oh heeey~
Mikoto rubbed her temple. There's no doubt that she's having a headache from all the events that's happening.
"Let me get this straight. Shiraishi-san, you-" She pointed at the smaller of the two girls trapped inside the trapped door. She was clinging to Kashima-san the moment they got out."-were kidnapped yesterday, blindfolded, tied and made to . . . reveal your recipe? What the hell? No one told you why exactly you were kidnapped?" Mikoto somehow had to deal with the absurdity of the situation.
The girl shrug nonchalantly "Well, those gentlemen asked if I have a relationship with Kashima-san, I said yes because we're friends, that counts and they said they have to take me. Well, here I ... am? And they were actually sweet people!"
Mikoto made no attempt to hide her eyelids twitching. These girls are confusing as heck. Well, making friends with your captors is a good strategy when planning one's escape or just for safety, they just took it to another notch. At least Mikoto got her wish of some people veering off their scripts.
"and you-" addressing the now familiar face of the one that appeared on the news, Shiawase Aoi, who was far too calm for Mikoto's taste. "Befriended your guard who is still out on a quest to buy you waffles? Why are you so casual about all this?"
Shiraishi quipped "and my donuts!"
Mikoto tried to ignore that.
"Been kidnapped far too many times." Shiawase said, even shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. "And all the temporary guards I have before were not that bad. Pat, our current one was actually a really adorable big man. I'd take him home If I could. And I would."
Mikoto didn't know what to say to that. What can you say to a person who's been kidnapped so many times they became used to it? Even joking about taking them home? Mikoto wondered if she ever did take home one? Psshh, nah.
Shiraishi-san was even nodding her head sagely. Kashima-san met her eyes almost as if conveying 'I'm not the only one hearing this right?'
Then Shiawase-san gave her a look Mikoto can't quiet place. "This is certainly the first time someone rescued me out of luck though-" then she glanced at Kashima-san but quick to fix back on Mikoto. "-and certainly rarely this good-looking or young."
She's saying 'young' like she's not just a high schooler herself.
Needless to say, Mikoto was quick to let Mr. tall-er-Kashima-san entertain the two girls while she used Shokuhou as an excuse to back out.
She didn't miss Kashima's look of betrayal.
It turns out that Shokuhou's intended rescue was Shiawase and Mikoto's was Shiraishi. It was just a good coincidence that the two girls had been in the same place.
Or is it? Mikoto narrowed her eyes, Shokuhou acted too nonchalant when Mikoto reported that there was another girl with Shiawase. Did she know already? Of course she's Shokuhou. How much of the afternoon was planned though?
"I've arranged a ride for Shiraishi-san and Shiawase-san, they'll be staying together for the time being. My contact however, wants to meet the gentleman you're with. Misaka-san, you can go home too, I'll handle the clean up. Also, you owe me for closing this case"
"Haaaaah?! No I dont!"
She can't do that!
"Yes you do~. Oh, be a dear and deliver the message to the gentleman will you?"
Shokuhou didn't even give Mikoto a chance to refute as she hung up the call. She was left staring at nowhere in disbelief.
"Yes, Kuroko. I'm just letting you know in advance so we all can actually sleep early tonight . . . waa- hey! I don't mean that! Geez! Anyway, say hi for Uiharu for me? Thank you. I'll be going now. See you later! . . . Oh! You can totally sleep ahead, don't have to wait for me. Okay. Goodnight!"
The situation was wrapped up quickly with just one mishap, well not really a mishap more of an obstacle, Shiawase-san seemed to define herself as a magnet and cling on to Mikoto, insisting that she 'stay the night' in the 'safe house' with her (for safety of course) to which she politely refused. The girl pouted and attacked her with puppy eyes but Mikoto had a bit of resistance with that (thanks Kuroko!).
However, the girl has proceeded to 'convince' her with far more logic needed for merely requesting accompaniment for the night to which Mikoto countered with realistically logical reasons with acceptable excuses on why she 'should NOT'.
The consensus arrived at this: the rescuers would escort the two until the car and after that, with a promise of safety from the driver, the two girls were carted off to Shokuhou's safe house.
Shiraishi was rather passionate in her goodbye's, hugging both Mikoto and Kashima while Shiawase took a bolder approach. She had been eyeing Mikoto's scarf now prompting her to wrap them around her neck more securely. No one will have her scarf.
"Misaka-san? Can I have your scarf?"
The reply was quick, decisive and ruthless. "No"
"Oh a shame, I would take such good care of it though. So since you won't give me the scarf, can I have your number instead?"
From her peripheral vision, Kashima had an impressed look.
