Author's note: Apparantly some people don't read my author's notes at the end of a chapter. I'll clarify my reasoning on Misaki's power here again, but if people don't read notes then it's not likely they'll catch this one either way *shrugs*

Go read the latest chapter of Railgun, Ch41, it was recently translated into English. Misaki took control of a whole library of girls without physical contact. About page 25 if I'm not mistaken.

I've read all the Index Novels, and so if anyone have done 'research' then please direct me to the evidence within the novels that shows I'm mistaken so I can check it, thanks.

Furthermore, there is a precedant of Touma being mind controlled despite having Imagine Breaker: Anime Season 1, Episode 8, around minute 17. Aureolus telling Touma to forget about entering Misawa Cram School and forced him to leave. I'd post the novel part in Volume 2 as well for comparison, but it's not translated into English yet. Compared to the telepath girl in Vol6 Ch2 Pt8 (equivalent scene at Anime Season 1, Episode 22), Some powers, like Misaki's and Aureolus', isn't like the 'wired call' that used a line to connect to minds so it can't be blocked unless Touma touches his head with Imagine Breaker.

Anyway, thanks for all those that have reviewed so far, your comments are appreciated.

Oh, and aforementioned I'm using the Light Novels as canon, and the events between them and anime is slightly different at times. You might want to catch up on the prologue and chapter 1 of the 1st Volume before reading this chapter. Specifically the Mikoto vs Touma sections.

Chapter 2 - Warnings

The two Level 5s of Tokiwadai eventually stopped at a park a fair distance away from Touma and his two friends were fighting it out. Both girls were a bit thirsty from the running, but while Misaki took out a bottle of water from her bag and began to drink she paused as she glanced at Mikoto.

The 'Ace of Tokiwadai' just did something unsuitable to a lady belonging to a high class school and jump-kicked a vending machine, resulting in a canned drink of unknown flavour to drop out.

"… As crude as always, Misaka-san?" Misaki sighed. From her stubborn demeanour to unladylike preferences in clothing (like those shorts she wore under her skirt), it's no wonder that Misaki didn't have a high opinion of Mikoto as a person. The Railgun might be a more powerful esper and most likely can defeat Mental Out one on one in a fight, but things like etiquette and grace is another matter entirely.

"Shut up. I don't want to hear that from you when you control other people's minds without permission, or even care who you target." Mikoto shot back, opening her drink and drank deeply from it.

"Hmph. Mind control is anything but crude, I'll have you know. Do you have any idea what kinds of precaution I have to take from overwhelming the target's mind and leave lasting damage? The human brain is a delicate and complicated instrument that needs to be carefully handled." Misaki replied. "And I do care who I target – if I control someone that could somehow notice my intrusion and trace it back to me I will be in trouble."

"Self-centred as always, aren't you. That wasn't the kind of 'care' I was talking about." Mikoto groaned, knowing most likely Misaki probably only replied that way deliberately to annoy her.

"Anyway, who were those two? For that person to tell us to get away while he fights… surely they must be dangerous?" Misaki trailed off, not quite sure how to describe a apparent zombie and the blue-haired person that babbles on about things that flew completely over her head.

"The blonde one apparently is a sis-con that actually tries to establish a relationship with his own sister in real life, and the other one applies two-dimensional logic onto real-life girls." Mikoto shuddered at the thought of ending up having to spend the day with one of them if Touma wasn't there to be pounced on and used as a excuse to keep (fake) Unabara away. "Yeah, they're dangerous, but not in the way you're talking about."

"…" Misaki decided to drop the subject, as apparently Mikoto knows nothing about that young man's previous fight with one of them. Little did she know her own expectations of Kamijou Touma as someone who fights life-or-death battles on a daily basis was grossly mistaken as well.

It's only on a weekly basis, on average. Even someone like him is only human and needs time to heal in between incidents, after all.

"Wait…" Mikoto narrowed her eyes. "You're trying to distract me from what you just did, weren't you?"

"What, you meant my comment on your behaviour towards vending machines?" Misaki asked with an innocent smile on her face.

"I meant you trying to influence that idiot you just met with your ability." Mikoto growled, sparks started to fly from her forehead.

