PAINTED PRISON CHRONICLES

CHAPTER 22

AMAZORA III

Hello, happy Easter if you celebrate it, good weekend if you do not! I managed to be back with the story, this time focusing on our lovable Amazora, in tandem with no one other than one of my absolutely favourite secondary characters, Leivinia Birdway. But this lengthy chapter is so much more. It has many aspects: comedic, romantic and sensual, random, lore-filled, and even dark, but it also, at least in my opinion, retains a sense of whacky romantic comedy of mistakes that many of you enjoyed at earlier stages of my work. Writing process took so many turns and there is a lot to unravel here.

An important news is that I am very grateful to you for your positive reactions to the future phase. It seems that my concept was met with majority of my readers, which convinced me to follow through with it. I am now more inclined for harem-ish ending of the story instead of routes (as much as multiple single routes fused in one result in a harem), and I will certainly utilize future phase for something fun and romantic. One those instances will be seen in this very chapter. Some of you liked it so much or wanted to see characters in that setting so soon that I just had to indulge some of those wishes.

The action will probably start to speed up, but there will be some fun or touching interludes in between. Like the next chapter, which I can't wait to share with you.

It's over half a year of writing this story (I started preparation, research and writing, before I actually started publishing) and we are close to 400K. Thank you so much for your support. It is so nice to see people liking it not only here, but on Reddit and FB as well. I can only thank you for spreading the word, you are great and I couldn't ask for better readers.

For the reference enjoyers, there are few One Piece, Highschool of the Dead, and Helluva Boss references sprinkled in, either directly or indirectly. Can you spot them?

Q&A:

elementalgaming30: Touma as Big Mom Xd Honestly, in reality, he would be drained dry, but the fun thing about future phase is that technically in each of the timeline he had one wife, and Niang-Niang joined them after respective wives got children or were pregnant so there is practically infinite number of possibilities that can be done with that.

Jonnysebas Pardo Veliz: About Bayloupe ship... well, just keep reading and you shall see ;) Thank you kindly for your support.

Guest: I actually forgot about three-way moment of Orsola in Italy Xd She is more complicated than I thought, but I still think she exemplifies classical nun virtues better than Index or Agnese.

5had0wHand: I know it was moment that could be bewildering, but this was one of my biggest fanfic dreams so I followed it and vast majority seems to enjoy it. I think Sozty is very underrated and unknown so I felt obligation to introduce her here (I only read about her a month ago too)

Kai: Ah, esos hijos son la sorpresa por ahora. Pero espera y los presentare.

FingFangFoom100: Index growing up was something I planned from the very beginning for this story. I feel like she is wonderful character if we go past all the biting and tantrums, so I kind of did it ahead of Kamachi. As for future phase, you actually convinced me for harem ending, or more precisely, for utilzing future phase in more ways and describing it even more. Thank you for that. And yeah, there will be some training.

SuddenBetrayal: I am glad you enjoyed the future phase. It will be still expanded in the future, so your opinon is great to know. And it's true, there is something about putting characters in one room that results in comedy. When it comes to Mikoto, I don't give her that much space for now because she already has a lot of space to shine in other fanfics and main purpose of this work, besides showing appeal of Gokusai sisters and their family life with Touma, is to give space to less explored characters. There are of course exceptions to that though.

Without further delay, let's begin

Kamijou Touma was currently in major conundrum. He was stuck between two very angry girls, neither of which had the apparent intention of letting him go.

"So, Birdway..." he tried to causally start the conversation, despite the sweat flowing down his brow" That is quite... unexpected, for you to visit like this"

"Really, you fool?" the blond magician gave him a flat look" I've been here quite a few times. While tutoring you on magic, during Anti-Gremlin preparations, when World Rejecter was messing around here..."

"Oh, really? Now that you mentioned it, there really were quite a few... itatatata!"

His other arm got painfully twisted as Amazora's eyes narrowed.

"You got awfully close with her before, huh onii-chan..."

Birdway grasped Kamijou's arm, making sure each finger slowly and demonstratively closed around it.

"Jealous much?"

"Not really" Amazora humped, while smirking at her rival" My sisters always say that quality should beat quantity"

"Ho? Then I have bad news for you, because all of the quality is overflowing in me! In fact, there are only merits. I am intelligent, a genius prodigy since childhood"

"Well, I am strong for both of us! Onii-chan needs a strong woman in his life so he can focus on his own things!"

"I rarely play that card, but I am an aristocrat with a lot of money. I am sure that fool will appreciate whatever I can do to aid him."

"You didn't seem like you would help at all! You are just a dishonest meanie! Onii-chan needs someone funny and sincere. Besides, my family is rich too, even if we are in a bit of a... mess"

"Hmm... well, my mother is blessed with genes of beauty tracing back to the elizabethian royal courts. When I fully grow up, he would beg to have someone like this by his side"

"M-My mom is one of the top japanese models and cloth designers! And my sisters are amongst the most popular girls in Academy City. When I grow up, I... whoever I will be it will be better than you!"

"Even if that was true, which it isn't, what do you even know of him? Because Kamijou and myself got quite a way back actually... when we first met, the first thing he did was sweeping me off my feet and running away with me in his arms... I don't suppose that you, with that brutish weapon of yours, can present any charming story for your introduction?"

"Birdway, I did that because I thought you were in danger and don't forget that you were the one who kidnapped me in the first place" Touma sighed. Amazora's eyes widened as she looked accusingly at the british magician.

"You did what?!"

Birdway waved her hand dismissively.

"That's a matter of perspective. What matters is that he went for the very best, even then. I deemed him useful and entertaining, so he earned a place in my life. We worked together, battled together, bickered with each other... stuff siblings are supposed to do"

Amazora reddened and puffed her cheeks, before spitting out

"At least onii-chan prioritized my life over his own. He told me I am special multiple times."

"He says that, but he would save anyone in need. That's just the kind of fool he is."

"Amazora, to be totally fair, you did try to kill me first..." Touma felt obliged to add this, but the girls were far too invested in their fast-paced, heated discussion, to truly notice.

"Oh, I forgot to mention that I saved his life too. From freezing to death and drowning in Arctic Ocean. Do you have anything to counter that, hmm?"

"Ghhh... we slept in one bed!"

"I... I did that too. In a bathtub but it still counts!"

"He saw me naked!"

"Been there, done that!"

"We bathed together and he took care of me when I was sick!"

"Tch...I... didn't experience that yet... but there is more..."

Touma finally managed to slip away from the escalating verbal battle and fetched Othinus from the bathroom. She was only midly amused when she noticed two girls arguing.

"What is Dawn Coloured-Sunlight boss doing here?"

"I... am not sure if I know anymore, Othinus. As much as I appreciate the effort Birdway made to travel here and see me, she just sort of popped out of nowhere and now they are arguing about being... sisters, or something?"

Othinus looked at two younger girls, and then smiled.

"Oh, so that's is what this is all about"

"What's 'that'? Othinus, don't leave me in the dark with them!"

"Just because I am your Understander doesn't mean I will sort out every girl problem in your life, and there are quite plenty of them as of now! Use your brain too or it will become even more dense in cases like this one!"

"T-There was an insult woven in there!"

But before Touma could try to persuade her, the eyes of two younger girls turned to him.

"Onii-chan... we need you for something!" Amazora exclaimed in the tone suggesting the highest level of urgency.

"Yes, you fool. The case is simple: we are discussing which one of us is better and more powerful. Now I know that you probably won't make this any easier if we made you choose. While there is always option of simply annihilating this hindrance..."

She gave Amazora annoyed look. The small assassin puffed her cheeks once again while putting her hands on her hips, as if trying to look bigger and more intimidating.

"My bullets will blast you into smithereens before you move. There is no one better with gattling gun than me!"

Birdway snorted at that, but didn't bother in reacting any further, instead continuing:

"But it seems here slutty dress doesn't want to give up no matter what arguments I throw at the table. It may be just stupidity, but if it's not the case, then I can respect someone with that sort of courage. That's why we will participate in number of challenges. And you will be our judge."

"What?! That spells nothing but trouble!"

"Oh, don't be like that! You have a perfect excuse to spend the day with a lovely young lady. Oh well, nothing can be help that a classless kindergartner is coming along too"

"Onii-chan, is Birdie-san a masochist? There is no need for her to call herself a kindergartner and classless, even if she dresses like someone born 100 years ago. Maybe we should help her believe in herself?"

Birdway smiled in a very cold and forced way.

"Oh, I am going to enjoy slowly squashing you into the ground" she hissed, before grabbing Touma by the arm.

"W-Wait, you two! At least let me phone to delivery service so Index won't be huungrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyy!"

In next minute, Touma was basically yanked out of the apartment by two completive girls, alongside rather unwilling Othinus who accidentally tagged along on the boy's arm.

Several minutes later, the yawning Index emerged from the bedroom.

"Hello every... oh? Touma? Kaibi? Amazora? Rikuri? Everyone?"

She sighed and came to the table.

"Not even one day I am here and Touma is already having trouble?! He might be in school, but something smells fishy here... well, I will search as fast as I can. Now, my one true companion... the fridge!"

(MEANWHILE)

Amazora was the one to lead the way as she knew the City much better than Birdway and clearly had something in mind.

Touma was happy that he managed to order some food for Index, but he still mourned the fact that his attendance, which was never in a good shape, was burning alongside his hopes and dreams of sustaining bare minimum he needed to stay in teachers' good graces.

Yet here they were. Amazora took them to District 15. Touma was there doing the Dianoid incident but in truth had no real knowledge of it beside this main focus point, so even he (a person knowing the city very well in his own right) was surprised when Amazora, Birdway, and himself marched into the largest indoor entertainment lounge. From what Touma could see, it had sport, gaming, and recreational venues. It was probably best suited for whatever the girls had in mind.

And speaking of the girls, they were currently engaged in writing something on two pieces of paper, before handing them to Touma.

"Okay onii-chan, listen up! This is war between women. We are going to do tons of different things to prove who is the best. And you will be the judge"

"Huh?!"

"Like she said" Birdway smashed her fist against an open palm of her other hand" This is war, so don't try to stop us. Each one of us provided a list of challenges we will undertake. And we both promise not to hurt the judge... much...in case of unfavourable decision. So now, cooperate with us on this!"

Touma sighed miserably yet another time this morning.

"I am skipping school for this? Why do you even-"

"We are not asking you to understand this. Just do it."

"Human, whether you like it or not, they are too focused on this to consider any rationality. They will probably keep going on about or turn their frustration on you if you don't play along"

Touma nodded and addressed two smaller girls

"Well then, I guess I am in. What are you going to do?"

(AS TIME PASSED...)

There were many challenges that Amazora and Birdway thought of.

They spanned from fairly trivial to much more elaborate. For example, Leivinia challenged Amazora to trivia quiz (from general knowledge) in which little Gokusai was absolutely destroyed. In turn, Amazora demonstrated absolutely incredible lifting prowess, with Birdway not being able to keep up even with strengthening magic cast in secrecy. Amazora proved superior in stamina contests and quick reactions, while Birdway excelled in strategic and complex challenges.

Some of the battles yielded some surprises for both rivals.

"Birdway, are you okay?" Touma asked when they exited the shooting range.

"I am. I consider myself quite good with my flintlocks and I am much more precise... but the reloading speed this girl has with any weapon and sheer quantity of bullets she can quickly shoot is honestly inhuman... and who knew she is such a good dancer... she didn't look like it at all!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

" Amazora... how are you holding on?"

"Hmph... I admit, Birdie-san is cuter than I thought. She looks good in almost all costumes I thought of."

"I-I am sorry Amazora, I mean... she really did look cute..."

"Plus she beats me in all of board games, mathematics, and she can sing like a young idol! Hmph... but I am not giving up. For onii-chan, this is far too little to be discouraged."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Some of the competitions resulted in forced breaks.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Amazora, I told you challenging Birdway of all people to "think of the most awful insult you can imagine" is a really, really bad idea!"

"I...I will be fine, onii-chan..." while she said that, the battle of quips with Birdway clearly caused Amazora to take quite an emotional damage.

"Come on, you are on the verge of crying"

"I-I AM NOT CRYING! And if I am, it's out of pity for her. S-She is going down!"

"It really would be more convincing if your lips didn't tremble, you know..."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Touma looked at Birdway, who was currently engaging in frantically drinking bottle after bottle of water

"Yeah, Patricia and Mark-san once said that you don't handle spicy food well. You idiotic girl, why did you took the challenge you knew you will lose?"

"*gulp, gulp* This... is... called... *pant, pant*... battle honour. Leivinia Birdway... doesn't run away..."

"I can barely hear through all that panting. And you bend honour all the time!"

Birdway grit her teeth. Her lips gone from regular rosy pink to crimson red and there was sweat on her face. Aside from consuming bottle after bottle of liquid, she turned into panting mess, plagued by coughing and sneezing fits. All of this was a product of jalapeño eating challenge that Amazora issued. And ever stubborn Birdway refused to back down.

"Why *gulp, gulp, gulp*... are... you... staring at me like this, fool? I'm fi...*achoo!*...fine... Let's go on with those games..."

"First, let's get you some milk"

"I am not losing yet, so don't call me a little girl. And they are still growing!"

