SPOILER! This is the unfinished, Unedited Saint of Misfortune chapter.
Read at your own discretion.
Please do not put any spoilers in reviews for the actual stories.
-SOM-
Act III Part I
Unique Individuals
SISTERS_OF_FATE
-SOM-
"Hey, Hey Tsubaki! Where are we going?" Index's voice rang out as she and Tsubaki walked through Academy City.
A slight giggle answered her and then "We're going to my new home Index, You'll like it I'm sure" Tsubaki shot back at her friend/roommate/pseudo-daughter.
Index ran up to Tsubaki and said "Really! Why the change?"
Tsubaki snorted in derision "Apparently the housing committee finally noticed that I was a girl and had to move me out of the Dorm, right now I'm going to my new house. Apparently my boss pulled a few strings and got me a room in the School Garden" Tsubaki tilted her head as she adjusted her baggage 'Or more likely Aleister simply ordered a house for me to be made or opened up' Tsubaki wasn't fooled, most students lived in apartments or dorms, not two story houses with hidden attics and basements.
Yeah, apparently her new house had secret passages, including ones that lead outside of School Garden so she could enter and exit as she wished without being logged by security.
Tsubaki then noticed something hilarious, so she just had to comment "You know Biri Biri, if you keep your mouth hanging open like that flies will get in"
Misaka Mikoto slowly closed her mouth, swallowed a couple of times "H-how are you carrying all that?" As she pointed at the rather large bag on Tsubaki's back.
Tsubaki turned her head slightly to look at the large canvas bag on her back that was almost three times her size, then she turned back and said "Because I didn't skip leg day?"
Mikoto simply gaped at that response.
Tsubaki just shrugged and kept walking.
The security guard at the entrance to the School Garden simply waved her through...
Then he shook his head in disbelief 'And here I thought I had seen everything, not only is the Railgun pointing at thin air in shock but a girl the same age as my daughter is carrying what looks like an entire house worth of stuff on her back like it's nothing. And mom wanted me to be a painter in Fuyuki! I wouldn't miss this for anything! I wonder if Seiri-Chan knows her she looks like the description of someone that Seiri keeps talking about' The Anti-Skill guard smiled as he thought of his daughter and idly waved the now revived Railgun through the gate.
Mikoto wasted no time catching up to Tsubaki to question her.
"Why are you in the School Garden" Mikoto questioned
Tsubaki smiled at Mikoto "Because I'm living here now, apparently someone finally figured out that I wasn't supposed to be living in an all-boys dorm"
Mikoto blinked three times "You were staying in an all-boys dorm?"
Tsubaki sighed "Yeah, let me tell you, it reeked of piss and deodorant I had to hold my nose every time I walked through it. Oh look there's Himegami" Index and Mikoto both snapped around to look at the 'Miko' standing outside a rather nice two-story house, they also noted a traditional Shinto Shrine further down the street with an older Miko who seemed to be analyzing Himegami for something.
Tsubaki simply walked up to Himegami "Morning Himegami, how are you?"
Himegami simply stared at Tsubaki then "Ah, I'm fine, I've been learning how to be an actual Miko from Hakurei-Sensei, It's very interesting"
Tsubaki laughed happily "It's nice to know that you're enjoying yourself, I guess that 'Walking Church Necklace' is helping you relax"
Himegami slightly smiled and shyly nodded.
Tsubaki shook her head "You should head off Himegami, I'm sure you have tasks to do"
Himegami nodded and started to walk off, she then stopped, turned towards Tsubaki and stated "Thank you for showing mercy" Himegami didn't say to who, she didn't have to.
Tsubaki softly nodded "At least one person escaped that hell intact"
Himegami grimaced and walked off towards her Sensei in the background.
Tsubaki smiled at the retreating back of Himegami, next to her Index smiled widely "At least Himegami-san is happy"
Tsubaki looked down at her diminutive friend and said "It also seems that you have gotten over that whole Spellcaster thing"
Index nodded softly "Yeah, now I know why she said that, but more importantly Tsubaki, I'm hungry"
Tsubaki scoffed lightly "Index, if you ever weren't hungry the world would probably stop spinning out of sheer shock"
Index pouted "You don't have to be so mean Tsubaki!"
Tsubaki raised an eyebrow and could barely keep sarcasm out of her voice "So the fact that's spent nearly twenty five hundred thousand Yen on keeping you feed over the past three days is just a... anomaly?"
Index softly closed her mouth, she had no come back for that.
Mikoto blinked five times and mouthed 'Twenty Five Hundred Thousand' to her that wasn't an immense amount due to her Level 5 stipend... but she still couldn't believe that anything could eat that much food... in just three days.
