Pure MikoMisa. Why? BECAUSE I FUCKING NEED IT.
Misaki had been nervous about this.
Play the guitar again? Laughable. But the sly electromaster shamelessly asks for her to play as a christmas gift. The audacity. If it was any other person, they'd be shot down so fast before they could even hope for a yes. But not Mikoto. She was one of the people that are the exception to a number of Shokuhou's rules.
It was unfair in the fact that Misaka-san's eyes were shining and glittering when she asked. It was unfair in the way she held her hand, squeezing even for good measure. Warm and adoring. It would be such a downer if Misaki refused and lost that steady and impassioned gaze, wouldn't it?
Misaka-san never did set a time to receive, ehem, listen to her gift but Misaki had already drawn a mental time table. She'll play on Christmas day (a day Misaki had planned to take the girl out for dinner), a day before the grand Tokiwadai Christmas Party. With that said, she had six days to prepare and she simply had no time.
In exchange for her refusing to entertain the invited guests of Tokiwadai from a pedestal, she was to encourage them to conveniently drop some money onto Tokiwadai's coffers.
And so here comes the hard hitting research, profiles of her 'would-be-targets', she could have easily assigned to her clique and created some bullshit tasks like 'for recreational activity' but she knew they had other things to amuse themselves. Besides, it is imperative she memorize the whole lives of the people attending for a possible nerve to tingle when the time is right, of course. She could just read their minds, yes but effort goes a long way. This is like assasination but long term.
Misaki snorted to herself.
They had the most powerful electromaster to be their honorary musician for the night, dazzling the elite–to show that Tokiwadai could and has been nurturing the cream of the crop kids. Misaka Mikoto is the pull. The Bait. Always has been. As for the most powerful mental esper, to mingle and subtly navigate the oasis for the parched throats called the Board of Directors of Tokiwadai. And Shokuhou Misaki, the push. The trap. Always hidden.
Tokiwadai is ridiculous in their pursuit of being the best school there is.
Six days before the Christmas party, she sat alone in her bed in one of her apartments, staring at the newly purchased guitar in her lap. The last time she held a guitar was when she was still in the labs, she was still a little midget then, her fingers would often cram–too much strain for her little fingers. But she loves it. She loved it then, and now that she held one after such a long time, she's falling in love all over again.
If her father hadn't—
It had been her father that taught her. She doesn't remember much from him aside from his love of music. That and he was the catalyst that pushed her mother to offer Misaki like a pig to the famed Academy City. He died, was killed, by an employee he fired and that's that. The next few weeks, Misaki was arranged to be catapulted in this city. After all, her mother can't run a multimedia company and take care of her.
Choices. Choices. She's free to choose of course. She just chose to forsake Misaki, her child, to this hell gallivanting as heaven for children.
No matter.
They're just memories now. Both of them.
She strummed. Tuned and then strummed, again. She let the vibrations of the strings gear her for the next. She closed her eyes for more clarity. Her left hand had automatically formed a chord and she continued. Memories of her father's fingers rearranging hers for a chord had come unbidden but she continued on. It was his voice that had scolded her for doing it wrong. It was his kisses that she recalled after every perfect execution. Before she knew it, she had finished a song. It was a lullaby that her father had sung to her many times. It was the song that was theirs wholeheartedly. Solely.
Because it was the arrangement he composed exclusively for her.
There were no tears in her eyes when she opened them. No pain. Just bitter emotion of could-have-been, of nostalgia that wasn't there. She was no longer a kid. Time had eroded her anguish and just left a hollow longing.
Misaki continued to mindlessly pluck the strings. Would she have ever touched a guitar had Misaka-san not gotten intrigued? Had not requested it? In the first place, why had she led that conversation to that? She could have easily diverted the topic or she could have lied about it. Had she wanted to reveal this ability? Had she really?
Or had she just loved the twinkle in Mikoto's eyes? She even kind of want to kiss–
A literal spark tingled Misaki's senses.
Misaka-san..?
It's too farfetched to think she's here in her place but…how come she's here..?
Or is it really?
Silently (good thing she wore thick socks!), she quickly padded to her bedroom door and wrench it open, not expecting a body to collide with hers and she is forced to step back with the weight.
"Uhm, hi?"
If her mother hadn't—
If her mother had chosen differently, she wouldn't have met her.
