2 Hours Earlier...
"That movie was super lame... I should have chose the other one."
A seemingly young girl made this comment to no one in particular as she walked out of a movie theatre.
Appearance wise, she looked young and harmless. However... those that knew her would disagree with you heavily on that... very heavily.
Wearing a wool sweater that barely covered her thighs, short cut brown hair, she maintained a calm expression as she walked down the streets of Academy City.
"I'm super bored... I guess I'll go mess with Hamazura!"
Beginning to head in the direction of the apartment of ITEM, her phone suddenly buzzes loudly. She pulls it out in curiousity, considering she had it set to silent during the movie.
She opened the text to see the sender...
(Academy City Chairman!)
Now she was thoroughly confused, the Chairman of Academy City was supposed to be rumor. It was a well known fact that The Board of Directors ran this city of science.
However, they were able to bypass my silent mode, and not even that is the most concerning. This phone, as well as the other ones belonging to ITEM was specially made to prevent being hacked by any outside parties.
So, considering that, this text should be pretty important.
She scrolled down to see the contents.
(What the hell?!? Is this a bounty? Two targets, Male and female. Wait... Othinus, Right! That's the super terrorist the UN is trying to catch, and looks like... one of our own is helping her. And he's a level 0, Interesting...)
Kinuhata tries to make sense of the message.
(Whoever is helping this terrorist, for a level 0, he must be super stu...pid)
Kinuhata freezes and seems to contemplate something.
(Although, If he's anything like another Level 0 I know... then he won't dissapoint me!)
And with those thoughts, It seems that Kinuhata Saiai has began to accept the mission. Not because she needed more money, she had plenty... but because she was bored.
Texting her fellow member of ITEM a quick excuse as to why they she can't meet up with them, she runs off to the airfield mentioned in the message.
(A Level 0 huh...)
Kinuhata smiled, eagerly awaiting the challenge.
But more importantly, in a deep part of her mind, she wanted to see the mindset of a person who would turn against the whole world, to protect one girl...
Disclaimer: [To help understand, messages will be sent one by one, and Kinuhata was the first... the idea that everyone will recieve it at the same time is kinda hard to handle to be honest, sorry, keep reading!]
"If there not bombing us to hell... then that means whoever is in that plane, is bad news!"
Kamijou says this while beside Othinus. Both of them looking up, they see the cargo bay door of the aircraft open.
And what they saw surprised them.
It was a girl, a small girl who looked completely harmless.
Wearing a white wool sweater that barely went passed her legs, which happened to outfitted with black knee socks, and finally a wool scarf wrapped around her neck. She also had short brown hair.
And then, after looking down on them for a while... the girl jumped... out of the plane. After falling a short distance, she could be seen inpacting with the snow.
"Wa-wait! What the hell! Is this supposed to be a psychological tactic! "
Worry for the girl evident, he started to run over to her, but was stopped by a hand grabbing his arm. It was Othinus.
"Wait human, I seriously doubt they would start throwing little girls off planes to break you, although, tch, I should have done that... Nevermind, look, she's okay..."
After Othinus' worrisome comment, Kamijou's head whipped back around, to indeed see the girl standing a short distance away from them, completely unharmed.
"It shouldn't be possible for her to survive that... which means... she is an esper..."
Kamijou said this grimly.
"I agree, we should remain on our guard."
He nodded.
Gazing towards the girl, who started to walk forward, they got a better look at her. She looks... totally harmless. A simple girl with short brown hair and a cute face.
Normally, he wouldn't possibly see someone like this as a threat. However, after he met Lessar, he could never look at little girls the same way again, never ever.
The erotic imp girl aside, the girl across from them finally spoke.
"Kamijou Touma... and Othinus, right? So, I just need to either super kill you or bring you in, you good with that?"
With an extremely casual way of speaking, like she was addressing her classmates at school, she responded like that.
"Honestly, I don't super care who you are or what you've done, so I won't bother to introduce myself. All I want is a good fight and my reward for your demise."
Kamijou and Othinus stared blankly at her.
"Well! I am going to attack you! I'm just telling you to he prepared!"
She raises her voice as she becomes slightly irritated at the other party's lack of response.
With no more words to say, she steps foward.
However, Kamijou hurriedly blurts out a response.
