Chapter 3

A few days after the random gift, Misaka started to wear the winter gears inside the school garden. At first she was reluctant to even be seen wearing it outside of her room but then the comfort it gives definitely overpowers whatever shame she might get for wearing such clothes with kiddie designs on them in the 'rich' girls' garden. It's lamentable that casual clothes aren't allowed inside the school though, Mikoto would have a field day giving some pompous girl a stroke. So she just decided 'to hell with it' and strode in the streets or other establishments in the school garden in her oversize panda hoodies or her cat-theme jackets. The animal character beanies were a favorite of hers so those got shown off too.

Her reputation as the 'Menacing Ace of Tokiwadai' would have to take a backseat.

When the gang decided to hangout outside of the garden, her poms, scarf and sweaters made itself useful from the biting cold.

Even though she doesn't need them that much.

Electricity is energy, a part of the natural world and she can generate more than a billion volts. Generating heat is no problem at all. But the thing is, Mikoto likes the coziness of the winter clothes alludes to. Yes, for her being cold is more of a psychological mentality than the actual need to be warm but then again, it is the satisfaction of doing something she wants.

Instead of receiving sneering glances or ill directed whispers, what Mikoto got are excited, barely concealed squeals, good natured giggles and appreciative looks. Whether it is about her current wardrobe or something, Mikoto didn't dwell on it long. She's never one to brood over a clearly beneficial predicament.

In fact, she's being approached more by the first years who were reluctant before. Perhaps, again, it's the image change she can't be sure. She welcomed them and made them feel appreciated and protected. Kuroko took on a more active role in scaring them away though so their numbers are just more or less enough to have a 'me' time. So in a way, Mikoto is thankful for her interventions.

"Honestly those girls could have asked any other senpai that's not onee-sama and they all flock to you." Kuroko mumbles as she slid into a chair. The thump heard as she sat on the wooden chair indicatively expresses her displeasure if the frown of face is not enough to tell.

"Well, Misaka-san is an exceptional person. Her grades are always within the top 5. She's one of the only level 5 in Academy city, she's a blossoming beautiful lady, and her figure is starting to take on a voluptuous form.-"

The dark haired girl followed that statement with roaming her eyes up and down the railgun's form which made her blush and yelp as if burned by Saten's rather 'passionate' leering.

"Oy, Saten-san! Stop that!"

"Keep that perverted eyes on Uiharu, not my Onee-sama!"

"Keep me out of it!"

"-I'm proving a point here, stop judging!-" Saten stuck her tongue out at them.

"As I was saying, Misaka-san also had this aloof aura around her and was viewed as this unreachable senpai, a person so high up the pedestal that it seems a sin to stand next to her brilliance. So-"

"Since I'm always beside Onee-sama, am I a sin?" Kuroko interjected Saten, rather rudely.

"Yes You Pervert" It was Uiharu who answered that.

"You're a walking disaster Shirai-san." Saten added with a deadpan voice.

"How could you accuse me of that? Excuse me, I'm just a devoted follower of my Onee-sama. That should mean that me and me alon-!"

"AS I WAS saying,-" Saten interjected Kuroko, rather rudely. She gave Kuroko a brief annoyed glance before focusing back on Mikoto. "-since you're dressing like a 'cuddle-ready human'', your kouhais deem you 'safe' to approach"

Kuroko (what load of bullshit is that?) gave Saten a stink eye which was duly ignored while Uiharu just smiled and took a look around the cafe.

"Do I really come off as dangerous? Wait, don't answer that" Misaka hung her head, clearly knowing the answer.

Saten answered her anyway. A gentle smile on her lips as she looked at her friend.

"Misaka-san, you've grown 3 inches, your hips and chest are starting to fill out. Contrary to your mother who had an approachable countenance, your beauty is more on the intimidating side, your stance screams dominance, even your voice is on the deeper side of the spectrum- to which people are more inclined to obey instinctively added to the fact that you're also a really good, effective and charismatic leader. You're good at almost everything academically, your learning sword arts and some of the more aggressive martial arts like Taekwondo at a slow pace, but still, you're learning, that counts. You're almost a jack of all trades now, a walking femme fatale. People would feel flustered around you but they can't help but be drawn to you.-"

Misaka was bright red at this point and the compliments are over the top really, she meant to cut the girl off but she can also see that Saten is making a point and it would be rude to interrupt.

And if she preened a bit about her talents (the one she painstakingly learned) being recognized, well, no one will really know.