Misaki would have been alone in this world in a sense had she not known her,
Ah, oops, she must have failed to mask the intensity of her stare as she felt the other girl shrink in her gaze.
"Sorry" they both said at the same time, not quite knowing why the other had to apologize as well.
"It's okay," they said anyway.
Misaka Mikoto wouldn't be in her space, looking at her sheepishly (she's quite pink) like this, wouldn't touch her arm to gently remove herself from Misaki's chest, wouldn't present her this…
"What is this, Misaka-san?" Misaki steps aside while eyeing the…stuff the girl had unceremoniously shoved to her hands in her flustered haste. Misaki silently gestured for Misaka to go in.
She's already inside her penthouse, might as well, right?
What a terrible idea this is already.
She shut the door behind them anyway.
"Your coat"
The electromaster was still pink as she handed in her light gray heavy coat to her waiting hand and hesitated for a moment before fully strutting in, she smelled of fresh laundry, of snow (some fat flakes were still collected in her hair) and faintly of ozone that seemed to cling to her all the time. Misaka-san had no business smelling that good after a day out with her best friend (who knows what they've been up to). The electromaster eyed her room nervously, she paused on the guitar with a pensive look on her face before nudging the instrument to the center of the bed and sitting down on the edge.
Meanwhile, Misaki hung the electromaster's coat on her study chair and sat on it before staring at the purple thing in her hands, an octopus plushie or something? The width can be comparable to her own torso or even bigger. It's actually quite huggable.
She raised it questioningly at the electromaster. reminding her of a question unanswered.
"Oh yeah, that? They were given to us as compensation. They ran out of Gekota plushies on our turn the other day and they promised to have some for us this day, accordingly." she pointed at the plushie "They offered that as a plus one for the inconvenience. They're called a Takodachi and are too cute to pass up so we politely received this. Junko and I decided to give this to you instead. She had the miniature version of that one by the way."
Junko…so that's what they were doing.
"And where is she?"
The faint scent on the girl's coat wafted to Misaki.
Her heart had not been calm if someone needed to know. She certainly didn't need a reminder.
See, this is–Misaka-san–Mikoto is annoying and confusing. And totally cute. And in her home, sitting across from her. On her bed.
"She suddenly left after pushing me in. Nice place by the way. Didn't know you live somewhere else aside from the dorms…which in retrospect, should have occurred to me. You like your space too much to be cramped with others. Maybe I should do that too?"
Most of the mumbles slide through Misaki's ears. She sighed, thinking of her best friend. Junko's too good of a student. Should Misaki be proud or not? "Such a schemer. That one."
"Junko and schemer are not to be in the same sentence. It's just not right. That girl is a total sweetheart." Misaka stated plainly before playfully kicking her chair lightly. "You, on the other hand, however.."
"My, I didn't know you know how to compliment a lady!"
"Glad I can add a few onto your stack then, milady."
Misaki's ears rang. Misaka Mikoto didn't even blink. What in the world? Was she flirting? Was she even aware of what she had done? Urgh. One moment, she is this nervous teenager with their crush (which is kinda true) and the next she's got a suave mouth on her.
And here Misaki is, trying, really trying not to swoon.
Misaka continued to rumble though, so no, the flirting was unintentional. Sadly. Thankfully. "Not that you are easy, you're nothing but easy! Easily the most difficult woman around for sure! I'm not saying you are but you totally are and erm–I'm not going anywhere with this!"
"Misaka-san" Thank you to whoever made Misaka like this. Imagine a world where Misaka Mikoto knew how to flirt. It's too much power for one girl to shoulder. "You did not just insult me in my house that you trespassed without my permission."
This girl. Goodness knows how many more broken hearts she'd leave in her wake.
She reached out and raised Misaki's arms thereby raising the takodachi in front of her face. "Yes, that's what trespassing means…"
The nerve of–Misaka was smiling behind that Takodachi plushie whatsoever! She was sure of it. How dare she hide behind a cute plushie? The cheek of this girl! –
"I believe, you know the meaning of the word dulcet"
What? What does that have to do with everything? Is she testing her vocabulary now?
"Of course I do!"
Misaka's dark hazel eyes flit at the guitar on her bed. "That's what I listened to, you know." she smirks then.
