Chapter 7 - Unexpected and Uncompromising

'What's going on here anyway?' Shokuhou brought her hand up to her eyes to check if any tears had escaped. 'Doesn't he remember?'

The golden girl pondered the possibilities on her own, while the boy continued to speak, his right hand pressed against his head.

"You are an expert on this subject, aren't you?" he asked, his eyes full of attention.

"Yes... Well, if we're discussing the human mind," she responded with hesitation in her voice.

Yet, the solution to this complex problem remained stubbornly out of reach. The relentless pursuit of a resolution had become a part of her very existence, intertwining with her emotions and casting a shadow of uncertainty over her every thought. If it were that simple, she wouldn't have been suffering for so long.

"There's something wrong with my head...I..." He hesitated for a brief moment. "You can call me crazy if you want, but I tend to hear voices quite often."

"Voices? When did this start?" Shokuhou looked at the boy's bandaged hand. "Does the timing match that?"

"Yeah. Almost. I think it was a few days later. It started with simple things, like another me was whispering. But recently, that voice in my head has been talking about things I don't remember doing."

"So is that why you can remember my name? That voice in your head always reminds you?"

"Yes. And today, he gave me all this information that I told you about. But it's strange, since I can't remember any of it."

'Can this even be considered progress ability? How does his mind work anyway? The voice in his head remembers me but he doesn't, that doesn't make sense.'

"I'm sorry," Kamijou said, his eyes capturing the seriousness reflected on the girl's face.

"Don't blame yourself," she reassured him, mustering a faint smile.

With a heavy sigh, she let her body give in, sinking to the ground in a mix of exhaustion and contemplation, her thoughts swirling in a tangled labyrinth. The boy, sensing the weight of the moment, gently lowered himself onto the soft grass beside her.

"Can't you do something with your ability? Figure out what's causing this?"

"I can try, but I really didn't want to read your mind." She withdrew a remote control from her golden purse.

"Why not?"

"It's a personal vow I made to myself," Shokuhou sighed, her expression revealing the weight of that promise. As she held the control in her hand, a quiet resolve settled within her.

"It's okay," Kamijou reassured, firmly holding her hand along with the control. With their hands intertwined, he gently guided the control towards his head. "This is no time to hesitate over something so simple."

It was not something simple. This was a self-imposed restriction, one of several, if she started removing restrictions like this when it suited her, it would be a dangerous thing, for her and for others. But that determined look from the boy was making her weak. It was always like this, she felt that she couldn't be the Queen around him, she was nothing more than a younger girl.

"Okay, let's do that then."

Slowly, she rose from the soft grass, brushing off any remnants clinging to her clothes. The boy, noticing her movements, mirrored her actions, pushing himself up from his reclined position.

A click on the white remote control was all it took. There was no need for her to vocalize the category, which made her wonder if it was a mistake. This wasn't what she had intended. The once vibrant scenery around her began to transform, colors fading into muted shades, and the light dimming as if swallowed by an encroaching darkness.

"What?" Shokuhou's voice echoed through the void, filled with confusion. "Where am I?"

"In my mind," responded a familiar voice, its resonance spreading through the infinite darkness. "Or rather, in that bastard's mind."

Shokuhou turned toward the voice coming from behind her.

"Kami... jou-san?" she tilted her head to the side and examined the boy quickly. "Wait... no... no..."

The reason the girl began to despair was because of that "Kamijou's" choice of clothes. He wore an expensive looking suit that fit him very well, she would be lying if she said she didn't like seeing him dressed like that. She even imagined herself in a fancy dress next to him. But that strange feeling wouldn't go away.

"No, you're not him," she said, walking backwards away from him. "Did you do this? That was not the command I gave, I shouldn't be here."

"Calm down, Shokuhou-san." The boy displayed a mischievous little smile. "Or do you prefer Misaki-chan?"

"I will not fall for that deception ability." She continued walking away from him, unmoved by what she was feeling. "You're that impostor, from that day at Windsor Castle. Why are you in his head? Answer me quickly before I -"

"How annoying." He clicked his tongue.

