Bullets sped at Ruiko and her friends in a lethal, wide spray.

If only I was stronger… If only I had an ability… I could save Uiharu, Misaka-san, Shirai-san…

Ruiko was the only one not under the effect of Capacity Down. However, being the useless normal girl she was, there was nothing she could do. Her wide-open eyes saw the glass window in front of her shatter and she flinched, bracing herself for the impact of dozens of bullets.

Which didn't come.

Instead, she felt a large weight on her lap, and something soft yet insistent pressing against her face.

What..?

Ruiko shook herself free from the shock of realizing that people were actually shooting at her in the middle of the Academic City. She leaned back and gasped in disbelief.

Leaning over her was the slight figure of the Railgun of Tokiwadai, sweat coursing down her face and trembling as she fought desperately against the constraints of the Capacity Down. Her shaking arm was extended in the direction of the gunmen. Her other arm was braced against the seat backrest beside Ruiko's head. The burning odor of ozone filled the air, and Ruiko realized that Mikoto was using her electro master abilities to impede the bullets in midair, using magnetic repulsion to send the bullets crashing to the ground or into the walls.

But… the Capacity Down… wait, are you telling me she's using her ability against it? How…

Ruiko saw, in Mikoto's eyes, the fiery determination born of desperation and solid purpose.

And in that moment, Misaka Mikoto had never appeared more beautiful to Ruiko. Her desperation to save her friends had given her the strength to fight through even the anti-esper technology, Capacity Down. It wasn't strange for a normal esper to be driven to their knees against such technology, but Ruiko realized that Mikoto's drive to protect her friends had overcome that hurdle.

It was a close thing, Ruiko could tell, from Mikoto's anguished expression and how she seemed to be fighting just to stay conscious.

Despite all that, it seemed to Ruiko that she had never seen anyone as beautiful, determined, and compassionate as Misaka Mikoto.

After what seemed like an infinite period of time, but was probably only a couple of seconds in reality, the keening noise of the Capacity Down faltered and disappeared. Kuroko, who had been disabled by the machine, regained her senses and immediately teleported Uiharu by her side to a safe location. Kuroko then dived across the table to land her hands on Ruiko and Mikoto, and just as Mikoto lost consciousness, teleported them all to safety.

Machine gun bullets tore the space where they had been sitting to shreds.

.

Ruiko found herself on the rooftop of the Judgment branch office. For a moment she couldn't remember what she was doing here. Suddenly, the image of two men shooting at her and her friends at the diner surfaced in her mind; then, the image of Misaka-san leaning over her, shielding the group from certain death.

Wait.

Ruiko spun around frantically, then sighed with relief as she saw all three of her friends in front of her. Uiharu was sitting down, tears flowing down her cheeks from intense relief that they had all gotten out. Kuroko was beside her, shoulders heaving from the exertion of simultaneously transporting the entire group moments after being released from the Capacity Down.

And… Misaka-san was lying on the ground facedown, having lost consciousness due to the strain of managing her ability through the constraint of the anti-esper technology.

Ruiko, still in shock, scooted forward and tenderly nudged the prone form of Mikoto.

"Misaka-san? Are you okay?"
No response.

Making eye contact with Kuroko, together they rolled Mikoto over to put her in a better position.

And gasped in unison.

Mikoto's usually spotless Tokiwadai uniform was drenched in dark red.

Blood.

Ruiko stared in disbelief at the blood staining the front of Mikoto's shirt.

"Oh no, Onee-sama…" Shirai muttered, and started expertly stripping the clothes off to assess the injury. Ruiko was too shell-shocked to do anything but watch as Kuroko tore apart the final article of clothing to reveal blood pouring out of a bullet would in Mikoto's left shoulder. The bullet seemed to have missed any vital areas, but the amount of blood was horrifying. There was already a small pool of red where Mikoto had been lying facedown, and her school shirt was drenched.

Kuroko, more experienced and battle-hardened than Ruiko, immediately teleported both herself and Mikoto away, presumably to a hospital. Ruiko was still reeling from the fact that Mikoto had gotten hurt.

Shot.

The pool of blood seemed to draw her in.

Shot, trying to protect you.

She raised her hands in front of her face and realized that they were covered in blood too.

What if she dies...? What if… what if she actually dies…?

All her strength deserted her, and she slumped forward, tears dripping onto the ground.

If only I weren't so weak. If only I had the power to save my friends too.

A heroic image of Misaka-san appeared in her mind, a brave, compassionate girl protecting her friends. Yet, as soon as it appeared, the image was replaced by a prone Misaka-san, bloodied and defeated.

Dimly, Ruiko was aware of Uiharu hugging her from behind. The warmth helped calm her down a little. She could blame herself later. First, she had to make sure Misaka-san was okay, and comfort Uiharu and Kuroko.

Friend first.

She stood up, drawing Uiharu up with her. Wiping her own tears and Uiharu's tears away, Ruiko took her friend by the hand and led the way to the nearest hospital.