"What are you... no, I am not talking about them! Milk cancels out spiciness, so if you drink it, it will make you feel better. I meant only that, so stop hitting me!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There were many challenges. Some of them included: singing competition (which was won by Birdway), dance competition (won by Amazora), whack-a-mole (Amazora), Trivia Quiz (Birdway), distance running (Amazora), sprint for time (Birdway), chess (Birdway), strength contest (Amazora), cooking (both attempts ended in failure, but Birdway was still far superior), holding your breath for as long as you can (Amazora), speaking phrases in multiple languages (Birdway), Monopoly (Birdway), climbing (Amazora), amateur fencing (Birdway), acrobatics (a draw), costumes and catwalk (Birdway), oyster eating competition (Amazora) jalapeno competition (Amazora), equation solving (Birdway), high jumps (Amazora), power of a single attack at the target outside of the building (Birdway) tick-tack-toe (Birdway), how long can you be on a carousel (Amazora), drawing challenge (Birdway), funniest joke challenge (Amazora), air hockey (Amazora), card game of War (Birdway) shooting at the range (another draw, as while Birdway shot more precisely, Amazora had unparalleled ability to quickly reload artificial weapons and compensated quality with quantity), paintball (won by a small margin by Birdway, as she was better able to last without backup, despite being worse in quick-paced shooting) and many more.

Finally, it was noon when two very tired girls stood in front of Touma.

"Tell us, onii-chan. Tell us!

"Who won? Who is superior?!"

"That will hurt you, human..."

"Well, from 60 competitions you did for past couple hours..." Touma closely examined the list "Birdway claims 30 points, and Amazora 30 points. So it's a..."

Birdway's eye twitched when she snatched the list of his hands, unfolding it in each possible direction. But Touma was right.

"IT'S A DRAW?! No way in hell can there be a god damn draw!"

"T-This is your fault! Why did you put an even number of challenges?!"

"Well, how was I supposed to know that you will put an even number too?! I don't read minds!"

But before two girls could request a rematch, Touma put hands on their shoulders.

"You know, you are both quite tired. Can I propose something to do right now? I think you won't regret it"

(LATER...)

After both girls freshened themselves up, Touma took them to the park. It was a small, but serene patch of green among skyscrapers. Big enough to provide relatively nice and wide space, but not in excessive measure.

Touma, Birdway, and Amazora, with Othinus in Touma's hood, stopped by the tree growing on a small hill, overlooking green meadows with small stream of water and various paths among the trees in the distance. It was a sunny day and the wind blew just enough to make the heat feel nice and not overwhelming.

Touma sat down. The girls, although slightly confused, followed his example.

"I thought that we can relax here, just us. You battled valiantly, for whatever reason, so I think small amount of calm won't kill anybody."

"Really?!" Birdway looked at him as if he suddenly started speaking some extinct language "Lay around and relax? That sounds childish"

"Trust me, it doesn't get old when one has so much chaos in their life. But first, I must get something crucial for this. Sorry..."

Touma got his phone and called a certain person.

"Hi, Otohime"

"Gwah?! Onii-"

Touma pretended to cough over the certain phrase but eyes of both girls narrowed at him, combined with malice that threatened to emerge if one more mistake appeared.

"... so nice to hear from you. How is the life in Academy City? Can I come over? What things do you learn about? What-"

"Otohime, I will be happy to talk with you longer on another occasion but for now, I need to ask you something. Can you send me the text of that song mom used to sing us?"

'Well, what she supposedly sang. I don't remember and I can only imagine it based on what Otohime and dad told me'

"What auntie Shiina sang... yeah, I think I can! I am sending it to you alongside with the melody"

"Thanks Otohime. I will call you later"

"Okie-dokie"

"Who was that?" Birdway inquired, staring at Touma with intense look.

"Yeah, onii-chan... she sounded like she was in similar age to us" Amazora emanated the same iciness and Touma, to preserve the perspective of a longer life, quickly scanned the text with his eyes. He then smiled and looked at the girls.

"My memory is a bit rusty with it, but mom sang this to me and my cousin Otohime to sleep, when we were little. Supposedly, she also sang this to me the night before I was sent here, to Academy City. So... I thought you might want to hear it..."

"Woah, onii-chan will sing us a lullaby? I want it, I want to hear onii-chan sing!" Amazora said, snuggling closer to Touma.

Whatever possible objections Birdway could have, it quickly disappeared as she also snuggled by Touma's other side to not be left out. And, although she would never admit it, snuggling to Kamijou Touma was rather high on the list of pleasurable things in her life.

Touma smiled sheepishly, slightly embarrassed by the sudden surge of attentive affection.

"Well, I think it's probably better sung by a female, but I will do my best. My mom did sing it once after we reunited and listened to melody couple of times, so I should be relatively fine with singing"

They simply sat there, with the girls by Touma's side, enjoying warm touch of sun mixed with coolness of shadow, rustling of the leaves and blades of grass, accompanied with view of futuristic buildings of the city of science.

Initially, the minds of the two girls were far too agitated to truly benefit from the experience but as minutes passed, Amazora slowly laid her head on Touma's arm, her eyelids lowering ever so slightly. As Birdway wanted to make a sarcastic remark, she suddenly yawned. It was a small, adorable yawn, certainly not something she would ever show in her public persona. As much as cabal boss wanted to throw a tantrum, she did feel tired. She reddened a little when she noticed Touma staring at her.

"W-What is it?"

"Sorry, I just thought that you two are actually very cute when you act your age"

"W-What the helllare you saying? C-Cute?! And what do you mean actually..." Birdway tried to argue, but looking at Amazora, she sighed and mirrored her action, putting her head on Touma's arm, and looking at him from down there. Touma thought that those sapphire irises contained some plea.

"Do you need something else, Birdway-san?"

"Oh, for the love of..." the girl groaned, and pointed at his hand "If you want to do this, do it properly!"

"What... what do you mean?"

"I mean... that... for today, you have a special permission to... stroke my hair. It's essential with lullabies"

Touma hesitantly put his hand forward and when the girl didn't push him away, he slowly began to stroke Birdway's blond locks, smoothly going through them in calming motion. And from the slight smile on the girl's face, he was doing decent job.

"O-Onii-chan, I want headpats!"

And so, Amazora grinned on the other side as she received a head massage. Touma sighed as he tried to indulge both girls at the same time and help them relax

During all of this, Othinus snuggled near Touma's neck, enjoying the warmth of boy's skin accompanied by rays of sunlight and gentle wind.

Soon, all four started to fade into the calmness of the park.

Then, Touma slowly began to sing.

Birdway exhaled softly as she pressed her body onto Touma's left side, as he continued the song while caressing the hair of two girls, and one goddess snuggled onto his neck.

Touma's voice cracked slightly at one particular verse. Luckily, the girls didn't seem to mind.

''May you need never to banish misfortune', huh?'

When his parents spent him here, they believed that by doing so, they will help him and give him torment-free life, contrary to the one he supposedly experienced as a small child.

Misfortune didn't leave him though. It always walked behind him like a second shadow. After getting into the city, he still got in trouble and had to face great deal of hardships.

But all in all, when he looked at his own footsteps from the distance... he wouldn't change that decision of his parents if he could. And he was very glad for that.

Touma got slightly misty eyed. The song tugged into something in his core he liked to refer to as memories of the heart. Even if his actual memories were destroyed, echoes that he could not actually recall but only feel remained.

After all, nearly 10 years before, small boy was laying in his bed while the young-looking, brown haired woman was caressing him to sleep.

"Mom, why are you crying? Is it because of me?" the boy asked. He still had bandages after a terrible attack with a knife he was a part of.

The woman wiped her eyes and smiled gently.

"No, my dear. Not because of you, it's for you" she responded, kissing him on the brow" Don't worry. But Touma-san... we will be apart for some time now. It's sad yet it's for the best. I...I need you to be strong, and know that wherever you will be or whatever will happen, your mother will always love you. Have beautiful life, my child"

Unaware of the memory that no longer existed, Touma focused on Amazora, as he continued the song:

As both girls and small ex-magic god fell to sleep by his sides, Touma felt a surge of calm and tranquility. He felt happy that he could be right here in that very moment, singing for the girls he knew and experienced adventures with. Even if some of those adventures were perilous and sad, sharing moments like this one made it worth it.

The fact that someone trusted him enough to be in his care was amazing to boy called Kamijou Touma, who once discarded very possibility of the chance for love, friendship, or... having a little sister, too.

As he finished the song, he leaned over both girls and planted small kisses on their brows.

Only after a moment he realized what he did.

'Oh crap! I got carried away and did what I thought my mother would do. But that case is totally different! I am so screwed!'

But the girls didn't wake up. If anything they were even more relaxed. Birdway's smile got much warmer, which was honestly incredible sight, considering sarcastic smirk she usually had on her face.

Touma exhaled as his body slowly lost tension.

The duo by sides were pleasurably warm. Combined with nice and relaxing atmosphere, it made for almost an intoxicating feeling.

Thus, Kamijou Touma had no idea when he drifted into blissful sleep.

(SOME TIME LATER)

However, as usual with peaceful times and Kamijou Touma, fate didn't allow him to rest for a long time.

When Touma started to wake up, he realized that something was amiss.

His spatial orientation changed and he could feel that he was dragged somewhere. Luckily for still sleeping Othinus, she fell under Touma's hoodie and stayed on his body. When the boy opened his eyes blearily...

"What?..."

The person dragging him groaned as she (he could tell that was a woman because her chest cast shadow on his face) put him in the cart linked onto the motorcycle.

"Don't panic if you notice that you can't move. I injected the temporary paralysis drug meant for restriction"

"What?!..." Touma's confusion skyrocketed, when the girl (whose face he couldn't see because of the blinding sunlight) put on a motorcycle helmet.

"Kamijou Touma, in the name of Judgement and law it protects, I am taking you into custody. You have the right to remain silent!"

"WHAT?!"

Right of silence was not something Touma wanted to exercise as he managed to scream once again in total confusion.

(MEANWHILE)

"Mhm... onii-chan, that tickles..."

"Hmm... you can grasp me tighter, you fool..."

"Is it Amazora's time to give you a kissy?..."

"Oh believe me, you will love this..."

As Birdway and Amazora slowly opened their eyes, they realized that in their dream-induced passion, they grabbed not the boy they dreamed of, but... each other. With their arms entangled and faces close, they looked into one another's eyes.

And screamed loudly, frantically jumping backwards, while holding their chests and beating hearts.

Leivinia Birdway was fairly intimidating herself and there were few things which could really scare her. But now...

"This was one of the scariest things in my life. I want to purge this from my memory!" she shivered.

Amazora looked almost like a cat with hair standing straight, as she was shaking her head rapidly.

"Yuck, yuck, yuck! Onii-chan, comfort me! She-"

Then two girls realized one crucial fact.

"Where... is..."

"Onii-chan! Where are you?!"

(MEANWHILE)

The ride didn't take all that long actually. Touma would actually be able to appreciate the girl's driving skills if not for the fact that without muscle tension he rolled around the cart with no way to shield himself, which finally woke Othinus up. Only when they arrived did Touma felt his body again.

However, that didn't matter as he still found himself in the cell.

Not only that, but in the company of...

"Stiyl! What are you doing here?!" Touma yelled, looking at the flame magician sitting down on the chair. "I thought you already left!"

"It's the same problem as ever! The same bloody one!" Stiyl roared, throwing his hands into the air" On the airport, I was assaulted by this pink creature who calls herself your teacher, people called this city's police and they arrested the wrong person! Again! Apparently, the other cells were occupied so they sent me here, half the way across the city"

"Magnus-san, please save this for the questioning" came the answer from the girl who brought Touma in, who was just taking of her helmet.

"For that matter..." Touma turned around" What gives? You can't just arrest people for nothing. Who even are-"

From under the helmet fell short, greyish-black hair. The girl had symmetrical, slightly oval face, greyish-blue eyes and very prominent chest. She wore glasses and red motorcycle jacket combined with Judgement armband, under which black blazer and yellow tie.

After a moment, Touma recognized her.

"Sexy Glasses?!"

The girl coughed loudly into her hand before straightening up and walking to the bars.

"I told you not to call me that. I am on duty, you know. I told you my name before, it's Konori Mii. Now, do you really not know why you were apprehended?"

"No, not a clue. Also, does this mean I can call you Sexy Glasses when you are not on duty?"

"Don't pick on words! I got few calls on the guy engaging in immorality with younger girls so I came to park to check. Want to see what I saw back then?"

She showed him a photo on the phone. Touma looked... and immediately paled.

"W-When did they slid like this... and why... are their faces on my... b-but that's just..."

Touma understood why this could look bad from the outside perspective.

"F-Fukou da... okay, this isn't what it looks like. We just relaxed like this and... I don't know how they slid down like that!"

"Pretty depraved relaxation if you ask me."

"Like I said, nothing happened! I am honest here, we just went to sleep. All three of us!"

"Many molesters lure their victims into false sense of security and pretend to sleep like that!"

"But why am I considered guilty until proven innocent?! Shouldn't it be other way around? Also, what about Amazora and Birdway?"

"I-I... wanted to bring you in. In a spur of a moment, I couldn't take all of you... but I will find them, I am sure of it."