"By 'that idiot', do you mean your boyfriend? Well now, that's not a good way to describe the guy you're in love with, right?" Misaki teased.

"B-boyfriend? He's not my boyfriend!" Mikoto denied in a vehement manner. "I'm just concerned about someone being unfairly being taken advantage of by mind control, anyone would do what I have just did!"

"Hmm? I find it interesting that you didn't deny that you're in love with him though." Misaki's smile widened further. "So this is a one-sided crush then? Wow, I didn't think you'd have fallen this far for somebody… I'm sure that kouhai of yours must be heartbroken by this."

"W-w-w-what…" Mikoto blushed, and electricity cackled around her even more, and a few stray streams started to burst out onto her surroundings. "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"

"Alright, alright." Misaki decided to lessen the intensity of her attacks, as while she wants to avoid Mikoto bringing up her own mistakes she doesn't want to get zapped by the Railgun for pushing her too far.

"Well, it's not like I can't see why you had fallen for him… let me guess, he defeated you by negating your own ability, and left you feeling powerless while he himself didn't even show a fraction of his true strength?"

Mikoto was taken aback by how accurate Misaki's analysis was; how the fights went, not the falling for him part. Back during summer vacation she had finally found him in one afternoon lazily walking back to his dormitory and she challenged him right then and there, telling him to fight seriously.

His question towards her asking if he can go all out made her froze, fear of the unknown – and of the possibility of losing her powers permanently - made her gave up before the fight even started. The duels they had before all ended with him cancelling everything and anything she threw at him, and then just walked away after she tired herself out.

"The same thing happened to me, I can guess how it went for you as well." Misaki added pre-emptively, guessing Mikoto would ask how she knew. "It doesn't take a mind reader to figure out how you lost against him when you just charge in and blast everything."

It irked Mikoto that while she wanted to deny that, but the truth was she did just charge in recklessly without knowing the true capability of her opponent. If that guy had followed through with an attack when she failed to shock him using his hand as the medium, she probably would have lost fair and square. Which made it all the more irritating when he just faked his loss and pretended to be 'just a level 0'.

"Don't tell me you've fallen for him after that then?" Mikoto said, trying to change the subject by directing the question back towards Misaki.

"As if. I won't let myself be influenced by something like Stockholm syndrome after losing to him." Misaki declared. "Though guess I can't say you ended up with those feelings simply because of your defeat… even if disregarding his overwhelming power and his average looks, he's a kind person. If someone he knows is in trouble he would unhesitatingly jump in to try and help, and would always go for the best ending possible for everyone to come out smiling. Often ignoring that the path he chose almost always involves himself being put in harm's way, or that he has to fight against those he trusts…"

"…" Mikoto's blush receded somewhat, but she still looked slightly red-faced as she glared at the other Level 5. Something didn't feel quite right.

"You saw what happened on that night when he tried to stop me from ending the 'Experiment', didn't you?" Mikoto accused Misaki. "I thought you said you couldn't do anything to him?"

"Are you asking me if I know that by watching your interaction with him in his memories?" Misaki said in an amused voice. "And you call me self-centred, huh."

"What are you talking about now?" Mikoto narrowed her eyes. She's starting to get sick of talking in circles and Misaki deflecting her questions.

"Are you really naïve enough to think you were special, the only person he had helped in his life?" Misaki chuckled. "Well, I'm almost unhappy to tell you otherwise.

No, you're not the only person, possibly not even the first – or only - girl to have been saved by Kamijou Touma. Nor is the time he fought for you the most painful one he has experienced. Right now, you care more about me possibly seeing your time with him than me manipulating him.

I'll admit going into his mind; I might be arrogant and self-serving, but at the very least I'm not a liar. I intruded, and I was soundly defeated. I was made helpless before him and instead of striking me down he let me go unharmed from his mind. I know I probably don't deserve that mercy.

You, on the other hand, lie not just to others but also to yourself… about feelings that are too embarrassing to reveal. You deny the truth when it is inconvenient for you, even when the fact is apparent to everyone around you. I went after his thoughts knowing your connection with him, after hearing about the countless times you indirectly praised him as the only person you feel safe going all out against and of the time you dragged him out on a date."

