A short, dark haired girl entered the campus of a certain university, dressed in shorts and a tank top.

She wore some small and fancy sunglasses while adorning a white flat cap hat, all the while carrying a floral bag in front of her, held by her two dainty hands. Around her neck was a lanyard. Attached was a visitors badge, something quite common and per standard given the nature of security in Academy City, but particularly important for this specific university. Her sandals finished off and complemented the summer style to a tee.

On a bright hot day such as this, where the sun beamed down strongly on the denizens of the city, such a look was quite common and pretty fashionable.

So Kazari Uiharu hoped.

From time to time the computer wizard would check her fancy smartphone to make sure she was going in the right direction. She would peer up and look down, sometimes in rapid succession, hoping that she had made the correct turns. Kazari had been told by Misaki that she could not meet her outside, but the Level 5 had been prudent enough to give as exact a direction as possible to the Level 1. Despite her own anxieties and worries, Kazari was able to stay on track for the moment, and it was only a matter of time until she reached an entrance leading to the apartment complex housing Kuroko and Misaki.

The familiarity of the place was slowly washing over her at this point. Kazari had visited Kuroko a number of times before, but being guided or simply teleported around the campus and complex was a poor method in learning and memorising where exactly everything was. Entering this specific in-campus dormitory reinforced said familiarity, and her slightly anxious deposition for the day faded for the moment. She took off her sunglasses, no longer needing them for protection against the sun or prying eyes, placing them in her pretty floral bag.

Seeing the receptionists at their desk reminded her of a specific instruction: to simply ignore them.

Kazari reckoned that it was some kind of mental trickery by Mental Out, so she followed the instructions precisely. As she approached the desk, seeking to walk by it, she naturally worried that one of the two persons at the counter would halt her. Chancing a gaze towards them, she noticed the ominous stars in their eyes, sending a tiny little chill down Kazari's back. Now fully walking by them without even an attempt at stopping her, she let out the breath she was holding and continued towards the elevators.

Kazari whipped out her smartphone again, peering at her notes. It told her the standard stuff she needed for this final part of the journey: the floor, corridor and room number. At this point it was just a simple procedure. She took the elevator, wincing at the deceleration at the top, and strode onto the floor she was told to land on. Looking at the markers, Kazari quickly deduced where exactly she needed to go, absorbing the familiarness from the few teleportations that placed her in this part of the dorm over the past few months.

Then she arrived at the corridor, and then the door to the room.

Taking in a breath, she landed a few knocks with her fist on the large chunk of polished, rectangular wood. Kazari waited for a few moments, attempting to listen in on any approaching footsteps. She gathered that the door - and the room as a whole - must have been very well soundproofed; she only heard the pitter-pat of footsteps a second before the locking mechanism began to clunk and shift.

The opening door revealed the elegant and proper Misaki Shokuhou, dressed in her own casual wear. She wore a simple gown that stretched from her shoulders to her ankles, as well as the barest of makeup, finished with her usual white gloves. Clearly Misaki was not intent on going outside today, but she still wished to present a fine appearance to her guest.

"Welcome Kazari-san, a pleasant trip? I hope the instructions were easy to read?" Misaki said, pulling the door fully open and beckoning the computer wizard to enter her shared domain. Kazari smiled and nodded.

"Ah yes, yes to both!" Kazari said a little rapidly, still feeling a little awkward around Misaki. She had never quite shaken it off despite how much she warmed up to her over the years, even as she grew to consider her a friend. The Judgement member tended to put it down to the aura of a Level 5 clashing with her lowly status as a Level 1.

"Wonderful! I assume the receptionists gave you no issues either?" Misaki continued, sure of her abilities and that a positive answer was forthcoming.

"No problems at all." Kazari paused. "I guess that was just about security? For us and Kuroko, I mean." She questioned politely. Misaki nodded and hummed.

"I'm afraid so. It's unfortunate, but with Misaka-san on the move…" Misaki trailed off, unsure as to what to add. But Kazari understood the issue clearly.

"I'm sure even the professionals take procedures akin to this, I understand."

Kazari, upon stepping into the short little hallway, took off her sandals and placed them beside the collection of shoes that made a home near the door. Misaki went on ahead, walking around the corner and towards the sofas. Kazari followed her a few moments later, enjoying the pleasant aroma of a recently stewed soup.

"Ohhh, I smell chicken?" Kazari commented curiously. Misaki hummed another little laugh, turning to face the younger woman from her position on the sofa with a smile on her face.

