Times Change

by Brosephg

In a world of tragedies, what if a certain tragedy never came to be? What if a bleak destiny was averted, and everything happened differently? AU. Touma X Misaki. Spinoff of A Certain Strange Scenario.

24. It Begins II

And, once the "mating ritual of Kami-yan" was complete, once both Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki were held tightly in one another's arms under the covers of their bed, in their Paradise, once slumber had claimed them both…

Touma's eyelids slid open; yet he was in total, absolute darkness.

Instantly, he was reminded of those infinite hells. Still, ten years later, he was haunted. Still he reeled mentally from the sight of this darkness, his arms grabbing at nothing, emptiness, the void.

"W-W…. W-W… Where is… Misaki…?"

Then, he heard it. A voice that was not a voice; a disembodied, semi-speaking thing which reached out to him. Its vocalizations emerged from every which way at once.

"Hear me, Bearer. Hear me…"

"It's you!" Touma cried aloud; the vocalizations were distant. They echoed throughout this infinite blackness, as if the source of those vocalizations was distant. Touma could see nothing, but somehow simply knew that originator was far away.

"Don't awaken. You are in no danger, Bearer."

"I'll… I'll try not to! I'm listening! Don't drift from me this time, I NEED to talk to you!"

In this infinite darkness, Kamijou Touma clenched his fists. He darted; but didn't get far at all. It was as if he was trying to slog through waters which rose beyond his waist. Yet, there was not a drop of any liquid to be found within this expanse of nothing.

"Can you still hear me?!"

"Yes, Bearer… Don't fade from me, yet. Being in contact with you directly is, admittedly, cathartic. So much have we wrought, so much have we suffered, together. Yet, apart. I consider you my friend, as much as such is possible."

"I couldn't agree more… Imagine Breaker…? You've never told me your name! We've… We've never been able to speak for that long! You've got to have one. "Dragon"? What are you called?!"

"Call me whatever it is you wish, Bearer. Titles are unimportant."

The voice was getting closer. Or, perhaps, Touma was getting closer to it.

"I want…"

Even in this place where there was nothing – a dreamscape, surely – Touma felt that familiar lump beginning to form in his throat. It nearly threatened to choke him out, so large was it becoming.

"We… My wife and I… Misaki… All we want is to… To just have a child of our own. A child we can cherish, and teach, and spoil rotten, and raise together, and love together…"

"And you seek my permission? Why? You need not. From what does your continued desperation to speak with me derive, Bearer?"

"I don't need your permission! I need your word!"

Tears began to flee freely from Touma's eyes, down his cheeks. Each disappeared before they could fall into the nothingness which the young man could somehow walk upon, as if it was earth, or Academy City's cobbled walkways.

"All I need is your word… That nothing will ever happen to our child, because of you."

"You and you alone are my Bearer. This is how it shall be until you are freed from your mortal coil."

"And then…?"

"And then a new Bearer shall be named. A new Bearer shall herald my coming."

"That's exactly what I'm terrified of… I would never want my child to inherit the misfortune I had to deal with all my life. It's what kept Misaki and I from trying for so long."

Though his vision was clouded, Kamijou Touma could see it. It was massive. An enormous, snaking thing, covered in purplish-white scales. Its gaping maw, filled to the absolute brim, and nearly overflowing with sharpened, jagged teeth, its draconic visage was threatening. Monstrous. Its eyes were empty, pulsating with some unknowable energy which occasionally crackled from within its quasi-empty sockets. Horns protruded from the back of its head, curled like those of a ram.

"It's you…"

"Much time since we last looked upon one another, Bearer."

"Not long enough. No offense to you, but… This life I have with Misaki, with Index and Othi-chan… I prefer it a whole lot when I compare it to what we used to deal with. I just want to be with my wife. I just want to love her, and take care of her, and share my everything with her… All we want is to share our love, together, with a child. A child that's ours. Is that really so unreasonable?"

Cracking a smirk, forcing the expression upon his face even as that very same face became even more damp, soaked with free-falling tears, Kamijou Touma reached out to it. It slithered forward, like some sort of predatory serpent coasting upon the earth, parting blades of grass. Its enormous, scale-covered snout was soon pressed against Touma's outstretched right hand.

"C'mon. I don't want to be some shounen protagonist who wanders around picking fights. I've just barely dodged the "harem protagonist" route… Such misfortune. This Kamijou-san is just burnt right out with all of that."

"This is the longest we have maintained contact, Bearer… I regret to inform you, yet, that I feel you fading. The world of the waking is about to take you again."

"It's been really good talking to you. Whenever we talk like this, no matter how short of a time it is, no matter how worthless it might seem, I feel like we get to know each other a little bit better."

Indeed, it was evidently speaking the truth; Kamijou Touma could see the beginnings of cracks forming within the darkness. Emerging from something beyond the darkness, golden-white light was beginning to burst through. The infinite void was shattering like glass; and for a moment, Touma thought he might begin to fall, with nothing to stand upon.

"Bearer, before you depart once again…"

"Hey, WAIT! WAIT! Imagine Breaker! I'm… I'm having a hard time hearing you! C'mon, say something! I'm trying my best, here!"

"You have my word, Bearer… Just as you sought. No harm shall come upon your offspring. Do as you will."

And, so, Kamijou Touma awakened…

The golden-white light had fully punctured the infinite void; inky black tendrils had faded from whence they came, and as if pulled, Kamijou Touma returned to the world of the waking with a start. His brow was cold, plastered in sweat.

Touma's eyelids shot open, and briefly his eyes' vision was stunted by the glowing, golden rays of sunlight beaming in through the window of the Paradise he and his beloved wife shared. The curtains, having been cast apart, allowed the rays' brilliance to shine down upon all within the married couple's bedroom.

It was so warm, so comforting, and so familiar; their bedroom wasn't large, but it didn't have to be.

The spacious bed in which Touma had awoken with his most precious Misaki clinging tightly to him, her arms embracing him and a warm, adoring smile stretching from one ear and to the other upon her face, took up most of the room's space. To its immediate left there was a small walk-in closet that contained the married couple's various outfits. To the immediate right, there was a large shelf, which was almost entirely occupied by baubles of emotional significance to the couple.

One shelf contained Misaki's wedding veil, her gown, which was neatly folded, and the high-heeled shoes Misaki had worn on the day in which she had left the name "Shokuhou Misaki" behind. Next to it was the neatly folded tuxedo which Touma had worn on the day that everything changed for the better. On another shelf there were various trinkets, some of which had been won by the couple at arcades, and some of which had been purchased as gifts.

There was one trinket in particular which sat in a space of its own, of such utmost importance was it.

It was a long, thin silver whistle, which was attached to a thin silver chain. Contained within an ornately-decorated box, resting on its own upon a bed of cotton, the cheap, dinky little plastic whistle meant more to Kamijou Misaki than she ever could have vocalized.

Whatever panic had been now fell from Touma's shoulders, as if he'd cast off a cloak bound around him. It fell away like so much chaff before gusting wind.

Turning as he could without disrupting his wife's embrace, Touma peered at the digital clock which sat upon the nearby nightstand. According to that device, it was nine o'clock AM, right on the nose.

"It's not that early. Besides, I'm sure Misaki wouldn't mind, anyways."

Wrapping his own arms around Kamijou Misaki – his own embrace must have ceased at some point, likely during his habitual nightly tossing and turning – Kamijou Touma closed what little distance there was between them and, pressing his lips gently against his beloved wife's forehead, parted her thick, luscious light blonde bangs. Several kisses he placed there, resting the palms of his hands upon Misaki's defined shoulder blades.

Feeling his wife's bosom pressing against his own chest, their warmth being transferred from Misaki's body to his own, Touma, much to his surprise, felt very little in the way of lewd sensations, or otherwise 'unsavoury' thoughts which could lead into such sensations, inevitably.

Soon, she stirred; and as soon as Misaki laid her golden, starry eyes upon her prince, the smile which had been present upon her features widened even further. Groggily, barely awake, Misaki pushed herself upward and, moaning quietly beneath her breath, directed her husband's face down, towards her. Their lips connected.

"Good morning, my prince," Misaki purred between deep, passionate kisses; husband and wife nearly merged into one singular entity, so wrapped in each other were they. "Every morning I awaken in this bed with you is yet another day in Heaven…"

"Good morning beautiful," Touma responded as best he could, given the swift, repeated kisses being placed upon his lips. She kissed him deeply, almost forcing herself forward upon him; the young man's arms found their way around his wife's hips, and his hands found their way below, to her plump, defined posterior. He hardly minded her forwardness. "You know, Misaki, every time I look at you, I appreciate and love you just a bit more. If that was possible. Didn't think it was, honestly."

