Sorry about the wait and thanks for the comments it took a while to finish up this chapter to get it just right so I hope you all enjoy and sorry if the story has a few grammar mistakes I'm still learning.

Age Before Beauty

August 6

It's been 5 days since Misaki's last outing with Touma and in that time she had made sure to use every resource possible to research this Kumokawa Seria, apparently, she had just started to work under one of the members of the board of directors in academy city, not an easy feat to accomplish. Along with that if her grades were anything to go by it showed that she was a genius and a perfect student, not a single blemish could be found anywhere in sight, if this information was given to anyone other than Misaki then they might have interpreted it as she was the ideal girl perfect perhaps. But not Misaki she could read in between the lines enough to see that this girl wasn't as perfect as she seemed on the outside she could tell that she was hiding a different type of agenda while her grades might be perfect, and she is currently one of the popular girls in her school she could see the cracks in her armor already.

While true currently she seemed to be a Onee-san type girl that wasn't always the case. In fact up until she entered middle school there were no reports of her making any friends if the report her elementary teacher made about her was anything to go by then it would have seemed that her genius-level intellect made it harder for her to connect with her classmates and as a result she would distance herself away from others who she deemed unworthy this also included the teacher, but after the teacher talked with her and gave her the 'importance of friendship speech' she seemed to get along better with her classmates and became a social butterfly.

Now normally you would say that the talk probably resonated with Kumokawa, and she learned her lesson but that's not what Misaki took away from this. To her, it seemed like she was simply tired of hearing that speech and realized that she would not stop hearing unless it looked like she had changed, but in reality, it was all just an act to hide the reality that she really didn't care about anything if it didn't interest her. That's why Misaki had a hard time understanding why someone like her would be interested in her Prince.

Was this genuine affection or did she just see this as another challenge for her to complete? Misaki knew that her Prince was a little dense but even so. As Misaki continued to ponder her motives she came to realize a few things about Kumokawa one she was highly intelligent and enjoyed strutting around her this in order to accomplish her goals. Second while on the outside she seemed perfect this was just a disguise she had constructed herself in order to further her own goals. And lastly given her connections with the board of directors it would seem that she had as big of an intelligence network as Miskai, so she would have to expect that she would see her coming a mile away. To combat this, she would have to be leagues ahead of her to order to win.

As Misaki laid in her room alone thinking about the plan she had formulating she kept having a nagging feeling in the back of her head.

(Even if I'm able to stop Kumokawa's plan, what's to say that Touma would want to be with someone like me?)

Up till this point, Misaki has stopped herself from looking too much into Touma's past in her mind she wanted to earn his trust not abuse it, and she had too much respect for him to go behind his back and research him. So she decided to keep his name out of her clique's investigation. One day she truly wished that Touma would allow her the honor in letting her help him bear his burdens as she knew that Touma would do the same thing without a second thought.

While she was lost in her own thought she heard a knocking on the door to her dorm room.

"My Queen"

"You may come in" Misaki replied

The door suddenly opened to show a slender girl with purple hair done in braids.

"My Queen, you called for me."

"Ah, yes Junko I just wanted to know the status of the mission I gave you earlier."

"Oh, everything is taken care of my Queen you have nothing to worry about."

"Splendid. Now that we have that out of the way I have something I would like to talk to you about".

"With me? Uhh! What's this about my Queen?"

"You know you shouldn't be hiding secrets from me Junko. It makes me upset"

"WHAT? I would never think of doing something of the sort" Junko replied in a panic while turning scarlet.

Just then Misaki pulled out a Gekota shape hairpin from under her bed.

"Uhhh I don't know-"

Before Junko could even finish her sentence Misaki the pulled out a semi-large box from under her bed and then spilled out the contents on the floor revealing dozens upon dozens of different Gekota themed merchandise.

At this point, Junko's face was ghastly pale as she realized that she's been caught. At the last meeting of the Misaki's clique, she asked the clique as a whole if any of them were fans of the Gekota franchise.

For a brief moment, Junko was about to raise her hand but then lowered it as another girl in the background said that nobody would ever disrespect the Queen's clique enough to still support something so childish as it would only make the Queen look childish by association. After this Junko started to hide all of her Gekota merchandise as she did not have the heart to throw them away since it was still a part of who she was. She vowed that she wouldn't let herself drag the Queen's good name in the ground and if she was ever discovered she would accept the consequences and leave the Queen's side as to not tarnish her name. Junko then fell to her knees with a look of regret and sorrow on her face and tears beginning to swell up.

"I'm... I'm so sorry I know that I should have thrown all of those things away since it would only bring shame unto our clique but, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I know that I deceived you and I know that I abused your trust but…."

Misaki then got on one knee and put her hand on Junko's shoulder and looked at her with warmth.

"You silly girl. You haven't betrayed my trust, I already knew that you were a fan".