Control the flow of the conversation. Manipulate the other person into following your rhythm, your aims and not theirs. These are just a few of the ways for Misaki to control people without resorting to using her ability. As powerful as it is, relying on esper ability alone is not enough to maintain the largest clique of Tokiwadai. By admitting her intrusion into Kamijou Touma now compared to earlier have given her the advantage over Mikoto, instead of becoming her weakness where the Railgun can use as a excuse to attack her.

Also… Misaki once again realised the fact over-relying on abilities would lead to her downfall. Without that, she would be no better than a normal middle school girl (albeit a rich one nonetheless) and she would need strength. Strength that would not fail her when all else have done so.

Words fail Mikoto right now, as she struggles to find a way to refute what Misaki is saying. Yes, she did drag him away from his two friends on August 31st, and now that Misaki mentions it she does comment on 'that idiot' a lot off-hand. Mikoto thought she might need to think about what she says and where she says it more carefully after all. But caring more about Misaki's seeing her time with him and less about the morals of controlling someone else without permission?

No way.

But she can't exactly deny that without exposing her 'Sisters', saying she's more afraid the last 9938 clones being eliminated simply because they are discovered as the true reason she's anxious.

Speaking of which…

"You…" Mikoto mumbled.

"Yes?"

"Fine. I'll admit being self-centred. But tell me, have you ever heard of the term 'Radio Noise'?"

"That's what happens with interference from other electronics affect the quality of sound in a radio, isn't it?" Misaki tilted her head.

"And what can you tell me about the 'Sisters'?"

"… I just said you're a liar and someone that's possessive of the guy she has a crush on, and you're asking me about a word that's used to describe nuns now? Did you lose your brain functions trying to figure out my words or something?" Misaki raised one eyebrow.

She doesn't know. Mikoto thought in relief. She had to lower her pride and ask the other Level 5 if she had found out about the clones, but apparently she hadn't managed to do so from that idiot's mind. Mikoto might not be as good as reading another person as Misaki, but at least her instincts tell her Misaki isn't lying.

Misaki on the other hand, have just got more pieces of info from Mikoto that the Railgun did not realise she had slipped out. From the way she talked about 'Sisters', Misaki is sure she wasn't talking about the girl in white who hangs around that young man in many of the scenes. Things like posture and tone of voice can speak volumes about things a person doesn't want to say out loud.

So, Mikoto is – no, was – involved with something dangerous, and he saved her from it… Misaki thought. She now have a good idea from what it might be, considering the rumours floating around, but decided it would be a bad idea to get involved.

She already decided she's not a heroine. Not if the path would be as bloodstained as the one Kamijou walked. She doesn't care about anyone enough for her to go that far.

"I'll be leaving now." Misaki said abruptly. "I don't want to miss curfew, that'll leave a stain on my school records."

"Wait, what?" Mikoto said, having her thoughts interrupted. "Get back here! I still haven't taught you a lesson for going into other people's head without permission!"

"I'll give you a bit of advice, as thanks for dragging me out of a difficult situation." Misaki shouted back, already ran a fair distance from the furious lightning user.

"You don't hold a special position in his heart. Give up now before you hurt yourself trying to achieve the impossible. Only heartbreak and misery await you along the path of chasing after a Hero, even if you do succeed in capturing his heart."

"Don't give me that rubbish! You won't get out of this that easily!" Mikoto roared and gathered lightning in her hand, trying to get a shot at Misaki. No matter how fast she is she can't outrun something at 220,000 km/h and would paralyse her until Mikoto catches up.

Misaki probably knows this too, and that's why she sent a mental attack towards Mikoto as she left. Mikoto gasped as pain filled her head, and by the time she cleared her head Misaki was no longer in sight. While Mikoto's own AIM field prevents the bioelectricity which fires the neurons in her brain being manipulated by a outside source, it still hurt like hell when someone tries a mental attack.