A crimson blush rushed into Kamijou Misaki's face; she produced a soft, drawn-out sigh, and her smile impossibly widened further. "My adoration and appreciation of you, my prince, is unfathomable…"

Lowering himself and beginning to kiss his wife's neck as she gently ran her fingertips along his scalp, parting locks of his black, unspiked hair, Touma took Misaki into a powerful embrace.

"Hey, precious. Can I talk to you about something? I don't know if it was a dream, or if I should interpret it as something more. Still kind of feels like I was half-there, half-not."

He smirked, slightly.

"No oddly specific prophecies involving MacGuffins, though, I promise."

She giggled aloud; she couldn't help it. It was a lame joke, and Kamijou Misaki knew it; yet she couldn't hope to stop the giggling that fled from her lips. "I suppose that is a good thing, all considered."

"You bet," Touma spoke, tightening his embrace slightly, even further. Misaki responded in kind, holding her husband close, and gently kissing the top of his head. Gently stroking the back of her husband's head as she kissed the top of it, she came in response.

"Is all well, my prince?"

"Just fine. I'll give you the rundown."

"Please. I am always eager to listen and help you in any way I can. Come, husband, tell me all you need to. My ears are yours for as long as you might need them."

And, so, Kamijou Touma told his doting wife all that had transpired; the vast, incomprehensibly vast void which had come to surround him once he'd fallen into slumber. His terror, his desperation after being reminded of those infinite hells. The coming of 'Imagine Breaker' – or whatever unnamable force resided within it, having taken the shape of a great, draconic creature – and the promise sworn by 'Imagine Breaker'.

Touma could see it for himself; Misaki was overcome with hope. Her eyes glistened, and, for a moment's time, her mouth fell slightly agape. She was taken aback, but, quickly, her smile was returning; and it was an expression beautiful beyond comprehension.

"I… I would never have any reason to doubt or disbelieve you, husband, because you have never given me such… Dreaming is your standard means of communicating with that horrid curse in your right hand, is it not? I… Oh, Touma, my prince, my life-partner… The one who has my heart and my soul…"

"We're on the same page then, Misaki?"

"Is there a time when we are not?"

"Eheheh. Fair point."

Placing a hand gently upon his wife's cheek, and having his own hand taken into hers, their fingers interlocking tightly, Touma spoke, then.

"If you're thinking what I'm thinking, beautiful…"

"Yes! Yes, Touma I am! I want nothing more! It is what I have truly wanted! I will not submit to fear any longer!"

"I think talking about it with Index and Othi-chan is worthwhile. They're our family, too. Maybe they have perspectives and insight that can help."

Nodding sagely, Misaki's crimson blush deepened; her arms were immediately thrown around her husband's back as she clambered atop him. Pressing her bosom into her husband's chest, she approached, and hovered her face mere inches from Touma's own.

"Of course, my prince. Index and Othinus are two among the wisest we know; to not consult them and seek their valuable wisdom, and input, would be foolhardy indeed."

Kamijou Touma couldn't help it; staring into his wife's eyes, their respective gazes meeting comfortably, adoringly, Touma took Kamijou Misaki's hands into his own, and held them tightly. Their fingers interlocked once more, as tight as tight could be.

"… Dear God. Misaki… Did you get more beautiful overnight? If you keep this up, you might break something."

"Oh, husband," Misaki stuttered. "Touma, my prince… If you keep on like this, you'll… Oh my."

She giggled; even as warm, wet tears of unadulterated joy began to fall freely from her eyes. She blinked them away.

"I love you so very much, Touma… You bring such wonderful emotions upon me. My loving, affectionate, gentle, precious husband. I wish only to spend the rest of eternity with you, and make manifest our love in the form of a beautiful child… Of our very own.

"I wish to provide for them the life we never had. The innocence, my prince. Innocence is that which we both lost at too young an age. It hardened the both of us to the perils of this world, and to this City as it was in the past, yet…"

She paused; rather than simply being too overcome by emotion to speak, Kamijou Misaki just couldn't find the words, for the life of her.

"If you could go back and do it again, without everything horrible that ever happened to us, Misaki, beautiful, you would?"

"… Correct, my most precious husband. Correct."

Allowing herself to drift downward – knowing well enough that her husband's massive, powerful frame would have little in the way of difficulty when it came to supporting her smaller, more petite body – Kamijou Misaki pressed her lips to her husband's own; releasing his wife's hands, Touma's arms soon wrapped around her back.

"Such talk is inappropriate for our Paradise, however, my prince."

"Couldn't agree more, beautiful. Is there something else you'd want to talk about instead?"

"How about children's names, my prince? In the spirit of promoting fertility…"

Touma had to admit, it wasn't something the two had spoken about much. Why, he couldn't say for sure. Certainly, simply speaking about names for a potential child wouldn't bring about any kind of dark curse or foreboding bleakness. Imagine Breaker, or whatever resided within it, was not an overtly hostile force.

Though, sometimes, both Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki were lead to believe it might've been.

"I like the name "Natsumi". Pretty; it means "summer beauty". Did mom ever tell you? That's what…"

"… that is what you were to be named, if you had been born a proper young lady," Kamijou Misaki concluded, finishing her husband's sentence for him. "Shiina really did think of everything. A true mother if there ever was one. Shiina was much more a mother to me than the woman who gave me life, that much is certain, my most beloved husband. She… She is my inspiration. I aspire, one day, to be even half as good a mother as Kamijou Shiina."

Promptly poking her husband's nose and giggling, causing him to chuckle gently in response, Misaki continued, "And I ought to say, Shiina did raise a wonderful young man. You, Touma, my most precious husband, are a gentlemen above all other gentlemen. You are the ultimate. I could never want another, for I have all I could ever need, right here…"

He kissed his wife's cheeks repeatedly, deepening her crimson blush. Touma's fingers danced along his wife's back, causing her to shiver in pleasure.

"I don't think I tell you this enough, Misaki, and maybe I tell you too much; but I'll just say it again and go on the record. You're the best wife a guy could ever ask for. You're patient, loving, intelligent, strong-willed… Unconditionally loving… You know how to listen, and how to really pick me back up when everything is just going wrong. You're always there for me, beautiful, and…"

He swallowed, harder than he'd thought he would've. Misaki's eyelids had widened, and her glistening eyes loosed teardrops of unbridled joy. Her quivering smile brought Touma in, and he kissed his wife's lips.

"Really, you're just the best there is. And I'm so grateful that you're mine. I'm so grateful for this life we have together, Misaki. I wouldn't trade it for the world, or the universe. Is that selfish of me? Definitely. But I really just don't care at all. All I want is you! You're the only one I've ever wanted, beautiful. That's it."

"You can never say things like this to me too often; you can never say anything to me too often. I love the sound of your voice, my prince… I love listening to you, and talking with you. I love sharing opinions with you, and discussing any and all matters with you. I will always be here to listen to you, and talk with you, Touma, and…"

Though she cried freely, Misaki couldn't restrict the overwhelming joy which pushed those tears outward. It was a force powerful beyond understanding, one which soared inside of her.

"I adore our marriage so very much, Kamijou Touma. Thank you for being both my husband and my best friend… I love you!"

"This marriage, Misaki, beautiful… It's genuinely the most important thing to me. Just like you're the most important person to me, Kamijou Misaki. I should be the one thanking you; for being my wife, the perfect wife… You're my best friend too. You always have been, and you always will be."

And, so, Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki, wrapped in one another's arms, shared the rest of their morning wordlessly. There was nothing left to be said with words. All else could be said simply through their shared embrace, and the tender, passionate kisses the married couple provided one another with.

---

Having been safely brought home by the combined efforts of a groggy Accelerator and a perpetually-talking Misaka Worst in the morning following the previous night's drunken escapades with the less overtly malicious clone of Misaka Mikoto, Last Order, Kamijou Index awoke. Without a hangover in sight, the silver-haired nun grinned smugly.

"Aha! I knew it! I'm still immune!"

Rubbing her eyes with her hands, balled into fists as she yawned and stretched herself, groaning pleasurably as she did so, Index rolled to one side of her bed, nearest the dressed adjacent, and grabbed her still-charging phone from the floor, where she'd placed it the night previous.

"Eleven-thirty. Overslept! Oh well. Better stick a piece of toast in my mouth and get a move-on! I wonder if Touma and Misaki are awake…?"

The repeated, rhythmic thumping – and the audible sound of bedsprings being forward inwards and bouncing back upwards with many a metallic 'clang' – originating from her guardians' room caused Index to narrow her eyelids and giggle aloud. Rolling her eyes, she thrust her legs outward, rose from bed, and hopped to her bare feet.

"Guess that's a solid "no."

Clad in her pajamas, which consisted of little more than a baggy, plain light blue shirt and a pair of loose-fitting shorts hidden beneath her shirt, which fell low enough past her thighs to compete with some of the dresses she owned, Index gently placed either of her feet into her nearby fuzzy slippers and departed from her room, in search of company.

