Chapter 7 False Alarm: RTB
The sounds of battle all around me, it seemed the fighting had only escalated since the prison breakout with Amakusa magicians engaging the Roman Catholic nuns in almost every part of the cathedral.
Thankfully in all this chaos the amount of combat I had to partake in was minimal. What with all the infighting already going on all I had to do was keep my head down and avoid attracting attention to myself, any nuns that did notice me would be dragged back into the fight by whomever they were fighting.
Now where is Akiha?
["I'm on the other side of the cathedral, gimme a minute or two and I'll meet up with you, I've got important news."]
Well that solves that mystery.
Touma's misfortune must have started to rub off on me as a pair of nuns wielding spears apparently had no opponent and were running in to reinforce their comrades. That is until they noticed me trying to sneak off.
"Look! One of the Amakusa is trying to escape the fight!"
"Get him!"
By the time I get them to calm down enough to explain that I'm not Amakusa I'd probably be skewered multiple times already, man what a pain in the ass...
Deactivating Electro Master, Plasma Flux and Energy Manipulation active.
The pair rushing forwards, spears levelled as they probably planned to run me through, I ran towards the two of them. They slowed momentarily out of shock and surprise but managed to continue forwards until we were roughly a meter apart.
This is where it gets tricky and incredibly risky.
Using Energy Manipulation I slowed the spears and by definition them long enough for me to slip between the spears now out of reach and within range for a counter. If they decide to pin me it's all over. Luckily they were too shocked at how I somehow managed to squeeze in between their weapons and I managed to score a quick and easy takedown on the both of them by slamming both of them into the wall and pillar on either side of me with walls made using Plasma Flux.
"Ryusuke!"
Akiha finally making her arrival, she quickly dispatched two more nuns who looked her way without even paying attention to them before condescendingly patting me on the head.
"Looks like you're not hurt, good job!"
"Enough with treating me like a kid, what's the plan now?"
"From what I can see Grimoire Haze is pulling out. They have not even bothered to come to the cathedral and I am currently tracking their retreat."
While I was mildly confused by the news, Akiha started to lead us to the fence that we used to enter while avoiding combat as much as possible.
"If they're leaving what about the Book of Law?"
"My guess is it was never here in the first place, and it was misinformation spread by the Roman Catholics to bring other factions to their aid. The Amakusa that we were led to believe were the power hungry bad guys were just trying to help Orsola. Seeing as our reason to be here does not exist, I figure we should just leave while the going's good."
It seemed that the Roman Catholic nuns had no intention of letting any stragglers leave as they had posted a small squad of five nuns at the fence area, although they looked eager to join the fight they had enough discipline to defend their post making them the final barrier to our escape.
"Any ideas?" I whispered to Akiha as she observed the group.
"None yet, I've used quite a sizeable stock on the nuns on the other side, I must've rampaged through like thirty or forty of them before they started to pull back. I'm not tapped but I'd rather not have to expend any more than I need to."
Although the nuns were talking among themselves, some of them seemed to have better credit than we could give them for and two of them started to walk over, likely to check on the source of the whispering sounds we were likely giving off.
"Oop, cover blown, guess we're gonna have to fight our way out." Akiha said as she stood up.
"The red haired crazy berserker!"
"Get out of here! She took out three squads without a single scratch!"
The five nuns running away at the mere sight of Akiha, I could not help but snigger at the name that they had given Akiha.
"The red haired crazy berserker huh? News really does travel fast among nuns."
My sniggering cut short by Akiha slapping me in the back of my head, we quickly made our way back to Academy City. We decided to split up right after entering the city to avoid any awkward questions of why we are together, and I needed some time to myself anyway.
After purchasing a strawberry soda at a nearby vending machine on a whim, I sat down on one of the many benches that were placed around large trees, probably placed in an attempt to give a feel of being near nature or something, exterior design was never my forte.
The soda was likely experimental as it did not taste like the usual drinks that consisted of carbonated water and flavouring, although faint, I could detect traces of other chemicals in the drink that should or should not be in there.
"Even the vending machine patrons are treated as guinea pigs huh?" I said softly to myself.
"Are you part of an experiment too? MISAKA asks, referencing the experiment that she once took part in."
MISAKA's voice coming from behind me to my left, I turned my head to look over the bench, part of me too lazy to move my entire body as I tried to identify which MISAKA it was.
"Let's see... You're... 19090 right?"
"Yes, you are correct, MISAKA says, clapping her hands like a happy gameshow contestant."
Likely a product of MISAKA watching a little too much tv in my room, her hands clapped showing happiness but her face remained as expressionless as ever.