"Great. Maybe they can testify against this ridiculous-"

"Kamijou" Stiyl butted in, trying his best to stay patient during their quarrel" Is that a friend of yours?"

Touma and Konori looked at each other.

"I don't think so... we just... ran into each other a few times during incidents around her branch..."

"Yeah, me and him... have some differences we have to work through..."

"I don't care honestly, if she is your enemy, childhood friend, or if you sleep with her, tell her to release me. This shitty police is holding innocent man. AGAIN!"

"Magnus-san, I was just about to question you so please hold on... we will continue this talk, Kamijou..."

She then unlocked the door, took Stiyl out, and asked him to sit on the chair near the small metal table. She then took place on the other side. After few questions, Touma soon understood why Stiyl had a problem with questionings of peacemaking forces of the city

"Magnus-san, what is your real age?"

"Fourteen, vierzehn, quatorze, четырнадцать, juuyon, أربعة عشرة, quattordici, δεκατέσσερα, and more! I will be fifteen soon, but the answer is still the same. Check the bloody files, I've been here before! Kamijou, they think that teacher of yours is actually brainwashed and blackmailed elementary student and they don't believe her words. Tch, she is actually just as mad at this as I am. Why am I, the minor, getting behind the bars every damn time?!"

'Hmm, come to think about it, Komoe-sensei was on some short delegation abroad. Is this the way they bumped at each other on the airport?'

"Well, regardless of your slightly... questionable answers, the real truth will be unraveled in no time"

"God give me strength to deal with those idiots... can I at least call to the person that can testify my age alongside with the additional documents to those you mistakenly deemed fake?!"

"O-Of course, the phone is over here..."

After the call was made, Konori put her hands on the hips and approached Kamijou again.

"Now, what am I to do with you... you are clearly not a bad guy, I've witnessed it, but at the other time you pull the stunts like this... I just can't make me mind when it comes to you..."

"Like I said, those were accidents. Mere manifestations of my misfortune. I am not intending any of the crap that is happening all around me to happen."

"Well, I am inclined to believe that. But this looks pretty hopeless. We need to question those girls. But it could all be dealt with quickly if you could be given a word from someone within Judgement. Like a fellow member"

"SG, I told you before, I am not joining Judgement!"

"Abbreviating Sexy Glasses to SG doesn't make it better. Don't try to flatter me here and answer why can't you just accept my offer?!"

"I will do it only when you accept mine!"

"What the hell is this on about?" Stiyl asked, apparently wanting anything to distract him from how pissed off he felt" You two sure are agitated for mere acqaintances"

Konori and Touma pointed at each other.

"Well, this guy has all it takes and more to be an amazing Judgement member. Yet he is refusing to join and keeps avoiding me about it!"

"Only because those rules would restrict me!"

"Idiot, I only saw you from afar and heard from my kouhais, but as a team, we could-"

"I never said I wanted the team! What if you got hurt?! No, I don't like to drag anyone into that mess. Anyway, Stiyl, this girl keeps refusing to consider becoming a dorm manager!"

"Because my conviction is to fight crime on the streets. I wouldn't even be good in that role anyway!"

"Lies! Stiyl, look at that stern yet also concerned look. The onee-san proportions in every aspect! The fashionable look with sense of strong-handed individuality! Those glasses, emanating both sensuality and intelligence! As a dorm manager lover, I know the true potential when I see it! It's like a rough diamond, unpolished, but with boundless potential. So why is she wasting it on a brutish work instead?!"

"You are the one wasting your potential here!"

Sparks flew between the two as Stiyl sighed, shaking his head.

"You two are both fucking idiots..."

(MEANWHILE)

Tsuchimikado Maika spun on her cleaning robot, while on the mission to deliver some maid-made lunches, when she heard arguing voices. Then she noticed two blond girls near the park's entrance.

"So what do we do now? We have to find onii-chan!"

"Hmph, if he left, I don't really care"

"But you were in panic just minutes ago!"

"Shut it! He obviously abandoned us, so he can go to hell"

"That doesn't seem like something onii-chan would do..."

"Tch... you are right, I am just really pissed now..."

"You don't think he left... because of us?"

"I don't know... but knowing that fool, he probably got into some trouble behind our backs."

"Excuse me..." Maika zoomed to them from behind, making the arguing duo flinch" Did you lost your big brother?"

"Ehm... yes, actually..." Birdway said, somewhat awkwardly. Calling Touma her brother was one thing in her head, but talking about with strangers was another.

"We were having a really great day. But then onii-chan disappeared" Amazora cried out.

"Oh no, that's horrible. So you wanted to spend time with your big brother... you and you alone?"

She then jumped from the robot and tackled both Birdway and Amazora to the ground, with her eyes sparkling with joy.

"Oi, what are you-" Birdway began angrily, but young maid in training could not be deterred.

"I knew in my gut that you would understand. The desire to cherish those sibling moments. Feeding one another, walking hand to hand, sniffing the bed sheets and clothes, sleeping together under starry sky, and reading manga when passionate love occurs..."

The eyes of Birdway and Amazora widened. In that instant, an invisible thread of understanding formed between the girls. It didn't take even two full minutes, and there was already something linking them, far more profound than mere friendship, social differences, or nationalities.

That was the power of adoration for the older brother figure.

"You said you spent time with him. Tell me everything, and I mean everything, no juicy detail left behind!" commanded Maika.

Amazora looked at Birdway and their both shrugged.

They still needed to find the way to locate Touma, so they indulged the maid as they had no better idea.

(COUPLE MINUTES LATER)

Maika said nothing throughout their story of the morning and events of early afternoon.

'Is she so impressed that she doesn't know what to say?'

Finally, the little maid inhaled deeply and screamed

"YOU IDIOTS!"

The scream, uncharacteristically loud for Maika, was strong enough to scare away the birds from the nearby trees.

"Oi, who are you calling-" Birdway began but Maika put a finger on her lips, silencing her.

"As the most lovable and caring little sister in the city, I cannot let that stand! You are lacking in the ways of sisterhood and you need to be enlightened"

"H-Hey, stop acting so high and mighty!" Amazora pointed a finger at Maika "Who gave you permission to act like this? You think you are better than us?"

Maika smiled deviously before putting the heads of both Amazora and Birdway close together and whispering

"Me and my brother... did this... and this... and also this... with that..."

Amazora promptly fell to the ground. Although Birdway fared better, she still dropped to one knee.

"Kh... she is good... who would have thought that the final boss is someone like her..."

Maika stood in front of them and cleared her throat, before speaking.

"Listen up! As a fellow comrade in the ways of little sister, I shall bestow upon you an advice. Do you know what your experience with your brother lacked?"

After a moment, the other two shook their heads.

"You were so focused on fighting with each other that you forgot who you fight for! And that's a cardinal sin for every good little sister. Your brother should be the first thing on your mind, day and night."

"W-Why do you say we forgot?"

"Tell me, was any of your competitions truly about him? Did you spend time together with him, or merely with him by your side? You ignored him, instead of cherishing and focusing on him. No wonder he could have left."

Amazora's lip began to tremble. Birdway lowered her head so her eyes wouldn't be visible.

"That being said" Maika raised her finger with a serious face" as someone with a conviction of a true maid, I think that service and reincorporation of effort is the key. You need to step up and spoil your brother some more"

"Spoil him?!" Birdway, clearly not accustomed to the idea of doing something for someone, instead of other way around, lashed out" Why would I do-"

"Because this is the best way! If the result is him leaving you, discard everything that is blocking your path to be the best little sister you can be! When you do something affectionate, it bounces back to you in the most surprising moment and way. Which makes your heart flutter and you give even more affection. And it all goes back and forth until it all culminates in passionate, forbidden romance!" the black haired girl squealed with joy at her own fantasy.

"F-Forbidden..." Amazora was clearly entranced with her new friend's enthusiasm as well.

Birdway became slightly red, and twirled fragment of her blond her with her finger.

'W-Well, I am not the one to be all nice and stuff... but I certainly want to keep him close... and if I think about it as investing into the future... hmm, this might just work...'

"Fine then" she said, raising up" I will accept your advice"

"Me too! I want to make onii-chan want to stay!"

"Then gather around me. Here is what you will do..."

(5 MINUTES LATER)

"Okay, I think I get it"

"Me too"

"Good. Now, your brother may be in trouble, so your first obligation is to aid him. Go and don't forget to phone me later to tell about the result. I must finish my delivery!"

Amazora and Birdway took off running

"Birdie-san, what are we even running towards?"

"We must look around for clues. This fool must left something behi-"

BAM!

Girls collided with someone also running at high speed and were painfully sent to the ground.

"Oi, watch where you run, you... oh?!"

"It's samurai onee-chan!"

And it was indeed Kanzaki Kaori, on the run and visibly preoccupied.

Birdway cursed under her breath, getting up and dusting herself off

"Well, when you think this situation couldn't get any more annoying... yet here you are"

"Leivinia Birdway of Dawn-Coloured Sunlight" Kanzaki muttered in equal annoyance" It hasn't been long enough. Now, if you excuse me, I have far more important matters to attend to than engaging in your childishness".

"You are the one who collided with us. Hey, Gokusai or whatever. This is Titsaki, Saint of Far Tits."

"Ugh, I forgot how unbearable you were..."

"But I know samurai onee-chan. Listen, onii-chan is missing! Did you see him?"

Kanzaki stopped momentarily.

"Kamijou is gone? I am heading to the station to testify for Stiyl... but now that you mention it, I think I heard voice that sounded like Kamijou in the background of the call"

"That sounds like a clue to me!"

"Well, we don't have anything better, so I guess it will do. I am coming to save the ass of that fool of a big brother."

"That's my line. Don't make me leave you behind"

"Hold on you two" Kanzaki intejected" if this concerns Kamijou, this is all the more reason for me to get involved. I am coming too!"

Birdway was about to object, but paused just before speaking. Then, a devious grin stretched across her face.

"Actually, there is something to do that is perfectly suited just for you..."

(SOME TIME LATER, ELSEWHERE)

As she looked at Kamijou Touma, Konori Mii reminisced.

There was a valid reason for her behaviour and for being slightly more distracted than usual.

It all started with mothers of all chaos: boredom and emptiness that she recently felt in life.

It wasn't like Konori was angry that her jurisdiction was relatively calm these days. She honestly felt happy that the city was at least a little bit safer. However, this did nothing to diminish the fact that her days became... well, slightly dull.

Her power level was stable, her relationships worked well, her studies were also going fine.

But Konori, even though she didn't admit that in front of her friends or subordinates, she started to crave something new in her routine.

This feeling was complicated. On one hand, she had amazing kouhais, accomplishments, friends, and even person she cared about. But on the other...

Both Shirai and Uiharu were specific, in work and daily life. Kuroko skipped on paperwork and most of the non-work related conversations revolved around Misaka Mikoto. While Konori greatly admired Railgun too, there was a limit of just how much of highly questionable fantasies of the teleporter she could take. Meanwhile, Uiharu was incredibly sweet and a model co-worker but Konori did not fully understand her informatic explanations. They also idolized different things and had completely opposite tastes.

Konori would not trade them for any other Judgement member, but there were the days in which she felt fresh blood was needed in their branch.

She felt that would be the answer. A new member, preferably a guy. Why a male, you would ask? Well, Konori was once part of a gang and got accustomed herself with working around the opposite sex. And even if she was right at home with her female friends, she thought that working with a guy once again would not be so bad at all.

Yes, that was the reason. And definitely not the fact that on top of all of that, she had to endure the remarks of her roommate (in happy relationship) about Konori being single.

As a matter of fact, Konori did have a guy that held a special place in her heart. His name was Kurozuma Wataru. Konori liked him for a long time and planned on confessing to him if ever encountering him again. But after Big Spider incident, Kurozuma got arrested (by her) and was in jail ever since. And although Konori still had hope, she found out that: one, it was very hard to keep a relationship, not to mention active dating, when one of the parties is incarcerated, and two, it was rather awkward when you moved on from your gang life, became a Judgement member and kept sending your supposed boyfriend into jail. Yeah, it wasn't really activity that improved their relationship. So the romantic feelings withered away, as much as she hated it.

It was a typical: boy or a job, type of choice. And honestly, it gave Konori a headache.

So there she was, with life passing by. And it seemed that it was there to stay.

But then, a certain boy threw a rock into the pond of boredom, making waves that captured her interest.

She initially heard about Kamijou Touma from the lips of Shirai Kuroko and Misaka Mikoto, with the former being rather grumpy about him and the other being affectionate yet in deep denial. However, while interested, Konori obviously didn't pay all that much attention to someone she actually didn't know.

However, one evening, she encountered a boy matching the description while chasing after the group of thugs. The spiky haired boy was fleeing, carrying a girl in his arms. As it later turned out, he saved her from their unwanted advances. Konori was tailing them and arrived just in time to witness Kamijou Touma engaging in a fight. Albeit visibly overpowered and far from unscathed, he managed to defeat the enemies and protect the crying girl.

Konori was flabbergasted. The boy was plain looking and was someone that she would normally deem relatively forgettable yet in that moment, he demonstrated tenacity, determination, and bravery greater than many Judgement members. From strategic point of view, he used his surroundings to maximum. His movements were precise and lacked excessive motions of the beginning fighters. Yet his fighting style was unorthodox enough that Konori realized that he had to develop it on his own and be self taught.