She didn't have to look far; meandering about the Kamijou residence's living room was Sphynx, Index's very own – and very old – calico cat. The feline's aged green eyes looked up to those of his master. Walking about somewhat slowly upon rickety legs, the cat eventually decided to plop down upon the carpeted flooring, stretch, and produce a soft meow.

Soon by his side, Kamijou Index patted her old friend; and, immediately he began to purr in response, welcoming the sight of his oldest friend and master. Sphynx yawned, briefly.

"Sphynx!" The silver-haired nun exclaimed happily, rubbing the palm of her hand over the cat's side. He enjoyed himself greatly, and occasionally ran his tongue over his master's hand affectionately. "Good morning, sleepy-head."

"Good morning indeed, nun," came a tiny voice which could barely be heard over the sound of Sphynx's loud, constant purring. No more than fifteen centimeters tall, garbed in clothing which was surely intended to fit a little girl's doll – a tight-fitting, light-coloured turtleneck sweater and expensive-looking, miniature designer jeans – a tiny, former magic god made her way to her companion, and to her nemesis. "This wretched creature has not given me a break once this morning. I finally managed to tire it out by running in circles… Just barely."

Smiling, Index patted the mini-god upon her exposed head of flowing, naturally curled golden-blonde hair with a single finger's tip. "Good morning to you too, Othinus!"

"It would've been a better morning were I not being sized up like catnip," Othinus, the once-Magic God admitted sheepishly. "But you're a sight for sore eyes nonetheless. Protect me from this four-legged menace and I'll one day I'll owe you a favour. Probably."

The thumping was still going; and the sound of bedsprings rising, then falling, continued to be audible to all within the Kamijou residence. Were she some sort of anime character, Kamijou Index would've performed a 'sweat-drop'. Othinus rested her forehead in her tiny hand's palm and grumbled something inaudible under her breath.

"Humans are sexually-charged creatures, aren't they, nun?"

"Well, yeah; but this isn't your average, everyday sexually-charged interaction. This is…"

The silver-haired nun placed a finger to her lip, and stifled a giggle.

"… Advanced sexually-charged interaction."

"A special sort, of which only these two procreative beings are capable," Othinus supplemented. "I do suppose we'll be left to fend for ourselves.'

"Hm…"

Soon cupped between her index finger and thumb, the silver-haired nun scratched at her chin thoughtfully. She looked upward, to the residence's ceiling, and scrunched her nose briefly.

"I know if we really needed Touma and Misaki, I could just knock. But… They love each other so much, and they don't get time like this often. I want to just let them have this, you know, Othinus?"

"No. I don't. I'm quite hungry, and when I become hungry I become cross. I will sneak beneath that door and berate them myself."

"Nah, you won't."

"Oh?"

"Because, if you try…"

Index's facial expression quickly turned to one of abject smugness; she might as well have thought she was the greatest thing since the creation of the entire universe, if her expression was to be taken at face value.

"… I'll put you in Sphynx's cage."

"Nooooooooooo! You wouldn't, nun! I merely jest! It was merely a jest!"

Despite herself, Othinus was laughing, slightly. It was a rare expression of contentment; one which had come to manifest much more commonly as a member of the Kamijou family. She sighed as it passed, appreciating it for what it was, and silently, deeply thanking those who allowed for it to arrive at all.

Index patted the former Magic God again, then rose to her full, imposing height – it was imposing to Othinus, at least.

"I'm totally kidding! I'd never do that to you. Don't worry, I'll get something prepared for us! In fact, I really should just prepare something for Touma and Misaki, too. Give them a break for once."

She took then to the kitchen, and began to prepare a dish which she knew well enough the entire family would enjoy; using those culinary skills taught onto her by her co-guardian, Kamijou Misaki, who in turn had been taught to her by her husband, Kamijou Touma, Index collected the necessary tools of the trade, while Othinus, too entered the Kamijou residence's kitchen and watched on, having little better to do.

"Plenty of eggs there, nun. And… Is that… Bacon?!"

The former Magic God's eyes lit up, as if some invisible switch had been pressed upon her. She licked her tiny lips with her equally tiny tongue, and, deep within her, the rumbling of her little stomach made quite clear the fact that her miniature body craved the loving touch of grease-covered bacon.

"Gonna scramble 'em!" Index announced, moving to and fro. "Just watch me go! I've got this cooking thing like it's nobody's business!"

Observing passively as Kamijou Index darted here and there, Othinus couldn't help but reflect; there had been a time when this girl was, truly, nothing more than a burden. A burden with a black hole for a stomach. Still, the former Magic God reasoned that it wasn't entirely her fault; the poor thing had never been taught anything, by anyone. Nothing that didn't involve holding those hundred and some odd thousand Grimoires within her mind.

Regardless of the past, there she was. The nun – who certainly didn't look like one, in her exceedingly casual pajamas – a self-sufficient, capable, actualized young woman.

Index wasn't able to notice it, with all of the darting she was doing – not to mention the sounds of repeated clanging, likely silverware being moved about within bowls – but Othinus did. The thumping, and the metallic noises surely born of bouncing bedsprings had stopped.

"It would seem that the "mating ritual of Kami-yan" has finally reached its end."

And, thusly, after some time passed, both Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki emerged from their paradise. Misaki still clung lovingly to her husband's chest, her arms wrapped around him, her face nuzzling the side of his protruding, well-muscled broad shoulder. Touma's own arm was around his wife's shoulders, while their respective hands – those which remained available – were occupied with one another, their fingers tightly interlocked.

The married couple couldn't have possibly looked any happier.

"I wonder what all the buzz's about," Touma remarked, being unaware of that which was happening in his home's kitchen. "Maybe Index and Othi-chan are getting up to something with the cat."

His question was soon answered – at the sight of that answer, Kamijou Misaki produced a soft, drawn-out "awwww!"

"Index, sweetheart…"

Touma chuckled, exchanging a loving glance with his unconditionally adoring wife.

"Just relax, you two!" Index exclaimed. Her arm spun rapidly, scrambling a fluffy, yellow substance within a bowl obtained from the kitchen's hardwood cupboards. "I'm taking care of everything this morning! Just enjoy. You deserve it. Really!"

"Keep scrambling, nun!" Othinus proclaimed. "You've been at it, by my estimation, for approximately five minutes. Just a bit more. I believe in you, as much as I can believe in any human."

"I'll take that as a compliment and keep SCRAMBLING!"

Having little reason to protest, the married Kamijous took to their living room's couch. Throwing himself down comfortably upon the couch, Touma opened his arms, and tilted his massive, powerful neck to one side.

"Wanna cuddle, beautiful?"

Happily, Kamijou Misaki threw herself into her husband's waiting arms. Her own arms were soon wrapped around his broad, mighty shoulders. Nestling herself in, relaxing entirely as Touma's embrace tightened, warming her body, her heart, her very soul, Misaki breathed a sigh of utter contentment.

"You need not ask, husband; you always know the answer to that question. YES!"

Looking into her husband's eyes, she witnessed the same feelings wordlessly returned. Touma's expression was one of complete, unrivalled happiness, one which couldn't have been matched by a soul dwelling in Heaven itself.

He'd clothed himself before emerging from he and his beloved wife's shared Paradise; his simple, unadorned short-sleeved shirt clung tightly to his enormous frame. His hardened pecs, and his defined, barrel chest were visible through its fabric. The shirt's sleeves were no match for Touma's massive biceps; the fabric strained against him. His baggy, cotton pants, dark in colouration, weren't quite as 'snug'.

Misaki ran the tips of her bare fingers over a rock-solid muscle protruding from her husband's forearm, and giggled aloud.

"Look at you, my husband. You are so handsome. So strong… But there is so much more within you."

She smirked, snidely.

"All for me. All for your wife~."

"And no one else," Touma responded, tightening his embrace slightly. Misaki produced a soft, gentle cooing, a pleasurable verbal expression of her furthered contentment. "I genuinely don't have eyes for anyone but you. I've never had eyes for anyone but you, Misaki."

"And mine are solely for you, my most beloved prince."

He planted a kiss, then, on his wife's lips; and Misaki burst into another crimson blush. His lips were so soft, so gentle. His kisses were filled with so much unwavering, unconditional love. She felt it every time their lips met. She felt it rush through her, filling her very body and soul. Misaki responded in kind, her kisses passionate and infinitely adoring.

Two sets of lips which had only ever kissed each other.

"We ought to discuss our important matter with Index and Othinus over breakfast, Touma," Misaki stated between kisses.

"I wouldn't have hatched a better idea myself, beautiful," came Touma's response; it could barely emerge as it was. His wife had clambered atop him, and, holding each other's hands tightly, adoringly, she looked down upon him with glistening love in her eyes.