Tsubaki just smirked at the look of shock on Mikoto's face... and also decided to keep to herself that Mikoto's stipend would be larger if she wasn't constantly beating up that vending machine, frying random electronics or hacking the Database.
Yeah, they tend to dock your pay for that sort of thing.
It took Tsubaki only about forty five minutes in order to get her new house set up (She would have to spend several hours late at night setting up her wards and shields in order to protect her more... special equipment)
After all that work which Index and Mikoto watched on with shock and awe, Tsubaki felt like getting a drink and left for a nearby park where A Certain Vending Machine was. Index decided to stay at the new house and eat chips while watching TV.
-SOM-
A Certain Park
Tsubaki sculled back the drink she had gotten from the vending machine.
Mikoto stared in shock "How did you get a drink so easily?" That machine was notorious for eating notes and not returning them.
Tsubaki smirked and said "I asked it... nicely"
Mikoto scowled at Tsubaki.
Tsubaki smiled widely "Would you like me to get you one as well?"
Mikoto shook her head "No, I'll get my own" She walked up, did a short step jump and then...
"CHASER" Kicked the machine.
Tsubaki just took a sip of her drink as she watched Mikoto get her drink. 'Shorts, Really?'
Stipend Deduction – Misaka Mikoto – Reason: Vandalization of Vending Machines
Tsubaki smirked softly.
Mikoto held up her drink with a triumphant smirk on her face and was about to speak...
WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO
When the Vending Machine released an alarm.
The two girls booked it from the scene of the crime.
Neither wanted to spend three hours listening to some Anti-Skill Psych bitch at them over the damage to their city property.
Stopping at a nearby bench Tsubaki turned to Mikoto and said "Well, that was smart. I see you have an incredible ability to talk to the machines"
Mikoto pouted and whined unintelligibly.
Tsubaki nodded as if Mikoto had made a point in a debate "I see, you have no defense and don't think you did anything wrong"
Mikoto just blushed, she had no return for that.
"Onee-sama"
A girl's bell-like voice unexpectedly resounded. Mikoto's face looked as if she had been hit from behind with ice.
Tsubaki took a sip of her drink and had to hold herself back from sniggering at the expression on Mikoto's face, no matter how hilarious it looked.
Turning around slowly, Tsubaki saw a girl—probably a freshman middle schooler— standing a short distance away, wearing the same uniform as Mikoto. That twin-tailed brunette, with both hands together in front of her and eyes sparkling,
"Well, Onee-sama! Well, well, well, Onee-sama! Just when I was wondering why you're no longer into summer classes, this man turns out to be the reason, eh!?"
As Tsubaki looks at the girl beside her although something about what that new girl had said was bugging her, Mikoto has her hands on her head, greatly troubled. She shot a glance at Tsubaki, almost begging the older girl to either interfere, get her out of there or say nothing.
Tsubaki simply takes another sip.
As Mikoto's piercing her head with her hands to ease her headache, she begins talking to the mysterious girl.
"Weeell, I want to make sure, but I was wondering whether you're saying 'because of this' or 'because of him'."
'Him?' Tsubaki looked down at herself and had to hide a snicker, due to the way she was slumped over and her loose shirt she would appear from a distance to be a guy with long hair. The fact that she was wearing it in a plain ponytail with only a simple black band holding it in place helped that.
Tsubaki debated whether or not to stand up and slap this new girl and Mikoto. But the look on Mikoto's face was just too priceless.
"Of course I'm referring to you secretly meeting with that gentleman over there, right?"
A spark emerged from Mikoto's hair, but the twin-tailed girl didn't seem to mind.
Hiding a giggle, Tsubaki watched as the sweetly smiling girl approached the bench at a frightening speed.
"Nice to meet you, sir. I am Onee-sama's squire; call me Shirai Kuroko."
"Hmm?" Tsubaki looked down at the hand she was holding, wondering why this 'Kuroko' was so blind as to not notice her bra strap, this close up it could be seen somewhat easily through her neck line or hell the edge of her bra itself could also be seen. Although considering Mikoto seemed to be perpetuating the mistake she wondered if there was a reason Mikoto didn't want it known that she was a woman.
"By the way, is this degree of nervousness a warning sign of flirtatious tendencies?"
"Pfft!" Tsubaki burst into laughter. Mikoto who was sitting beside her slowly stood up, and…
Before she could do anything Tsubaki suddenly grabbed Kuroko and pulled her close... before kissing her right on the lips "Two things little girl, when I flirt I'm bold and go straight for it no nervousness or hesitation and two... I'm a girl, these sexy breasts of mine are definitive proof of that" While Kuroko blushed and spluttered in shock Tsubaki smirked at Mikoto's reaction and opened her mouth...
