and as if she were breaking free from chains.

She was tenacious.

She had no future and her present contained nothing but tragedy, but the mistaken yet utterly pure heart at the core of her being wished to have the past all to herself.

And for this brief moment, that surpassed all else.

Her fingertips moved across the smartphone and Shokuhou's vision instantly fell into darkness.

Both girls were fighting with their hearts and their wills- but... Shokuhou Misaki had lost.

"No..."

Mikoto said as the worst possible outcome was starting to be realized.

"Shokuhou-san..."

Uiharu said in worry.

"This can't be it, right?"

Misuzu said in disbelief.

...

"..."

Accelerator watched in silence with a serious gaze.

(How are you getting out of this one, fifth fate. You've gotten this far, come on... show me something impressive...)

Accelerator couldn't help but get a little invested in what was happening now.

---

Part 9

---

Where was she and what had happened?

For a while, Shokuhou Misaki did not understand anything.

Her cognitive ability had dropped considerably like when half asleep. She could not think logically and even her five senses and sensation of gravity were blurred. Everything around her wavered and she had lost any sense of temperature.

The girl was awake and better than that, alive. However, while that gladdened many of them considerably, that did nothing to change the situation she was in.

But... on that note, what was the situation? Where exactly was she...?

After several seconds, her mind rapidly cleared. It was then that she realized the ambiguous information coming from her five senses was not mistaken after all.

She was stuffed inside the transparent coffin that formed the abdomen of the giant scorpion wasp combat machine called the Five Over Modelcase Mental Out.

"She's already inside...!"

Orsola said solemnly, with a expression of despair on face.

"Oh no..."

Itsuwa exclaimed as well.

...

(No!)

Hokaze screamed internally.

Her Queen was too late!

If things kept going the way they were, she would likely suffer a fate worse than death, and Mitsuaru-san will grow more and more out of reach.

Both of them would be lost to her.

You see- Hokaze had never once wanted one to win at the expense of another. She wanted both of them to be saved! Was that so much to ask!? She believed in that niave idealism before, but after 'meeting' Kamijou Touma and seeing what he has accomplished with just a clenched fist, how can she not believe in such a dream!?

Two precious people to her are suffering right in front of her and all she can do is watch as it happens!

(So please... don't them die...)

She cried, beginning to feel helpless.

Her vision was blurred and her sense of gravity and temperature were unclear because of the pale red fluid filling the coffin.

The coffin was opened on the wasp's back and Shokuhou found she had no trouble breathing despite being completely immersed in the sticky fluid.

She heard a bubbling sound and Mitsuari's wavering voice came from beyond the strange fluid's surface.

"You really are amazing."

There was no hint of praise in her voice.

"After all that preparation and even some coincidences in my favor, I was only able to knock you unconscious. And you woke up only three seconds later. If you had recovered any sooner, I would have had to grab your hair and hit you again."

Was this really happening?

All alone, forced to comply with the vengeance that has been set forth by the mistakes of her past.

Was this really the fate that Shokuhou Misaki was left with?

"…"

"But it's already over."

With a bubbling sound, Mitsuari's hands sank into the red fluid.

They extended toward various parts of Shokuhou's body. They pulled up her coat and even reached below her skirt, but the #5 no longer had the strength to move.

Everyone watched with grim silence as the scene unfolded, their hearts pounding anxiously in despair.

It was similar to learned helplessness; a state of mind where all forms of struggle turn off. The fight or flight response fails to kick in, leaving the victim with the only option of acceptance of what is about to happen to them.

But who was the anchor is such psychological petrification? Was it the girl in the motionless state, Shokuhou? Or was it those watching?

Most likely, it was both.

The reason why was simple.

"Damn, my fingertips are tingling. I get why the conducting fluid needs a slight anesthetic effect, but why can it get through my suit?"

Mitsuari was attaching wired medical electrodes to Shokuhou.

Submerging her in the conducting fluid prevented her body and mind from resisting and the electrodes would give the specific commands to draw out her power.

If that alone was how the machine was meant to artificially produce Mental Out, it could somewhat be called a success.

But Mitsuari had other intentions.

She would monitor exactly how Shokuhou used the eight thousand output devices to obtain the detailed recipe for controlling someone's mind. By sending that recipe back into the machine, she would have reproduced the #5's power with purely industrial technology.

And that stolen power would be used to completely erase Shokuhou's memories with Kamijou Touma.

Her own power would crush her very core.

Such a cruel fate awaited the girl in captivity. But what was crueler? Knowing that she would be used for her power as a slave? Or... amidst that suffering... not having those precious memories with him as a light to keep her going.

Ah... it wasn't a difficult question to answer after all.

(Without those memories... without him... that would be unbearable.)

Misaki thought as she watched the scene.

"Done."

Finally, Mitsuari removed her hands from the sticky red fluid.

That satisfied word was enough for Shokuhou to gradually realize what was happening to her.

"Now, it's time to end this ridiculous revenge. You will lose everything, have every last memory altered, and have nothing left to prove those days ever existed. The only memories will remain in my heart. Jewel boxes are made to be closed, after all."

"…"

(No... Please no...!)

Hokaze began to feel tremors in her body. Fear was an emotion that the girl wasn't to used to experiencing, yet she was feeling now.

A hero was not coming.

The one that always did had no way of knowing about this place, much less the two girl's involved. Such memories did not exist in his head anymore.

So... Shokuhou Misaki... was completely and utterly alone.

She was right.

Shokuhou Misaki had lost.

And that loss meant her only option was to lose everything and live an empty life without even knowing what she had lost.

"A precious student needs help but-... I can't... I can't even... "

Komoe choked back a sob.

They... began to cry. It only makes sense right? After all, wasn't this sad? Didn't that human emotion begin to form in times like this?

The science side, the magic side, males and females, children and adults alike, they had all watched this girl's tale unfold from the beginning. Whether it was those bittersweet memories that she held so dear, or the dark conspiracy that was treating their existence.

Whether they wanted it or not, everyone began to get attached. They would root for her when she needed the resolve, show concern when the girl was in danger, and of course even laugh at the silly moments.

But now? Wasn't this just too sad? Will the romantic thriller that Shokuhou Misaki wanted so dearly end like this?

Yes.

If she and Mitsuari were the only two in this world, that is.

...Huh?

(What... does that mean...?)

Shutaura thought in confusion.

They paused. Everyone paused in the utter most confusion.

"Honestly, it's unbelievable."

She was unsure if her voice was actually reaching Mitsuari beyond the surface of that fluid, but the other girl may have been able to read something from her expression and the movements of her lips.

"It's always at times just like this. Everyone can tell it's checkmate and even the person in question has accepted their defeat, but then someone shows up and refuses to accept that defeat."

"What…are you talking about?"

"--"

A chill ran down their spines.

All of a sudden, they FELT something powerful. It wasn't a realization, it was a feeling that was neither from the brain or memories, it came from the heart.

And those hearts of theirs refused to stop acting up.

"You can't tell?"

The girl in the fluid could not move her arms or legs, but something floated up from her chest. It was a cheap silver emergency whistle attached to a thin ribbon.

"T-Thats...!"

Kanzaki whispered, shocked at the sudden appearance of the item.

...

(This is...!)

Kumokawa widened her eyes. The beautiful senpai began to get eager as she felt her heart dance around playfully.

She was excited plain and simple.

Even if she could bring it to her mouth, it would produce no sound inside this fluid.

And even if it did, it would not reach anyone.

She knew that, but she still placed her small lips on that link to her past.

"Shokuhou-sama...!"

Hokaze began to cry more distinctly now, many others clenched their fists in anger.

(Will this really happen? Shokuhou's here now I now but-)

Everyone watched with bated breath as the girl began to perform an action that would hold no meaning.

She remembered his words.

"Use it if you're in trouble. It might give me more chances to save you."

Even as a tingling pain reached the tip of her tongue, she smiled inside that coffin.

Even now -Misaki- smiled.

She smiled because those words spoken by him had saved her that day. She smiled because they had made her happy.

"Maybe you wouldn't recognize this since he didn't make it in time for you. At times just like this, when a girl is facing her ruin and has forgotten to even cry, someone will always come rushing in for them."

Mitsuari's face distorted so much it was amazing it did not make any noise.

(She look so distraught at those words...)

Arisa thought with a somber mood.

And Arisa was right, Mitsuari looked so wretchedly distraught at the thought of Kamijou coming, so much so that it looked like she was about to break, scream, and curse everything in existence. They couldn't put a number to the emotions she was feeling, just like they couldn't measure the size of it all either.

But it was of no difference, because no one would come. It wasn't possible, the world wasn't that kind.

"No help is coming."

"Yes, it is."

"Nothing has suggested that! He has no information to lead him here! Besides, he has completely lost his memories beyond anything our powers can do, so he doesn't know who Mitsuari Ayu or Shokuhou Misaki are. He doesn't remember us! He can't even picture our faces! So…!"

"Nevertheless, he'll come," said Shokuhou. "It has nothing to do with whether he knows the person or not. It doesn't matter if he has anything to gain and he doesn't have to follow a proper course of foreshadowed hints."

They were all flabbergasted at this.

Why was she so sure? Why was she so insistent that a hero will come to rescue her?

He did not have extraordinary athletic ability.

He did not have the intellect or skill of a superhuman genius.

He did not have the fortune needed to run a nation.

He did not have the deductive ability to resolve any incident from his easy chair.

He did not have the beauty to ruin a country with a smile.

He did not have the political power to change history with a snap of his fingers.

He did not have the unbelievable power of a Level 5.

But…

Nevertheless…

"..."

They hanged on every word the girl thought with all her heart.

"He is my hero."

"Ah..."

Shutaura couldn't help but feel an incredible weight behind those words.

Shokuhou looked straight up at the wavering face beyond the surface.

She was certain it was more than just the fluid and the anesthesia causing that face to waver.