"I… I almost cannot believe this… This dream of ours may finally come true… That we may finally have a child of our very own…"

Touma smiled back. A wide, toothy smile, which followed his eyelids closing shut, brought about by pure, utter relaxation.

"We'll make this happen, Misaki, beautiful. I know we can. We're unstoppable. You and me, we're the dream team."

"As do I, my prince; my handsome, perfect Touma. As do I. Together, as one, there is nothing we cannot accomplish… We truly are the…"

Kamijou Misaki couldn't help but giggle; especially as she kissed Kamijou Touma's lips, even as that goofy, toothy smile on his never faded for a moment's time.

"… The dream team."

"Dream team! WOO!"

"WOO!"

It had seemed like hardly any time at all had passed, truthfully; the Kamijous, having been so lost in one another missed most of the action. In the end, regardless of the misadventures they shared with one another while on their living room's couch, held tightly in one another's arms, both Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki found themselves in the same place: at the kitchen's table.

Beautifully carved, an oaken beauty if there had been such a thing – complete with a matching set of four chairs – the dining room set had been a gracious, perfectly preserved hand me down from the previous generation of Kamijous, Touya and Shiina.

"Let us say a prayer for this wonderful breakfast, shall we?" The silver-haired nun who hardly resembled such while in her current attire, Kamijou Index, exclaimed as she clasped her hands together; she'd only just finished dishing up. Having filled her own plate last, the girl closed her eyelids, and placed her clasped hands close to her forehead.

"Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thank you for this wonderful feast! Thank you for giving me the means to provide for the best family in the whole, wide world! Amen!"

"Amen!" Both Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki exclaimed aloud; Othinus quietly nodded in approval, but said nothing. She did not share Index's faith, nor did she humour it. Still, the girl's heart was in the right place. That much, Othinus knew well enough.

Immediately beginning to dig into their hardy breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon, the Kamijou residence was alight with compliments to the chef.

"I-Index!" Touma blabbered, his taste buds in a state of perpetual orgasm, "This is the best! I've genuinely only ever had scrambled eggs this good when Misaki makes them… Oohhhhh. I see what's going on here." He exchanged a grin with his wife.

"Right you are, my prince," Misaki stated, practically moaning. The softness, the fluffiness, the taste, it was all there. "It would seem my recipe was a success, after all. It was the extra milk, was it not?"

Enthusiastically nodding, her cheeks a bright, glowing red, Kamijou Index nearly bounced in her seat; the girl was elated.

"Spectacular, nun," the former Magic God, Othinus complimented. Taking another helping from her own, tiny plate, the fairy-like girl gracefully shovelled another fluffy clump of scrambled egg into her petite little mouth. "You'll be on kitchen duty from now on, along with Misaki."

"Perhaps I will make a lovely recipe with you in it," Kamijou Misaki teased, causing the little former Magic God to start. Quickly patting the tiny creature on her head with a single finger, Misaki offered her once-enemy a bright smile; all was well. Othinus smiled back.

As a pleasurable silence descended over the table, Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki looked to one another. Their eyes lock, and, almost instantaneously, their hands were intertwined; Touma's right in his beloved wife's left. Their interlocking fingers cuddled against one another, and the two, though only partially aware, looked upon one another with a sort of unconditional, unwavering lovingness that was unique to this married couple.

"Oi, Index? Othi-chan?" Touma rhetorically inquired, "Now's a good a time as any for a family meeting. All in?"

"In," Misaki came with a nod.

"I'm totally in!" Index proclaimed excitedly.

"Outnumbered, per usual… I suppose I, too, am "in," Othinus spoke, chuckling softly beneath her breath.

Touma's courage, that which had carried him to this point, finally faltered. He didn't quite know what to say. The words, whatever they might've been, simply wouldn't come. Those which seemed to were flawed to him, improper or otherwise simply "not right".

Sensing this without needing to be told a word, Misaki's grip on her husband's hand tightened, and, smiling wide, she spoke for both herself and her husband.

"Touma and I have come to an agreement regarding a monumental decision, one which will change the course of our lives as a family… It is a beautiful one. It is a decision to be celebrated!"

Index tilted her head to one side, confused.

Othinus' single, visible set of eyelids widened, slightly. The tiny, emerald green iris within seemed to become just a bit more defined, and the pupil floating within dilated. Her hands balled into fists, her tiny digits tightening into an intense grip upon nothing at all.

Spurred to action by his wife's words, Touma continued where he'd left off. A great sense of responsibility overtook him, and brought back from the grave a part of him he'd thought long-dead, cast off like a coat in warm, summer months.

"… Misaki and me, we're going to have a child. A child of our very own. Both of us are going to be completely devoted to that child, and we're going to give them everything. Everything that's in our power to grant, it's going to be right there, whenever they need it."

Almost immediately, Kamijou Index's hands were clasped once again in prayer. Silently her lips moved, even as she grinned wide, from ear to ear, tears of joy beginning to roll down her crimson-tinted cheeks.

"Father… Hear me! Please provide me with the strength I need to persevere! I want to do everything I can to protect my friends' child, when they're welcomed into Your world. Please, Father in Heaven, give this child Your blessing…"

Striding across the table, her tiny bare feet slapping upon its cool, oaken surface one after the other, Othinus approached, her arms folded across her chest.

"I have nothing but encouragement to offer you. If there are two humans who should become parents, it's most certainly the two of you… Yet, I worry. As I've always worried. 'Imagine Breaker', as you call it, resides within you still.

"Even my own knowledge of its cosmic mechanics is fundamentally limited. That which you possess is beyond my understanding, and beyond the understanding of my betters. The one man who perhaps did understand it has been dead for nearly a decade. Surely, you understand my concern."

Offering his spare hand to the former Magic God – who promptly climbed upon it and accepted what embrace her 'jailor' could provide – Touma stroked Othinus' golden hair with his thumb. Misaki's own hand joined her husband's, and, together, their hands formed something of a warm, supportive cradle for the fairy-like girl.

"I really appreciate you looking out for us like this, Othi-chan," Touma explained warmly, "But, I've been talking to it for a long time, in my dreams. We finally had our longest meeting last night; it assured me nothing bad would happen. Any other time it's assured me of something, it hasn't tried to steer me wrong. I think it – or whatever might be in there – really is in my corner."

It was a satisfactory explanation. Othinus merely nodded, accepting what her jailor stated as fact. He had no reason to lie, nor would he; Kamijou Touma was many things to Othinus, but he was no liar. If 'it' was lying, Othinus, despite her handicap, would find a way to make 'it' suffer. Terribly.

As the family finished their breakfast together, Kamijou Index remained in prayer. Eventually, when she did emerge from her trance-like state, she seemed particularly pleased with herself. Still sniffing as tears of joy continued to freefall, the nun quickly vacuumed up that which remained of her meal.

"This is so joyous!" She cried aloud, smiling as wide as wide could be. "I'm so happy for you! Aaaaahhh! I could just explode! FINALLY!"

Rising from her seat, Index collected her plate, then moved to her guardians' own.

"Let me and Othinus take care of the dishes, you two. If you're going to bring a beautiful little baby into the world, don't you… Well… Erm… Well…"

"Spit it out, nun," Othinus grumbled. What false sourness she could manifest quickly faded, and the former Magic God found herself giggling once again. A strange, tingling sensation in her chest jumped up from her belly, all the way to her throat. It was warm. It made her smile, and, just a bit, it made her tear up. "All of those who aren't mere toddlers know what must be done. These humans in particular are experts in their field. They require no coaxing to breed."

Despite herself, Kamijou Misaki rested her hand over her lips, and chuckled softly into it.

"Well, my prince? Index is correct. There is something which must be done… And, this time… There will be nothing separating us, will there?"

He rose to his full, imposing height. A defined, muscled body, just slightly over seven feet tall. The gargantuan growth spurt his body had experienced following the throes of puberty had reached its pinnacle, leaving Kamijou Touma a living titan.

Without effort, the exceedingly gentle giant scooped his wife into his arms. The ecstatic happiness that shined from her features, as she wrapped her arms around her most precious husband's broad shoulders set Touma's body and mind alight with positivity.

"Yer comin' with me, lady!" Touma shouted, putting on something of a forced, aggressive accent that didn't quite mix well with the Japanese language.

"Oh dear! I am being abducted by a towering… Strong… Handsome… Loving… Perfect… I-I, ah, erm, mean, a moonnstterrrr! Whoever will rescue the Queen from her predicament?!"

And, like that, Kamijou Touma, with Kamijou Misaki held tightly, securely and adoringly in his powerful arms, disappeared into he and his wife's Paradise, their sanctuary, their place of rest: their bedroom.

A softly giggling Index, who'd already begun the process of cleaning up after the meal she'd prepared turned to the former Magic God, Othinus, who had seated herself politely on the kitchen counter nearby the sink. She'd made quite the trek, quite quickly, for someone of her miniscule stature. Sitting upon her legs, folded beneath her posterior with her hands in her lap, the one-eyed fairy girl posed a single question.

