Inside a certain room specially 'owned' by the largest clique in the history of Tokiwadai, a certain queen is being pampered. The room is quite warm and full of buzz, most of the clique had gathered for a meeting that ended early and now, they're just hanging out in groups. Doing homework or just having teatime as was the typical pastime for rich brats like them.
Earlier that afternoon, Misaki had supervised the whole session since she had no Junko to do this stuff (damn highschool) for her now that she had graduated, normally these sorts of meeting don't require her attention, they were plenty capable on their own but today, she kinda wanted to see how far the clique had come in terms of growth.
When all seems to be in order though, Misaki ended the activity early and here she is now, getting cozy.
"Oh I must have worked too hard, my shoulders are too stiff today..." Misaki announced after getting a sip from an offered iced tea. Lying on the sofa especially bought for her use, she lazily blinked at the first years whose hands shot up the moment she said 'shoulders'. What sharp kids. Ah, what loyals subjects! Such is her personal allure, her charming magnetism, her ever present bewitching personality winning over such good children that deserves to be cultivated properly.
Wow, she sounded like a witch, though if she was, maybe Misaka would be her grumpy cat familiar and Junko her most loyal apprentice. Hmm, now that would be entertaining! Or Mikoto could make a good witch too though...
"OH! Me! Me!"
"Dibs!"
Someone smacked that kid upside in the head. "Do not use such vulgar words in front of the queen!"
"You just slapped me in front of Shokuhou-sama…" the girl mumbled, indignant but no less embarrassed.
Misaki rolled her eyes and pointed randomly, the lucky kid beamed with joy that even Misaki was blinded by such manifestation of a positive human emotion.
Her relationship with the clique is a simple give and take. They all adore her. If all she'll have to do is help them realize their full potential to get a heavenly free massage everyday? That's just a small price to pay.
Misaki hid her genuine smile (geez, they don't have to be that happy) behind a smirk and a few choice of seductive words, she beckoned the girl with her index finger. "Yumi-chan, Thank you for your service~"
The girl's face was glowing even before she reached the queen.
"Yumi-chan? You're fantastic but put a bit more pressure on my wing bone will you? Knead more in that area please" Shokuhou sighed in pleasure, her eyelids drooping heavily, she didn't have the strength to keep them open.
Someone offered a straw to her lips, she gladly took a long satisfying sip and savoured the taste of the ice tea before gulping it down. Oh this was different from before, still delicious though.
Someone brushed her bangs away from her forehead, twice. The warm strokes soothe Misaki to her core enough to close her eyes momentarily, it almost made Misaki want to melt into it. Almost but it also alarmed her. No one in the clique had the gall to touch her without her permission so just whoMisaki's gold eyes shimmered as she saw the person elegantly crouched in front of her.
"I take it that you like the ice tea?"
Shokuhou's happiness bar rose up. Hokaze Junko, her altruistic best friend, decided to grace Misaki with her presence and brought with her the unwavering assurance of safety and calmness. Misaki could even picture a dozen flowers sprouting from her person making the atmosphere relaxing and fluid. She misses her.
"Good afternoon Queen" the girl greeted with a cute tilt of her head.
There was a noticeable twitch from the blonde. Misaki had told her time and time again that she can call her by her given name even in the presence of other people, however, Junko was adamant on only calling her 'Misaki-san' when they're alone or only when she trusts those surrounding them.
Misaki had yet to crack Junko's self-imposed rule.
Junko's cheeks were rosy with youth, her eyes had a tender spark there reserved for Misaki, her skin unblemished and clear and her lips held a full cherry color. She looked healthy. Which is good, unlike the last time the girl visited—she had bags under her eyes—high school ran her ragged at that time. Junko looks good now though, healthy even for which Misaki is pleased.
Misaki shifted her hands to touch Junko's face then pinched it. "Whaa—wah, wueen?"