Why's she eyeing the gui–Oh–gak! What crappy luck! She should have guessed! She heard her play? Rats! She heard! She listened! This is embarrassing! She's out of practice and Misaka-san listened. There was a reason why she's practicing! Misaki was even humming at some point and Misaka-san listened. Who told Misaka to get in her house?!...Junko will eat three WHOLE freaking cakes for this! Urgh!
If Misaka Mikoto hadn't–
"Shokuhou" Misaka's voice sounds so far away. "Thank you." The girl covered both of her hands.. "That means a lot to me. You, practicing. For me…." A giggle. "Hey. Look at me?" Misaka's touch is warm on her left arm, even through the sleeves of her clothing. Ah, She was in her civies (light blue sweatshirt and fluffy pajamas of the same color) and her gloves are absent. Does that make a difference? Why is she even remembering that? Why is her face so close? "Hey, you're fine. Although I haven't heard it before now, T'was good actually!"
It was embarrassing that her sudden embarrassment was suddenly gone…aaand maybe her vocabulary is bad after all. Was she a moron all along? "Really?"
Misaka nodded with a fond smile. "I didn't know mentioning it would embarrass you though. You always have been so beautiful in red," her tone was gentle, her eyes still holding Misaki's.
and then "How is she so cute..." is a whisper Misaki was not intended to hear but she does.
Misaki' HP took damage of huge proportions and the need to retreat is overwhelming. She did so to the farthest spot in her mind and screamed.
"uhh... did I say that out loud?" came the whispered mutter to her right. When Misaki took a peak, the tips of Mikoto's ears were painfully red.
Their eyes met before both pointedly examined the baby blue of Misaki's room like it's the most interesting color in the world.
The Takodachi in her arms is extremely cute too.
[::::]
After chatting a bit in the bedroom, Misaki gave her friend (whom she's very attracted to) a tour of her penthouse. They went to the bathroom first since its connected to her bedroom
Mikoto whistled when she saw the washroom and the bathroom. This is one of the sections of the house that (in Misaki's opinion anyway) had too many doors. From the washroom, two doors lead to different places, one to the bathroom, the other to the toilet. Upon entering the bathroom, you'll immediately see the huge black marble jacuzzi (Misaki's favorite spot in the house) with a horizontal elongated mirror on its side. There were three doors then. It's overkill, really. The first connected to the washroom, the other to the toilet, and another directly back to her bedroom. The extra space must have gotten to the interior designer, who knows?
"The jacuzzi could fit like three people. Maybe four if they crouch. Smaller than the one upstairs" the electromaster commented and Misaki felt silly for the sudden spike of her childish pleasure. It felt like she was showing Mikoto her favorite toy.
"Yes, and I never had yet to share it with someone so it's all mine."
[:::]
Misaka may have seen the living room already but she made a show of it anyway and she didn't miss her friend's eyes following the stairs direction upwards.
Upon exiting her bedroom, a wide expanse of space could be observed, her floorboards were painted in elegant black and most of her walls were made of glass tnereby, it has access to three balconies, beats wasting electricity during the day when the sun can warm you right up and a dream-esque view at night.
Most of her furniture had gentle colors such as cream and pastels.
She chose a particularly spacious and ornate place because she hates cramp spaces. It reminds her of the suffocating laboratory rooms she used to be experimented on.
The only downside she can think of that is a hazard to her sanity is the number of stairs she had to go through should the elevator decide to take a break. She can't even imagine climbing the stairs of a 50 storey building.
There's a reason why she had multiple apartments scattered in Academy City.
And here comes Misaka Mikoto who loves stairs. As exhibited by her staring at the lone elegant stairs by their left (No doubt itching to know what's upstairs) before noting her living room again.
Her friend tittered "I can imagine you just rolling lazily around this available space all day."
"Shush, Misaka-san. You'll expose me too early in the game"
The electromaster laughed. "That's a lot of ground to cover"
"That won't matter if I have something or someone that occupies my attention," she didn't waste her shot.
"What? Like someone counting on how many times you roll?" Misaka tilted her head in confusion, akin to a hoop refusing to let the ball in. Misaki hid her face in dismay. "Or like you have someone measure the meters you covered? Or someone to actually encourage you to finish all the way? You're finally using common sense! I'm so proud! But what's the point?"