"Argh!" Mikoto stomped her foot on the ground repeatedly as she raged. Even if she went after Misaki now she might not be able to find her, and being mentally attacked might throw off her aim and do plenty of collateral damage. Even telling the authorities won't help, as no other mind reader can get the necessary info from Mental Out, not without being changed in some way from a counterattack to their own mind. Her word versus that of the Queen's won't do much either, without physical evidence. Mikoto knew just as she would probably hack into security cameras if she had to, Shokuhou would probably be able to erase the evidence anyway by getting someone else to do so using mind control.

Mikoto can only fume as she headed back to her own dormitory, lest she face the wrath of the dorm manager at her place for missing curfew. She did decide to go find that idiot and make sure nothing has happened to him tomorrow. That's more important that holding a grudge.

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Later that night, after most students of the Tokiwadai dorm in the School Garden are asleep Shokuhou Misaki is still awake going through documents. But while it looked like Misaki is dedicated and is working on her school work, she's actually flipping through someone's profile.

Kamijou Touma's profile, obviously. Misaki had someone from Judgment collect all the data accessible to law enforcement personnel on him earlier when she was investigating who Mikoto's boyfriend is (needless to say, Misaki wiped that girl's memory of having done so afterwards). Before she approached him, she had just put the fact Kamijou Touma is labelled as a Level 0 and still managing to defeat the Railgun on a regular basis due to Mikoto never going all out on someone, and that she might have held back against someone she likes and all those fights was just to get his attention. The events that happened today proved her wrong, so she went back to check her file to see why in the world someone that can defeat Level 5s would be still classed as Level 0 – and in Mikoto's and her own case, the Level 5 were defeated easily too.

It wasn't obvious, but she was still surprised how in the world people missed it. Kamijou Touma have been involved in several cases, such breaking windows at a family restaurant, and some more fights with higher level espers as they picked on Level 0s to name but a few. Occasionally in these cases he was accused of a crime but eventually the charges were all withdrawn by someone higher up than the officers at the scene. It's like every use of his ability was being covered up when someone tried to fight him.

And then there were his results from the system scans. Kamijou Touma has shown no sign of any power: his score is a literal 'zero', when normally all espers would give off minute traces of the AIM field – something that should have raised eyebrows if the researchers were competent at all. Machine error can only explain so much, and having scored zero repeatedly should say something other than that. Misaki came to the conclusion Kamijou's ability cannot be detected by system scans, and that is the reason why he's stuck with the label of a 'powerless person'.

Misaki also confirmed that she didn't lose at least due to ignoring signs of his strength from the records – at least, not obvious signs. In spite of that, it should have been blatantly obvious that young man had an ability of some sort. Anyone who used a esper ability on him can see that. Misaki found it hard to believe no one, not even his classmates, realised he can negate their abilities. All it took was one incident which he negates someone's power in front of a teacher and a investigation will begin on examining his power, even if it's just trial and error on what kind of ability he can dispel. When Misaki read about how in his early days of high school he got into one such situation the investigation was called off, using the excuse of saving resources and not waste it on chasing the implausible, she fought the urge to slam her head onto her desk repeatedly.

Even arrogance doesn't account for that kind of stupidity. Not just the reason to stop the investigation, but the people that is stupid enough to believe someone can read all this and doesn't SEE something is being concealed about the young man. Even if the phrase 'hide a tree in the forest' can explain why normal people would just ignore him, being just one student among many, this shouldn't keep anyone with even low access to data to see what's happening. Misaki figured out all this by using information available to just about any member of Judgment or Anti-Skill, after all.

It's like someone high up is deliberately locking down all information on him, and pressuring people that finds anything to keep quiet. But what for? Why would a person with possibly a unique ability among the population of 2.3 million that lives in Academy City be left alone and called a Level 0, instead of taken in and develop that ability to its highest potential?

Misaki's thought was interrupted by a call to her cellphone, and she hastily silenced it before it woke anyone up or attracted attention.

Who in the world would call me at a time like this? Misaki thought. Looking at her phone that said 'caller unknown', she narrowed her eyes and answered. "Hello?"

"Hello there, Shokuhou-san." Misaki's eyes widened slightly at the sound of the speaker. "It's Kumokawa Seria calling."

Kumokawa Seria. An advisor to one of the twelve Directors of Academy City, while she is still a high school student. Misaki have encountered her once before during a private negotiation for the clique, and decided to drop the negotiation simply because even the Queen of Tokiwadai can't figure her out. Misaki didn't want to risk her support base for something she's not 100% sure the benefits far outweigh the gains.