"Hey Mikoto, does 'Onee-sama' mind if I borrow her 'Squire' for a couple hours, I need a... helping 'hand or two' with some of my 'Problems'" The innuendo finally became too much for Kuroko and she passed out with a nosebleed.
Mikoto nodded idly as a slight nosebleed made itself apparent.
Tsubaki was about to comment on both Mikoto's nosebleed and her allowing Tsubaki to play with her 'Squire' when her Geas tinged, but unlike most times before it was so weak that Tsubaki could and did ignore it completely.
"Onee-sama?"
'Huh?' Tsubaki turned to see...
A Radio Noise Sister standing there.
The Sister then noticed Tsubaki sitting next to Mikoto "Ahh, Tsubaki-Sama Misaka says reverently as she tries to hide her nervousness before Tsubaki-Sama"
Tsubaki stared for a second as she identified the sister "Hello #10031, how are you today?" Tsubaki was partially connected to the Radio Noise Network and thus could easily ascertain the numbers of the Sisters when they were right in front of her.
Misaka's emotionless eyes seem to widen for a second "Misaka is good Misaka replies as she attempts to deal with the shock of Tsubaki-Sama knowing her number"
Tsubaki smiled softly "That's good, you know you girls don't have to call me Tsubaki-Sama, just Tsubaki is fine"
Misaka shook her head "Tsubaki-Sama is Tsubaki-Sama Misaka says as she and the other Misakas refuse to alter their name for Tsubaki-Sama"
Mikoto shakes herself out of her surprise and shouts "You know Tsubaki!"
Misaka faced Mikoto "Yes, Misaka says as she admits to knowing Tsubaki-Sama to Onee-sama"
Mikoto's mouth dropped open for a second "How?"
Misaka tilted her head "Tsubaki-Sama helped us become, without her we would be nothing Misaka says with extreme reverence as she speaks of the Awakening and Tsubaki-Sama's role in it"
Misaka opened her mouth to continue asking questions.
Tsubaki put her hand on Mikoto's shoulder and adjusted the unconscious form of Kuroko on her lap with the other "I'm sorry Mikoto, but you can't continue this line of questioning, it'll only end in sorrow"
Mikoto focused on Tsubaki and was about to shout.
Tsubaki then grabbed Mikoto one handed across the shoulders and pulled her into a hug "Believe me, Mikoto. If I could, I would halt the nightmare that the Sisters are part of and that you have been pulled into. But I can't so many things are stopping me. I want nothing more then to beat the everliving crap out of Accelerator and leave him on the ground screaming in pain for the first time in his life. But... I can't" Tsubaki ignores the feeling of tears, both running down her cheeks and dampening her shirt where Mikoto's face was pushed against it
"But, I can and have been hiding your interference in the Project from the Board, otherwise they would have sent either the #2 or Accelerator himself after you" Tsubaki heard the soft gasp from both Mikoto and Misaka.
While releasing Mikoto from her grasp Tsubaki gently kissed her on the forehead "Keep fighting, Railgun. I'll do what I can to help you, no matter the consequences"
Tsubaki stood up while holding the unconscious Kuroko "I'll drop this one off at her Judgement Branch. Remember Biri Biri, as long as you never surrender, there is always hope for the future"
Tsubaki then walked off towards the 177th Judgement Branch Office, just before she was out of sight she turned and smiled at Mikoto.
Mikoto gently touched her forehead where Tsubaki had kissed and she couldn't help but say "Damn you Tsubaki, you can't just say such powerful killing words and walk away"
Misaka nodded softly in agreement "Tsubaki-Sama is powerful in the seductive arts Misaka says as she stares in awe of Tsubaki-Sama's charisma and persuasive skills"
-SOM-
After dropping Kuroko off at the 177th Branch and gently flirting with the sweet little officer with the flower headband (and getting chased out by a blushing Konori Mii)
Tsubaki decided that a nice walk through the parks would be nice, all that harmless flirting had helped her relax immensely.
She was completely unprepared to walk around a tree and crash right into somebody, knocked to the ground (having not expected the impact Tsubaki had been unbraced and therefore easily fell) she looked up at the person she had run into.
A Misaka was starring down at her in surprise, Tsubaki quickly got her number "#10032, nice to meet you, I just met your elder sisters"
"Hello Tsubaki-Sama, Misaka says as she responds to Tsubaki-Sama's greeting"
Tsubaki sighed "None of you Sisters are ever going to drop the '-Sama' are you?"
