Once again, out of near infinity you all returned here. Hello again readers, don't got much to say other than damn my backlog may be increasing now considering all the ideas that keep flowing out. Remember Criticism is both encouraged and desired now onto reviews.

Whwsms:{Indeed, however Shirai is going to need to find them first before the can arrest any one of them

Indeed this is something that I think would happen and yeah… never mess with Othi or Touma will be mad

Misaki- Misaki let the tragedies begin.}

DarkMatter69:{Glad to see a new face commenting (if you've made comments before sorry that I didn't notice/forgot) Yep Touma's not generally used to dealing with people who know about his mem-loss. But don't forget, this is the guy who's mental fortitude allowed him to power through infinite hells.}

Comrade-Elmo1:{Hello again my Soviet muppet Friend! It appears you've caught up now

Im… both shocked and glad you love Muireann the preciousness she has was purely unintentional I just thought, it fits it's perfect for her.

Same ahah! Othinus would totally just spend hours online watching anime while claiming it was for 'research purposes'

tsun Touma indeed it was out of character now wasn't it?

Oh please lets not give anyone Ideas Komoe already does various things to Touma… various.

Ahem… Housewife, Kamijou is a , housewife.

Saten has a nact for asking some dangerous questions doesn't she and yeah Touma needs to learn to keep his mouth shut sometimes.

Yeah if you do, Touma will pull a KnT on yah, so your a Touma-sadist like Mr? interesting. Fucking agreed, No pres can beat Roberto in based-chad levels.}

5had0wHand:{Indeed, what shall Touma do now that Misaki is here?

Um n-no… as cool as that would be it doesn't make much sense narratively.

Eh I'm indifferent to this one

Quick! Check the Aogami list! If there isn't a girl we've seen already that fits these descriptions then he might have a chance… wait Mina exists… and Ladybird is dead…. He may still have a chance at a Kitsune girl though!

By the way you posted this review twice}

Now let this tale of an infinity commence once more!

Chapter 23

A Silent Tragedy: forever forgotten

Everyone stayed still in silence as Touma asked that sorrowful question, even Index felt sorry for the honey blond pervert Misaki. Index glanced over to her seeing her face close to tears, teeth grit in silent suffering as she saw the look on Touma's face.

Misaki then let out a breath she had been holding, sighed then smiled. "Nothing Kamijou-san, you have done nothing, you never have." She then glared at aogami a fury present that told Index she was not happy with his comment. "You should let me be handling my own problems, I get you call yourself my prince's friend. But that is no reason to but into my business ability!" Her voice was oddly mature for her age though so was her body, and it was stern.

Aogami well, he was enjoying the scolding "aaahhhh~ a beautiful young girl is scolding me for revealing a dark secret she wish to keep hidden please more!" yeah Index was sure that shameless blue haired pervert didn't learn anything.

Touma shook his head and got up, pushing past both Tsuchimikado and Aogami, the former staying silent while the latter shouted an indignant complaint. He stood in front of Misaki and was about to bow his head when Misaki grabbed him, keeping him from breaking eye contact.

Misaki then spoke softly "if you want to say something to me there is no need for you to humble yourself like that." Even Index could tell that wasn't the real reason behind her action so it was obvious Touma would notice too.

And he did appear to do so as he spoke "I don't have any excuses for what I've done, I've forgotten you time and time again. I'm not sure how long this has gone on but I don't even deserve your friendship for my sin against you." His words denied the idea that he had done nothing wrong and he looked Misaki strait in the eyes "I cannot make this up to you, but I'll at least try so, can you give this selfish Kamijou-san one more chance?"

Misaki's eyes watered and she was already in tears, as if Touma's words merely made her hurt more. "Stop that! Stop blaming yourself! You think you willingly forgot me!? You think you chose to be unable to remember me!? Stop that! Your insistent apologies for things you never did hurts most of all!" Misaki shouted at Touma, the entire restaurant had gone silent after Aogami's initial shout.

All eyes were on the two old acquaintances trying to comfort the other. "I hate it when you apologize for forgetting me, I hate it when you apologize for not being there to save someone. I hate it when you try to shoulder all the blame, I hate it when you think you need to put everyone before you, I hate it, I hate it I hate it!" she then took a breath as her eyes were red. "But most of all, I hate it when you take the blame for things that others are responsible for."

