"Wha..."
She looked at her tiny hands as she lifted them at eye level. She couldn't believe what she saw. She slowly blinked her hazel eyes, and stared at her petite body. Some of her clothes slipped away from her body, leaving her on her loose white dress shirt and her Tokiwadai vest. Her face looked like she was about to cry as she stared at the stretching darkness in front of her. She opened her mouth to shout how unreasonable her situation has become.
"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED TO ME?! "
She reverted back to her 10 year old self.
And she never knew why.
Travelling a few hours back, here's what really happened.
On a bright and sunny weekend, Misaka Mikoto was playing alone in the arcade. She sat in front of an arcade machine with a cup of tokens beside her. She sighed as she pressed a few buttons on the machine.
"Sigh... Why do they have to do something on the same day?.. Ugh, I feel so alone."
She continued to press the buttons as she stared at the monitor listlessly. After a few matches, she went to the crane catcher located at the left part of the arcade beside the sliding glass door. She inserted a few coins, then held the analog stick firmly.
"Might as well play this..."
She then tried to grab a stuffed toy with the claw, but it immediately slipped away. She inserted another set of coins, and continued to play the game. After using a lot of arcade coins, her face was painted with pure irritation. She was starting to lose her patience as she jammed the coins forcefully into the machine. She looked at the cup of coins beside her and clicked her tongue.
"Tch. I only have few coins left..."
She stared back at the machine and frowned in concentration.
"Just you wait... I'll succeed in catching one of you today!"
Then she moved the analog stick and dropped the claw into a stuffed toy. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she looked at the claw nervously. As the claw touched the stuffed toy, it closed and grabbed the prize. It felt like everything went in slow motion as she saw the claw carrying a cute stuffed toy in its grasp. The claw moved to drop it into the hole, and the stuffed toy rolled down the machine. Her eyes glittered in delight as she grabbed her prize in anticipation.
"I... I did it!"
She smiled happily as she stared at her prize. It was a yellow chick stuffed toy with tiny wings and feet. It was really cute that Mikoto almost melted in her position. She hugged it tightly and grabbed the remaining coins.
"Great, I still have some coins left."
She kept the silver coins in her pocket and skipped happily on her way outside the arcade.
As she walked the road, she was humming a certain tune happily. Passing by an alleyway, she remembered that it was actually a shortcut. She turned to her side and entered the narrow alleyway.
"Maybe I should walk through here..."
As she walked the alleyway, she heard footsteps skidding across the pavement. She followed the sound out of curiosity and found a group of thugs circling around a dark haired man in a lab coat. The man carried a black suit case and had his back on the wall. The thugs grinned at him as they stepped closer to the man.
"So, are you going to give us your money, or I'm gonna force you myself?"
The man didn't say anything and looked somewhere behind them. He stared at Mikoto with dead eyes. She felt a shiver ran down her spine as she stared back at him. She walked closer to the thugs and talked nonchalantly.
"I don't know what's this all about, but it's rude to force money out of people."
"Huh? Who are you?"
"Hey, ojou-chan. It's also rude to butt in to other people's business, so back off. Unless you want me to hurt you."
The thug, who was assumed to be the leader, cracked his knuckles as he looked menacingly at Mikoto. She just heaved out a sigh at this, and gave an 'I-don't-give-a-shit' look.
"Hey, you looked really cute! And you're from Tokiwadai, so I guess you're filthy rich."
"After I won a prize, I'll encounter this? Why won't you guys leave me alone..."
The thug outstretched his hand to Mikoto and blabbed at her.
"We won't, we still haven't received anything from you, so-ACK!"
Electricity buzzed in the air. The thug fell down limply as he was charred by lightning. His underlings charged at her, but she fried them like what she did to their leader.
She walked across the fallen bodies and went near the man in a lab coat.
'I guess he's a researcher...'
"Are you alright?"
The man stared at her again with his dead eyes and nodded his head a little.