"No, says Misaka as Misaka shakes her head"
Tsubaki giggles "I guess I'll have to just deal with it"
Tsubaki started to walk to her former dorm room, while she would have to wait for nightfall before she could remove her magical items, she still had textbooks and homework as well as her manga collection to collect, she half turned to Misaka and said "If your free, would you mind helping me carry some stuff to my new house?"
Misaka nodded "Misaka will help promises Misaka as she holds down her joy at being asked to help"
Tsubaki giggled softly 'Speaking with the Sisters is always interesting, the poor dears just can't hide their emotions. Despite their brilliant poker face' Tsubaki idly wondered what a Misaka trying to play poker would look like and had to fight back more laughter.
Misaka merely tilted her head in confusion as Tsubaki held back laughter.
-SOM-
Luckily, the student dorms were only five minutes away. The identical buildings all stood in a dreary location, but since the building winds all converged in the same direction, it was also the spot of Academy City's number one wind farm.
The buildings stood a little over two meters apart. Slipping under the back alley-like opening, Kamijou and Misaka #10032 passed through the emergency entrance and headed for the dorm elevators.
And, just ahead of Tsubaki, a cleaning robot came up—one with tires and a rotating mop attached to a drum eighty centimeters long and forty centimeters in diameter.
Up to this point in Academy City, even the mysterious was harmless, but it was a little different from here on. Atop the cleaning robot, a maid about thirteen or fourteen years old was sitting seiza-style.
"Whee, Kamijou Tsubaki!"
Her name was Tsuchimikado Maika, and was Tsubaki's former neighbor. She, as a sister's promise to Tsuchimikado Motoharu, went to a home economics (maid) school and was now wearing a maid outfit as her uniform. Something disagreeable and a change of pace made her escape from the girls' dorm and come there as a runaway girl. Tsubaki often gave her little tips and tricks on how to avoid security and how to jimmy the back door's lock.
"The air con's damaged today, so I'll be coming over. Also, I think my brother will be making noise tonight, so please pardon us."
Tsubaki waved her hand in disinterest "Don't worry about it, I'm in the middle of moving out, apparently the housing committee finally figured out that I was a girl and that I don't belong in a Male Dorm"
Maika smiled widely "Oh great Tsubaki, do you think I might be able to room at your house if you've got a free room?"
Tsubaki snickered "Maybe, still in your uniform huh, guess that your maid school doesn't have a summer holiday?" Tsubaki actually already knew all this, she had seen the paperwork the school had submitted so that they could get away with such a thing.
"Yes. 'A true maid never rests,' my school precepts say. Not even on Saturdays and Sundays can a maid apprentice rest, and had I not taken a guerrilla weekly leave for two days, I'd be down and out." Maika had sat up while explaining this and even now had a hand in the air as if she were giving a lecture to a class.
"Will it be the ice age when maids with truant habits are in demand?" Tsubaki snarked gently.
"But of course; maids that complete the course are in greater demand than drop-outs, they say." Maika's bright smile made Tsubaki smile back. Then Maika's cleaning robot began to leave.
Tsubaki waved at the departing maid "See you later Maika"
The cleaning robot with the sitting girl went somewhere else. Maika's waving form vanished around a corner.
Then it popped back suddenly and Maika was suddenly in Tsubaki's face.
"Finally, trick number one for hiding a runaway girl: never leave the girl behind in your room during daytime. Make them loiter around peacefully in the city; then, at nighttime, recovery by baiting them is the easiest option. Leave her behind 24/7, and the sounds of someone living in your room will escape just like that and the neighbors might just notice. I mean, isn't that sister making too much slapstick noise?"
Tsubaki grinned ferally at Maika "Oh I'm well aware of that, it's just that I like to keep a close watch on my guests" Maika simultaneously paled and blushed, a spectacular feat in and of itself.
Maika gaped a few times as her robot seemed almost to run from Tsubaki.
"Do you have preferences for confining other people? as Misaka would inquire a little seriously with slight hope."
"It's nothing serious; it's only hiding a freeloader and teaching Maika a lesson about privacy and tact." Tsubaki completely ignored Misaka's little addition at the end 'Ignore it, that paths leads to jail... possibly'
A sighing Tsubaki got on the dilapidated elevator with Misaka #10032, and ascended to the seventh floor.