"I don't care how others see him. He can be someone else's hero too. The authenticity of his righteousness doesn't matter. But none of that changes his ability to be my personal hero. …So he will come. Even if he has forgotten everything and even if someone else is smiling by his side, just this once, it's my turn."

Such faith... such words of undeterred certainty. But it was pointless. Such a wish would be denying reality.

"It doesn't matter how much she wishes for it, it's just not super possible, not when he has no memory of either of them. He can't know anything..."

Kinuhata had convinced herself that it just wasn't possible for a certain someone to appear.

They all wanted it to be true, they wished for it be true. But... it just wasn't realistic. Even as great as he was, even Kamijou Touma did not have a sixth sense when it came to when other people were in danger.

They BELIEVED that nothing could done. So... if that's the case-...

If they think that happy endings are scarce and few between, never in the moment where one is so desperately called, then...!

...Let's shatter that illusion!

---

[PLAY MUSIC]

Haloweak NARWHAL - Punishing Gray Raven OST

[A/N: Holy shit! This was fire!]

---

"He won't come," muttered Mitsuari.

A moment later, two arms burst into the sticky red liquid with an explosion of bubbles.

"!"

On the screen, Mitsuari's whole emotional level suddenly changed drastically.

"He won't come. He won't show up like that! After all…he didn't reach me. He didn't catch up to me. He didn't make it in time for me! Being our hero doesn't make him almighty. If the conditions aren't just right, he won't show up. Because you got in his way, my hero failed to show up!"

"That's..."

Rage.

The only emotion they couid think of.

They were all shocked at the amount of pure rage they felt from this girl. Rage, from the highest degree, an emotion that was bred from pure despair.

How much did she want to deny it? Deny the words spoken by the girl at her mercy?

...

"This is all so sad... Misaka Misaka says softly..."

Accelerator looked at the young girl, then back at the screen.

(Doesn't make him almighty, huh?)

The boy mused, then he snorted slightly.

After all, he HEAVILY begged to differ.

The two slender hands wrapped around Shokuhou's neck.

They squeezed with unbelievable strength.

"Gah…gh…!?"

"NOOOO!

Many of them screamed.

Deny it! They wanted to deny this terrible reality taking place!

"Please stop! Please stop! Please stop!"

Hokaze was beginning to break. It was too much for her to handle.

She tried to stop Shokuhou's breathing even if it meant ruining her entire plan.

She wanted her to feel the same pain she had felt as she sank into that dark water while still waiting for him to arrive.

She strangled the other girl with a splendid look on her face.

The sounds of crying was heard in droves now. Crying and tears, sobbing amidst despair.

"Wah...! No-... Uwaa!"

Not even able to speak, Hokaze and the others still tried to beg from the bottom of her heart.

(Please help her... someone please save her!)

"This can't be real..."

Shirai muttered with fear in her voice.

...

"Damn... this isn't gutsy at all...!"

Sogita growled with a displeased look on his face,

...

The greif was immeasurable.

The thin ribbon around Shokuhou's neck broke and the physical link to her past left her mouth.

Broken... just like their hearts.

(Can nothing be done...?)

Lessar thought with a dejected look.

That cheap silver whistle symbolized her bond with that boy and it floated up and away through the fluid.

Away... just like their hope.

(Is this really how this girl's flame will be snuffed out, before she can even grow up...!?)

Misuzu thought with grief.

"You won't be saved! No help is coming! It won't arrive in time! Just like with me. Just like I lost everything. The only path left for you is to be destroyed as you long for someone who will never arrive!"

Yes, from the very beginning, Mitsuari had said it.

No one is coming to save you.

They had wished to deny it with all their being, but alas, it was pointless. Sometimes- people didn't get the happy endings they longed for.

"Then…"

With the blood vessels of her neck constricted and heat pressing down on her entire head, Shokuhou forced out what barely counted as a voice.

As that voice was heard, as fragile, broken, and hoarse as it was... three girls simultaneously smiled.

Misaki suddenly smiled with warmth, Mitsauri sighed in acceptance with a grin bearing her features, and...

Even Kumokawa stared to smile. That girl had a sneaking premonition as her heart began to race.

And she said it.

"Who…is…that…?"

"!!! !!! !!! !!!"

Suddenly, everything came to a crashing halt as everyone's breaths hitched in surprise.

N-No... There was no way. It cannot be...!

Shokuhou was clearly looking behind the girl, in the distance in which no one but her could see, even those in the room.

Then maybe...?

They started to hope...

(No!)

Lessar denied it.

"Is this... some last ditch ploy...? But she doesn't even have any strength left. So what could she do?"

Lessar muttered, thinking that Shokuhou was just trying to buy time with her words.

And in way... she was right.

But just like Lessar, everyone held their doubts as well. Because realistically, it just wasn't possible. They were in a place so secluded and empty that no one would just waltz into this situation haphazardly-

But before they could continue that train of thought, a question was brought forth.

"Haha~! Why are you doing it again~? Hm~? Why are you all trying to use logic~...?"

The Voice said teasingly.

Ah...

"…"

The pressure on her neck vanished.

With her hands still plunged inside the red fluid, Mitsuari turned her head to look at something.

No.

At someone.

"That's...! Is that really...!?"

Mikoto uttered in absolute shock, unable to let surprise or happiness reign over her features. But even then, her's and everyone else's first question was 'HOW'!?

How was he here!?

They refused to believe this crazy occurrence was- or even could occur in reality...

...And yet...

...And yet...!?

"Kamijou-...san!?"

Hokaze's unsure voice filled the ears of many, saying a name, a boy's name.

Hokaze wasn't sure if what she was seeing was real. And this was doubled by the fact that her vision was still blurry with tears. But she saw someone there... and how could she mistake that spiky hair?

This meant one thing.

A hero had arrived to save her most precious people.

(Yes... a hero. Kamijou-san is a hero...)

And as the violet haired girl thought this, and unconscious action happened. A faint blush was lightening her cheeks in a most pleasant manner.

Ah yes. This feeling surely was-

-Joy.

"It can't be."

"Why not?"

"Because this is District 21. It's so far from District 7 and no one would come to an unmanned power station deep in the mountains while out on a walk!"

"That's what I did."

That was true, and yet here he stood. Kamijou Touma had come here because he knew there was something or someone he needed to protect.

"Its the savior! Look! Look! Do you see him!? He looks so coooooolllll! Misaka Misaka says as she cries happily!"

Last Order was ecstatic at the turn of events, and very relieved in her child-like heart. She wasn't used to such despairing emotions that she had been witnessing as of late, so try to picture her relief when that boy pulls off yet another miracle like he did with her sisters.

Like he did with everyone.

Seeing this reaction from the young girl, Accelerator laughed in amusement.

"Haha-! Come on! Come! On! You've got to be kidding me you shitty hero! Hahahaha! There's gotta be a limit to how fucking tenacious you can be! Hahaha!"

Yes, the boy was beyond amused by this turn of events.

"But... how...? This place is all the way in District 21...? Why would he just coincidentally visit this place when someone was in danger!? It makes no fucking sense!"

Worst cried out, borderline angry, ignoring her usual playful snarky attitude in place of pure disbelief. She refused to accept what was happening before her.

"Both of us have vanished from his memory, he would never think to come save you, and he shouldn't have any way of learning about this or even imagining it could be happening!"

That was an unfortunate fact, and yet he still showed up. Whether he had his memories or not, Kamijou Touma wasn't the type of person to leave someone -that he may or may not have known- suffering. Even if his brain wasn't sure, his heart filled in the gaps for him.

"Touma-kun...!"

"Touma...!"

Both Arisa and Index's face glistened in pure joy at who they were looking at. One could simply not explain the amount of relief in this moment, only that their happiness soared at this boy's arrival in such a desperate situation.

"(Nice timing as always... human. You never seem to disappoint.)"

Othinus whispered with a smile of pride and... affection.

Similarly...

(No way... This boy... actually showed up when he was being called...!?)

Shutaura felt the same amount of relief run through her as she gazed with a slightly heated face, only dwarfed by the shock she felt.

But... what did that say about the boy's own power. For him to have nothing but a right arm that negates the supernatural, what did it say that he showed up when he was needed most? Was it just pure dumb luck...? Or...?

Was it something greater than that...?

"He doesn't have to start from the beginning. It isn't uncommon for him to show up midway to save someone."

"He didn't make it in time for me. He didn't arrive because he lost his only hint."

"But…"

"But…"

"There's more to him than just that."

Agnese, Itsuwa, Kanzaki, and even Orsola unknowingly felt the previous steady rhythm of their heart-beats fluctuate rapidly.

The boy's sudden entrance had startled them that much.

"With that timing, how could you not look like a hero, Kamijou-san?"

Itsuwa said sweetly, a warm blush covering her cheeks.

And such a change was increasingly apparent on the other girls as well, the spreading blush that appeared on their faces as they looked at him, at Kamijou.

(He's not a saint, he can't leap past buildings in a single bound, nor does he have the intellectual common sense or worldly knowledge of someone with status. He's... just an ordinary highshool boy...)

Kanzaki said, in awe and amazed.

These feelings in her heart, they have been jumbled countless times by a certain spy with sunglasses. And she knew that... that what she had often felt in the past was just guilt forcing her to convey something deeper.

But this...? This feeling in her heart causing such excitement, yet turmoil? How can she mistake it for any other feelings then THAT one?

"(He's not a saint-... but that doesn't stop him from shining so brightly to even people like me...)"

Kanzaki whispered, not even realizing she was wearing such a demure smile of happiness.

Agnese and Orsola were thinking of something different though...

...In the most pivotal moment, a loud sound reverberated. Someone had forced open the cathedral door's, forcing all eyes to the interruption.

Agnese and the other nuns sent hostile gazes to whoever dared interrupt their inquisition, while Orsola just lifted her head up weakly from the ground she could not move from.

It was a boy, and he did not look happy at all...

(It's just like at that time...)

Agnese thought, her heart pounding loudly in her chest.

"Fufu~ So I wasn't the only one he showed up just in time for... Oh my~ What a heroic young man..."