"Indeed. I made some chicken soup for Kuroko, but there's plenty for you too if you would like?" Misaki offered, but Kazari shook her head.

"Oh thank you but it's alright, I don't want to take any away from Kuroko and yourself."

"I appreciate that, if you are sure?"

"Yup, no worries!" The pair liked the back and forth in pleasantries, but Misaki had to admit that it would be best to keep as much of the soup to Kuroko and herself. Kazari quickly changed the subject. "May I ask how Kuroko is doing?" Her own smile grew a little smaller and a sympathetic look appeared on her face. Kuroko was her best friend, and the news of her attack and illness worried the dark-haired teenager to no end.

"You may, and she is doing better today. Not by much, but the progress is clear." Misaki spoke hopefully, though she was still cautious with her diagnosis. Kazari's smile returned in full force at the answer, glad that Kuroko was at least making progress against her sickness and injuries.

"Must be your chicken soup!"

"Ah you flatter me, Kazari-san! ✨"

The sudden cheerful nature of their interactions would start to fade as the two settled by the sofas, with Kazari now heading over to the living room arrangement. She took the middle sofa, sitting on the edge closest to Misaki. The middle table held a teapot and two cups and saucers, which Misaki proceeded to make and pour some tea. Kazari happily accepted the refreshment, allowing it to cool before she took a sip. With that, Misaki began to talk about the matter in hand, the crux of her reasoning for Kazari to be here today. She started with a quick apology.

"I apologise for contacting you over Saten-san. I know she runs your branch but I needed your skills specifically." Misaki said, careful not to demean Kazari's presence by highlighting her talent with computers. Kazari shook her head with a smile, clearly not taking offence.

"That's quite alright, Shokuhou-san-"

"Misaki-san is fine." Misaki cut in with a smile, her voice still soft but her cutting presence keeping the conversation under her control. Kazari giggled a little awkwardly.

"Oh, of course! M-Misaki-san…" Kazari stammered before returning to what she was meaning to say before the interruption. "But um, Saten-san would have probably sent me anyway if you wanted her instead; she's been a little busy with a missing persons case she picked up recently." She explained in depth, excusing the official leader of the branch.

"Ah, that's quite understandable." Misaki said with a nod. "Is it going well?"

"I'm not sure, but she's being very diligent! I think she mentioned setting up one of those picture boards with the strings at some point, hehe." Kazari felt hopeful over Ruiko's attempt at spreading her wings. Everyone knew that, in reality, it was Kuroko who led the branch through the weight of her reputation and the strength of Esper powers. Many would call her the symbol of Judgement.

But Ruiko had a strong spirit, something that Kazari had always admired, which could fight through that undermining aura. Misaki was inclined to agree.

"Hehe, mhm mhm, I've always marvelled at her determination ability! I hope the case goes well for her."

"Me too!" Kazari beamed, her hopes in Ruiko always strong and supportive. After a brief pause, with the two women taking a drink of their milk tea, the conversation continued. "Well, onto our case?"

"Indeed." Misaki agreed, her expression slipping from cheery and welcoming to serious and professional. "I assume you're able to access the Anti-Skill databases, yes?" Mental Out began with a fair assumption, knowing Kazari's skills at hacking even the most water-tight security protocols. Kazari nodded slowly, affirming Misaki's foreknowledge.

"Yes… with or without their permission."

"Mhm, so I assume your information on Mikoto Misaka will be quite similar to that of my clique." Misaki said, it being more of a statement than a question.

"Potentially? There may be bits and pieces we have independently of each other..?" Kazari was cautious to not get ahead of Misaki or herself, wishing to allow the blonde to say or ask whatever she wished instead of throwing unnecessary information into the mix. She was also curious as to what Misaki was getting at, and would soon receive her answer.

"Most likely, which is why I would like your branch and Junko Hokaze to coordinate with each other on this matter. She's my second and does most of the work, I should add."

Now it was clear as to why Misaki had invited her over for a chat. Kazari did not know much about the inner workings of Level 5s, but she had known about some of them having these kinds of groups or cliques. Frankly, Kazari thought, they were more akin to gangs, given a semi-official pass to do certain activities by the authorities thanks to their leaders being Level 5s - and thus nigh-untouchable themselves.

But for an official line of law enforcement to work directly with one? That was something that Kazari was quite uncomfortable with. She tried not to show it, and to keep an open mind on it, but her uneasiness leaked out through the words from her mouth.