Not that it mattered, because Konori was now overjoyed. She knew from that moment that the boy was a great material for Judgement member.

She found his school in database and ventured there. He was her age too, and when she got to speak to him, he seemed like a very nice guy, very straightforward as he also complimented her looks, flustering her (although she would lie if she didn't feel any sort of feminine pride).

However, her offer was flatly rejected.

According to Kamijou Touma, he found Judgement to be rather limiting and something that would only be a hindrance. As Konori tried to defend her line of duty, he jokingly offered to enlist in Judgement if she become his dorm's manager in the future. This proposition actually caused her to flee from sight

And so became a period of time that made Konori's ears burn from realizing how childish she acted, but she simply couldn't stop herself. Not after witnessing the possibility and quite a few actions she saw that night.

She was convinced that Touma was stuck in the stereotype about Judgement, so she was trying to figure out the way to convince him. After guzzling down many Musashi Milk packs, she unintentionally went down the route of almost all her friends around the branch.

Like Shirai Kuroko, she began to investigate and realized that Touma was involved in many incidents. The sheer scale of that involvement made her speechless.

Like Misaka Mikoto, she tried to encounter or even chase him after and around certain incidents. It was then that she discovered certain peculiarity.

Her ability, Clairvoyance, allowed her to see through objects and omit any margin of error caused by light dispersion through air itself. Although she usually used it to look for things like hidden weapons, it also allowed her to intercept the escapees by seeing the path of their escape through obstructions at medium length distance. But when she tried to used it on Kamijou Touma when he disappeared behind the wall...

She couldn't see him. It was as if she developed blindness in one particular spot. When she blinked and refocused her eyesight, she saw normally, but when she moved her eyes to where the boy supposed to be by her estimation, the strange phenomenon assaulted her again.

She wasn't mad at that, but now it was not only the question about physical prowess. If Kamijou Touma had some sort of interference ability, it would greatly aid catching the criminals.

She, like Saten Ruiko, turned to urban legends and myths after the experience with her ability not functioning properly. Although she didn't find anything conclusive, it only served to fuel her interest.

The irony was that Kamijou Touma expressed genuine desire to get to know her better. Likewise, Konori was more than happy to aid him if he needed it. But that one issue made a barrier that made it harder for them to genuinely connect with one another, despite that best interest.

Not to mention...

"Why do you trying to see what's inside my pants?!" Touma said accusingly.

Konori blushed, not even aware that she once again activated her ability. She did it from time to time around Kamijou Touma to see why he interfered with her power. So far, there were no results. Kamijou however developed a certain suspicion.

"I-I am not! I told you that I am trying to figure out how you interfere with my-"

"SG-senpai, please, we both know that if someone has x-ray vision, there is only one thing to do with that"

"I-I don't want to be called a pervert by someone who gets his taste get so obvious that he nicknamed me Sexy Glasses! Secondly, I am not really your senpai since we are both 16. Thirdly, this is a stereotype about Clairvoyance. My gaze was just lowered there as I was reflecting, that's all."

"W-What were you reflecting about that it makes you set your eyes there? Oh god, it's one of those video games that Aogami has where the policewoman ties you up and says 'it's violation for violation!'"

"W-What kind of game is that?!"

"HEEEEEEELP! SEXINESS IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR THIS TREATMENT! I AM ABOUT TO BE VIOLATED BY FORCE!"

"Be quiet, I have no such intent! I AM NOT A PERVERT HERE! W-W-What about you staring at me like that?!"

"Like what?!"

"I know you looked at my chest couple of times..."

"When I focus on you, your chest just happens to be in field of view. It's rather hard to miss..."

"A-Are you saying I am fat?!"

"No, I would never say that... although, boobs are fat, so... n-no, the answer is still no!"

Stiyl sighed and slumped on the chair.

"Kill me now..."

But then...

Clang!

There was a sound from the outside. And after 10 seconds or so, another one...

"What's that?" Touma and Konori asked at the same time

(MEANWHILE, INSIDE THE BUILDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD)

"Adjust the aim few degrees to the left..." Birdway said to Amazora.

"I don't take orders from you. But I got the same idea, so I will do it"

They were slightly above the place where the small window of the room, in which Touma, Stiyl, and Konori currently were, was located.

They were there to recapture Kamijou Touma. However, they wanted to do it in a cool way.

They had a modified sniper rifle, few of sleeping darts made by Gokusai Rikuri. Amazora took the things from one of Gokusai family storages.

She wasn't a sniper so this was a new experience to her. The sniper rifle was originally to be used by Rikuri in combination with a drug bullets, but this never came to be. But with Birdway's precision and Amazora's hand-eye skills, as well as loading speed, they were monstrous shooters.

Was it an overkill? Yes. Did they have fun will doing it? Oh, definitely yes!

After all, the projectiles were not lethal. They were small effect sleeping drugs, designed for a short time knock out.

How did they know where to aim? Because of presence of Imagine Breaker, Birdway and Kanzaki were able to more or less ascertain via mana detection in which room Kamijou was (or in other words, to which window to aim).

Speaking of Kanzaki...

"I-Is this really necessary?" came the voice of the Saint.

Amazora and Birdway was laying on the elevated surface in one of the empty rooms of the abandoned building. What was more surprising was that Kanzaki was laying on her back, perpendicular to other girls, with the rifle laying on her chest and with breasts pressing on it from the left. That made Amazora's left arm go around Kanzaki's chest and bending to support the rifle, making it stable, as she had her right hand's finger on the trigger.

"Sorry, but this is the perfect use to use those enormous airbags of yours. And we just happened to lack a bipod. Thanks to you, we can aim more precisely and don't have to worry about shaking"

Kanzaki bit her lip, staring furiously at Birdway.

"Each time this wretched thing fires, I feel the recoil through my chest!"

"I am not interested in what if you enjoy vibrating those sacks of fat or not, just be a good bipod and stay still"

"I swear, I will cut you down one day!"

"Can you be quiet for a moment." Amazora licked her lips, taking aim "And... go!"

The rifled discharged and at the same time...

(MEANWHILE)

... Konori Mii felt a sharp prickling sensation on her neck.

It was a small dart, designed to penetrate the skin but without actually dealing major damage.

"Sniper attack? I need... to..."

And in the next moment, she fell to the ground.

"Huh?! What's going on?!" Touma shouted, as Stiyl also got up and checked on Konori's pulse.

"Whatever that was, it didn't kill her, merely put her to sleep."

Touma wanted to ask more, but then the door began to open...

Few minutes later, the outer wall burst in flames and rubble, as Leivinia Birdway stepped inside, surrounded by whirlwind of air and fire, with wand in hand.

"Surprise, surprise! Leivinia Birdway comes in style and with awesome presentation, so bow down to my greatness!"

"Onii-chan! We came to save-"

But Amazora, who came running with still slightly red Kanzaki, stopped in mid sentence as they took in that Touma was not only free, but with the cup of tea in hand.

"Onee-chan?!"

Gokusai Kaibi smiled innocently.

"Hello everybody. As you see, I saved Touma-san. I even had time to make some delicious tea"

Touma nodded, as Birdway reddened while gritting her teeth.

"You made me look like a fool with that wasted entrance!"

"Oh? I am so sorry..."

"You don't sound sorry at all!"

"Hey, Touma, who is the little runt?!"

"I give you a little runt!"

"Onee-chan. Why are you here? We were so close..." Amazora said, stomping her feet while looking at Kaibi.

"Hmm? Well, I got information that this moron left house suddenly and it made me suspicious. So I took a leave from the school, persuaded some kind fellow to let me in to the monitoring station, and well... arrived here after some more persuading."

"Measure Heart sure is amazing. I actually kind of wanted to see how this rescuing from the prison business works" Touma grinned at Kaibi who gave him her most charming smile.

"Oi, Birdie-san, I think we have to do what we discussed earlier with Maika" Amazora muttered as she and Birdway watched the scene unfold with dead eyes.

"Yeah. As frustrating as it may be, we will not be outstaged even more today"

"Oh, come to think of it. You said that someone informed you about me leaving abruptly. Who-"

"TOOOOOOOOOUMAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Index emerged from around the corner. She had her hands filled with various treats. After putting them into her mouth and swallowing, she resumed her charge.

"Touma, there is not a moment I can leave you alone. And it's lunch time already. The lunch I tried to make exploded in this horrid machine of the devil you call microwave, so now I am so hungry!"

She bared her teeth, but after noticing Othinus giving her a look, she changed the direction of the bite.

CHOMP!

"Now it hurths lessh, right Fouma?!"

Apparently, the nun still needed baby steps on her road to controlling her wrath.

"My hand! My hand is about to be bit off! This is an improvement, but why this?!"

In the midst of chaos, Konori Mii slowly woke up.

"Ugh... what happened..." she mumbled

"Index, I am sorry... you can... let go...now!"

But when Touma's hand was finally released, it was so sudden that he tumbled down and the impetus caused him to slid between the legs of fallen Judgement member until he hit something lightly and soft.

'Is that... fabric?'

"Gyah?!"

Konori's eyes widened and she instinctively tighten her legs together, which caused Touma to try and raise up. After few attempts he managed to do so, with the girl still on top of him.

'Why do I get the strangest case of déjà vu here?'

Othinus recognized this human helmet as well and sighed.

"Okay, ladies and gentleman, we all know that at this point no one will listen to my explanations. So farewell, Kamijou Touma has lot to live for!"

Touma spoke, before he (and Konori) turned around... and ran straight into the wall, while poor girl with glasses tumbled down yet again.

"Sorry for that. I will treat onto something... affordable... as an apology..."

"Wait... you are still in custody. You can't just-"

"Onii-chan! Let's get out of here!"

And so, Amazora zoomed away, dragging Touma around, while Kaibi and Birdway left still discussing various things.

"Would you like tea?"

"Japanese tea tastes awful!"

"Actually, this one is imported from UK"

"Geh... then surely you can't make it right!"

Index bowed to still stunned Konori.

"Even though I am still hungry, thanks for the food from your fridge. It was delicious!"

Kanzaki also bowed before her

"Sorry for the intrusion. I need to go back to the airport with my work partner so this situation won't repeat"

Stiyl just stared at her before muttering

"Wish I could say it was a pleasure, but it really wasn't. Farewell."

And so, Konori was left in the room that looked as if a typhoon went through it. She peaked through the hole to notice the group escaping in a distance.

She blushed crimson red as the humiliating memory of Touma's head hitting her panties played in her mind on loop.

"Kamijou! This isn't over yet!"

(SOME TIME LATER)

"Onii-chan, me and Birdie-san decided to change our approach"

"God damn it, say my surname right for once. "

"But it's funnier that way! Birdway sounds like an Animal Planet documentary..."

"I will remember that! And yes, we want to test something out... but we honestly definitely need some private space..."

"S-Should I be afraid?"

The group split up. Stiyl and Kanzaki went to the airport, Index and Kaibi decided to go on a grocery shopping together. With Othinus switching places from Touma to Index (she wanted to personally pick the delicacies appropriate to her size) the boy continued his day with little sister squad upon strong insistence.

"If you want somewhere quiet, we can try my old place... that reminds me, how did you even know where I live now, Birdway?"

"I... I have my ways and let that suffice"

But when they arrived...

"Wow, it's impeccably clean" Touma admitted, looking around his old dorm" Lessar and company really did a great job?"

Birdway gagged.

"She is here too?! My god, it's like a fever dream..."

"Onii-chan, I am a bit hungry now. Do you happen to have oysters in here?"

"Firstly, I wouldn't be able to afford jars of oysters at my old place unlike you, my fancy princess. Secondly, no one is here, so there definitely shouldn't be anything in the-"

But Touma's words were cut short when he opened the fridge and slim female arm handed him a small box

"There are no oysters here, but I can recommend a crab paste"

"What the-... LESSAR, WHY ARE YOU IN MY FRIDGE?!"

With the shelves taken out, Lessar was sitting in the empty space, chewing something that presumably came from a few things on fridge's doors. Her mechanical tail was bending along the lines of the cooling machine's walls.

"It's horny onee-chan! Wow, aren't you bothered by the cold?!"

"What can I say?" the imp girl stretched out, coming out of the fridge" I ran hot, it's a natural talent. Lover Boy, feel free to eat the food from places were my thighs were. I guess my skin will only improve the taste"

"I think I will pass on that... I always wondered how you withstood the Syberia with lacrosse uniform..." Touma mused out loud.

"For me, it seems like she wanted to catch a cold to take advantage of you" Birdway poked her fellow englishwoman, who grinned slyly.

"Me?! Noooo... of course not. Whoever would want to get sick together so he or she would spend couple of consecutive days in one bed, with a lot of time to spare and even more positions to test out? Certainly not someone like you, with a sexual energy of frozen dead fish"

"You have no idea what I can or can't do in that area, so I would use your words carefully." Birdway whispered to Lessar's ear" I have tons of ideas what to do, all written down for the reference. And more than enough will to put it in motion"

"Oh, is that a challenge?! Well, I know for a fact that me and him will finally do it, it will be the best time in my life and whatever I will do, I will leave him breathless. The only thing you can do to make him breathless is choke him in one of your childish attempts to play the mob boss"

"Is that so? Well, maybe I see no reason to leave him breathless. I would be so good that he would be begging to repeat it over and over again, and I need him to breath for that..."