"But if you already knew then why did you let me stay?" Junko said as she was gazing up at Misaki's face.

"What sort of Queen would I be if I did not support my friends. I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks of your fascination with Gekota all that matters to me is how you feel. The world could call us both childish but my mind would never change. A Queen will always stand up for her friends and their beliefs no matter how idiotic or childish they may be as long as you are safe and happy that is all that matters to me. Let me worry about what others will say as long as you can be yourself in front of others without having to worry I can be content." Misaki said while looking at Junko with eyes full of sincerity.

At that moment Misaki did not look like a Queen to Junko, she looked like a benevolent goddess.

"My Queen," Junko said while her eyes were starting to fill up with tears of joy.

"There, there," Misaki said while embracing her friend.

"The reason why I asked if anyone was a fan was that I had recently come into ownership of a Gekota themed item"

"Which one?" Junko said while wiping away the tears from her eyes.

Misaki then pulled out a gift box decorated in crimson wrapping paper and handed it to Junko.

"Here it's for you."

"For me?"

"Yes after I finished my da…. Meeting I happened to come across a vendor passing through and this caught my eye and made me think of you, so I purchased it".

"You bought this. Just for me?" Junko said while slightly blushing.

"Yes, now open it"

As Junko gently tore off the wrapping paper as to not damage the gift she had just received from her queen her eyes shot opened with Joy as she realized what her great Queen had just bought for her.

"It's… It's the rumored Gekota wand hair curler there were only ever 4 prototypes made because the intended demographic was deemed too old how'd you ever find something like this, my Queen?" Junko said while bursting with excitement.

"Like I said I happened to find it on my way back from my 'meeting'".

In reality, she had actually researched this product thoroughly enough to contact the manufacturer of Gekota merchandise. Using her 'Persuasion tactics' she managed to get them to make another one of the prototypes and have them deliver it to her after she was finished with her date with Touma. She wanted to find something age appropriate for Junko even though Misaki was alright with her being fan of Gekota she wanted to get her something that the others couldn't find a fault in and that was beauty products and if anyone wondered why she was obsessed with Gekota they could always just attribute it to the fact that it was the gift that Misaki had given Junko. In the end, she even had the member of the clique who insulted anyone who was a fan of Gekota, to gift wrap the Gekota wand hair curler personally and told her not to judge someone based on the pretext of what they enjoy doing in their free time or there would be consequences.

"So do you want me to help you use it?"

"What, really I mean you went through all this trouble just to get me this I couldn't ask you to"

"Nonsense I went to all the trouble in acquiring this for you the least you could do is let your Queen help her friend style her hair," Misaki said in an authoritarian tone.

"Okay," Junko said inattention

After a few minutes of using the hair curler, Junko's hair was finally finished. Her hair was now in the form of a ringlet curl.

"I always knew you would look better with curls" Misaki remarks

"It's perfect," Junko said while looking deeply at the mirror.

Junko went to the mirror to examine her new hairstyle. It was perfect not only was it the fact that it made her look better but also because her Queen did it herself she went through all this trouble just for her. Her Queen didn't just give her a new hairstyle but also a new way to face the world not having to hide the fact that she loved Gekota because she knew that her Queen supported her no matter what she was a fan of.

"I-I don't deserve this… this is just too much, why did you go through all this trouble just for me?"

"Isn't obvious?"

Junko did not know what she was referring to, so she tilted her head slightly

"It's because I wanted to see you truly smile. The reason why I made the clique was to gain influence and power but a certain someone showed me that by doing that I would only hurt the people in the process. I don't want you to have to force yourself to change, that would only make you grow to resent me I want you to be happy being you, not someone who you think I want you to be".

At this point, Junko started to cry tears of joy once more. She couldn't hold it in any longer her Queen who she already thought to be perfect has just made her feel as though she was also perfect being who she is. As this happened Misaki once again held her friend in her arms.

(Honestly, she really puts me through so much trouble) Misaki thought to herself.

"Now enough with the theatrics, I believe it is getting close to curfew and I don't want you to get in trouble with the Dorm Manager" Misaki stated.

At this point, Junko stood up straight and then bowed her head towards Misaki.

"My Queen…. Thank you I promise to serve you with even more devotion than I ever even thought possible" Junko cried out with tears still in her eyes.

Misaki then let out a small smile. As Junko began to leave her room.

"Honestly I believe my prince has started to rub off on me… Then again is that such a bad thing."

August 7

A Certain Highschool

The day has finally come for Misaki, and she was determined to win she had planned everything out to the perfect detail and if the need arose she was even ready to improvise though even with all her preparation she still felt nervous for she was about to face off against someone who was exactly like her. As she walked towards the exit of Tokiwadai she made sure to take out her phone and send a group message.

'Is everything ready'.