Misaki released her hold on her cheek. Waving to the girls attending to her to leave them be. Out of her peripheral view, she was pretty sure she caught some of the girls pouting.
"Tell me, what have you been up to?" Misaki inquired as she shifted to give room, waving for Junko to sit beside her but once Junko was comfortable, Misaki laid back, this time her head on her best friend's lap who didn't miss a beat and adjusted her position for optimal comfort for the both of them.
They had done this enough times that the clique was used to it by now though the first years still blushed whenever but they all know to leave the queen and her second aide be.
Junko continued to caress Misaki's hair while the two played catch up with each other's lives. Junko's life in the high school branch of Tokiwadai had been pretty mild, still lots of assignments, quizzes, and other extra-curricular activities but thankfully no life-endangering shenanigans.
The setting sun started casting a dull orange glow to the room, with the heater blasting its best, the entire atmosphere almost felt like one of those slow summer afternoons, cozy and utterly relaxing. The chatter of the other members of the clique became background noise to Misaki as she burrowed further into Junko's lap.
Misaki did mental checks while Junko's gentle voice washed over her, her warm hand doing things to her hair and in extension to her mind, and with a comfortable position, she was starting to get woozy with sleep in no time at all.
She felt a warm hand on her shoulder, tapping her gently while the other hand continued its ministrations on her hair. Fighting back sleep is moot at this moment, Junko knows her trigger sleeping spells and besides, her best friend's presence gives her a sense of peace and safety so she's at ease enough to trust that nothing's gonna go wrong if she closes her eyes.
She had been pretty tired the past few days, watching over the clique's progress, somewhat checking in with the student council, school work, plotting unimaginable chaos among those who decided to block her way, and certainly not waiting for a certain level 5 to stop being so skittish around her. Most certainly not during the past week. No.
Since that time when Misaka had carried her, Misaki had discovered something so fundamental, so mind breaking that it stopped her short of breathing. She vowed then to experiment and get an actual conclusion to her hastily realized hypothesis.
Misaka Mikoto is attracted to her.
She only realized this after three days of Misaka jumping upon seeing her and promptly making herself scarce, blushing and stuttering all the way.
As sleep claimed Misaki, her brain decided to lead her back to a memory a week prior.
Misaka Mikoto had been getting comfortable with her, well... her bosom, for a total of 30 seconds now. That was odd, wasn't it? Huh, was Misaka-san so hard wired earlier that she's forgetting who she's snuggling with? She was getting pretty cozy too and if this continued on, she might realize that Misaki's blood pumper had decided to be a rabid worker all of a sudden.
Misaki had drawn conclusions however (how can she not though, all the signs were there and Misaka was mumbling something) and she had to distract this doofus before she managed to arrange her brain cells in order. So she blurted out one of the few hypotheses she formulated in her current situation.
""Hmm~I'm glad I'm okay too~" This line startled Misaka so hard her head knocked Misaki's chin. Damn, she should have thought her words better. Misaka wasn't even registering the pain or that she had not felt the pain at all and instead, she was busy mulling something.
Despite the acute pain on her jaw, Misaki's chest thrummed with excitement at the confirmation even though it was not that much of a guess given Misaka's totally projecting her emotions regarding her safety but it was an improvement still.
And from the twitch of her brow, she was swearing in her mind or was about to, at least.
"Ah, ah~No swearing" Misaki had already anticipated Misaka's bafflement so she went ahead and said "Yes, you did."
Misaka did mumble something though Misaki's just not sure about what and she's just gonna let Misaka come to her own conclusions.
Because why not? It's fun, most of the time.
At Misaka's audible teeth-clacked, Misaki giggled. She had nailed the coffin quite nicely huh. She didn't need to read the other girl's mind when her expressions gave her away too easily, way too easily.
She's so . . . how is she so kind? Misaka may be a brute but she's effortlessly selfless and passionate. She may have trouble expressing her feelings but they're no less sincere. Upon knowing that Misaka cared enough to panic about her wellbeing and the palpable relief thereafter made her feel extraordinarily secure.
