Chapter 4: Time and Space of Friendship and Love

It was very hilarious to know that human's life was usually simple; something that would be repeated countless time from the first time the human was created. Human's life was modest by the way, and it could be included in just three words; each showed the step of human's life. The first was childhood; which could represent the happiest time in human's life, as the only time when someone could only think about his or her joy, laughing happily in the midst of problem, enjoying every bit of human's and God's creation with his or her hands. What they had in their brain was happiness, and they usually would achieve it, because the fact that there were abundant of loves that they would receive. Nevertheless, childhood also essential in human's life, as a step when someone was first carved by the hands of parents, something that would prepare him or her to the next step of life.

The second step of human's life was adolescence; a period when someone started to think about their purpose of life, the function of their existence, and their roles in the humanity. The adolescence also showed more reality of life; life was harsh, life was enjoyable, life was dull, life was grief, life was bliss, life was blessing, life was void, or every other perception that had been made or had been done. What they thought about life in adolescence period would determine what an individual would be; what path they would choose; what reality they would care. Adolescence was the most crucial time in human's life, as something that would create the variety of characters and dispositions of human. Human was created by experiences; and it would determine what an individual would be.

The final step of human's life was adulthood. This step was the result of adolescence and childhood's experience, each would leave any marks that were eternal in human's mind, body, and soul. The adulthood was the time when someone did his or her purpose of life, uniting himself or herself with other human in different gender in a bond of marriage. Then, from the unison of two souls that had been together as one, a new individual would be born from the female's womb; as someone who would inherit their parent's life, someone who would be their successor, or every other thing you would like to say. The human who had reached the adulthood would likely use their experiences from the past to carve their children, and then, their children would grow strong, would walk to another step, and so on.

The never–ending cycle would always be repeated, and it would somehow create confusion in the thought of every critical person. Why must the human be created? What will the world be? If the cycle never ceased to go on, where would the life be led into? Why must God create human? Was God an arrogant entity who looked for nothing but glory, demanding praises from human, as His creation? Nevertheless, no matter how many times the thought appeared, the cycle would never cease until the world faced apocalypse. It was a life, it was a reality, it was you, it was me, and it was the world.

Because of this never-ending characteristic, human's life would be boring, repeating something that had been repeated, as the repetition would create repetitive activity from day to day, from night to night. Therefore, a pure purpose of life should be achieved, as something that would make your life became more and more interesting, intriguing, influential, vigorous, and happy. The purposes of life in every individual may vary, but they had the same characteristic that would create one group, and there would be only one group alone, as the only sky that human would always want from the earth, despite their lack of ability to fly gracefully to their destination.

It was love.

Yes, it was love, so much more than any usual animal's instinct, so much more than any usual flower in a plantation, so much more than any other beautiful scenery of the setting sun. It was a message of affection, a message of attachment, a message only to your… loved ones, as something that you would dearly love. Even the most self-absorbed people also had love; a love to themselves, using other people as a shield of their life, and nothing more. The love itself may vary, and each could represent the difference of individuals in the current space and time: love for your own life, love for your own principle, love for your own dignity, love for you own status, love for your friends, love for your parents, love for your children, love for your husband or wife, and even love to your God. It was love, which would make the weakest dare to face the strongest. It was love, which would make someone to face the giant army of soldiers and monsters in front of their loved one. It was love, which would make a dictator bow in front of his or her enemy for the sake of their loved one. It was love, which made the world's go round.

It was also love, which made Misaka Misuzu made a decision to make her daughter, Misaka Mikoto; the object of her love, to live with Kamijou Touma.

"Mom! Did you hear me?"

Mikoto's voice penetrated the atmosphere that the interior of the car had created. She was sitting beside the driver's seat, looking at the figure of Misaka Misuzu who was driving beside her with an irritated voice that she had been used for a quiet sometime. Behind them, in the back seat of the car, a certain spiky haired boy, Kamijou Touma, was seen to be snoring loudly, ignoring the one sided quarrel that the individuals in front of him provided, finding it amusing because Mikoto's voice was louder and louder in every minute. Maybe it was because of the softness of the car's seat, maybe it was because of the tiredness that he had experience, maybe it was because of his lack of sleep on the last day. Nevertheless, whatever it was, he was sleeping as though he hadn't slept for three days, relaxing his muscle with the best effort that he could. He had changed his attire at least, appeared from his changed T-shirt beneath his usual black jacket. His pants also seemed to be clean and neat, visible from the loss of dirt and pure blackness that had become its tint for today.

Misaka Mikoto's hospital gown had been nowhere to be seen, changed with her usual Tokiwadai Middle School's uniform: a white shirt beneath beige jacket with short bluish skirt as the completion. The flower hair clip was still seen hanging on her eternal hazel hair, with her hair made its way only to her shoulder, and no more. Her eyes were somehow furious, a negative sign for those who were around her, because usually a massive voltage of electricity would be produced from her forehead and would zap everyone around her. Nevertheless, the blue line hue of electricity was not formed, as she also knew that the individual beside her was the one who had been her mother for the entire of her life, who had given birth to her fourteen years ago, who had taken care of her for almost her entire life. No, no matter how irritating the individual beside her, she would never harm Misaka Misuzu.

But it still didn't get rid of the feeling that the individual beside Misaka Mikoto was irritating.

The weather was not the same as yesterday's, but it was usual for this autumn season. The water droplets that fell high from the sky above stroke the ground beneath endlessly, the same with the droplets that befell the car in which the Misakas and Kamijou resided, creating the sound of water's contact with whatever it was which blocked its way, giving a certain adequate chill around the peripheral sense. The car's wiper appeared to be never bored to protect car's windshield from blocking Misuzu's sight whilst she was driving, effectively removing any trace of water droplets from her vision. The grey sky was visible, adorning the atmosphere with its hue with somehow gloomy sensation that was rather hard to be recognized, perfectly blocking the eternal sun which was there, hiding behind the perennial cloud as if it demanded its protection. It was another dawn, but yet, it was not as bright as a morning should be.

Misaka Misuzu was seen driving in the driver's seat, with her hazel eyes stayed in her current position, looking straight to the road afore with some occasional glance to the rearview mirror for usual check of safety, giving a good example of perfect driver as she drove smoothly. She was wearing her usual attire as if they were the only clothes that she had: a usual white shirt with blue jeans. The car which was rented for a day only for that day was white in hue, with an outer appearance of a sedan. A BMW logo was seen plastering itself on the hood, sparkling brightly in the midst of the rain as if it was proud with its status of being a famous brand. The car was comfortable, and it was enjoyable. It was only Mikoto's continuous demand of explanation that was not comfortable, resulting her to shout indignantly at her mother as endless as the falling rain from the grey sky above.

