A/N: Hey everyone! It's been awhile since I've last updated and- wait, what? The hell is this? What's Motion Picture Meltdown?
Mnnnn. Whatever. Anyway, a new arc begins next chapter. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. I'll try to give it an ending that actually makes sense. Please look forward to it and thanks for reading this far.
Epilogue:
In the darkened club room…
Credits rolled on a projector screen. A familiar voice could be heard making a disclaimer.
[ "Essentially, this story is a work of fiction. All character names, organizations, incidents and any other names, phenomena and such, are fictional as well. It's all made up. Even if it resembles someone, it's probably just a coincidence.
"Huh? I gotta say it again?
"This story is a work of fiction. All character names, organizations, incidents and any... Hey now… Why do I have to say all this stuff anyway? I mean, it's essentially obvious, right?" ]
The movie finally reached its end.
With the final product complete, Sogiita Gunha stood up from his seat and clapped.
"It's beautiful."
The lights turned on.
The seven Level 5s of Academy City were all gathered around a long table, all mentally exhausted.
"Are we done here?"
The Number 3 spoke coarsely.
"We're done, right? I say we're done."
Everyone was in agreement. And without another word, everyone proceeded to disperse.
Circumstances Awaiting
The clubroom was a mess.
Trash littered the floor in a way that resembled the aftermath of a homecoming party. However, what occurred was more akin to an industrial "crunch". It was no surprise that those involved were weary and fatigued. But even after everything was over… work still remained.
After all, there was an experiment to do.
The white-haired boy felt the warm glow of evening beat on his neck. He continued to stay when everyone else had enough of being in the same room with each other.
"…"
Scratching notes on a clipboard, he bore an expression of discontent. Meaningless extracurricular activities had taken up too much of his time, so he would need to burn through the night to catch up.
…
A presence approached. And for a moment, the scratching subsided.
"Good job."
Canned coffee held by a mechanical hand. The faux arm had extended a gift.
"…"
"Spectacular. Outstanding. Remarkable. Extraordinary."
The boy felt like he was being made fun of.
"The door's over there. Feel free to exit."
Despite his tone, he took the offering.
…
"Do you enjoy being the bad guy?"
…
The room darkened. Perhaps the open skies were starting to blemish.
A conscious decision was made to not make eye contact. If eyes were windows to the soul, then the boy had no interest in seeing whatever twisted thing lied behind this girl's remaining iris. If there was anything still left, anyway. He continued to fill in his reports with one hand. And with the other, he opened the offered canned coffee.
Answering listlessly…
"I don't. But it's a role I'm used to."
"…"
The boy could feel her stare bearing down on him.
"Guys like you are irritating."
No doubt, these were unfiltered thoughts.
"In fact, I kinda wanna punch you in the face right now."
He restrained himself from gritting his teeth.
"But…
"For some reason, Fremea-chan has a soft spot for your type. And since you've worked so hard for her sake, I'll say this much. She appreciates it."
…
A soft breath.
"If you want someone to express gratitude toward, there's a shitty brat I know who loves being praised. So you know, if those two weren't on good terms, things would've ended differently."
"Is that so."
The girl took a step away.
"Send her my regards as well."
"…"
…
Bringing up Last Order may have been a mistake.
And it may have gotten under her skin.
…
When comparing the Number 1 and Number 4…
It was unfair to call their situations similar.
While they each had a child under their care, the relationships were different.
And they were different in that…
Between the Number 4 and Fremea Seivelun...
There existed a bomb.
It was something she refused to forget.
The Number 4 had taken something important away from that small girl. And there would be a time when this child would come to understand what that fully meant.
The day Fremea Seivelun understood, that would be the day the distance between their hearts would grow.
As it were, the Number 4 was biding her time until then. Watching over her, making sweets, and playing games, these were events that would dissolve. These were efforts made in vain, but efforts that had a certain value to them.
Just who knows how many times they would watch this movie.
Together. And alone.
…
"…"
The boy could somewhat surmise the motivations behind the curtain. But, in the end… he only knew what he could see on the surface.
It bothered him.
He had to ask her.
The boy glanced up to see the back of the girl's long tea-colored hair. As she departed, he stopped her with a question.
"Tell me. Why did you agree to this experiment?"
…
She briefly paused. But when she answered, there was no hesitation in her voice.
"None of your business, creep."
A characteristic answer.
And an answer accompanied by a wicked smile, he imagined.
He expected no less.
…
Right before taking off, the girl notified him of a guest outside.
"Seems like you have a visitor. Lucky you."
Out of Focus III
An event outside of club activities…
A certain electrifying esper was walking back to the club room. On her way, she encountered a girl with long tea-colored hair.
"…"
Even though not a word was exchanged as they passed by each other, the esper felt unnerved.
W-What was that? Is she in a good mood or something? Scary!
Quickly shaking her head, the girl vigilantly proceeded on.
…
And arriving at the club room door…
A familiar scenario presented itself.
