Chapter 6:

Rei woke up to the sound of something sizzling. Ching! A toaster was done toasting something.

Ah! I'm the last one awake! Rei assumed, sitting up in bed. Great, I've made the wrong impression. It didn't take long for her to notice that something was there in the corner of her peripheral vision.

She turned her head to find Last Order staring at her. Rei noticed that Last Order was barely taller than the mattress. Ah! Rei thought that she reacted late to Last Order's presence. She tried to pull the curled-up parts of her hair down.

"Ryuuzaki-san, Misaka Misaka whispers," Last Order had an innocent look on her face. The look relaxed Rei; Last Order didn't appear to hold any grudges for last night's miscalculation. "Accelerator is still asleep, Misaka Misaka reports. Misaka Misaka requests Rei to finish her breakfast quickly so Rei and Misaka Misaka can wake Accelerator up."

Rei smirked at the thought of a prank. She didn't even bother noticing that Last Order kept dropping and picking up the –san honorific after Accelerator's name. "Ok," she said, throwing her blanket off of her.

人

"Good morning, Ryuuzaki-san!" Yoshikawa turned to her as she was sitting on the sofa with a turquoise mug of steaming coffee. The TV was on, its volume a light-but audible- murmur. A female newscaster was on for one moment and a weather man the next. "I took it you slept well?"

Rei nodded once. "I'm sorry for oversleeping." She told her. She eyed the mug hungrily. Even though she had never drank coffee, her lateness that day was getting to her.

"It's no problem. Accelerator hasn't even woken up yet. And besides, Toshiko students have to work very hard just for school. All the tiredness was bound to catch up to you." Yoshikawa calmly took a small sip from her mug.

"Mm." Yomikawa said in agreement. Rei noticed that she took two pieces of toast from the toaster as she was frying bacon in a pan. "I'll make you some toast and bacon. Maybe some eggs if we still have some."

"Thank you, Yomikawa-sensei." Rei said politely as she sat at the dining table. She sat in the same place as she did yesterday. The familiarity of that one spot was somewhat calming in this new enviorment.

I usually cook for myself…

"Ahah!" Yomikawa announced. "We DO have eggs, jan! 4 to be exact. Yoshi, do go get some later today-"

"I will do no such thing." Yoshikawa asserted softly.

"Of course you will! Ryuuzaki-san, prepared to have your tastebuds wowed! I can make one mean omelet. My colleagues in college and friends in high school called me the 'Egg Pro'!"

"That isn't exactly a good thing, Ryuuzaki-san." Yoshikawa said again, taking a louder sip of coffee this time. "And I'll go to the grocery store if there's time. I have other errands."

Yomikawa carried two plates of bacon, buttered toast, and eggs. She sat at the head of the table again. "Oh, wait, I forgot the drinks. What would you like?" She looked at Rei.

"Umm….Orange juice, please?"

"Sure, we have that." She went back into the kitchen and took out a carton of juice. She poured some into a glass and walked back to Rei, carrying a glass of water for herself.

"Itadakimasu."

Rei took a bite of the omelet first. It was certainly good-looking, embedded with colorful foodstuffs such as onions. "It's delicious." Rei closed her eyes in wonder. She was flattered that someone went to lengths to cook such good food for her.

"Do you normally eat out? Being a student and all…" Yomikawa asked between bites of her toast.

"Either that or I cook for myself."

"Don't you have a dormmate?" Yomikawa asked, sounding somewhat concerned.

"I do, but we usually don't wake up at the same time. Our schedules aren't synchronized."

"That's a shame. Kids should get home cooked meals. You're already having to make your own food-"

"Or go out and buy some-" Yoshikawa interjected again

"And you're not even in college yet!" Yomikawa batted her free right hand around. "Eating habits are supposed to deteriorate then, not before that time!"

Yoshi turned and looked at Rei. "Actually, they're not supposed to deteriorate at all."

"It's a rite of passage! What are you on, Yoshi!" Yomikawa turned, her arm resting on the chair. "Tough Anti-Skill workers are born like that!"

Yoshi smiled slightly. "That depends on what your definition of 'tough' is."

Yomi turned back around and sighed.

"I win," Yoshi said with some cheekiness.

