Chapter 25 - Thought patterns

In an elevator in a luxury apartment building, a blonde girl wearing a fancy dress was looking at her reflection in the mirror. She looked extremely nervous as she smiled and tried to ignore that annoying music that was getting on her nerves. This girl's name was Gokusai Kaibi.

"I hope he doesn't suspect anything" She muttered between tired sighs.

Gokusai was one of the many people who lived a double life, in more than one sense. This girl had an honest job, but her true nature could be found in the darkness of this city. But not only that, she was actually a spy, and a very good one at that. Or at least she liked to think so, since a spy who is bad at what she does doesn't usually live that long.

The elevator stopped at the floor indicated with a distinctive bell. Walking calmly, she went to the door she used to see so much, but that she would rather never see again.

"I'm back" She warned in a neutral tone as she opened the door.

There were only two people in that luxury apartment. One of them was a black-haired girl wearing a white blouse and a black skirt. She was sitting on the sofa in a nonchalant way and fiddling with her cell phone until she heard the blonde girl come in.

"Hello Gokusai. It's been a while" replied the black haired girl, waving and going back to fiddling with her cell phone.

"Hi Yumyia. Hi Kakine. Where's Youbou?" The girl in the dress sat down on one of the couches and crossed her legs elegantly.

"At school probably" Who answered was the leader of the group known as SCHOOL "I see you have finished your 'visits'. Are you ready to get back to work?"

Academy City's #2 was near one of the windows, sitting in an armchair and with his feet on a table. He seemed in a good mood.

"Depends on the type of job" She replied, looking at herself in a portable mirror instead of the person who was her boss. "Is it one of the ones you've been doing on your own or... the usual?"

The blond boy took a while to answer. It was like he had been carefully choosing what he wanted to reveal.

"The usual of course. Although I'm not in the mood to do anything boring." Kakine took her feet off the table and glared at the girl in the dress. "By the way, I had a recent fight with the person you saw that day, #4. I have a question for you. What do you know about the person named Kamijou?"

xxxx-xxxx

In a completely ordinary school, a completely normal high school student that you can find anywhere sneezed consecutively. This boy had a face and body that didn't draw much attention, with the exception of an above average muscle tone, but which he didn't earn at a gym or by being part of a track team. After all, Kamijou Touma didn't usually have money or time for any of that, so he built his body in the alleys at night by punching delinquents in the face, or running away from them, since he wasn't the kind of person who skipped leg day.

"Bless you" Said one of his classmates, member of the 'Delta Force'.

At this moment, Touma was in his classroom, sitting with his cheek resting on the desk in front of him while yawning every now and then. His friend, Aogami Pierce pulled a desk close to him and sat on it.

"Tsuchimikado didn't come again today. Do you know where he is, Kami-yan?" Aogami asked, trying to massage his own shoulders.

"Probably enjoying all the money he must have made at my expense" Touma said, lighting up the screen of his cell phone on top of his desk to look at the time.

"Did you guys make a bet or something? That bastard. When are we going to finish last week's debate? This subject is stretching on too long."

"There is nothing to debate" Touma seemed to have gained a little energy as he turned his face sharply in his friend's direction "Lap pillows offered by an Onee-san is superior to any kind of pampering anyone can have"

"Your opinion is biased, that's why we need a third member to decide once and for all"

"Tsuchimikado agreed with me, more than once even. Now be a good loser and admit it."

"I haven't lost yet" The blue haired boy raised a determined fist "That Siscon clearly said he'd rather give headpats on his little sister's head"

"I heard what he said you moron. The point is whether 'giving' headpats only counts as a treat to the person who is receiving them" Argued the spiky-haired boy, raising his voice to be clear.

"You say that because you have never felt the sensation of stroking a girl's soft hair with the palm of your hand.

Touma just rolled his eyes and sighed tiredly at the whole thing. For some reason he really didn't feel like debating today. Once again he turned on his cell phone screen, hoping that his perception of time and space was wrong so that more time had passed than it seemed. He sighed once again as he realized that it hadn't.

"Who is that girl on your cell phone screen?" Aogami asked in a curious and somewhat innocent manner, as he didn't even realize that a few glances flew in the direction of those two.

"My girlfriend, who else would it be?"

That nonchalant, almost emotionless answer had a gigantic effect on that classroom. Not all the students were there, since it was break time, but at least 10 girls were gritting their teeth at that moment. The rest of them were sure that they had heard wrong.