The imposter gracefully made a slight bow, his right hand glowing emerald as he gestured. In that moment, an inexplicable force seized the girl's body, causing her to feel weightless, as if pulled forcefully from the ground. A blinding flash of light enveloped her senses, momentarily obscuring her vision.

When her vision cleared once more, she was greeted with a breathtaking sight. The serene tranquility of a forest or woodland surrounded them, yet amidst this natural landscape, an unexpected sight unfolded. A juxtaposition emerged, a modern building crafted from pristine white marble stood proudly, hosting a table set for a restaurant experience.

"Please, take a seat," he said, pulling out one of the chairs at the round table. "It will help you feel better."

"What did you do?" Shokuhou asked, curiosity mixed with concern in her voice

"Those are memories, or fragments of it, I can change the setting at will."

"So Kamijou-san has been here before?"

"Yes," he didn't hesitate to respond, his fingers deftly toying with a pot of tea as he poured a fragrant brew into a delicate cup. "He died here."

Her immediate response was a strange frown. There was no way it could be true, but that boy spoke with such confidence that anyone would believe him.

"Is that some kind of metaphor ability?"

"No, he really and truly died here," he confirmed, gesturing for the girl to join him at the table. "Come on, I'm not going to hurt you, or hurt that damn fool. In fact I'm willing to help both of you. You can take that as an apology, even though it's all his fault."

Shokuhou's distrust refused to go away, but she overcame her reluctance and sat down on the other side of the small round table.

"You should definitely give the éclairs a try. I know you're a fan," the impostor suggested, a smirk playing on his face. There was an air of arrogance in his demeanor. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Shokuhou found herself unable to avert her gaze from that enigmatic smile.

"So you are the voice in his head?" Her tone was stiff.

"Yes, you're welcome."

"Huh?"

"You must have had a lot of fun the last few days thanks to me, so, you're welcome." He widened his arrogant smile. "Would you like some tea? This is of the same quality as the one at Windsor Castle, and it was masterfully prepared. It's a pity that bastard couldn't take advantage of the situation, he was busy choking on his own blood. You can be quite a scary girl sometimes, such creativity."

"What are you talking about?"

"As I said, Kamijou Touma died here. I think it was right there, in this chair you are sitting in. You had a very scary smile on your face at that moment, I remember it very well. I didn't even know that it was possible for this kind of thing to happen if one was forced to eat so much sweets. Living and learning...I mean...dying." He put another indecipherable smile on his face. "I often revisit those memories when I'm bored. That bastard really has no luck..."

"I really don't understand." She shook her head and pushed the cup of tea he offered away from her. "What are you anyway? Some kind of alter ego?"

"I am an ability, nothing more than that. But is that really the kind of question you want to ask me?"

"Are you responsible for the changes in his body?"

"In part, yes. But that's still not the question you should be asking me."

The hesitation was obvious, she didn't want to fall for that person's charms. In fact, if this were a physical space and not a mental one, she probably would have already found a way to get revenge for everything that person had done to her.

"Will seeking revenge really lead you anywhere?" he asked, causing Shokuhou to shift uncomfortably in her seat.

"Can you read my intentions?" Her worried voice was barely audible, blending with the gentle symphony of nature surrounding them. The uncertainty in her words was palpable

"Don't worry, I'm not using some strange power for this, it's just kind of obvious. There's a reason I chose the place you killed Kamijou Touma over any other place."

"You keep repeating that, what are you trying to say? Is this some kind of manipulative ability like last time?"

"Every person in Kamijou Touma's life has killed him at least once, and you are no exception. The first was... Komoe-sensei? I think so." He made a gun with his hands and pointed it at his own head. "I have all those memories, right here. That's why he can technically remember you now, me and him are merging after all."

Why did she have this nagging feeling that something wasn't right about all of this? Her hand instinctively moved to her chin as her gaze shifted towards the boy's right arm. Meanwhile, the boy casually reached out his arm, delicately picking up a few candies from the table, adding a touch of innocent mischief to the atmosphere. She couldn't see any band there, and logically, why would there be one? After all, they were in a mental realm. But it was almost as if she was using that detail to convince herself that it wasn't him.

"What will happen when the process is over?"

"Now that's a good question, Misaki-chan."

"Don't call me by name." She almost gritted her teeth.