"Was this not the inevitable path?"

The nun raised an eyebrow. Othinus was thereby encouraged to extrapolate.

"Two people who adore each other as much as Touma and Misaki will inevitably reach such a conclusion, as is the nature of human biology. I feel as if, by avoiding this fate, they merely postponed the inevitable. Their shared concern for their offspring's wellbeing stunted what likely should have occurred sooner."

The fairy girl stroked her chin, thoughtfully.

"Ah, forget it, nun. Pay no attention to me. I merely question the workings of the multiverse, and fate as a primary mechanism within it. I should know better; these two have long defied fate. They rightly exist beyond it."

Othinus peered down at her own thighs.

"I'd believed myself a god once, nun. You know that. I held within the palm of my hand what I'd believed omnipotence. Even without… Gungnir…"

Simply saying the name of that accursed, bleak weapon – for a weapon it surely had been within her hands when she'd wielded it against Kamijou Touma and Shokuhou Misaki, as she'd been known then, nearly ten years ago – brought the former Magic God to a violent, repulsed shudder. A bitter sense of self-loathing washed over her.

"… I know all of that which is of cosmic scale. Truthfully, with that weapon, I'd believed myself to have attained omnipotence, and, ironically… Found it wanting."

The nun, Index, had taken to standing before the former Magic God. She'd bent her knees, so that her face, with her two round, curious eyes could be on equal level with Othinus' own. The silver-haired girl tilted her head, then offered a finger to the fairy girl. Othinus accepted without hesitation. Taking the outstretched digit into her own two, tiny hands, she held it tightly.

"Othinus, this has really stirred up a lot of emotions in you, hasn't it? It's done that to me, too; but I couldn't be happier. It just makes you think, and look back on things! Like when I first met Touma and Misaki on that morning."

The once-Magic God nodded, silently, then spoke once more.

"To think that both of those humans would accept me, not only as a friend, but as a member of their family, after all I had wrought… I must admit, it does make me feel like even more of a monstrous abomination than usual."

"Othinus!"

Index became sterner.

"I won't have you talking about yourself like that. Nope! No way! Hush up with that talk! You're not an abomination! You're… You're my friend! OUR friend! And you always will be! We all love you!"

"T-T… T-Thank you, nun… Index. I l-love you, as well. You will always be among my dearest… Friends… Even if I may often have a difficult time of showing it…"

"Othinus… No tears, now! C'mon!"

Index gently wiped her finger's tip across the former Magic God's moistening eye. Othinus herself ran her arm across her face.

"Tears"? Are you daft? My allergies are acting up, little more. Being mortal is not without its faults."

"… You have allergies, Othinus?"

"I do now, nun."

---

Like two baser life forms rising from primordial ooze, having shed their clothing and taken to their retreat, the most prevalent aspect of their Paradise, their conjugal bed, Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki rolled over one another with passion, their bodies wrapped tightly in each other's arms.

Touma's hands had fallen to his beloved wife's posterior, clamping on tightly and forcing moans from her mouth whenever he would squeeze even slightly. Misaki's multitasked – one ruffled her precious husband's dark hair, while the other was bound firmly upon his throbbing manhood.

"M-Misaki! I love you… I love you!"

"My Touma… My prince… My husband… I love you, too… I love you so deeply… My heart, my soul, my mind, my body… all of me belongs to you and you alone!"

"A-And all of… M-Misaki… You're gripping it so tight… All of me belongs to YOU! G-Grip it tighter… H-Haaaa… It feels so good…"

Touma's expression was one a man striding through the meadows of Heaven might've worn. It was pleasured beyond all pleasure. Utterly at peace. In a state of bliss incomparable to anything else.

Then, Kamijou Misaki grinned. It was a sly, smug thing; and it only began to grow.

"Say, husband… Would you like to play a little game with me? Foreplay always does act as the spice of life, does it not? There is no 'wrong answer'. Just be honest, my prince."

"I… H-Haaaa… Wouldn't expect there to be… You've always been so perfect, Misaki. I'm down, if you're down… Although…"

Tightening his embrace, Touma clung to his wife, who quietly cooed under her breath and relented.

She could tell precisely what he wanted, and was more than merely 'happy' to oblige. She returned his embrace in full, encompassing his full body in her arms. Situating the side of his face so that his ear was pressed against his doting wife's quickly beating heart, Touma permitted himself to become completely vulnerable before her. He clung, tightly.

"You always have loved being cuddled like this… Tended to. You are so precious to me, Touma… My dearest. My sunshine. My love and my joy… There, there… Cling to me, as much as you'd like. I will always be here."

Feeling his wife's beating heart, feeling it continuously thump against his face, Touma's steadily closing eyelids finally settled. He slept not, but instead, simply enjoyed Misaki's presence; and Misaki treasured his in turn. Slowly stroking her husband's head, never breaking her embrace, she softly, repeatedly cooed, lulling him.

"There… There, there. My beloved prince… I feel you. I feel your soul connecting with mine. I feel us becoming one with eternity, and all that there is. You are nervous, aren't you?"

"Of course I am, beautiful… This is a huge thing we're doing. This is a massive step. I want this, so much…"

"As do I! As do I, my husband! I want this so very much… I always have."

"But, am I good enough? Misaki, will I be a good father?"

Misaki placed a kiss to her husband's head, never relinquishing her embrace; she wouldn't, so long as Touma didn't.

"You need not hold such thoughts. You will be the best father there ever was."

"I guess that's just a doubt a lot of us have. I'm sure my dad felt the same way, and his dad before."

"Of course, my prince. Creating life is a monumental responsibility, one which very few are well and truly prepared for. Yet, it is often the challenges presented by life that shape us. And… We know much of challenges."

Chuckling, Touma loosened his grip, slightly, and Misaki loosened hers, in turn. Pushing himself upward so that his gaze was on equal level with his wife's own, his dark irises meeting Misaki's golden, starry ones, he gently, lovingly kissed his wife's soft, delicate lips. It was a kiss she swiftly gave into, one she fell deep into, head over heels.

"How are you so smart? Misaki, you're actually the smartest person I know."

"I take it you are feeling better, now? Is your mind clear? Or would you prefer to talk more? My ears are always yours, and they are always listening whenever you may need them, my precious husband. Simply say the word."

Between their kisses, Touma finally responded, "Better."

"Then let the foreplay commence."

Suddenly, Kamijou Misaki rose. She sat up, pulling her three hundred pound, muscled husband up with her, experiencing little in the way of difficulty. If she'd wanted to, she likely could have "bridal carried" him, as he so often did for her.

Misaki's defined, toned body was not one of a snacking, tea-drinking 'ojou-sama'. It was the body of a warrior-woman very much capable of holding her own.

Despite this, her expression turned to one that such a girl would've shot at a passerby, if she'd believed said passersby to, perhaps, not be worthy of even being in her presence. Misaki's eyelids narrowed, and her lips scrunched.

Kamijou Touma's manhood promptly surged, throbbing violently once more.

"My wife is catering to my fetishes! YES! SUCH FORTUNE! BEST! WIFE! EVER!"

Huffing, Kamijou Misaki pointed to the floor just to the side of the bed.

"On your knees, peasant. At once."

Obeying without objection, Touma nearly threw himself from he and his wife's bed, falling so deep into this fantasy of his. It was a rabbit hole he was all too happy to lose himself in. The feeling of being completely and totally dominated, yet, outside of this fantasy play, remaining on completely equal terms, was one without rival.

Her long, light blonde hair flowing as she too rose, Kamijou Misaki stood tall before her kneeling husband. She stroked his face, the true, loving, ever-adoring wife she was briefly shining through before she rebuilt the mask, that of her 'ojou-sama' character within this fantasy play.

"Look at you. Twitching like that. Disgusting."

Touma could have lost all control right there and then. The way her lips curled around her words, the way each syllable was accentuated, it was enough to drive him near the edge of madness.

"My Queen… What would you ask of me, your lowly peasant servant?"

"Kiss. From my thighs, all the way down to my toes. At once. Don't you dare miss a spot."

Requiring no further encouragement, Kamijou Touma was upon his wife, just like that. Still kneeling, he pressed his lips to Misaki's thick, milky thighs. The long, passionate kisses placed upon them, and downward as he made his way there, were enough to cause her to moan aloud; it may have broken the fantasy, but nature simply could not be denied.

Quickly, Misaki gripped her husband's hair in her hand, and forced his face deeper.

"A-Ahhh… My prince… Is this too rough? Does it hurt?"