"Very funny Kami-yan" Aogami wasn't laughing obviously "Taking pictures of random girls on the street to use as wallpaper is weird even by your standards"

"It was at a restaurant actually and... never mind. I don't have the strength to argue right now, so I'll just stay here and be left to be called a weirdo by the biggest weirdo in school" He said this without a drop of emotion in his voice "All the wounds in my pride will be healed when I get my daily lap pillow from my girlfriend"

That last word uttered much louder than the others came out full of venom. Now it was the turn of the boys in the class to look at a Touma who was smiling minimally at the corner of his lip. The influence of a certain level 5 girl was doing wonders for the self-esteem of this unfortunate boy.

"Are you really serious?" Aogami put a hand to his chin, thinking of 'possibilities' "Did Kami-yan's disease focus on one girl enough to make her confess to you? Let's take a look."

With one swift movement, the blue-haired boy grabbed his friend's cell phone from his desk and turned on the screen. Before long, a crowd of boys were surrounding Aogami, trying to get a look at the person who was supposed to own the heart of that unfortunate level 0. Touma was so out of energy that he just stood there watching as more and more boys piled in.

"Who's that?" A random boy asked, taking the cell phone from Aogami's hands.

"I don't know. Does a beauty like this really exist?" Another boy stole the cell phone out of his classmate's hands.

"She is on a level of beauty even greater than our beauty senpai" Aogami took the cell phone back and continued examining that photo.

"Plus, she seems like the cute and friendly type. Look at that benevolent goddess aura" whispered another classmate excitedly.

"She is in a league of her own. Kami-yan, you lucky bastard"

Aogami clenched his fist at that moment. He felt something rising inside him, a mixture of anger, envy and disappointment. Still holding the cell phone in his hand and taking another look at his friend's 'supposed' girlfriend, he pointed an accusing finger in the face of the boy who for some reason seemed to have low health points.

"So that's why you've been missing almost all of our debates?" Shouted the delta force member, clearly indignant "Instead of coming to class to have a heated discussion like a good nerd, you are out there doing field research"

"Why the hell did you start screaming in anger out of nowhere?" Said Touma, still with minimal energy "Weren't you and that other bastard 'nya' who kept telling me I had a harem or some shit? And also that I should pick a girl right away so the rest of you idiots would have a chance?"

"I don't like your disinterested tone. And then there's the fact that you refuse to accept you have a harem." The blue-haired boy slammed Touma's cell phone hard into his desk, which finally made him react with a surprised frown. "I've had enough, you damn monster. Get up, it's time for me to break your messed up illusion"

That sentence. He had to say that sentence. Touma now had blood in his eyes. He stood up from his desk slowly and took a breath so deep that the sound of air entering his lungs could be heard from across the room.

"Now you have crossed the line, Aogami Pierce." Touma said, clenching his fist and getting into fighting stance.

"No, you have crossed the line." He also clenched his fists and raised his guard "How dare you get a girlfriend while we are all suffering because of this damn disease. Don't look down on me while you drown in your worldly desires. You are as rotten as I am, HAREM REJECTER."

"I WILL KILL YOU" Touma shouted at the top of his lungs "I will kill you, you and only you"

"You're on. The Kami-yan disease has infected the last victim. I will wipe the floor with your face and then inherit the entire harem you left behind. I wonder how many fetishes I will awaken."

"Where the fuck do you get this shit from? I'll punch you so hard you'll end up in a fantasy world where it's a crime to have a fetish, you damn pervert"

"What the hell are you people doing?" A female voice erupted amidst that generalized chaos.

A busty girl with a huge forehead stopped this duel of two monsters by punching Aogami so hard in the stomach that he fainted before touching the cold ground. Not satisfied, she went towards Touma and used another one of her legendary attacks. The problem there is that for some reason, that punch hit only the air. Yes, Kamijou Touma had easily dodged the lethal attack with a movement as fluid as water. Murmurs were heard as Fukiyose looked at her own fist and then at the disinterested boy who sat back in his chair as if nothing had happened.

"He... dodged it" Said one of the boys around, perplexed to see that scene.

"No, that's impossible. He must have used some trick" Another boy replied, muttering "Probably a weird 'buff' for having a girlfriend."