"A little rude, but I kind of deserve it." The impostor shrugged and tasted one of the candies. "Even if I have the memories he's missing, merging us doesn't guarantee the problem will be solved. He still won't be able to remember you. I mean, technically the memories will be there, but he won't be able to access them."

"Give me more details, what exactly is going on?"

"Kamijou Touma is in pieces." The boy said this quite harshly. "His body and mind have already received damage from both worlds for too long. His interior was unstable for some time now, I wouldn't have been born and tried to take his life if that wasn't true, and what's happening now is a repair process, courtesy of me of course. I told him I would be back after all, but I am no longer interested in taking his place."

"And what is your interest now?"

"To help you." He was not looking at her as he said this, preoccupied by pouring himself more tea. She responded with a skeptical and frustrated look. "Don't glare at me like that. You have every right to be cautious, but I assure you, my intentions are genuinely good."

The girl's thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of the situation. However, an unsettling feeling lingered within her, as if she were disconnected from her true self. This place... he claimed she had supposedly ended Kamijou Touma's life here. It couldn't be true. It must be a tactic, a ploy to keep her mind occupied with conflicting thoughts, a simple yet effective technique of manipulation. Shokuhou Misaki would not fall for something so obvious.

"I'm not interested," she said, getting up from the table. "Take me back to the real world, I feel that listening to you here is not going to be of any helpful."

"The process ends tomorrow," he said quietly, causing Shokuhou to narrow her eyes. "The two of us will merge tomorrow, probably late at night. After that, you'll miss your chance."

"Tomorrow? That can't be true."

"In a way, this is your fault," he stated, his gaze fixed upon her as she brought her hand up to her broad chest, overwhelmed by anguish."Who do you think made him feel this way? Who is forcing him to remake himself?"

"What are you talking about?"

"On the first day of the year, he caught a glimpse of you, and there was a fleeting moment when he almost recognized you. Pay close attention to that 'almost'. Don't you think this aroused something in him? Like that feeling that something is wrong, but you don't know what. This subconscious desire made me come back to the surface and then start the process of restoration. This was started almost a month ago, and tomorrow it will be completed. However, I don't think I can do it all by myself, so that's where you come in."

"I said I'm not interested."

"It's your last chance." He too rose from his chair to stare into her eyes. "I can probably restore his memories, but I don't think I can make him really remember you. Think of it as being like a bone healing in the wrong position without a splint or a cast. I need you to give me the proper support. Help me, Shokuhou-san."

His hand was outstretched toward her, like a demon seeking to seal a pact. Could she trust him? Shokuhou knew very well what happened the other time she trusted.

"What happens if the process ends without my help ability?"

"He will forget about you forever." His voice was stiff. He was not lying. "His memories of you will be locked and the key thrown away. There is no going back, no breaking the bone again and forcing it to heal in the right position."

"If you need me, then I imagine that is a delicate process."

"Correct. Actually, you'll probably need a lot more calculating power. It's a shame that the exterior was destroyed."

She narrowed her eyes, but decided to ignore why he knew something like this for the time being.

"If so, then are there risks?"

"There are always risks, Shokuhou-san. There are no guarantees when you're dealing with someone who doesn't have the blessing of luck to lean on."

"I don't want to do that." She shook her head in denial. "You make it sound like it's better that the process ends without me helping, that the risks are less that way."

"But he will forget about you forever if -"

"I can't."

Her interruption came as a quick, dry cut. Shokuhou did not want to be that kind of girl. In the past, she had clung to that kind of convenient miracle and it had almost cost not only her life but many others as well, and that boy had an uphill struggle to fix that bad choice she had clung to.

"I love him," she said weakly, her fists clenched, "I really do love him. So much so that I can make that choice to let him go if necessary –"

"We both know that's not true," interrupted the impostor, his voice cutting through the air with conviction. "Not the loving him part, I know that very well. But you're not capable of letting go, of giving up. No matter how hard you try, or how much you lie to yourself, you are incapable of doing it."

"Quiet, you are the last person who should tell me that."

"If you refuse, I will try to do everything myself."

That last sentence was the most aggressive tone he had used so far. He sounded like someone else, his true nature rising above the cracks in that calm tone he was using before.

