A/N: So, who's excited for the next chapter? I've caught up~

Chapter 11:

Even though Rei didn't notice it, she got herself ready in record time. She finished brushing her teeth, showering, getting her clothes on, brushing her hair, and eating her food in 22 minutes. She put on a long button coat with mittens and yanked her purse from a dining table chair and ran out the door.

Agh! I didn't write a note again to tell Haruhi I was gone! She though while stomping down her dorm room stairs. Ah well, I never follow that, and I'm in a hurry. She wasn't inside anyway. I doubt she'll miss me. She bolted out of the main door and went across the front courtyard. She took a right and sped that way. Argh, even if it's only 5 blocks away. That's a long distance for a student like me! Taking heavy breathes she looked downwards to see her breath.

If anyone thought it was queer to see a young woman run without regard to others and the snow and ice, no one said anything. At least I haven't slipped yet. Haruhi would be glad and sad at the same time…

"Pyah!" Rei exhaled once she arrived at her destination. She put her right hand on the glass of the building as she steadied her breath. Once she was confident she wasn't going to pass out from the sudden running, she speedwalked inside.

Or, at least, she would have if she didn't walk into a girl. The girl had her head bowed, and she muttered, "Excuse me." From her light brown hair and flower clip, Rei thought she was just another ordinary person…

"Sorry about that," Rei said. Have I seen this person before? She tried to search the person's face. It's hard to remember when the person's looking away. Why is she bowing her head anyway? It seems awfully shifty.

Finally, the girl looked up, looking sheepish at her. The puzzle pieces in Rei's head immediately clicked.

Mikoto Misaka! "Tokiwadai's Ace". Why does she look so embarrassed from going to a convenience store? She thought, looking at what Misaka was holding: a big paper brown bag with something flat in it. Magazines…..? Manga? But why is she so embarrassed about it?

"Ah…" Rei began. Wait, do I call her with –sama or –san?

How about you call her –chan?

Now's not the time, Dark Rei.

"Er, Mikoto-san, right? I am Ryuuzaki Rei. I go to Toshiko's high school, and you go to Tokiwadai's middle school, right?" Rei bowed her head quickly

"Yes, have we met?"

Rei was almost certain that what Misaka said was instinct. She's the third strongest ESPer in Academy City, for crying out loud! Of course people know her. Although that conflicts with her sheepish expressions. What terrible thing can one buy from a convenience store, of all places. EHHH, she remembered something else, DON'T TELL ME SHE BOUGHT PORN? HOW CAN MIDDLE SCHOOLERS GET AWAY WITH THAT? I THOUGHT THIS CONVENIENCE STORE WAS BETTER THAN THAT!

"Ummm….?" Misaka said. The two were still blocking the entrance. No one seemed bothered, though.

"I-I mean I don't think so!" Rei blurted. "…No, I don't believe so. But all of Academy City knows you. It must be a blessing and a curse," she motioned her head towards the bag, "to have little privacy to the point where you depend on paper bags."

"Crap…Knew this would happen." Misaka looked deflated.

"If I may ask, why are you looking so sneaky with a paper bag of magazines?"

"They're not magazines," Rei could barely hear her, "manga…"

"I'm sure people would overlook your otaku tendencies because you're so powerful- and I bet nice as well…"

Misaka looked at Rei deeply to the point Rei felt she was rude for saying anything. "It's not everyone in Academy City," Rei again had trouble hearing her, "…it's her I'm worried about."

"Her?"

"Onee-sama! Ima dokoni iruno~?" Where are you now? A girl's cheery voice called out of nowhere. Rei saw Misaka look even more alarmed.

"A-ah, I have to go!" Misaka ran off.

Rei jerked her arm and grabbed Misaka's shoulder. It was as if she was in a trance; she still stared ahead.

"If you can think of one guy you have never liked…ever…that person has probably gone through retribution by now. Karma. I can think of someone like that now."

"Eh, uh, yeah. Bye." Misaka looked confused, looking back at her. She ran off when the girl called again.

Eh? What did I just say? Did Dark Rei have something to do with it, again? She sighed. I hope I never see her again, or I'll die of embarrassment.

She entered the store, shaking her head.