"Or maybe he started to believe"

Fukiyose remained perplexed for several seconds, but soon became irritated. She thought about delivering another blow to complete her morning punishment, but her eyes went to Touma's cell phone screen.

"Wait... that's her" Fukiyose Seiri muttered in shock holding up his cell phone. She shook her head as she looked at that photo that displayed a girl making a 'peace/victory' sign with a perfectly natural smile. "I can't believe it. Is she really your girlfriend? You're not making all this up are you? If this is a lie and she finds out, I feel sorry for you."

"Fukiyose-san, do you know her?" Aogami asked, surprisingly having the strength to get up after that devastating attack and still groaning.

"Eh? 'Knowing' is a strange word to describe that, but I know who she is" She said, swallowing dryly as she remembered her interaction with the tea-colored haired girl "Her name is Mugino Shizuri, she's Meltdowner, a level 5"

"LEVEL 5!?"

The entire class shouted those two words in a chorus that echoed throughout the school. The shock of everyone there was so great that they looked at each other with puzzled expressions for several seconds before they began to stare at Touma with looks that ranged from surprise, disbelief, envy, and a little hatred. The girls in the class also began to cluster around to get a look at the girl who had defeated them. Some of them started to cry as soon as they looked at the picture that showed someone who could very well be a famous movie actress.

"Could I have my cell phone back please? I want to see the time" Touma asked in a lazy tone, not at all shaken by the boisterous class.

"Here" Fukiyose handed the cell phone to Touma, with a somewhat suspicious look on her face "Aren't you acting a little too despondent for someone who has supposedly started dating a celebrity?"

"I don't understand the reason for the distrust, you saw me interacting with her yourself. I am disheartened by the simple fact that I am too far away from the girl I love."

The class once again sent potent and varied glances at that boy who was dropping bombs so casually. Only now did Touma realize that his classroom was completely packed. There were even people from another class there.

"Umm... When did you guys emerge?" He asked, only now realizing how surrounded he was.

"He's so full of himself for having a level 5 girlfriend that he didn't even notice the plebs approaching him" A boy from another class commented "I really want to punch this guy. Who else is with me?"

Several students started to move around, but the vast majority were moving away from the boy instead of toward him. It seems that some of them had enough brains not to mess with someone who is dating a level 5.

"I still don't believe it" Fukiyose said, crossing her arms and shaking her head "Having a picture of her doesn't prove anything. It's hard enough to believe you're friends with a level 5, which I saw with my own eyes. But dating her is a bit much."

"She is literally wearing an identical ring to mine in this picture" Touma said, showing off the silver ring on her right hand" Anyway, believe what you want"

Rolling his eyes and sighing once more, Kamijou Touma had enough and got up from his desk. He picked up his briefcase and started to make his way through the crowd. The strange thing was that some seemed to support him or even admire him after seeing that almost incontestable proof, as they pushed people out of his way like windshields pushing away rainwater.

"Where are you going Kamijou?" Fukiyose asked, trying to intercept him, but there were too many people in the way "Classes aren't over yet"

"It was a mistake to come here, so I am going back where I belong" He replied with a smile on his face. "Tell Komoe-sensei that I tried"

xxxx-xxxx

It was past lunchtime when Mugino Shizuri walked into that restaurant right next to the hospital she was in. She didn't bother to look at the menu, so she just ordered something with salmon while ignoring the waitress and continuing to read the manga in her hands.

Shizuri seemed in a bad mood as she leafed through that manga and sighed every now and then. She looked around and started massaging her back with her left hand while looking at the simple silver ring on her finger.

"Isn't there a way to see the message with him away from me?" She asked softly to herself "That's kind of counterproductive. Although, holding my hand and intertwining our fingers as a silent way of telling he love me is the peak of romance."

"That's a pretty silly grin you got there, Mugino Shizuri"

That voice brought the tea-colored girl out of her reverie. It was a gentle, feminine voice, soft as a pleasant music to the ears. The strange thing was that this voice came directly from in front of her, from the same table she was at.

"What the hell? Where did you come from, girl?" Shizuri asked with a grimace, looking at that girl who looked a bit familiar to her, especially that hair dyed a flashy color.

"I've been here for a while, you just weren't observing me" The answer came with a nonchalant shrug. The girl picked up the menu from the table and began to take a look at the dishes served there "How are the injuries?"

"Why are you acting so casual? Have we seen each other by chance?"