Orsola said in a sweet tone accompanying her words of praise. She too was recalling that specific memory.

"But why… Why did he make it this tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime!?"

A tremendous sound burst out and Shokuhou clearly saw the scenery distort around Mitsuari.

Their powers technically manipulated people's minds by controlling the moisture in their brains. The changes they caused were normally microscopic and they could not cause any physical phenomena visible with the naked eye.

But she overturned that assumption with her anger.

That's right...

How much anger would Mitsuari have felt in this situation?

After taking such painstaking strides towards her revenge, to have it all crumble away-... and for what!? So the little bitch her who was at fault to begin with could be saved by the person she was doing all of this for!?

Yeah, that was far too cruel. Mitsuari should be absolutely livid.

But-...

"But...sigh..."

The girl in question just sighed. Because-

It just didn't matter anymore. Not when she had made up her mind about the past now. For his sake, she didn't want to be caught in the murky waters of darkness anymore. She wanted to be able to stand by that boy with pride, and she couldn't do that if she didn't let go of these feelings staining her heart.

Yes, that's what Mitsauri Ayu had decided.

(And plus...~)

Her grim expression of acceptance turned to that of a happy one.

"He told me that even if both of us were different than when we last saw each other, we could just start over from the beginning..."

That was what she said with a pleasant smile, which suited a girl like her all the more.

---

A/N: Cough! Cough! Foreshadowing! Cough! Cough!

---

The actual phenomenon may have been similar to freeze-drying. In that process, the pressure was increased by compressing the moisture in the air while the water molecules inside the target were removed to fill the object with microscopic holes like a dried sponge. Here, it created a demonic territory that would cause any living creature to crumble like dried paper mache and that territory burst out from Mitsuari in every direction.

The mechanically-controlled monitor dust turned white while producing the sound of bursting sparks and that color change swallowed up the entire landscape.

Shokuhou was only saved because of the special fluid of the Five Over, but what about the person outside?

"!? !? !? !?"

Suddenly, the pure relief and happiness changed in an instant.

"H-Hey..."

Mikoto began to say, snapping out of her stupor as concern flooded her very being.

And that was because of one thing they noticed about the boy's appearance.

"…"

Shokuhou slowly tilted her head, managing to get a view outside the transparent coffin.

Her wavering vision saw a certain boy with an arm in a cast hanging from his shoulder in a sling. Mitsuari's demonic territory approached him. The magnetically-controlled monitor dust turned pure white and that color began to envelop him.

The boy had a cast over his right arm- the only defense that he possessed.

And because of that fact, dread filled them all like no other.

"KAMIJOU-SAN!"

"KAMIJOU-SAN!"

Uiharu and Saten both cried out, gasping in shock at the sight.

"KAMIJOU-SENPAI!"

Similarly, Shirai shared the same fear. And while she naturally had questions as to what had caused such an injury in the first place, her mind was naturally elsewhere as danger approached.

"He's injured- and its his right hand!? Kamijou-senpai won't be able to move in tim-!"

Shirai's exclamation was then suddenly thoroughly interrupted as she was cut off in the most colossal (re:badass) way possible.

What he did in response was simple.

He swung that arm to the side.

And it came in contact with that demonic territory.

The cast shattered, his right hand was exposed, and the hopeless attack was eliminated in an instant.

That was the sign that the pointy-haired boy named Kamijou Touma was back.

.

..

...

"... ... ... ..."

Everyone was stunned at the casual counterattack the boy employed, not looking fazed in the slightest at his apparent injury.

"W-Whoa..."

Shirai involuntarily let out, unlike her lady-like manners she often kept... well- most of the time.

...

"H-He didn't even super hesitate... even with his arm...!?"

Kinuhata stammered out while trying to stave off a massive blush on her face. She had to admit she was a little star struck by the sight of Kamijou's complete disregard for the pain he might be subjected to.

"Damn... that was hot..."

Mugino on the other hand did nothing to hide her embarrassment as she stared at Kamijou, completely enraptured by the sight of him.

"Haha- Badass entrance as always Boss..."

Hamazura said with mirth in his voice.

"Hm... that was surprising. I didn't expect him to be able to block it with his arm in a cast..."

Takitsubou said, equally as surprised at the sight.

...

"Kamijou-chan~!"

With tears of joy escaping her eyes, the teacher couldn't help but feel happy and entranced as she looked at the screen, showcasing the effortless backhand from the man in front of her.

Man... not boy, not student, not child.

(Wait!? Just now did I-!? N-No, that's not right! ...While I admit what Kamijou-chan just did made him look c-cool and reliable, he's still nothing more than a student!)

Komoe internally scolded herself at her stray thoughts, not noticing the red dusting of her cheeks.

Weird thoughts were accumulating in others as well...

Doki~! Doki~! Doki~!

Musujime felt what can only be perceived as violent tremors in her heart as she gazed at the screen. Just now- she was reminded of heroes she liked to hear about as a child- and how similar Kamijou was in that moment.

(Wait! But this feeling couldn't be THAT right? I mean- I barely know the guy. Sure I've now seen a bunch of his past circumstances and he may have even... saved me that one time...)

That last part stuck out in a most uncomfortable manner. And it was then that she had realized something else.

(I-I didn't thank him yet! I-I just brought it up indifferently that one time! All this time, has that guy loathed me for that!?)

These thoughts started to pile up due to one thing and one thing only.

Musujime Awaki began to grow self-conscious of Kamijou Touma.

...And then there was Aogami and Tuschimikado.

"Dramatic entrance at the most crucial moment despite previous memory loss?"

"Check."

"Singlehandedly and effortlessly obliterating strongest entity while injured?"

"Check."

"Well- its official now. Kami-yan has transcended what he once was. He has turned into a Harem MC with bullshit OP powers. Long live Kami The Harem King! But save some for the rest of you BAAAASSSSTTTTTAAARRRDDDDDD!"

Aogami said as he checked off from a list of criteria, Tsuchimikado offering sage counsel at every step of the way like a true delta force member.

Now normally, this would be the time where a certain Iron Wall Girl would knock some sense into the idiots next to her-... if she wasn't preoccupied at the moment. Along with a girl that would most likely be pretty in a pure white sundress.

"..."

Yes, Fukiyose and Himegami were a bit speechless right now, as well as surprised of course.

After all, a boy that they have both come to know rather well had just showed up and quite literally swatted away all of their previous fears and concerns.

As happy as Fukiyose was that Kamijou arrived, his physical state made her a little worried. Himegami shared her concerns.

"I hope Kamijou-kun is careful..."

Himegami said.

Fukiyose nodded her head absentmindedly. Although- she then put her shaking hand over her now thumping heart.

"(I'm so glad you came, Kamijou...)"

She said with a whisper, a smile replacing what would normally be a serious face.

Most likely, he knew nothing.

He did not know what was happening here, who the people involved were, or what feelings had led to it all.

"Use it if you're in trouble. It might give me more chances to save you."

He would not even remember that tiny promise he had made when giving her the cheap silver whistle. Nor would he remember the person who had relied so heavily on that tiny promise.

Nevertheless, he would save her.

He would never overlook a girl suffering before his eyes.

(Ah... those words, they are so warm...)

Hokaze thought.

Many eye's flashed with tenderness as a truth was conveyed to them.

"Geez- just how reliable is Loverboy, honestly?"

Lessar said with a playful jest, although she was sincere about it.

"…"

Shokuhou saw Mitsuari's lips mouth the word "why".

They chuckled at that.

"Of course, it always 'why', isn't it?"

Kumokawa said softly.

Yes, always the unanswered question, no matter the situation.

She was the girl he had not arrived for. This was the scene she had waited so very, very long to see. And Shokuhou felt like she really had heard what that girl said when she saw that scene from the viewpoint of the enemy.

(I have been saved enough.)

That was Shokuhou's honest thought in that moment.

And so…

"This is your homework."

She mercilessly spoke as if giving a push to the trembling back of that other girl.

"Go get his help. Get enough of his help that you'll actually accept it this time."

A moment later, there was a clash.

Misuzu gulped at the impending battle, as did everyone else.

It seems things weren't over just yet.

But then, to their surprise...!

---

Ksshhhh!

Data Not Found.

---

The monitor suddenly went on the fritz, then displaying some sort of error message.

Eh?

This surprised all of them.

"Data not found? What the hell does that mean?"

Mugino questioned. Just like everyone else, she was visibly confused.

"Tch! I knew it. Well! Not to worry, it is not lost- hehehe!"

The Voice said, and as she did, that was the trigger. The malfunctioning screen suddenly halted it's errors.

---

Corrupted data recovered.

Now processing. .

Initializing. . .

Load complete.

---

"Wha..."

Uiharu let out.

This had them reeling in shock. They had never seen this before.

But... each and everyone of them were mistaken. The data that had been recovered was not what they thought it was.

And that's when they saw it.

---

Chapter 4.5 [EXTRA] : A Girl Gets Her Chance.

Long_Awaited_Salvation.

---

Many furrowed their eyebrows in confusion, as they did not understand. Well- that is except for one.

"No... way..."

Mitsuari was the first to speak, completely shocked.

She remembered, that boy had shared words with her after he had arrived.

(I thought for sure the Voice would skip it because it wasn't from Shokuhou's view- but...)

Alas, that was not the case.

"It's a memory involving HIM, of course I'm going to show it, Ayu-chan!"

The Voice chirped excitedly.

"Hey crazy bitch, what the hell is going on?"

Accelerator suddenly said in a mild tone, voicing everyone's collective question- just without the profanity.

"What's going on~? Why- I'm giving my audience what they deserve of course. Please enjoy the following sequence of events that has been lost until now."

Vague and uninformative as always, they were left unsatisfied as the viewing continued.

What were they going to see?

Misaki suddenly rose and eyebrow up in realization.

(Could it be...?)

She looked at Mitsuari who gazed at the screen with a heartfelt smile.

(This will be right after I fell unconscious. What happened in that time...?)

Successfully intrigued, Misaki eagerly awaited what followed.

