Chapter 2: Reboot

00:22 Academy City Time

Akari was in the middle of a deep slumber. At the moment, he was resting on Ai's bed, though it was pretty much guarenteed they would likely make him sleep on the couch. After all, both of them had their rooms in a girl based setup. It was decided it would be easier to have him take the couch. But for the first night, since he really needed the rest, he could have the bed just this once.

It was kind of awkward getting him dressed though, she just put him in some pajama and a T shirt. Underwear...was too far for her to go through.

But now, she was on the couch, awake and watching TV to try and get her sleepy. Or at least, that was her originally intent, but there was a rerun of a Sola Arken concert on. Even though Sola was only as old as Akari, he was already a popular pop idol adored by millions, possibly even billions.

And so, that was how she was spending her time...

"Index, are you sure?"

"Yeah! There was something about this kid, I could sense it, that was magical in nature! It was really weird too, because for a moment, it felt like a Grimoire, but not..."

"But, he was taken out of a science lab. Shouldn't that likely mean he has Esper powers? Magic and Espers dont mix".

"Then maybe they were trying to experiment with magic!"

Toma didn't really like the sound of that. Experimentation with magic? Sounded like the fast track to a B-rated monster movie that goes to TV instantly instead of theaters.

Or another friday for him.

And so, the two turned the corner and then...

"What the...what are you doing here Zapper?"

"Me? What are you doing here?!"

Toma and Index ran into Misaka.

"We are here because we decided to take a walk in this area. After all, we dont have curfew".

At those words, Misaka twitched a little.

"...fine, I get it. But lets be fully honest here, yo uare here for Akari too right?"

"Yeah, I heard that he had something he shouldn't".

"You can say that again. For some reason, he seems to have data from the Tree Diagram Sattelite. I am sure I dont have to tell you how dangerous that data can be. Which means..."

"You expect people to show up...but are you sure about that?"

"He mentioned several organizations from the Dark Side of Academy City in passing. Although, there was one I was unfamiliar with. CLASS. I have never heard of that one before. I wonder if they are new..."

That was when suddenly, a large explosion could be heard.

"What the hell..."

"Are they using heavy explosives already?"

The trio ran out to see what was going on...and they saw Accelerator, fighting armed mercenaries.

"Why is he here?!"

"...of course, if the Dark Side moves, of course he would show up. Should we get closer and listen to him lecture about being villains, or should we wait here and wait for any unforseen developments?"

"Toma, its getting loud".

"Yeah, lets just...let Accelerator deal with this chaos. We should be fine".

"Unless...you dont think this is a distraction does it?"

"...yeah this is not good..."

At some point, Ai began to hear some strange noises coming from the front door. She found it strange, given the time of night. Not to mention, did this mean someone was trying to break into the home of an Anti-Skill member AND Judgement?

She picked up some batons and approached the door...when suddenly a shadow shot out from under the door and formed a fist, which punched her right in the face and knocked her back. Then, the shadow took the form of a woman holding a staff.

"Stupid girl. You have no chance of standing up against a Sorcerer like me".

"You think?!" she said in return, charging right at the woman once more. The woman shot blades of shadows at her, but then Ai wormholed to right behind the woman and smashed her head in from behind. This time, it was the sorceress that took the damage. "Looks like I can...wait, sorcerer?"

"Hah. You do not even know the truth of this world, of magic and gods. But since I am kind, I shall give you an offer. Give me the boy, and I will leave without incident".

"So you are here for Akari..."

"Hmmm? So you named it, how interesting. No matter, there are plenty of ways to fix this".

"Fix this! Like hell I will let you lay your hands on Akari, after everything you did to him! And dont call him an it!"

Ai attacked with her batons and attacked again, only this time the woman was able to deflect her with her staff. However, they both could hear doors creeking open, which meant they knew more people would show up soon. Sicne they didn't know who they were and what their plans would be, they both decided to try and end this quickly. And yet...the woman could not help but retort her words.

"Why shouldn't I? After all, he isn't a real boy".

"Why the hell are there people in swords and armor here?!" Miaska shouted as she took down a fourth one with an electric shock.

"Not sure...though its occured to me now that this feels normal for us still" Toma replied, as he followed behind Misaka.

It was true. Although it was surprising for them, none of them felt any real shock or surprise at this point.

"The action started so suddenly though..."

"Since when is that new? Ambushes have been a long time thing. Besides, this isn't the first time it has happened to Toma".

"...right. There was that one guy who blew open a hole in my apartment, while I was not there. Then there was that time you came and tried to attack me out of the blue. There was also that time...yeah, no. Things suddenly breaking out into violence tend to happen a lot to me".

"By the way, how did you know where to go anyways?"

At that question, Toma was a bit sheepish.