"I am selfish," he said, putting one of his hands in his pocket and looking down at her. "And nothing stops me from trying to do something I know I can't. So you have two choices, help me and bet on the chance that I can repair the paths that lead to your memories, or let me finish the process on my own. The former is a more intrusive process and full of risks, but it's not as if the latter is free of all risks."

"You said if I don't do anything -"

"I lied," the boy cut in, his voice leaking aggression. "I have no intention of quitting just because you quit too, I want to make that clear."

Shokuhou didn't know what to answer. What was the truth here? Did he lie before, or is he lying now? Did he tell a single truth in this whole conversation? If she was not able to see through all this smoke screen, the life of the boy she loved would be in great danger.

"I really didn't want to get to that point." It was as if he had guessed the girl's inner conflict. "If you had simply done what I told you to do like you did last time, you wouldn't have needed to reach the limit. I wouldn't have had to either. But I'm really trying to do something good this time, so it's not fair that I require you to follow me blindly. It's your choice, if you refuse, I promise I'll do my best to avoid going too far, so you won't feel so pressured."

"Aren't you contradicting yourself now?"

"That's how it works...with me, with him. Isn't that what it means to be Kamijou Touma? We can possess a hundred or even a thousand conflicting desires, exchange them whenever it is convenient, and express the precise opposite of what was stated five seconds ago. All of that is acceptable as long as everyone is smiling in the end. And you won't be smiling in the end if you don't make the right choice, so it's only fair that I try to convince you with everything I have. Come on... this is your chance.

Once again, his hand was extended towards her, a gesture that demanded her attention. However, she found herself torn, her mind grappling with conflicting emotions. She instinctively crossed her arms tightly, a physical barrier mirroring the walls she had erected around her thoughts. With a deep breath, she exhaled a heavy, exasperated sigh, the weight of the situation pressing upon her. Shokuhou was on the verge of making a choice that would shape the course of their intricately connected fates.

"I'll try," she said, gesturing for the boy to move his hand away. "You said my calculation ability is not good enough, I don't know if I can work it out by tomorrow."

"Don't worry, you won't do it alone." He moved his hand away and brought it to his chin. "I don't think it should be hard to convince a certain girl who saved that bastard in that desperate moment. By the way, we need a suitable place to do this, perhaps an isolated research lab."

"Kamijou-san is a level 5 now, that shouldn't be a problem."

"Hmm... true, you really think of everything." The boy smiled again "Good, now your instructions."


Kamijou Touma was in a complicated situation right now. At this moment he had a blond girl in his arms that he couldn't remember the face of, but he knew that she was an acquaintance of his thanks to that "voice".

"Damn, something must have gone wrong," he said, arranging the girl so that she had her head resting on his lap. "Come to think of it, that's a legitimate lap pillow...that's unfair, it should be the other way around."

With his worldly thoughts taking shape, the boy took a deep breath, attempting to push them aside. However, his attention was inexplicably drawn to a particular region that moved with her steady and rhythmic breath, as if in perfect harmony.

She appeared to be enveloped in a profound slumber or a trance-like state. Every now and then he felt like putting his right hand on his head, but he knew that something bad could happen if he did that, so he just watched as this girl, too mature for her age, rested helplessly.

"Come on, sexy honey girl...I don't know if I can give a good explanation if anyone sees us like this." He looked around, but fortunately, there was no one in the park. "Is this one of those stories that the girl is cursed to sleep until true love's kiss wakes her up?"

"Yes, that's exactly it!" the girl shouted, causing Kamijou to almost jump in place from the sudden startle. "I mean... my mind is in a deep trance state, a stimulus like that would be adequate for my motor function ability to return. So save me, Kamijou-saaaaaaan!"

He let out a sigh so loud that he thought he would run out of air.

"Seriously...I here worried that something bad had happened. A stimulus like that you say? Okay."

The girl moved in a disconcerting way the moment Touma touched her lips. Not using his obviously.

"Yeees!" But the girl didn't know that. "That's better than I thought, Kamijou-san, you-" She opened her eyes to see the boy pulling away the two fingers that touched her lips, which made her pout.