"Uhh...? For what?"
"Oh, you know, I enjoyed our chats however brief they are and I have to thank you in some way don't I?"
Mikoto chuckled uneasily, hands fumbling with the phone unceremoniously shove in her hands.
"It's not me, it was thanks to my contact that I coincidentally found you. So really, it should be her you're thanking."
The older girl gave her a light kiss on the cheek. "Regardless, I appreciate the help." then she whispered words that Mikoto didn't know how to react to.
"I would've given you a good time. Shame"
Back inside the car, Kashima gave her a funny look.
"Shut up!"
"I haven't said anything?"
"Your thoughts are too loud."
Kashima gave her a thoughtful look. "Well, with you blushing like that, I take it she tried to seduce you one last time?"
Mikoto frowned, her initial blush had long been gone. Shiawase gave a deep chuckle once she saw Mikoto's beet red face and gave her one last smoldering look before they drove away. She was smug until the end and that bugged Mikoto the wrong way.
She doesn't like that. The attention and that smug satisfaction, it's all wrong.
"I'd like to call it a harassment at most."
"Can I have your number?"
"And now you're harassing me" Mikoto gave him a suspicious glare. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing! I just─since you are quite popular, why don't I join in on the fun? For research purposes, of course."
"Drop it"
"Hah! Okay, I got the feeling we'll see each other in the future anyway. Also, I think I'm your senpai."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"You'll see!"
With stomachs full, Shokuhou Misaki decided that it was time for them to head back to their apartments respectively. She decided to walk her two companions all the way downstairs to the first floor lobby of the hotel.
"Bye Misaki-chan! I'll miss you until next time!"
The recipient of the hug smiled tenderly down at brunette. Whereas her progenitor had grown a bit, Dolly's height remained the same, as such, her head was comfortably nestled into the blonde's shoulder, if she tiptoed. Wait..
"Dolly, your scarf?"
Dolly patted her neck, just also noticing the missing ensemble. "I must've left it upstairs. Hold on, I'll go get it!"
Misaki was quick to hold on to the back of the girls' coat, effectively halting her. "No need, here-" she unwrapped her yellow scarf and carefully transferred it to the younger girl. "-Now, you take care of this one because it's quite special okay?"
Dolly snuggled into the scarf, head gleefully burrowed within the warmth. This one is so comfortable and it smells so good! "Oh, you change your perfume? Hhmwow, I love this comforting scent! Is it mine now?"
This will go to my priceless treasure box!
The blonde blink before flushing a bit. "Yes, it's yours now. Don't lose it or I'll be really mad!" If Dolly noticed her electing to ignore the first query then she didn't question it. Dolly may act like a child sometimes but the girl is sharp as tack.
A warm hug was launched again and Misaki welcomed it with gusto, inhaling the scarf one last time. That may have sounded perverted but she didn't care.
At least she still has the comfy coat.
"Don't forget to remind Mitori-chan to drink her milk."
"You're still picking on me?!"
The youngest giggled. "Okay!" Dolly stepped back a bit to allow the older girls to discuss 'business'.
"The railgun is coming, isn't she?"
Unobscured, the answer lies within Misaki's eyes. No words followed as the two came to an unspoken agreement. It's not time for the Railgun to meet the first ever clone ever produced from her genes.
Mitori concealed her reaction well. "Come on slowpoke! Our beds are waiting!"
Everything was falling into place, now, she had just to send the files and a few carefully crafted words to get what she wanted.
Her finger-clad in white gloves waved daintily in response to the brunettes rather enthusiastic flapping. The brunette's exuberance is uplifting as usual.
Misaki's smile was tender and warm and Dolly felt everything was so much lighter, she could fly.
Mikoto did a double take when she saw Shokuhou absent-mindedly waving at nowhere in the lobby of the hotel wearing a smile so wide. It was proud, it was self-satisfied, it was a smirk so smug it looked almost creepy. None of the patrons or workers noticed anything amiss so she must have been using her ability.
"Ughh, what is she up to now?"
Mikoto forgot that she was supposed to be angry at the blonde.
Mikoto shivered instead. She knew what that meant. Someone or something is practically dancing on Shokuhou's gloved palm and she's loving the control she had over them. Like what she did to her back with Shouji Mitsuki.
At the thought, the annoyance turned back not a moment later.
Marching up to the blonde's side, Mikoto reached out and pinch her love handle. Hard.
Shokuhou noticed the electromaster a second too late, too busy plotting chaos. As expected, Shokuhou yelped, almost biting her tongue in surprise. .
