Chapter 4 - When Magic and Science Unite

On a morning like any other, a supposedly normal high school boy was enjoying his soft, relaxing single bed. Of course this "bed" was not one that you would exactly call comfortable. In fact it was not even a bed.

With a slightly noisy yawn, he took a deep breath of that cool morning air, which was a little too sweet. That tub that he had been using as a bed for about nine months, was equipped with a thick sheet that he used as a kind of mattress and another thinner sheet that he used to protect himself from the cold, since the heater kept breaking. His pillow couldn't be called comfortable. Maybe it was at first, but now he couldn't tell the difference if he laid his head against a rock. However, there was a new 'item' there that he didn't expect to find that morning, one much softer than his pillow.

"This again?"

That whispered voice of Kamijou sounded very tired, but not because he had just woken up. Before he even opened his eyes he realized something was wrong there. That tub was harboring an intruder, one who for some reason decided to fall asleep right next to the boy.

"Who is this girl?" asked Kamijou, slowly removing the sheet from over that intruder.

The intruder in question was a girl that level 0 found quite familiar, but he wasn't sure if he knew her. She had a beautiful young face and long blond hair. Her skin was perfect, worthy of someone from royalty. If Kamijou had to guess judging only by her face, he would say that this girl was between 14 and 15 years old, but that mature body was clouding his judgment. Especially the bust area.

"This smell of honey is familiar to me..." He stopped talking abruptly and made a confused face, staring into the void suddenly "Really? That's pretty weird... so do I really know her?"

The boy threw those questions to the wind and then thought about what he would do next. He could wake up that unknown girl with the voluptuous body and be done with it, or he could pretend to be asleep and wait for her to wake up. That honey blonde probably didn't want to hurt him, since she was the one sleeping so helplessly next to him. Before Kamijou could decide what to do, the girl suddenly smiled as she continued to sleep. That smile was as pure as that of a small child.

"What do I do with you, honey girl?" He sighed, making his choice "Okay, I guess I should wake her up"

Trying to be gentle, the boy moved around in the tub and put a hand on her shoulder. With gentle movements, he began to rock her a little like a mother soothing a crying baby by rocking a cradle. For some reason, this only made the girl smile even more. That smile of hers was no longer pure now, considering that she took the opportunity to wiggle around in that tub, 'climbing' the boy's body. That sudden softness made the boy take a deep breath.

"Ok, this is getting out of hand" Kamijou tried uselessly to push the girl away, however she hugged him as if he was her last hope for salvation "Hey, mystery golden girl... Heeeeeeeeey..." The boy shook her vigorously "This Kamijou-san is not a shaolin monk, so I need you to wake up miss huge breasts, my self-control is being tested here"

His effort was fortunately not fruitless. With a tilt of her head, the girl slowly opened her eyes. Her cute face was still dazed from the sudden awakening. Rubbing her eyes, the golden girl smiled once more as she looked into the tired face of the spiky-haired boy who had no idea how he should react to all this.

"Good morning Kamijou-san. I hope you slept well" The girl said, her voice still a little sleepy. She for some reason 'climbed' even more on him, which made him uneasy "Don't move around so much, I'm trying to find the best place. Sleeping in a bathtub is not comfortable at all."

"Why did you start rubbing yourself against me? And what the hell are you wearing?"

The stupefied boy only just realized that the girl was wearing a nightgown. The sheet was partially covering her, so he just thought for a moment that it was some fancy pajamas or something, but the truth was that he had a girl in lingerie next to him the whole time. In that instant he felt a hand slide up his side, starting at his waist and then moving to his chest.

"I picked out this especially for you. Have you noticed that it's kind of see-through in some places?" She asked, stopping her hand on his chest and giving small touches with her fingertips.

"I'm trying to ignore that, but thanks for reminding me. Who are you anyway? That sweet smell of yours is familiar to me."

"Of course... I almost forgot" She clearly forced a cheerful voice at that moment "My name is Shokuhou Misaki. I am a friend of yours from the past, from before you lost your memory ability"

"Hmm... I understand. You really look familiar" Kamijou shook his head and examined her for a moment. For more than a moment actually.