"Would you mind if you would accompany me for a while..?"
"Eh? Sure..."
The two of them walked away from the unconscious bodies and turned into a corner. He then opened his suitcase and brought out a strange device. Mikoto felt bad about this as she backed a few steps away from the man.
"I knew you would come in this situation, so my calculations are correct."
"What do you mean?"
"I have waited for this day, Railgun-sama."
He then pointed the strange device at her and she froze on her spot.
'What the hell is this?! I can't move!'
Soon after, a thin ray of light shot out of the device and struck Mikoto. It didn't hurt her, but it made her feel weak as she was slowly losing her consciousness.
'This... can't be happening...'
She fell down the asphalt floor and the researcher grinned.
"The effects will soon show up before she would regain her consciousness, so I better leave the scene. Hehe... This is the sweetest revenge that I've been waiting for!"
He ran away from the dark alleyway as he laughed like a madman. Mikoto was left unconscious on the ground.
And you know what happened next.
"Aaarrghh! I don't know what's happening anymore!"
She ruffled her hair in frustration.
"Wait, I need to calm down and concentrate. What should I do on situations like this?"
She then grabbed her things, including her slipped off clothes and the stuffed toy, and silently walked out of the alleyway. When she reached the main road, she observed the place and looked at the nearest department store.
"Maybe I should go there to buy some clothes. I still have my money with me, so I think I'm okay."
She then ran to the store and went inside. She hastily went to the kid's section and grabbed a pair of shorts, a black hoodie and a cute green t-shirt.
"Maybe this should do..."
She stopped at a few sections to buy other essential pieces of clothing, a small back pack, and a pair of shoes then she went to the cashier. She immediately paid her purchases and glanced at her surroundings.
"Now, what should I do next?"
She thought that she should change her clothes. She decided she would just change inside the restroom because it would be weird for a kid to rent a room at a hotel. She ran to the restroom and entered a vacant cubicle. She quickly changed her clothes and neatly kept her things inside the bag that she purchased earlier.
Mikoto went out of the cubicle and walked to the mirror to look at herself. She sighed as she stared at her now petite body.
"So I really turned into a kid, huh..."
She then proceeded in thinking of a plan. The only thing left to think about was a place to stay. If that person is dangerous, then she wouldn't let her friends know her situation, so they're out of the question. She couldn't come back to the dorms, too. No one would believe that the Ace of Tokiwadai turned into a kid because of a mysterious man. So again, out of the question. So the only thing left is...
"Then I'll stay outside until I found a way to turn back to normal..?"
She sighed again and went out of the restroom. She clutched the strap of her backpack as she walked the grounds of the department store.
"Maybe I should look around for a while..."
Mikoto roamed the store aimlessly. She would just stare at the different stalls and walk silently without a reason.
She then looked at her Gekota phone to check for the time. Good thing she still have it with her.
"So it's already near curfew..."
She continued to walk as she fiddled with her phone. Suddenly, someone bumped into her and both of them fell backwards.
"Ow..."
"'Oops! Sorry!' says Misaka as Misaka apologized to the person she bumped into..."
"Eh?"
Mikoto stared wide eyed at the girl who bumped into her. She looked incredibly familiar, so she took a closer look. She had the same shoulder-length hair, hazel eyes, and physical features just like the kid she saw from the reflection on the mirror earlier in the restroom.
'There's no mistaking it... This kid is...'
"A Sister..?"
"'WAH! Why do you look insanely similar to Misaka Misaka?' says Misaka as Misaka was shocked from their similarities..."
The little sister looked as shocked (*ahem* no pun intended) as the original was. They just stared at each other until Mikoto spoke up.
"Who are you? Why are you a kid? Aren't the sisters made to look like a teenager just like me?.."
"'You seem to be informed of the sisters project, so Misaka Misaka will introduce herself to you! This Misaka is serial number 20001, also called 'Last Order!' says Misaka says Misaka with enthusiasm!"
"Last Order?"