*Kinkon* went the cheap electronic sound as the elevator arrived at the seventh floor. As A Certain Male Dormitory was rectangular in shape, there was no way to go but straight ahead when leaving the elevator. 'Note to self, fake architectural inspection to force elevator maintenance, also it still stinks of wet paint and molten plastic due to the repairs to the damage from Stiyl's little Flame Giant'
Tsubaki quickly made her way to the door and opened it, a surprised and bored Sphynx quickly jumped on her shoulder. Tsubaki looked down and giggled "Looks like I got myself a furry parrot"
Misaka gently reached out and pet the cat "*Giggle* Misaka giggles as she pets the cat named Sphynx" Tsubaki shook her head in exasperation at the Misaka's way of speaking.
Tsubaki smiled at the Radio Noise Sister, it was thanks to her that the plot by Nunotaba Shinobu managed to introduce emotions to the Sisters, although they were careful to keep those emotions hidden when not in close proximity to Tsubaki.
Tsubaki quickly got her stuff back to her new house, using the secret entrance as she didn't mind if the Sisters knew about it.
Misaka #10032 wouldn't stop playing with Sphynx the entire time.
-SOM-
Tsubaki was discovering new levels of awkward as she sat in her class with an uncharacteristically serious Tsukuyomi Komoe staring at her.
Tsubaki knew what Komoe-Sensei wanted so with a single thought she cast a combination silencing and privacy spell over the class.
"You want to know more don't you?" Tsubaki thought that stating the obvious would help this conversation start.
Komoe simply nodded, she hated the thought of one of her students in trouble while she was unable to help.
Tsubaki sighed "Where to start I wonder?" Tsubaki thought for a moment
"Ah, well to begin with I'm something known as a Saint, that is to say that I possess a body similar to the Son of God. Also a 'Stigmata' that grants me incredible power at a heavy price" Tsubaki voice was light to begin with but quickly grew serious.
As expected Komoe rose to the bait "What price?"
Tsubaki chuckled darkly "Every Magician and by extension Saint has a wish, that is to say our magic comes from our desire. Many state that Religion or strong belief is needed to practice magic, but that's wrong. What we need is a strong enough wish to alter reality, our 'Personal Reality' you might say. Some wish to grow stronger to protect others, others wish to protect the helpless or to become great. Every Magician has a 'Magic Name' that they use to express this desire to the world and to protect their soul from soul magics"
Komoe nodded slowly listening to the dark beginning of the path of Magic, however there is one question that she had that was screaming to be asked "Tsubaki-Chan, what is your 'Magic Name'?"
Tsubaki smiled softly "Calamitas000 The Saint who Bears the Misfortune of Man"
Komoe shivered at Tsubaki's name and the way she said it, for when she did like some trick of light or mirage...
It seemed as if all of mankind stood behind Tsubaki offering their support, while an unending mountain of Misfortune weighed down upon an unbending Tsubaki's back.
Tsubaki smirked softly "So you can see it, the reality upon which I have built myself... ever since ARC that is" The last line was almost whispered so soft was the voice Tsubaki used.
Komoe heard it easily, having gained special experience in hearing the softest of murmurs while teaching, but she could tell that Tsubaki didn't wish to speak of it and only spoke of it due to memories overwhelming her.
"Hmm-hum" Komoe cleared her throat "Tsubaki-Chan, what does your 'Magic Name' have to do with magics 'Heavy Price'?" Komoe wanted to continue their conversation.
Tsubaki snapped out of her memories and softly laughed "Everything Komoe-Sensei Everything, you see for Normal Magicians their 'Magic Name' becomes the center of their reality, they do everything they can in order to fulfill their desire" Komoe shivered at the thoughts of what some might do in order to fulfill their desire "For a Saint however, our 'Stigmata' amplifies this until we become what we have named ourselves. That is why only Saints have the 000 ending to our Magic Names, we are so totally aligned to our ideals that they and us are inseparable" Tsubaki chuckled softly "My Name is particularly ironic, for not only do I possess a body similar to the Son of God, but I have aligned myself to the exact same ideal he possessed when he walked upon this world. Perhaps somewhere in my future I will be sacrificed in order to protect Mankind" Tsubaki smiled softly.
Komoe was beside herself and was about to speak when Tsubaki continued.
"But... I can't help but feel happy at that. When I was younger my Misfortune always seemed to affect others, but now, now I am the one who takes the Misfortune of others and it feels... cathartic, to know that others are smiling because of my choice to take on their suffering" Tsubaki smiled as she finished and just with that alone the room seemed to brighten.
Komoe slowly closed her mouth before she smiled at her favorite (not that she'll ever admit it) student.
'It looks like Tsubaki has made her choice, I guess I can't complain'
The rest of what should have been a tutoring session, but had been converted into a temporary inquisition on Tsubaki's magic fell into a comforting silence.
Neither student nor teacher was speaking, but the gulf between the two friends had been removed and now they simply let their odd but workable friendship fill the silence room.