'Yes my Queen'

This was all Misaki needed to begin her journey to a Certain High School.

When Misaki finally reached the High School and looked around she was a little shocked. The school looked very ordinary even though the pictures she received through her information also said this seeing it with one's own eyes was a different story. She expected her rivals school to be even a little more unique but this looked like any other ordinary high school but even still she would not lower her guard until the battle was over.

As she waited in the courtyard she was greeted by a familiar face it was her prince. Though he looked as though he had just been mugged as his entire ensemble was completely filthy.

"Oh, hey Misaki how's it going?" Touma asked as he waved to Misaki.

"It's going quite well actually, but what happened to you are you alright?" Misaki asked with a concerned look on her face.

"Oh this, Nothing it just so happened that on my way here I helped a little kid get their toy back from a bunch of bullies, and after that I was stopped by the other members of the Delta force, and they asked where I was going, after I explained it to them they both got really mad for some reason and started fighting me it was only thanks to this other classmate of mine Fukiyose that I managed to get out of there. I still don't know why they got upset though?" Touma stated as though this was a common occurrence.

(Mental note, find out who these other members of the Delta Force are and deal with them.)

"Well, I'm glad you're okay, are we still waiting for Kumokawa she isn't late is she that would be so rude of her don't you think.'

"Oh she isn't late I just came here earlier because I knew something like this was bound to happen and I didn't want to be late. Sorry for giving you the wrong time."

The truth of the matter is that Misaki already knew this about her prince since her last date with him. He already stated doing something like this was a common occurrence for him when he wanted to show up on time, and she knew that he was also quite forgetful and would most likely give her the time that he planned to be there not the actual time of the event in question. She planned for this to happen, so she could spend a few minutes alone with her prince.

"It's quite alright really, I know you didn't mean to deceive me on purpose."

"So what do you want to do in the meantime while we wait for Kumokawa-san"

"Well, I guess we could talk until Kumokawa gets here," Misaki said while feigning ignorance.

"Okay, so what did you want to talk about?" Touma asked

"Well let's discuss when you met Kumokawa" Misaki suggested.

"Oh okay. Well, I guess we first met around the time when I first arrived at Academy city. I was just getting used to life here when I met her in the playground. I don't exactly remember the conversation we had, but I remember that after we did she started to get popular and I guess we just drifted apart for some reason I can't exactly blame her though, I mean she was a genius and popular, and I'm just me."

"Nonsense, she would have been lucky to be by your side, and you shouldn't keep putting yourself down like that I don't like it." Misaki rebutted.

"Well, I mean…."

As Touma was about to finish his sentence he looked over at Misaki and saw she was staring daggers at him, so he decided not to continue with his sentence.

"Sorry"

"There is no need to apologize, I just hate it when you keep belittling yourself like that"

"Why though?" Touma asked.

"It's because I …"

But before Misaki could finish her sentence she heard a female voice call out to her.

"Why hello there little girl, what are you doing here?" Kumokawa asked with a tone of false sincerity.

This did not go unnoticed by Misaki as she quickly turned around and started to size up Kumokawa she was wearing a school-issued sailor uniform that wasn't uncommon with this she was wearing a long blouse however this did not cover up her naval region. The outfit completely accentuated her figure with just enough showing so it can be considered modest but with enough showing to get the imagination riled up. As continued her observation she could see a smirk on Kumokawa's face.

"Oh this is the friend that I was talking about Kumokawa-senpai" Touma replied while gesturing towards Misaki.

Misaki then noticed that Kumokawa let out a fake look of shock, she already knew who she was and was just pretending not to in order to keep up appearances.

"Kamijou I know you said you were going to bring a friend along but I didn't expect you to bring a child with you," Kumokawa said with fake concern in her voice.

"She's not a…" Touma began to say.

"I can't in good conscience allow this young girl to stay she might hurt herself trying to lift some of the more heavy objects and while we're on this topic, did you rope this young girl into helping you" Kumokawa started with disapproval.

"It's not… I didn't" Touma began to mutter out as he was not ready for this line of questioning.

"My name is Shokuhou Misaki and I can assure you that Touma did not rope me into anything he is far too noble to ever force someone else to help solve his problems. I was the reason as to why Touma lost the deserts that he made for you and as such, it is my responsibility as a young woman to take responsibility for my actions and see that they are fixed" Misaki said with a tone of authority in her voice.

"My, My well isn't that adorable, but you needn't feel responsible for anything I would have to be cold-hearted to hold such a pretty little girl like yourself responsible and besides you're still just a child I couldn't expect you to have to strain yourself by doing something so taxing as cleaning up the school" Kumokawa said while sounding sincere but with an undertone of superiority.

"It is like you said before since I'm still learning would it not be detrimental to my development if I were to go unpunished for an incident in where I was responsible. Besides, you need not worry about me straining myself I am well aware of my limits and I wouldn't do something that I didn't see myself feasibly accomplishing instead I will help out where I can." Misaki replied.