"My God, sometimes I think you do that on purpose" The mystery girl lowered her menu to look directly at Shizuri "I know I was wearing a mask, but there aren't many people with shocking pink hair like mine, don't you think?"

"Mask?" Shizuri thought for a moment and nodded "Hmm... Aihana Etsu I suppose. It's a surprise to see you again."

A sharp and somewhat suspicious look was cast in Shizuri's direction. The pink haired girl who was known as 'Aihana Etsu' looked at her for a while curiously, while Shizuri just went back to reading her manga as if she didn't care about the person sitting there.

"That reaction was a bit unexpected" Aihana said, still suspicious "Are you trying to make me let my guard down so you can attack me by surprise?"

"You know Touma, don't you?" Shizuri ignored the teasing and preferred to ask her own question "I mean, you called him 'Touma-chan' that day"

"So you recognized my voice. See? You can do it when you try."

"What is your relationship with him anyway? Don't tell me you guys are childhood friends or some shit. Did you know that childhood friends usually lose in manga? In real life it was no different" She once again ignored the girl and made a tease of her own.

"I'm not a childhood friend" She let out a tired sigh "He doesn't even consider me a friend. But I can tell you that I know quite a bit about him"

"So you're a Stalker?" A smile of debauchery appeared on the perfect face of that arrogant girl. "You're a bad girl Aihana Etsu... but he enjoys that kind of thing, considering who he chose as his girlfriend"

"Actually he prefers caring dorm managers, but I admit that you have qualities that he surely admires. I wonder if he's not liking you for the wrong reasons."

"That... show me more of that jealousy and envy you're feeling" Her smile grew wider and wider. "That feeling of victory is addictive"

"You are weird" Aihana covered her face again with the menu "Being in a position of power for so long must have that kind of effect on people. Are you sure treating him like a trophy is a healthy thing?"

"I'm not sure, to tell you the truth, but something like this suits a girl like me. I love him after all, so I don't see any problems in taking advantage of this benefit of having him as a boyfriend."

"That's surprisingly mature. I was a little wrong about you" Aihana's voice suddenly became serious. Her teasing tone disappeared without a trace "No... I was right about everything, but now something has changed. Although I don't like the fact that you're practically using him as an antidepressant pill, I can clearly understand that your feelings for him are somewhat legitimate"

"Thank you. You are also handling this in a very mature way" Shizuri also got serious "If this isn't all an act of course"

"It's not an act. You don't have to worry about me getting in the way of your relationship or anything, my feelings for him are just as strong as yours, however they are of a different kind."

That sentence left Meltdowner with a confused expression and sharp eyes. That other girl liked to talk in mysterious ways since the day she met her in that shopping mall. Shizuri didn't know everything her boyfriend knew about that girl, like the fact that he had 'saved' her from delinquents, and that she was also helping them in the ITEM mission without asking anything in return, so it was hard to judge her behavior.

"I mean, that's an odd thing to say since I tried to kiss him once, don't you think?" Said the pink-haired girl, returning to her teasing tone.

"What? He obviously didn't reciprocate" Speaking that with conviction, suddenly Shizuri stood up and slammed her hands on the table. "If you try something like that again I'll..."

"Easy there, Meltdowner." She made a nonchalant gesture with her hand "It was just a joke. Although I really would kiss him if he wanted me to. Honest question, is he a good kisser?"

Shizuri smiled dumbly when she heard that question asked in a casual way. She even forgot the growing irritation in her body and sat down again, putting the manga aside.

"He's a fast learner" Answered #4, unable to wipe off that smile "I'd give him an A if he was a little more aggressive"

"I see...he's still a little insecure maybe. Blame his troubled past. Kamijou-chan is not used to being loved that way. The fear of being wrong even though he knows he is doing everything right is not something that is easy to get rid of, don't you think? "

"I know how it is. Getting him in the mood is hard sometimes. I made it fairly clear to him on the date we had that he doesn't have to hold back when it comes to me, but it still wasn't enough to get him to loosen up a bit."

After a contemplative silence, a waitress arrived with Shizuri's lunch. Aihana took the opportunity to order something as well, choosing a meat and potato curry, saying it was the option that would leave her most satisfied while spending as little money as possible.

"Has his non-existent luck been getting in the way of your relationship?" Aihana asked, resting her arms on the table and laying her head on them.