"'Yes! Then your turn!' says Misaka as Misaka wanted you to say your name."
"Uhh... I'm actually Misaka Mikoto..."
The young girl who called herself Last Order was surprised from her answer.
"Something weird happened, so I turned into a ten year old kid..."
"'So you're Onee-sama!' says Misaka as Misaka felt accomplished after she finally met Onee-sama!"
Last Order jumped up and down in excitement while Mikoto just stared at the little clone of her.
"Y-yeah... So why are you alone? Shouldn't you be close with the others?"
"'No, Misaka Misaka is in fact with someone earlier.' says Misaka as Misaka-"
"Hey brat! Don't go running around. You're giving me a shitload of stress in finding you."
"'Ah, here he is!' says Misaka as Misaka presents her guardian to Onee-sama."
Mikoto froze in her place. She looked really horrified at what she saw.
'Last Order is together with Accelerator..?'
Accelerator also looked as shocked as she was, but his facial expression had a tint of irritation. He looked really perplexed as he stared at the two identical little girls in front of him.
'Two brats?! Now this is fucked up...'
Mikoto glared at him, and Accelerator felt like he had seen that cold look from before, but not from Last Order.
"What the hell are you doing here, you bastard..?"
Accelerator looked more shocked at this, but it instantly changed into an angered expression.
"Who the fuck are you calling a bastard, brat?"
"'Stop fighting! Onee-sama, please don't hate Accelerator. And Accelerator, stop being angry at Onee-sama!' says Misaka says Misaka to stop you from fighting."
"What?! You're telling me not to hate THIS GUY?! Are you sure about that? After all what this guy did to the sisters, do you think that would be easy for me?!"
"'Misaka Misaka will explain later!' says Misaka says Misaka to calm down Onee-sama."
"Why are you brat calling this other brat 'Onee-sama'?"
"'Because she is Misaka Mikoto Onee-sama,' says Misaka as Misaka answers your question."
"Hah?"
Accelerator stared at the other 'brat' (or what he called them) as if he was observing her. Mikoto just glared back and gritted her teeth. She clenched her hands into fists and her nails dug into her palm. She then looked away and lowered her head. Accelerator raised a brow at this, then he asked Last Order again.
"Are you kidding me, brat?"
"'No! Misaka Misaka is saying the truth!' says Misaka as Misaka pouts in frustration."
"And how did you know that?"
"'Onee-sama told Misaka Misaka earlier,' says Misaka says Misaka in confusion."
"And you instantly believed her? That doesn't make any fucking sense."
"I'm leaving. I got important matters to do."
Mikoto interjected in their conversation. She slowly turned away from them, but she suddenly felt someone tugging her shirt. It was Last Order.
"'You really are Onee-sama, right?!' asks Misaka as Misaka tugged your clothes."
"Yeah..."
"'See Accelerator? She's Onee-sama. She's not even connected to the network!' says Misaka as Misaka presents her proof."
"What the f-"
"DON'T MOVE! OR I'LL BLOW HER HEAD!"
They looked at the source of the voice and saw a man pointing a gun to a woman's temples while she's in a headlock.
A hostage scenario was happening in the department store.
'Really?.. Bad luck kept on slapping me on the face these days...'
Mikoto thought. She hid behind a stall beside them. Accelerator just looked at her in confusion, while Last Order just followed what she did.
"Oi, what the hell are you brats doing?"
"'Onee-sama and Misaka Misaka are hiding,' says Misaka as Misaka whispered so she will not be heard by the bad man."
"I know that, damned brat."
Mikoto just remained silent and observed the whole place. It was quite big, actually. She turned her head sideways, and peeked at the man from behind the little stall.
'He might have some other people with him...'
And she was proved right.
Several armed men started pointing their guns at the cashiers. The people started to cower in fear and clump together for comfort. Then the armed men started to steal the money from the cashier.
'These guys are idiots... They didn't even bother to completely secure their plan...'