"Not at all… You can be a bit rougher, actually. Thanks, beautiful…"

"Haaaa… Haaaa… Of course… Tsk. You pervert. Filthy, degenerate pervert…"

Neither husband nor wife could keep their foreplay going for much longer. Their instincts were becoming too powerful for either to stand. It wouldn't be long before their respective wills gave way, crushed as the floodgates burst open, torn asunder by nature's might unfathomable.

No matter how strong the married couple was, they could not resist their natural impulses; Kamijou Misaki faltered, then laid herself bare, completely and utterly vulnerable, before her husband. Lifting her legs, parting them, Misaki smiled up at her beloved Touma, who quickly found himself between them.

Their eyes' gazes met.

There was something different, this time. This occasion was different from the married couple's sacred lovemaking sessions. The air was different. The feelings within them was different. Both could feel how the world around them had seemed to change onto itself.

Touma wore no condom. There was nothing to keep his bare manhood from his wife's constricting walls.

Taking his wife's hands into his own, their fingers interlocking, Touma leaned inward. Pressing his lips against his most beloved Misaki's, causing her cheeks to immediately begin glowing a shade of crimson, the married couple met in a passionate kiss.

"Are you ready, Misaki?"

"Y-Yes! YES! Yes, my prince! My husband, my love, my sunshine! I am ready!"

"I love you, Misaki. I love you so, so much."

"And I love you, Touma! More than any force in this universe, or any other! I LOVE YOU! There… We will hold hands, just as you have always loved to. I love holding hands with you, as well!"

As her husband entered her, Misaki's legs quickly wrapped themselves around her husband's back. Her eyes rolled back, into their sockets. She could barely restrain herself. The monstrous moan she could have uttered would have disturbed the entire apartment complex. Kamijou Touma had entered. Gently, slowly, lovingly, he pushed himself deeper.

"I… Misaki… It's so tight. I can feel it squeezing… You feel so good. I love you… Misaki, I love you… I love you so much. So, so… So MUCH!"

"And I love you with all of my heart and my soul, Touma! YES! YES! We are one!"

"This position's different… Beautiful, are you okay? Does it hurt?"

"I am fine! I-It does not hurt at all! It feels... It feels so wonderful! Y-You are such a gentleman... So kind... So loving... So gentle... So affectionate... MY HUSBAND!"

Touma could feel his wife's walls pressing down on his manhood. Seeing her throwing her head back and gritting her teeth in pleasure, feeling his own fingers between Misaki's, the married couple found themselves in their own slice of heaven, together.

For nearly an hour, neither would give in. The stamina Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki had built up over their frequent lovemaking sessions proved to be too potent a force to be overcome quickly. Of course, neither husband nor wife were keeping track of the time. In their slice of heaven, perhaps only a few minutes had passed, at most.

But, in that critical moment, once Touma reached the pinnacle of pleasure his body was capable of withstanding without a singular orgasm, he knew it. He was made fully aware by his higher mind that he could stand no more.

"I feel you throbbing! My Touma, my LOVE! I feel you! Do not hesitate! I love you! I love you so very deeply! D-Do… Haaaaa… AH! Do not feel apprehension! Do not fear a thing! I will always be here with you! Touma! TOUMA!"

"M-Misaki… I love you too! So, so, SO much! I don't fear anything at all, Misaki… All I feel is… All I feel is love…"

Tightly embracing one another, Touma's body bucked, thrusting downward, deep into his wife as he climaxed. Like a tidal wave rising from the ocean, Misaki lifted herself, her arms around her husband's shoulders, tears of joy streaming from her eyes. The enormous smile upon her face stretched from ear to ear. Kamijou Misaki's long, light blonde hair flowed as if it had been lifted by a breeze while her chest arced.

Held tightly in one another's arms, Touma and Misaki wordlessly celebrated their accomplishment, that which could only have been possible with each other's passionate, unconditional, unwavering love for one another.

Somehow, the very fabric of the multiverse itself was shaken.

In this reality, a bleak, unspeakably tragic fate had been averted; and, thus, from the potential for tragedy unimaginable rose something beautiful beyond measure.

Accelerator, sprawled on his couch in his home's living room felt something. Misaka Mikoto's clones, Last Order and Misaka Worst, felt something. Sogiita Gunha and Trafalgar Junko, engaged in their daily weightlifting competition, felt something. Misaka Mikoto, the Railgun, felt something. All of those who had ever befriended the Kamijous felt something. A pulsating sensation.

Perhaps none had felt it more intensely than Kamijou Touya and Kamijou Shiina. Shiina's hand went straight to her heart. She smiled. As Kamijou Touya was presently attempting to navigate the tightly-packed streets of metropolitan Tokyo behind the wheel of their vehicle, he could not immediately give thought to that which he'd felt.

"A mother's intuition knows. This feeling… Could it be…? Are we to be grandparents…? Oh, I can only hope! Please, let it be so!"

---

The blood-soaked walls of the arena were shaken to their core. A massive structure built from what resembled the weather-worn bones of gargantuan beasts, covered in jagged, protruding spikes which jutted in all directions, the arena, surrounded only by vast expanses of wetlands with sparse vegetation finding foothold in the murky swamps, played host to a great and terrible battle.

A massive, bulky man, his body covered in scars and scabbed-over, healing wounds charged forward to meet his foe. A makeshift mask carved from what resembled the sundered bark of a tree adorned his face, as did a single, crudely-forged metallic pauldron dangling from his broad shoulder.

His fist arced outwards, the hook catching the face of his foe. The terrible thing appeared to be some sort of humanoid dragon; it was standing upright as a man would, yet wore a visage of overtly draconic features – from a defined, jutting snout, to jaws filled with yellowed fangs, bat-like wings protruding its back, and a long, lashing tail slapping against the arena's earthen ground.

Then, the dragon-man's tail lashed out of its own accord. A colossal barb, dripping with purplish-black poison, was jabbed into the scarred muscle-man's chest. With its prey injected, already beginning to stumble awkwardly, the dragon-man closed what distance there was between itself and its foe, snarling, saliva dripping freely like so many miniature waterfalls from its jaws, grabbed the scarred muscle-man's shoulders, then, bit deeply into his neck.

Lifeblood spilled from the wounds, as razor-sharp fangs cleaved through flesh and shattered bone.

"TOTAL DOMINATION! DRACONID WINS! FLAWLESS!"

An arcade cabinet's protruding control sticks were released as two opposed players reached the climax of their bout. Sweat-drenched, the cabinet's well-worn command buttons were provided with a much needed rest.

The flashing lights of the arcade – the only real light which was available in the otherwise darkened venue – just barely highlighted the disappointed facial expression of one of those girls who'd taken to standing before a tall, expansive, brightly-coloured cabinet on the arcade's fifth floor. One of many balconies overlooking the vast, ground floor below.

The arcade itself, as a whole, was designed to resemble something ripped straight from nineteen nineties America; a living echo of a long-distant capitalistic dream fuelled by a surge in hope and worldwide positivity ushered by the great collapse of the Berlin Wall, the final nail in the waning Cold War's coffin.

Greyish-white walls, black and white tiled floors, and neon. So much vast, glowing neon. Shades of purple, shades of blue, shades of red. Neon light fixtures were abounds in this place, whether they formed lines which rose and fell like the patterns of an ocean's waves, mounted upon the walls, or circular fixtures built into support beams. The various restaurants which had set up shop within the arcade, complete with a small food court, to better supply – and profit from – visitors, too, had storefronts covered in multicolored neon lighting.

All of these wondrous sights, the wondrous sounds of laughter, of arcade games being played, of machines being hogged and surrounded by those looking to attain the highest possible scores in their favourite titles, and all Kouzaku Mitori could do was grumble under her breath at her utterly embarrassing pummeling.

Her short, purple-coloured hair was highlighted repeatedly by flashing, golden-white light beamed down upon her by various light fixtures dangling from above. Her deep, purple eyes, however, were not distracted. Mitori simply could not, for the life of her, rip her gaze from that arcade machine's enormous, glowing screen, and the images it contained. "Draconid" was performing some sort of victory dance. The beast repeatedly flapped its enormous, bat-like wings, lifted its body from the ground, then settled back in place as its jaws snapped at the air.

A part of Mitori wanted to sit down on a nearby, cushioned bench, and consider her options. There had to be something she could do. Clad in a proper-looking black dress shirt with a defined, white collar and a pair of tight-fitting, dark-coloured jeans, she repeatedly tapped her feet, clad in dark-coloured flats, against the tiled flooring.

Given that it was almost midway through October – the eleventh, to be exact – Mitori briefly admonished herself for not wearing boots, or at least sneakers. The season's mild temperatures were beginning to leave a chill in her bones.

"AHAHA! Sorry, Mi!"

