Touma woke up to find out the power to his apartment went out. Still, he remembered last night and smiled and fell back into his bed. Maybe it was a dream? No it couldn't be, but it sure is crazy to think about. It sure is crazy how his luck has changed, if he could ever call it that.
"Well, I better get going anyway just to make sure," it was a couple hours before anyone got to his school but he knew it would take an hour just to get to the hospital alone, best be there as soon as possible.
As the certain boy walked along the streets, early morning fog covered the place. It wasn't unusual for fog to cover particular areas because of the artificial lakes after all. The bad luck seemed to get worse today, as if it added up from the lack there of last night.
As the hospital came into view, the fog started to clear up. Not being in a particular rush, Touma kept his pace the same. Walking in the doors, he greeted the front desk.
"Good morning sir, how can I help you today?" the woman smiled at the imagine breaker user.
"Oh, uh good morning Miss, I'm here for Awaki Musujime." the secretary looked confused then gave an all knowing look "I heard she is supposed to be fine by today."
"Well, Musujime-san already checked herself out, are you her boyfriend by chance?" the secretary smirked teasingly.
Touma blushed, about to say something, but another voice spoke up.
"Tch, W-we're not like that secretary-san!" Touma looked behind to see the girl in question behind him, though she now wore the uniform for the certain high school they were going to attend.
"Good morning Awaki-san," he greeted.
"Good morning to you as well, Touma-kun." Awaki reciprocated with a slight smile.
"It seems you are already good to go. I wasn't sure, but I guess I was expecting to wait a long time for you or something like that knowing my luck,"
Touma muttered the last part, confusing the move point user.
"So, what is your school anyhow? From what I've gathered in my research, it is nothing special." the red head asked the imagine breaker.
"Oh we are nothing special, really." Touma laughed "Our school is filled with level 0 and 1, so it is essentially a normal high school. We have ESPer lessons mixed in as well, they are mostly there for curriculum requirements though."
"Oh really? That's...cool." Awaki started to say then looked at Touma surprisingly "Wait normal? Level 0's and 1's? I suppose you are plain looking, so you fit the bill well as a normal high school student!"
"Ouch, even I have feelings, ya know." Touma pretended to have it look as if she wounded him "But, you are not wrong. I've been told a lot by this one friend of mine that I look like a default video game character…"
The two then laughed together at that, starting to walk into the streets to their destination.
"Oh, yeah, what school did you go to prior? I don't know what it is but you give me the feeling you are some high level or something like that." Touma questioned the girl in front of him, who then gave a mischievous smirk.
"Really? Wouldn't you like to know? Me, my school? Hm?!" Awaki comically asked the black haired boy "Well, if you must know, then I will tell you. I am one of the, if not the strongest, of the level 4's. I was also in my second year in Kirigaoka girl's academy prior to this transfer, though I am unsure how that will translate to your school."
Touma sweat dropped at her antics.
That's good that it's not an ESPer school, I'm just so sick of dealing with all these ESPer issues. Maybe now I'll be able to take a backseat for once. Awaki thought to herself with a sigh of relief. Then again, who wouldn't want to make use of having a friend that is level 4?
"A-anyways Touma-kun," the red head said nervously "What level are you? Not to mention, where is our certain destination?"
Touma knew it would happen eventually, but sighed as he resigned himself to yet another ESPer making fun of him for his low level. Preparing for the worst, he started.
"I am academy city's weakest level 0 ESPer," the spiky haired boy stated "the high school you are about to attend is actually just a normal high school with less oriented ESPer lessons than in other schools. I am actually in my first year currently."
The red head's reaction was the typical reaction he got, she laughed at him. Touma couldn't care less, he was used to it at this point. Besides, this beats how those people treated him before he came to academy city.
"So, my savior is a level 0? I can't say I am surprised, I thought something seemed oddly normal about you," Touma laughed at that part, he thought that of himself but also how ironic it comes out now that he hears someone else say it. "Though, I think that just makes you much more incredible. I've been know as a child prodigy when I entered this city, and even made it to where I am now. I've never seen or heard of many level 0's even willing to help someone like me. Either way, thank you again Touma-kun, I am unable to thank you enough for how you saved my life."
Touma just smiled happily, it has been a long time since he has had a nice conversation like this with another person. At most he has is being attacked by a certain level 5 electromaster, that's been about it really.
"Of course, I'll come save you anytime you are in trouble," Awaki's face reddened at this and stopped walking, the boy didn't notice and continued "Anyone is capable of doing it, I just so happened to be the to do it. After all, who needs a reason to save somebody?"
The move point user jumped onto Touma in a hug, drawing the attention of people nearby, not that she cared. Touma was flustered and unsure how to handle it, so he just stayed still like a docile animal. Not able to understand this person he has not even known for a day.