"...why... why...? Why...!? Why..! Why! Why! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY! WHY DID YOU SAVE HER AND NOT MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!?"

Cries of despair and agony filled the air.

It seems that things have picked up right where they left off, leading many to understand.

These horrid screams of rage filled the room, causing those watching to frown. Unsurprisingly, the girl could not leave things as they were.

Kamijou's arrival had done nothing to quench her feelings of hate.

"Mitsuari-san..."

Hokaze muttered, sadness etching her features.

(Please help her Kamijou-san... please help my friend.)

...

"What is Kamijou-kun going to do for this girl...?"

Himegami wondered aloud.

Was he going to treat her as a threat, or was he going to help her, just like he had helped Shokuhou Misaki.

"Haha... Who am I kidding? It's a girl. Its obvious what Kamijou-kun is going to do."

Himegami said with a slightly miffed expression.

But still, the resulting clash did not even last a full minute.

Despite being injured, the spiky-haired youth had quickly countered each and every lunge that the FIVE_OVER threw at him. With his momentum, it didn't take him long to reach the source of the irregularity -the girl- and shutting down its control completely.

Huh.

"You know, I was kind of expecting some badass bloody fight... you know? The whole Kamijou package of him getting the shit beaten out of him, then him beating the shit out of his opponent..."

Hamazura muttered.

"You're right, but maybe that Mitsuari girl's just super exhausted. She was drained mentally and and physically with her battle with Mental Out."

Kinuhata countered, although it would be a lie to say she wasn't thinking of a bloodied and battered Kamijou triumphing with a feral grin.

The girl blushed.

Nope, definitely not.

Mitsuari Ayu had lost and Kamijou Touma had won, her screams were not going to remedy that, and yet she did so anyway.

She had screamed at him, called him names, attacked him... cried...

Mitsuari remembered crying a lot before she calmed down, or perhaps it was more accurate to say she ran out of energy. Yes, this husk of hatred was all out it seems. All she could do was sit pathetically on the ground like some distraught child, as remnants of tears escaped her eyes.

After what seemed like an eternity of brewing in silence, Mitsuari Ayu -the loser- finally spoke up again.

"I... want to hate you so much."

They could hear it clearly, the despair in her voice.

Even though she wasn't attacking anymore, the girl's dampened mood was not any better. Looking in her eyes, they saw only darkness. No relief was visible there.

Mikoto, Shirai, Uiharu, Saten, Imouto, and Misuzu all felt concern for the girl and her fluctuating mental state.

And that was only confirmed as the showing continued.

If Kamijou was at all bothered by such a statement, he did not show it. In fact, him not saying a word since he got here showed that he planned to hear this person out from the beginning.

Mitsuari could not decide whether to curse or feel joy at the boy's usual indiscriminate kindness. However what Kamijou did next made the decision easier.

He had sighed in relief upon noticing a blonde haired girl was still breathing.

Misaki couldn't help the warmth that flooded her heart just then.

(Oh my~ Even though I'm nothing but a random girl caught up in his day...)

The boy's thoughtfulness made her incredibly happy.

That only riled Mitsuari's heart even more.

"You're the worst..."

She said, giving form to the darkness cradling her heart.

"..."

Mitsuari watched with an serious expression as the girl spouted off words that did not reflect the true feelings in her heart.

"I should blame you for not saving me back then, for saving her now... but...! I can't! Not when I know that who it was wouldn't have mattered. Even though you can't remember our faces, you saw someone in trouble so you intervened. I want to hate you so much for saving the girl who didn't deserve it! But I...!"

Mitsuari choked back a sob as she went silent, glaring a hole in the floor with a visibly enraged expression. And then- after a moment...

(Mitsuari...)

Hokaze and the others were visibly distressed from the girl's inner-turmoil.

This girl was about to break down... and the only person who could help her was Kamijou Touma.

"I... see..."

Kamijou finally said, unclenching his strained fist and looking up at the night sky.

The boy came here as a simple request from someone he knew, which he thought was a casual errand. So in light of that, he was not expecting what he arrived to. And even more to the point, Kamijou did not even fully understand what was going on. A part of himself even wondered if that girl sent him here knowing there was something going on.

(That girl...?)

Himegami wondered, as did many others. It was only Tsuchimikado who sent a cursory glance towards Kumokawa in realization.

...

(Someone requested that he be there? Was it just dumb luck after all...?)

Mitsuari wondered, but she would not get answer to that question... yet.

But those thoughts were relatively pointless in the current situation. However, Kamijou was able to pick up one thing.

"So you know all about that, huh? My memories..."

They all couldn't help but stiffen.

Mikoto got deja-vu, as this was immensely similar to what the boy had said before. And then further shocking her-

When was the last time he had to say those words, if ever? Oh, that's right... when a certain BiriBiri girl had surprised him.

Kamijou grimaced recalling that memory. He was not mad at the girl for finding out, he was mad at himself for putting her in a situation where she had to find out.

'Why do you have to keep fighting even as it hurts and even takes away your memories? I can fight too! I can be of help to you!'

He didn't need a girl like her wasting time worrying about him like that. He didn't want anyone to worry about him like that.

Mikoto was going to feel sadness about the boy's unwillingness to trust her and her strength, but when she thought about it, he was trying to say something else, wasn't he?

His message was clear.

It wasn't that he wanted to keep his memory loss a secret, he just didn't want anyone to treat him any differently as a result, like he was in pain, or crippled, or needed pity.

To those who knew Kamijou Touma, it was clear he didn't want any of that.

"(You idiot, I don't care about any of that. I just... want to be of use to you. I want to lessen your burden...)"

Mikoto whispered, giving rise to the feelings she felt in heart ever since that time in the underground district.

"..."

For a brief moment, Mitsuari looked up and immediately felt pangs of regret wash over her. It was obvious just by looking at the boy's face that the topic of his memory loss deeply bothered him.

"I... that's-..."

However, before she could say anything else, Kamijou changed the subject, looking around him.

"You know... this place... feels really sad for some reason. Or maybe... that's me feeling sad while looking at it. I wonder where that feeling comes from...? I can't help but feel that I used to know it..."

Kamijou said, reaching a hand and tentatively putting it over his heart, as if looking for answers there.

Misaki, Kumokawa, and even Index widened their eyes at that.

(Could he... Could he be remembering? But- But that's not possible...)

Misaki thought.

But the boy wasn't remembering from his brain.

"Y-You..."

Mitsuari felt her heart tremor at that, her tears stopping as she tried to process what that meant, and the feelings it had caused her. But... she did not know if it was hope... or anguish. Either way, the despair of the latter was all she thought about.

(No... that doesn't mean anything. It can't... meaning anything.)

"...And apparently, the me from before even knew a girl like you. Haha... really, what a rotten bastard, making friends with a girl parading around in swimsuit. Just what kind of motives did I use to have...?"

The boy couldn't help but laugh slightly, causing Mitsuari to suddenly feel very self-conscious of what she was wearing.

Her face heated up considerably.

Many chuckled at that.

"Hehe..."

Uiharu, Saten, and Shirai each giggled, while MIkoto just smirked in amusement.

Leave it to Kamijou Touma to tell jokes in this situation.

Mitsuari's face also burned at the memory, also now glad she was wearing a uniform rather than the swimsuit type apparel.

But then she quickly started to glower at him instead.

"Just what the hell do you think you're implying, Kamijou-kun!?... Ah!"

Mitsuari retorted angrily before widening her eyes in shock at her reflexive outburst.

"Heh..."

Kamijou unconciously let out a chuckle at this.

A very annoying elbow suddenly intruded in Mitsauri's space.

"Oh~? Kamijou-KUN, is it? Looks like your inner maiden is showing itself, Mitsuari-san~. Are you sure you were even mad at all back then~?"

Misaki teased, but Mitsuari was not having it.

"Sh-Shut up. And what about you? 'Oh, my prince~!' Someone's fantasizing a little too much, don't you think?"

Mitsauri mocked, turning the tables on her, causing Misaki's cheeks to burn with embarrassment.

"Yeah, I always thought it was weird of you Shokuhou, considering you always try to act so mature and elegant."

Even Mikoto joined in, causing Misaki to widen her eyes in outrage.

What's this!? Why was she being double-teamed!?

"Don't worry Shokuhou-sama. Ever since I first heard it, I thought it was really adorable."

Hokaze added, but... wrong choice of words.

(It wasn't supposed to be adorable!)

Mitsuari felt herself watching all of this while smiling.

"(Wait eh? Why did I even say that to her in the first place? Am I enjoying this? Was I... having fun just now?)"

MItsuari was confused at the pleasant atmosphere that had formed, one she had created.

He then went on to say...

"Kamijou-...kun, huh? ...Just how many people did I unknowingly cut off? I'm sure 'Kamijou Touma' used to know all sorts of people..."

He muttered, a bit of a melancholy air surrounding his words.

(Yeah, and most of them were female...)

Mitsuari couldn't help but think.

"!"

(Ugh...!?)

Hm? That's weird...

At that statement, many people -the female population- began to adopt meek and embarrassed expressions for some reason.

Were they... subconscious about that labeling?

(Wha? Why does the thought that I'm a girl that knows Kamijou-san so embarassing?)

Itsuwa lowered her head, her cheeks reddening.

However she shook those thoughts off as she realized she had been caught up in the boy's pace.

"... Why are you telling me this..."

It wasn't even a question. Mitsuari looked back down at the ground, the small puddles of teardrops reflecting her exhausted and drained face.

What was the point in having this conversation? Nothing would change. He didn't remember her, it was a simple as that. No amount of pleading and begging would change that fact. She... had no reason to wish for something that just wasn't possible.

"..."

Those thoughts resonated deeply within Misaki. After all, that was something she battled with everyday.

But there was also something else that also calmed her down immensely, enough to vanquish the insecurities in her heart.

(If I don't hold onto those memories, who will?)

Even if she's the only one, that's enough for her, it will have to be enough.