"Well if you're sure?"

"I am" Misaki calmly replied.

"Well then let's get started shall we."

The two then looked at each other and even without Misaki's ability she could read her loud and clear.

'It's on.'

As the two began walking towards the building they realized that they were missing a certain spiky-haired individual.

Touma was still standing where he was originally when he tried to answer Kumokawa's question. Even though he didn't know what was going on his sixth sense told him danger was looming around the corner.

"Kamijou-san aren't you coming?"

"Yeah Touma"

"R-Right. I'll be right here."

(I don't know why, but I've got a bad feeling about this. Rotten luck.) Touma thought to himself.

When they entered the school Kumokawa explained to them that they were going to be in charge of cleaning the student council room it was a room that was the size of 2 classrooms and just recently the members of the student council had a party and was to put lightly 'quiet lively'.

"Honestly to think that the members of the student council would be so brazen to throw a party and in their own office of all places," Misaki said in a disapproving tone.

Misaki knew that Kumokawa was a part of the student council from her research and wanted to get in a few jabs at her.

"I know what you mean, I wanted to stop them from having the party but sadly I was outvoted. So I chose not to attend, but even so, I offered to clean up after them since I don't want to get them in trouble, to be honest, I was planning on doing this by myself until Kamijou-san offered up his help."

"Really. That's so kind of you, even after going against the whole party, to begin with, you're still offering up your help." Touma stated.

"Of course there my friends, after all, faults and all" Kumokawa said with a smile.

(Damn she's good!) Misaki thought.

"Well prepare yourselves. This is the aftermath of a high school party after all. In fact, Shokuhou you might want to look away just in case you see something your not supposed to" Kumokawa said in a slightly mocking tone. While her hand was on the handle of the student council office.

When Kumokawa did open the door they were all shocked. The entire room was spotless not a blemish in sight.

"I don't understand I thought we were supposed to clean this room, but it seems pretty clean to me," Touma said while inspecting the room.

"I don't understand. When Mikami called me she said that the entire room was in shambles" Kumokawa said.

"I guess your friend must have exaggerated the extent of their party"

In reality, this was all a part of Misaki's master plan she had hired some people the prior night to sneak into the school and clean up the entire student council room before anyone had arrived.

"I guess you might be right Mikami was always a little overboard when she gives out her reports" Kumokawa replied.

"Well if that is everything then I guess me and Touma should make ourselves scarce wouldn't you agree," Misaki said while looking a Kumokawa as though as she was ahead of her in this battle of theirs.

"Nonsense I still want to thank you all for volunteering to help out," Kumokawa said while looking at Misaki with a devious smile on her face.

"You don't have to do that, we didn't actually do any cleaning and-" Touma began to say

"True, but you guys didn't know that you came here expecting to find a giant mess and were prepared to help me clean it and for that, I believe you two deserve a reward. As they say, it's the thought that counts, isn't that right Kamijou-san?" Kumokawa said.

"Well, what did you have in mind?" Touma asked.

"Well since we have the school all to ourselves I suppose we can make our way to the home economics room and you can show me how much you have improved in the kitchen"

"Okay. I guess that seems like fun" Touma said as the three left the student council room making there way to the home economics room.

"Are you sure we're allowed to do this" Misaki said questioning Kumokawa plan

"Of course we are you needn't worry about a thing, all student are allowed to use the Home economics room in the school if they clean up after themselves afterward and if there's any problem I'll just have to pull rank," Kumokawa said while smiling at the two of them.

When the three finally arrived at the home economics room they were met with an unusual sight the entire room was empty save for the chairs and the heavy duty cooking stations.

"What happened here?" Touma said as he began to scan the entire room looking for any remnants of ingredients that may have been left behind.

"Oh that's right, this week was the week that the school staff did inventory, so I assume that they took all the ingredients to do a headcount in the school cafeteria kitchen, you probably didn't know this since they would usually do this on days that students weren't here, as to not interfere with the home economics class. Though I do believe they are already done doing stock so it should be alright for you to go to the cafeteria's kitchen and get whatever ingredients you need to make your dish." Kumokawa said while tossing her keys to Touma

"Wait, just me?" Touma asked.

"Yes, I wouldn't know what to look for if I went there and besides it'll be faster if you went there by yourself anyways. Take the cart over there to carry the ingredients you'll be using".

"I mean, are you sure you want me to go alone, with your master key?"

"Of course, I trust you"

"I agree, you're far too noble to do anything uncouth" Misaki added

Touma simply nodded and took the cart and headed towards the school's cafeteria not knowing of the danger that was going to come about with him leaving.

As the two girls waited for Touma to be out of earshot to begin their real discussion Kumokawa was the first to speak up.