"Not much" Shizuri contemplated the emptiness before taking a forkful and speaking again "I try not to think too much about it, since I can just pamper him until I make him forget that his misfortune exists"

"Interesting way of thinking. Do you give lap pillows often?"

"Daily. He almost always sleeps after he tells me a little bit about his difficult day."

"You're good at it" Aihana hissed softly, which made Shizuri smile slightly at the compliment "But you don't seem to be capitalizing on it very well, don't you think?"

"What do you mean capitalizing?" The tea-colored haired girl's tone became curious. She even leaned in a little as if expecting to hear a big secret.

"Just doing what he needs isn't enough. You have to give him what he wants too." She revealed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "This should be a little obvious, but he genuinely likes to see a girl smile. I'm sure he's told you this more than once. You can use this to your advantage. That's what I'm talking about 'capitalizing' on."

"Hmm... I think I understand. But I smile enough when I'm with him. And I also don't want to smother him with demands or 'guide' him to where I want him to go" Shizuri paused to play with her food using her fork, while twisting her lip in frustration.

"That's a cute strategy, but honestly it doesn't suit you. The more you move away from honesty, the more he will move away from you. You both love each other, so you don't have to hold back because you think you're smothering him. When in doubt, just ask him how he feels. Even if he's not honest, just do what he says, he'll appreciate it just the same."

"I'm kind of already doing that actually." Meltdowner continued playing with her food, sighing inaudibly. "But it's good to hear that I'm on a good path. I hope you're right."

"I am never wrong when it comes to him" The pink haired girl suddenly raised her head and then pointed with her thumb to the street through the glass window.

Shizuri at that moment thought that the other girl was just making a simple statement, but in fact she was pointing to someone outside. The person in question was a boy with spiky hair who had interested her ever since the day they met. She smiled slightly as she saw Touma turning around to enter the restaurant, but she had a confused thought at that moment.

'She didn't even look. How did she know?'

xxxx-xxxx

"What kind of mission is this anyway?" Yumiya asked, holding up a piece of paper with some pictures of a place that looked like an old factory.

"A simple kind" Kakine Teitoku was examining some papers in a disinterested manner "It's just someone needs us to take care of some research facilities. I think you guys can handle it. "

Putting the papers back on the table, number 2 started walking towards the room's exit. He didn't seem at all interested in that mission.

"That's strange" Kaibi added, carefully reading one of the papers "The order was placed by an outside company, actually an international conglomerate"

"What?" Kakine stopped right at the exit upon hearing that. He turned toward the girl in the dress with an expression of interest "What is the name of the conglomerate?"

"It says 'Dust' here. Have you heard of it?"

Kakine almost smiled at that moment for some reason the two there did not know. He turned toward the exit again and made a deterrent gesture with his hand.

"I'll take care of it myself, you two let Youbou know when he gets back"

xxxx-xxxx

Kamijou Touma had a completely normal day as usual. Of course, the definition of 'normal' for that boy was usually extremely broad. After a boring day of his normal student life watered with misfortune, he wanted to relax in the company of his "cute and understanding" girlfriend. But he had forgotten one detail.

"Aihana-san?" Touma put a large black bag he was carrying on the floor and then looked at the mystery girl smiling at him and grimaced. His gaze also shifted to his girlfriend who seemed happy to see him.

"Yo, Kamijou-chan. I came to wish you little bad luck today" 'Aihana' said, still smiling.

"Well... thank you" He looked back at Shizuri and smiled "Hey, Shizuri-chan"

A little awkwardly, Touma sat down next to his girlfriend. The Level 5 wasted no time in greeting him with a kiss, which made the other girl look away. Shizuri really didn't mind this kind of public display of affection.

"Hey Touma, I see you picked up Frenda's package. She didn't want to come along?"

"No, she said in an annoyed voice something like 'This is so easy that even an idiot like you can do it without a problem'." He sighed loudly "Good thing I got out of school early, we might need that extra time."

"You left early again? If you keep this up you'll end up repeating the year" Although these words sounded harsh, Shizuri was far from annoyed by something like that.

"Yeah... yeah. It's not like I really care, but I would need to try harder than that to repeat the year."

"Is your school that lenient?"

"There are only low level students there, so the education is not the best. Even an idiot like me can get through the year with no problem as long as I get the minimum attendance" He shrugged nonchalantly "My life is a mess, but not so messy that I can't at least get that."