"I don't really understand but... Kamijou Touma wasn't able to save you before... right?"

That was what the boy gathered.

Mitsuari's heart tightened at that, a grimace showing on her face.

"Does it even matter anymore? All we are now is strangers. You have no idea who I am, you don't even know my name. So why should you care...? Aren't I... just some rotten girl who strayed way too far from my morality? Someone who needs her illusions shattered...?"

The girl was aware.

"That's not true, Mitsuari..."

The girl was aware of her own plight, and she has given up because of it. That's what made Hokaze grimace.

Mitsuari wasn't getting emotional or heated at all as she said this. In fact, you could say that the girl's dead monotone was even more concerning.

She was truly dead inside.

Her long awaited revenge -the only thing keeping her going- was in shambles. All because of a stubborn girl who didn't know when to quit, as well as the boy in front of her, the one who she did not want to see.

So basically, she had nothing left.

"(She's cutting herself off from him...)"

Othinus muttered.

Index nodded sadly.

"But..."

The nun added with resolve.

"(Yes, but...)"

Both Othinus and Index shared that resolve.

"(But if that's all it took for him to give up- for him to fail at the first try- you, nor I, would even be here right now.)"

The former goddess finished. And that was the truth.

"If you're asking me why I should care... I could tell you that I want to help this random stranger in front of me... but I think that would be a lie."

"!"

This surprised the hell out of them.

"..."

Even though she already knew such an outcome was realistic, why did those words hurt so much?

"Did he just...!?"

Lessar exclaimed in shock.

Was... Was the boy being serious!?

(Kamijou-san...?)

Hokaze thought worriedly.

But-

(That's right... he has no reason to want to help this rotten shell of a person...)

The girl thought, trying to justify it all.

"You're right that my brain doesn't remember you, and there's nothing you and I can do about that, but... you are someone I feel I should help."

"Feel...?"

Fukiyose questioned aloud.

Feel...? Why was that any different?

They all wondered.

"And why would that be..."

Mitsuari said as if on autopilot, but it was clear that his words did not reach her. The doubt eating away at her did not let them get past her closed off heart.

Kamjou then took a deep breath.

This was reminiscent of that time, wasn't it?

Just like how on that day in the hospital, he couldn't remember that silver haired girl's face, her name, nor any of the events that led to their meeting. But even though that was the case, his heart behaved differently.

Where his brain was failing, his heart picked up the pieces for him, telling him not to ignore her. It was telling him that she was someone that he couldn't let cry, no matter what.

(Touma's heart...)

Index thought with a soft expression and slightly warm cheeks.

Why... did that make her feel so warm inside?

"His heart, huh?"

Shutaura stated with lax expression.

(His heart recalling those memories should not be possible- and yet, why do I believe it so readily?)

She wondered things like that.

...

"Is just like what he told me..."

Mikoto confirmed with a smile, remembering those similar words.

And now... this was a similar feeling.

There was no name attached to the girl with the fluffy chocolate brown hair, beautiful face, or even the racing swimsuit. None of these triggered any passing experiences.

(B-Beautiful!?)

Mitsauri couldn't do anything about the heat that inflamed her face at that word.

...

"Haha! And there it is. Can't be a memory with Kami-yan without complimenting the girl in some fashion."

Tsuchimikado said with amusement.

Fukiyose was about to scold him-... until she realized that what the boy said was right.

(Argh! Stupid Kamijou! Why do you think nothing of the things that pop up in your head!?)

Fukiyose thought with anger, however even she didn't realize that a little jealousy was mixed in.

But... despite that...

His heart was ever so loud in what it was trying to tell him

"Save her this time. Don't let her slip again."

Mitsuari stopped breathing as she hear those words come from his mouth.

Wh...at?

Could it be...? Could Kamijou really remember?

"That... is that from Kamijou-chan's heart?"

Komoe said, wondering why the girl on the screen had such a surprised reaction.

And then-

"(... shut up...)"

Mitsuari growled.

"Shut up! You don't know anything about what you're saying. Those are just words! They don't mean anything!"

Someone must have told him. There just words with no meaning. It was just a fluke. He's just spouting things at random.

Thoughts like that filled her as she denied it with all of her being, her anger did that job for her.

If someone truly did not wish to hear something, then no amount of logic and reasoning would bridge that gap. But that's not all humans are. Along with the gifts of thought and reasoning, we were granted emotion.

And as much as human beings tried to cut themselves off from this aspect of humanity, it is simply not possible.

The heart will not allow it.

So...

"When logic and reasoning fail... there's only one course to take. But can you do it, Kamijou-kun?"

Kumokawa said wistfully.

But despite her rejection, Kamijou was undeterred.

"You're right, I don't. The meaning behind it is lost but... I feel it. I don't know what could be the reason or even why it's even there in the first place but... it's there. I don't want the girl in front of me to suffer any longer if I can help it. I FEEL that."

"You... don't want me to suffer anymore...?"

Mitsuari asked tentatively, because of how enticing they sounded. A part of her couldn't help but get entranced by them.

"Yes. There's no reason why you should be alone anymore."

He said those words to her, one's that sounded so easy and self righteous. And if she was any other person being saved by this boy, she would have accepted them.

"Would... have?"

Arisa asked in worry.

(I want it... I want to be saved by this hero so badly...! But...!)

Mitsauri bit her lip as the tears came back.

Its not fair. Its not fair at all. It's not that easy, like she could just accept that hand and everything will be-

'This is your homework...'

Misaki perked up.

That girl's insufferable yet piercing words flowed through her.

'Go get his help. Get enough of his help that you'll actually accept it this time.'

(...She actually heard me...)

Misaki as she watched the scene unfold.

"I..."

She started feeling the emotions she had been holding back up until now break open.

To those watching, this girl had done despicable things to Shokuhou Misaki. That was true, and yet, her motives were justified. Not justified to harm, but justified to feel anger.

Mitsuari had been hurt so she just wished to hurt in return.

So this was it, right? This would be the turning point, when she would accept that help she had been denied until now.

...That's what they thought.

.

..

...

...No.

Their minds went blank.

"...N-No...?"

Shirai weakly uttered.

And before anyone could say anything more-

"I don't deserve it! I never will! Unlike you I gave in so easily! I didn't even try to keep my promise to you! Even though I looked you in the eyes and told you I wanted to help people, I fell at the first sign of trouble! Don't you get it!? I'm nothing but a hypocrite! I tried to distract myself with vengeance, thinking that if I make those who wronged me pay I would be able to get those precious days back! But it was all worthless! I'm worthless! Don't you understand how ugly that makes me!? I didn't want you to see me like this! I didn't want you to save me when all I do is make things break! Haha, aren't I the peak of arrogance!? Shouldn't I be ashamed of myself because how long I stood standing with such despicable motives in my heart!? I grew rotten, vile...! And that's why -... that's why I...!"

Mitsuari screamed in anguish as she denied all of it, and with it- herself in the process. Despite the boy saying the words she wanted to hear so desperately, and him being the person who she wanted to hear them from the most, the Mitsuari who was reborn in darkness refused her final hope.

"... ... ... ... ... ..."

They were stunned into silence.

This was it, Mitsuari's darkness.

This is what she kept inside of her all this time. This was a girl who had been denied at every point of her life, so just now she did the same. The inner workings of her heart were exposed for all to see.

"(Oh Mitsuari...)"

Hokaze whispered.

How many times had Hokaze called out her name like that? How many times has she emphasized worry for this girl? Why did it keep happening? Why couldn't this girl get the happy ending she deserved!?

Hokaze wanted that to happen from the bottom of her heart.

Mitsuari couldn't conveniently latch onto another excuse to satisfy her own morality this time. The parasite of darkness she had become would suck any and all light dry. She didn't want to taint this boy, not with her corrupted soul.

Because of these reasons, Mitsuari Ayu hated who she had become.

(Oh... I see.)

The girl realized with a knowing smile, devoid of all life.

Hokaze's eyes suddenly glazed over in immense concern.

"No- don't say it...! Please don't say it, Mitsauri-san!"

Hokaze begged with all her heart.

"Haha... I get it...I... h-hate myself."

Mitsauri came to that conclusion in the deepest part of her heart.

"Ah..."

Many were heartbroken at this.

...She hated herself. The person who was the cause of all the problems Shokuhou Misaki had faced had told everyone she hated herself.

(This isn't right... no one should have to say those things about themselves...)

Itsuwa thought with sadness.

...

Would the cycle continue? Would this girl one again choose to give up?

They hoped to whatever higher power they believed in that it wasn't so.

"..."

Kamijou was silent throughout the girl's whole tirade. In fact, it was so silent that you could hear the outside crickets chirping amidst the night-time air.

They wondered how the boy would respond to such an intense declaration of self-hatred. Would he be able to do anything for the girl? Would this be too much for even him?

(She's right. What can that guy even do for someone like her...?)

Worst wondered.

That third season clone knew darkness, as it's something she has been familiarized with even since she came out of that solution tank.

Anger. Rage. Hatred. Emotions that are not easily understood by the other sister units.

But she is different, she is the worst of all the Misaka network, hence the name.

So she knew what it was like to be surrounded by those feelings. Just like she also knew that no amount of light can proceed through it. In a fight against darkness, just light won't be able to bring about salvation.

That is why she doubted Kamijou Touma.

(He doesn't have any darkness, just that annoying light. So what can he do?)

Worst thought to herself, annoyed. She was right on all accounts, that darkness couldn't be replaced so easily. It couldn't be diminished completely with just light. The world didn't work in those niave ways.

But... Worst was wrong however. She assumed that Kamijou Touma had no darkness within him. She assumed that he couldn't RELATE.

She was so very wrong.

---

[PLAY MUSIC]

Date A Live - Season 1 OST OP - Piano Version

---

"So that's how it is, huh?"

Kamijou sighed calmly- before clenching both of his fists tightly, showing her a barely concealed emotion.

"You're ashamed of yourself...? You're a rotten person...? Everything you touch breaks...? You hate yourself...? Is that what you're telling me...?"