Like she found a place she can claim as her own without the need to justify why for the simple reason that the place chose her as the owner and no one else.
"W-What? Hey! No mind reading!"
"Please don't accuse me of something that I didn't do...but absolutely would..." the electromaster shot her a glare. "...with the right context of course..." Misaki added as she raised a brow, effectively halting Misaka's would-be indignant response. "You're not exactly subtle Misaka-san."
I'm glad you're okay too but I knew you would be
Misaki was granted a few seconds to stew her satisfaction before she eventually remembered that Misaka was still essentially carrying her. While she wouldn't mind being in this position, it can't be that comfortable for the electromaster and while she may be strong, Misaka had used more than enough energy for the day.
"I imagine using your ability to 'save' rather than 'destroy' is a lot more harrowing. " Misaki started, almost giggling when Mikoto's expression couldn't settle on whether she was getting complimented or insulted. "No one will certainly fault you if you decide to retire for the day."
You're exhausted. Please get some rest.
"I'm used to it, it's not as if I've been at it for hours. I'm fine"
Get the hint idiot.
While what Misaka said may be true, Misaki knew that the electromaster was simultaneously using her main abilities to keep the helicopter afloat and precisely manipulating the atom arrangements inside the heli to keep the medics from being exposed to ozone that her main ability keeps generating and she had been at it for almost half an hour.
"You know you have a habit of making things sound simple when in reality, it is not? I believe that must have caused a great deal of pain for the others..."
"You know you like talking in circles? Imagine that would be a great deal of pain to deal with. Get to the point, Shokuhou"
It is annoying seeing as the electromaster didn't get her message. Well, she's being more vague than usual; she can't really blame her.
Misaki huffed. "Put me down now you brute. You're friends are waiting for you"
Not quite, she hadn't released her hold on people yet. She can't have anyone witnessing or interrupting the two of them and this has been the longest time Misaki had been close to Misaka since last week. She had to have her doses, didn't she?
"But I'm fine? That's still not your point, I believe..." Misaka gave her a look, trying to piece together what the blonde meant.
Obviously, but Misaki had no inclination to further clarify and Misaka's still running on adrenaline, of course she feels fine. Tired or not, Misaki wants her to take a rest that's it.
Outwardly, Misaki raised a brow "~Are you saying you like carrying me? Oh my Misaka-san, I never knew! You should have said so! I'd gladly let you carry me all the way home~"
Light shimmered on the brunette's eyes and a blush covered her cheeks. She gently let Misaki's feet on the ground.
"I — I'm used to your weight. Eh—no, no! That came out wrong...I mean I figured I'd have to endure carrying your chubby bum all night." Misaka tried to huff triumphantly but it ended up like she was about to hyperventilate while wincing at her own comeback (it's just making her more adorable than anything) and ringing her arms as if trying to relieve the aching muscles.
Misaki almost scoffed, her weight is perfectly proportional to her height thank you.
"Oh? Your eagerness is giving me ideas. Thinking of me for the night already? And my, what plan! I'm flattered but it would be better for you to recharge. We can go at it on another day, I can assure you of that."
With several deliberate (Always deliberate) unrelated tangents inserted, Misaki basked in the thrill on which of them Misaka might focus on.
Flustered beyond kingdom come, Misaka chose the easiest way out, she changed the subject. "You - you're i-incorrigible, you know t-that? And - And what are you d-doing in the hospital a-anyways?"
"Hmm? Curious all of a sudden? What brought this on? It can't be that you're embarrassed" Misaki grinned, no one can fault her if she rings flustered Misaka to its fullest.
"S–Shut up, I've been curious since the moment I saw you a while ago. It's not that sudden. Don't flatter yourself"
Something thudded loudly in Misaki's chest. She is in fact very flattered. "You're dying to know so much huh, well—if you must know, I do charities for disabled kids, I think I already mentioned this to you before. Most commonly, to those who are deaf and mute, I don't do much, just let them hear what stuff sounded like or how to pronounce words. Uhmm, my deeds extend to...sometimes, I let …" she forced herself to clam up.