Even if she's just behind a small stall, she was left unnoticed. The man from earlier still had his gun pointed at the woman, and one wrong move, she's dead. She was thinking silently when the ever-so-powerful idiot approached the armed man.
"STOP MOVING!"
"Hah?"
"I said STOP MOVING you piece of shit!"
Some of the accomplices pointed their guns at Accelerator, and he just smiled sadistically.
"You think you scumbags can fucking hurt me with that? Don't be ridiculous..."
He started fiddling with his choker and a click was heard. He set his cane down and walked closer. If they started shooting at him, the bullets would reflect everywhere, hitting innocent people.
Mikoto tried to stay calm and counted the armed men.
'There's just five of them? They really are stupid...'
They started to circle around Accelerator while pointing their guns at them. He just walked casually to the man who was shaking in fear.
"Free that woman."
"S-stop getting closer, o-or I'll shoot her!"
'Shit, I need to stop this...'
She thought that maybe she can redirect their guns to somewhere safe, away from Accelerator. When one of the armed men moved his finger to the trigger, she started to take action.
"Wha-"
All of their guns pointed downwards and they missed their aim. Accelerator looked surprised at this and looked back at Mikoto with a slightly shocked face. He then smirked at her.
"What the fuck are you doing? Sorry but I won't thank you for that."
"It's not for you, bastard. People might get hurt if they started shooting at you, dumbass."
Their guns started to fall on the ground and they clumped together. They looked really shocked and took a step back. Accelerator just stared at her with a raised eyebrow, while Mikoto stared at the man who had the woman in a headlock. The man nervously brought his hands to his pocket. He then brought out something shiny and pointed it at the woman's neck.
'I thought so...'
"Y-you thought you guys already won? Don't screw with me! I-I'll kill this woman, and I'll get out of here with the money... No one is able to stop me!"
The knife was just a few centimeters away from the woman's neck. If she pulled it down just like what she did with the guns, it might graze the hostage's neck and hurt her. She reached for her pocket and brought out a coin.
"I guess I need to scare him off just a little."
"Huh? What are you talking about, brat?"
Mikoto flipped the coin into the air.
And a beam of bright, blinding light washed them off of their senses.
Then came a deafening silence. Mikoto was sparking with electricity as she stood with her right arm outstretched in front of her. She glared at the hostage taker as he trembled in fear.
"Stop this stupid hostage drama, you're just getting yourself hurt. Oh, don't worry. I already called Anti-Skill minutes ago, so they might arrive soon."
The man looked at his hand. The knife that he was holding earlier was already gone. Or rather, the blade of the knife was neatly melted from its handle. He suddenly stumbled back and let go of the woman. He and his people tried to run away, but the sirens that sounded from outside of the building halted them from their tracks. Anti-Skill entered and quickly arrested them. They couldn't do anything as they followed their orders blankly.
On the other hand, Accelerator was staring at Mikoto with a surprised expression. Last Order was also staring at her with awe-filled eyes. She started to turn her back and walk away from the scene, but was again stopped by Last Order's voice.
"'That was amazing!' says Misaka as Misaka wants to hug Onee-sama!"
"Eh?"
Last Order ran and tackled Mikoto with a hug, in which she tried to maintain her balance. Her hug was so tight that Mikoto couldn't breath properly.
"W-wah... C-calm down... Can't.. breath..."
"'Oh, Misaka Misaka is sorry,' says Misaka as Misaka bows her head."
"So..."
Accelerator's voice made Mikoto twitch. She never wanted to hear that voice again, but it seemed that bad luck was slapping her face again. She glared at him after Last Order released her from the hug. He continued speaking despite the treatment.
"...You really are the Railgun."
"'Yes, I told you!' says Misaka as Misaka felt accomplished as she was proved to be right."
"Tch. Stop being cocky, brat."
"Yo, Accelerator."
The three of them turned their heads to the voice and saw an Anti-Skill officer walking their way. It was Yomikawa Aiho. She approached Accelerator and asked him a few questions.