The air suddenly shifted. Everyone couldn't help but stiffen considerably.

(This... This feeling is-)

Mugino thought with wide eyes.

She was going to say yes. After all, that was the truth, however... her blood froze as she saw the boy's eyes.

"Ah-."

They all saw it too. The boy's calm expression had disappeared entirely.

(This is... This is just like...)

Imouto thought in shock.

'I said shut up, got it? None of that matters. Artificial bodies, borrowed minds. Automatically producing more at the press of a button given the necessary equipment and drugs. Your price being 180,000 yen. I don't give a damn about any of that! Words like that don't mean a damn thing!'

His expression of anger was just like back then.

"Some bastard who thought he was some kind of hero tried to save you but failed!? And because of his failure, you chose to blame yourself for it!? Because of his arrogance you decided hate yourself, not the one who let you down!? I'm sorry, but that's just too cruel of a joke for me."

He spoke as if this person in question was a stranger to him, but in all honesty that's how it felt.

Everyone watched in bewilderment as the words came out of his mouth.

(He's... angry at himself...!?)

Musujime realized.

He had no idea how he failed this girl before, nor did he feel any of the sadness that came along with it. But that's not all this was! 'Kamijou Touma' didn't just fail to save her, he didn't even realize she survived! And even more, she was still alone after that! What the hell was he doing!?

Mitsauri listened with her heart hammering in her chest.

She never realized just how bothered Kamijou-kun was about the actions of his predecessor, disgusted even.

(He really was concerned for me back then...)

"Wh-What are you-?"

Driven by this new emotion that could only be classified as seething fury, Kamijou suddenly got closer to Mitsuari, getting on his knees and grabbing her by the shoulders. She stiffened at the contact.

"Okay, an angry Kami-yan is a touchy Kami-yan..."

Aogami muttered under his breath.

"I have no idea who I used to be! I've been living a lie because that lie prevented someone else from crying and I won't regret making that decision. But that doesn't mean I don't think of what else I could have done. Sure... some people have found out that I've slipped and can't remember for the life of me... but they are still here with me! They didn't run away from me when they found out I was someone else."

Kamijou tightened her grip on her ever so slightly.

Was this what Kamijou Touma thought about? Was this what he kept to himself?

"Touma..."

"(Human...)"

Index and Othinus were touched by the heartfelt feelings of the boy.

"And that's why I won't let you run away either. You're not the same person as you were!? Who cares. Neither am I. I may not have that past you want back, nor do I know the faces of the two of you. But if that's the case then tell me. Let me know about all of it! Tell me about you, that girl, and all the things that you have been fretting over. Let me meet you all over again, and then... since were both starting over from the beginning, please..."

They were caught on every word of it, as just like the girl, Kamijou had pulled feelings that he too had kept hidden in his heart.

Yes, it was hard to dispel darkness with just light, but coupled with darkness as well- an understanding can be reached.

She could not look away. Even as close as she was, and how vulnerable she felt in his grip, she did not push back. She was stuck looking at his blue orbs.

And Kamijou was able to reach Mitsuari.

(L-Looking back on this, i-it's actually really embarrassing.)

Mitsuari said with a red face.

"The name's Kamijou Touma, please let me save you this time."

That smile, that blinding smile that shouldn't be possible in such a unkind world... it was the same. That smile was proof that remnants of that forgotten summer still lingered somewhere inside him.

This person... this boy was... without a doubt, the Kamijou-kun she remembered.

She started to cry, but the tears didn't feel as despairing as they had before. Bowing her head slightly- mere meters from hitting his chest, Mitsuari then spoke softly.

"How is this possible, for you to lose everything but still be so similar...?"

But who was she kidding, it wasn't that suprising.

Several times now, they had all asked themselves the same question.

Now and in the past, this was the hero who saved her when she was going to die at the hands of another's whim.

So... Mitsuari looked at him with a soft gaze that exemplified the warmth in her heart... and did that simple action.

Hokaze's own heart soared as she finally got to see that expression that was constantly clouded by darkness.

(Thank you... Thank you so much, Kamijou-san!)

"My name is Mitsuari Ayu. Please take care of me once again, Kamijou-kun."

She couldn't help the things her heart longed for, so it was no surprise that she let the boy have his way

On that night, a girl who had fell to darkness smiled, and finally grasped onto the salvation she deserved.

They all smiled at that.

A girl who was constantly left to despair finally got her happy ending, and also, the one who dispelled her despair was the very boy who shouldn't have even appeared in the first place.

Orsola watched with a satisfied smile,

(That boy really is amazing...)

Agnese was of a similar line of thinking, as she couldn't help but praise the boy.

(No matter what, he always know how to help people, doesn't he?)

---

Epilogue: A Certain Exit

No.05_Closed(and_Next_Door).

---

"I see. So, Touma, you took off your cast even though you're not a doctor and that's why you're in so much pain now? It sounds to me like it was entirely your own fault."

Index suddenly widened her eyes.

(This is-!)

"Why are you being so cold!?"

"HeY, DoN't GiVe HiM aNy AtTeNtIoN. HE's ThE tYpE tHaT wIlL gRoW aDdIcTeD tO tHe KiMdNeSs PeOpLe ShOw HiM wHeN hE hAs A cOlD. We NeEd To CoRrEcT hIs BeHaViOr BeFoRe It bEcOmEs A hAbIt. SiMpLy PuT, iGnOrE hIm."

"You're being downright coldhearted, ~ - - - - - ~!"

"I don't have to hold back anymore, right? I can go ahead and bite him, right?"

"I HoPe YoU aReN't LoOkInG dOwN oN mE bEcAuSe I'm OnLy FiFtEeN cEnTiMeTeRs TaLl NoW. DO yOu WaNt Me To ShOw YoU wHaT hApPeNs iF I JaB aN aTm Or LeG iNtO yOuR eYe Or EaR?"

"Wait! Stop! Especially you, ~ - - - - - ~! That would be actual torture!"

The previous atmosphere was dispelled in an instant as the scene changed with an almost comedic turn of events.

"A time skip to the hospital? That's just lazy writing..."

Tsuchimikado said with disapproval.

"What are you even talking about, you idiot?"

Fukiyose sighed as she just shook her head at him. But that's not what she truly was curious about the moment. Because just now...

"Voice, the person who spoke along with Index, who was that?"

That's what everyone else was confused about as well. Index had taken part of Kamijou's usual back and forth with one other person. And even then, that person's position on screen was hard to locate.

Not to mention, what seems to be their name and voice was masked heavily.

They could obviously tell something was up, as the change was a far cry from how these memories usually play out.

"Sorry~! But you all are gonna have to wait for that plot point to be revealed~! There's still a few more things that need to fall into place before we get to HER- Hehehehehehe!"

The Voice replied ominously, much to everyone's annoyance.

Index understood what that meant. And so so did the person in question.

"(So we're going to see that eventually as well? I guess its not surprising. It can easily be defined as one of that human's most misfortunate encounters he's ever had to go through~.)"

Othinus said snarkily, however a bit of melancholy followed that voice.

She was of course talking about the countless enemies they faced during their journey through Denmark, and how that boy stayed with her until the very end.

"(...)"

Warmth rose in her chest.

(Maybe... Maybe seeing that again won't be so bad...)

The girl thought with anticipation.

Because-... as bad as it was... the time she got to spend with him... was like... memories of pure light.

...

"Sigh... great, now we got some mystery girl to worry about as well..."

Mikoto said with a huff.

"Oh my, is someone jelly~, Mikoto-dear~?

Misuzu replied with a teasing drawl.

"W-Wha! W-What are you talking about!? A-and what are you thirteen!? Act your age!"

Mikoto reported indignantly.

"Ah- my Mikoto's growing up so fast, thinking thirteen is the new eighteen. Oh I wonder how Tabigake will react?"

"Don't say anything to papa-mphhh!"

Mikoto suddenly put a hand over her mouth as she let something really embarassing slip. But let's be honest, she's been doing that for a while.

Mikoto took a frantic gaze to the side to see her friends all looking at her with various forms of amusement.

A defeated sigh once again escaped her mouth.

"Mou..."

After the storm passed, Kamijou Touma escaped to the hospital courtyard while trembling like a weary old man. At the end of November, the courtyard was plenty cold even in the sun, but it still seemed to function as a place of healing. He spotted some other people here and there.

As amusing as such a description was, they couldn't help but be worried for the boy. After all, Kamijou had just involved himself in another dangerous incident, completing ignoring his previous injuries.

And yet he was, again in hospital, casually complaining about trivial things.

A thought ocurred to them at that moment...

(Just how much was Kamijou Touma struggling on the inside...?)

As he sat on a bench and let out a heavy sigh, someone gently sat next to him.

"It's been a while."

"?"

They were surprised by the girl's sudden appearance, as it was none other than Shokuhou Misaki who made her presence known to the boy... someone who lost all of his memories of her on July 28th.

Mikoto suddenly growled.

"What, going to be play the victim and get some alone time with him?"

The girl said with slight jealousy in her tone...

That's what he thought...But...

...Mikoto's worries were completely unfounded.

"...Not this time... or anytime for that matter."

Misaki said with no change in tone, and no change in expression as she gazed at the screen.

Mikoto was caught off guard by this, but not nearly as much as she was about to be.

"…?"

Kamijou frowned when a girl with waist-length honey-blonde hair spoke to him. For one thing, she was really close. Far too close. He hesitantly moved away while asking a question.

"Um, who are you?"

"Ah ha ha. Don't worry. That's the normal response. You always forget me right away."

They all froze one by one, ALL of them. Even Mitsuari and Kumokawa. Hell, Tsuchimikado with this vast information network was flummoxed.

Yes, at first all they felt was confusion.

You always forget me? What did that mean?

But Index had a bad premonition as her heart began to echo in her chest ominously.

(Wait... this is...!)

"Hm? That's the same Tokiwadai uniform Misaka wears. Wait, are you really in middle school?"