She let dying people dream of their desires and their own happy ending, she nudges memories of amnesiac people to float into the surface, simulate the world for those who are blind since birth, reintroduced the wonder of scents and flavours to those that forgot them even if temporarily, took away the pain even for just a moment of reprieve, wished to take away the pain of losing your memories of everything you've ever loved and many other things she was capable of.
Misaki didn't need to advertise her activities so she kept mum about it. What she does is important, she just doesn't see the point of telling Misaka that so she ends up diverting the topic to something else.
". . . Your dramatic appearance stunned me for a fraction though, I have to admit. Controlling a chopper that big is very distracting indeed..."
"Oh," A soft, curious sound, the only word that slipped out of the other girl. A very prominent red creeping across her cheeks, eyes wide with enlightenment and awe.
Diversion failed apparently.
But why is this level 5 looking at her like that?
It's making Misaki's skin tingle. She's not quite sweating but she felt her temperature rise just a bit and the background city noise seemed conceivably muffled.
Misaki can't take a look like that.
A look that's adoring and tender.
She wanted to look away, to fidget and hide but she did neither. That would just blare to the world that she was affected by a look that much if she did. She herself had turned red but she can't be sure. She was trying her best not to blush but who knows if she was successful or not.
Misaki raised her hand close to her chest, making sure that it was visible to Misaka's line of sight and when her eyes followed the movement, Misaki arranged her fingers to point to her right for no reason at all, If only to keep Misaka's adoring eyes away from her person.
Misaka turned sideways, curious at what she was pointing at.
That stunt earned her a momentary reprieve which was too short for her liking but is enough for her to reconstruct herself. She was ready to face Misaka's eyes again and this time she'll hold her gaze steady.
Or not.
"...you cared." Misaka says the moment their eyes met again, not even questioning the fact that Misaki had tried to distract her. There was no hint of teasing in her voice, she was merely stating the truth. "That was your point, wasn't it?"
Misaki was jolted awake violently and met Junko's large, dreamy eyes. "You just missed her."
With Misaki sound asleep, Junko continued to stroke her lustrous hair一occasionally brushing it off her pretty face. She motioned for the clique to be as quiet as possible, they all nodded, trying their best to stay quiet and maybe peek a bit while their leader was a bit defenseless.
While she was grace personified when awake, it's nice to see her relax and uncoiled every now and then too.
The lull that had settled for quite some time now was suddenly rammed by a storm poking its head inside.
A sudden strangled garble grabbed Junko's attention. The clique collectively looked on at the door where a freshman was getting steadied by the Railgun herself. She must have been startled to see the other level 5 the moment she opened the door. Poor kid, she was blushing so hard it reached her neck and possibly underneath that collar, she's flustered beyond help. "I-Im sorry!"
"For opening the door?" the third year chuckled. "Thank you. Please breathe."
Misaka Mikoto gently patted the girl on the shoulder while the whole clique's eyes flashed for different reasons. Junko's was no better, her eyes shone with an excited glint. Misaka-san being here must be because of the queen!
Ah, but Misaki's asleep.
With hands still on the freshman's shoulders, Misaka glanced around the room, smiling as she met the cliques eyes, before landing on the one pastel couch where two of their leaders were at.
Where the one reason she's visiting is currently slumbering.
Junko should not have put Misaki to sleep, this has to be the worst time for her to do so!
"Figures, the one time I'm not avoiding her and she's asleep," Misaka murmured in disappointment, however she perked up when Junko motioned for her to come closer. She didn't even give any outward reaction as to why the now first year highschool is here.
The electromaster patted the girl she was holding again before walking over to the purple head. She didn't notice the girl passing out with a smile while still standing however the others did but no one can really blame her. Getting held like that by Misaka-sama. . .