"I'm… not too sure. It seems a little unethical…" Kazari struggled to find the right words, keen on not offending Misaki. But the blonde took no issue with it, understanding the moral quandary that Kazari was facing.

But Misaki was adamant, and with good reason.

"Perhaps, but we are dealing with a mentally unstable Level 5." That was something that neither of the women could deny. According to the scant data the pair had, this changed Railgun was a serious danger now. "We've seen how Misaka-san has treated Kuroko, and she has already threatened to retaliate against my clique."

Kazari raised an eyebrow.

"Retaliate over what?"

"A phone number… but she was looking to strike against me regardless." Misaki answered, trying to avoid the topic of the phone number. It worked for the moment, as the talk of Mikoto looking to attack Mental Out stood out.

"Over what?"

"Kuroko."

"Kuroko..?" Kazari had to double take. Why would Mikoto be interested in Kuroko now, she wondered. "But why… she-"

"I do not know." A half-lie by Misaki, though she did not want to give credence to Mikoto's accusation from yesterday. "I have always been unable to read her because of her powers blocking mine, and in her current state..?" She briefly looked away, trying to ignore a probability that frightened the blonde, before finishing. "...the possible reasons are endless."

Kazari watched the Level 5 closely with as passive an expression as possible. Misaki's powers always intimidated her, but she could not shake off the feeling that there was something more to this. It concerned her, but she did not wish to provoke a remote-based response from Misaki. It would do her no use to be openly challenging her on this, so she simply nodded, hummed and responded.

"Hmm… worrying." Kazari's double entendre was not lost on her, but she pressed forward. "I'm not particularly comfortable with this, but if Kuroko is in danger then it must be done." Despite her concerns over Misaki, she was far more concerned over Kuroko's wellbeing. Misaki's smile returned, along with a slight nod to the head.

"Thank you for understanding, Kazari-san."

"No no, it's fine." Kazari said to reassure her, appreciating the severity of the situation. "Plus you're in danger too! You've done a lot for Kuroko, it's only fair we work together." The dark-haired girl also appreciated the risks that Misaki was taking in confronting Mikoto, directly or indirectly. Kazari knew that the games being played by the Level 5s were dangerous, but that Misaki - and Kuroko by extension - needed the help.

"Thank you, dear." Misaki said, touched by the caring nature of Kazari. She suspected the girl's own suspicions, but was fine in leaving her to stew in them, returning to the matter at hand. "Here's the contact details for my second in command. I'm sure you can both arrange all the little details to make the operations move smoothly." The blonde presented a small piece of paper in her gloved hand. Kazari grasped it, keeping it folded and placing it within her own grasp.

"Of course, Misaki-san." There was another awkward pause from Kazari, who looked uncertain. Misaki noticed this, tilting her head as if to beckon the woman to speak. Kazari's brow twitched and furrowed before she sought permission. "May I ask you something?"

"Anything you like, Kazari-san." Misaki blinked, tilting her head straight. Her passive abilities were giving her an inclination of what Kazari was about to ask, but she allowed the conversation to continue to flow naturally. Kazari spoke up.

"Why have you not taken Kuroko to the hospital?" Kazari questioned, her tone seasoned with a sprinkle of confusion and uncertainty. "She's been in hospital for things far less worse than this." She alluded to the history of Kuroko's many visits to the hospital, a well known fact to all of her friends and colleagues. Kazari felt as if something was missing, again.

"Well…" Misaki felt a little cornered, but there was a truth behind her real reasoning. "...well, I was fearful of what Misaka-san would do." She stammered a little, but the reality of her feelings was enough to mostly convince Kazari. The dark-haired girl wished to garner some more clarity, so she continued her line of questioning, ignoring a nagging feeling in the back of her head that something was still awry.

"Do you really think Misaka-san would sneak into the hospital or something?"

"She already has, apparently, hacked into or grabbed wherever the admittances are stored." Misaki said with some concern, but Kazari was thrown off again.

"How would you-" She tried to speak, but Misaki was quick to intervene.

"I called her." Misaki quickly interrupted, leaving Kazari's mouth to awkwardly hang open a little as she remembered the phone number detail from earlier. Mental Out could sense the confusion and concern emanating from Kazari, akin to a sonar beep, and quickly went to excuse her actions.