"Shut up. I don't want to hear common sense from you." Misaki hissed, pushing her companion (who had an infuriating smirk) back to the living room.
The stairs caught Mikoto's attention again.
Like a good host, Misaki walked in that direction. Like a puppy, her companion followed with gusto, thinking she'd go upstairs and isn't it cute when an inevitable noise, a sort of agonized grunt, left Mikoto's throat upon realizing that Misaki passed the stairs and continued on to the kitchen directly across from it.
From the living room, the kitchen is readily visible.
Her kitchen is nothing too grand. Small and pristine with black marble countertops and white cabinets with swirls of gold in them, perfectly ample for storage and counter space. The fridge, sink and stove are arranged in a triangle formation for easy access.
Misaki leaned back on the granite countertop, closer to the fridge than the sink as she watched her friend look around. Having fetched herself a water bottle and the ice cubes.
Misaka was looking around her kitchen in awe and a smirk. "You are hopeless in the kitchen aren't you?"
Misaki chucks an ice cube on her friend's head.
It bounced off her head and it looked like she barely felt it. "Why are you even offended!? It's the truth!"
"Who are you to judge me when you yourself is a–don't tell me you know how to cook?"
When the electromaster playfully bowed like a butler should, Misaki didn't know to chuck another ice cube or or just plop them into her glass. "Would you like a piping hot omelet or pasta, madam?" she asks sarcastically.
Mikoto, using a more formal tone, had her blood rushing and let's not think how 'madam' just rolls so languidly on that tongue, hm?
Rats. Is there something awakening in Misaki? A reawakening perhaps?
Misaki took a deep breath, crossed her arms and shot her friend a stink eye for her troubles before glancing at the rapidly darkening sky through the window.
"You gonna cook something or are we just gonna starve here?"
Misaka rolled her eyes. She went to her fridge and oh–she had nothing there. Oops. She forgot. "You got nothing in your fridge but water bottles and you only have salt on that cabinet." she pointed at a random cubicle.
Yep, adulting is what they call that.
"You don't know that" In fact, her random guess was absolutely right and wrong. She had salt, sugar, coffee and tea in that cabinet. The only essential things she needs for living.
"You should stock up here."
Food delivery is a luxury her generation should be most thankful for.
Misaki merely raised an eyebrow, drank her water and said nothing. Though she did notice a sort of haze entering her friend's eyes as it roved on her entire being as she drank. It should have been creepy but all Misaki felt was the rapid (hot) surge of blood in her veins as if directed by Mikoto.
"Take out or we go grocery?" Misaka croaked before reaching across her and taking her own glass, filling it with water for her own use. In doing so, almost half of her body is directly adjacent to most of Misaki's. She's that close when she can feel her body heat.
They drank from the same glass and Misaki brushed off a rising blush. Mikoto is really pink at this point.
"Take out is faster. You can cook next time." the words were out of her mouth when she realized that they were awfully, soundly, and visually domesticated…since the moment she came in, actually.
Maybe the universe doesn't hate her that much?
Mikoto cleared her throat.
"..next time." Is that a confirmation? "You better stock up your fridge, then. Lots and lots of fluid to be sure. Sauces, and meat–and not just greens."
"Like you guessed, I don't cook. There's not much point in acquiring those." Misaki's smile had turned sardonic. "Besides, I'm a valuable customer to people's business, a valuable consumer who appreciates their culinary skills. If saving money is your end point, there's not even a problem."
Her friend sighed and gave her 'I surrender oh-brainy-goddess' pose.
Misaki playfully widened her eyes in response. A sentence in her eyes 'What? You're just giving up?'
Mikoto shrugged and gestured in the air as if to say 'all you said were valid'
This is her life now. Winning an argument with the electromaster.
Today is a dangerous day.
Misaki is having fun either way.
[::::]
Just because Misaki caught Mikoto eyeing the stairs again, she guided her to another room. To annoy her, of course. Misaki knows that Mikoto knows that she's doing it for kicks judging from the scowl she sent her way. Though surprisingly, she managed to refrain from verbally voicing her wishes.
This room was supposed to be a guest bedroom but she hardly gets any guests. Even she herself stays at the dorm most days of the week. Mikoto makes a comment here and there and more often than not, Misaki catches her when Mikoto's more focused on her than the room Misaki is supposed to be introducing. Attentive and fond. She's nodding to what Misaki says when she's pretty sure she's spouting nonsense like the history of the place or how the owner had given her a look that said 'a middle schooler had no business owning this flat' but eh, she pays so who cares.