"It seems that you involved yourself in another trouble, kid."
"Tch. Do your job already."
"What happened? What did you do stop this situation?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
"I'm doing my job."
"Then don't ask me. I did nothing."
Yomikawa raised an eyebrow.
"Then, who did this?"
She pointed at the melted knife that the hostage taker used. Accelerator clicked his tongue and pointed at the other kid beside Last Order.
"Ask her."
Yomikawa stared at Mikoto with wide eyes, then she shifted her gaze to Last Order. She turned her gaze back at her and knelt down to take a better look at her face. Mikoto felt nervous at her stare.
"You."
"W-what?"
"Are you one of 'them'?"
"Eh? I-I mean, no..."
She stuttered because of shock of the new discovery in front of her. 'So she knew about my sisters?'
"Then, who are you?"
She gulped nervously from the intense stare that Yomikawa gave her. She's not used to this kind pressure.
'There's no use lying now...'
"I-I'm Misaka Mikoto..."
"The Railgun?! I met her before, and she's not a little kid."
Mikoto's eyebrow twitched when the officer pertained to her as a little kid. Well, no one could blame her. Being turned into a kid was really far-fetched reason for a normal person.
"Something happened, and I somewhat turned into a little kid..."
"'Don't worry! Onee-sama is telling the truth! She even used the railgun to stop them!' says Misaka Misaka to help Onee-sama."
"So that's why the blade was melted."
"I-I think I should go now..."
Mikoto awkwardly excused herself but was stopped again by a question. 'Why won't you guys just let me goooo... T-T'
"Where are you going?"
"S-somewhere... Wander the streets, perhaps..?"
"If you turned into a kid, you don't have any place to stay, right?"
"Y-yeah... W-what about it?.."
She felt something bad is going to happen. She's sure of it. And the start of the omen was marked by Last Order's suggestion.
"'Then, why won't Onee-sama stay with us?' says Misaka Misaka stating her suggestion."
"Eh?!"
"Hmm... I think Yoshikawa wouldn't mind that, and I still need to ask her some questions. Plus, it's already near curfew. You're not allowed to wander the streets at night."
She then stared at the three people in front of her. Did 'us' actually meant Last Order, Yomikawa Aiho, and...
Accelerator.
'No way. No way. NO. NO. NO. THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL AM I GONNA LIVE WITH THIS BASTARD.'
"No way! I DECLINE that offer. No thanks."
"'Does that mean...'"
Mikoto's attention turned to Last Order. She looked like she was about to cry.
"'Onee-sama didn't want to be with Misaka Misaka?' says Misaka as Misaka felt heartbroken..."
"E-ehhh?!"
Mikoto became flustered as she stumbled around. She looked at Last Order's face and sighed in defeat.
'I don't really know what to do in this situation... but I need to do something.'
She held Last Order's shoulders and looked at her face to face. Last Order lifted her head and stared at her Onee-sama's eyes. She smiled her brightest smile at her younger sister and the people around her thought that they turned blind for a few seconds.
"It's not like that. So please, don't cry."
Last Order's face brightened and her eyes sparkled in delight.
"'Then, is Onee-sama going to live with us?!' asks Misaka Misaka expectantly."
"E-eh?!"
She looked at the two people beside them. Yomikawa had a 'just-give-up-already' look, while Accelerator just clicked his tongue in annoyance. Mikoto heaved out a sigh and stared back at Last Order with defeated eyes.
'I have no choice...'
"Sure..."
Last Order smiled brightly and hugged Mikoto again. She was really excited.
"'Then let's go home!' says Misaka as Misaka pulls Onee-sama's hand."
And that was the start of Misaka Mikoto's torturous but happy days.
Author's note:
Yeah. It's a bit weird, but I decided to write this stuff.
Next chapter!:
Stressed Mikoto, Happy Last Order, and Grumpy Accelerator.
Yeah.