"Wait! We don't want to fight you! We won't cause you any trouble! So you can go back home, yeah... it's probably way past your bedtime anyway right? Your probably really sleepy!"
Kamijou just couldn't help himself, essentially, he blew it
"Human..."
Othinus sighs, hand on her head.
The other party, well...
"Hahahahaha..."
An eerie laughter breaks out from the girl.
"I see, you think I'm a kid huh? I was planning to bring you in alive, but now, I can see that you super want to die!"
She jumps forward, propelling herself a short distance in the air with blue bursts coming from her shoes.
"Wait! I take it back! I take it back!"
The girl refuses to listen as she aims a heavy kick right at them from the air. Kamijou hurriedly pushes Othinus and himself out of the way. The kick lands where they were, causing a huge explosion of snow to erupt around them.
The girl looks at them smugly.
"Now you see who your super dealing with. I know that your a Level 0 with no power to speak of, so why don't you back off for now and let me kill the girl. Then, after I'm finished with the unknown, then you can super die!"
She changes her target to Othinus. Pointing her hand towards her, she conjures a nitrogen bolt and fires it immediately towards the girl with the witch hat. With the snow preventing mobility, Kinuhata is confident that the girl won't be able to dodge, unless she uses her ability. Then, she will be able to formulate a strategy to deal with her.
However, the girl makes no sign of moving, instead, she is staring at the attack straight on, or rather she's waiting for something...
(What is she-)
Just then, Kamijou jumped in the path of the bolt and raises his hand. The nitrogen bolt connects with it and disappears with a sound of shattering glass.
"Wha! ... how did you super do that!"
Kinuhata was confused as hell. Her nitrogen bolt completely disappeared.
(They told me he was a Level 0!)
The boy across from her gazes at her with a serious expression.
"I just thought I'd ask but, is there no way you can let us go?"
"Huh? What are you super saying, I told you I have to bring you in! Your super wanted for aiding a terrorist!"
The boy looks a little hurt at that.
"Right... I guess that's how it would look. And it makes me a little regretful that my friends and family might think I betrayed them..."
Othinus, who sees this looks away, guilt on her face.
"Then why are you super helping her! Your a Level 0 for crying out loud, how long do you think you can last. There is no ending where you two esca-"
"I think your misunderstanding something..."
Kamijou interrupts her.
"What are you talking about?"
Kinuhata asks warily.
"I'm not helping a terrorist... I never was. Someone who causes pain and terror for the sole purpose of wanting misery? I would never align myself with someone like that!"
Othinus starts to tremble behind him.
"That's why... I'm not protecting a terrorist, but protecting a girl instead. A girl called Othinus."
Othinus looks up, clearly surprised.
Kamijou continues to speak, steadily increasing his tone.
"A girl who's world was lost and was willing to try anything to search for it! Someone who didn't know how to ask for help! She had others working her every whim but still was truly lonely!"
The boy takes a step forward clenching his fist, his expression turning serious.
"So if she wants help! If she is crying out that she wants to be understood! Then I'll be that person! I'll be her understander!"
Othinus, who was staring at the back of the boy who didn't abandon her, no matter how much misery she put him through, could only let out small tears, as her heart thumped wildly.
Kamijou, looking at Kinuhata dead in the eyes, caused a slight shiver to go down her spine.
"And if you think that death is the only option for someone like her, just because you want a challenge, then I will surely destroy that messed up illusion of yours!"
Kinuhata looked at him in disbelief.
(The reason he did this... turning the whole world against him, was to protect her? No, there's no way he would have a reason that super selfless... but, even if he had an ulterior motive, what could possibly be the super benefit in betraying the entire world! So maybe...)
Kinuhata shook, her head clearing her thoughts.
(No...)
If she wanted to find out the truth, about everything, she had to fight him.
"If were going to get serious, then I should probably introduce myself, right?"
She smiled a fearless grin at Kamijou, the pointing herself.
"I'm Kinuhata Saiai, Level 4 esper, with the power Offensive Armor! Even if you were able to pull some super trick allowing you to destroy my nitrogen bolt, you won't be able to get through my armor so easily!"
Kamijou nodded at her in understanding.
"As long as your being honest, I'll introduce myself as well...my name is Kamijou Touma, Level 0, however, as you've seen, I'm not without an ability. Its called Imagine Breaker and I can negate anything that is considered supernatural."