"How can anyone be so easy to fool?" scoffed the boy. "Seriously, there's a big difference between the softness of someone's lips and their fingertips. Tokiwadai girls."

"Why are you talking like you're an expert in kissing ability?" As her cute pout deepened, it wielded a surprising power over Kamijou, causing him to avert his gaze, overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of irresistible cuteness. "You're still thinking about that sexy kiss that wicked woman gave you, aren't you? Or did some other girl steal second place from me?"

"Can we change the subject? We were in the middle of something important here before you passed out of nowhere!"

"Why didn't you say no?! Another girl -"

Once again, he brushed his fingertips against the girl's lips, causing her to abruptly halt her speech. A simple smile formed at the corner of her lip, warming his heart with its subtle charm.

"Come on, stand up," he said, removing his fingers from her soft lips.

"I don't feel like it." She closed her eyes and began to settle into his lap. "I need to take advantage of this reward ability. It would be great if Misaka-san came out of nowhere at this moment, I can already imagine her jealous face."

"Don't say that out loud, my misfortune is not something to be taken lightly."

Fortunately for Kamijou Touma, this kind of electrical interruption has already been used twice, so it won't happen again for at least another 5 chapters. The golden girl could enjoy it for the time being.

"Ara, ara... I feel that my batteries are gradually being regenerated. A queen like me needs a servant like Kamijou-san in her castle, ohohoho!"

"What was that Ojou-sama giggle that escaped there, sticky girl?" He was not very happy to be called a servant. "If you're done with the roleplay, we can continue from where we were."

"Don't worry, Kamijou-saaaan, your Shokuhou Misaki-chan is already taking care of everything right now." The girl yawned with her eyes closed. She was too comfortable in Kamijou's opinion.

"I got a good hint ability from your other self in your head. I'd rather he materialized so you and I could trade turns kicking his ass, but I'll have to settle for him being useful for a change."

"What kind of 'hint' are we talking about here?"

"We need to talk to a certain person. For that reason, I have stopped from using my powers to prevent people from approaching us. Now be a good servant to your queen and let me know if you see a girl with a face identical to that brain full of muscles."

"Are you referring to a clone of Misaka? There's one right over there."

It seems that the girl did not anticipate such a swift outcome, as her face contorted momentarily as she opened her eyes. With a sigh, her gaze swept across the park, where her attention was drawn to a figure clad in a Tokiwadai uniform and a sturdy coat. Clutching an assault rifle, the girl stood out amidst the surroundings.

"I wonder if Dolly would work too," she muttered, sighing and rising from Kamijou's lap somewhat reluctantly. "Probably not, which is better since I don't want to involve her in it."

"Who is Dolly? I think I've heard that name at some point."

"It doesn't matter now. I promise to introduce you to her later when we sort all this out."

The girl meticulously brushed off the stray blades of grass clinging to her figure-hugging gym clothes before making her way towards the stoic figure who appeared to be patrolling the vicinity. It was common knowledge that the clones from the Radio Noise project were being employed as replacements for public services in different sectors, and this specific clone had been assigned the task of overseeing park security, among other responsibilities.

"Hey, could you give me a minute?" asked Shokuhou, pulling out a remote control from her trademark bag. She didn't use it for the time being.

"Misaka's job is to patrol this area, so be quick, says Misaka suspiciously."

"That's a good way to make me feel bad."

Kamijou just stared at the scene, not understanding what the sexy blonde girl was up to. His mind didn't seem to work properly when it came to her, so he hardly knew why he was in this park. But the voice in his head seemed to know very well.

"I need to talk to the voice in your head," it was Shokuhou Misaki who said that, and it was the clone she was referring to, not Kamijou. "I don't want to have to use my ability, so please cooperate."

"Misaka doesn't understand. How do you know about that? Says Misaka redoubling her distrust."

"A certain someone gave me a tip." She deftly spun the remote control in her hands like a cowboy in an old West movie. "That person told me that you were not at all happy with that lonely goddess having the spotlight on that boy over there." Her chin pointed in Kamijou's direction and then she put a smile on the corner of her lip. "If we work together, we can at least teach her a lesson. What do you say?"