"Wow... horny onee-chan and Birdie-san fire verbal shots like my gattling gun..." Amazora observed the small argument in such intensity that she only lacked the popcorn to go with it.

Birdway than spoke on normal volume, addressing Amazora

"Gokusai, don't associate yourself with her. She is a total S-L-U-T."

"Hey! It starts with 'miss' for you!"

"Oh, so you can spell? I never saw you read anything, so I wasn't sure!"

Suddenly, both girls were grabbed by their shoulders and forcibly turned around to face the stern looking Touma.

"Listen, I know you two, and because I know you, if I leave your discussion going for another minute, you will likely blow up my dorm. Which, need I to remind, was renovated 2nd time in a very short period of time and even if I decide to live elsewhere for now, I would rather have it intact. So don't go overboard, is that clear?"

Both girls, stunned and shocked at the authority in Touma's voice, nodded quickly.

'Wow...' Birdway thought, trying to hide rising excitement' It's one thing when he is caring, but when he is so direct and commanding... I feel...'

At the same time, smug face of Lessar closed in on her.

"Such a turn on, huh?"

"S-Stop it! Why did I ever start to discuss it with you of all people?! I am not lowering myself to your level and speaking about all those perverted matters anymore"

"Sure... oh, as for your question, Kamijou! To tell you the truth, I was hiding, because I accidentally spilled "liquid pink nail polish + hair dye in one" on Bayloupe's hair" Lessar tried her best no to laugh" She looks absolutely ridiculous and even though it will wash away in 2 or 3 days, she is really, REALLY pissed. Thus I am hiding and she didn't assume to check in here"

"So I can assume that if Bayloupe is still here, that means-"

As if on cue, the doors to the bathroom opened.

Apparently, Lancis and Floris decided to take a bath together. It wasn't anything particularly weird, since they were basically non-blood related sisters. But after they exited the bathroom, steaming and still slightly wet, they froze in place at the sight of unexpected company.

"Ka... Kaka...Kakakami...Kamij..."

As if in some shojo manga, Lancis' face turned slowly red, from the chin to the roots of her hair. With a somewhat squeaky sound, she quickly turned around and fled to the bathroom.

'Hmm? Was Lancis-san always so bashful?'

Floris fared better, although her cheeks were also noticeably red.

"W-What are you doing here? You should say that you are coming over, damn it!"

"Emm... Floris-san, this is my home and while I am more than happy for you to still be here, I don't really need an announcement-"

"I know that, but it would still be nice!" the blond pointed the finger at him. "I would dress up into something nice and-"

Her towel, not supported anymore, promptly fell off.

Everyone stared in silence for a few seconds.

"Don't worry onee-chan" the surprising straight woman of comedy, Gokusai Amazora, offered a comment" You are not bad like this either"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Floris screamed, also locking herself in the bathroom.

"So that happened" Birdway sighed and motioned to Touma" Come, it's far too lively here. We need to move"

(LATER...)

So they moved. And with them, one more person.

"Look. We and that fool are spending time in private"

Lessar nodded.

"As if, just the three of us"

Another nod.

"Which means without you. Explicitly without you here!"

Lessar shrugged.

"Is there something you don't want me to see?"

"..."

"..."

"TELESMA BOMBARDMENT!"

"Woah?!"

When the precisely timed attack ended and coughing Lessar recovered, a bus was carrying Touma, Birdway, and Amazora away.

The girl got the text on her phone.

'Sorry about that. I promise to get in touch with you later on'

Lessar chuckled, slowly getting to her feet.

"It is a date then. I honestly can't wait" she said, with more warmth and romantic sentiment than usual.

And then she felt a truly terrifying presence beside herself

"The only date you are getting..."

Lessar turned up very slowly to see a furious Bayloupe with a very, very pink hair, standing there menacingly. Or as much as she could, given that she looked like she came from the bubble gum commercial.

"... is the one with death!"

"B-Bayloupe! I-I must say, I don't if you realize, pink is rather popular this season!"

"No one touches my hair, Lessar! My amazing silver hair, he said I looked sexy with it!"

"If by him you mean Kamijou, you just missed him. And I will gladly miss you too, and wait till you calm down..."

"I am not waiting two days for that thing to wash off! Time to die~"

Needless to say, Lessar became rather occupied.

(MEANWHILE)

Finally, they settled on karaoke.

"Tch, we still didn't do the proper plan... but I guess we can relax a little bit here before going to that..."

It was late evening. Sun was still not setting, yet lowered significantly as they entered the bar with karaoke lounge.

As they entered the cabin, they ordered some drinks. Sitting down, Amazora took the song catalogue and browsed it. Birdway peeked behind her arm, until she noticed a certain song

"Hmm... this one can work"

"Can we sing this one?

Touma looked at the choice and smiled nervously

"It's a sweet choice, but... I am not really good at singing in English"

"Oh, come on, onii-chan, I won't judge you" Amazora patted him reassuringly on the back.

"I suppose I also won't do it... much" added Birdway.

Their drinks arrived. After rehydrating themselves, Touma nodded

"Alright then, little sisters. Time to do this!"

They played the song. It was a version meant to switch between male and female vocals.

And then they began.

"Hey brother..."

(LATER)

When the song was finished, they were all grinning to each other. Even Birdway had a sincere, warm smile and Amazora was practically beaming with happiness.

"You did great! Although pronunciation... pfft!"

"You said you won't judge!"

"I said 'a lot'. I am obliged to have a little fun at your expense"

That state of spirit was contagious and Touma felt incredibly happy as well. Being with those two was much more fun than he initially expected.

He felt so extatic that he could swear that the room started to swirl around, alongside his-

Wait... that wasn't just an expression. The room truly felt like it was spinning around.

Birdway blinked a few times. She also must have sensed that something is wrong.

She quickly pulled something out of her skirt and handed it to Touma.

"Take this and don't lose it..."

"What?!" he asked in confusion, hiding

"Just do...it... I can't believe I've been...fooled...like that..."

And then, she tumbled down to the floor.

"Hey, Birdway! What's going on?!"

"Onii-chan... why is everything... going..."

THUD!

"Amazora? You too? Hey, what's wrong with you? No, wait... dizziness... fainting... the..."

His eyes focused on the table despite rotating colours in his vision.

"The drinks... the drinks were... spiked? Shit, I have to get... them... out of... heeeeere..."

He lost sense of equilibrium and after one lost desperate attempt to reach for the girls, he as well tumbled down into the darkness.

(LATER...)

Touma awoke in the deserted alley, in the pile of trash.

"Ow... what the hell happ-"

Then his clarity of mind returned.

"Crap, that's right! Amazora and Birdway are in trouble! Were they kidnapped? Damn, we can't have another kidnapping fiasco. Then again, with those two, I am more inclined to pity the kidnapper than anyone else. Still, I need to hurry."

He searched into his pocket and put out the thing Birdway gave him before passing out.

"That little cunning... I thought magicians hated technology like this!"

It was a small broach that displayed a poor quality visual map of the alley he was in, alongside glowing red trail.

It was a tracking device. And if Kamijou was not mistaken, Birdway had the signal's transmitter.

He could only guess why Birdway had it on her. Was she expecting to put it on someone else? Or did she give it someone trusted when she headed to a truly dangerous mission?

Maybe even the most sassy and cunning magician of western hemisphere wanted someone to be by her side from time to time, to find her in need?

Whatever was the reason, Birdway sensed the danger and gave him the means to find it.

And so he took off running.

After following the trail for almost three minutes, he nearly collided with returning Kaibi and Index.

"Touma, what are you doing here?"

"We thought you were in the other district when we travelled for the ingredients?"

"I was elsewhere... but things happened and... look, there is no time to waste! Amazora and Birdway are in trouble"

"What sort of trouble?" Kaibi penetrated Touma with a look that caused him to avert his eyes.

"We were separated... and they were taken!"

"Taken?! What the hell?! You are supposed to be responsible one when I am away!"

Touma was almost visibly shrinking when Kaibi berated him in his angry wife mode.

However, Index interrupted them, putting them back on track with the most important issue at hand.

"Touma's right, there is no time to waste! We must help them"

"Human, do you have any indication where they can be?" Othinus asked from Index's shoulder.

"More than that, Birdway predicted this in last moment and gave me a tracking device"

Kaibi seized his hand and ran forward

"Let's go save our sister then! Lead the way!"

"W-Wait for me! I am coming too!" Index and Othinus also tried to follow after them.

(MEANWHILE)

When Amazora and Birdway woke up, they were in a rather unsavory place that looked like a abandoned supermarket of some sort. And of course, as they crouched down tied up, they weren't alone.

Dozens of teenage criminals were staring at them with a mocking grins. Behind that crowd, a conversation was going on.

"I told you that was a great catch!"

"Two foreigners! You can do so much with that? So what will we do now?!"

"Rob them? They must be rich! Ask for money? Maybe make them our... mascots?"

"The karaoke ruse was a great success. It's all thanks to you, boss"

The crowd parted, and an older guy, looking as if he was in his 20s, walked up to the girls. He wore a leather jacket, a hat resembling a fedora, and had couple of long scars across his face.

"Well, little misses, as you see, me and my friends decided to invite you over to our humble base. There are so many things we can do with nice little ladies from abroad that we simply can't decide. Based on what you do, we might make up your mind towards something that benefits both of us. Now, tell us where are your parents?"

"No parents for you" Amazora stated with a smile" I have 2 sisters and an older brother. And when he gets here, you will wish you were far, far away."

The thugs looked at each other... and started laughing.

"It's not a time for jokes. No one is coming for you!"

"I believe and love my onii-chan. But it would be bad if he came here and get hurt... so if you come close, I might tell you where you can find my sisters. They will surely pay you"

The boss looked at his companions. But as the tied girls didn't pose any actual danger, he leaned over Amazora.

Who smiled sweetly... before spitting the man straight into the eye.

With a surprised scream, the boss recoiled, as face of small girl turned into a fierce visage that would make her sister Kaibi proud.

"My name is Gokusai Amazora. I may be small and not as talented as my sisters. I can only shoot and do heavy lifting, but I also want to be the most lovely little sister in Academy City. When I grow up, I will make onii-chan crazy for me so no way in hell I am selling my family to ones who want to use them. If you hurt onee-chans and onii-chan, I will not rest until you all pay!"

"Wow... little dress has some guts. Although... you just sold your identity to the enemy, idiot"

"Oh... oopsie"

"You little brat! Do you even think straight? You are at our mercy, so stop tempting fate"

A quiet giggle was heard. Then it turned into snickering, chuckling, and then a full blown laughter. The stunned gang of kidnappers observed as Leivinia Birdway laughed on her spot.

"The fuck are you laughing at?!" roared the boss.

"Oh... I am sorry... it's just... you are too much... I knew you were stupid, but not that much. I mean, I can applaud you on kidnapping me, cause I am genuinely from abroad, but why bring that classless twat?"

"Maybe because I'm prettier than you. They clearly took you as a compensation prize" Amazora offered with no shame.

"Huh, yeah right. Because they think blond = foreign. Band of idiots"

The boss's eyes lit up dangerously, as he straighten up to the full height.

"Looks like you both have quite sharp tongues and need to be taught a small lesson about hierarchy around this place. Since you pissed me of first... let's begin with you..."

He took a swing with his arm. But before the slap reached Amazora...

It stopped. Or rather, it was halted by a girl's hand.

"Yeah, I must stop you there. As annoying as she is, she was also distracting enough for me to burn through ropes. And as unpleasant as it might be, she is my rival, so if anyone is going to kick her ass, it's going to be me"

"What? You are... but how... how long..."

With one arm free, Leivinia Birdway smiled at the shocked gang leader.

"For quite a while actually. I just wanted to have your full attention, dumbasses, when I do this!"

Her restrains turned into dust and smoke as she swung her wooden wand.

"You didn't consider this as something important, right? You needed to bind me tighter!"

With a swing, the wand turned into a sword, and the powerful gust of wind blew some of the thugs away... while also releasing Amazora.

"You, restraining me?" the english sorceress grinned sadistically" Don't make me laugh! I toppled enemies from beyond your realm of experience. In dreams of my dreams I don't consider you a threat! So you should all just be a good gravel and bow to my greatness. The only one I can allow to take control of me and make my heart a mess is also an utter fool, so I might do this right and blast you all to kingdom come!"

"W-What are you doing? There are just two small girls! GET THEM!"

The fight ensued.

Birdway was like a walking calamity, almost dancing around with her magic weapon changing shape. Some enemies were blasted by powerful jet of water, others tossed to the wall by wind, burnt by explosions of fire, or sucked into earth by quicksand.

Amazora, although less sophisticated, was also doing good. With open palms, she released bursts of unfocused telekinetic pressure, a trick that she learned from Maidono, repelling the opponents away and into each other. She also grabbed totally terrified enemies thanks to her invisible support and tossed them into the air. And the true hell was unleashed when she found a machine gun. Although it was not exactly a gattling gun, it didn't make all that much of a difference to her. Even if she wasn't going for the kill, the results were not pretty.