"Well, thats the reason Index is here...for some reason, she knew. How did you?"

"A friend...or, rather, a rival of Shirai's lives here. I knew her name, so looking it up was easy since I am a level five".

"Which means you threatened some lower level kid who is good with tech to do it for you right?"

"...no comment".

The two finally reached the front of the apartment building, while they heard gunfire and Accelerator laughing maniacly.

"He must really want people to desperately believe he is a villain".

"I suppose that makes him an ultimate level Tsundere? Even larger then Mikoto Misaka?"

At Misaka's reply, the group turned around when they were shocked to hear a voice behind them. And when they did, there was a boy around Toma's age with blonde hair and blue eyes that held a strange sword in his hand. He casually walked inbetween them and the entrance to the apartment building, his sword out and ready. Furthermore, he also adjusted his footing appropriately, indicating he was no novice.

"What the hell was that? You want to repeat that?" Misaka said, generating an electric charge around her...only for it to suddenly be drawn into the sword. "The hell..."

"Please. We were aware of todays events, including both of your encounters with that boy. As such, I made sure to prepare for both of your arrivals. So let me save you the trouble. Kajimo-kun, your Imagine Breaker is useless against me. My sword does not use Esper powers or magical abilities, just technology. And before you ask how I know, you would be amazed at just how many people know the truth about you Kajimo-kun, and about Index there".

Misaka and Toma stared down the man, while Index stood behind them. Indeed, the two evaluated this was a bad situation. It appeared that he was skilled in the sword, and the sword was something that Imagine Breaker could not negate and could counter Misaka's powers as if it was some sort of lightning rod. They had been checked and countered before either of them could even try to manage an attack.

Of course, technically speaking, there was still one person among them that could do something...but she herself was not certain she could yet, and using any of the Grimoires held untold dangers.

However, the boy was not attacking either for some reason...which meant, he didn't need to attack or go up. He just needed to stall them. In other words, someone had already gone upstairs.

And yet that stalement was broken, when a wormhole opened up and both Ai and a mysterious woman fell through. Ai immediately kicked the woman away, and hopped back onto her feet inbetween the woman and the boy.

"Suno, I thought you said you had it handled?" the boy asked, half annoyed, half amused.

"Shut it Lance. You didn't mention the Esper was a Transport type".

"Let me guess, you didn't get the boy?"

"Like hell she did! I wont let you even get close to Aka-chan!"

"Aka-chan? Wow, it took only a single day for you to get attached? Was he that innocent and helpless looking? Well that is rich".

"By the way, what is with all the gunfire?"

"It seems that another organization is interested in it and came to claim our prize. But, I arranged things so that another opponent of ours would meet them instead, and let them deal with each other".

As this idle conversation went on, each and every one of them were measuring each other up. Unfortunately for Toma, the woman, who only had a staff and so likely relied on some supernatural power, was on the other side of the boy and that other girl. However...it did not pose as much of an issue for Misaka.

Toma and Misaka nodded at each other, which followed by Toma going low and cupping his hands. Misaka meanwhile jumped into the air, and then Toma pushed off her foot and launched her over the swordsman.

"I don't think so, I see what you are planning!"

Giving a nod to the woman, she charged at Ai while forming blades of shadow to quickly eliminate her. Ai formed a wormhole however to divert the attack...

"Gah?!"

When a blade plunged into her from behind, before quickly being drawn out. Right as Misaka landed, Ai collapsed to the ground with a wound in her chest. At the same time, a squad of mercenary gunmen arrived to see the situation, as well as all the potential hostiles. The swordsman who observed all this, and realized there were too many enemies for his liking, clicked his tongue and decided to use this opportunity to reduce them.

"That would is not directly fatal, but...if you leave her as is, she will die. So you have a choice, you can fight us, or save her, but you cant do both. So, who are you going to choo..."

"...no way...Ai-neechan?"

The words of a young boy echoed out from the open doors to the apartment lobby, where Akari stood in plaid pyjamma pants, some sneakers, and a T shirt as he stared at Hokari Ai.

AN: Me: Well, that seems traumatic...

Ai: Tell me about it! I better not be that likable character that gets written into the beginning only to be surprise killed off for character growth! I wanted Akari to have a personality, but I wanted to be there to enjoy it!

Me: Relax relax, it missed everything vital. The only issue is if you bleed to death.

Ai: That is still dangerous!

Misaka: So Accelerator got distracted by a distraction? So much for number 1.

Accelerator: Shut up! They are technically not a distraction but a full on assault force! They themselves dont even know they are a distraction!

Me: True. Technically speaking, it both is and isn't a distraction Accelerator is wasting time with.

Accelerator: You want to die?!

Me: Errr...no thank you time to end this here stay tuned for more!