"Saying that kind of thing out loud will only fan your misfortune, don't you think?" It was Aihana who said this, looking at the street through the window.

"My misfortune is going to have to work a lot harder. I have someone to help me deal with it now. "

As he said this, Touma took the opportunity to hold the girl's right hand with his own, which made the message on her ring light up. Shizuri smiled as she entwined her fingers in his. Clearly she was holding back from kissing him again, since this time it would be much more than a simple kiss.

"I'm seriously considering switching this ring to my left hand" Shizuri said after a sigh. Those words made both Aihana and Touma look at her strangely "Wait, that's not what I mean. It's just for the sake of practicality. It's a little too early for that kind of thing. I mean, you haven't even met my parents yet and there's also the fact that..."

"Shizuri, I get it" He stroked the head of the girl who was getting a little embarrassed by saying that.

"I just wanted to make it clear that I think about this kind of thing sometimes but I know we're already going too fast" Shizuri continued anyway, as if she was delving into daydreams "Maybe in about two or three years when you graduate from high school. We don't have to worry about the rest, we have money after all."

"Eh? Shi -"

"A simple ceremony maybe, just for close friends...not that I have many but that will change, I promise" She wasn't even listening to the world around her anymore "I think the hardest thing will be choosing a good place for our honeymoon. Maybe a trip of at least a month around the globe is the best option."

"Kami-yan's disease is indeed a wonderful thing, don't you think?" Commented 'Aihana', letting out a chuckle as Shizuri continued speaking softly now "I'm no expert but this sounds like an acute version to me. Maybe she's spending too much time with you?"

"I don't know where you heard this, but there is no such thing as this bullshit" Touma retorted categorically "And following your logic, I am infected with the 'Shizu-chan disease'"

"I like that nickname" Shizuri said that and grabbed his arm, getting as close as she could "I should find one for you too, like Tou-chan"

"Please, not that. The implications are a bit strange" He waved his arm as he spoke that nervously.

"Then maybe I should call you by classic nicknames. How about Darling? Or do you prefer Honey?" For some reason she started whispering in his ear.

"My god... we are in public, get a grip you two" Aihana complained, however she was smiling, as if enjoying the scene in front of her.

"Don't be an inconvenience, third wheel." Said Shizuri, without even looking at the pink-haired girl "If you can't take the 'heat' just walk away"

"That was a bit rude, don't you think?" 'Aihana' kept smiling.

"It's just a suggestion. And you're taking it a little too well, don't you think? " Shizuri pronounced this slowly and with a debauched smile on her face.

Aihana' tilted her head at that moment. The two of them couldn't see, but a right fist was clenched under the table at that moment.

"So you're going to start mocking my speech patterns are you?" The mystery girl suddenly became serious "Not a wise thing considering that your team keeps talking super and basically. And in the first case, just like mine, it's because of..."

Stopping talking suddenly, the girl took a short breath and then stood up from the table. She stared into the void for a second while Touma and Shizuri looked at her with neutral expressions.

"I have to go now." She turned her back on the two of them. Her voice lacked the energy of before "I did what you asked, so don't go dying today and make my efforts be in vain."

Without waiting for any response, the girl known as Aihana Etsu walked quickly to the exit. At that moment, a waitress arrived with a plate of food and put it on the table.

"That was a little strange" Shizuri commented softly, looking through the window to try to see the girl who had just left. "I feel a little bad now for saying that"

"Shizuri, did you order this for me? Thank you" Touma said, starting to eat his plate of curry. "I really wanted to eat curry today."

All the boy got as an immediate response was Shizuri frowning.

xxxx-xxxx

Night had fallen in Academy City, which meant that darkness was fighting for dominance in that place of science. One of the members of this darkness was Kakine Teitoku, the second strongest esper. At this moment, Kakine was in a building that appeared to be abandoned, which was strange considering the kind of request he received.

"Am I late? Not that it matters, of course." He looked around in the dimly lit corridor, checking the glass windows that showed the interiors of the various rooms in the facility. "No, this place is all rusty. What's supposed to be important here? I probably got the wrong information. If it keeps going like this I'll never finish it."

At that moment, number 2 noticed something on the floor. It appeared to be paint. Unlike everything else around it, it was obviously fresh, which puzzled Kakine. That line of white paint followed through the corridors of the dark and almost collapsing place, snaking around the corners as if trying to guide someone to a specific destination.