"Well, I say we have about 20 minutes until Mr. Kamijou is able to come back here with the ingredients."

"Cut the theatrics we both know what's really going on here" Miskai stated

"Really do we now Shokuhou Misaki AKA Mental our fifth-ranked level 5."

"So my reputation precedes me"

"I have to be honest, I was quite surprised that Kamijou was able to grab the attention of someone like yourself, but this will end the same way as it always does."

"And that is?"

"With my victory of course little girl," Kumokawa said with a grin on her face.

"Oh, really now and how do you suppose that is?"

"Because you were not first and you will certainly not be the last person to fall under that boy's charm"

"While that might be true, I can assure you that you have never met someone like me."

"Let me guess, Kamijou saved you while you were in trouble and now you fooled yourself to think that the two of you were meant to be"

"I am already well aware of my prince's habit of saving those in distress and it's one of the many noble qualities that attracted me to him in the first place"

"HaHa, Prince! That's almost as funny as when I heard that those fools at Tokiwadai actually call you Queen" Kumokawa said in a mocking tone.

"Don't you dare insult my clique you…. Old Hag" Misaki rebutted.

"Ohh, so we've resorted to name-calling now. To be honest I was wondering when you'd show your true colors I mean you were the one who hired that cleaning crew to clean up the student council room"

"I'll admit that was my doing as I had no intention of sullying my hands with the filth of what your student council called entertainment but while we're on the topic of honesty, you were the one who orchestrated the party to being with weren't you?"

"Ha! I have to admit I had no idea that it would go that well, a few carefully placed suggestions here and there and the fools actually believed that it was their idea, and there I was the lone council member who was against the whole idea, who benevolently offered to clean up after those idiots and I come out looking like the hero, so what gave it away?"

"Your timeline. You told Touma that you needed his help to clean up the student council room 5 days ago, however that would make no logical sense, if you needed help to clean up after a party that hasn't happened yet that would make sense, however what that does not account for is your certainty that the party in question wouldn't be discovered by anyone including the staff and other students. While I admit there is a small possibility that the other members of the student council would keep quiet about there party that doesn't seem to be the case as when I conducted my own research into the matter none of the other members of the student council ever even knew about a party it was almost as if it was planned at the very last minute by someone who wanted a wild party. And from the description, I received from the cleanup crew some items in question from the party could not have been acquired without at least a week's notice around here the same time my prince so graciously offered his assistance to you. But in all honesty, did you really think bringing a mechanical bull was necessary?"

"Ha, but of course I wanted to see those idiots make complete fools of themselves that's why I placed cameras in the room. It's always a good idea to have dirt on somebody especially when it comes to those who just so happen to break a major school rule punishable by immediate expulsion. I'll have those fools eating out of the palms of my hand, but I don't think something as drastic as that has to happen since I'm still in all of their good graces but if the need ever arises I'll use it."

"So you deceived those who you called friends under the pretext of doing them a favor just to blackmail them, you really are nothing but a hag."

"Oh let's be honest those idiots were never my friends, they were a means to an end nothing more nothing less they ceased being of any use to me when they fulfilled their purpose. I would hardly lose any sleep for the likes of them. You have your little minions to don't you, so you understand how expendable they are, they're just pawns for people like us to use to in order to achieve our goals" Kumokawa said in a serious tone of voice.

"That's where you're wrong, the members of my clique aren't just some expendable pawns their own person with their own wants and desires and its through those things that make them unique and worthy of me calling them my friends."

"Ha that's a riot, I think I got you pegged wrong Mental out, you're not just a child you're an ideological fool and it's because of that that you'll never be able to do what it takes to keep Kamijou."

A moment of silence passed before any of them said another word it wasn't until Misaki spoke up that the silence ended.

"So you decide to clear out your school's home economics room just to get the chance to speak to me I don't whether to be flattered or mildly impressed?" Misaki stated.

"I would just go with flattered I mean it wasn't all that hard, to begin with, to tell the staff to clean out all the ingredients here, to begin with, but enough with the small talk, its like I said I know everything that there is to know about you your little Esper ability and even what happened in that little research facility."

This immediately caught Misaki off guard, and she had to force herself not to show any sign of being surprised.

"I have no idea what you're talking about now" Misaki answered

"Oh don't play coy with now Misaki, I know everything that happened there including Prototype, AKA Dolly".

At hearing this name Misaki immediately snapped. It is At this moment that she grabbed the remote from her bag and pointed it directly at Kumokawa's head.

"You should choose your next words very carefully hag for they might be your last," Misaki said coldly as she looked Kumokawa dead in the eyes.

"What are you getting so worked up about? She was only just a clone."

When Kumokawa finished her sentence Misaki immediately pressed a button on her remote to erase all of Kumokawa's memories, but after a second nothing happened.

"W-What, that doesn't make any sense?" Misaki began to mumble out.