Touma, Index, Tsuchi, Aogami, Misaka, Saten, and even Othinus who showed avid dislike of Misaki. Were all staring in shocked silence before Touma spoke up "what else am I supposed to do? I won't bring others into my own problems unless I have to, I can't let others suffer for my own sake. So what else am I meant to think, to say, to do when I hear because I can't remember someone. That they are suffering because of it?" He glanced to the side, nervous and upset.

Misaki smiled "just be you, Yeah it hurts to keep being forgotten about, especially since I know it's my fault. But It hurts way more to see you feel you need to ask for forgiveness from me. The one who caused your condition to begin with." her smile was melancholic echos of sadness and a time lost to all but her.

Index noticed her wording and couldn't help but want to ask, but Touma beat her to it. "What do you mean? How… how are you responsible for my condition? What condition?" his eyes were cautious but they held an undeniable curiosity.

Misaki paused and then spoke "You know what the number five's ability is, yes?" Touma nodded "which means you know my ability thanks to your tactless friend over there" she glanced at Aogami who's closed eyes somehow showed a soft respect and rapt attention. Touma once again nodded "Well I won't go into much detail, as It retreads memories I'd rather you not relive even now but." Misaki took a deep breath before continuing.

"A while back, you saved me multiple times and in doing so you got yourself heavily injured by a piece of metal shrapnel. You were bleeding out and you wouldn't reach the hospital in time so they needed to provide first aid. However the pain from taking the shrapnel out would have caused you to die of shock. And anesthetics would merely have made you bleed out sooner." Touma's eyes were slowly widening. "So I had to use my ability on you to cut off your sense of pain so you would reach the hospital in time. But you blood pressure was too low, and because of my ability your brain was damaged, specifically the part that recalls and stores information about me." Misaki finished and the silence was deafening.

Touma's face had a look of shock and realization "o-oh, so when..." he paused as if keeping a thought to himself before continuing "It.. really was out of my control then, but that doesn't mean I don't hold part of the blame."

Misaka shouted in anger "And how the hell do you think that you idiot!, Oi Shokuhou tell- " she paused seeing Misaki's finger go to her mouth.

Misaki looked a little annoyed but she also seemed curious "and why is that?" she asked Touma.

Touma took out his phone and opened the reminders "Because even if I forgot you, I should have remembered that I had brain damage and have worked towards getting it fixed. That way you wouldn't need to restart every single time we met." he smiled at her. "So," he held up his phone's screen and Index saw it for a split second "From now on, I'll have a reminder here, a reminder on my table, a reminder wherever I need it. To tell me to find a way to fix it, then once I've done that. Let's start over If you think that you'll need to forever be forgotten and that you'll never get a miracle that you've been waiting for" Touma's eyes burned with determination and Index felt herself smiling. "I'll shatter that illusion for you!"

On that phone, lie a certain reminder and it read 'There is someone you need to remember, but your brain is too damaged to recall, don't rush.-Kamijou' a simple reminder but one that would be highly effective. Index only saw a glimpse but that's all she needed to burn it into her memory. Misaki smiled and laughed "You certainly know how to make me happy Kamijou-san! Alright, I'll wait for that day, but don't think I won't be seeing you before then my prince." She then turned to leave before calling back "Especially if you need help" and then she was gone, Misaka rushing after her, seeming to have something on her mind.

And like she was never there to begin with, Touma blinked before asking "So, what did I do to make Misaka storm off this time?"

Othinus spoke up first "oh, the usual, you're an oblivious idiot!" as she kicked Touma's hand causing him to pull it back.

Touma however looked at her suspiciously before asking Index "is that true?"

Index smirked to herself but kept a neutral expression "Hmph!" and turned her head to the side. Touma now slightly panicked turned to Aogami and Tsuchimikado "Please tell me what I did!?" Aogami glared at Touma "Bastard Kami-yan! Stop showing off you're harem skills!" Chiming in Tsuchimikado continued "Nyah! How cruel of you Kami-yan girl's clearly heads over heels for you how can you not see it!" Touma then finally turned to Saten tears in his eyes which looked pretty comical to Index "won't you tell me what I did?" Saten shook her head "that ship has sailed" And once more a certain cry was heard from the Joseph's restaurant

"Such Misfortune!"