"Wow, that look is something else, Kamijou-san. Looks like I got the choice of clothes right" Shokuhou laughed like an idiot "But I expected a bigger reaction ability from someone who wakes up with a beautiful girl like me next to him. Or did I miss that overreaction while I was sleeping? That would be a shame."

"Actually you didn't miss much. I'm kind of getting used to it," he revealed casually.

"Eh? Getting used to it?" She twisted her smile and put a confused expression on that pretty face.

"Yeah" He shook his head once again "I mean... if I made a dollar for every time a girl appeared out of nowhere in the morning next to me in this bathtub, I'd have about $5 or so, which isn't much, but it's more than I have in my bank account"

"What, so I missed that first time too?" Shokuhou slapped her own forehead "No, no, no... I'm falling way behind here. Ok, I have an idea... hehehe"

"Whatever it is, it must not be any good considering that strange smile of yours"

"We're in a bathroom, so it's obvious what we should do" She pointed to the faucet with her slender finger "How about we take a bath together to strengthen our bond?"

"Whaaaaat?!" That shout echoed as the boy's head seemed to spin in the face of that proposal.

While Kamijou was stunned by the girl's boldness, she kept smiling and casually held one strap of that nightgown and pulled it off her shoulder, which now made that poor high school student freeze in place.

"Now this is a reaction. That time in the hospital I just stood by and watched, but now it's my chance."

"Wait, wait" He held her hand which was about to take the other shoulder strap "I have no idea what I did to raise this amazing flag, but the luck of this Kamijou-san would not allow something like this to come for free"

As if on cue, someone knocked on the other side of the bathroom door. The boy knew very well who it was.

"Touma. Are you awake? I'm starving" That young (and hungry) voice came from the other room.

"Damn, I had forgotten about the nun" Shokuhou said, placing a hand on her chin "Can I use my Mental Out on her? I promise I won't hurt her"

"Mental Out? Isn't that power #5 from Academy City?"

"So you really can remember my esper name. What else do you remember?"

"Well...that time...no, wait we don't have time for that. I have to deal with a hungry and maybe angry Index now. I don't know how you got in here, but for God's sake hide somewhere."

"Touma, who are you talking to? Are you talking to yourself again or... not another girl is it?"

"I still find it strange that you live with a girl in this male dormitory, I wonder if -" She was interrupted when Kamijou used his hand to cover her mouth and made a sign of silence.

"Be quiet. We have to find a way to hide you. Would covering you with the sheets be enough?"

"Nice try, human" That arrogant voice coming from inside that bathroom made Kamijou turn around instantly and remove his hand from the honey blonde's mouth.

Standing there with her arms crossed and an annoyed face, a 15cm Othinus looked at them in a judgmental manner. The boy hadn't noticed when she had entered, but she probably snuck under the door.

"My wakefulness is getting relaxed if I let that bitch in heat invade during the night" Said the former goddess, looking with icy eyes in Shokuhou's direction.

"It's that lewd doll again" Shokuhou pointed at Othinus with an inquisitive finger "Why do you have something like that? If you need a girl looking down on you, then I can fulfill that fetish no problem" She complained, getting up in the tub "We can do a little roleplay. I'll be the queen and you'll be the commoner. The cold-hearted royalty girl who over time starts to show her sweet side to the pure-hearted peasant boy who -"

"Stop fantasizing about my understander in front of me, you hopeless pervert"

The 15cm Goddess had enough. With a run worthy of an Olympic champion, the little fairy scaled the tub after one jump, a feat that seemed impossible but at the moment she was getting an odd buff due to jealousy.

"Easy there, Othi-chan" However Kamijou was quicker and held the Goddess with his hand before the 'divine punishment' fell on that poor mortal "She is a friend, so if you are angry, take it out on me"

"Let go of me, Kamijou Touma. This is a personal matter between me and this human girl with an abnormal amount of fat."

"Did that weird doll just call me fat?" Shokuhou looked indignant "I built this amazing body using high quality natural products with one goal in mind and I'm sure I've accomplished it. My proportions are above average because I have good planning ability."