Mikoto grinned evilly. Now that is a good reaction!
"Misaka-san!" the blonde scolded, rubbing her side in an attempt to alleviate the lingering pain. It did not.
"I promise didn't I"
"I hate you right now!"
The electromaster smirked and shrugged. "What? A promise is a promise."
"I'd rather you lie"
Mikoto raised a brow at that. "Would you really?" she challenged. Shokuhou just lied. Adorable.
The blonde pouted and looked elsewhere while muttering "No I don't, but I certainly won't mind if you conveniently forget that particular promise. Now I'm in pain." while her hands were now more furiously massaging her side.
She's so cute! And she's making me guilty for pinching hard. Drat.
Mikoto's own body must have moved on its own because her hand now came to rest Shokuhou's sides and helped massage the pain away. Shokuhou gasped and that made Mikoto knead a bit lighter. She can feel the heat of the skin beneath the queen's school uniform. For some reason it gave her comfort.
Her mind had gone blank by then.
And Shokuhou is so soft, her love handle is so pliant against her fingers, it unknowingly endeared Mikoto. It's like one of her premium Gekota plushies back in her room and she would have rubbed the flesh for a long time had it not for Shokuhou's gloved hand smacking hers away gently.
She looked up to find the Queen's face a bit close to her own, flushed beautifully. "Stop sexually harassing me!" she whisper-shouted, if the blonde's face had not been a good indication for her embarrassment, her tone is fully evident of it.
Mikoto felt like she was slapped back to reality, she flushed in turn, remembering her hand had been up to. What the hell was she doing?! "I─I wasn't! Don't twist my actions with your dirty mind!" Mikoto whisper-shouted back.
"Haah?! What dirty mind? Look who's dirty hands those belong to! Have you forgotten what they were doing a moment before?" Shokuhou gestured at Mikoto's hand with an intensity she rarely displays. "When it's convenient, you forget?"
Mikoto blinked several times, her face almost glowing with all the blood rushing up at her head.
"What? No! They're so soft! How could I forget?! I'm merely helping alleviate the pain..."
Misaki stood there stunned to the core, her lips parted at the incredulousness of the confession..
Mikoto stood there, blinking. Arguing like this made her a simpleton apparently.
All around them, people continued on with their own business none the wiser of the turmoil of two of their city's level 5 except for one guy who looked bemused at the two.
"You-you...did you just...?"
Accusing her of sexual harassment was just to hide her own embarrassment but did Misaka-san just confess to being attracted to her? Are things finally looking up in a direction she so desires?
"Yes, I'm calling you fat."
Oh.
The girl had to ruin it doesn't she?
A vein became prominent. Faster than the electromaster can react, Misaki aimed a remote at her and with a press of her dainty thumb, there was a 'pinged' sound as sparks wildly crackled from Mikoto's head.
The girl in question took a step back, wincing in pain. Misaki particularly poured more energy in manipulating her bio-electricity. More output means more pain for the electromaster. Serves her right really.
Well, that ended the bickering if no other positive outcome can be viewed out of it.
"Are you sure you're leaving without a proper goodbye to your buddy?"
Misaka, who was leaning her head against the window of the car, blinked blearily at her, she was getting sleepy. Both students sat far apart, each busy with their own thoughts. It was mostly silent except for the muffled tapping of Misaki's fingers as she issued orders after orders on the negotiation between her representative and an unimportant wannabe gang boss.
Piece of cake really.
"Already did, he knows I'll be leaving after we get to you. I want no business with whoever wants to meet with him and I just wanna sleep."
Before they had separated ways, introductions were done. Misaki didn't need to read his mind to know that he had come from a well-off family who had no knowledge of their beloved son being pursued this much by a gang leader nor that he was now going to a meeting with another gang leader. At least this one's pretending to be upright. Kashima and Misaka didn't know it either and Misaki thinks Kashima is in for a surprise. As for Misaka? She didn't have to know.
Misaki suppressed a snort. He is on his own on that one.
"And I have a headache, I can't babysit him any longer. My job is done."
"He was older than us you know."
"Well, I know but whatever"
A few moments passed before Misaki tried to fill the silence again.
"Do you...want me to help with the headache?"
"No thanks. It's nothing a sleep can't handle.
Silence reigned after that.
Until someone's stomach growled. Misaki smirked. Someone didn't eat dinner huh.
"So you were actually hinting for me to babysit you now huh. Don't worry! Mama will feed you~" she teased making the other girl fumble with her words. She turned to the driver and said "go to the nearest drive-thru, it can be anything, my beloved child is hungry."