Mikoto laughed at that one because "He has a point, Shokuhou"
"Don't spout me the middle school spiel." Misaki narrowed her eyes, daring her friend. "I'll leave you here." and no stairs for you. She let the threat hang because she does not have the patience. What she–they–experienced was no middle school experience at all. It feels like she had live several lifetimes and still, her-thier fight is not over.
"I meant when he says that you pay well. You repay service with its equivalent value yet you make it look like you have the better deal. Am I not right?"
That shut Misaki up fast. She nodded dumbly. She loves it when Mikoto says things that define her, the real her, it makes a comfortable weight settling in her gut.
She doesn't like the spotlight. That gets you killed. Or be a human equivalent of a lab rat. Studied and Experimented. Because fact of the matter is, despite Misaki's penchant for catching the attention of everyone and the way she handles fame would bamboozle anyone and their spiders; despite her penchant for working in the background and being as invisible as possible (for a level 5 anyway), she is incredibly comforted that someone knew her.
And she is ever so glad that that person is someone as good as Misaka Mikoto.
Her abilities are not as flashy as the rest of the level 5's in this city, bar the 6th, and she's happy with that. In fact she'd prefer to be in the shadows, casting a more obvious contrast for other people to shine more.
Still, Misaka Mikoto knows her and understands her on a level simply because they had almost the same experience and same sentiments, that's a bone-deep gratifying feeling all on its own.
[::::]
"Go up already, my stairs will melt with the way you lust after it."
Mikoto skipped towards it. Her gasp of wonder warmed Misaki's chest. Misaki must have been too slow in 'Misaka Mikoto' speed test because the girl made a noise, ran back down and grabbed her hand, silently but urgently tugging her up.
Even though she made a noise of protest, It was actually endearing to see Mikoto like this. Eyes shining in childish excitement and a huge boyish smile on her face.
Neither dropped each other's hand.
Upstairs boasted glass walls, clear sliding doors, a few sinks and an open garden with dark wooden floors, there is even a 4-5 person open jacuzzi on the corner. It has one of the best rooftop terraces Misaki had ever seen which had cemented her decision in buying it. With the vastness of Academy city in full view, it's quite an effective place to marvel at the beauty or to brood shitty situations, it depends.
The sky tonight is especially stunning.
The flawless blending of red, orange and purple hues had left the brunette mesmerized and Misaki was content to watch those eyes reflect the blends and overlapping tendrils of light wonderfully interwoven into a once-in-a-day tapestry. "I want to sleep here!"
"You want to move in while you're at it?" Misaki teased. This girl loves high places too much.
"Yes," Mikoto says dazely, she sounded breathless, still gazing at the splendid view, thankfully not noticing Misaki suffering from a return fire. "I'm actually jealous of your assets now. This will be worth every yen it is deemed to demand."
"You can come whenever you want to gaze at your sweetheart then, no need to get a new one." It was stated absently as Misaki had become aware that their fingers were now intertwined, notably warm and comforting.
Misaki was actually referring to the sky this time but when she found Mikoto's eyes again, they were scalding enough to make Misaki's brain melt. Power seems to surge from her all the way to Misaki's toes, the butterflies had begun to fly in a frenzy in her stomach and the ground might as well be non-existent with the way she feels so …floaty.
A few gentle caresses of the wind serve to heightened Misaki's focus, as Mikoto's scent wafted over to her, as her chestnut hair swayed to the wind's tune, as the seductive iridescent colors of twilight cast such an extraordinarily sublime vision.
She's so, so, incredibly handsome.
(Misaki is silent as she needs to file this memory carefully under 'magical moments')
For a moment in time, they were the only two people in the world, with only their breaths in between them and it's something when Mikoto's eyes briefly flit down that Misaki can say that this bubble of theirs is too precious for her poor knees to give up on her now.
She unconsciously licked her lips instead and the way Mikoto's eyes lingered there really threatened her body with a sudden loss of strength…in a delicious way.
She feels like she won't feed Junko three cakes anymore.