At this remark, Kumokawa pulls back her hair to reveal a Bluetooth device in her ear.

"Like I said I already know everything about you including the most efficient way to neutralize your powers. This is called an electron shield headset it was developed with the help of another one of your level 5 friends, it's supposed to mimic her ability to be able to naturally overcome your mental out ability. However, the project was sadly scrapped as more fruitful endeavors surrounding her began to take its place." Kumokawa said while pointing at the device at her head.

"And in the unlikely circumstance that it is you actually being able to force me to take it off I have already prepared a burn book to be released about you and that entire facility that you took over" Kumokawa replied coldly.

"How do you even know about that facility!?"

"Like I said I make it my business to know everything. That's how I'm able to overcome fools like yourself and why I will be the one who will win in taking Kamijou. I mean why do you think I suggested to him to take home economics, I know that he'll make a great house husband one day." Kumokawa said looking at Misaki with superiority.

Misaki was taken aback by this, Kumokawa knew everything about her, she even knew about Dolly something of which she never spoke about even with Touma. As she began to sink into another deep depression a single thought popped into her head.

'Not again'

Misaki remembered the time in which she spent with Dolly and how she was so full of light even though she was held in what some might call a prison cell. She remembered how those researchers used her and eventually even killed her in the name of collecting data and eventually how she lost her light. She couldn't help but see Touma in this way, he saved her from her own pits of despair and showed her the way to redemption, and she could see Kumokawa using his light and twisting it up for her own personal gain.

(Not again, Never again if I cannot beat her with my powers or my research then I have to try something else out something that the neither of us even though was possible. I'll have to beat her into submission with my words)

"Say Kumokawa-san since you know everything about me already aren't you the least bit curious in knowing what I know about you?" Misaki asked with a look of determination painted on her face.

"They say bargaining is the third stage of loss, so I can't say I'm all that surprised to hear this, what did you have in mind?" Kumokawa said in a mocking tone.

"If I can tell you something that even you don't know about yourself will, I win if I cannot then you win and I'll distance myself away from my Prince." Misaki declared.

"Bold. But again I can't say that I'm too surprised since all your other options were just wasted. But what could you possibly know about me that I don't already know about myself?"

"Does this mean we are in agreement?" Misaki asked.

"Of course another chance to show you how big of a fool you are is something that I can't possibly turn down," Kumokawa stated.

"Good, the thing that I know about you is that your still a child."

This surprised Kumokawa not because of what she said but because of everything leading up to that moment she wasn't expecting to hear something like that so in response she started laughing.

"Oh, I knew you were getting desperate but this is just sad," Kumokawa said while laughing in between words.

Misaki, however, did not look downtrodden as she still had that look of determination on her face.

"If I could please continue I can show you why."

"Oh, by all means, go ahead. My Queen." Kumokawa said while trying to hold back her laughter.

"When I look back on things I realized something me and you were basically the same person we were both smart, we both used people and threw them as if they were nothing more than toys."

"Oh, flattery will get you nowhere Shokuhou." Kumokawa started to say.

"Were the same. Not anymore. When Touma first met me I was in one of the lowest points in my life and I couldn't see any way out, it was if the world itself was pure darkness and I was stumbling my way around to try to find a way out but gave up. That is when I met him, he was unlike anyone I have ever met he didn't care who I was he just spoke his mind in order to help me. He had a light to him in which I thought was forever extinguished in this world. When I look back on it now he was truly a fool not knowing anything about manners but, that was always a part of his charm. Then when we finally got to talking he showed me the way back towards the light. He showed me that my clique was just like a mob and that I was hurting those near me by ignoring their problems in order to focus upon myself and because of his candidness I was finally able to see the members of my clique for who they are, not pawns for me to use but my friends. And because of that, I was able to help them and... I truly felt happy. My Prince showed me the way back into the light that I lost after my friend's death."

Misaki then pointed at Kumokawa "You however never moved towards his light you only gawked at it. I know my Prince well enough to know that he tried showing the way to better your self he probably said something along the lines of 'you have to be yourself even if some people don't like you you'll eventually find someone who is going to like you just the way you are and then you'll finally have a real friend' but in the end you never took his advice you only used it as a basis for the mask that you created for yourself in order to blend into society. While you stood there looking at my Prince's light, I actually moved forward and grew up in the hopes that I too can stand with him in that light. You on the other hand never grew up and still even now are still the same elementary school genius who thought everybody around her was an idiot. That's the reason why I won't lose, I will never allow you to try to take his light away from him." Misaki said while remembering everything that had happened since she first met her Prince.

Kumokawa just stood there in silence because for the second moment in her life she didn't know what to say. Kumokawa then started to walk towards the door and opened it. For a brief moment, Misaki thought that she failed not only herself but her Prince.