Overall, battle was going smoothly.

Except...

"OOOF!" A flying man collided with Leivinia Birdway, who glared furiously at Amazora after picking herself up.

"Watch it!"

"My arms felt tired!"

"SSSSSSSHH!" A stream of fire zoomed straight into the group of attackers... and eradicating the back of Amazora's dress.

"My hand slipped!"

"My butt is sticking out! Hmm... will, onii-chan like this?"

BOOM!

"My foot slipped too!

SMASH!

"I didn't see you there!"

WHAM!

"How clumsy of me!"

Rivals would be rivals, no matter what.

"Leave some for me!"

"When I am having that much fun?" Birdway laughed again, as condensed ball of fire exploded before her.

(FEW MINUTES EARLIER, SOME DISATANCE AWAY)

"Hmm... where did they go? I swear, I am not letting him run away from me..."

A rather frazzled Konori Mii was trying to locate a certain group of escapees. She searched quite a lot already and with extensive use of her ability, but to no avail.

"This is beyond of what I usually do... since my gang days, I never got so invested in particular individual's case." she mused out loud during her search "Come to think of it, why am I so interested?"

Like Misaka Mikoto, she ventured through the city to find a certain boy, trying to convince him to join forces. Like Shirai Kuroko, she had mixed opinions on him, with annoyance bordering with surprised fascination. Like Saten Ruiko, she got invested in mysteries of that seemingly normal boy because of benefits that he could bring to Judgement but also because he seemed like someone entirely different from the outside view. Like Uiharu Kazari, she felt like being left out of something much bigger than what she knew, that was going behind her back.

Pun or no pun, Konori had great eyes. The glasses could be misleading, but she had ability to gaze and reveal many things when confronted with someone.

Yet that boy, who seemed like a hero and troublemaker in one, who cared yet also didn't took credit, who fought for such idealistic reasons... Konori could not pinpoint any certainty.

Just like Measure Heart couldn't create proper emotional distance with Kamijou Touma's heart, or Move Point teleport him away, Clairvoyance did not reveal his secrets.

But that make Konori all the more determined. She didn't quite know what she would do if she found Touma. But what she did know is that her eyes didn't want to lose sight of that man.

In that moment, she heard explosion from some distance to the left.

"What? Explosion... that area is supposed to be abandoned and ready for demolition. It's better to check this out, even if it's not them... it's like a labyrynth but I am sure I will find the source eventually..."

(AT THE SAME TIME)

"Well, what does it feel like to be looked down upon by a small girl?"

Birdway grinned, as the gang boss slowly rose to his feet.

"Tch, are you some Gemstone from abroad? Well, that doesn't matter. Even if you defeated this group, the strength of weak levels is always in numbers! My reinforcements will be here any time-"

But at the same time, the main door's to abandoned market were kicked out of hinges with such a force that they flew through the air and slammed the boss to the ground again.

Kamijou Touma stepped through the doorway, followed shortly by Kaibi and Index.

"Holy shit, I actually managed to do this... Amazora! Birdway! Are you alright?" Touma shouted as he and Kaibi came to hug Amazora. Birdway was too pulled into the hug, despite her protests.

"More or less..." she fumed after being released" Well, less than that guy who kidnapped us. You interrupted his speech or something lame like that. Ekhm..."

She shifted from one foot to the other.

"It's not like I really care all that much given how strong I am... but you were in hurry to reach here, right?"

Touma smiled and put a hand on top of her head.

"Of course. I was very worried about you two."

"We are very happy you are alright" Index also voiced her relief as she tried to catch her breath in the corner of the room.

"Who... the hell are you?! Why are you interfering? Who are you to those girls?" grumbled the scarred man, once again picking himself up.

"Me?" Touma said, stepping protectively in front of Birdway "I am just a normal high school student. But today, I will be more than this. I don't fully understand their reasoning or anything like that... but from today, as long as they wish for it and not anything else, I am their older brother. And I came to take them home"

Beside Touma's back and outstretched arm, Leivinia Birdway blushed like she never did before in her life. Similarly, hearts appeared in Gokusai Amazora's eyes as she stared at Touma with her hands clasped together.

"Onii-chan..."

"I am her older sister and will kick your ass on the behalf of Gokusai family!" yelled Kaibi.

Meanwhile, Index tilted her head under her habit.

"I am just a nun, with no familial bonds... but I still won't tolerate such a violation against the law of God!"

"One freak after the other... and what is that on your arm? A stripping tooth fairy?"

"No, but I can kick few of your teeth for such a blasphemy against godhood..." spat out the aforementioned 'fairy' causing the man to actually get a step back.

"W-Whatever! I don't care if you are brother, sister, nun, or a unicorn! You are all going down, because they are here!"

The doors to the back of the abandoned shop opened and the stream of young men emerged. Similar group appeared from behind Index and Kaibi, forcing their way through the main entrance.

"We are surrounded." Touma muttered, scanning the area around them. "Let's stick together, everyone!"

"Don't worry, we can just repeat what we did before you-"

WHAM!

Using the moment of distraction, the gang leader pounced forward like a puma and slammed into Gokusai Kaibi who fell back. She managed to recover her balance and quickly point the gun...

... at the young man pointing his own gun at Amazora's head.

"Amazora!" Kaibi yelled, weapon trembling in her hands.

"Damn, he managed to snatch her!" Birdway clicked her tongue.

Touma clenched his fists.

"Okay, calm down everybody. Amazora, be brave for a moment..."

"I am sorry onii-chan, he surprised me..."

"That's not your fault. What do you want from us?"

"Here is the deal. I will take that little blondie there and swap her for this one. The ones from abroad are always the best when it comes to money their parents are willing to pay, so I will be benevolent and settle for her. Don't try anything funny, straight shot to the temple will always be faster"

Birdway waved her hand.

"I don't really mind what you do with her"

"You saved her before by stopping me from slapping her. And if not for you... what about them?"

Touma and Kaibi were pale, both tense and ready to attack, but unable to.

"Okay then. Take me hostage, swap me with her. I will just kick your asses first time I get a chance."

"Oh, which is why you won't get it. Everyone has a weak point, you know. I may be some unnamed guy from nowhere, but I did learn to watch people. I don't know if you care about your friends or family, but you clearly care about this so called brother of yours, even if you tried to deny it... and you also care about what he thinks of you. Wouldn't he hate you if you brought a death order on this cuite pie here"

"Birdway..." Touma whispered slowly. Kaibi also watched the girl with intense gaze.

The british magician said nothing, but she slowly hid her wand into the dress.

"Who is stupid now? It seems I was right after all. Now, for the grand finale. Now, heroic brother-san..." the scars seemed to stretch out as the man in a fedora spoke slowly " I want you, specifically you, to knock this little sister of yours out, to the point of unconsciousness"

"W-What?"

"That's right. Knock her out, you can even leave her in a slightly bad state, what's important is that she must be alive"

"You... you are sick" whispered Index, as Touma looked at Birdway with fear in his eyes.

Although she was still keeping her composure, he saw that she also felt uneasy.

"O-Okay, you fool. Make it good. You already hit me before. So come on, I am a big girl" Birdway tried to sound as nonchalant as ever, but tone of her voice betrayed her true emotions.

Touma's fist shook as he slowly raised it... but stopped, just before the punch.

"Hey? What are you-"

"I...I can't..."

"What's wrong?! Y-You punch people all the bloody time! So why are you hesitating now?! Hit me!"

"Touma, if you don't do it, Amazora will die!" Kaibi said, watching her sister at a gunpoint.

She didn't know if she could risk using Measure Heart in this situation. Every risky move seemed potentially lethal.

"Onii-chan, take Birdie-san and run away..." Amazora tried to say before the gun was pressed deeper onto her skin.

"You keep quiet, little brat, or I will pull the trigger regardless of everything!"

"If he can't do it, let me or some of your guys to do-"

"No. It must be him. He says he is average, but I think he is actually trouble. If he and little miss foreigner share any sort of bond of non-blood related siblinghood, like me and my gang brothers do, harming her will violate that bond. He will be broken, at least long enough to not interfere"

What Amazora and Birdway did was not because they cared for each other. Despite sense of comradery that started to develop, it wasn't nearly strong enough for them to protect one another in a situation like this.

Consciously or not, they wanted to avoid causing Kamijou Touma pain. Even Leivinia Birdway, who would betray, backstab, trample upon, and manipulate almost everyone, changed in that regard when it came to Kamijou Touma.

In their specific way, they developed feelings for him. Even though they were once enemies, they befriended him, had their ups and downs, and discovered their true love along the way.

Like the true siblings, no one truly wanted the hurt of another.

Birdway hoped that she could end the conflict and ease Touma pain by letting herself be struck down and Touma relishing Amazora's rescue.

Amazora wanted to sacrifice herself so Touma would not have to do something that clearly shredded his heart to pieces and escape with Birdway.

But they all knew, Kamijou Touma more than anyone.

Leaving any of the two was never an option for him.

And that's why he was in so much pain right now.

Amazora had Kaibi and Rikuri. Leivinia had Patricia and their parents. They both have lives, things they held dear and places to return to.

Speaking from purely logical point of view, saving Amazora was more profitable. After all, there was a chance that she will die while Birdway had to be kept alive.

Because it was a hollow delusion. He knew that they wanted Birdway to be incapacitated in a way she wouldn't be able to retaliate later on. That would require not one punch, but many severely heavy ones... as well as causing damage he would not like to even imagine. All for the sake of senseless violence born out of greed. He also didn't know what they will do with her later on. Maybe they would also cause Birdway harm and pretend they saved her from some imaginary accident to get money and escape before truth was revealed.

He couldn't leave her in their hands, he just couldn't...

But his time was running out...

"So, what will it be, heroic brother-san? One, harm to one sister and destruction of her love for you? Or two, death to the other and betrayal of her blood family? Pick one because if you don't... your punch won't be the only one that will follow..."

'Birdway... Amazora... I am sorry... I care too much, much more than I realized... but if both of you suffer because of my inability to act... what was the point of me being there for you...'

Index bit her lip. Kaibi looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Why do you care so much?! I actually hated you ever since we first met! You were annoying, amateurish, idiotic... stupid... fool... so why you don't want to do it?!" Birdway chocked out.

She tried to antagonize him. But even she knew that it sounded empty.

Amazora looked at him and Birdway. Othinus grit her teeth.

It seemed like the time slowed down as he opened his lips...

Wait... that wasn't merely a subjective feeling. Time really did slow down.

"Seems like you are in rather major trouble..." Niang-Niang whispered to him, floating nearby" And with the ethical dilemma too... I was watching for a while now, and it's truly a situation with no good ending"

"Niang-Niang!" Touma screamed, not even questioning why the Shijie-Xian decided to appear now" Please, can you help me? You can save them with your powers, right?"

"Well, I can do many things. All it takes is a thought. Being a benevolent goddess who happens to enjoy having you around and because my best friend would literally cry a river if someone happened to you, I will give you a solution. But there is a small thing to go with it. You will save them, not me"

"Niang-Niang..."

They both turned to see Othinus, who too was seemingly unaffected by the speed of time that didn't allow for proper cognitive functions, let alone movement.

"What are you planning? Do you intend to-"

"Of course! Kamijou, you have something in you that will help you save them and defeat the enemy. Use it now. Use the power of the dragon of darkness!"

Touma stood still for a moment, before straightening up.

"If that's the thing you ask in exchange for their salvation, I shall do it"

"Human, you are not aware what-"

"I know it is not something I usually do. But I chose to master this power. And even if this is not the intended enemy, I have no choice! Othinus, I don't know what will happen but take Index away!"

"But..."

"Splendid!" Niang-Niang clapped her hands" If you listen to the source of your power, everything should be fine... possibly. You will have a short moment of confusion from their side. And I will fix your hoodie later on!"

"My hood-"

Weapons extended from Niang-Niang's sleeve. And in the next moment, Touma's right arm was cut clean off.

Time resumed its flow.

Touma stumbled towards Kaibi, bleeding profusely.

"What..."

"Three: I am saving both of them!"

"Holy shit, his arm!" even the gang leader was stunned by the boy suddenly losing his limb with no apparent reason to be found.

"Kaibi-san, when it begins, I want you to take Amazora and Birdway and run away from here"

"What? But-"

"Just do it!"

Then, few things happened almost at once.

Using the confusion, Amazora twisted her head and bit strongly through the wrist of the arm holding a gun. The weapon was dropped and Kaibi, not letting Touma's words distract her, fired a shot at man's leg, which caused her sister to finally be released.

At the same time, a voice spoke in Touma's head. It was the voice of Obsidian, the eyeless black dragon.

'Human, focus on my voice. We have some time before others or him notice that the seal was broken. I can help you face the threat if you channel me through your body. My power is dangerous but only if you are unfocused. Feel the energy within your chest and imagine that you spread it around you...then when we unite, seize their emotions as I guide you...'

"Let's get out of here!" Kaibi grabbed Birdway and Amazora by the hand.

"Nun, out, now!"

"But Touma..."

"We have to trust him!"

And just when they managed to tumble out to the alley outside...

The abandoned market became covered in darkness. It was as if the pitch black starless night suddenly ascended on earth.