The girl who was vigorously pumping her arm in the air, an expression of smug superiority etched onto her blushing face, vaguely resembled Academy City's third ranked level five esper, Misaka Mikoto, the Railgun. Her long, chestnut brown hair which fell past her posterior matched perfectly her eyes' own colouration. Compared to Kouzaku Mitori, this girl was dressed far more casually; and, to that end, her clothing was better suited for the temperature. A green, hooded sweater, sweatpants which hugged and accentuated her fully-matured body and their rolling curves and a pair of stylish, light-coloured trainers adorned her.

This body was not her first.

Mitori blinked, several times.

"We need more tokens, Dolly."

"E-Eh? You want to play again, Mi?"

"Yes. I will defeat you, no matter what."

The girl, Dolly, rubbed her eyes with her hands, balled into fists. Standing upon her toes, she stretched her body and repeatedly smacked her lips in a very unladylike fashion, stretching.

"Mi, I feel like you're taking this a bit too seriously…"

"Nonsense. To the elevator! Are you coming or not, Dolly?"

"Comin—"

Both girls were struck by something, there and then. It hit them both right in their chests, in their hearts. It was something akin to a sudden rush of excitement. Foreign, difficult to understand, yet something that was not at all malevolent. Both Dolly and Mitori felt as if some great hurdle had just been leapt over, some great obstacle overcome, with finality.

"Dolly… Did you feel that, too? Right in your chest?"

"Mhm… You felt it too, Mi? That was… Hehe. It kind of felt nice, actually!"

"It did, but… What WAS it?"

Distracted, both girls took some few moments to think on the matter. It didn't take long before the truth overtook them both, as if they'd been standing in shallow walls at just the right moment for a wave propelled by harsh winds to surprise them.

"Misaki and Touma!" They both exclaimed aloud.

The sunlight beaming in through the window of the married couple's Paradise, permitted to come as it was by the fully-parted curtains bathed Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki, cradled in each other's arms, in its warmth.

Still without clothing to obstruct their efforts to remain as one, the married couple simply stared quietly into one another's eyes, stopping only to blink occasionally. Touma, looking deeply into the golden, starry eyes of his beloved wife, placed his fingers gently to Misaki's cheek, and stroked it as he might've stroked a precious, priceless treasure.

Kamijou Misaki's blush deepened. Producing a soft, contented coo, she cuddled even closer to her deeply adored husband.

"Misaki? Beautiful?"

"Hm? Yes, my sunshine?"

"I was just thinking about something. About names, actually. Names that aren't totally stupid, don't worry."

She couldn't help but giggle. Misaki kissed Touma's lips, then placed another to his forehead as she rubbed the tip of her nose against her husband's own.

"I am so excited, my prince! I have been thinking similarly, though I must admit, I was enjoying myself a bit too much, and so our silence remained unbroken… Shall I begin?"

"Please, beautiful. Ladies first."

"I do very much like 'Seiji', if we were to have for ourselves a dear, little boy. 'Just and lawful'. As for a beautiful little girl, I do believe the name 'Natsumi' would be most fitting. After all, it was a name Shiina was brilliant enough to consider."

While Kamijou Misaki took to repeatedly kissing her husband's defined, muscular pecs, Kamijou Touma, with his arms still wrapped tightly around his wife's warmth-producing form, briefly considered what examples he himself would offer.

"Seiji is pretty good; I'd hit more closely for 'Mieko'. You know what that one means? 'Beautiful, blessed child'. As for a baby girl… Yeah, we're tight there. Natsumi would be my choice, too."

"I suppose, my prince, we have both been considering these matters for longer than we'd like to admit, even to one another."

That hit Touma fairly hard; his wife was absolutely right. They really had been considering a lot of things relating to children, hadn't they?

"Better late than never, huh?"

"Better late than never, my prince. Better late than never."

Just as Misaki was about to mount her husband and ride him all the way to another climax – she was so close, mere moments from leaping upon him like a predator having long stalked its prey, in fact – her smartphone nearby, left with its locked screen facing the ceiling upon the nearby nightstand, began to ring.

"My evil plan is foiled," Misaki playfully hissed; placing a warm, passionate kiss to her ever-loving husband's lips, she rose, approaching the edge of the bed then sitting herself down upon it. Reaching out for her phone, Misaki swiftly answered the repeatedly-ringing thing, and pressed it against her ear.

"Helloooooo~! You've reached Kamijou Misaki."

Kamijou Touma dragged himself towards his wife – he was quite unwilling to move far from the warmth provided by the sheets of their conjugal bed – and, turning himself upon his back, invited himself for a 'lap pillow'. His wife welcomed him, smiling so warmly, so eternally adoringly, beginning then to stroke his scalp delicately with the tips of her slender, feminine fingers.

"Misaki, it's Mitori here…"

"AND DOLLY!"

"O-Oh! Dolly! Mitori! My dearest friends!" Misaki cried out excitedly. "It is so very wonderful to hear from you! I do hope you are keeping well! Say, just where are you? I hear such racket from your end."

Kamijou Misaki had no means of knowing it, as she wasn't engaged in a video call, but Kouzaku Mitori and Dolly exchanged smug, knowing grins.

"Just the Pixelworld Arcade… Mama Misaki…"

Biting down onto her lip in an effort to suppress her laughter, Mitori struggled against her innate desire to laugh at her own joking mockery of one among her closest, most beloved friends. Dolly, similarly, attempted to stifle her own giggles by releasing them into the baggy sleeve of her sweater.

"Mitori! H-How did you… Ah. I ought to have figured something like this would happen. I do have to wonder, now, just how many people now 'know', so to speak."

Kamijou Touma had taken to keeping himself by occupied by fiddling with locks of his wife's long, sumptuous, light blonde hair, even as Kamijou Misaki continued to delicately and wholesomely pleasure him of her own accord.

"It's happening again, huh, beautiful? Just like our first time?"

"Quite, beloved husband of mine. It seems so!"

Misaki had learned long ago to simply giggle at occurrences such as these. Such was the nature of her life with her husband, Kamijou Touma – a life she would willingly hand over all of the unquantifiable multiverse upon a silver platter to protect and preserve. Occurrences such as these had become commonplace, no longer anything to even be surprised over.

"You should come, Misaki! Bring that big man-hunk of a husband with you. It's been way too long. Dolly misses you guys, too."

"YEP!"

Apparently, someone nearby in the Pixelworld Arcade must have hit a particularly impressive high score; rounds of enthusiastic cheers broke out, sounding more like an army's thunderous war-cry than a mere expression of excitement over some numbers flashing upon an arcade cabinet.

In response, Touma shrugged nonchalantly.

"Misaki? I'm down if you are. Those two are always up to something. Can't see the harm in joining up for a bit."

"I would love nothing more, my prince! Let us make this an even more beautiful day!"

Of course, there was one problem.

"Mitori, I presume you would be able to supply directions? I do not think Touma and I have ever been to this venue before."

"I'll just text, make things easier on us all. Oh, yeah. Mama Misaki. Do you lovebirds have a car yet? Should probably get on that. Eheheh. Mama Misaki's going to be taking her little one to soccer practice."

"Misaki! Misaki! I'll babysit!"

The excitement in Dolly's voice brought a feeling of fulfillment upon Kamijou Misaki. That girl truly meant a lot to her.

"Is there a specific time when Touma and I ought to be present by?"

"Nope; just drop by whenever. Dolly and me are going to be here all day. Speaking of which, about those tokens… You still owe me a rematch."

"I'll beat you again, Mi!"

"Misaki, Dolly and myself have a score to settle. Just text when you get here. Good-bye!"

As the call ended with Kamijou Misaki bidding her dear friends farewell, she returned her phone to the nightstand nearby, and allowed her body to fall backwards, onto the bed.

Instantly, Kamijou Touma's arms were around her back, and he was atop her; Misaki welcomed her husband by returning his embrace ten times over. Kissing either of his cheeks, her gleaming, golden, starry eyes looking up at him, she promptly entangled Touma further, binding him with both her powerful arms and her equally mighty legs.

"I love you so very much, my prince. You are the light of my life. Every day with you is such fun! Every morning I awake with you in my arms is another day in Heaven! My most precious, caring, affectionate, gentle… Perfect… Sweet… Communicative… Husband… As you fill my thoughts, I find myself in need, again… Nature does truly despise virginity."

Taken into a deep, passionate kiss, Touma didn't immediately respond in kind, with words.

"I love you too, beautiful! Misaki, you're actually the best wife ever. I just love talking with you, and laughing with you, and… And just, living with you, in all the ways we live. I couldn't ask for a better woman to spend my life with… I want to show you just how much I appreciate you. Sometimes words just don't cut it, and now's one of those times. We don't need to worry about condoms anymore, so…"

Kamijou Misaki, pulled into another passionate kiss, her crimson blush intensifying as she comprehended her husband's words, spoken purely from his heart, born of unconditional, unwavering adoration for her and the life they loved together, shared together, moaned into Kamijou Touma's lips.

"Just take me, my prince! Just take me, already! I am yours!"