"It was a prejudice, Mikoto-chan," Misuzu started to speak, after a quiet moment of silence that she had done, trying not to listen to any of Mikoto's demand of explanation. Nevertheless, it was irritating for her too, so at least, an answer wouldn't do any bad right? "Please don't ask anymore question about this," she continued.

"A prejudice? It is clearly not you, thinking about prejudice and all," Mikoto said at her highest pitch for which everyone would be surprised of Touma's state of continuous sleeping, giving a thought of ostensible activity for not wanting to be influenced by the two's endless quarrel. "I'm your daughter! And I know more about you than you could imagine! You didn't even know the situation, so why did you do that?" Mikoto said, puffing her chest in process as she looked at her mother in an irritating manner, with her tune penetrated the sound that had been caused by water's contact to the windshield.

The car went forward the Academy City's boulevard with several others, passing a never ending flow of walking pedestrians that never stopped doing their activities, protecting themselves from continuous rain, guarded only by a usual umbrella and rain jacket. After a moment of time, the car eventually reached a traffic lamp, with its red color which decorated its bulb as the sign of absolute order to stop moving. The car stopped, and in this position, Misuzu decided to face her daughter again, with the seriousness that she had done just for yesterday, as her hazel eyes appeared to be full of fire, staring sharply at the figure of her daughter with the equivalence of an eagle which was looking for its prey.

"Stop talking about this," Misuzu said, with her deadly tune decorated her deadly stare.

Misaka Mikoto gulped an amount of thick saliva somehow, with some amount of accidental sweat that was flown on her skin, thoroughly aware by the sudden change of atmosphere that her mother had done in process. For all powers that Misaka Mikoto had, there were only two men… women to be précised who had a power to intimidate her by only a little glance. First was her dorm supervisor, who would break necks of any students that would do something against the Tokiwadai Middle School's rule, with a cold look as if she had no regret for doing that. The second was her own mother, as her seriousness was somehow intimidating, giving her an absolute ability of being a mother… or being a dictator.

"Okay," Misaka Mikoto said, lowering her head in defeat as she did so. She was fully aware that her mother didn't want to push the issue further. She just would accept the reality behind her eyes with gritting teeth… or a smiling face.

Misaka Misuzu then sighed, releasing an amount of water vapor to the air in process as though it was happy for being released. She closed her eyes in process momentarily, in a bored way for having to repeat her solemn that she disliked. She looked forward again, staring at the red bulb of light that appeared to never go out until the time told it so, waiting for it to slake, changed with the green bulb that began shining, so that she could go forward. But whatever it was, a sudden image, so much more than any usual memory, flew into her mind, just like the continuous orb of light as her stare appeared to be so faraway, looking at something invisible, as if she demanded for it to do something.

And then, her mind was no longer there.

Her brain, or to be precised, the amygdala part of her brain which stored most of her memory began forming an image. It was an image of her, two days ago to be précised, the time when she got an information from her study mates that her daughter, Misaka Mikoto was involved in an explosion and was sent to the hospital. Of course, as a good mother she would always be, she took that information as swiftly as possible, skipping her study, and made her way to the hospital. In her way, in the railway station's waiting room for the train to the hospital, she decided to give a call to her husband, regarding the condition of her dearest daughter. Surely, the said father took the information in upset manner, and the father, or Misaka Tabikake, said that he would call Misuzu later in just a moment.

And from that fact only, the bad feeling that she had concealed perfectly in her cheerful heart emerged.

It was not like that Misaka Tabikake, Misuzu's husband and Mikoto's father, was the worst father in the world for not giving a call so much to his wife and daughter. Nevertheless, it was the lack of dangerous events that made it unusual for Misaka Tabikake to give a call. Particularly, the said father and husband would just give some messages for things that were not so essential, as his bussiness was so endless and abundant for he couldn't give his wife and daughter a call so much. Misuzu was grateful enough that her husband always gave her a message, even sneaking around in his meeting with his mates. But this time was different... if Tabikake would give her a call, then, this thing, this event was an emergency.

Nonetheless, being a cheerful woman and also a childish and naive type, Misuzu dismissed the thought quickly, thinking that her husband was just... what? Oh yeah, yearning, that's the word. It had been a quiet long time for Tabikake for not talking to her so much, for his bussiness took so much of his time (finding the flaws in the world and correcting them was not easy you know). Yes, that must be it. She mustn't be so paranoid.

... must she?

It was in the train, the electric train to be exact, which was oh so elegant that it seemed almost demanded everybody's attention for it, the cell phone that had been almost forever connecting Misuzu with the outer life rang loudly, penetrating the vague sound of the electric train, infiltrating the chilly atmosphere that the interior part of the train had provided. As her reflex announced her to, her hand moved slowly towards her pocket, as the reaction of what she had heard. Then, she pressed the 'call' green button and moved it towards her ears. As the cell phone made its contact to Misuzu's ear, a heavy voice out of the blue took all of her attention greatly. It was the voice of her husband.

"Dear, you should listen to me carefully, give your greatest attention to me."

Misaka Tabikake's voice was still his particular one: a calm voice which appeared to be always eternal that Misuzu invariably admired. He was a strong and great man, standing in the front, having a job to look for the flaws in the world and to correct them. Nevertheless, Misuzu could find another vague feeling which could be sensed in the tune that Tabikake had used. It was a concern, a concern of losing his loved one, somehow concealed by his calm tune, but it was always audible in the ears of the one who had been his couple for more than fourteen years.

"What is it honey? Is there something wrong?" Misuzu replied, even though she had known just from her feeling and prejudice that there was something which was wrong in her husband's eyes, and being a great man he would always be, it must be very important. Misuzu could feel that her heart thumped somehow, and she afraid that it could wake the other passengers around. She tried to calm herself, as being creative in making prejudice was usually not her specialty, but she couldn't.

"Please take Mikoto-chan away from Academy City forever, or if you have other option, please have someone you really trust to guard her. Don't worry; the second option won't be in a long time, just maybe around two weeks or so. Please do one of the options," Tabikake said, speaking in a surprisingly calm state even though the content of his words didn't resemble it. Nonetheless, anybody could know that he was filled with concern for his daughter only. "The incident... the explosion that caused Mikoto-chan to stay in the hospital... This is bad..."

The sentences hit Misuzu's brain just like a bulb of thunderbolt around the midst of stormy sea, charring everything that blocked its way. Her eyes widened in surprise, as she managed to release a low shriek. All of the neurons of her brain returned her to the time when she was visiting her daughter in Daihaseisai event. It was the time when she saw the figure of her daughter, who smiled happily, having so many friends and experiences that Misuzu doubted she had experienced. She was carved in Academy City, being a strong individual, not being a toddler who cried for Santa Claus when her doll was broken. She developed more in Academy City, being a smart student just like what her parents always hoped. She was Academy City, creating a bond of strength, love, and courage under the sunlight which appeared to be eternal to the city and its civil itself, being the only place where she could be herself. The option to take her away from Academy City forever would always cause grief and sorrow, for losing her friend, and even her loved one.