"Huh? Thats impossible, Level 0's don't super have abilities!"
"Well if you think I'm lying, there's not much I can do about that..."
"Enough chat, I'm gonna super beat the hell out of you!"
"Othinus, please stay back, I'll be with in a sec, okay?"
Kamijou said this with his back turned towards Othinus.
Othinus who was convinced that Kamijou would be okay, nodded.
"Don't you dare die human! You promised to save me after all..."
Kamijou smiled, turning to face her.
"Sure thing, Othinus..."
Othinus took one last look at the boy, then retreated further into the snow.
(Human... thank you for being here with me...)
And with that, the battle started...
"Pay attention to your enemy!"
Kinuhata called this out as she rushed at Kamijou with a powered fist ready. Kamijou was able to avoid the fist by dodging closer to her, however, he was not able to avoid a kick that his stomach took directly.
"Gah!"
Spitting out his saliva, Kamijou clutched his stomach in pain as he tried to distance himself from another attack, but Kinuhata didn't let him.
Sensing her opportunity, she raced towards him with a full wall of armor radiating around her.
Kamijou, in an attempt to counter attack, kicked a pile of snow at her, blocking her vision.
"Even if you do that! The snow will just bounce off, so hitting me with it won't wor-"
She was cut off as a punch impacted with her left cheek.
(He attacked from the front! And even more than that, my power didn't work!)
Kinuhata flew to the ground. She rapidly got up, expecting another attack, however Kamijou was waiting for her to get up.
(Why didn't he...)
Kinuhata got up and prepared two nitrogen bolts on each hand. She launched immediately, then began preparing a third one.
The two bolts impacted solidly against Kamijou's hand, completely negating them, however, the third one was too fast, making contact with his knee.
Kamijou howled in pain.
Kinuhata procceded on the offensive, rushing at him, with the intention of pegging him to the ground.
She launched a sharp kick at him, full force.
However, while still on his knee, Kamijou grabbed her leg and twisted it, causing her to fall into the snow on her stomach..
Expecting an attack, she braces for it. But no attack comes...
She turns around to see the boy faced the other way with his hand over his eyes, face considerably red.
"Huh?"
Kamijou turns to look at her, then looks away again.
"Um, I know this is probably not the best time to say this, considering were fighting but... can you please cover yourself.
"Cover myself..."
"..."
"..."
Kinuhata's heart jumps as she reach to pull my sweater down, which was revealing her bottom and panties. She was super embarrasssed.
(This guy!)
Kinuhata growled.
"What the hell... are you doing!"
Kamijou looked confused at her question.
"Why aren't you pressing the advantage... you could have dealt a fatal blow just now, so... why are you hesitating! Why are you acting like I'm not trying to kill you! Is it because I'm younger, or is it because I'm a girl!"
She said this, with her voice getting a little heated.
Kinuhata couldn't understand the boy known as Kamijou Touma. Someone who was so ridiculously foolish to challenge the world to protect a single girl, but be so indecisive with everything else. He was embarrassed from seeing a girl's panties even...
To her, someone who was an number in an experiment, with the goal of replicating someone else; all she knew how to do was survive.
Struggle, live and survive.
Those three things were main things keeping her going;
...when her parents died...
...when she was implanted with somebody else's thoughts...
...and when she had to kill and steal for the Dark side...
So...
"Why! Tell me why your like this! Are you that stupid! Do you not understand what your doing! Do you think that after this is over, all will be forgiven! Tell me why you bastard!"
Kinuhata, who lost sight of the goal of her mission, approached Kamijou. However, he didn't try to attack. He continued to stare at her with a nuetral expression.
Kinuhata, who arrived directly in front of him, raised her first, gleaming with a blue arua.
"Aren't you scared... if I punch you in the face right now, you'll die. With this much power, your head will not be able to maintain the force being applied. Your scared right... there is no way your not scared of a killer like me!
Kinuhata said this, trying to maintain a confident smile.
"Why are you here, Kinuhata?"
Kinuhata lost her composure, smile slipping to a frown.
Kamijou, who was within striking distance said this to her.
"What do you mean? I'm here to super kill you, then I can get a rewa-"
Kamijou speaks over her with intensity.
"If you came here with the intention of killing or capturing me, then one of those would have already happened! ... so why are you here! Right now! Here in this place! What are you trying to do! What does the girl known as Kinuhata Saiai want!"