"You win" Kumokawa stated

This caught Misaki off guard as her eyes widened, and she looked at Kumokawa.

"Not the war you brat, but this battle, I have no rebuttal to what you have just said and I don't want to lower myself in order to take cheap shots at you. Tell Kamijou that I had other important business to take care of or something" Kumokawa stated.

As Kumokawa walked out of the school building she looked up in the air and remembered something that happened years ago to her.

Years Ago

It was her final year in elementary school, and she was in the corner reading high school level physics books when she was approached by a small spiky black haired child.

"What do you want? Are you here under the guise of trying to be my friend, I am already well aware of teachers intentions of trying to get me to communicate with the rest of you and I will tell you exactly what I told her I don't need any friends" Kumokawa stated annoyed at the situation.

"Wow that's a mouthful, you really are smart."

"Of course I am you, idiot! Why else do you think that she would go to all this trouble for me."Kumokawa spat out.

"Well, I didn't come here because of what your teacher said because we're not in the same grade you know?" The young Kamijou said will move his finger to him and her.

This oversight made Kumokawa blush since she was rarely ever wrong about things.

"S-Shut up! If you're not here because of what my teacher said, then for what possible reason do you have in coming to talk to me?" Kumokawa spat out.

"I came over because it looked like you were sad. And from what you were saying earlier it seems to be because you don't have anyone to talk to."

"Shut up you idiot, you know nothing. Everyone around me is an absolute moron and even my teacher is among them how could I ever find a peer among this flock of fools."

"Well I guess you can try opening up to people, you have to be yourself even if some people don't like you, you'll eventually find someone who is going to like you just the way you are and then you'll finally have a real friend," Kamijou said in a matter of fact tone.

This left Kumokawa speechless. She never opened up to anyone before because she knew that if people saw the real her that they wouldn't want to be her friend and it is because of this reason that she ejected herself from the others and focused on studying. She didn't need anyone else she just needed herself no one else was worthy of being in her presence no one!

"What do you know!"

"I don't know that much actually I'm not really that smart but, what I do know is that no one should be alone."

This single sentence made Kumokawa stop. He was right talking with this boy was the longest conversation she had ever had while in elementary school and in talking with him she completely forgot about everything else.

"Say, boy, what's your name?" Kumokawa asked.

"My names Kamijou Touma it's nice to meet you. What's your name?"

"My name... it's Kumokawa Seria."

Present day

After this encounter Kumokawa would use what Kamijou said in order to not be alone anymore. She would have to tweak his plan up a bit though she would show the world what they wanted to see a perfect girl who had many friends and after that no one else bothered her. But inside she always felt a heavyweight inside of herself. It was if she was being weighed down. Kumokawa never understood why until now after what Shokuhou had said to her.

"That damned brat actually got me good" Kumokawa mumbled to herself as she continued her way out of the school grounds.

Back in the school, Touma had finally arrived with the necessary ingredients in order to make cupcakes, but when he arrived he only saw Misaki.

"Hey, Misaki what happened to Kumokawa-san?" Touma asked.

"She got a call and said she had to go finish some work at her job" Misaki answered.

"Really, it seems like she never gets a break, you know what I mean"

"I wouldn't worry about her she seemed to really enjoy the thought of us enjoying your desserts," Misaki said.

"Why don't I help you with the baking?" Misaki asked.

"Nah you don't have-" Touma began to say but was cut off

"I insist," Misaki said while beginning to put on an apron but was unable to tie the knot in the back.

"Here let me help you with that" Touma said as he went behind Misaki in order to tie the knot for the apron.

This immediately made Misaki turn red, but Touma couldn't see since he was behind her.

"Thank you now let's get started," Misaki said while looking directly into her Prince's eyes.

"Okay"

What preceded was a disaster, Misaki did not have any culinary skills whatsoever and accidentally broke an egg on the floor which made Touma slip and fall unto Misaki causing the both of them to have the same thought.

'Rotten Luck'.

However, after a few hours, they were finally able to make 24 cupcakes all that was left to do was to decorate it. And when they were deciding on what to make the design Touma pulled something else out of the cart it was a star-shaped piping tip.

"Here I saw this and thought that you might like to design your cupcakes with this" Touma said

"You got this for me… wait why did you decide on making cupcakes, to begin with?" Misaki asked.

"That's easy that way you could share it with your friends, I don't know exactly how many people are in your clique, but I thought 2 dozen cupcakes should be more than enough" Touma answered.

"HAHAHA AH" Misaki started to laugh at the lowball number that her prince gave to her.

"What so funny?"

"Nothing it's sweet of you to be thinking of me even at a time like this," Misaki said while lightly blushing.