"Toooumaaaa" And the other still hungry girl spoke again. If the boy didn't open the door soon she would find a way to channel that hunger and go into 'John's pen' mode.

"Such misfortune" Was all the boy could say in this situation. He put Othinus back on the bathroom floor and then stood thoughtfully for several seconds "I guess there's no other way. Shokuhou, I need you to listen to me, okay?"

"Yes, Kamijou-san. What do you need from me?"

"Hide in those sheets and don't come out until I say it's safe, I'll pretend I was talking to Othinus."

"Is that nun dangerous?"

"Her teeth are, especially for my scalp.. Now come here and..."

"Touma...what does that mean?" That voice sounded too close.

Busy trying to formulate a plan to escape from those sharp teeth, the boy didn't even realize he had been betrayed. In that instant, Kamijou looked at the silver nun who was sharpening her teeth, and then looked at the traitor in question, who in this case was a certain goddess of war, magic and deceit, who had found a way to unlock the door.

"Othinus... why?" he asked dejectedly, accepting his fate.

"I am a goddess of war, human. And love is war."

And with that statement followed by a smug smile, that 'human' sighed an instant before being attacked by a hungry and jealous Index.

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"I'm a bit confused by all this" Shokuhou said, sitting next to Kamijou in the Kotatsu, which was earning her an angry look from Index.

After the incident in the bathroom was resolved and Shokuhou showed the note written by Kamijou in that alley, the three residents of that dormitory and the intruder decided to put their intrigues aside and enjoy a breakfast consisting of stale bread and expired mayonnaise.

"So this little girl is a library of magic books and this lewd doll is a former goddess?" Shokuhou asked, after hearing Kamijou's explanation of why Index and Othinus lived with him.

"I know it's hard to believe, but it's the truth" Kamijou grabbed one of the buns before Index devoured them all and served himself. The strange look on his face made it clear what that breakfast tasted like.

'Magic. It's really hard to believe, but if Kamijou-san believes it...'

"Well... if you say so then it must be true" The girl refused the bread offered by him pushing it close to the silver girl, who devoured it almost instantly.

"Wow, you're taking this even too well"

"You would have no reason to lie to me about something like that. Besides, I heard strange things when we were in England and there was that fight with that damned Anna who stole a kiss that should have been mine.

"Frankly..." Said Othinus, shaking her head as he fed himself bread crumbs "Of all the girls you are without a doubt the most dangerous #5."

"What are you talking about Othinus?" Kamijou asked, with a look of confusion on his face.

"That's why I kicked her that time" Othinus shrugged and continued talking while looking at the other blonde "You sure aren't afraid to use your powers to play dirty. I bet you must have controlled someone to open the apartment door. Not only that but you don't see anything wrong with being dressed like that in his presence."

"Hehehe... so the little goddess is worried that I will use my young maiden ability to steal her 'human'" Shokuhou smiled and then held Kamijou's arm, who suddenly stopped eating. "Kamijou-san, you made a promise to me, so when my miracle happens, we will move to a bigger place with a huge bed. That bathtub doesn't give us room for creativity."

"Flirting like that so naturally too... damn you #5" Othinus cursed, pointing a toothpick at Shokuhou as if it were a spear "My life has suddenly become difficult. Why can't every girl be a short fuse Tsundere?"

"Could you two stop for a moment?" Asked Kamijou, taking the chuunibyou version of Gungnir from Othinus' hands "Othinus, I already told you not to threaten people with toothpicks, those things are too expensive to use like that. And you, Shokuhou"

"Ohoo...is this where you give me a lecture?" The level 5 girl smiled mischievously "That's kind of nostalgic. Don't hold back, Kamijou-saaaan"

"Eh? I don't know what you are talking about. I just wanted you to tell me why you came here."

Shokuhou looked a little disappointed. In those summer days, Kamijou used to remind her how clumsy and unathletic she was, always trying to take care of her and make sure she looked good in his bizarre way.

'So many memories... But this is not the time. Now where do I start?'