"Take her away from Academy City?" Misuzu managed to speak again, after the shock that she had just received. She took a deep breath, and continued her word. "Why must I do that? Mikoto is very…"

"…very happy in Academy City? Yes, I can tell it in the way you retold me the story of your visit in Daihaseisai event. But this is emergency, dear. It involved the life of our daughter," he said, cutting Misuzu's words in process as he was very knowledgeable in the term of acknowledging his wife. "But listen to me. I know the culprit behind all of this, it was the owner of Academy City, or what everybody called, the general superintendent of Academy City," he continued.

"But if you know the culprit behind this, you can just capture him, or seize him, or just take him to the prison, or…"

"I believe I can, dear, as long as the evidences provide that," Tabikake cut her words again, fully knowing what his wife was thinking. "But you should know, this type of man always worked in shadow, and I had a feeling that the Board of Director of Academy City… or what you can call the government of Academy City appeared to support him, hiding every trance of flaws that the general superintendent had done, or maybe, the general of superintendent had planned, most likely like that. I had a connection with the general superintendent, and even threatened him for not harming our daughter, but he was apathetic when he heard that, and I believed that he had a plan for Mikoto-chan, a bad plan to be exact. He is a man who sees human as tools, and discards human if they are useless," he explained.

A man who saw others as tools... If what Misaka Tabikake was the truth (and it was most likely the truth itself), then it would turn out to be the worst scenario. Misuzu's thought began wandering everywhere, imagining her daughter to be filled with sorrow and pain, staying in the hospital with closed eyes without knowing when she would wake up, with her on other side of the bed, crying, regretting the lack of usefulness that she had. No, that wouldn't happen. She would never let something like that happen.

Nevertheless... still...

"But... Academy City..." Misuzu said, attempting to reply, but she had nothing to speak. Her brain, her motive, her mouth appeared to be in opposite sides. Part of her didn't want Mikoto to be taken away from Academy City, for she was very happy to live there. Part of her didn't want anything harmful to happen to Mikoto, or in other words, taking her life from the city that she loved the most. She was in a bad situation, and she just hoped that Tabikake didn't give her two options like that.

"Between me and you, the one who knows the best about our daughter is you, dear, being an individual that took most of the time taking care of her," Tabikake said, with a rigid, but somehow affectionate voice that he would always do only to his family. "I know the decision will burden your shoulders, but I don't know who else I could trust beside my own wife," he continued, and Misuzu somehow could feel the warmth that Tabikake emanated from the other side of Japan, by the catalyst of cell phone for communication. "So, please..."

"Ah, but why don't we just take her away from Academy City in just two weeks? It would be the same as..."

"...having a protector for her in two weeks? No, it would be different, dear," Tabikake said, and Misuzu could feel that her hope for that choice was also gone, changed into another endless despair as the buzzing sound of moving train could be heard in a vague way. "Academy City is a city full of light in an educative way, but also full of darkness in other way. The general superintendent is a very careful man. Leaving the city in two weeks, let alone in the school season, could mean that the individual, let aside one of the greatest espers like our daughter, tried to spread the knowledge of psychic or supernatural power to the other world. Therefore, she wouldn't be accepted again in the city. Second, if she were accepted, then she didn't know anything anymore about the Academy City. Two weeks could change the city so much, and maybe the change is something that is more harmful to Mikoto-chan," Tabikake explained whilst Misuzu could feel her brain was frustated, as hot as the cell phone that kept plastering itself on her ears.

"But what's the different with having a guardian in the city?" Misuzu asked, demanding another explanation from her husband.

"This General of Superintendent is an intelligent man, with plans within other plans, holding it in the shadow as he hides himself. Nevertheless, his weakness is the lack of patience," Tabikake said. "He is an extremely efficient man, and if in two weeks he has no any chance to be able to get a touch to someone, I bet that he will forget the individual and he will give more attention to other plan that he had set before. Thus, our daughter won't be harmed, and she will live happily again in Academy City," Tabikake continued.

Misuzu swallowed all the things that her husband said with all her might, processing every bit of them with her brain that appeared to be so full with nothing but Misaka Mikoto. Even though she didn't live for so long in the said city, but she could know that her daughter was famous and strong, being the third ranked esper in Academy City. Getting her a guardian was almost impossible, and Misuzu could know that Mikoto would disagree with her.

"Okay... I will do it," Misuzu said with a somehow vague determination within her tune. Whether she could solve the problem that her husband gave to her or not would be the other issue. Something that she must do that time was to make sure that her husband stayed out of concern by her words. If she managed to do it, then she was sure that she could solve her problems.

"Thank you, dear. I gave you my greatest luck. Then, I will bid you farewell," Tabikake said, and with the last words that he gave, somehow a vivid pray of luck to his dearest wife, he hang up, leaving nothing but disappearance of his voice from Misuzu's cell phone, replied with Misuzu's closing eyes.

The electric train had eventually reached the destination as it entered the railway station. The weak sun that penetrated the train was changed with the light from bulb of lamps that the station provided, infiltrating the train as it formed the shadow inside the train. The train stopped, and the passengers began taking their departure, exiting the train with the company of the sound from the speaker of the train, telling them the name of place they were in, and warned them to be careful. Misuzu stood up and left the train with a hundred others. After a few steps from the train's door, the said woman stared at the train quietly, with her eyes took the last sight of the place where she got all the information that somehow would change everything later.

"You should give me more than the words of fortune, my dearest husband. What I know is just the sudden explosion. Nevertheless, you, who don't even stay in the town, appear to know something beyond my knowledge. I will demand another explanation from you. But it will be later," she said calmly to herself, which was somehow very unbecoming of her. Afterwards, she left the railway station, facing the weak sun above as she started thinking about the decision she must make.

The train finally left, taking other passengers to the their destination, fully ready to provide itself as a memorial place, being a place where the people could be happy, or maybe could be sad.

"Mom! Look out!"

Misaka Misuzu finally came back to the present time and space, gasping in horror as she heard the tooting sound of several cars behind hers. The traffic lamp had shown the green color which was concealed before, signaling the cars to go forward. Out of deliberate reaction, she pressed the gas pedal as hard as she could, and the car dashed forward with a velocity that could make Mikoto suffered cardiac morbidity. Misuzu could hear a faint sound of someone groaning and head clashing in the passenger's seat, then, she took a glance of the individual behind quickly.

Kamijou Touma was seen massaging his head as his head made a certain hard clash with Mikoto's seat. He appeared to be fully awake, finding himself in another little incident that harmed his head. He winced in pain slightly, and it seemed that a direct touch of his hand with his head caused pain. Misuzu could tell by the relatively loud sound of head clashing before, that a protuberance had been formed on his forehead. A phrase, something that Misuzu could sure that he released accidentally out of habit, could be heard.