Kinuhata tried to understand what he said.
"I already told! My job is to-"
"No, not your job! Don't tell me what they want! Tell me what you came her for!"
Seeing how Kinuhata still didn't get it, Kamijou explained.
"To he honest, your saying that I'm not taking this seriously, but aren't you one who's not taking this seriously?"
"I don't-"
Kamijou kept speaking, not letting her object.
"You came here for another reason, didn't you...!"
Kamijou reached out and touched Kinuhata's shoulders. This startled her, so she wanted to back away but Kamijou wouldn't let her. And if after trying to activate her powers, it wouldn't work.
"Kinuhata, I don't want to fight you, I have no reason, goal, or ambition to do so. However, I know your struggling! So let me help you! I don't understand why your here or what you came here to do, but its clear to see that you don't know that yourself! Why aren't you attacking me? If you were so bent on getting your reward, then why should the garbage opinion of a level 0 like me matter!
"I-I..."
Kinuhata, was completely blown away by Kamijou's words, making her feel uneasy inside. Something that she knows that has been bothering her for a long time now.
"I came... because..."
Kinuhata blurted this out after much mental deliberation, then as if overwhelmed, she slumped to her knees.
"I was envious..."
If she was going to let out these feelings, she wasn't going to hold back.
"Even as a level 0, your didn't stop you from trying to protect that girl . When I had heard about you, I thought you were super stupid, just like another level 0 I know. But... some part of me was curious, curious as to why a Level 0 would do something so reckless... when death is a irrefutable reality."
She then took a shakey breath.
"And if you are that strong... what does that say about someone like me. If that's the case, why can't I escape..."
Even if this wasn't like her, even if this side of her was pathetic, she didn't care. She would let these feelings out in front of the boy who has reached the ultimate point...
(That's it...)
"As a kid, I was used in an experiment. Have you heard of it? The Dark May Project..."
Kamijou who silently listening to her, gasped.
"Th-that was the project revolving around Accelerator, right?"
"Yep, the goal was to turn us into super replicas of the number one level 5. They recruited a whole group of us, all child errors. However, once the experiment began, some of us started to have side effects. I guess I can be considered to be one of the lucky ones. I was what you call, an honor student of the program. After all, my ability is based on Accelerator's defense..."
Kinuhata paused them began speaking again.
"But other kids were just used for the sole purpose of gaining knowledge of the brain. In other words, their minds were super dissected..."
Kamijou visibly flinched at that.
"Th-those bastards!"
Kinuhata, surprised at his reaction, posed a question.
"I take it this is the first time your hearing of events from the Dark side?
Kamijou smiled grimly.
"Sorry, but no. There have been others I have heard about. And it leaves me feeling so helpless that I can't do anything!"
Kinuhata laughs at this.
"What can you do, your just a-"
"A level 0? So what?"
Kinuhata stared at him wondering he was going with this.
"Because I'm a level 0, if I see someone crying out for help, I should ignore them! Because I'm a level 0, I should be ignorant of what goes on the Academy City's underbelly? No, that has nothing to do with it. There is no specification or requirement. That's why... I'm helping Othinus, because no one else will. I've seen how much she's suffered, so I know without a doubt that if I turned by head the other way, as they take her to be excuted. I would he trash! No I would lower than that!"
Kinuhata looked at Kamijou with awe.
(This boy, no, Kamijou Touma is a level 0, yet he doesn't use that as an excuse to not leap into action.)
Hey, Kamijou, er that feels wierd to call you that..."
"Yeah, we were just fighting a few minutes ago..."
Kamijou laughed sheepishly.
"You... aren't you scared of what can happen? Aren't scared of who else their going to send after you. Aren't you worried about how your going to live your life after this?"
Kinuhata was expecting a cool line... hoping it would give her some insight for herself.
However...
"Are you kidding, of course I'm scared. I'm just a normal high school student. There was no version of this where I was ever confident in what I was doing..."
Kinuhata, who was totally not expecting that...
"Hah? What the hell! Were you bluffing then? You could have died!"
"Your right... but that doesn't matter, not in the slightest. Right now in this moment, Kamijou Touma is not the type of person to look the other way when someone is clearly in a pain and crying for help. And right now, that person is Othinus. No matter how much times I reach game over. No matter how much times I have to pathetically hit continue. I will keep trying as long as it takes for me to reach the ending I want."