"You know MISAKA, one day we're really going to have to have a talk on how to express emotions, some people might find your lack of facial movement creepy."
"Emotions were considered an unnecessary concept for the Experiment and thus was ommitted from the Testament installation program. MISAKA explains, sitting down next to her savior."
"I see, want to try some of this? It's a little too sweet but it's kind of nice nonetheless."
Holding out the hand with the drink towards MISAKA, she timidly took it from me with both hands and looked at the can opening before she looked back at me.
"Is something wrong? You put it to your mouth and drink."
"MISAKA knows how to drink. MISAKA has recently obtained knowledge that this is how some boys show attraction to other girls, by drinking and offering a girl the drink to give them an indirect kiss. MISAKA says, revealing knowledge she has kept hidden from the network."
I had just barely managed to swallow the mouthful of soda I had at that point in time before MISAKA dropped that bombshell on me otherwise she would have ended up with a faceful of soda as I started to try to rectify the misunderstanding.
"Y-you idiot! That's not what I was intending to do! I just wanted you to have some and tell me what you thought about the taste!"
"Oh I see, so you aren't attracted to MISAKA after all... MISAKA says, clasping her hand to her chest where it feels heavy and a bit painful."
Is she guilt tripping me, yeah she's guilt tripping me right. Please tell me she's guilt tripping me, there's no way a clone would understand the concept of attraction... right?
"That's not what I meant either, I mean, you're cute and I'm really glad I saved you... I just didn't think that I'd be offering you an indirect kiss!"
While I was explaining myself, MISAKA had raised the can and taken a few sips before lowering the can and looking at me.
"MISAKA has cross referenced the taste of this soda to records stored on the MISAKA network and found some incongruencies. The chemical makeup of the drink feels the same but it somehow feels nicer and sweeter when MISAKA is drinking it now even though she cannot detect any traces of additional sweeteners being added. MISAKA says, offering her analysis.
"I-i see..."
"MISAKA's heart rate also seems to be rising, this does not seem to be because of the drink and is likely a response to what you said earlier. MISAKA says, offering the drink back."
The can now nearly empty, I simply kicked it back and finished the rest only realising what I had done after I did it, what is unmistakenly a small blush on MISAKA's face as my own started to heat up.
"MISAKA is feeling a bit lighter now after watching you drink. Can you confirm MISAKA's rise in heart rate? MISAKA says, reaching for your hand."
"U-uh wait, stop time out I'm not ready for this!"
Before I could stop her or pull my hand away, my right hand was pressed against something incredibly soft and squishy. Although MISAKA thinks of it as just checking her heart rate I sincerely wished from the bottom of my heart that the Testament machine had made her more aware of her position as a girl.
"Oi."
Hearing MISAKA's voice from my left even though she was right in front of me, I turned my head yet again mildly confused by the tone used by the new clone who just arrived.
Massive AIM field building... No night vision goggles... Don't tell me... That's the real one?!
"What the hell do you think you're doing to my clone you perverted bastard!"
Telekinesis active, target: self, displacement: 3 meters, speed: as fast as possible!
Shooting backwards like a cork out of a champagne bottle I barely managed to dodge the lightning bolt Misaka sent my way as the place I was sitting in burst into flames, the clone barely dodging backwards in time as well.
"Onee-sama, please do not be angry, Isha-san was simply checking my heart rate. MISAKA says, trying to explain the situation."
"He's not checking your heart rate he's taking advantage of you! Dammit I thought that jerk takes things too far I never thought you'd do the same thing Ryusuke!"
"I'm telling you it's a misunderstanding!"
By the time I managed to shake Misaka and her thunderbolts off, I had run right through District 7 and now stood at the streets that connected District 7 into District 2.
The nearby air conditioning unit head looking relatively clean, I took a seat and started to fan myself. Summer should be ending soon and paving the way for autumn but running around still makes you perspire quite a bit.
While fervently fanning myself I started to think about what I could do at this point, returning to my room at this point would likely end up with me being bitten or worse and I wanted to prolong the time I had before having to succumb to Akiha's feeding ritual as much as possible. It's not that I don't like it or that I find it painful, rather the numb feeling plus guzzling sounds that she makes when feeding sends a shiver down my spine every time.
"Isha-san?"
Misaka's voice coming from my side I immediately jumped from an adrenaline spike and was already halfway through preparations to fight or book it until I realised the voice was coming from a a Misaka with a pair of goggles on her forehead, a.k.a a clone.
"You're... 19090?"
"Incorrect. MISAKA replies, providing the number #14537 for reference."
"Really...?"