Yomi went back to her food. "Rei, take your pick. You can either go out with Accelerator and Last Order to eat, or you can come back after your practice for food here. Yoshi will be more than happy to cook you that healthy, home-cooked meal."

"Touche." Yoshi sipped on her coffee some more.

"Uh…Whatever works for you guys. I certainly don't want you guys to spend more money, though…"

"Eh, Accelerator has money to blow. That's not the problem." Yomi batted her hand again.

"Oh. He has a job? Am I intruding?" Rei asked, alarmed. I hadn't thought much of him having other things to do.

"No, the lazy bum. He's so lazy, jan! He just has a lot of money."

"And besides, we live with him. Money's not really an issue in our state." Yoshi answered, putting the empty mug on the table. She leaned back and watched the television.

Rei didn't want to press any further.

"Thanks for the food!" She finished, getting up to put her plate and glass in the sink. She washed her mouth.

"Pssttt…Misaka Misaka whispers as she tugs on Ryuuzaki-san's borrowed jeans." Rei could feel a slight tug on her left jean hem.

Rei grinned.

人

"He sleeps like a log." Rei noted as she peered through the door. It hadn't moved since Rei tried to close it. Even though Rei had the feeling that Accelerator tuned out all sound, she still wanted to whisper.

"Yes, yes, Misaka Misaka confirms." Last Order giggled a bit.

"I'm somewhat afraid of what will happen if we get caught."

"Accelerator-san won't care for long, Misaka Misaka tells Ryuuzaki-san." Last Order was behind Rei, looking at a sleeping Accelerator. He hadn't changed his clothes at all.

"For long?" Rei made her voice even softer as she crept passed the door.

There was a small circular, wooden nightstand next to his bed. A glass of water and a cell phone perched on it. "Last Order, do me a favor and swirl the water in that glass quietly."

Last Order obediently did so, not making a sound (to Rei's surprise). Should I explain why to her? I only know how to move objects that are moving…

Rei looked at the glass. A thick stream of water rose from the surface. Smoothly, the water spiraled a couple of times and snaked slowly to Accelerator's unsuspecting face.

Splish. Accelerator's face and hair immediately got wet. Accelerator's closed eyes squeezed and his mouth grew into a scowl.

Rei and Last Order immediately reeled back to the door. They didn't go farther; they wanted to see Accelerator's reaction.

"Last Order, I know it's you." Accelerator crankily said. Even though Accelerator wasn't even fully conscious, Rei thought he still sounded dangerous.

"Andddd Misaka Misaka is out." Last Order saluted to Rei and scrambled off. Rei knew that look on Last Order's face; it was the look of placing the blame on someone else.

"Brat." Accelerator. "When I wake up, you're gonna get it…"

"A-Actually," Rei stepped forward so her face could be shown from the door. She wanted to laugh and run away at the same time. Accelerator was sitting up in bed, his hair soaked. The water dripped from his chin onto the front of his shirt. Oh look, he's already glaring so early in the morning.

"So this was your idea?" He scowled, his voice icy.

"W-Well, not exactly. Part of it was Last Order-chan's idea." Rei stammered, taking interest in the floor.

"Aw, come on Accelerator! How else were you going to wake up today?" Yomikawa walked in, a terrified Last Order clinging on her leg.

"Normally." He answered bitterly.

"But that would make Ryuuzaki-san wait until 2, jan! And you have to take those two out for lunch." Yomikawa put her hands on her hips.

"I never agreed to anything."

"Yes you did. You agreed," Yomikawa pointed to Rei, "to help this young lady with her ESPer. And, obviously, you're going to have to take a break eventually. Might as well go out for lunch. As much as Yoshikawa goes on about healthy lunches and family time, she's just too busy today to do anything she preaches, the hypocrite."

"…" Accelerator's retorts had been matched.

Yomikawa sighed, "Now, do us all a favor and get ready. Yoshi's already finished her coffee, that's how late you are today, jan."

"…"

"Oh, and I hope you realize that the small puddle of water Rei poured on you doesn't constitute a bath," Yoshikawa entered. "We all still expect you to take a bath."

"Please." Yoshi and Yomi said at the same time.