"It ends here. Some vandal broke into this place or..."

Without finishing his sentence, Kakine nonchalantly kicked the metal door, causing it to fly open after being ripped off its hinges. The place he was in was a large, gray room with practically nothing but a few building materials here and there. The place itself was not what caught the blond boy's attention, but the people who were there.

"Look, he's here" A boy's voice echoed through that huge, empty room.

"Damn, what a bad time" This time it was a female voice that sounded "We'll continue this later, if only in the hospital"

"What the hell is going on here?" Kakine walked through that empty room, getting closer to those two teenagers sitting there.

"Hey there number 2, it's been a while"

"I have a name you know? It's Kakine Teitoku, by the way" He said with a cocky smile "It's good to see you again, Meltdowner and... Kamijou Touma. Looks like I'm really in the right place"

Those two troubled teenagers were at this moment standing near a gray wall. Touma had his back resting on it while sitting, but Shizuri didn't want to sit on the cold floor, so she preferred to use her boyfriend's lap as a seat. They both stood up as soon as the girl reluctantly let go of her boyfriend, to whom she was clinging and with her head on his shoulder.

"So you guys are really something" He continued, circling his hands in his pockets, seeking to understand what this place was "A love in the dark. If Gokusai were here she would start talking about how inspiring this is or something like that"

"Don't you ever get tired of talking?" Shizuri asked after a roll of her eyes.

"Feel free to try to shut me up...although we know what the outcome would be" He continued smiling smugly "Don't tell me you lured me here for a rematch?"

"Not really" Shizuri crossed her arms and shook her head. Her tone of voice was also somewhat arrogant "I haven't recovered from my injuries yet... they still hurt a bit actually. So I decided to listen to my boyfriend and let him work it out on his own."

"Huh?"

Finally Kakine had stopped smiling. He narrowed his eyes at that girl who began to display a shit-eating grin for some reason he didn't understand. His eyes changed their target when the spiky haired boy handed something to Meltdowner and smoothed down the fingerless biker gloves he was wearing. It was a silver ring that he had removed from his right hand.

"Keep this for now, I don't want to damage it during the fight" He said, snapping his fingers.

"Okay. I'll wait outside. Don't take too long, I want to continue what we were doing before we were rudely interrupted" She cast a startled glance in Kakine's direction.

"I guess I'm a little lost in all this" Dark Matter smiled again as he saw all that theater from the two of them. Actually he let out a laugh "Do you really intend to take me on? You, a level 0? Against me, the #2 and future #1 of Academy City?"

"Well... you hurt my girlfriend, that was not nice at all" Touma replied, shrugging nonchalantly, as if he wasn't a few feet away from a monster "I won't be able to sleep in peace until I give that smug face of yours a good punch"

"You can't be serious. I don't know what kind of strategy or crazy plan you came up with, but I'm not the kind of opponent that can be defeated with something like that" Kakine suddenly became serious, removing his hands from his pockets "Give up now, I have no interest in slaughtering weak people, this city already does that enough every day"

"What a load of crap" spat Shizuri, approaching Touma "Anyway, time for a confidence boost before I leave"

Kakine watched as the girl smiled and then said something in a whisper in her boyfriend's ear, who seemed to like what she said. Not satisfied, she gave him a quick kiss and then raised her middle finger at the dirty blond, who just ignored her and cleared his throat loudly. Academy City's number 2 stared at the spiky-haired boy who didn't seem intimidated at all. As soon as the girl left that room, Kakine went back to talking to that insolent level 0.

"I took the trouble to check your name in the database and found that you are indeed a level 0" Kakine put one hand in his pocket and lifted his chin "It's still kind of hard to believe that someone like you somehow got a level 5 girlfriend, the proud #4 on top of that"

"Are you jealous?" he scoffed, also putting a hand in his pocket.

The answer that was given was a slight click of the tongue. #2 had heard enough. It was obvious that boy would not be convinced to give up with just words, so he would be forced to use violence. The wind around Kakine seemed to suddenly become restless, and soon six white wings that seemed not to belong to this world sprouted from his back.

"This is my last warning" Kakine said, pointing one of the wings at his opponent "These wings are made with my Dark Matter. Even though I don't apply any extra special qualities, they are tough enough to withstand a railgun, number 3's strongest attack. That means you would need an attack strong enough to destroy a nuclear shelter if you want to have a chance to touch me."