Junko caught Misaka's eyes darting from Misaki to hers and back again to the blonde, lingering for a few seconds even, there was an unmistakable softness in her eyes that Junko (because of her close position) only could see.
With enough self-control did Junko prevent herself from squealing right there and then. She knew that look! It was what writers, poets and fools-in-love have been trying to convey throughout written history and it made her giddy to see it directed towards her best friend!
She had picked the most appropriate day to visit Misaki and she's taking her reward most graciously.
The level four just wished that she hadn't put Misaki to sleep. In her defense though, Misaki looked weary that she just had to.
She beckoned the railgun to bend and she did so, with hands behind her back - a picture of nonchalance. Oh, she smells so nice. "I could schedule a meeting if you'd like?"Junko whispered, referring to Misaka's reason for visiting...who is asleep and she's trying her best not to move too much. Of course, Misaka could tell her whatever it is she needed to tell the blonde instead but she's not about to suggest that.
This is an opportunity to get them to spend time together.
It was Misaka's turn to whisper next. Junko was somehow simultaneously trying not to shiver from her warm breath and suppressing her urge to take a sniff. "Oh, thank you. That would be a great help! Preferably where she's vacant for the rest of the day please"
Without much prompting, a tablet was handed to Junko's outstretched hand and she only needed a few seconds to spot a rather convenient and at the soonest possible vacancy on her Queen's schedule.
"Ah, see here–" she showed Misaka the tablet. "–4 pm tomorrow if you are okay with that? Plenty of hours to have fun wherever it is you deem so and with enough time to have dinner—Please remember that it does matter where you're taking her, oh as you know, she needs healthy foods but you can take her to eat sweets just don't let her eat too much. So just be sure to balance her diet and watch out for her liquid intake—she can take a bit of wine by the way—she prefers organic juice so kindly watch out for that too. And Misaka-san.." here, her voice turned serious "-no matter how much fun you have, you have to mind the time and bring her back before curfew. Misaki-san will NOT be having even an inch of a stain on her school record. Am I clear?"
Junko has much more advice to give but refrained herself, it's their date after all. She's pretty sure Misaka-san will take good care of her friend, she just can't help but worry.
"Uhmm, technically it'll not be a date." The railgun mumbled, a blushed adorned across cheeks. "I think you're getting ahead too much , Junko-san."
"Eh? But it is a date. I don't see why it's not. You'll be going out together. That could not have been more date-like than that?" Junko knew she was pushing it but she couldn't help it. She knew about Misaki's apparent attraction towards the electromaster and the clique knew just how many playdates she had arranged for the two.
It was not a secret that she was trying to get them together.
Despite Misaki's warnings and Misaka-san's obliviousness to her plans.
"How did she even…It's not..." Misaka had mumbled, eyes shifty and she tried to make sense of Junko.
The girl in question didn't know why Misaka had a funny look on her face and murmured something suspiciously like "She's such a mom.." before shaking her head and nodding. Well, she can't be sure if she heard right so better let that go.
On another note, Misaka deciding that assenting to her terms is the safest way out—a sound decision— is probably the most adorable thing!
Junko can't help but do a victory dance inside her mind and gaze fondly at Misaka. This was going to make Misaki happy, she just knows it.
"Please don't inform her of my being here. I'd rather it be a surprise. I'll come get her tomorrow or something." Misaka says as she slowly backs away to the exit and then she is gone but not before waving to everyone in the room.
Then she suddenly popped up again, looked everyone in the eye and pressed her finger to her lips and she was gone for the second time.
Junko continued to stroke her Queen's fringe, she happened to glance back at the tablet she had put down and had a thought. Misaki will know Misaka-san visited regardless, she didn't need her ability, she's adept at noticing body language after all and judging by the collective dreamy sighs all around, she won't have difficulties ringing out the reason for that at all.