"-But Yes, I think it's our instinct though. I mean, aside from the knowledge that you can also fry a human in two seconds flat, you could say people would feel threatened...instinctively? Like we always know who or what is dangerous just by gut feeling alone. Subconsciously, people will view you as 'unsafe'. Adults can ignore this feeling but kids? They follow their instincts. Febri certainly has, she chose me over you because you feel threatening and me who is a level zero, a safe place."

"Isn't that because you're good with kids?" is what Mikoto chose to focus on because she really had nothing to say about the rest. She knows Saten had spoken from the perspective outside of her own, nothing can be done about that. Besides, it's making her uncomfortable so she opted for the topic to get away from it.

"Being good with kids doesn't automatically mean they will trust me. Kids follow their own rules."

"Speaking of kids, I wonder what Febri is up to now though" Uiharu muttered, a finger to her lips.

"Probably harassing her sister to death pfft!" Saten snickered.

"I miss her," Kuroko said, thumbing her menu book. She appeared nonchalant but they knew the depth of her words.

"Yeah, us too" Saten replies with a sad smile on her lips.

"She was like a little sister to us." Mikoto added.

They all nodded sagely.

"The topic has gone off the rails may I remind you-" Kuroko interjected the silence that permeated after Mikoto's last statement. "-can we get back to me who was complaining about those crafty first years?"

The mood lightened up immediately as what she had aimed for.

"No." Both Saten and Uiharu shut her down quickly. Misaka could only smile elfishly.

"WHY? My problems are legit too!"

"Right,-" Uiharu side eyed her partner. Some of her problems anyway. "We should order though, the waitress has been glancing here every five seconds." Uiharu says as she raises her hand to call the said waitress.

As they were ordering, Mikoto took a glance towards the entrance where a group of girls had entered. Ah, and there is Shokuhou Misaki, the last to enter. Mikoto quickly faced back towards the waitress and gave her order. She didn't want to meet Misaki's eyes and made her think that she's staring. That would be a really good ammo against Mikoto especially when she found herself always gazing.

For the next few hours, the group enjoyed dinner. Conversations flowed seamlessly from their mouths and actions. The atmosphere was relaxing and warm and Mikoto just wanted to melt into a puddle and stay. It made her forget her responsibilities that are sure to come tomorrow. Spending time with them like this is always gonna be the highlight of her day.

Not long after, Saten and Uiharu bid them goodbye lest they get caught loitering after curfew.

"The case of the missing girl is getting on my nerves. Despite it being pushed to be a top priority, we still don't have that many clues. Everyday that passes is a day that she could be saved. It's driving the entire judgement nuts. oh , and the anti-skill too."

"It's good that you guys took a break then. You and Uiharu almost look like zombies and with the way you guys are going, that description is not far off from becoming a reality. You will find the girl, alright. Just have patience. Also I'll help look for her. This is day three isn't it?"

The two tokiwadai students opted to stay in the cafe and just decompress. The cafe they were in isn't that far from their dorm, if push comes to shove, they could return in two minutes flat. They chatted idly on safe topics and some judgement work when Kuroko's eyelids started to droop, her words were slurring. Eventually, she yawned and made herself comfortable on the arm chair she was perched on. Kuroko wasn't even aware of what she was doing. She just draped herself on the chair and proceeded to sleep.

Kuroko was being adorable but it brought a sad smile to Mikoto's lips, Kuroko was absolutely exhausted that her sense of decorum flew out the door. If she had her usual sense, she would not sleep here in the cafe and would insist they go home. Kuroko acted like a cat at this moment and this is one of the times that Mikoto could see how young the girl is.

Mikoto's milk tea was long gone as well as the remaining ice which she had enjoyed chewing and only the condensation bubbles outside the cup remained. Every so often her eyes would wander to the largest clique in the school, specifically the queen of the bunch.

Recently, this is a routine Misaka noticed about herself these days. Her eyes would always wander to the mental out's figure. Either to check what's going on or to just glance, to get a glimpse or just stare. The action itself is weird but Mikoto tried not to think too much about it. If she did, she would probably arrive at a dangerous conclusion she'd rather not entertain.

Kuroko was clearly dozing off already so it left Mikoto with nothing to distract her from actively staring at Shokuhou. She figured she could let Kuroko sleep for a few moments to watch Shokuhou interact with her clique members. Well, she is curious.

Mikoto was close enough to see the miniscule flick of the eyes or facial expressions but far enough not to hear anything.