"I-it's not like I'm grateful or anything, Touma-kun!" then she got off to face him "You're wrong though, not many people are willing to stick up for another here. You are different than anybody I met before. You are a level 0, but you saved me. Sure, someone else could have did what you did. But did they? No, they didn't and yet you didn't even need a reason…"
The heartfelt speech was interrupted when the pair heard sparking behind them, one of which knew it too well.
"Idiot!" sparks of lightning flew faster at Touma quicker than the Move Point could detect in time. Was this how her hero would meet his end? Awaki tried to do something, anything, but couldn't do anything but watch the famed railgun shoot at Touma. What was even happening? Who was this?
Those thoughts were interrupted when the boy easily moved his hand to cancel out the attack. The sound of glass shattering reverberated through the streets.
"What the heck zapper? Why'd you attack me so early in the morning?" Awaki was still a little shocked from what just happened and was still gaining her barrens.
"How the heck can you do that everytime?" the electric girl asked angrily sparking up again "Anyways, why are you with that girl? Also stop calling me by that name! It's Mikoto Misaka!"
Touma was about to respond to Misaka but was interrupted by Awaki.
"How did you just do that Touma-kun?!" the Move Point user exclaimed "You weren't lying to me about being a level 0, were you?!"
Awaki smirked evilly as she asked this but then turned to Misaka before Touma could respond, getting cut off from responding once more.
"Also, why'd you attack him all of the sudden? You could've killed him!" the red head yelled at the electromaster, genuinely concerned about what had just come to happen.
Misaka then got more angry hearing him being defended by Awaki, with a face with realization.
"I thought you looked familiar, you were the same girl who hospitalized Kuroko!" Touma's eyes widened at this. He had actually been the one to call the hospital for the teleporter in the first place. Now that Touma thought about it, Awaki's words when they first met made a lot more sense.
"Y-yeah! So what! It doesn't matter, she was in the way and got what she deserved!" the red head yelled out with an odd expression, looking at Touma once and running away. Misaka looked smugly at this turning to Touma.
"You know that she was the one who was going to restart the experiments?" Misaka asked the black haired boy who nodded a 'no'. "I thought so. I can't really forgive her for what she almost did with full intent and knowledge."
Touma listened to her talk, he understood why she stood where she did. He knew there are some things he might never forgive, or maybe he might. But, thinking about it gave him his answer.
"I've only known her for less than a day and can't say she seems to be a bad person," Touma explained "I believe that people are able to change. I don't think I have any right to judge or disagree with your stance, I can understand that much. I'll believe in Awaki-san, that she can grow into a better person. She has even talked to me about it, though I have no right to talk about it, it kinda makes me envious."
Just out of visual sight was our Move Pointer listening in on the conversation, a small tear at the corner at her strained and angry eyes.
Damn it, I'm such a coward after all the things I've said yesterday, the red head thought to herself Not to mention Touma-kun is defending me even though I still don't deserve it. My actions of retrieving the tree diagram kept leading me down the dark path before I was saved by him...the light.
Awaki then revealed herself to the Imagine Breaker and the Railgun, one looking at her in surprise and the other smiling to her. Strengthening her resolve, Awaki steeled her own face and clenched her fists. This was her first step, her journey to redemption!
"Please forgive me for my past transgressions," Awaki bowed shocking the electromaster "I know myself better than anyone that just the word sorry isn't enough. But, I'm done being the lapdog for this city and the people beyond the shadows controlling everything. While I am unable to take back my past actions, I want to redeem myself but not only for me now."
Awaki said the last part looking at Touma who didn't quite notice, but Misaka did.
"Look, Misaka," Touma knew the nickname would only make her more angry "While it is not my right to forgive her in you stead, I believe that she is being honest. We barley managed to stop the experiments in general. However, just like you have your guilt for what you did, it is not as if Awaki-san here is without her own. If it helps you put you at ease, I will personally see to it that she doesn't stray off her path of redemption."
"Fine, I get it. I don't think I can forgive you, at least not yet." Misaka stated "However, if you truly wish to repent and be a better person then I suggest what you do is say apologize to my friend, Kuroko, who you hurt in the first place."
"I...understand," Awaki bowed to Misaka. "I will do my best not to disappoint you."
She muttered the last part, sighing to knowing what this might just lead her to. The weight of justice may be a lot heavier than she would think, it isn't as if she has seen the light before yesterday.
"Thank you, idiot," Misaka said to Touma "just be careful around her. She is a lot more dangerous than she looks like."
"No need to worry about me, the path to redemption is never an easy one after all."
No other words were needed to be said after that. The red head was still bowing as the electromaster walked away. At this point people stopped bothering to look, they knew this city had the everyday weirdos to make it so. Not to mention the fog was still faintly in the area, slowly dissipating as time passed.