"Kumokawa-san? Is there a reason you're calling me at this time?" Misaki asked, faking a calm voice.

"Yes, there is." Seria said pleasantly. "I've noticed that you've been digging for information on Kamijou Touma."

"While that is true, I've only been looking at information at a low level. I do not plan to look into the higher level data, it is not worth the risk." Misaki replied. She didn't bother asking how Seria knew, that woman obviously has her sources she's not revealing. "And why would this be any of your concern, may I ask?"

"Director Tsugutoshi is the one responsible for researching espers born with their abilities in Academy City." Seria answered. "And having information leaked is not desirable, that should be obvious."

"Forgive me if I don't buy that poor attempt of a excuse." Misaki said bluntly. "The information I've gotten can be accessed by just about anyone that has even a bit of influence, if anyone within Judgment or Anti-Skill can access the information I acquired. If anyone doesn't want information on Kamijou Touma leaked then they're doing a very poor job of it. The records of him being a Level 0 alone don't exactly hide his abnormality if someone has met him in person."

And fought him, and lost to him. Misaki didn't add those thoughts.

"And why do you think this information is so easy to find?" Seria countered. Misaki's retort died down as she considered the possibilities. "Access to these records is 'easy', as you put it, so anyone who looks for Kamijou's records would be noticed and tracked down before they find out even more."

"That might work if someone looks through the official database, but if other people bypass that somehow then what? Other private channels of information aside, it's not like you can keep track of everyone that approaches Kamijou Touma…"

Misaki's words trailed off. Who is she kidding? With the resources available to the Directors tracking a person and everyone he interacts with probably isn't that hard.

"Never mind. So I take it you called me to warn me to stay away from this Kamijou Touma?" Misaki sighed. "Considering what you've said so far, you're saying it is not in my best interest to associate myself with him any further."

"I never said that. All I'm asking you to do is stop digging for information on him." Seria's voice had a amused undertone to it. "After all, it's not exactly fair if the 3rd Level 5 can approach him any time she wants to but the 5th is forbidden to do so."

"… Right, like I'm supposed to believe you care about fairness?" Misaki doesn't believe it.

"Not really." Seria admitted. "But if I actively stop you it would suggest you could be a threat. Add what happened today and other people might start looking into that possibility and investigate what you have done. It's a sempai's responsibility to look after her kouhai, after all."

"Since when am I your kouhai? Although your efforts to help me are appreciated, nevertheless."

"I wasn't talking about you. I meant Kamijou Touma." Misaki can imagine just how wide Seria's smile is on the other side of the phone as she misunderstood her words.

"He's your kouhai? Wait…" Misaki's eyes widened more than before. "Just how important is he if you're the one taking care of him?"

"Hehe… don't assume too much there, Shokuhou-san." Seria laughed mischievously. "When you get down to it, probably neither he nor myself would qualify as the most amazing person in our school."

There's still a certain petite, pink-haired high school teacher of unknown age at their school, in any case. It's not like many other schools have one of the Seven Mysteries of Academy City on their teaching staff.

"Oh, and before I forget… on the assumption you did find something of interest from Kamijou's head, you know better to talk about it to normal people right?"

"Obviously." Misaki snorted – or something that a young lady like her would go as close to snorting. "That goes for anything else he was involved in too – if I did find anything like that, of course."

"Of course." Seria nodded, even if Misaki couldn't see her doing so. "Take care now, Shokuhou-san."

With that, Kumokawa Seria ended the call.

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With that finally over… Misaki thought as she put her phone down, and proceeded to head to bed.

I still need to plan what I'm going to do when I meet with him tomorrow. I don't want Kamijou Touma as an enemy, nor can I afford him to come after me with the Railgun's help. This needs to be settled as soon as possible, before things start spiral out of control.

This calls for a direct method.

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*End Chapter 2*

Author's note (hopefully people will read this one...): Misaki's power doesn't work on Mikoto is proven in Ch41 page 22.

And Touma scoring a literal 'zero' in system scans is from Volume 1.