"But you might want to multiply that number, so it even has a chance to coming close to the number of people in my clique" Misaki mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

As the day came to a close the two cleaned up the mess they made in the home economics room and Touma packed up the cupcakes for Misaki to take home. However, once again Touma underestimated Misaki's athletic abilities as she was unable to hold the large carrying case by herself and needed to put it down after 12 or more steps at a time so Touma decided to carry the cupcakes for her.

"Sorry about making you carry the cupcakes," Misaki said in an apologetic tone.

"Don't worry about besides at least now I know you're taking my advice to heart" Touma replied.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean before you wouldn't have been able to make it 2 steps while carrying these things without having to catch your breath"

Misaki then proceeds to glare at Touma for making such a comment but stopped after a little while.

"I mean I have tried to get better since then" Misaki began to say.

"I know"

"Hey, Touma, since I'm your friend, do you mind if I could hang out with you every once in the while?" Misaki asked.

"I don't see why not, besides its fun hanging out with your like a good luck charm"

"Really that's so-" Misaki began to say before being interrupted

"That sucks up all my misfortune," Touma said while slightly chuckling

However, this did not last very long as what preceded was a flurry of weak attacks by Misaki. This didn't seem to bother Touma too much since he was already used to taking hits from people way stronger than Misaki. But he couldn't help but worry that Misaki might hurt herself if she continued.

"Alright, Alright I yield I'm sorry that I said that," Touma said while having a slight grin on his face.

The rest of the walk proceeds without any other incidents.

"Thanks for the help today Misaki, I know we really didn't do much but it's the thought that counts right"

"No problem"

"Say, are you sure you'll be alright with carrying all those cupcakes all the way back by yourself?" Touma questioned since he knew Misaki wasn't athletically gifted.

"It's sweet of you to worry but it's quite alright I already sent a message to one of my friends, so she could help me carry all of these things back to my dorm," Misaki replied with a smile on her face.

"That's good to hear. I'll see you around Misaki" Touma said while waving her off.

"Wait, Touma before you go can I get a picture with you?" Misaki asked while blushing.

"Why do you want a picture?"

"Isn't it obvious, its, so I can remember today since this is something that I don't want to forget" Misaki said while still blushing.

"Okay then"

The two then got ready as they each held a cupcake Touma's cupcake was with white icing and no design while the cupcake Misaki was holding was pink and full of star-like designs. Touma took the picture and then sent it to Misaki's phone.

"Okay now I'll see you around"

"Wait"

"What?"

"Do you mind if we hang out tomorrow?" Misaki asked embarrassed at the fact that it's been the third time she stopped Touma in a row.

"Why do you want to hang out with me so much?"

"That's easy it's because I always have fun when I'm with you and besides you should be honored I can think about at least 2 dozen girls who would kill at the chance to spend the day with me"

"Well I don't exactly have anything important tomorrow, so I guess that we'll just be wandering aimlessly throughout the city are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." Misaki immediately responded.

"Well okay then, want to meet up at the park?"

"Sounds like a plan" Misaki chirped.

"Well, I guess now…. I'll see you tomorrow?".

"Don't forget about me, you hear me?" Misaki said while looking at Touma.

"Don't worry I don't think I could forget about you even if I tried," Touma said while waving Misaki goodbye.

When Touma was finally out of her line of sight and lost in the crowd Junko appeared.

"I'm here my Queen I got the message," Junko stated while holding her phone in her hand that had a Gekota themed cover to it.

"Glad to see you're finally showing the real you Junko"

"It's all thanks to you my Queen, here let me hold that for you," Junko said while picking up the carrying case as though it weighed like nothing.

"Thank you."

"If you don't mind me asking my Queen how did your meeting go?" Junko asked.

"There were a few hiccups here and there, but in the end, I feel as though I won, but that is no reason for me to sit back and rest on my laurels I have to continue to push on ahead no matter what, so I can finally achieve my goal" Misaki stated.

"And what's that, my Queen?"

"To finally be able to protect that light" Misaki answered.

The two walked back and Misaki pulled out one of the cupcakes from the box and handed it to Junko it was a Gekota themed cupcake with stars in its eyes.

"Here you go"

At this point, Junko's eyes started to tear up again.

"You shouldn't have my Queen" Junko started to say.

"Oh enough with the crying already, I thought we went over this already?"

The two then made their way back to the dorms and Misaki told Junko to give out the cupcakes to the first girls that were a part of her clique except for one which Misaki had in her hands. She then made her way back to her room and laid on her bed to examine the cupcake it was the only cupcake that her Prince decorated himself without asking for Misaki's input while the rest of the cupcakes were beautifully decorated this was the only one that had no sprinkles no design whatsoever it was just a plain white frosted cupcake and from the outset looked incredibly ordinary in comparison from all the others. This perfectly represented who her prince was as a person. That is why she was not surprised when she took a bite of it and thought it tasted better than all the others.

"Don't worry my Prince one day I'll be able to stand by your side in the light, so don't forget about me"