Well, now I have more of my goals set in place. How long will it take until I can feel good about myself once again? Maybe once I have redeemed myself I will feel better… the red head thought to herself, soon brought out of her thoughts by the black haired boy.
"Well, that was unexpected," he said with a hand behind his head.
"It was, but she wasn't wrong at all," looking down Awaki stated "Let's go get some breakfast before we get to school, I'm paying as a way to make up for that!"
Before he could even respond, the red head started to pull Touma by his hand (Take note that she has not tried to teleport him and herself because of her trauma and at this point she is just calming down from what happened. Not like she could in the first place, her trauma and situational wise prevents it.). Awaki specifically led the boy to her favorite diner in the city, not particularly caring about arriving to school on time. Touma, the entire time, was just wondering how anyone could be this fast dragging someone across the city.
At last they arrived, it was a western style diner called Mikoto's diner. It was a hole in the wall kind of place, very simple looking to say the least.
"Pft..hffft...plaaa-" Touma choked out, having been dragged across nearly the entire city. You would've thought she was a certain rank 7 level 5 ESPer. The red head though, seemed about to pass out.
"We're...here...finally…" the Move Point user managed to get out.
The two walking in the diner and took a seat in a corner booth, noticing there were a few customers. Most were older, the duo being the only students.
"Good morning, what can I get for you young love birds?" a waitress walked up with a smirk, clearly teasing the red head.
"I-I-I…" Awaki stuttered out, then composed herself "Me and my, erm, f-friend here would like some more time to think."
Touma sweat dropped while the waitress laughed and said she'll be back when they are ready to order.
"I never took you for the type of person to come here," Touma joked "I like this place, it reminds me of home, I think."
"That is one of the reasons I've brought us here," the girl said knowingly "But that is besides the point. I have a question I need answered."
Touma wondered what it was that she was going to ask about, continuing to listen intently. The girl then took a noticeable breath before giving the boy a dead serious look.
"Who are you exactly? Don't tell me you are nobody important either!" the red head demanded, only to be interrupted by the waitress returning to get their orders.
After both of them ordering some breakfast eggs, toast, and bacon, Touma decided to answer her while they waited for the food.
"I think of myself as nobody important in particular. But, I'm sure you are wondering how I canceled out the railgun and was involved in the experiments, correct?" the red nodded her head dumbly with a chibi face and a child's curiosity "I don't exactly know what it is or why it does what it does, but my right hand only causes me misfortune. It cancels out any ESPer power, luck, or even gods miracles. If it was my guess, there is a lot more it can cancel out. As for the experiments, I somehow beat that monster Accelerator. Though, I only got ironically lucky in my victory."
When he said Accelerator, the girl seemed to suck her teeth in resentment as she remembered him beating her. Though, now she was glad he did so. It allowed her to meet Touma and in a way, walk a path different than she had been.
As for Touma, he remembered his run in with the rank 1. The fight was definitely tough, he knew that without the Misaka sister's indirect help that he would have likely died that day. Touma knew he saw Accelerator and some other person in the red head's hospital room, he just didn't know what it meant. Even at the time, he set aside those thoughts because of how futile those lines of thinking were in the first place of how they led to not a single conclusion.
The waitress then arrived at the table with the duo's food, both smiling at having their appetite satiated. The two ate in silence, listening to people occasionally come in and out of the diner.
"While I am very surprised by all this information, I am most confused by what you mean by misfortune as well as canceling ESP powers." Awaki asked taking a bite of her eggs and dipping the toast in the yokes.
"If you are with me long enough, you'll see quite the miraculously unfortunate occurrences happen around me often," Touma explained going to add salt to his eggs only for the cap to fall off and spill all over them ruining his eggs "Such misfortune….You can chalk them up to coincidences. But, it happens to me too often that I've accepted that as my ability. Due to the fact it negates all ESP power, I can only be put into the category for level 0's."
Touma then had a waitress profusely apologize for the salt ruining his food, saying they will get him new eggs., he continued to speak.
"What is your ability?" Touma asked the red head.
"It's called Move Point. I can essentially teleport any relative object where I want, in simple terms that is." Awaki said confidently with a smile, Touma suddenly grabbing her hands from across the table. "W-what are you doing?"
"Try using your ability right now,"
The red head found out she wasn't able to use her abilities, confused. Then reality hit her that it was the boy, just like he spoke and she has seen.
"It seems you were not lying. That is a pretty interesting ability…" the red head commented, only to be greeted to the Imagine Breaker user looking at the clock in a sweat.
"Oh shoot! We've gotta start heading to school or else we'll be late!" Awaki panicked, not wanting to be late to her first day at her new school.
After paying the bill, the two friends ran off in the distance to a certain high school. If one listened close enough, they could hear the words 'such misfortune' could be heard in the distance if only for a moment.