"Such misfortune."

In the corner of her eyes, she swore that she could see her daughter's lip curved upwards at the sight of a certain spiky haired guy, forming a smile which Misuzu always wanted to see from her dearest daughter, a sign of her happy life within the city. She took all her concentration back to the road in the front, looking straight at it to avoid further sudden tooting from the cars behind.

The rain had finally stopped, changed with an eternal sun that had waited for its appearance for only God who knew since when. The reflection of the sun began coloring the city as the civilians started closing their umbrella, being grateful that the rain had stopped. A rainbow somehow was not formed, but the great warm feeling suddenly drenched the brain of Misaka Misuzu with serene grace, being happy and covered by bliss with the sight of her daughter and her daughter's guardian angel, because she knew that she was right.

Okay, first question.

If a mother of a friend of yours suddenly asked you to take a 'job' as her daughter's guardian and protector, what will you do?

Indeed, the answers would be various; each of them would represent the behavior, carved character, and disposition of an individual. One would reject the offer quickly, without giving any glance of it, considering that the said mother was just paranoid and exaggerating, maybe even laughed at the mother. One would reject the offer slowly, thinking about the profit and loss that the individual would have, whether it was in monetary aspect, time aspect, need aspect, and ability aspect, and from that own thinking, it would likely that the individual would reject the offer, for his or her thinking must be negative, only thinking for his or her own needs and profits. Nevertheless, one would accept the offer without anymore thinking, even maybe prodding and bragging his or her ability, for the said mother would have so much faith on him or her. An old once said that a kingdom of heaven or hell, good or bad, would always be built by the chivalrous people, but would invariably be destroyed by chivalrous people, for conceit would always drag someone away from the good path, taking the individual to the bad, yet so cunning path, leading anything to destruction.

Kamijou Touma wasn't included in any of the choices.

He accepted the offer quickly, for the safety of Misaka Mikoto was something that he would always want sincerely. Nevertheless, no prodding and bragging were released from his mouth, for his knowledge of his own lack of ability in protecting someone was the one that he always pitied. Nonetheless, being a humble warrior as he would always be, he accepted it, forgetting the lack of ability momentarily, lamenting the misfortune that he would have later. It was very unique of him, as a person that hated to be involved in an incident (he had trained his legs to move with blinding speed to flee from that), but once he was dragged in an incident, no one could stop him to solve the problem by himself.

Okay, the second question.

If, for example, the individual took the offer and the mother said that he or she should move to the house, apartment, or place that was rented specially for the guardian and the guarded, what came to your mind?

Okay, for this time, Kamijou Touma never expected something fancy or something. What he knew was that Misaka Misuzu would rent an apartment for two weeks, becoming a place for him and Mikoto to live just for them. Indeed the said spiky haired guy didn't mind though, he had quite abundant experiences regarding living with females. The first one was a certain blue haired nun, who suddenly fell out of nowhere to his balcony and said nothing but 'I'm starving'. The second was a certain shrine girl, who wielded strength to attract vampire, and someone who had different stomach for hamburgers. The third was a certain purple haired girl, an individual who was trained in martial art, the member of Amakusa church, and being an individual that lived with him until yesterday. He was very grateful to have a friend like Itsuwa, for her kindness made her accept the offer willingly to take care of his school dormitory for two weeks, filling the space of the dormitory as she became a change for Kamijou Touma. Kamijou Touma himself would move to the 'little' apartment that Misuzu had rented. Well, it was maybe just a particular cheap apartment for overseas students in district 14, and just like that.

... He should know that his thought of commoner would be far different in class and everything to be compared with Misaka's family's prowess and nobility.

They were standing in front of a five star hotel in the district 3 of Academy City, as for a commoner like Kamijou Touma, he was looking straight at the tall building which appeared to be soaring high to the sky above, as the blue hue of the azure sky colored the building with its hue, together with the company of reflection of the light that the glossy window had created. From a glance of it, Touma could know that the hotel was no ordinary hotel, somehow it was built specially only for princesses and kings, adorning itself with the greatest majesty that it could give. His eyes couldn't help but widening itself in surprise, dilating their pupils in awe as the hotel appeared to be so shiny... in its way.

"Misaka Misuzu-san," Touma started, taking a glance at the two individuals that shared similar traits (except of height, maturity, and clothes), trying to process everything that came to his mind just like the flow of water in the rainy season. "Do you have a bussiness here?" he continued, scratching his hair in process, being the only individual that was so... what? Poor... nothing could explain more than that word, even though Kamijou Touma hated to say that.

"We have a bussiness here, Kamijou-san," Misuzu said, smiling at him. "You and Mikoto-chan will stay here for about...two weeks," Misuzu continued.

"This fancy hotel? Such a long time since I have been here," Mikoto said, looking straight at the hotel's lobby. Her tune didn't show any kind of surprise or shock, let alone awkwardness and anything else "I think I can have others than something this fancy, Mom," she sighed, facepalming her forehead lightly in process, as though she had known this would be coming.

"Yeah, Mikoto-chan. When it came to find a good place for you two to stay, I can't think about anything rather than this place," Misuzu answered quickly. "Fancy huh? Isn't it sure that I must provide a good environment for my litte daughter to grow hmm?" Misuzu said, looking at something in or on Mikoto's body, with the thought that only she knew what. She rubbed her chin, as though she was observing what she looked, together with a company of her narrowed eyes with the equivalence teasing 'mode' that she always did to gather and to get close the relationship of the two.

Mikoto Misaka looked at her my mother blankly, trying to process everything that her mother had told her with her innocent mind. Then, she followed her mother's stare, and looked downwards to her... what to say? Umm... right. Woman's pride (or at least it was what Mikoto thought about and cared about regarding growth). She gasped, after some moments of another thinking, showing an amount of naive, childish, and innocent thought that she still had. Her arms moved as quickly as possible to cover her body, hugging herself in process, as though her mother's stare could be considered to have an equivalence with the molesters. The blood could be seen lifting itself to her cheeks, coloring the space of flawless skin with red color.

"Where are you looking at!" Mikoto shouted indignantly, still in her previous figure. The tune and volume of the voice that she used was oh so loud, spreading itself around the peripheral sight with its wave, penetrating the ears of every passerby as they reacted by staring at the hazel haired individual that caused the voice.

Touma just sighed, watching at the whole scene with an amused smile that he seldom used recently, as a sudden realization came to his mind with the similarity of another jolt of electricity to his brain. The Misaka family was really harmonic. It was not only from the lack of blue line hue that was formed in Mikoto's forehead to zap anyone around, but it was also because of the proximity that the two had formed and had done, an essence of wonderful family.