"Heh hehn. You can make a thorough inspection if you want. I'm quite proud of what I've grown here."

For some reason the girl responded to his impolite gaze by brushing her hair from her shoulder and meaninglessly puffing out her chest. He could not figure out what she was trying to do.

However…

"Hmm, have we met somewhere before?"

What...?

They did not understand, and because of this vast bewilderment, they ignored the direct flirtatious remarks from the girl.

"Why... Why is Kamijou-san acting like he doesn't know her? He- He saw her during that battle. Kamijou-san wouldn't forget the person he was trying to save, right? Maybe a name, but a face? And someone like Shokuhou-san?"

Itsuwa rattled on.

...

"And speaking of, wouldn't he remember the person and voice who met him during the Daihassei...?"

Mikoto muttered.

But wait...

Mikoto widened her eyes in realization.

(He had been unable to remember Shokuhou then as well...)

A creeping feeling entered their hearts.

What was going on...?

"…"

"Well, you might not want me to mention it, but…is this the smell of your hair? That honey scent seems somehow familiar."

"Ah ha ha. …Sigh. That's just not fair. There shouldn't be any chance left, but that's going to give me some hope."

"Any... chance...?"

Index croaked out.

She had a bad feeling on where this was heading. After all, it was all too familiar.

"What?"

"Just talking to myself. Someone you know may use the same perfume or shampoo."

"Is that it?"

Kamijou tilted his head, but the girl moved onto the next topic.

"Do you have anything to ask about Mitsuari Ayu?"

Mitsuari perked up at this.

"Mitsuari? Oh, that girl from yesterday. But why do you know about that?"

"Sigh. You remember the enemy but not the one you saved. That really is a strange memory ability."

The girl sounded exasperated.

Mitsuari was pleased that the boy said her name and recalled her. After all, she made quite the impression.

But then... why would he not remember Shokuhou Misaki? As flattered as she was that she just might be more eye catching then the other girl... it just didn't add up.

"And what did she mean by strange memory ability...?"

The girl pondered, not at all prepared for the news she was about to receive.

None of them were, except for a girl who had one more secret left...

(Here we go...)

Misaki thought.

"The Five Over and Outsider prototypes were completely destroyed and I was just about to clean up the design data. That means there's no chance of Mental Out being mass-produced and spread around the world, so don't worry "

"Mental Out? Oh, right, right. That person was involved in this! Huh? But what kind of person were they again?"

Silence.

"I-I don't understand. She's standing right there...! Did he not tell him who she was... or... or..."

Quite unlike her, Shutaura was grasping at straws, unable to figure out what was going on.

"It's fine if you don't know. As for Mitsuari Ayu herself, she was officially sent to juvenile hall for a juvenile crime, but who knows what really happened. However, I do know she ignored her organization's plans, went on a personal rampage, and gathered power by helping herself to items from a variety of different positions, so it's possible a number of different assassins will be sent after her. We probably need to watch over her for protection more than making sure she doesn't head back to the dark side. But leave all that to me. You don't need to worry about it."

"Is that so?" muttered Kamijou.

(Wait no!? That sounds really concerning actually!!!)

Many thought in shock.

The girl seemed to scoot even closer and looked a little irritated at how little he reacted.

"By the way."

"What?"

"Why did you suddenly show up at that artificial lake last night?"

"!?"

That certainly peaked their interest.

After all, they recalled one of the things that Mitsuari had said. He had no memories of his past to think to look for them, and his forgetfulness of Shokuhou currently was cementing this fact in a very confusing way.

Oh right...

"Did Kamijou-san mention a girl..."

Uiharu said suddenly, and then with perfect timing...

"Oh, that."

He looked up at the blue expanse of the sky overhead.

"An upperclassman told me that 'it's her birthday today, so how about setting a flower out for her'. I didn't know what she meant, so I thought I would visit that mountaintop to find out."

"I see."

A somehow kind look entered the girl's eyes.

It was a strange look much like someone giving applause even after the magician revealed how the trick worked.

"Upperclassman? Then-"

Birdway looked over at Kumokawa, who was giving a slight smile of acknowledgement.

...

"So it was her..."

Mitsauri said in realization.

"Haha... of course she had another hand to play in this. I guess I'm not even mad."

She said, laughing slightly.

...

"Is that all the information he had to go on...?"

Shirai asked, a bit perplexed as well as amazed the the boy had made it in time.

"He didn't even know he was walking into a battle..."

Saten said with awe in her tone.

"So who are you anyway?"

"You'll just forget, so it's hard to work up the motivation to name myself. Instead…"

Just as he heard that last word, her face suddenly moved in close and he felt the soft sensation of her lips on his forehead.

"Wh-what are you doing!?"

"!? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !? !?"

Many girl's immediately went rigid in embarrassment and outrage at such an act.

Wha...?

"SHE- SHE- SHE- SHE JUST KISSED HIM!!!!"

Everyone yelled out in shock without fail.

"What was wrong with you? How can you just-!?

Mikoto yelled outloud, sending Misaki an unbelieving stare. She was furious. But she was actually bothered by something else.

"(I-I haven't even gotten do that yet...)"

Mikoto whispered meekly with a blushing face.

(Oh my god! My Mikoto is so cute!)

Misuzu internally exclaimed while staring at the blushing visage of her daughter.

(You're going to have to take responsibility for this Kamijou-san!)

With that, a frightening future awaited the boy in question.

"Good luck Hero-chan, you'll need it Hehehehe!"

The Voice giggled.

...

"L-Lucky..."

Itsuwa muttered. She was surprised as how jealous she was of such a seemingly simple action.

(Would he mind if I did that as well...)

Kanzaki couldn't stop herself from having that thought. However after a few moments she went crimson as her feelings caught up with her.

...

"She-She really kissed him!"

Arisa shouted with a red tint to her cheeks.

This girl was not used to seeing such physical displays of affection at all. But as a teenage girl, she couldn't help but be curious about it.

.

..

...

(Ah! You can't do that Touma-kun! Only if we both love each other!)

That seemingly pure girl quickly went down THAT route.

...

Accelerator just barked out laughter at the uncomfortable reactions he was seeing.

Hamazura was also amused.

"Yeah Boss! Get some!"

Takitsubou also couldn't help but smile in amusement. Even she was thinking that he deserved such an act.

...

For a moment, while all of this was going on, they all forgot about the terrifying confusion that was slowly being revealed.

"Ah ha ha. Don't worry. You'll forget all about it soon enough."

The girl with honey-blonde hair gave a teasing yet somehow sad smile as she stood from the bench.

She said one last thing without turning back.

"I am a girl you once saved. Feel free to think of me like that. "

-Only to have it once again in the forefront of their thoughts.

But just because they started to have their suspicions, doesn't mean that their questions were any closer to being answered.

"Is this why Shokuhou-sama? Why you look so sad whenever your relationship with him gets brought up...?"

Hokaze asked tentatively, hoping she wasn't crossing a line.

Misaki made a grim frown, however before she might have answered, someone did instead.

"There was a little more of this memory that was specifically reserved for the very end. That being said, if you thought that boy forgetting about you on July 28th was bad-... Well... You haven't seen anything yet."

The Voice said, giving many in the room cause for concern.

---

[PLAY MUSIC]

Scarlet Nexus - Main Menu Theme - Video game

---

There was actually a short continuation to the past shared by Shokuhou Misaki and Kamijou Touma.

The student group called Deadlock had attacked them with their Queen Divers that used countless wheels and jet engines to produce overwhelming speed. They had offered to spare Kamijou if he abandoned Shokuhou and he had obviously insisted on fighting to protect the girl. However, he had been unable to end it all unharmed.

"!"

A creeping tingle went down their spines.

And then even further when they remembered what the Voice had said previously.

'...Kamijou Touma did not suffer any lasting physical damage in this incident...'

Shokuhou had assisted using her remotes.

She had successfully reduced the number of targets surrounding them by having them take each other out or twisting their understanding so they charged in the wrong direction.

But it had not been enough.

Kamijou Touma had used his own body to forcibly hold back those she had failed to intercept.

That was enough to cause many people to grimace in fear and dread.

"Kamijou-kun..."

Himegami was very much frightened at the moment.

"Kamijou..."

Kamijou-chan..."

So were Komoe and Fukiyose.

The prospect of that boy once again recieving wounds assaulted their psyches to no end. But... as painful as it was to admit... what else was new?

Kamijou Touma will always choose that option if it meant ensuring the safety of others. It seems even before losing his memories he was the exact same way.

Shokuhou still remembered the awful rusty smell that had filled her nose.

Once it had all ended and an ambulance's siren rang through the night, the familiar boy's arms and legs had been convulsing in a disturbing way she had never seen before.

Shokuhou was right about that, as not many people had seen the boy in such a cruel state of medical distress.

Yes, they've seen him bloodied and battered, but he would always get back up despite such critical injuries. That alone... was awe-inspiring and amazing.

But this- convulsing as he was unconscious?

IT FELT SO VERY REAL.

They started to shake in fright. Unease stirred their stomachs into knots.

"I-Is Touma-kun going to be okay...!?"

Arisa shouted in pure concern.

"Damn... this doesn't look good."

Shutaura said with anxiety on her face.

...

"Kamijou-san..."

Saten was very worried for the boy, and terrified to death of the idea of him suffering for a minute longer.

(K-Kamijou-san is someone I respect and admire. A-And If I'm honest with myself, the fact that he's a Level Zero like me yet doesn't give into the stigmas of Levels is honestly really cool. I think any girl would be lucky to- Wait what am I thinking!? Kamijou-san is currently in a critical condition!)

Saten chided herself with red cheeks.

"This young man... he went so far for that girl..."

Misuzu said, her respect for Kamijou vastly increasing than what it already was.

(If I see him in the near future, I need to thank him for the separate things he's done for Mikoto as well- or at least give him a hug. I think that boy deserves all the warmth and compassion someone can give him...)

That's what Misuzu was thinking about with a serious expression.

"Stand back! Damn, he's gone into shock. Just leave this to us!"