"First of all, I want to remind you that you have known me for almost two years, however your ability to remember me does not exist due to a brain damage you suffered" She began, letting go of the boy for the moment and trying to hold back the somber expression forming "Our goal is to find a way around this situation using this strange power of yours. You called it Dragon Shell if I remember correctly. I tried to explain to you a bit about personal reality but in the end I decided it's best to take it to Tokiwadai to have it tested."

"Tokiwadai? but boys are not allowed in the School Garden"

"I got an exception for you using my contacts. Apparently, you are a high level esper with the potential to be a level 5, so it wasn't hard to convince them to test you."

"Me a level 5? That seems impossible" Kamijou became suspicious as he looked at his bandaged right hand.

"I know what you are thinking, but I have explained to you before that just because they could not detect an AIM field does not mean that you are not an esper. The System Scan is a test to evaluate what an esper is capable of, such as firepower, versatility, accuracy, and other factors. I also explained that there have been cases where an AIM field was not detected in another person but they were still considered a level 5 candidate after some extra procedures."

"I understand... but that's still so strange" The boy was not entirely convinced "But if it will put a sincere smile on your face, I don't see why I should be against it"

"I don't like this" Complained Index, finally willing to speak after devouring almost all the food "Every time you go to help someone, especially a girl, you end up gone for too long, leave me starving and end up in a hospital bed"

"If he becomes a level 5, he will have enough money to give you a feast every day" Shokuhou said, looking Index in the eye.

"Touma, become a level 5, please" Index begged, her eyes watering.

'That was easy. My persuasion ability are as sublime as ever.'

"Eh? That's all it takes to convince you?!" Shouted Kamijou, as if he had been betrayed "What about your other arguments?"

"By the way, I heard about this personal reality thing when I was at Touma's teacher's house. I can help you with that."

"And you are now offering to teach me a science class? What parallel universe did you just generate using those gluttony powers of yours?"

Taking a deep breath, that confused boy shook his head, not understanding what turn of events had led him here. In the end he gave up, after all everyone there was lining up for the same goal, so all that was left was for him to calm down.

"Back on topic, I have something important to tell you, Misaki" Index continued, suddenly becoming extremely serious.

"Wait, why are you calling me by my given name?" The girl wasn't exactly annoyed, just shocked.

"She's been doing that to me too for as long as I can remember. Maybe because she's English?" Inquired the boy, not thinking much about it.

"If you are going to call me that, then I want Kamijou-san to call me by my given name as well"

"Huh? I don't see a problem with that but are you sure? We barely know each other -" He stopped talking when he remembered the detail about his memory loss "Oh, sorry, I forgot that we met almost two years ago. I'll call you Misaki-san then."

"No, that's unfair" The girl pouted and grabbed his arm again "If you're going to use an honorific then let it be one less formal than that"

"If you make such a big deal about it, that's fine by me, Misaki-chan" He said after a sigh, missing the giant smile on the girl's face.

' Hearing him say my name is so nice. It's a shame he'll forget soon, but I'll remind him every time. Maybe I should call him Touma-chan? Or just Touma? I've been formal for a long time, calling him by his first name would be too weird?'

"Are you two done yet?" Index asked, still quite serious "As I was saying, I heard something important in my conversation with Touma's teacher. She explained to us the whole concept of espers powers and chocolate boxes."

"Chocolate boxes?" Misaki was confused, but Index ignored that.

"The goal of this city is to achieve what you call the 'System'. From what I've heard, the curriculum you go through is supposed to empower everyone, but only a few are able to develop a personal reality." The silver girl was talking like a text-reading robot. She clearly didn't understand that explanation properly, but her perfect memory allowed her to repeat it all without problems "'System' is the term for one who is not a god, but achieves the will of heaven. Something beyond what you call level 5. We humans don't understand the truth of this world, yet if someone with status above human were to appear, that person would be able to understand God's answer. It reminded me of the Kabbalah and the concept of the Sephirot tree."

"That must be about that magic you guys talk about. What do you mean by this 'tree'?"