"Come on, let's come in!" Misuzu said, forgetting the teasing that she had done, waving her hand as the signal for Touma to follow her and her daughter to enter the hotel (or maybe palace for a commoner like Kamijou Touma). He took his step, and without him knowing why, as though he was really cursed by the God from heaven above, or maybe blessed by devils from hell below, he stepped on the slippery puddle which appeared to be oh so isolated that it was almost located in an individual's blind spot. The puddle didn't miss its chance to cause Touma's fall, as his body began to lose its equilibrium, tumbling down backwards to the pavement beneath with a loud thud. His head made its inaugural 'contact' to the pavement, with a painful crush that made the two hazel eyed females that watch the scene winced at the sight.

The said spiky haired guy winced in pain dramatically, as though there was no luck that ever surrounded him until now (it was the fact, by the way). Still, in his lying state, he massaged his head as the only medicine that he could use, and a another groan of pain could be heard from his mouth. Regardless every physical strength that he had, the only thing he could do was just lamenting his misfortune, as his strength couldn't defeat any power beyond physical one. Unluckily, misfortune, being something that Kamijou Touma really hated, was something that beyond his grasp.

Mikoto Misaka sighed as an amount of water vapor began joining itself with the air that surrounded them. It appeared that she really wanted to laugh out loud, something that could be seen from her vague giggle and amused face. Nevetheless, her pride and dignity didn't allow her to, as being very cheerful and loud in public was not her style, let alone, the previous shout that she had made had caused a sort of embarassment in her heart. She approached Touma slowly, clearing her throat and began speaking. "You dummy, always do stupid..."

And that was the end of her words.

Without her knowing why, as though she had been infected by misfortune by a man called Kamijou Touma, she stepped on a slippery part of the pavement which was so vivid that it almost needed all her ability to see to acknowledge its existence. Following the spiky haired guy just now, the hazel haired girl fell with a shriek of surprise from her mouth that adorned the atmosphere. A softer thud could be heard, and Misaka Mikoto didn't know whether she fell to the heaven or to the hell of the earth.

She fell to Kamijou Touma's body, which was surprisingly so warm despite of his rough figure. Her forehead made a contact to Touma's forehead, with the company of dilating pupils that the two had done. Regardless the fact that Misaka Mikoto was one of the strongest espers in the world, she lost her ability to move, as her brain and body took opposite sides, fighting against each other. Her muscle began becoming numb, as though the contact with a certain spiky haired guy was a stimulation for her body to do so, not to be forgotten, the slight reddish hue that began taking its place in her cheeks. Somehow, she couldn't hear anything, she couldn't see anything. What she knew, what she saw, what she acknowledged, what she felt, and what she heard was only placed in a circle space that could only fit for two people.

And as for the reality, for she knew that there was no such utopia in this world, she suddenly realized what situation she was in, reacting with the only thing that she could do.

A blue line of elecricity was formed above her head after a quite time of absence, glowing brightly as its hue began raising shiver to Touma's skin. And then, without any moment of thinking and warning, Mikoto unleashed the electricity to the pitiful individual beneath her, with her shout that accompanied the famous sound of electricity.

"Idiiiiooooottttttt!"

Kamijou Touma's legs and arms, excluding his right hand which was not infected by the electricity, thanks to his imagine breaker, jerked upwards constantly because of the sudden electricity that penetrated his body. All parts of his body, excluding his right hand, was covered by the electricity that had become Mikoto's pride and ability, widening his eyes out of shock, releasing a shriek of pain in process. Then, for another two seconds, his left arm and both of his legs fell to the cold pavement beneath, with a softer thud, charred completely in dismay as bruises and black color could be seen from his newly cleaned clothes. His hair was messier than ever, with the expression of a man who accepted death after a great amount of pain.

Nevertheless, even though everybody could sure that his brain couldn't work properly for a moment, a phrase, something that had become his habit from his youth could be heard weakly from his mouth.

"Such misfortune."

Misuzu sweat dropped, watching the scene with an amused face. She sighed, looking the antique that her daughter had done, and somehow, she could know, that Kamijou Touma was not her first victim. Then, she started walking again nonchalantly, not forgetting the words that she should tell.

"Come on, you two should go to school right? Thirty minutes more..."

The two teenagers showed a surprise face, fully forgetting the task that they must do as the little scene that occurred just now was a catalyst to forget everything. They stood up and followed, and everybody must be confused, seeing the regeneration that the spiky haired guy had done. They entered the hotel's lobby, leaving a little trace of the electricity in the air, with the memorial puddle which appeared to be messier, as the only hint of the bond of trust and friendship in their own way between the two teenagers.

Shirai Kuroko opened her eyes finally.

Well, it was not like that she suffered a great injury that would cause her own death. Nevertheless, she woke up much later rather than Mikoto because of the fact that Judgement's works were extremely abundant in the recent two weeks and the incident that happened three days ago was the peak of her tiredness, let alone, she must face a number of Skill-Out's members and she was defeated shamefully. It was coherent that Shirai Kuroko woke up much later after Misaka. She didn't procrastinate her awakening, but it was just that her petite body had its own limit, and even though she didn't like it, she must take a rest.

The first thing that she saw after she woke up was the white hospital's ceiling which appeared to be far different than the dark alley that she remembered before. Not letting any moment to slip, she started to sit on the cozy bed that the hospital had provided; massaging her sore head as the continuous slumber had created some amount of headache, for her brain must do some adjustments with the sudden activity. With a little glance around the peripheral sight, she could tell that she was in a hospital, with odor of drugs and medicines which appeared to be timeless, and a red color of setting sun that had been waiting for her to wake up. She could feel that her hair was not tied in the usual pigtail, by a tingling feeling of fluttering thing that made its contact with her back as the breeze entered the room. A hospital gown also was the one which covered her body.

"How long have I slept?" she said to herself.

"Two days already huh? Geezzz… she takes a long time to wake up."

Those words suddenly came to Kuroko's ears vaguely, infiltrating her eardrums as her brain interpreted the voice that she knew. Then, she could hear a faint sound of someone's coming, or maybe several people coming, something that could be heard by the several quick steps which appeared to be different in weight and style. After that, she could see shadows of divers people from the door, and with that, the door swung open, revealing the individuals that were talking about her until just now.

Misaka Mikoto, Saten Ruiko, and Uiharu Kazari entered the room where Kuroko stayed, with their respective uniforms which announced their homing from the school. A bucket of fruits could be seen on Uiharu's hands, which appeared to be so full that it almost demanded anyone's astonishment for her steady state. Mikoto's eyes were the first that took its place on Kuroko's opened eyes. She smiled, and began speaking.

"Look, she has wakened up!" Mikoto cheered, pointing her forefinger at the certain teleporter. And with those words, the population of the room appeared to increase itself, and Kuroko could see Saten's grinning face at her, and Uiharu's teary eyes. Perhaps, among her friends, Uiharu was the most maudlin one, an individual who couldn't bear the sight of romantic film rigidly, and also the one who couldn't bear to see her friend stayed in the hospital with closed eyes, without knowing when would the said friend wake up.