They were all chatting amicably, some of the drinks were long gone while others opted to call for a refill. It feels wrong to see Shokuhou without Junko by her side. Hokaze graduated and is now a first year highschool at Tokiwadai High School branch. Even with the high school campus separated from the middle school it is still rare for Junko not there to attend to her Queen's needs. Junko loves her too much to let Misaki be. Maybe there was a conflict in schedules or something came up.

Shokuhou was almost always silently seeping her tea, though she answers whenever a question is directed at her. Her permanent irritating smirk in place, she looks relaxed and in her element. The girls were attentive to her and gobble up whatever it is she was spouting.

Nothing really changes much.

After a few minutes, a few of the girls pointed at one girl who spoke nervously. Shokuhou listened, the permanent irritating smirk slowly ebbs away and is replaced by a growing frown. As the tale of the girl ended, the frown quickly morphed back into a smile but now, it has a dangerous glint to it. Mikoto actually felt sorry for the poor bloke that managed to anger her. Shokuhou's mouth formed some instructions and the clique nodded. After that, the flowery atmosphere came back.

Had she ever admitted that Shokuho getting protective over her clique is hot? No?

Startling herself from her own musings, it is at this point that she decides to gather their belongings and actually resolves herself to carry the teleporter home. Once the table was cleared and their belongings were well assessed and inside their bags, Mikoto subtly peeked in the cliques direction one last time, to see if there was something wrong. What she saw halted her movements and made her focus.

They were all about to leave too. Gathering their things and checking back if there is something left on the table they occupied. Finding none, they all trickled back outside, to the cold and unforgiving -10 degrees Celsius.

One girl in particular cannot find her coat. She was fretting and was going in and out of the cafe. The staff shook their heads and went back out, speaking to the others about her missing jacket.

Shokuhou motioned for her to come closer and when she was close enough, she draped her own long coat over the girl's shoulder. The clique started to protest only to be silenced by a remote. Some of the girls who were about to offer their coats to the queen froze and slip the coats back on.

Mikoto huffed at this, can she go without manipulating someone? The group started to move with not one person fretting over their queen suddenly 'naked' from the cold, one by one they slowly trudged farther away from the cafe. Yes, their uniforms have some insulating properties, but it was nothing compared to the clothes designed for winter. But, wait … Does Shokuhou plan on walking around in her Tokiwadai Winter uniform? Come to think of it, last Saturday, she was also hanging outside her dorm building in only her uniform and she was livid for some reason. What is she thinking though?

And now a week after and she's sacrificing herself so that kouhai won't get sick. The concept was strangely noble for Shokuhou's standards...yes she knows that the girl is a self-sacrificing idiot but Mikoto didn't expect this. She expected for Shokuhou to thoroughly search the place, with help of course, before giving up and borrowing from the staff if they have a spare coat or something. Logically, that would be the right course of action. Maybe she's too tired to think? Or are they in a hurry to go?

She watches Shokuhou stand in the cold for a few seconds before deciding to serialize the thought she's currently entertaining. She grabbed her own coat-a pastel blue long coat that is one of the clothes from the 'gift' she received. It was one of the smoothest and softest coats she had, and is quite thick and is well insulated. The sensation of being able to wear it in winter is so comfy you dont wanna get out of it. This is precisely what Shokuhou needed. No good deed goes unpunished.


Misaki was gazing up, watching the snow fall. Some of the snow fell right onto her face and some just glided away. The randomness of the snow's pathway reminds Misaki of the water. The blonde level 5 always strives to be like water. How it finds ways to circumnavigate when blocked, how reliant it is, how life depended on it, how the waves would always come back with a vengeance when denied access. Water is the most versatile thing in the universe and Misaki envies it. She loves anything versatile.

Instead of water, she had to be the Earth. Steady and firm, ready to push anyone to their limit and ready to catch should they fall. Always had to be silent and patient, wait for the seeds you sown to grow on their own pace and let them develop on their own.

Misaki was so deep in her musings that she didn't notice the not so subtle scrunch in the snow behind her. Something warm was draped on her shoulders and she was shocked twice. Once by the gesture and two, by WHO the good samaritan is.

"Uhh, what are you doing Misaka-san?" her lilting voice filled the silence as Misaka finished fitting the coat snuggly to her form. This was too sudden, too sudden really. So sudden it gave her a mental whiplash and the booming thuds of rattling her ribcage. She hadn't noticed the railgun in the vicinity and now she appears out of nowhere armed with the coat.

In lieu of an answer the railgun gave her a look that said 'don't ask' then seemingly changing her mind, she took off the coat and went behind her, holding it out for her to insert her arms.