The fact that leaving the lower years stammering to provide an answer to Misaki's inquiries (they were adorable like that) would have been entertaining, Junko opted to just tell her herself. Her loyalty was to her best friend but that wouldn't mean she would not honor Misaka-san's request of secrecy. Just some of it.
Misaki's not the only one capable of maneuvering loophole after loophole from a person's unassuming words.
Just then, Junko felt Misaki had jerked awake, eyes quickly focusing on her.
"You just missed her" she informed calmly but didn't elaborate anything else.
The blonde didn't say anything back.
It had been a week.
A lot had happened in that week.
Mikoto paid for the helicopter and with a lot more allowance than the original price, for the people she had and will inconvenience, she had said. A few days after the incident, she had gotten a text that the guy with the rebar has passed the critical stage and is now on his way to recovery. It may not be a full recovery but it was better than being ...dead.
It was also a week of dodging her rival and interacting with her in the most minimal time she can manage and with the most maximal distance she dared to allow herself that is appropriate enough. She knew Shokuhou's smile strained a bit more everyday, she was increasingly getting annoyed with the weird dance Mikoto decided to lead without knowing and fumbling at it.
Mikoto was getting increasingly distracted herself and she knew she should be doing something about her feelings or at least learn how to navigate her emotions so as to not give herself away too much too quickly. Mikoto had known she held affections for the blonde the more they shared time since last year and she had just acknowledged that she was attracted to her but she was nowhere ready to proclaim that to the world or to the person herself.
How would Shokuhou even react? That would be a disaster in the making.
She wouldn't want that. No one wants that.
Mikoto had that week to brainstorm and she had concluded she needed help (yeah? No shit). She had few sources to get advice from and like, only one of them is trustworthy enough to give a decent answer and even then she doesn't think she has the courage to ask.
A solution came from a very, very, very unlikely place. Science, specifically Immunology, the study of the body's immune system. Once a pathogen (virus, bacteria etc) is introduced inside the body, there are things called memory cells that have the ability to recognize a foreign particle it previously encountered and consequently mount a faster and stronger immune response. So to sum it up, if Mikoto gets exposed to Shokuhou as much as she can, she'll probably get used to her body's reaction and in time, maybe Shokuhou's attractiveness would wane in her eyes.
Totally not a definitive solution but a path to something at least.
And so Mikoto made up her mind.
She would expose herself as much as she can to Shokuhou and act as normal as possible as soon as possible, get used to her newfound emotions and to keep them under control.
Her first task for now is to ask Shokuhou to hang out with her, using the 'apology matter' with Shouji Mitsuki as an excuse. The one that Shokuhou promised to come with. A totally legit reason that Shokuhou cannot refuse, maybe she can delay it but it will happen.
And so Mikoto found herself marching to the Queen's den.
Mikoto had not even fully traversed the length of the hallway before her face glowed. Dammit! Thankfully, students who passed by her were polite enough not to point that fact out.
She had made it to a lone tree in the courtyard before folding in on herself, allowing herself to freak out about how adorable Shokuhou had been. The clear fleshy indent of soft thighs meeting her squished cheeks, the somewhat neatly comb hair that exposed her forehead and her snuggling into Junko's stomach (Mikoto was thankfully in an angle that she can see her face despite Junko's generous chest), hand loosely gripping her uniform; it was so endearingly cute that it made Mikoto want to reach out and poke her to see if she was real. Good thing she managed to get out fast enough.
She's so cute!
Mikoto repeatedly slapped her legs.
Welp. If Mikoto had this reaction from seeing the girl sleeping, what would happen if those golden starry eyes were directed at her? She's in trouble, isn't she?
Well, no matter. She will have plenty of time to practice building an immunity to Shokuhou's charms after all.
Our girl Mikoto takes a step forward, takes two steps backward and another unpredictable three steps forward.
Junko ships them aight!
Misaki's not entirely clueless but will she do anything about it?
To those guests I can't reply, thank you for dropping by! I appreciate that a lot!