"I had her number for emergencies. I have the numbers for all the Level 5s." It was a little white lie on Misaki's part. She was missing a few, but the excuse sounded far more reasonable with some embellishment. Still, Kazari accepted the reasoning, slowly closing her mouth and nodding before proceeding to speak again.

"I see… now all this safety makes even more sense if she's um, stalking?"

"Yes… the security here is tighter, and it would cause a lot more fuss if she tried to force her way into the university grounds." Misaki explained, leaving Kazari to swallow her fresh bundle of nerves and anxiety. A Level 5 potentially stalking her as well? Her association with Kuroko, and thus Misaki, meant the possibility was there, and it was frightening.

"She can't stay underground if she barges in or rummages around like a ferret." Misaki then finished while Kazari's thoughts were a swirl of worry. The dark-haired girl hummed, quickly coming to a conclusion.

"So it doesn't really matter if Misaka-san knows that Kuroko lives in the university grounds…"

"No." Misaki shook her head. "She needs to know the precise location to avoid tripping any alarms, hence my caution." Misaki finished, hoping she had not jinxed her ace.

The conversation between the Level 5 and the Level 1 continued with the two wrapping up some minor details. As they spoke, Kazari quickly went to her bag on the kitchen worktop, digging out her phone and adding Junko Hokaze to her contact list; she would send a text and call her later. She speedily returned to the sofa, where Misaki and herself finished a few cups of tea. The chat was starting to come to a close now, and Kazari was feeling ready to head back to the branch office, shuffling in her seat from the eagerness to get started with this plan of theirs.

But Misaki had something else on her mind, one more issue that needed to be addressed. She remembered it earlier in the chat, but left it until now to bring it up.

"One final thing, Kazari-san." Misaki started, catching the full attention of Kazari once more. The girl looked up from her final, empty cup of tea.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Keep an eye on that new recruit of yours… Yoshika-san, is it?" Misaki asked, leaving Kazari to raise a curious eyebrow at the strange request.

"Um, yes, Yoshika Kohaku… why?" Kazari stammered a little, while Misaki attempted to be cautious.

"...she's new. I would like to make sure that she is a good fit for your branch."

"Oh." Kazari simply uttered, failing to convey her distaste for the request. She was already pushing herself with the collaboration request, recognising the importance of friends and allies to work together against a great threat.

But to spy on her work colleague? Kazari needed far more details for her to even consider it.

"Well, she's done a good job so far, unless there's something more you haven't told me?" Kazari stated, pushing Misaki to explain her true reasoning. Misaki visibly hesitated, and for a split moment she considered using her powers to reverse course. She pushed that temptation aside however, her mouth parting as she awkwardly told the truth.

"I, well, I couldn't access her mind."

"Ah…" Kazari said at first, disappointed, before the full weight of the reason hit her. "Wait, what?"

"Indeed…" Misaki confirmed softly before continuing with an apology. "I apologise for the overstep, but times like these tend to justify the free usage of my powers." Despite the apology, she was still keen on justifying herself. Mental Out often felt it was within her right to use her powers as she wished, particularly in the current rocky circumstances, and this was no different. That, and the usage of her abilities was proven to be right in this specific case, at least to her.

She still had to consider the 'public relations' angle however.

"But being blocked out of her mind is quite a, how do you say, red flag?" Misaki finished, and Kazari could not help but agree. It was difficult to not find it suspicious.

"No, I… devices such as that, to block out telepathy, they are quite rare." Kazari stated, relying on her own knowledge of such things. "My only other explanation would be that she might be naturally immune to it." But she tried to give Yoshika the benefit of the doubt. Esper powers came in all shapes and sizes, and new kinds of abilities were discovered every week. Misaki was unsure, but she gave some credence to the thought.

"What's her Esper level and ability?" Mental Out asked curiously.

"I'm told she's a Level 2, and it's something to do with data and computers… it's why I greenlit her employment. It's nice to have a backup in the office." Kazari explained, offering her own perspective on the girl. It was not like she did not enjoy her company either, though she had always understood Kuroko's hesitance at expanding the branch, especially with new recruits over transfers.

"Hmm."

"I'll keep an eye on her though. I assume you've asked Hokaze-san to do the same?" Kazari relented on the matter, again understanding the need for caution and safety in these trying times. She was not comfortable with it but felt that it needed to be done, even if she was only planning a light tough approach.

"I have, and thank you."

The two set down their tea cups onto the table, and Kazari proceeded to have a little stretch. It had been around an hour at this point, and her limbs were already a little sore from all the walking. Kazari went to get up from her seated position.