"Hold out your arms" the railgun ordered.

Misaki was too stunned to think straight. So all she did was follow Misaka's instructions with the obedience of a five year old. Misaka urged her to wear the coat properly. It came a bit short on her wrist but not by much. The hazel-eyed girl came back to her front and did the buttons of the coat.

She was so close that Misaki can feel the heat of her body despite the raging negatives of winter. Misaka-san was always so warm.

She was so close that she could smell her scent.

She smelled of fresh linen that had an underlying scent of chlorine. She can identify the scent of amber, sandalwood and orchids which are so distinctly feminine when combined and there's also something she can't name that gives it another dimension and the chlorine somehow, in some way subtly highlights everything.

The two scents intermingling made Misaki want to bury her nose somewhere in Misaka, to bury herself and be lost in that clean aroma, like lying on the freshly laundered warm sheets. She used to do that when she was a kid, used to hearing her mom make a joke about her being a kitten. Her fragrance is addicting. She smells so nice it makes her wanna curl herself around this person. Had she always smelled this nice?

Without her noticing it, Misaki was leaning forward towards the other girl, to her warmth, to her scent. She's so close that hugging her would only be a matter of a few gestures. She wants to stay close, to stay cocooned in this whatever moment they were having or whatever spell she alone has been under.

Meanwhile, Misaka noticed nothing at all, she was too busy doing her coat to make Misaki feel as much warm as she could get.

Before their noses could bump, Misaka took a tiny step back to survey if Misaki is snuggly warm and comfy to the new coat. Much of the warmth was gone and it did serve to sober Misaki up. Then, the brunette patted her shoulder as if saying 'good work', to Misaki or to her own-the blonde didn't know. As if by cue, a cold breeze grazes by them seemingly checking Misaka's good deed.

Misaki couldn't help but shiver mainly because she missed the bodily warmth Mikoto provided earlier and then burrowed her face to the high collar of the blue coat.

This gave Misaka another detrimental thought again because before she knew it-going by her stunned expression-, the pastel yellow scarf that was in Misaka's person was suddenly draped over hers. It was still warm and her scent was all over it! It smells so good. She took a huge sniff, trying to inhale all of it. Of course she did it subtly, she didn't want to be labeled a pervert like a certain teleporter. The mental out knew that the blush she was sporting because of the cold turned to a blush because of something else.

Something dangerous.

Misaki didn't really know when these feelings started, specifically. During first year, she had a strong dislike towards the girl-thinking that she was the catalyst for the clone dolly project or the sisters. It was one of the reasons why she wants to read her mind so much. Then she discovered that the girl knew nothing of what they had done to her DNA, knew nothing of what was going on with the sisters. She was a victim instead.

Second year had changed something in their dynamic, from spontaneous meetups or tag teaming, to actual planned playdates by Junko. Third year came and she began hanging out in the school more often than not. Attending meetings and whatnot. Eventually, they arranged to meet so strategize further since the both of them hold a significant influence over the student body. A fact Misaki could be so smug about.

They slowly began to know one another and they began to understand the reason behind their actions. The mental out esper learned to ask for help to a fellow level 5. Began to understand how lightening it is to have an ally that belongs to the same world as hers. It felt like she was Atlas that found another Titan to hold the world with; then the burden, that insurmountable pressure she had been under was not so backbreaking anymore.

Misaki began to actively care about the girl, began to see her as a friend. To the delight of her best friend, Hokaze Junko.

Misaki began to have a light crush, way in the second half of the year. Realizing when her affections to a certain boy began to curve to a certain girl, she could only estimate roughly. Slowly, her attention has always landed on the railgun when she was near her vicinity. Noticing that the annoying points Misaka had became her endearing charms, noticing her beauty and noticing that her annoying roguish points became really fetching for some reason or another. Noticing the brilliance Misaka Mikoto oozes maybe, possibly, a little tiny bit, surpasses her own.

But realizing said affections never brought any changes to their dynamic, it would be a distraction at this point in time, when both of them are so busy already and are actually in the process of building a solid rapport with each other. Misaki likes to have it that way though; as long as there is nothing coming in between them, she's quite content with the pace they were going. And so she tried to rein in her urges, tried hard not to let loose her adoration in her gestures and such, but there are still times when they slip from her carefully controlled grasp and bleed through her actions. The tender smiles that she would unknowingly flash at Mikoto's direction, for example.