The group outside was shocked.

Both Index and Othinus gasped.

There were angry shouts from the darkness, as the men tried to find their way through the blackness.

But suddenly, said blackness started to swirl and suck itself into the center.

Othinus' skin crawled.

"We need to get out of here. Now!"

"What? But-"

"Don't look at him! If we look into what's coming... no mortal being can gaze into that and have their mind left intact. It's primordial fear older than stars and time. Flee, you fools!"

In that moment, a silhouette emerged from the dark mist. Or rather, it seemed that darkness within the abandoned market darkened even more with his presence.

Birdway and Amazora suddenly got their eyes covered by Index and Kaibi respectively.

Older Gokusai sister tried to use Measure Heart to increase her emotional distance from source of fear. Index could have used knowledge from her grimoires to shield herself from the influence that they were feeling.

It was futile.

In one moment, fear descended upon them.

Kaibi felt herself shaking. Index felt her throat go dry.

Then they ran away. Without pretense or hiding it, even Birdway and Amazora, who were not directly affected.

It was clear that Kamijou Touma was in control, because only after a moment, they felt better. The influence of dragon of darkness affected them only minimally.

Still, everyone felt it.

It was the feeling of being watched inside the seemingly empty space.

The feeling of dread that you experienced just before you discovered something terrible.

The tension when your blood ran cold and no one could move during horrifying accident.

The sensation that almost every sentient thing felt at least once in their life while fearing the dark.

The instinctive fears, older than human thought, making your heart race, and driving your mind into madness beyond any logic.

The sea of nightmares, whirlwind of horror, swarm of fear, breakdown of life, mirror of maddness.

All those instincts and fears were amplified by the power of dragon of darkness. Those were primordial emotions, strongly engraved into every being who cared about life and survival at least a little bit. Those were very simple feelings, but often, simplicity could be called ultimate sophistication.

And whatever group on the outside managed to glimpse, was nowhere near the full might of this power.

All the people inside the market went pale. Every single one trembled strongly. Some peed their pants, few vomited. Everyone frantically backed down, trying to ran away like a stampede of wild animals.

Kamijou Touma stood at the center of it all. He was in control of this power, united with the dragon of darkness. They were one and one could not differentiate between them in that moment.

His body was still roughly the same, but his right arm was made entirely out of shadows. Neither liquid nor gas, it seemed to emanate pressure in the same way black hole would. It drew people's attention even if they wanted desperately to flee the fears invading their minds.

But the most crucial and possibly terrifying difference were the eyes. They lacked sclera and were entirely black, as if the pupils engulfed the front of the eyeball in its entirety.

'Slowly, steadily... it's like a harmony... feel their hearts and push them forward...'

There was no place for error for Touma. According to obsidian dragon, each power that Touma had to master took risk of consuming the user, but used properly, it was a key to great wisdom and might. Now, each emotion and fear felt tangible to him. He was able to resonate with them as if he was performing musical piece.

'Now... gather just a bit of power... and release it!'

Wave of darkness washed over the area.

Every single man still present fainted.

Touma smiled widely while raising his shadowy limb.

"Oh right, I am getting good at this! I didn't kill them... did I?"

'No, they are just temporarily overloaded'

"This is Judgement! What's going on... here..."

Touma recognized that voice. And in one moment of confusion, and desire for the girl to avoid what was she about to see, he lost control.

It was only for a few seconds.

But unprepared Konori Mii took full force of it.

Rather than at Kamijou Touma, she looked at the shadow stretching beside him, at darkness that was true body of dragon that incarnated within the boy.

Ghostly in the darkness, beyond lone silhouette, shadows were taking form. Shapeless and static, they turned into myriad of monstrosities that didn't even form a comprehensible images. It was different for each person, it was subtle and beyond rationality.

Her heart sped up. Sweat covered her brow. She felt frozen in place, but when the shadow retracted, she took a step back. If she looked sideways, she would notice that single strands of her hair started to fall off.

Konori screamed as she frantically ran away from the shadowy alley.

'Human, the female... her mind was...'

"No... Konori, I am so sorry!"

The shadows dissipated, as Touma's eyes returned to normal alongside the light in the alley. He grabbed his head.

"I never... I never should have used this like I did! This wasn't like me at all! Konori, wait!"

He snatched his cut off right arm from the floor as he took off running after her.

(LATER...)

I took a little bit of time, but he found Konori in the abandoned building not so far away.

Touma didn't waste time. The girl collapsed and her breathing was erratic, just like her heartbeat. She was looking around but clearly not seeing him.

"Niang-Niang! If you are here, answer me!"

And with a flash, there she was.

"I... made a mistake. I saved everyone, but... she is someone unrelated to this. I got cocky and messed up, so I must save her. Is it possible to reverse this mental contamination thing?"

"Everybody makes mistakes. That's why you need to train. As for helping that girl..."

'Reverse is possible...but that's...' the voice of Obsidian seemed hesitant.

"You will not like it. It will be very hard. Some things may feel worse than death..." Niang-Niang mused, but Touma grabbed her by her oriental dress.

"Even if it was by total accident, I lost control and hurt her. I must fix this! Besides, this is the only reason why I wanted to master power of darkness to begin with. To purify the fears. So I swear I will bring Konori Mii back or die trying. Her mind will be broken if I won't do anything, right?"

Niang-Niang sighed.

"Be still, alongside her. Use the dragon of darkness to establish a link between your minds. I will slow down your bleeding. Later I will also reconnect Imagine Breaker and seal you there for a time being. Thus... either you succeed or die."

'I will hide the presence of the pathway from other beings in Imagine Breaker as long as I can... what you'll have to do will be this...' spoke the dragon within his mind.

(?)

Kamijou Touma materialized in dark space. There was a gleaming figure beside him, that was slowly consumed by the shadows. They enveloped her like scales or tendrils of pulsing darkness against fragments of pure white light emanating from her skin. He knew who that was. After all, his spirit bonded with hers to help her heal.

Kamijou Touma was looking at the spirit of corrupted Konori Mii.

"I was reckless." he said, his voice echoing slightly" I thought I already controlled it perfectly. But I was wrong and you suffered because of it. So I promise, I won't leave you until you are healed. And even then, I will atone for this by making it so you won't have to feel fear like this ever again."

Their spirits were connected. They managed to bypass Imagine Breaker to achieve this.

The healing was as simple and symbolic, as it was painful and daunting.

"That's why I want you to open up. Please let me in. And I will make sure that life will feel beautiful to you again. I will not reject your fears, I will share them for you!"

The method to heal the attack of darkness was...

"So lay all your pain on me! Give me all your fear! If it means that we will both be able to laugh together and return to normal life... I will stay with you and shoulder everything you feel insecure about... everything this darkness amplified, I will accept and relive!"

...taking other's fear and darkness, reliving them as one's own.

The small petal of darkness floated towards Kamijou, and exposing the glowing whiteness of Konori's spirit. When it touched him, he felt pain and sorrow causing through him like poison.

In physical world, his body convulsed. As confusing as it could seem, he was conscious back there and in the mysterious black void existing somewhere between the mind and the spirit.

Back in the spiritual plane, Touma floated closer to Konori and smiled.

"That's right. I will not leave you until it's done... let it go now..."

The swarm of dark petals, like a shadow sakura, rushed through him.

Through almost entire night, Kamijou Touma fought and endured pain, sharing emotional and psychological burden that was eroding Konori Mii.

Throughout all of this time, his hand never stopped reassuringly squeezing girl's own palm, until it finally stopped trembling.

(MANY HOURS LATER...)

The first thing Konori Mii realized was that she was alive.

Then, she started to feel various sensations. Firstly, she realized that she was laying down.

Then, that the surface she was laying on was cold.

Indeed, she awoke on the the cold, dirty floor.

She felt light hitting her eyelids. She couldn't tell from which direction it was coming from.

Slowly, she heard the distant sounds of the city waking up to live after the night.

As she laid with face pressed to the ground, she became aware of the mould, dust, amonia, and some other aroma tickling her nose.

"Hwah...hapshi!"

The smell proved a little too strong and Konori sneezed, finally clearing her head enough to try to move.

Slowly but steadily, she managed to rotate her body. Then rose up bit by bit until she was sitting and finally opened her eyes.

She was in some abandoned building.

Now that the initial grogginess passed, she actually felt... well rested, especially for sleeping on the cold floor. She felt as if she was fresh after rejuvenating bath and drank her usual portion of milk.

But why was she sleeping on the floor to begin with?

Then, slowly she started to notice additional details.

Firstly, her hand was grasped by another. Although her eyes widened in surprise and she wanted to break free, she stopped in the last moment.

Because secondly, she started to remember. She was searching for Kamijou Touma and others, got interested in the distant sound of explosion in the abandoned neighbourhood, and then upon arrival, she got scared. She didn't remember what was the source of her fright, didn't know if she should be ashamed of running away. But she was never so afraid in her life. Although right now it felt like bad dream, she felt that experience was real.

As her memories started to come back, she noticed something else.

Thirdly, there were red marks, dried in various degrees all around the hand. And not only the hand. As Konori followed her gaze up, she already knew what the red marks came from. She worked in peacemaking along enough to recognize it instantly. Additionally, she recognized the mysterious aroma that made her sneeze upon awakening.

The rusty smell of oxygenating iron.

It was blood. Blood of one person.

And as she finally took a full picture, she gasped. Her hand slipped out of the hold that the person laying next to her put it into, as it went to Konori's lips.

Kamijou Touma was laying next to her. He looked pale as death, which wasn't really all that shocking considering amount red dry splashes around. Particularly big spot was around the joint connecting his right arm to the rest of the body. Quantity was such as if someone took the arm away at some point. But it was now together with the rest of the body, so Konori didn't know what to think of that.

The boys eyes were opened. Upon hearing the girl's gasp, light entered his irises.

"Ugh... " he groaned, trying to get up" I... am glad..."

"Kamijou? W-What... what happened here, who did this..."

And then she remembered some more.

She didn't know what was that memory, but she remember crying and drowning. And that there was a presence that was there with her, holding her hand and hugging her, until the nightmare she saw became only that. A nightmare, an illusion that could be shattered with the first rays of daylight.

The person that was with her, even though he was clearly suffering, had the same gaze as the one penetrating her now.

"Kamijou... you are hurt... we must..."

"... glad that you are... fine..."

Konori's words got stuck in her throat. She finally noticed Kamijou Touma's face.

Dried blood marked ways from mouth, nose, even the eyes. The boy was pale, but still managed to smile. He was obviously not fine. And yet he was only focused on her.

"I am so happy... to see you again, Sexy Glasses..."

"You..." Konori whispered, feeling tears welling inside of her eyes" I don't know what really happened or how it all went through... but I was slipping away. I thought I will never wake up. And you saved me. You saved my life, didn't you?"

Touma slowly got up, before losing balance. Konori sprung up to her feet, catching him right in time.

"Idiot! What were you through? We must take you to the hospital!"

"I've been through worse when I died before... this is not... brokenness I didn't experience already... I just need to rest... don't frown like this, SG. Nothing happened here"

"Oh god, you are not making sense from all the blood loss. That's it, I am definitely getting you help. Don't you dare die here, I will chase you even to underworld if I have to, cause you can't just save me, and leave it like that, damn it!"

So she went to support him and managed to get him out of the building. But it seemed that either though night ended, it didn't want to release them quite yet.

When they were very close to exiting the narrow alley, Konori heard someone running.

She tried to turn around but was too slow with Touma on her shoulder.

She cried out after receiving a strong blow to the head, as she tumbled down to the ground alongside Touma.

"Well, well, well. After calming down to my senses and running around for hours, it seems my luck is back again" the scarred man in a fedora looked at the pair crazily, while holding up a gun" I don't know what sort of ability you use, you damn monster, but it seems that it took quite a toll on you. I will now make you pay for the wreckage you made my gang into"

"Fedora guy... you sure have... a talent for surprise attacks..." muttered Touma.

"I know you." Konori also spoke" We had our photo in the office. You are that notorious child and tourist kidnapper that even Anti-Skill could not find."

"Oh, don't make me blush, I am famous? Tch, as if I care about that now. It's just you, spiky haired bastard, and my gun. This does not concern you, city's lap dog. Move it! Or you will die with him!"

Konori could not do anything to truly attack. She was out of attack range, couldn't reach her weapon, and each move could still result in a shot. So instead...

She rolled over Touma, facing him and shielding him with his body.

"Hey... what are you doing..."

"It's hopeless... I won't stop the bullet... but maybe my body can slow it down enough to somewhat reduce the damage to you..."

"Oi, Judgement! My patience is running really damn low after tonight. Move it or I shoot. Three..."

"Konori... stop it... run..."

"As if I could. You saved my life. As both a girl, Konori Mii, and member of Judgement, I refuse to abandon you. I will protect you till the end"

"Two..."

"There is a chance you may survive, however slim! You always told me I looked like a sexy dorm manager material. Well, I didn't tell you but I was always glad for the compliment. Now, I can put that into a good use." Konori looked at her chest with a strained smile" After all, this bullet will have a lot of obstruction to pass through"

"Don't even dare to joke... Konori, please, get off! We are both getting out of here alive!"