She promptly placed a pillow over her face, anticipating that which would soon come…

Thrusting deep into his wife, causing her to toss her head back and scream into her pillow in pure, adoring ecstasy as she felt his considerably-sized, throbbing manhood enter her, Kamijou Touma did take Kamijou Misaki.

---

"Hm…"

In her room, well-illuminated by the sun's golden-white light, beams of sunlight covering her and the one who had taken to observing her activities, Kamijou Index repeatedly tapped the surface of the controller clasped in her hands. One of her silver-coloured eyebrows was raised, while the other had sunk.

The spacious, elegantly-decorated room had been recently tended to and cleaned thoroughly. The breezy scent of air freshener wafted about freely; sitting on the carpeted floor in front of her enormous, widescreen television to which her state-of-the-art, current generation cycle videogame console was connected, she debated with herself.

A static background, appearing to have been drawn by hand, one which depicted an idyllic beach setting with rolling, blue-white waves, a nearby natural beach whose golden sands were accentuated by the presence of tall, elegant palm trees gleamed upon the television's screen, while three options obstructed the image, plastered somewhat haphazardly over a transparent, dark-coloured background.

"KISS" was option one.

"GROPE" was option two.

"CONFESS" was option three.

Kamijou Index turned to the former Magic God, Othinus, perched upon her shoulder, one of her tiny legs elegantly crossed over the other's thigh. The fairy-like girl blinked her single, visible eye.

"Nun, we are not losing again. You need to consult the online walkthrough."

"N-No way! That's TOTALLY cheating! I'm going to win Emi's heart no matter what!"

"… There are other, superior pickings in this dull protagonist's harem."

Thoughtfully, Othinus cupped her chin in her hand, and leaned forward; just a bit. If she leaned too far, she would tumble quite unceremoniously.

"Aside from ironic purposes, such as ours, why would any human wish to play a game like this? It's dreadfully dull. These female characters, every single one – none of whom have any real connection to the protagonist, save for being 'rescued' – exist solely to fawn over and follow him, as if they were lost puppies.

"What interests do they have? What are their hobbies? Surely, there must be something more to them. I suppose if these characters were self-actualized and fleshed-out, they would not be so willing to mindlessly tag along, clinging to the coattails of an empty husk masquerading as a 'main character'."

For a moment's time, Index simply looked at the former Magic God.

"Othinus, I think you're… Yeah, you're over thinking this. Take a chill pill! Turn off your brain and try to relax. This is just to laugh at. Nobody actually plays dating sims like this unironically."

"My travels through the Internet suggest that you're incorrect, nun."

While both nun and once-Magic God debated amongst themselves, they heard the sounds of Kamijou Touma and Kamijou Misaki meandering about; they'd just entered the residence's bathroom. Running water, cabinet doors opening, then closing, and the quiet creaking of the floors suggested the married couple were preparing themselves for something, of some sort.

"Wonder what those two have going on?" Index thought aloud. "I think I heard Misaki talking to people on the phone, can't be sure though."

Poking the nun on her cheek with a little outstretched finger, Othinus returned her attention, then, to the television's screen.

"Oi, nun. Make a selection. I wish to see this Ayato character die embarrassingly again."

"No way! I'm going to make the right selection this time! I mean, one of these options has to be right. We know it isn't 'kiss' now… I hate these yandere types! Why hasn't she been booted from the harem yet?!"

"Because Ayato is a spineless herbivore male lacking the courage to even attempt to defend his honour when accidentally stumbling in upon a bathing maiden. That fool girl had left the bathroom's door open, and he had done no wrong. The dullards who wrote this script should be beaten senseless. How vexing."

Ignoring the ranting once-Magic God, Index chose the 'CONFESS' option.

'Ayato' was promptly stabbed to death. The game's narration described how his guts spilled from the wounds inflicted upon him through repeated, vicious knifings. The narration went on to describe, in vivid, gruesome detail how scavenging, opportunistic elements of the animal kingdom made quick work of his remains.

"Good!" Othinus proclaimed, folding her arms across her chest and nodding triumphantly.

"So… GROPE is the right option?! No way… Such misfortune."

Placing her controller down next to her folded legs and rubbing her temples with her fingers, the silver-haired nun grumbled quietly under her breath. She'd been booted back to the game's title screen, and had the option to continue from her previously saved game.

"Othinus, you wanna play some Bloody Fist, or something?" Attempting to put on the accent a Californian surfer might've natively possessed, Index stated plainly, "This is, like, a total bummer, dude."

An expression of abject determination formed upon Othinus' little face.

"Of course, nun. I could never turn down such a proposition."

Plugging in a second controller, quitting the visual novel she'd been playing previously, then placing the console's secondary controlled upon the floor for Othinus to wield as best she could given her body's handicap, Index rustled about, hyping herself up.

Nearly an hour of blood-drenched brawling – and many losses on Index's part – later, the closed door to Index's bedroom slowly opened.

"OTHINUUUUUUSSSSSSS! HOW ARE YOU SO GOOD AT THIS?!"

"Muahahahaha! My supremacy cannot be subverted! My divinity is absolute!"

Both Index's and Othinus' gazes quickly found themselves pulled from the television screen, and towards the opened door to the silver-haired nun's room. Both were utterly taken aback by the sight before them.

Kamijou Misaki was garbed in a fashionable, golden-coloured jacket, unzipped partway down. Faux fur enwrapped its hood. A blouse was beneath it, which exposed her neckline. A tight-fitting pair of fashionable, dark-grey leggings adorned her lower body, as did warm, fluffy socks. Misaki's long, flowing, light blonde hair fell past her posterior; with its divide rising partway up, her hair's trademark, it gleamed beautifully beneath the sunlight filtering into Index's room.

"Holy wow," Index blabbered only quasi-coherently. "Misaki! You're breathtaking!"

Othinus simply, silently looked on in awe.

A blushing Kamijou Misaki looked to the floor, smiling warmly.

"Index, you are too kind to me. Thank you so very much for your compliments."

Soon after entered Kamijou Touma; his towering, muscular body, so tall was he that he had to duck beneath the doorframe leading into his charge's room, had clothed himself in a similarly impressive manner. A blue, plaid shirt, buttoned nearly to its collar with its sleeves rolled up to Touma's elbows clung tightly to the curving, rock hard muscles of his arms and chest, while dark-coloured denims caressed his powerful legs.

Both Touma and Misaki's respective outfits were completed by the physical representations of their holy matrimony, their matching, golden-coloured wedding rings, worn on either of their ring fingers.

"Index, Othi-chan," Touma began as he stood behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her form from behind and giving her neck a series of gentle kisses, causing her blush to deepen, "Me and Misaki are heading out to catch up with some friends. You two want to come along?"

"Actually," Index interrupted sheepishly, "I had something going on with Last Order and Hyouka today, if that's okay…"

Giggling, Misaki simply remarked, "of course it is okay! Do keep in contact with us, just so we know you are doing well. And, of course, should you need anything, we will be a mere phone call away."

"What Misaki said," Touma corroborated with a chuckle. "You're a big girl, Index. We trust you completely."

Othinus raised her hand, then.

"… I would like to come along, humans. Sitting about the apartment alone is not my preferred way of spending the waning hours of a weekend."

Gently freeing herself from her husband's warm, loving embrace – but not before kissing him passionately, adoringly on his lips – Kamijou Misaki scooped the former Magic God into her hands, and placed the fairy-sized girl gently upon her shoulder.

"Then you will come. It will be splendid to have you with us, Othinus. The more the merrier!"

Touma quickly knelt by Index, and took the silver-haired nun into his arms; embracing her tightly, it was an expression of his paternal love for her, an expression which she returned.

"See you later, alligator. Love you, so much."

"Look at you! Already making dad jokes, Touma. No, really… You're going to be a really, really good dad. Love you!"

Misaki, too, opened her arms, and embraced Index tightly, just as Index embraced her.

"Index, dear, you remember what I taught to you? Hm?"

"Yep. Hyouka's going to be there, though. She's strong. Nothing to worry about, I promise! And you! Misaki! You're going to be the best mom in the universe! I KNOW it!"

With their temporary goodbyes settled, Kamijou Misaki quickly took Kamijou Touma's hand into her own; their fingers interlocked, tightly binding around one another through instinct alone. She offered her husband a love-struck glance, one which, while lasting mere moments, told him all he needed to know; he felt her unconditional, deep love for him course throughout him, filling him like some heavenly, limitless source of energy. It was the same glance Touma offered his most beloved wife in return.

Leaving Index to her own devices in her room, the married couple, along with the once-Magic God Othinus riding upon the shoulder of her 'co-jailor', slipped on their footwear – a pair of thick, reinforced hiking shoes and stylish, shin-high, high-heeled boots, respectively – and departed from their home, together as always.

Their journey began there and then, just as another one was unfolding.