Funnily enough, it was the oblivious idiot who always manages to do something that makes her heart skip a beat (or likely causing her premature ventricular contractions, realistically speaking) like wrapping her in a their OWN coat and some pretty soft scarf THAT HAVE THEIR SCENT or is in the likeness of the color of HER OWN hair. She's probably giving meanings to things that are completely irrelevant but so what? Sue her and her beautiful golden hair.

Misaka Mikoto may be doing this stuff out of good will but it's making Misaki's insides do a semblance of breakdancing and she didn't know if she want it to stop or not.

She noticed a similar blush on the other girl's cheeks and she was sure it was because of the cold. Not for other reasons like what she is pondering.

Later when the railgun is gone, Misaki would not know how she got home.


"You silly girl,-" Mikoto started. Her lips opened for a moment before smacking back together. She didn't know what to say, really. She just made a decision based on the stimulus she was given. Shokuhou is cold; she had a coat and scarf. No brainer. She didn't really think of what to say or how to say anything.

Shokuhou had been silent too long and she was digging holes in Mikoto's face. It was making her nervous. Had she done something wrong? Or had she overstep the boundaries they both silently agreed on? Or was she thinking of something to tease her with?

One thing she knows is that Misaki would try to return the coat so she had to try to be assertive in her offer before the other girl came to her wits. It took her a few moments of ruminating on what to say before making a decisive statement.

"It's yours now. Now go home"

Not that assertive!

With that statement, she turned Shokuhou around to the direction of her dorm and patted her back as a parting gesture.

And with that folks, Misaka Mikoto made her retreat back to the cafe leaving a stunned Shokuhou Misaki (whose blush was already extending to her neck) in her wake. Mentally smacking herself because that coat certainly belonged to her. What the heck?! Why'd she said that? Arggh! And she didn't mean it to be so demanding? Domineering? What the hell? Would Shokuhou feel slighted in some way because of her tone?

Mikoto was not materialistic by any means...but the coat though. The super snugly and comfy coat. Goodness…she's going to overthink this, would she?

Is it worth it? TOTALLY!

Ears burning, she went back to her seat and duck her head where she was sure Misaki wouldn't see her getting bitter about her coat. She felt like doing a Kuroko and continuously banged her head on the table.

Which she did.

Yes, she didn't need the coat but she loved it! Thunk!

Now, I'm never gonna get it back. Thunk!

She's gonna think I've gone soft on her. Thunk!

What was I even trying to do? Thunk!

Well, she would freeze her butt off outside if I hadn't done that. Thunk!

It's so worth it...probably. I mean I wouldn't want her to get sick...Thunk!

But what if she teases me about it tomorrow? Thunk!

Should I not have? Nope. That was totally worth it. Thunk!

And why does she look lonely and lovely at the same time? Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

After a few minutes, she raised her head (forehead glowing red) to peek outside, at where she left the other level 5.

Shokuhou was gone.

Thank goodness!

Mikoto waited for a few minutes just to make sure Shokuhou was really gone before she coaxed a drowsy Kuroko to wear her coat. Mikoto adjusted Kuroko's beanie before telling her to ride piggyback. Kuroko was so out of it that she followed Mikoto's instructions with the obedience of a five year old. Gathering both their bags and making sure that Kuroko was secure, she started to make her way towards the door. A waitress kindly opened the door for her to which she gave her thanks.

Once outside, Mikoto took a deep breath inhaling the crisp air and the various scents of the city she so loved. She exhaled slowly and watched with rapt attention as the white mist of her breath thickened before slowly disappearing and with it, the tension, the stress of the day. She could conclude that today was a good day, missing person notwithstanding.

The trudged back home was uneventful, save for the fond glances she was getting from strangers. She listened attentively to the crunch of the snow beneath her, it always had a calming effect on her. She loves winter, the cold and the white overalls. It gave her a sense of peace and tranquility. She loved sitting by the fireplace, hearing the crackle of the fire and the smell of the burning logs in her home back when she was a child. She loves that the cold never really bothered her because of her esper ability.

She took her time walking, she made sure that kuroko is warm and comfy behind her back. Nowadays, Kuroko is getting heavier and heavier, what with her growth spurt (she's almost as tall as Mikoto now, just shy of 2 inches) and given her developing muscles with all the training and judgement work-she is bound to get a little...hefty but Mikoto is quite glad that she could carry her with ease.

That has to mean something about her psyche right?


Blame the beautiful second ending song of Railgun T, Aoarashi no ato de, for me suddenly shipping the heck out of these 2 level 5 baes.

It's so pleasant that I have LSS for 3 weeks after watching Railgun T.