Uiharu threw herself at the teleporter, her comrade, to be precised, burying herself on Kuroko's shoulder as she started sobbing hard, showed by a volume of liquid that drenched her cheeks. The sudden embrace made Kuroko widened her eyes swiftly, as the abrupt contact with her was something unexpected. The lack of words that Uiharu released could only mean that she was so happy and she was covered by joy, and she couldn't even think of any words that could describe her feeling now, as the joy was so high that there was no any human's words that could describe it. Nevertheless, disregarding the fact that Uiharu was mushy or what, it somehow warmed her heart, knowing that there would be always someone who cared about her. Not only Uiharu, Misaka and Saten's affectionate face toward her could mean so much for her.

"I'm okay, Uiharu," Kuroko said, with a smile that would make someone accidentally closed his or her eyes, knowing something that warmed her heart with the equivalence of nothing. She rubbed Uiharu's back, trying to comfort her. "Thanks, Uiharu."

Misaka Mikoto and Saten Ruiko could only smiled at each other, fully knowing that everyone was all right at the end of the time, and the bond of their friendship would always be immutable and ageless, with nothing except death itself could separate them. Although they didn't show their affection through hugging or something like that, but they were thoroughly relieved of the nice condition of an individual called Shirai Kuroko, and they knew, that Shirai acknowledged that too.

Nonetheless, the joyful scene couldn't last long.

"Umm... Kuroko?" Misaka started, clearing her throat as though something blocked it, impeding her from saying anymore words. "I need to tell you something," she continued.

"What is it Onee-sama? What could I do to help you?" Kuroko said with hopeful eyes, releasing Uiharu's hug as she looked at her in a concern way. Everybody could swear that two orbs of seraph began forming themselves in Kuroko's black circles of eyes, showing a certain, yet so peculiar expression that only she could know what was the meaning. Shirai Kuroko's imaginative mind began wandering elsewhere. She imagined herself in dress and Misaka in tuxedo, having a romantic dinner in a French Restaurant, facing each other with dreamy looks, and Misaka...

"Well..."

The hospital's garden, which was just located outside the hospital was one of the most beautiful landmarks that could refresh every brain of people who were under pressure. The beauty of setting sun adorned the garden with its red hue, which also reflected the light to the sky above, with the color which couldn't be resembled by any other human's works. Birds could be seen, flying in the sky as they began returning to their nest, with the chirping sound as though they were saying their respective good bye to the sun. The sun itself didn't seem to intend to die in a particular manner, as its beauty and warmth were something that everyone dreamed of, creating a scenery which was rare to be seen in autumn. The calm breeze began blowing gently, caressing the perennial trees and bushes in glee, bringing the odor of ageless trees and leaves.

A certain frog faced doctor sat on a wooden bench whose color could resemble the color of the sun, enjoying the warmth which was emanated by the setting sun, relishing every comfort that he could get from the gift of heaven's sun. He was wearing the usual white coat which hid his shirt, and a satisfied expression could be seen from his face, which was smiling brightly as though his face was really shining, relaxing every muscle that he had peacefully.

He was doing great from the dawn to the dewfall, and that time was the only time when he could relax a bit, and what he had chosen was right. Watching the scenery of the setting sun, as the sun penetrated the earth with its red tint was something relaxing and enjoyable, a good change from the smell of drugs and medicines which could drive him crazy eventually. No matter how glad he was to be a doctor, but still, he was a human being. Doing the same job from the morning until now; he needed some changes, just like that.

Nevertheless, being a good doctor for years as he would always be, a thought of a certain patient kept coming to his mind, filling a little part of his with the patient's health. The patient was Shirai Kuroko, a middle school girl who was taken to the hospital just two days ago. Indeed, she had been cured completely by him, as his prowess in healing people was something that he could have a pride of. Nevertheless, still, as long as the patient couldn't do the activities perfectly and fluently, it could only mean that the patient was still in his responsibility, and as a professional doctor, he would take care of her completely.

But for the time being, he decided to leave everything behind momentarily, just focusing himself to the sun which was setting in his sight, enjoying the warmth and the silence that could relieve any hectic day. It was very peaceful, very silent, very timeless, and extremely enjoyable, something that he would always love from the sun. The sound of the garden was the only things that could be heard, together with the sound of the chirping birds above, with the perimeter that was not bothered by the human's creation at all.

It was destroyed eventually, for there was no any real utopia in the world.

"Oneeee-saaammmaaaa! How could you... with that... primateeeeee?"

That shout infiltrated the doctor's ears with the equivalence of a thousand lightning spears of ice, crushing his eardrums as he jerked to the side because of the impact of the sound. He winced slightly in agony, as the sound wave was unreasonably loud that he was confused why didn't he lose his ability to hear. He massaged his ears for a slight treatment, then looked upwards, to the window that released the previous sound.

A blue line hue of electricity could be seen from the window, spreading itself around the perimeter with its hue. The blue light that the eletricity had caused somehow blinded his eyes slightly, and then, for a fraction of seconds, the light dissipated, leaving nothing but a little smoke that exited the window.

The doctor sighed, coming back to his previous figure, staring at the setting sun which embodied the end of the day, and somehow he could know, that his patient called Shirai Kuroko would stay in the hospital longer than he expected.

Okay, let's see.

Stopping the Neccessarius from constantly erasing a blue haired nun's memory, saving a certain shrine girl from a Roman Catholic magician's grasp, helping a certain hazel haired girl from her agony of seeing her clones being massacred, in process, saving the life of more than nine thousand clones, saving his father from being killed by a certain archangel, saving a certain hazel haired girl again from being killed by an aztec magician, saving an embodiment of AIM manifestastion from being killed by a Gothic magician, saving nuns, whether they were from Neccessarius or Roman Catholic Church, saving the mother of a certain Railgun from Skill-out, saving Academy City again from the large invansions from three members of God's right seat, were things that an individual called Kamijou Touma had done in the past, and looking at the misfortune that would always overwhelm him, it was most likely that the number of 'saving' would increase. He was a unique human, to be precised. His reluctance of being dragged to a calamity would only drag him deeper, and him, being a chivalrous person just like he would always be, he would solve the problem, regardless the condition of his body, and his life.

Nevertheless, who was he? Only a high school student, and nothing was more.

Kamijou Touma sighed in defeat after he had read the list of things that his teacher, or Tsukuyomi Komoe had given to him. There were too many points that he must do, not only because of his absence in the class for two days, but also because of his idiot record that would be difficult to be defeated. The list was just like this : Hormon mechanism, the importance of thermodynamics for pyrokinesis, the theory of finding another element and the benefit of it, two pages summary for a Shakespeare writing that he liked (and who the hell was Shakespeare?), your hypothesis of social deviation and grouped it in three types, the drawing of an architectural building in two blind spot, and the last, but not the least, your opinion of the effect of AIM field around usual people, the negative and positive sides. These abundant tasks, and he must finish it all in two days. Was he hated by the world or something?