The voice of a certain necromancer.
[ "T-Teacher… I know this is sudden… But there's something I've been meaning to tell you…" ]
…
Wait a second…
This situation is…
[ "Lately now… I can't stop thinking of you… I've… I've never felt this way before in my entire life…" ]
Oi…
Oi, oi, oi!
What the hell is this?-!
[ "My chest tightens whenever I look at you… And when I hear your voice, I can feel my heart start to beat…" ]
Did the genre change while I wasn't looking?-!
Since when did this gag-like comedy turn into a romcom?-!
[ "I've been struggling on how to put these feelings into words… But now, I think I can do it." ]
No way! No way! No way!
Please think about this more! You're obviously making a mistake, right?-!
[ "Teacher. I… I'm…"]
IS THIS IT…?-! IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING…?-!
[ "I'm your biggest fan! Would you please give me an autograph!" ]
THERE IT IS! I CAN FEEL THE WAVE OF DISAPPOINTMENT!
[ "Ah! I actually said it! How embarrassing!" ]
[ "If that's all you want, then here." ]
[ "Yay~!" ]
Why aren't you flustered?-! The way she worded that was way too odd, don't you think?-! A lot of people would have probably misinterpreted that!
[ "Is that all you came here for?" ]
[ "Ah… no. The truth is, I wanted to come here earlier. But it seems like everyone already left…" ]
[ "…hmm?" ]
[ "Teacher. If you would, could you send a message for me? The next time everyone is together?" ]
[ "It depends on what the message is." ]
[ "Umm… It's nothing important. I just wanted to say that…" ]
[ "I… had fun." ]
...
[ "Well, I'll admit that there were a lot of weird things going on… The plot of the movie was incomprehensible… The script was almost entirely adlibbed… And then there were times where it felt like fights and arguments could break out at any moment… But…" ]
[ "It was fun! It was really fun!" ]
…
Was it… really?
[ "I suppose… It's good that at least one person feels this way." ]
…
[ "Hmm? But weren't-" ]
[ "I'll relay your message for you. Don't worry." ]
...
[ "I… I see." ]
…
[ "She was also like that, wasn't she…" ]
…
[ "Teacher." ]
[ "I know I might be overstepping my boundaries. And you don't have to answer if you don't want to. Though, if I didn't receive a proper answer, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't lose sleep thinking about it. I just… want to know." ]
...
[ "Currently, what do you think of Misaka Mikoto?" ]
…
…H-Huh?
W-Why am I being brought up all of a sudden…?
Is she misunderstanding something?
[ "Ah! I don't mean anything strange by that! It's just that…!" ]
[ "I… think she's a good person. She's kind. And she's helped me a lot these past few days." ]
…
[ "From my perspective, the two of you seem to be on bad terms… And well, I just want to know if I'm misinterpreting that…" ]
…
Ah…
I see…
[ "Again, if it's too personal, then…" ]
[ "No… It's fine." ]
[ "It's better to clarify this sooner rather than later." ]
…
[ "Obviously, our relationship isn't good. To say the least, I didn't leave a good first impression on her. I doubt anything I do will change that, not that I want to or ever plan to do so." ]
[ "As for what I think of her…" ]
…
[ "I think she's an idiot." ]
Eh?
[ "She's brash. Too self-conscious, especially regarding her chest. She plays games too much in addition to being a sore loser." ]
[ "She's painfully oblivious to her surroundings, keeping to herself at the worst possible times despite having people around her more than willing to help. She tries to maintain an image she clearly dislikes. And she fails at that too." ]
[ "And this, of course, makes her the perfect Covergirl for Academy City." ]
W-What the-?-!
What are you saying behind my back you goddamned chuuni-!
[ "But…" ]
[ "In the end… I have to say that I respect her." ]
…
[ "She's the type that knows what innocence is and tries her best to protect it. She's devoted to her comrades and would go through great lengths to help them when they're in need." ]
[ "She'd risk everything to keep those she cares for safe." ]
[ "These are qualities I admire. And you'd be hard pressed to find a better person." ]
…
[ "There's also the fact that she has the more popular spin-off manga. So I have to give her props on that as well." ]
Oi.
[ "That last point kinda stings… But I think I kinda understand now. A little bit, anyway. So… it's 'respect' then…" ]
[ "Yeah. Unfortunately… I respect her." ]
[ "Even if she's a shitty kid that likes to listen in to other people's conversations." ]
…
Eh?
The door to the clubroom opened.
Staring face-to-face, the white-haired boy extended his arm to the side. Tapping the wooden frame with the back of his hand, he said coldly…
"This is called 'knocking'."
"…"
The door shut.
[ "H-Huh? Was there someone out there?" ]
[ "No. Just my mind playing tricks on me. If you see the Railgun around, tell her to take better care of her stuff. She left her bag here." ]
…
Movie Meltdown Arc end.
Timeline (condensed): 10, 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 19-26, x, 3, x, 12-17, x, 5-7, x, 11