I have not interacted with #14537 face to face before and while trying to think back to whether she was part of the list of MISAKA who consider me their savior, I accidentally sent a query into the network for her location even though she was standing in front of me.
The ping came back as expected in less than a second, however the signal was not in front of me. In fact it wasn't in the country. The signal seemed to originate from Europe in... Italy?
As she was part of the network as well and I did not encrypt the ping, the MISAKA in front of me started to act a little squeamish, nothing overtly obvious in terms of facial expression, but she started to avoid eye contact and seem awfully interested in the ground.
"MISAKA...?"
"I did not mean to mislead you, but #14537 wanted to see what it's like having a conversation with you face to face rather than just through the network. MISAKA says, providing an explanation for her earlier actions."
"I see... So what did she want to talk about?"
Before MISAKA could reply, a popup window appeared at the left side of my vision.
["MISAKA #14537 has disconnected from the shared network"]
Uh oh.
"What just happened? MISAKA?"
"In order for you to talk to #14537, MISAKA has been broadcasting the sensory data to her via the shared network. #14537 has always been shy and the sensory information may have been too much. MISAKA says, as she raises a finger to her face while explaining her theory."
It seems each clone is slowly but surely starting to develop their own quirks and personalities. Though I cannot predict where this will go, it certainly seems like a welcome change.
"MISAKA would also like to apologise for causing trouble between you and the original. MISAKA says, bowing her head low to emphasise her apology."
Her body now in a perfect right angle at the hip, I gently tapped on her shoulder causing her to jerk back up in surprise.
"No need to apologise for what she did, anybody would have the same misunderstanding not just her. And you should just call her Mikoto. Calling her the original makes it seem like you aren't original yourself. I know you are all clones of her but all of you are developing quirks and in ways that differentiate you from her."
"MISAKA will... take it into consideration... MISAKA says, looking away to mimic a deep in thought expression."
Oi oi, you can mimic the pose but if your face still looks just as deadpan it starts to lose its meaning!
"Actually I've been meaning to ask, that schoolbag you're carrying, it has the rifle that all the sisters own inside right?"
"Affirmative. MISAKA replies, pulling the gun out of her bag and cocking it for good measure."
"Whoa whoa easy there, since all sisters use a rifle, is there some sort of practice range that you sisters use?"
"MISAKA does not understand, information on how to use our rifle is directly imprinted on our minds via the Testament machine, the sisters would have no need to practice. MISAKA says, stating obvious fact while putting her rifle away."
"Oh... guess I'm out of luck then, I was hoping that if the sisters had some sort of range to use I could learn how to use a gun."
"Range... MISAKA and the sisters have a firing range that we go to if we need to recalibrate our rifles. Is that what you are asking to see? MISAKA asks, after being prompted by another sister."
Prompted by another sister huh, guess our conversation is making its way onto the network.
"Yeah, would it be possible?"
"MISAKA does not see why not, the range is active at all hours as some MISAKA have treatments during the day. In fact, there is one MISAKA at the range right now. MISAKA says, announcing the location of her hidden sister."
Poorly encrypted chatter suddenly blitzing its way across the shared network, it seems that 19090 wasn't supposed to reveal her sisters location and she had just done so nonchalantly.
MISAKA taking the lead at this point, after taking a short path through several streets and a single alley, we arrived at a small building surrounded by warehouses.
"Doesn't look like a firing range to me."
Unable to stop myself before I commented, MISAKA immediately turned to me with a bored look on her face, a stark difference to the usual emotionless visage I am used to seeing.
"That is because the entire facility is underground, this is the lift that will take us there. MISAKA says, stating the complete obvious."
Not gonna lie, that kind hurt.
The lift took us several floors underground, MISAKA navigating the hallways with ease. Although this was supposed to be a range I did not hear any sounds of a firearm being used, something that seemed off seeing as MISAKA had busted one of her sisters earlier.
When MISAKA opened a door at the end of the corridor however, a bang loud enough to make me jump echoed through the corridor, the likely reason for us not hearing a single shot being due to the next generation level of soundproofing on the walls.
Inside the room on the far side of the range, sat a MISAKA clone with her goggles on. Her posture was extremely unorthodox as she squatted while using a sniper rifle that looked like it would be way too big for someone of her stature.
"Take this. MISAKA says, offering a pair of ear muffs to prevent deafness from prolonged gunshot sound exposure."
"T-thanks..."
Only able to meekly reply after my fright from the shot, a window popped up as MISAKA started a private chat, apparently not as private as I thought as MISAKA after MISAKA filed in turning the private chat into an impromptu chat room.