"It is a diagram with 10 levels that divided the positions of humans, angels and god" Who answered the question was Othinus, who had been quiet for some time "In the Sephirot tree, the crucial position of god cannot exactly be found. Since the territory of god could not be understood by humans and the concept could not be expressed by humans, it was not shown in the Sephirot tree. However, some religious systems claim that humans are nothing more than 'impure gods', explaining in simple concepts of course."

"Hmm... that's interesting, but I think we're straying from the subject ability here" Misaki commented, starting to get lost with all this long explanation about something so strange to her.

"They will come back to the main subject soon, just wait a bit, these two love to explain things" Kamijou said, signaling for the two to resume their explanation.

"Anyway, the power curriculum that develops espers powers might be a way to get what religion tries to get with its soul cleansing rituals" Othinus explained again, crossing her legs arrogantly "Something interesting you need to know #5, but the former board chairman Aleister Crowley was actually a magician"

"What?" The girl was shocked once again. Her mouth hung open for several seconds "Are you telling me the city of science has someone like that as a founder?"

'But thinking about it... that silver-haired girl in England…'

"Aleister Crowley was someone who hated magic" Surprisingly it was Kamijou who said this. His voice suddenly became somber "Even though he was such an important name, he vowed one day to end all occultism. But we are deviating too much from the original subject. Othinus, continue"

"What I am trying to say here is that the line between science and magic is much more blurred than you might think"

"So if we want to understand the strange power of Tou -...Kamijou-san, we have to stay on top of that line and try to see both sides. Interesting" Misaki pondered, placing an index finger on her chin.

'I almost called him by name. He wouldn't mind, would he?' The golden girl looked quickly at Kamijou 'If this nun can, then why not me?'

"Misaki, was that helpful?" Index asked, now returning to her normal tone.

"A little bit, Index-san. I didn't really understand all this stuff about soul purification, angels and gods, but I feel like it's important if what I want is a miracle" Misaki put a pure smile on her angelic face "By the way, since we brought it up, I've seen an angel once, in the fight against Anna"

"Aiwass" Kamijou said simply "He is an angel of science, as is Kazakiri. They both seem to be made of what we call AIM, since they have that weird crystal" The boy twisted his lip in a strange way, as if he was remembering something bad "And if I remember correctly, that impostor in Windsor Castle came from one too. He called himself an 'ability'... my 'ability'. Something that distorts quantum physics. "

"He was made with your powers then?" Misaki asked rhetorically "An ability gaining consciousness. If the information I received is correct, that happened with #2. Your ability allows you to create things just like him considering this Dragon Shell of yours. Something like AIM manipulation perhaps, being able to shape a large amount of it. Maybe that is not the correct answer, but it has to be for now."

'If that's it then maybe there really is a way... I'm clinging to any hope again. But I need to have something to work with, otherwise it's hard to keep smiling...'

While she was lost in thought, she felt something touch her right hand. It was a warm, soft, gentle touch. Misaki immediately looked in the direction of that hand, finding Kamijou's hand resting on top of hers.

"Oh...sorry" He said somewhat clumsily "You seemed a little distant and...I guess I let myself get carried away" Kamijou tried to pull his hand away from hers, but the girl wouldn't let him.

"Thank you" She put a gentle smile on her face, holding that hand tightly as if it was the last chance "Anyway, we'd better get ready, Kamijou-san, we're going to Tokiwadai."

"Now?" The boy looked at the time on his cell phone. It was still early in the morning.

"Yes. Let's get this out of the way right away" Reluctantly letting go of his hand, the girl stood up and headed towards the bathroom "I'll put on my uniform that I left in the bathroom. No peeking" She gave the boy a wink as she continued to smile.

'He did it again. This time he held my hand.' She thought, closing the bathroom door and leaning her back against it. With one hand on the left side of her chest, the girl smiled as never before 'I know it's no big deal... but still... I'm so happy.'

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End of chapter notes:

What did you think of the chapter? There was a lot of explanation, but I hope it wasn't boring. I'm taking a little longer to write the chapters, but I am trying to keep up the pace. Thank you very much for all the reviews, I intend to answer them all in the next chapter.

That's all I have to say. Nio leaving.