The new Number 5 was lurking in the shadows. He did that a lot. It was very easy for him. Still, this was lurking with a purpose. That Railgun girl was going to pass by here. And he was going to… he wasn't sure yet. Fight her, definitely. Kill her maybe, if it came to that. He just needed one thing: to prove he was stronger. He didn't care how the rankings were determined, but he knew, just knew that if he managed to beat Railgun, he would move up to Number 4. For now, he just had to be patient.
He waited. Sounds began to come from down the street. He quietly unfolded himself from his trash can and squeezed himself up into a window. The window was completely opaque, of course, but he figured that this late at night nobody would be able to actually tell. The person walking down the alley came into view. Shit. It wasn't Railgun; it was that psychopath. He had spent three long years in middle school with Takeru Yamamoto, and any and all interactions with him were to be avoided at all costs.
In his usual infuriating style, Takeru was loudly singing as he walked. He would be a prime target for attack like that, but experience had shown that the man was never, ever off-guard.
"Walking down the streeeeet, tap-tap-tapping my feeeeet, got some friends to meeeeet, because I know that's you goo-brain."
Shit.
Number 5 lowered himself to the ground and uncurled back to his full size. "How did you know?"
"I saw you move, idiot. There were two trashcans here before." Takeru sighed. "I expected better from you, Yoshida."
"That's not my name. It's not even close. I'm Mizuno Kuroyama, rememb-"
"Whatever, goo-brain." God he hated that nickname.
"Why are you here?"
"Because I caught you creepin'." He smiled that stupid smile of his, the one that looked almost innocent and childlike. Mizuno knew better.
"On who, may I ask?"
"Oh whom. And I'm not sure. You know, that Misaka girl was walking up this way earlier. And then she just changed her mind and went home a different way. Isn't that odd?"
Mizuno was sweating. He extended his brow a little so none of it could drip into his eyes. "Very odd."
"You know, I've noticed that she's ranked right above you. As a level 5, I mean. Obvious she's way above you in most other respects."
Mizuno couldn't take it anymore. He doubled his arm length and went for a good solid punch. His arm met a trashcan lid in mid-air, which was traveling at about 80 mph in the opposite direction. Dang that hurt. Fortunately his more… flexible body structure had absorbed the blow and prevented any real long-term damage. Still, that welt wouldn't go away easily.
"I'm asking you not to challenge her. It doesn't work that way."
Mizuno couldn't believe this asshole, getting off on power like this. Who did he think he was? Well, the answer was the most powerful esper in a city full of powerful espers, he supposed. Still, the principle of the thing.
"I refuse."
"I see. Well, she'll beat you easily in a fair fight, I think. None of this sneaking around stuff."
"So you're saying you won't stop me if I try to fight her?"
"Not if you do it in broad daylight and from the front instead of this creepy sneak attack."
"Who put you in charge of when and where people can fight?"
"I did." He grinned again. "Not like I have anything better to do, anyway."
Takeru walked off with that obnoxious grin still on his face. One day Mizuno was going to punch a hole straight through that stupid head of his. But not yet. He could wait.