He was sitting on the chair that faced the dining table at the front. The room which Misaka Misuzu rented was extremely large and luxurious. Compared to his previous dormitory, this room was three times larger, with space which was too wide for two people. Imagine a VIP room from a five star hotel, this room was three times greater than that. Not only the size, the luxury that the hotel provided was also... blinding for commoner's eyes like him. High quality furniture, plasma television, chandelier, air conditioner, play station 3 and Xbox, laptop, printer, with other accessories, refrigerator, majestic kitchen set, just everything were placed in that room, trying to gladden anyone who inhibited the space. He remembered that his mouth opened widely and he was put in a loss of words when he saw a room which was so... shiny.

Nevertheless, it didn't omit the fact that he must do his homework.

It was seventh o'clock already and Misaka Mikoto, his roommate for two weeks hadn't appeared yet. It was not like that she was so special to him or something (even though he started thinking about that probability), but he was a little bit worried about the condition of the Railgun. That last incident was something big and massive, and he really didn't want to see Mikoto in that state again. Not only because of her scary blue wings that were ready to destroy everything, but also, her void expression; and expression that said that she was nothing in this world, so much different than Mikoto Misaka that he had known.

The paper was scattered in a messy way on the dining table in front of him. A plastic bag could be seen on the table, as a different thing that was easy to be differentiated. Two cheese burgers were located inside it, as the meal that Touma bought for him and Mikoto. He knew that the great amount of homework would make the probability to eat in the restaurant below impossible, let alone, the price that the manager of the restaurant had set had too many zeros for a commoner like him. He also bought one for Mikoto, for he knew that she should be hungry too, and it was likely that as Mikoto's roommate, he also had a responsibility to take care of her.

The chill that the air conditioner had provided didn't seem to be able to freeze Touma's hot head, as he started thinking about the mechanism about hormon that he must know, with an amount of smoke which appeared to take its place above his head. His expression was awful, with a wrinkled forehead that showed his difficulty to understand the material that he read. A half of pencil was located inside his mouth as he chewed it, together with the company of his continuous scratch to his hair. He had thought about it for two hours and it was night already, and he still didn't know anything about the mechanism of thyroid gland that produced thyroxine.

The door of the room swung open, revealing the figure of a certain hazel haired Railgun that was standing with her usual winter-autumn Tokiwadai Middle School's uniform. She looked somehow tired and starving, and she appeared to have just done something tiresome for a quality of time. When she looked at Touma's eyes, a red hue could be seen on her cheeks, burning her slightly, and a she began shouting again at him.

"What are you doing here?" she shouted, as if Kamijou Touma was an invader that tried to sneak in to her room, simply forgetting the fact that the said spiky haired guy was her room mate for two weeks. Touma stared at her blankly, not knowing what to say, for she should have known that Touma would live with her. Her shout could only mean four things. First, the said Railgun was stupid, and it was likely improbable, for her knowledge was even greater than Touma. Second, the said hazel haired girl was just pretending. Third, the said hazel eyed girl forgot that she lived with him, and the forth, Misaka Mikoto didn't want to live with him.

Touma Kamijou just sighed.

"I live with you, remember?" Touma said nonchalantly. "What's with that shouting? Do you hate me or something?" the spiky haired guy said, even though he didn't really want to say that. It was not like that her answer would change the road he was walking on (even though it would most likely change the road), nevertheless, it was something that was released accidentally from his mouth, as he knew that his brain didn't command it. "Besides, what's with your face? Are you catching cold?"

Surprisingly, the Railgun out of the blue lowered her head, together with the company of the reddening of cheeks which appeared to be more intense. She somehow relaxed a little bit, but with those cheeks which could resemble a fresh tomato, she was in an equivalence with a gentle kitten that time. She appeared to try avoiding eye contact with Touma, which raised his eyebrow in astonishment and confusion, for he rarely saw Misaka Mikoto in that state. Both of her forefingers moved, bumping at each other gently in front of her chest as she began speaking.

"No... it's not like that... I hate you or something ...ummm..." Mikoto said, suddenly finding it hard to speak one more word, as each words appeared to be more and more awkward in her point of view. She could feel that her cheeks became hot, and she couldn't slow her heart down, which was thumping loudly and fast. "Besides... ummm... I'm okay," she stuttered continuously.

Touma Kamijou sighed again. He really didn't understand her. For a fraction of seconds, she appeared to be as hot-headed and stubborn as she usually was, but for another fraction seconds, she appeared to be a gently kitten, which was trying to walk for the first time. Just what's with the sudden change of mood?

"Whatever," Touma ended the awkward conversation, something that Mikoto needed the most. "Just come in and take a rest. You seemed tired, anything wrong?" he said, giving full concentration to the hazel haired girl who was standing at the door, ignoring his works which appeared to be piling up high.

Mikoto blushed again, then, she shook her head hard, as though she was trying to remove any traces of red hue on her cheeks, which she did successfully. She closed the door behind her gently and began replying Touma's words with a much lower tune.

"I'm okay, it was just that stupid Kuroko" she said. "When I told her that I stayed with you, she did nothing but barking at me and cursing you. So I decided to give her some electric therapy and somehow, it made me so tired. It looks like that my health was not in a good shape," Mikoto replied, taking a seat on the opposite side of Touma. "By the way, what are you doing?"

"Homewok," he said nonchalantly, surveying the paper that he had read countless times, with nothing came to his brain as a certain knowledge. "You told Shirai-san that I stayed with you?" Touma asked.

"Yes, why?"

"Nothing," Touma answered swiftly, even though he must admit, that his thought was surrounded by fear of being killed, or being stabbed by countless needles that Shirai Kuroko always had with her. It was a general truth that the said teleported had a certain kind of affection towards Misaka which was beyond friendship class. It was also a general truth that Shirai Kuroko hated Touma so much, with the reason that Touma would never understand, as his dense mind kept blocking him from knowing the truth. Nevertheless, he could know that he was in a trouble, a very bad trouble. "You looked hungry, cheese burgers? Not a fancy one, of course," Touma said, taking a cheese burger from a plastic bag and began offering it to Mikoto.

Mikoto raised her eyebrow slightly, then she snorted. "Offering a girl a cheese burger? Don't you have any better meals or something?" she said, sighing, together with the company of closing eyes that she did accidentally.

"I'm not a rich guy like a you, princess. Besides, eat anything as long as you were full with it, right? It won't give you heart attack of something," Touma answered, with his eyes were still in the contact with the paper. It was not like that he was impolite or something, but he must finish the task as soon as possible and hopefully, Mikoto didn't mind.