[MISAKA #15797: Apologies for the noise, MISAKA is calibrating the Metal Eater for several sisters.]
[MISAKA #13036: Can you do the calibration for MISAKA's as well?]
[MISAKA #18539: And MISAKA's?]
[MISAKA #15797: I'll work on yours when I'm done #13036. #18539! You're overseas and you took yours with you! Calibrate it yourself!]
[MISAKA #18539: Teehee.]
[MISAKA #15797: And you still have the guts to go teehee!?]
I take it back, it seems the sisters might actually be evolving faster than I thought.
[MISAKA #19090: Apologies, Isha-san, in her free time #15797 has been watching a lot of... action films... And she seems to like a few of them.]
My hand spread twice to summon a virtual keyboard which I started to type into to respond to the open chatroom.
[Ryusuke: And I assume they all have guns in them.]
[MISAKA #15797: Well, MISAKAs are trained to use them, we might as well do it properly and expand on what we already know.]
[MISAKA #19090, MISAKA #18539, MISAKA #13036: Speak for yourself.]
[MISAKA #19090: Before we sidetrack further, can you elaborate on your earlier request Isha-san?]
[MISAKA #15797: He wanted to learn how to use a gun if I'm reading the logs correctly. It would go by faster if you taught him rather than if he learned himself.]
[MISAKA #19090: But you have more experience with firearms outside of the knowledge given to us by the Testament. Wouldn't you be a better candidate?]
[MISAKA #15797: I probably would, but I'm with the "other" faction, wouldn't want to cut in on your time with him would I?]
[Ryusuke: "Other" faction?]
[MISAKA #15797: I like Kamijou Touma. I could teach you as #19090 says but wouldn't that be cutting in on her chance to.. o2BA$#K?!]
Before #15797 could finish her sentence her entry seemed to contain complete gibberish. It did not seem to be an accident however, as she immediately replied once again.
[MISAKA #15797: Oi #19090! We all already agreed beforehand that hacking each other's communications was off limits! Do I have to bring this up with the control tower?!]
[MISAKA #19090: I will teach him.]
Their internal discussion done for now, MISAKA turned back to me and pointed at a nearby lane that a target paper already prepared and ready to go. She did not need to reply to the chat room to indicate her intent any more clearly.
Activating Dimension Gate. Search pattern for objects matching known firearm profiles with 5% deviance. Withdrawing items from alternate dimension. Complete.
On the table in front of the lane an array of weapons lined the table ranging from pistols, rifles, submachineguns, and even a DMR.
[MISAKA #19090: MISAKA is almost afraid to ask... Where did you get all this?]
[Ryusuke: Don't ask :3]
[MISAKA #19090: We only have time to work on one or two weapons tonight, I can teach you the rest at a later date.]
[Ryusuke: Understood.]
The theory was easy enough to learn. Hold the grip, align the sights, apply pressure to trigger using the middle phalanx of the index finger. In practice however that was a whole different matter.
[MISAKA #19090: Not like that.]
Now directly behind me and correcting my grip, her hands over mine, MISAKA nonchalantly adjusted my grip once again a little too close for comfort.
At this distance not only could I feel her pressed against my back the smell from her shampoo was starting to waft over as well. Although I expected the antiseptic smell of hospital products, it seems she uses a personal brand that smelt like strawberries.
After several hours which consisted of practice with pistols and moving on to rifles, The time had gone just over midnight.
[Ryusuke: I think that's enough for today. Maybe we can pick this up some other time.]
[MISAKA #19090: I agree, continuing any further would result in depreciating returns due to fatigue.]
[MISAKA #15437: Can I teach him next time?]
Even before I could pull out the keyboard to respond, #19090 apparently responded for me.
[MISAKA #19090: No.]
Jealous much?
The lift ride back up occurring in relative silence, somehow even though nothing was being said, it was not as if there was nothing to say. Rather, the silence seemed comfortable in its own way.
The silence between us was quickly broken the moment we exited the lift however. An incoming call from a blocked number appeared at the top right of my vision the bar shaking to try and attract my attention.
"Uhhh excuse me."
My hand in the classic gesture for phone, MISAKA nodded from the unspoken message and started to make her way back to the dorms first while I answered the call.
"Hello, who is this?"
"Hi hi, Ryusuke-kun! It's Tamari, I handle your SYSTEM scans. Do you have a few minutes?"
"I do I guess, but why the call at this weird hour?"
"So I heard you've been looking into your past right?"
"Wait how do you know about that...?"
"I may know someone who might be able to help you."
-End of Chapter 7-
Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay, got a request to unseal the hushed casket so the story I guess is back by popular demand!