"Well, I'll be off then?"

"Ah, yes that is everything, so you are free to go." Misaki finished with a little humoured hum, smiling at the now departing computer wizard.

"Heh, gotcha." Kazari walked towards the kitchen worktop, grabbing the floral patterned bag that she had placed there not long ago. While her body turned towards the exit, her head tilted to Misaki for one last time. "Send my regards to Kuroko"

"I will, have a good day Kazari-san."

"You too, see you!" Kazari spoke over her shoulder, seeing herself out. Misaki followed a few steps behind as Kazari opened the door and walked through the archway, grabbing the handle on the other end and softly pulling it to. Misaki, on instinct, grabbed the handle on her side, feeling the door close and placing her other hand on the locking mechanism.

Misaki leaned her forehead softly onto the door, breathing out a sigh. She was still weary from the past few days, and it nibbled at her usually bustling confidence. However, the blonde was thankful that her attempts at coordination between her clique and Kuroko's branch were off to a good start. With that, she tried to settle her own little jumble of nerves, happy that she had some advantages over the rogue Railgun.

Suddenly, a noise from the living room.

There was a little tap on the floor, then the unmistakable sound of a string and plastic mechanism pulling at the curtains. Turning, she saw the light from the outside begin to dim as it was cut off, and the sight of the city being closed off by obstructionist cloth. Then as she walked forward from the short hallway, by the edge of the curtains closest to the spare bedroom, was a half-naked Kuroko, dressed only in pants and ever so slightly slouching where she stood.

"Kuroko?" Misaki called out, unsure as to how she got to that position. She looked towards the bedroom door and noted that it was still closed. ' Did she teleport? ' Misaki wondered, thrown-off by the lack of sound from the Esper-powered activity. Perhaps she had not heard it, but she could not help but feel that her concerns over Kuroko were just being reinforced.

"Keep the blinds closed."

It was straight to the point, the low, croaky statement from her girlfriend.

"Even in the living room?"

"Mm." Kuroko responded with a low hum. "She might be watching."

"Kuroko…"

The paranoia on display was deeply unsettling for Misaki. It was not something that she could ever remember seeing from Kuroko, and the blonde felt compelled to close the distance between the two. She walked forward towards the curtains, past the sofas and to the edge of the window where Kuroko stood. Misaki wrapped her arms around the teleporter, holding her from behind while the Level 4 continued to peer outside the small gap between the curtain and window that she had created.

"Overheard a little." Kuroko then went to speak, skipping words where she could, her energy but a fizzle of what it usually was. "Need to be careful." Misaki hummed and nodded, repressing an obvious counterargument: Would it not be odd for the blinders to be closed during the day? Still, Mental Out figured, she could just reopen them once Kuroko went back to bed.

If she went back to bed.

But what had just happened a moment ago, Kuroko seemingly teleporting next to the strings which closed the blinds, rushed back to the forefront of her mind. Knowing Kuroko for so long, it could only really mean one thing. With resignation, Misaki said the obvious.

"You're pushing yourself again." She said into Kuroko's shoulder.

"Mm… need to go back to classes." She sighed then breathed in deeply with strain. "Have a physical exam soon." Kuroko then finished, peering out of the edge of the curtains to look out towards the glittering spires of the city, seemingly observing for anything odd or threatening..

"But surely you can delay it, sweetheart." Misaki suggested hopefully and sweetly, unable to stop herself from feeling concerned over Kuroko's slight paranoia.

"Already had to once, Judgement duties." Kuroko reminded Misaki, and the worried look on the blonde's face somehow deepend. Kuroko was in no state to do a test, and in more ways than one. Misaki tried to find some kind of logical reasoning to find an out for the teleporter, anything to keep her in her room for just a little longer…

"Too late to try again now." Kuroko suddenly said, interrupting Misaki's internal attempts to find a sound reason to delay the physical exam once more. She pulled away from the blonde's embrace, slipping out of her grasp but placing a small, lingering kiss on her cheek. Kuroko was quickly running out of energy again and had felt compelled to go back to the bedroom, even if her nerves and paranoia begged her to stay by the covered window.

"Got a text, sent a reply, it's happening." Kuroko finished, still struggling for breath. Her breathing was a little quicker to compensate.

Misaki stood there and watched Kuroko slip back into the darkness of their bedroom, her heartbeat now a little quicker, her worries amplifying with every passing moment.