"Oy, look at the one you are talking to, dummy. Can't you give a little focus to me? Are you trying to be a cool looking one or something?" Mikoto said, resting her head on her palm as her arms became the one who supported it. She sighed again, for only God knew how many times.

"Okay," Touma said, facing her with the utmost attention to her, that made her raised her eyebrow in confusion. Then, he took the cheese burger with both of his hands and bowed his head, with the equivalence of facing a queen. "So princess, this insignificant Kamijou Touma hereby offers you a cheese burger, would you mind taking it?"

Mikoto sweat dropped. "No, thanks, I'm not hungry," she answered.

That was the only time when she could deny her current state.

Her stomach growled, as its sound appeared to echo in the fancy room which suddenly became silent, covering the perimeter with its sound as the only thing that could be heard clearly, showing the hungry state that she was in, even though she hated to admit it. Blush began forming itself again in her cheeks, and she was mortified again in this room. She indeed hadn't eaten yet, but must it be revealed like this?

"You surely are starving," Touma said, breaking the ice that had covered the atmosphere slightly with an amused smile. Girls really were a prideful creature. Misaka Mikoto was a good example for that. Indeed, she was the type that couldn't be honest to herself (or at least it was what Misaka Imouto said in the underground mall), but couldn't she be more... realistic? She wouldn't be okay if she kept her pride as her priority, disregarding the condition of her stomach. "Just take it now, or I'll be sad," he continued.

"T-t-t-thanks," Mikoto stuttered, but at least she managed to take the cheese burger from Touma's hands, unwrapping the plastic and began chewing it silently, trying not to make any embarassing noise that she had done countless times this day. Then, they started doing their own activity.

As the silence emerged, the invisible nocturnal calm breeze began entering the room from the opened window which appeared to be forgotten, bringing the odor of exterior space outside the window. The calm breeze caressed Mikoto's and Touma's skin as it passed their bodies. As if the breeze was grateful for their existences, the breeze kept scrolling around their skin, which was replied by the enjoyable aura that the two emanated, as if they were able to communicate with the tranquil breeze since they were in their mother's womb.

"What are you studying?" Mikoto said.

"Hormon mechanism, to be precised, thyroxine," Touma answered nonchalantly, enjoying the calm breeze that infiltrated the room before with a somehow pleased expression. As the calm breeze bathed the two with its enjoyable chill, he continued his reading.

"Oh, thyroxine, something that almost everyone failed at," Mikoto said, still, with a half eaten cheese burger on her hand. She folded her legs and began taking another crunch to the cheese burger.

"Huuh? What do you mean?" Touma said, starting to give his attention to the said Railgun. Her answer was unexpected, and for some reasons, it was as if that she knew and she had learned anything about hormon.

The breeze answered with some enjoyable caressed that had become its job.

"Say, do you know anything about negative feedback inhibition?" Mikoto asked, stopping herself from another bite of hamburger which satisfied her stomach most, as the delicacy of the burgers kept her brain to work greatly, and her stomach shouted in glory for the meals that it needed.

"Negative... what did you say?" Touma asked, fully aware that his brain never heard such thing.

The calm breeze kept scrolling around their bodies, covering them with chilly, yet peaceful atmosphere that somehow could relieve the burden from yesterday, fully happy for the friendly conversation that the two teenagers had made.

"I'll explain it to you, let's consider this as the payback for cheese burger," Mikoto said as her lip curved upwards, forming a knowing smirk that Touma surely had seen from Tsukuyomi Komoe when she started explaining his question. "As you should know, that the thyroxine is made by thyroid gland, nevertheless, the function of thyroid gland is controlled by anterior part of pituitary gland. The anterior pituitary gland secreted thyroid-stimulating hormone, as the one that stimulate the formation of thyroxine. Anterior pituitary gland itself was not an independent gland, as its mechanism was controlled by other thing," she explained fluently, as it she had memorized it all in her brain, much to Touma's bewilderment.

"Other thing?" he asked, giving his full attention to the clever individual in front of him now.

"It was hypothalamus," Mikoto answered swiftly, fully forgetting the cheese burger that she held. " The hypothalamus, as one of the example of a neuron that secreted hormone, secreted thyrothropin releasing hormone, which stimulated the formation of thyroid stimulating hormone," she answered.

"So we could say that hypothalamus is the source of every hormone, right?" he said, as his brain tried to process Mikoto's words with all its might. He was really irritated to see a middle school girl like her could defeat a high school student, but now, he had no choice but to listen carefully.

"It's not so true. First, there are other hormones that are not controlled by hypothalamus, and second, the production of thyrotropin releasing hormone was stimulated by negative feedback inhibition," she explained.

"What is negative feedback inhibition?"

"It means the formation the thyroxine inhibits the formation of thyrotropin. If the concentration of the thyroxine was too low, then, the hypothalamus will produce thyrothropin which in process, will produce thyroid stimulating hormone, and it will stimulate the formation of thyroxine. Then, the concentration of the thyroxine in the blood could be maintained," she answered, with further example for Touma to understand.

"You really are a smart girl, a damn brilliant one," Touma said, swallowing all the knowledges that the hazel haired girl gave to him with an opened eyes, fully knowing that his knowledge was inferior compared to hers. It was a reality, and he couldn't deny it.

The breeze agreed, giving more caress to Mikoto's skin as it was happy to be with her, fully congratulating the individual who helped others in education.

"Thanks then," Mikoto said, giving her prideful smirk to Touma as she managed to explain everything briefly and perfectly, fully knowing that the mechanism of hormones was not something that could be understood by just a little scanning to the text book. She continued her chew, and without her knowing, an amount of crumb could be seen around her lip.

Touma smirked, seeing the unlady like behavior that the individual in front of him had performed completely. He took a handkerchief which took its residence in Touma's pocket, and with that, he moved forward, approaching Mikoto, then what he did was far unexpected than anything.

"You should be neater when you were eating, Misaka," he said, wiping the crumb from Mikoto's lips with the a certain gentleness as if he was treating a newborn baby. He just thought that at least it was something that he could do to take care of her, for he had no any convoluted or ulterior motive behind doing that. Their heads were only separated by two inches space, so much close as the proximity began overwhelming them. Somehow, Mikoto didn't move, as her surprise and shock covered all parts of her brain which inhibited herself from moving, with only a slight tint of red that began forming in her cheeks. Nevertheless, she stayed silent as if it was something that had been done countless times, and she didn't even mind with it.

The breeze danced in happiness, as if all the glory could be given to its magical secret which somehow could strengthen the bond between the two individuals that hadn't yet opened their deepest hearts. Afterwards, the breeze stopped blowing. Every word, every reflection, and every secret that had been done with the company of the breeze had gone.

What was remained was serenity.

A/N: I planned to update this weekly, so please pray for me for my luck. I hoped this story could give you good comfort and enjoyment. O right, You readers could also request a story to me, so, don't afraid to give a private message!