What happened next was strange. The clone girl suddenly closed her eyes tightly and almost collapsed, but her trembling legs steadied and then the listless expression on her face changed to one of curiosity. The glint in her eyes made it seem as if it wasn't even that girl there anymore.

"That's rather interesting /return," the clone girl said, using a speech pattern that Kamijou knew very well. "And how do you intend to do something like that /escape? I know your intentions when it comes to Kamijou-chan, so this might be a risky move on my part /return."

"Well..." The blonde put a finger on her chin in a rather cute manner. "I'm one of the only girls willing to make bold moves in this matter, so I'm your best bet. Would you prefer that goddess to remain in the lead?"

"Certainly not /return." The clone looked in Kamijou's direction. "But I will always be on team Kamijou-chan, which means I don't want to give him up like that /return."

"Sometimes, liking someone also means letting them go. I know I'm not the right person to say this, but if we keep fighting with each other, in the end, he's the one who's going to get hurt. I am willing to give him all my support ability, as a level 5, as a Queen, and... as a girl. And my sins are not so great that you cannot forgive them, I will be better from now on. Just give me this chance. It's the last thing I can get attached to, please."

For a moment, it seemed that the girl was abandoning all her pride as a high-class person, solemnly bowing her head like someone praying to some entity and asking for a miracle.

"What a troublesome girl /return." The clone girl looked thoughtful. "Alright, if you're that devoted to Kamijou-chan and want to teach that lonely goddess a lesson, then I'd be knocking down two birds with one stone /return. Hold your head up, I've made my decision /return."

"Thank you!" The honey girl put a pure smile on her face and turned toward that boy, "Kamijou-san, I hope you have the day off tomorrow."

"Eh? Well... I have school and..." He shook his head. "No, never mind. What do you need from me?"

"Just your time. Don't worry, I'll take care of the preparation ability, just do as I say and everything will be fine."

The honey blonde seemed happier than ever, the voice in Kamijou's head should have given her hope.

"That's it," said Shokuhou Misaki, bringing her hand to the left side of her chest. "Time for us to operate a miracle."

This seemed to be her last chance, and she would not let it slip through her fingers.


A/N: Hey! Another chapter, and I didn't even take a month this time, lol.

About this chapter, it was a little different. We didn't have as many humorous or cute moments, and the next one won't either. By the way, one of the readers guessed what was going on with our spiky-haired hero, nice!

I will briefly answer your reviews today:

Majin Othinus: Thank you. We will have more consistent chapters when I start to focus.

Alpha rn: LOL, Mikoto doing Mikoto things.

Emzt20x: Thank you. DS here is more about the cool factor.

FinFangFoom100: Chapter 5: I'm glad you enjoyed the interactions with Mikoto and the girls from Tokiwadai. Chapter 6: Thank you for the welcome. It's always nice to know that there are people so excited about my stories. I don't want to spend too much time on it, but I still want it to be not so fast, so hopefully I've struck a good balance. I still imagine people trying to look for a fight with a level 5, but Touma with DS+IB combo can handle himself very well. Good to know that you like my two fics. Thank you very much and see you next time.

5queso: He is eighth for now. That he is a holistic esper is kind of a theory in the community, I just wanted to incorporate it here to serve as an excuse for him not having an AIM field. This fic will not die, thanks for the support.

Lancearthurbuca: Coming soon.

Markoz89: Thank you. I have no plans for action scenes at the moment, maybe in the future. Junko will appear at some point.

Cainabel201X: I'm glad you liked it.

SuddenBetrayal : I appreciate the compliment. It's always nice for Touma to get a little recognition.

SilverIceRing: I understand, some fanfics with this pair are a bit sad, this one has moments like that too. I'm really glad that you like this nice atmosphere between the two of them. I hope you enjoyed the last chapters.

Zatil Hidayah Spensa: You did well guessing what was going on with Touma, nice. Yeah, we are in GT territory, so this is a good time to have Touma as level 5, which is cool. Thanks.

Ubae006: Hope you enjoyed it.

Aiman031122: Thanks, I'm updating with a little better frequency now.

Kai Payne: And I made a reference to this story in the other one too LOL. Glad you noticed, that puts a smile on my face.


Thank you very much for your support. I should start writing the next chapter soon. That's all for today. Nio leaving.