"Would a burger be enough for my child? Two perhaps?" Misaki fake gasps. "Oh she wants it doesn't she? Whatever shall we do? It is not healthy."
"Say ahh"
Misaki can actually picture a steam rising out of the electromaster's head. She didn't hide her snickers as the other girl got fed up with her teasing. "Cut it out! I can feed myself! You get creepier by the minute!"
She was so red it was cute.
There were a few words exchanged after that but Misaki won in the end. Misaka was now chomping guiltily at her burger, occasionally grumbling that she would pay it back.
Misaki may or may not whisper to the driver to take a longer, scenic route then.
Since they live in separate dorms, Misaki ordered the driver to stop at the Tokiwadai dorm outside of the garden. It was only 9:30 but most of the lights of the building were already off mostly because it's a school night. As one of the most prestigious schools, Tokiwadai students are, of course, really diligent with their time.
Misaki gently patted Misaka's shoulder, her head comfortably nestled on the seat's headrest. Once again, the electromaster blearily blinked at her in confusion, not really registering where she was for a moment. She watched as the murky cloud slowly drifted out from the brunette's eyes as it slowly focused on her person. It was a stellar sight to behold.
She held Misaka's attention for a moment before the girl blinked and glanced around.
"Here's your stop."
"Oh, okay. Thank you" The girl began to gather her belongings then.
Misaki's eyes tracked her movements, opting to remain silent. The squeak of the car seat and the soft click of the car door opening suddenly reminded Misaki of something so before the girl could close the door, she blurted "Is your headache gone yet?"
"Hmm? Ah, a bit? Really, a full sleep is all I need."
They both gaze at each other neither one breaking the contact until Misaki felt that they stared a bit too long. She had way too many thoughts running around inside her mind (mostly related to her pet projects) but the moment Misaka held her eyes they all slowed and changed gears.
Instead, all she thinks is Misaka Mikoto. How she just decides to help one guy after bumping into her once or how she just agreed to help her without much questions or when she just simply trusts her (even leading to her being pranked, pfft). They way she always held her bag over her shoulder like some shounen manga heroine, the way her chestnut hair is highlighted by the city lights, or the way her eyes seems so intense whenever she looks at her.
Misaka Mikoto is endearingly attractive.
"Well, uhmm, bye?" the brunette said awkwardly. Misaki is charmed, really.
Misaki winked in response and made herself comfortable in her seat as Mikoto turned around. She made to pull the car door close but then it resisted. Looking up, she found Misaka holding the door and gesturing for her to wait.
The queen watched as the ace pulled her red scarf where it unfurled flawlessly from her shoulders before wrapping it haphazardly around Misaki's. Once again, Misaki's senses got a taste of the usual warmth and the scent that she welcomed wholeheartedly. Her whole body had come alive and she felt so giddy she wanted to dance. Hypothetically, she can't dance to save her life. That thought would have to be for another day.
"I just notice that you didn't have something to keep you warm in case you decide to walk to the dorm. I don't need it so it'll be convenient for the both of us. Keeps me from worrying too." Misaka had mumbled the last part but Misaki had heard it well, loud and clear. There was a beat of silence before the brunette flushed warmly and hurriedly but gently shove Misaki inside and shut the door properly then power-walked her way inside the dorm leaving Misaki stunned yet again.
It must have been a while for Misaki to come to that it requires the driver to prompt her "Shall we get going miss?" for her to come back to reality.
That giddy feeling just multiplied ten-fold so she just burrowed her face inside the flowery woodsy-chlorine scented scarf.
There was a saying that 'no good deed goes unpunished'. It had been stated in various religions in the world, in different words and in interchangeably arranged sentences, and in different languages but the root of the meaning is just that. There's no denying the truth of it at the moment. She gave the scarf to Dolly (and it was rather fitting, considering she was the sister of the owner) and now she had been rewarded with a freshly scented one! The universe is good to her today!
"Miss?"
That startled her a second time. It was then that she realized that she had not yet given the 'go' signal. So she did with a click of her remote, she's alone now, safety comes first. She thought back to her day. It has gone so well, and there is this lingering fear that she's supposed to be happy but not too much, karma bites back when people least expect it.
Nevertheless, Misaki found that her day is as fruitful as the lone apple tree inside the school courtyard.
As they rode away, Misaki took a look back at the second tokiwadai dorm even though it was long gone. The way Misaka had carefully massage the pain away or the flushed image of the electromaster lingered (not surprising given her eidetic memory). How could she act so cool and cute at the same time?
Misaka Mikoto, what an oblivious charming girl.
Who smelled nice to boot.