"Thanks for the tip, I'll keep it in mind" Touma replied casually, smoothing the glove on his right hand.

Those two looked at each other before the first move was made. The spiky-haired boy was only 20 meters away from Level 5, but that distance quickly diminished as he shot full speed towards his opponent, who just smiled nonchalantly.

"I have never seen anyone run to death so willingly"

Kakine said this and immediately one of his wings flew towards the boy. The speed of that attack was amazing, but level 0 was not intimidated. A single step to the side was enough to avoid that attack that could end the fight right there, but the number 2 didn't even move or make any kind of reaction. Another wing was swung from top to bottom like an axe, but once again the boy dodged it with a casual step.

If it were another type of opponent, he would have been worried to see the boy now so close, in punching range, however Kakine didn't even bother to leave his place. Kamijou Touma's right fist was swung towards the face of the level 5, who put a smile on his face as he used his six wings as a shield. Not only that, but his Dark Matter could also be used as a small invisible, malleable shield around his skin that protected him from minor impacts. But to him, that didn't matter now. Not when his wings were tougher than a tank's armor... but still, what seemed impossible happened.

"What?!" That was the only word Kakine Teitoku could say.

The smile on that Level 5's face crumbled the instant a sharp sound of breaking glass echoed through that gray room. The wings made of that material that could not be found naturally anywhere in the universe, tore apart like wet paper the instant that fist crashed into them. Number 2's mind went blank, he tried to redo his calculations but it was too late. That fist only stopped when it met its destiny: the nose of that arrogant blond boy. A deafening impact was heard, and intense pain soon invaded the body of the level 5, who flew for a few meters and fell backwards on the cold ground.

Kakine Teitoku didn't know how to react to that. He remained on that floor trying to process what had happened. His hand was brought up to his face, coming back red from the blood dripping from his broken nose. That attack that almost made him lose consciousness also left him with an expression of confusion and surprise on his face. He was so perplexed that he practically forgot to feel pain at that instant. From his point of view, that punch coming from a supposed level 0 had enough force to break through a shield capable of withstanding mortar fire.

"Impressive" The Level 0's voice sounded as Kakine slowly stood up and wiped away the blood with his right hand. Level 5 looked up just in time to see the other boy put a strange smile on his face "One blow wasn't enough. You're tougher than I thought... #2"

And with those words spoken by that level 0 in a disdainful tone, Kakine Teitoku looked at his opponent with hatred in his eyes. The real fight was beginning.

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Sup everybody! In this chapter we once again had Touma interacting with his friends at school. I put an overdose of references in this scene, did you get any?

Shizuri and "Aihana" meet again, the last time was in chapter 4, but they talked on the phone after that, and they keep teasing each other. By the way, did anyone notice before that "Aihana" likes to say "Don't you think" quite often, or only when Shizuri teased her? I tried to make it subtle, since she doesn't say it as often as Kinuhata says "Super", and it's also an expression that several characters use from time to time.

Kakine and Touma have gone head-to-head, and for now, our spiky-haired "Hero" is getting the better of the situation. The next chapter will have almost their entire fight, and for those of you who have not read the "Dark Matter" manga, you may be a little confused.

Now… looking at the reviews:

5queso: Thank you. I am trying to balance the romance with the drama, hopefully I am succeeding. Yomikawa is proud of her student LOL. Now you know why it will be violent xD.

KHVSFF: Technically speaking, we will have "people making magic" in the next arc, but I can't say more than that. Index and other characters from the magic side will probably appear in the next arc, sooner or later, I haven't decided yet. I'm glad you liked it. In my headcanon, Shizuri liked to play games as a child, as she made a very specific reference to RPG games once. In the novels, Shizuri doesn't like to open up like this, but here she has found someone who can understand her, Touma also doesn't like to say what he really feels unless she is on edge, so they have this in common. The two Yanderes will meet eventually xD Thank you very much as always.

Aiman031122: Nice to hear that you liked it so much. Touma certainly impressed with his choice of gift. The next chapter will be on Friday if all goes well. Thanks.

We only have two more chapters of this first arc. This is the biggest of them all since the others planned won't be half as long as this one, unless I get carried away. Aaand… that's it. Nio leaving.