The EMT's tense voice had suggested this was a shocking sight even to those people who were used to scenes of bloodshed.

"The sharp fragments of a ruptured fuel tank tore into his stomach. You have to do something about that at least!"

"..."

Their throats grew dry.

That news did not bode well for them at all.

"I know! But we can't do anything right now. He's convulsing from the shock, so any attempt at treatment would only open the wound further!"

"But he won't make it to the hospital! Can't you do something with your anesthetic ability!?"

"He went into shock because of the drop in blood pressure. Using an anesthetic would only lower it further and that could easily kill him! We can't do something that dangerous!"

"…"

Things were looking really bad.

(Please... Please save Touma...!)

Index begged her mind.

She knew the boy was likely okay, and this was all in the past but seeing the boy in this state threw all of that by the way side. Especially when she hasn't gotten to see that precious older boy for what seems like an eternity.

The EMT had used his radio to contact the hospital, but that had seemed to be bad news as well. They had been told to use a different hospital.

As Mugino was silently fretting, trying not to show her clear distress on her face, a thought occured.

(Is this... his misfortune at work!? Even now!?)

It was at this moment that Mugino felt an emotion akin to rage for the sake of another.

(Is this shitty world actively trying to make him suffer more!? Even when he tries so hard for it!?)

It wasn't fair, not at all.

Mugino had these thoughts.

They were not going to make it and he was going to die.

Shokuhou had clenched her teeth and made a suggestion.

"If there was a way to eliminate his pain without using anesthetic, could you give him emergency treatment here?"

That suggestion made many look up with hope, as by now- watching this girl through a plethora of circumstances- they knew she had a plan.

They just hoped it would save this boy who deserved it.

"What are you-…?"

"I have Mental Out, a mental power ranked at Level 5. I can cut off his sense of pain using that. That should have the same effect as anesthetic without lowering his blood pressure any further."

The EMT had seemed hesitant.

That would be taking a gamble with a patient's life using a makeshift method not in any manual. And it could easily end up dirtying the hands of a normal person and of a child. Many different problems may have spiraled through his head.

Kumokawa, who was secretly shaking up until this point, jumped at the idea.

"Yes. As long as his neurons aren't sending signals to his pain receptors in his brain- then Mental Out should be able to succeed in that regard."

Kumokawa quickly hammered off- causing many to brighten as what the girl had said couid only be classified as 'good news'.

They just hoped the EMT would be as understanding.

But after he simply could not come up with an answer, he had slammed the radio mic onto the hook and spoke.

"If it has a chance of working, then let's do it."

Their hearts soared. However, before they could express their excitement-...

This memory's true fangs bared themselves at those watching.

There was one fact Shokuhou had not told the EMT back then.

Her power controlled people's minds by manipulating the moisture in their brain. She had no guarantee her power would work properly when his blood pressure had dropped so radically and the moisture in his brain was out of balance.

Later, a certain doctor had told her the following:

"This isn't really damage to his memories. It's more like damage to the pathways that call in the memories. Even if the boy can talk about you, he won't be able to remember you. If you think of the brain as storing people's faces and names, you could say your section alone was physically crushed. I don't think there is anything you can do even with your powers."

It was like a wave, and when it hit them, they all reflexively shivered.

.

..

...

He-...He won't be able to remember her!?

It was dead silent in the room.

No one dared make a peep. How could they? They were just told that this girl had forever lost the chance to be recalled by Kamijou Touma.

"Sho-...kuhou...!?"

Mikoto and them sounded out the girl's name in abstract shock, not knowing what to say, how to feel, or even what expression to make.

But they later found out what feeling was running through them.

But when she had done it, Shokuhou had not considered anything like that.

She had simply been worried about whether she could save his life or not.

She had realized nothing could outweigh that and so she had immediately acted.

(All this time...)

Mitsuari thought, completely and utterly stupefied.

(I thought her life was so much better than mine... that I drew the short end of the stick...- But no! She gave up the one thing she held close without a second thought! Not only did Kamijou-kun forget all their memories on his fateful day, he has no chance of remembering any of their new memories as well!)

Mitsuari tried to come to terms with such information. But alas-

(That's... That's...)

"...-something she didn't deserve..."

Mitsuari uttered those words about a girl she used to hate with every fiber of her being.

"If…"

Somewhere and sometime, she had spoken these words.

Since he would always forget again and again, the specific ordering of events may not have mattered.

"If someday you do manage to overturn the expectations created by the adults and you remember me…"

The timeline did not matter.

It may have been the past and it may have been the future.

At any rate, Shokuhou Misaki said these words.

"Then let's have an important talk. A very, very sweet, kind, and important talk."

The girl's heartfelt wish reverberated throughout the room, causing many to tear up.

She knew it could never be.

She knew she was simply dragging out an issue that had ended long ago.

But…

Even so…

In the farthest reaches of the world closest to him, that girl continued to wait all alone for a tiny miracle.

---

[ Scene End ]

---

There were no words...

They had just heard an immense secret that they would have never found out about given any other situation. Forget me not? What a fitting title for such a cruel fate?

Shokuhou had saved Kamijou's life, that was what happened.

Despite knowing that her choice could result in her never ever being remembered by someone who she cherished so deeply, she took that chance without a second thought, as long as it meant saving him from certain death.

That was more than admiration or loyalty to one who you held feelings for.

That was pure devotion and love.

Hokaze had previously likened Kamijou's saving of people as him loving the word. But this? This was different. Shokuhou Misaki's love was for one person and one person only.. But she would do right by those feelings by helping others, as a way to respect the warmth that she felt. This was beyond what Index did as she ran back to the boy's dormitory to retrieve any trace that she had been there for his sake. Shokuhou had permanently cut off her own future for the sake of his.

So-... In other words-... Just like that boy-... Shokuhou Misaki sacrificed her happiness for the sake of another. And just like him, she was now cursed with living in a word where she was in consequence, where the person she loved couldn't remember her.

How sad was that? How much despair did she feel everyday because of that decision? But still- she had decided that it was all worth it.

So...

Yes...

How could they think of that as anything but love?

...

They were absolutely marveled at the girl's selflessness.

Hokaze was the first to succumb to her own emotions.

"Sniffle! Shokuhou-sama! Uwaa..."

Hokaze started to sob heavily, then choosing to embrace the girl in a hug.

"What are you crying about Hokaze...?"

Misaki replied calmly, not as affected as people expected her to be. Or maybe she was just hiding it...

"Y-You're precious person, Kamijou-san- he- he doesn't-!"

Hokaze didn't finish as she broke into more wails.

"That's okay Hokaze. Its okay. But know that even if its impossible, even if its hopeless, I told myself I wouldn't despair. I had already considered ending it all twice now, but now...? With this...? There's no way I could do that. I owe Kamijou-kun a talk, and I don't care how long it takes, I'll make it happen. And...for now...? While I wait for that moment...? I'll just have to remember for the both of us. Kamijou-kun wouldn't want me to give up, after all. You've seen him, so you know all about how cool my prince can be, right?"

The girl asked while smiling beautifully, making Hokaze look up at her. It was like a blooming flower.

For a while, she was just in a daze at the girl's words...

(Shokuhou-sama is so strong... just like Kamijou-san. They're both strong, they're both amazing people!)

But then she smiled brightly, nodding in return.

"Yes! You're right!"

As they watched this scene unfold, they couldn't help but admire the girl's resolve. How even in the most despairing situation, she was still nonetheless hoping of that happy ending.

That kind of spirit was infectious. Some were moved by the girl's lonesome hope, in awe at what she sacrificed as a result, and they also felt-...

...grateful. They felt gratitude like never before.

...

(This girl saved Kamijou... sacrificing any type of a future with him... damn.)

Kinuhata thought, as she couldn't help but feel inspired by such an action.

"I suppose Mental Out can be pretty bad-ass when she wants to be as well..."

Mugino complimented... wait she did what?

"Oh my god, Mugino just complimented another Level 5, a female one at that, what do we do!? Should we call someone, Hey Voice! We need a doct-! Gahhh!"

"Shut up- you annoying bastard!"

Mugino had slapped him upside the head... with her prosthetic.

Hamazura was now clutching his head in pain. Takitubou was quick to comfort him.

"Ugh... Why am I seeing double- wait? Two Takitsubou's!? Is this heaven!?"

...

Uiharu and Saten did not react any better than Hokaze did.

"S-Shokuhuo-san is so brave and selfless, doing that for Kamijou-san's sake..."

Uiharu said on the verge of tears.

"Yeah, she must really love him. Wah... its so tragic and romantic at the same time!"

Saten praised the girl's feelings.

Mikoto was mentally kicking herself.

(I was distraught when I found out our first few meetings were forgotten by that guy... but Shokuhou had it worse this entire time, and she didn't even say anything!)

She couldn't help but now respect the girl she had always been 'frenemies' with.

"What a sad story..."

Misuzu was still honestly a little dazed at the news. After all, its not everyday you hear about someone losing the ability to remember only one person, and someone who holds feeling for you as well!

And of course she felt immense sadness for the girl because of it. She couldn't imagine how she would feel if Tabigake or even Mikoto lost the ability to remember her, each meeting treating her as nothing but a stranger.

So imagine her surprise and awe when the girl declared her resolve to her friend.

(Just like that boy, no matter how much times she has been kicked down, she doesn't give up...)

Just like Hokaze, Misuzu had also reached a similar conclusion.

(These kids- even at such a young age- are so amazing. I'm so glad that Mikoto has people like these around her.)

Silently, Misuzu internally thanked the Voice for including her in this strange circumstance. Because even though she has seen the complete darkness these memories have to offer... it was this light right here that made her glad she stuck around.

"(And with that... sad yet tender, bitter yet sweet, thrilling yet heartfelt memory has been shown. I can only hope, that they are all prepared for the others...)"

That was what the Voice had whispered.

---

All done!

Thank you for reading!

Please review! I love hearing what you have to say!

Have a wonderful day!

-EPSILON