Tsubaki could honestly say that it was the best tutoring session she'd ever had with Tsukuyomi Komoe.
-SOM-
And thus, the day's extra lessons ended.
It was 6:40 PM. Tsubaki had missed the last train that left at the time all students were supposed to have left school, so she was leisurely walking through a shopping district. In order to prevent students from spending all night out, the last trains and buses in Academy City all left at 6:30 PM. The idea was that people would not go out late at night if the transportation system was stopped.
It wasn't that Tsubaki couldn't get some form of quick transport home, it was just that she didn't mind walking slowly through the nighttime crowds.
'I'm not sure if I should be glad that today is over or sad it is, I enjoyed just sitting and relaxing with Komoe-Sensei. Maybe I should have a vacation to the beach soon'
Tsubaki thought to herself as she returned home that evening. It didn't look like the wind was blowing, but the blades of the wind turbines were definitely turning.
"Mh?"
Tsubaki spotted a familiar-looking back amid the crowd. It belonged to a brown-haired girl wearing a Tokiwadai Middle School summer uniform. It was Misaka Mikoto. Tsubaki smiled to herself and decided to jog to catch up to her newest toy... I mean potential 'friend'.
"Hey. Are you on the way home from some extra lessons, too?"
"Ahn?" was Mikoto's unfeminine response. "Oh, it's you. I'm pretty tired and I want to preserve the strength I have left, so don't make me Biri Biri you. So what do you want?"
"Nothing really. We just happened to be on the same road and probably headed to the same place, so I just thought we could walk together."
"Oh?" Mikoto's eyes narrowed a bit. "You 'just thought' you could walk with a Tokiwadai lady? Heh. Do you have any idea how much effort guys put into taking that position?"
"…It's pretty bad to be referring to yourself as a 'Tokiwadai lady'." Tsubaki giggled with amusement, not noticing that of the two she appeared the more lady like.
"I was joking, you idiot." Mikoto stuck her tongue out a bit. "What you learn at your school is more important than where you go to school, anyway. I'm sure you're old enough to know at least that much."
"Older then you at least" Tsubaki snarked.
Mikoto simply gave the stink eye in return.
Before long the two struck up a pointless conversation on the various annoyances they had in school.
Many different wind turbines stood along the street. Tsubaki looked up at the spinning blades and then noticed a blimp floating in the evening sky. The exhibition screen on the side was displaying the day's news. Apparently, three research facilities related to muscular dystrophy had been evacuated over a two week period and there was concern over the intense cold coming to the entire city.
Tsubaki sighed softly as she knew that Mikoto's trail was becoming harder and harder to obscure.
The conversation trailed off because Tsubaki's focus turned to the blimp. A blimp may sound old-fashioned, but it used solar power to heat carbon dioxide with a heater for lift and to spin a large motor for thrust, so it was an ecological craft that did not need fuel. Tsubaki loved simply hi-jacking one when she was bored and relaxing on top while staring at the clouds.
"I hate those blimps," Mikoto muttered.
"Hmm? Why?" Tsubaki queried with interest.
"…Because people follow the policies decided on by a machine," said Mikoto quietly in response as if she were spitting out something that annoyed her greatly.
Tsubaki turned her gaze back to Mikoto without much surprise. It was obvious that her schoolgirl facade was crumbling and underneath the iron will and inhuman desire that we needed to become a Level 5 were apparent.
"Ahh, I see you have a dislike for 'Tree Diagram' after seeing your reaction earlier today, it's not hard to guess why..."
Simply put, Tree Diagram was the world's smartest super computer. It was the ultimate simulator created under the pretext of being a perfect weather forecaster.
Weather forecasting may sound familiar, but that was a field where things could only be forecasted. They could not be declared as fact. Because the movements of each of the air particles that created "weather" were incredibly complex and intertwined with the butterfly effect and chaos theory, one could say that there was an 80% chance of rain the next day, but one could not say that it would definitely rain at 9:10:00 AM.
That started to enter into the realm of quantum mechanics.
However, Tree Diagram had moved weather forecasting to weather predicting.
It did not do anything complicated. Basically, if it could perfectly predict the movements of every particle in the air around the world, there was only one answer it could come up with.
Tree Diagram had ridiculous enough specs to do that, but some people theorized that its use for weather forecasting was just a front and it actually had some other true use.
Incidentally, there was one irregular aspect of Tree Diagram's weather forecasts.
It calculated the weather forecast for an entire month all at once.
There was no real problem with that because it was still accurate, but it still seemed like unnecessary effort. After all, next month's weather was much, much more likely to be off than tomorrow's weather. If the goal was accurate weather forecasts, it would be better to redo the calculations each day.