She'd buy the whole gekota franchise for her instead
An abrupt tugged on their joined hands, forceful and urgent–had Misaki taking a half a step closer to her person, a few more inches and she'd be in her embrace. With Mikoto's left arm encircling her waist, she might as well be.
The newfound closeness had shattered their bubble however and Misaki mourn the loss of the heated gaze before shaking herself out of it.
(Her heart has been really in overdrive by now with the way it's beating.)
Splak!
Misaki blink once and look behind her. There, at her previous position is a bird poop, white and liquid, artfully splayed even. She turned back to Misaka who was now grinning at her. She belatedly realized the faint dusting of pink on Mikoto's face.
Oh.
Misaki found the mirth swirling in her companion's eyes before lowered her head on her friends shoulder and pfft–
Like a broken dam, they began laughing for two reasons. Just the audacity of the bird, their turd and what could have happened.
[::::]
They ordered ramen from this newly opened restaurant. They opted to eat in the open garden per Mikoto's request.
The city is beautiful at night therefore it's an easy decision on Misaki's part.
After getting comfortably nestled in a single hammock C-stand, the two dug in (they brought a comforter and pillows for maximum coziness). The ramen has them comfortably warm in no time even when they're chilling in the cool night air of December.
Misaki knew that Mikoto had proper table manners but it's still a marvel to her how neat Mikoto can be when it comes to food. It is something to watch a girl gracefully shoving food continuously until their third serving. You wouldn't even know she was a vacuum from her figure and table manners.
"You slurp really softly, you know that?" the electromaster commented.
Misaki was trained at an early age to eat as quietly and neatly as possible under her mother's tutelage. She had heard the playful bickering of her parents regarding the behavior because slurping–while it is considered rude in Germany, slurping is appreciated in Japanese culture.
It had always been a delicate balance as her mother is of European descent and her father is half Asian. Sometimes, their teaching clashed but Misaki learned to adjust her behavior depending on the situation.
"Habit. A mixed household has its own rules."
Mikoto hummed.
"Papa is usually absent so most of what I learned, I learned from mama so I don't have any contradictory teaching. But I do want to learn what do you prefer?"
By all means, this is a random topic (one of the little things) but Misaki feels like she's getting filled with copious amounts of affection.
"Nothing, really. It just became a habit, overtime."
"Are you bothered by my slurping? The noise?
Misaki shook her head no "Hey, I've live her most of my life, I'm use to it."
Mikoto nodded in easy acceptance and they continued slurping.
(When Misaki leaned on Mikoto, she didn't complain and conversation flowed like a gentle breeze)
At some point, when dinner is done and appropriately thrown in the garbage can, when Mikoto slotted herself beside Misaki again holding two steaming cups of tea, when Misaki was warm all over from her finished tea, Mikoto wrapping her arm around her under the blankets and the other gently and randomly scratching, kneading her head, it had just came to her that they were effectively cuddling.
[::::]
She had succumb to the seductive pull of sleep when she vaguely felt a light pressure on the top of her head.
End of the chap!
:)
For the fellow hololive fans, you know when you know ;)
Who knew reading a tragic naruto fic can encourage me to write this one fast? Not me. But holy shit that fic. No rest for the wicked. I wanted my happiness back so here I am.
Title is EIGHT by writer168 in ao3. I dunno if they had a fanfiction account. It's the second installment. I implore you people to read their work cuz holy god we need mercy for the characters. Basically, sakura is placed in team eight while hinata is in team seven. Team eight has seen shit and danzo is after their asses.
Also I'm trying to post this asap in case I go awol trying to hide from laboratory inspectors. My anxiety is high enough as it is with meeting that wonderful, stern (she's fucking scary imma shit my pants for real) head of department and her team of doctors and nurses that looks like shibainu next to her. She's certainly the alpha and I will do my best to try not to go into her shitty side for only the third FUCkING time! I got the nasty luck of getting the blame of a sin I DID NOT EVEN commit. IT FUCKING PISSES ME OFF! It's a fucking curse, tbh folks. Guess what? She inspects EverytimE it's my shift and when I'm ALONE the fuck! where the fuck are the humans I share the space with? and I'M SO DONE. I swear if she enters the lab during MY shift and I get blamed for something again, I'm gonna faint. Stress and anger are such shitty emotions. God, why invent them?
I'm ranting about her. Sorry. My anxiety is up the roof. Sorry.