"And... do you think you can do it, save her I mean. I'm not going to be the only one they send."
Kamijou was surprised by her interested tone.
"I promised her I would. So, their is no other way I can see her smile."
Kamijou said these words resolutely. And then he placed a hand on Kinuhata's head, caressing her hair.
"Thank you, I like you, Kinuhata."
"..."
"..."
"Huh?"
(Like?Like?Like?Like?Like?)
"What the hell, are you super trying to flirt with me!?!"
For some reason, that comment made Kinuhata extremely flustered and she had no idea why.
"Flirt with you? ... Oh! No, not like like, I meant as a person. I'm so sorry, that was probably uncomfortable for you huh, I am practically a stranger after all."
He quickly proceeded to take his hand off her head. The warmth that was there disappeared in the cold windy atmosphere.
"Y-yeah, you are, so don't touch me so super casually. Your already in trouble for seeing my panties."
"Which I am extremely sorry for!"
Kamijou backed away slightly and bowed deeply with red cheeks.
"Ha ha ha..."
Kinuhata started to chuckle.
Kamijou looked up in surprise at this sight, because for the first time in this unorthodox meeting between two troubled souls, Kinuhata smiled.
Kinhata stopped laughing and looked curiously at Kamijou.
"What's the look for?"
"Huh? Oh!"
Kamijou was also smiling.
"Its just you have a very pretty smile, Kinuhata."
"Wha-wh-what are you saying you pervert! I see what's going on here. Your a player aren't you!? Save her my ass, you were after a long term booty call! Wow, just what I'd expect from a Level 0, you would get along great with that super pervy Hamazura!"
"Wow... okay, I give out one compliment and I'm a player. I don't have a harem... I don't have a harem... I don't have a harem... I don't have a harem... I don't have a harem... I don't have a harem... wait... did you say Hamazura?"
At first confused as to why he was repeating that phrase as a mantra, she then perked up.
"Yeah, he's a Level 0 I work with. Why?"
"Then that means your part of ITEM?"
"Yes, and how do you know that?"
"Huh? Cause me and Hamazura are friends of course..."
"What!"
Kinuhata couldn't hide her surprise.
(Of course Hamazura would be friends with this idiot...)
"Well... I see, I wasn't expecting that."
"Well me either..."
Kamijou then spoke in light hearted tone.
"Kinuhata, I don't think your a bad person, In fact, your really fun to be around. After this is over, and I reach the ending that will make Othinus happy, I'll come and find you, and we can talk about anything you want. And I promise you that I'll help whenever you need it."
Slightly surprised at the genuine comments, she still raised a question.
"Why would you do that?"
"Maybe not to you, but I consider us friends."
"Friends! I was trying to kill you!"
Kinuhata voiced her disbelief.
"Ha ha, well, your right but, ask Hamazura how we met... it's a funny story. Accelerator was the same way, but he'll never admit it."
"Yeah I will, I'm honestly super curious- wait... did you say Accelerator?"
"See you later, Kinuhata. "
Kamijou Touma briskly turned around and ran off, no doubt chasing after the girl who he was going go defend until his dying breath.
"Geez, he's gonna leave me with that super bombshell..."
Kinuhata watches his retreating figure for a few more moments then turned around in the opposite direction. Pulling a pager from her pocket, she reported in the situation.
"Sadly, the target knocked me out with some wierd power and they escaped. I have failed. Please come and get me."
Saying these depressing words, didn't damper her mood at all. That boy, the one who turned against the world to protect a single girl, gave her something very important. And she was no longer going to live her life without it. So, according to herself, she was going to live a little more... happy.
The girl walked off towards the approaching aircraft with wide smile on her face.
(I made a new friend after all, another super pervert at that, but I can't really complain because...)
(He said he'll come and find me, so I'll hold him to that!)
The End
A/N: Was it good? Bad? Completely trash? Partly trash? Please tell me, this was so difficult. This is on a whole other level than Shirai and Touma.
Um... yes, please review. [WHO SHOULD I DO NEXT!!!] Please tell me, as long as they haven't been covered in the Othinus Arc by meeting Touma. For example, like Accelerator and Misaka, wait... is that all the espers that went after him?
Oh... have a good day!
-Epsilon