Yet the Tree Diagram used the more difficult method.
It was rumored that the leftover time was used for research simulations.
Drug reactions, physiological reactions, electrical reactions, and all sorts of other things could be calculated by Tree Diagram and a couple of tests could confirm the answer given. Being able to create a new drug like that almost sounded crazy. According to the rumor, there were researchers that did not know how to use a test tube and who did not like touching lab rats.
A super computer with that much power had plenty of enemies. Human supremacists who hated machines could try to blow it up in a terrorist attack at any time and AI supremacists who hated people might try to sneak into the storage area for Tree Diagram to steal the technology.
In order to protect it from external enemies, Tree Diagram was currently kept in a place where human hands could not reach it.
Basically, the satellite launched by Academy City was Tree Diagram.
The fact that Academy City could privately use the kind of rocket technology that was usually only allowed by national agencies showed just how much influence Academy City had in the world.
However, all of that was nothing more then an elaborate ruse, the truth behind 'Tree Diagram' was more outlandish than many thought possible.
For the truth was that 'Tree Diagram'
Was Kamijou Tsubaki.
Tsubaki's mind once connected to Academy City by the miscast spell had expanded multifold, the already inhumanly fast and accurate thought processes of a Saint were amplified almost exponentially by the connection to all of Academy City's databases and Server Farms.
Tsubaki's brain had become the most powerful supercomputer in existence with only the minds and brains of the Seven Level 5s coming close to matching it in any form.
But they all fell short by light-years of what Tsubaki could do almost absentmindedly.
"You've chosen a most unfortunate opponent Mikoto" Tsubaki muttered.
Mikoto did not respond and looked up into the evening sky again. Tsubaki almost couldn't tell if she was looking at the blimp or if her gaze went even further into the distance than that.
But it wasn't hard to guess where her mind was focusing.
"Tree Diagram…The world's most powerful super computer that was launched aboard Academy City's satellite, Orihime I, in order to analyze weather data. It has been determined that no one else will catch up to its level in another 25 years," Mikoto muttered almost under her breath as if she were reading from an Academy City pamphlet. "They say that, but does such a ridiculous absolute simulator really exist?"
Tsubaki snickered "I wonder... Does it?"
Mikoto whirled around to look at Tsubaki who simply smiled softly at the Railgun.
"You'll find Misaka Mikoto, that there are many secrets in this world. Right now your anger and rage is focused at 'Tree Diagram' because of That Project and it has left you blind to the reality of the world" Tsubaki's voice almost seemed to echo at the end and her extra emphasis in the middle told Mikoto everything.
'Tsubaki was aware of the Level 6 Shift Project... and on some level was involved in both it and the creation of the Radio Noise Sister'
Mikoto was conflicted, on one hand...
Tsubaki was in someway part of a project that she absolutely despised.
But on the other...
She was also responsible for the birth of the Radio Noise Sisters
And while she might delude herself at times, Mikoto had one truth that she had to admit.
That she had come to love her clones, no matter how they had been created they were her Sisters... yet at the same time almost like daughters that she felt drawn to protect.
She wondered if this was what her mother felt about her...
Tsubaki smiled and then walked over to Mikoto and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"I've been more friendly with you today then I ever have with some of my long term friends. But perhaps that is for the best, they unlike you have yet to encounter the nightmare that is the 'Darkside' of Academy City. But... like I said before Mikoto" Tsubaki pulled back and smiled brightly at the blushing middle schooler.
"As long as you continue to fight, there is hope. Never give up Mikoto and you'll find a way to free them" Tsubaki disengaged from Mikoto and walked off in the direction of a nearby restaurant, she was hungry and she had taught Index how to order Take Away.
It wasn't like her inhumanly large bank account couldn't handle her hunger, but if the look of surprise and greed on the face of the pizza delivery man that just went screaming past with a heavily loaded car was any indication, the nearby fast food joints might not be able to handle a Nun's Hunger.
Mikoto just stared blankly at Tsubaki as she left "Why, why does she KEEP saying things like that!" She angrily shout-whispered.
Mikoto didn't know if Tsubaki was doing it on purpose... but if this kept up she might seriously fall for her 'Rivals' new side.
-SOM-
Tsubaki couldn't help it she just had to.
"Aww" Tsubaki cooed as she watched a Radio Noise Sister attempt to feed a lost kitten, Misaka was trying to feed the cat by bringing a sweet bun close to it, but the frightened cat pressed its ears back on its head and balled up as if someone were swinging his fist down toward it.
'Her magnetic field must be scaring the poor thing'
Tsubaki walked up slowly to the cute scene, the Misaka's NV Goggles was on the ground next to the pair.
Tsubaki snickered to herself and muttered "If I couldn't read their auras it would be impossible to tell the Sisters apart from Mikoto"
"Misaka only removed her goggles because she had heard that cats hated shining things like lenses, explains Misaka. Should she apologize for making Tsubaki-Sama mistake her for Onee-sama?"
As she spoke, Misaka #10032 for some reason expressionlessly hid the sweet bun behind her back.
Despite having been frightened before, the black cat was mewing in dissatisfaction.
Tsubaki smiled wryly.
"If I needed an apology for something like that, I think I'd end up asking everyone in the world for an apology." Tsubaki smiled. "But if the cat hates lenses, why did you put the goggles back on? Did you want to maintain a sense of individuality?"
It was hard to tell because of her lack of any expression and the calm with which she acted, but for some reason Tsubaki felt like she had frantically put the goggles back on once she knew someone was looking.
"…No, not really, replies Misaka."
She replied immediately, but her words were somehow vague.
Tsubaki smiled sadly, the Sisters were still new to their emotions and even though they had begun to acclimatise to the reality of being human, they were still unsure and hesitant to show their emotions.
"Then you can just give the sweet bun to the cat. It likes it, right?"
"No…That is not it." Misaka #10032 froze. "Either way, it is impossible for Misaka to feed this cat, concludes Misaka. Misaka has a fatal defect, says Misaka in an additional explanation."
"A defect? Don't say it like that." Tsubaki shuddered at the almost inhuman way Misaka #10032 referred to her inability to match Mikoto's skill with Electromaster.
"No, it is the appropriate term. Misaka's body is constantly forming a weak magnetic field, explains Misaka. The human body cannot detect it, but it seems other animals can."
Tsubaki gently laid her right arm around Misaka, absently canceling her electromagnetic field, the kitten once confused perked up and started purring and rubbing up against Misaka's left hand "You do not have a defect, perhaps a deficit compared to the Railgun, but... that doesn't matter to anyone" Tsubaki slightly tightened her grip, making it look like she was almost supporting Misaka "You just have to prove your worth"
Tsubaki let go and the kitten shivered slightly as Misaka's electromagnetic field returned, Tsubaki then stood up and was about to leave.
"Wait, says Misaka requesting that you stop."
Tsubaki half turned "Hmm, is there something you want?"
"Listen. There is a black cat here, says Misaka as she points toward the cardboard box. How can you leave without giving anything to this hungry cat? asks Misaka?"
"…Why do I have to give the cat some food just because you've grown fond of it!? And you're the one with a sweet bun in your hand!" Tsubaki felt a similar feeling as to when Index attempted to blackmail her into allowing Sphynx into their house. Speaking of said cat he was... was he glaring at the kitten?
"No, not that. There is an abandoned cat here, so why did you not think of taking it in? asks Misaka a second time. Do you know how animals are treated when they are taken in by the health centers? asks Misaka as an example. First they put the animal within a clear polycarbonate case and inject 20 milliliters of a nerve gas called ASD10 inside…"
"Stop" Tsubaki interjects.
Hearing that while the frightened black cat looked her in the eye was incredibly awkward. Not to mention the killing intent Tsubaki could feel from Sphynx.
"You take it in! You found it and you're the one that was feeding it!"
"…It is impossible for Misaka to raise this cat, honestly replies Misaka. Misaka lives in an environment that is slightly different from yours, says Misaka giving a reason."
Misaka #10032 crouched down and simply stared the black cat in the eye.
Her expressionless eyes followed the black cat despite knowing that it would never take a liking to her.
"…Ahh."
Tsubaki stood still.
She had been worried about this when she had taken in the first cat. She had been worried that one cat would lead to taking in a second and the second would lead to third and a fourth. Of course, Tsubaki's finances were not well off enough to create an animal kingdom.
But were not off by much though to be honest.
Tsubaki wanted to refuse the black cat, but she knew Misaka #10032 would stay there all night staring at the cat and then get into a fight with the people from the health center if she left the cat there.
"D-dammit! This is just like with that three-colored cat!" Tsubaki had to physically hold herself back from simply slamming her head into the nearby Wind Turbine until it collapsed.
"Misaka does not understand what you are saying, but are you intending to take in this black cat? asks Misaka. If you do not take it in, the health center workers will-…"
"Yes, I get it, I get. Quit staring up at me with those expressionless eyes and talking about the health center!" 'Seriously how come all of the Misaka's including the original have this puppy dog eye ability!'