"One..."

"I don't think that will be possible, Kamijou. Hmm... there are many things I still want to do. But tell you what, your face being the last thing I see in this life... it's not that bad at all..."

"SHIIIIIIT! STOOOOOOOP!"

"Zero..." uttered a merciless voice above their heads.

Konori hugged Touma and prepared for the upcoming strike of death.

But it never came.

"What's... what the hell is that smell..."

Konori blinked and sniffed the air. Initially, she felt only smell of Touma and blood, but later, she smelled something else.

"This is..."

"Methane... gas..." Touma smiled.

A moment later, concentrated explosion blasted fedora man straight into the wall.

"Come on, give people a break! You don't kill people in front of someone else's home, that was described as in 'calm and tranquil' neighborhood. What a load of crap! So I think I can do something about that now. Especially when you hurt my friend as well!"

"Another friend of that freakish group? Go to hell!"

Fedora man tried to shoot, but he missed. At the same time, his hand was grabbed by someone else. The beautiful young woman with black hair and blue eyes was towering above him.

"How dare you..." she hissed" point a gun at him!"

In the next moment she touched the wall beside her. It parted and she forcibly took the man inside of the building.

Meanwhile, the guy who first saved Konori and Touma approached them.

"Are you okay? Can you two stand up?"

"Enka..." Touma spoke the name of his rather unique friend, the outcast methane esper" Thank you... what are you doing here?"

"Well, we live nearby. Going to a morning shopping, we heard a commotion and saw this scene. I couldn't possibly leave my friend like this."

"Your companion... will she be okay?"

"Oh, yeah. When she is in a closed space, there is no chance for her to lose against someone like this. She also gets rather pissed when someone threatens me, so... that's that."

And in truth, few minutes later, the girl emerged from the building, holding a completely beat up and K.O-ed adversary.

She tossed him to the ground and sighed

"What a waste of time..."

"Are you Kamijou's friends?" Konori asked.

"Well, I am, she never met him directly..."

"Please, help me take him to the hospital!"

"As I said before, I am completely fi..."

And then, Touma lost consciousness.

"Shit! Umm... okay, I will call the ambulance!" the black haired girl pulled out the phone.

Konori grasped Touma's hand, just like he did when she experienced the living nightmare.

"Please be okay..."

(LATER...)

When Kamijou Touma awoke, it was late morning.

He was in his usual hospital room, and the first one to greet him was the relieved Konori Mii.

"You're awake... are you alright?"

"Yeah, I've been worse... and you?"

"Good. Surprisingly good, considering how pathetic I acted last night. It was like all of the pain I felt... lessened. The fears didn't disappear, but I feel more hopeful... and lighter."

"That's great, that's all I wanted to hear." Touma smiled at her. But the girl in the glasses shook her head.

"There is more to it. You did something, didn't you? I don't know what or how did you do it, but you saved me when I was terrified to the point of mental shutdown"

"How much do you remember?"

"Well, memories are slowly coming back. I know you were there with me this whole time and each time I felt better, you... looked like you were going through pain. Were you suffering?"

"This is not..."

"Be honest here. Did saving me hurt?"

Touma was silent, before nodding.

"Yes, it did. But that pain was worth it."

"Why?"

"Because you are safe. And because I was the one who harmed you in a first place"

Konori put a hand on his shoulder, smiling gently.

"I don't really remember what caused this terror in my heart, nor I wish to recall it. But even if it was your fault, the lengths you went to save me far outweighed now. Even if you made a mistake, I can smile and dream again because of you. I am supposed to be the one protecting you, but today, I can truly say that you were my hero, with or without your fault in all of this."

"Konori-san, you don't understand..."

"I understand enough, at least for me. Although, I do have some questions for you when we get better. Like how are you interfering with my ability or what is your involvement with the various incidents from the past. I hope there will be time for us to clear that out and more. At the same time..."

She slightly bowed her head, which took Touma by surprise.

"I understand if you wouldn't like to have me around. Thinking back at it, I was pretty intrusive and tried to push onto you something that you weren't fully comfortable with just because I envisioned something that could change my life. You take blame for my mental breakdown, but in truth, I feel that I meddled with something that was beyond my understanding and capabilities. I shouldn't have done that. But I still can't stop feeling that I would like to be around you. So if you allow me to be selfish and try to convince you with a thank you gift, it would be wonderful. Now, please close your eyes."

Touma stared for a moment with a bewildered look, before closing his eyes.

"Hmm? So what now, Ko-"

Konori Mii halted his speech.

After all, it was rather hard to speak properly while you were being kissed.

For a moment, nothing besides the birds from the outside and sound of the wind was heard.

Then, the girl backed away and wiped her lips, with small blush on her cheeks.

"I-I am sorry for being so arrogant and abrupt. But I would feel restless if I didn't do it and just carried on like nothing happened. I will never forget what you did for me in that darkness. I thank you, of the bottom of my heart"

She smiled brightly, before standing up, as the open mouthed Touma watched her.

"That's it for me, at least for the time being. I hope to see you around. I will speak with my superior about certain idea I have, so expect a text in the future."

She adjusted her glasses and chuckled at boy's expression.

"You can close your mouth now. You already drool a little in your sleep, you know"

And with that, she walked out of the room.

However, Touma had only a few minutes to recover, because of new guests.

"Hey, Kamijou! How are you feeling?"

"Enka-san? And miss..."

"Hanamiya Kaira. I am a level 4 user of Spaceshifter. So you are the Kamijou Touma I heard about from Enka and Hokaze-senpai? You don't look all that strong or impressive to me"

"HUUUUUH?! What is that supposed to mean?!" the two overlapping female voices sounded from behind.

Two girls entered the room and practically jumped on Touma.

"Kamijouuuuuu! I am so glad... so glad you are alright!"

"You idiot! You dummy! You stupid moron, making us worry like that!"

"Hasako? Maidono?" Touma asked in surprise" I didn't expect you to be the first ones here!"

"Others are coming too, they just stopped to ask a few question to that Judgement girl." said Maidono while touching Touma, as if trying to test if he was actually real.

"When we heard, Maidono flew with me all the way at maximum speed. I am so relieved..." Hasako sniffed, as tears were flowing freely from her eyes."

"Well, with that out of the way..." Maidono glared away from Touma.

With a motion of her index finger, a hospital tray cart jumped forward, pinning the girl named Hanamiya Kaira to the wall. Few other motions, and the cart break apart, with metal restraining the wrists, arms and torso of the girl.

"Hey! What are you-" Enka tried to protest, but was cut by the Kaira herself.

"What the hell? I never seen you before so what's your problem?!"

"Don't insult him in front of us. Just don't, if you value your health"

"Hoshimi..." Touma used the girl's given name (even if fake) to get her attention" Nothing happened. Drop her."

"But-"

"Please."

Maidono grumbled and released her hold.

Upon finding herself on the ground, Kaira walked to Enka's side and looked at Touma

"Jeez, you have some bodyguards"

"They are not bodyguards..." Kamijou smiled awkwardly" It's just they tend to get... emotional and overprotective"

"If he doesn't take offense, then I guess we are relatively in the clear. Just... don't say things like that. You were lucky that I was the one to act now. My friend is not so benevolent once something manages to finally get her to snap"

Kaira looked at Hasako, who was watching her with eyebrows knitted. Although she didn't do anything, Spaceshifter girl found herself sweating as if under intense pressure.

"Who are you then "the prideful girl said, with last burst of confidence" that you feel so confident in opposing high level esper like me?"

"Do me a favour." Hasako said softly, not breaking an eye contact" Your phone device... check Esper Power Databank, look for entry of Beginning Child, and see under Lethality Index."

In esper power database, Lethality Index was the measure of how much the esper power wielded by a particular individual was capable of causing death.

When Hasako returned to the regular life, she was added to the database, however her data remained classified and accessible only with set of passwords.

Hasako gave Kaira passwords to enter partially classified information on her topic. When the previously arrogant girl noticed the position of the scale of lethality, she got deathly pale.

"B-But how?... that's..."

"Are there anymore questions about your attitude towards Kamijou-sama?"

"M-My apologies... I only wished to say that he didn't seem impressive, but the truth is obviously different..."

Her ability allowed her to shift molecules in given volumes of matter and change their partial density to achieve various effects. She could have free herself earlier by changing shape of the metal from the cart and slipping through it.

But looking at both of those girls, she seemed as if she was facing two dangerous predators who just happened to be in a good enough mood to let her be. And also because the person they obviously cared about was watching.

Meanwhile...

"Why are the guess sassing the crap out of each other?" Enka asked Touma

"Beats me. Girls are often hard to understand"

After Touma thanked Enka and Kaira for the rescue, he asked them what happened since he last saw them.

"Well, I saved Kaira here and took care of her... and although I still can't believe it..."

Their hands slowly linked together.

"No!" Touma looked at Enka with a smile" Seriously?!"

"He took care of me and well, things happened... so I decided to give him a chance for dating" Kaira muttered, turning slightly around so slight blush on her cheeks wouldn't be visible.

"What things?"

"That's a longer story for another time! But I have to say it's a lot thanks to your advice. Also..." Enka leaned closer to Touma" Would you believe it? I am such a loser and managed to got myself a hot and cute girl who is turned on by failure. Win-win"

"Don't say such private things in front of our friends, damn it!"

Enka laughed and kissed Kaira on the cheeks, with the girl blushing deeper and trying to forcibly stay in the grumpy mood.

Touma was actually really curious what exactly happened to make such different people like Enka and Kaira into relatively well functioning couple.

But then, the entire group of familiar people arrived.

"Touma!" Index cried out, jumping into the air and hugging him tightly" We were so scared! We ran, then we felt bad that we ran..."

"We tried to find you, but you weren't there! We searched, but with no result" Amazora also chimed in, trying to get on Touma's knees.

"It's great that we got a call to you ended up here!" Othinus said, jumping from Index to Touma's shoulder.

"It's good to see you are alright after that night. I... I am actually not sure what we even experienced back there. Was that an illusion? Or something else entirely?" Kaibi mused out loud.

"Hmph, if you were to die, I would kick your ass so hard-"

"Heheh, Birdie-san actually was panicking a lot before we got here. She almost cried!"

"Shut it, as if you weren't ready to bawl any time during last few hours, you classless twat!"

"So you are telling me that I missed out all of those moments?!" Rikuri was visibly crushed and experiencing massive fear of missing out.

"Trust me, that wasn't experience one would be envious of" Touma tried to reassure the oldest sister.

"But onii-chan, I was so cool! I was like boom, and zoom, and wham! And Birdie-san was decent too."

"I defeated twice as more as you!"

"Then I defeated much stronger once then you!"

"YOU BOTH ALMOST DIED, I THINK THIS LITTLE DETAIL IS VERY IMPORTANT!"

There were few questions asked.

"Maidono, Hasako, what were you doing before coming here?"

"We were actually binge watching some series on TV. Maidono chose this chinese program and now she is super excited with possibility to control scissors with her telekinesis"

"You just don't get it, Hasacchi! I can rotate the scissors and make it look super imposing, or become a hair stylist!"

The telekinetical scissors were indeed rotating very quickly.

"I will be the strongest assassin and hairdresser in the world, no need for the blasted chopsticks!"

"She is cute while in character" Hasako giggled next to Touma's ear.

"Now, behold my mastery of haircutting!"

"Hoshimi, no-"

Moments later, Kamijou Touma gained asymmetric haircut and had to slightly shorten his hair to fix it.

Another short conversation was with Othinus.

"Konori-san kissed me!"

"And?"

"And? Is it normal to kiss someone who terrified you so much? She doesn't have Stockholm Syndrome, does she?"

"I think that was her emotional reaction to being saved like this. When adrenaline drops, she will probably be embarrassed. I know you will find some explanation that doesn't actually involve falling in love... also, I think you and I are the last people who should discuss Stockholm Syndrome"

(LATER)

The visitation for Touma took rather long amount of time, before everyone left, promising to come back soon.

Touma was grateful for letting him rest, as he didn't get almost any sleep last night.

But once again, he was up for a surprise.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Bayloupe, are you coming?"

"Of course I am. How can I miss my own daughter's big day?"

Touma blinked as he was standing in the hall of some sort of hall, with a corridor leading to a place that looked like arena of some sort.

'Is this the future phase again? Are Nephthys and Niang-Niang sending me bits of that from time to time or did they left it earlier on for me to see?'

"Rhain! Don't run away and come here right now!"

Touma first noticed the mature looking woman, that was without a doubt Bayloupe. Her silver hair was longer, but there was no mistaking it. She was dressed up in daring but elegant clothes that Touma could not help but blush upon looking onto.

Next to her was a vibrant and youthful woman with chestnut hair and elegantly trimmed eyebrows visible on the flawless brow. Lancis didn't change as much as Bayloupe, but as she was cute earlier, she reached far greater beauty in adulthood.

Finally, the woman with blond hair and moderate bosom had to be Floris. She also had much more additional charm, but she sported the same tired look of exasperation like when Touma first met her on the train. Although this time, it was caused by a small kid with dark blond hair and blue eyes running around the space around them.

"RHAIN! Get back here... no, don't you dare try to climb that statue!"

"Mom, you are it! If you don't catch me, you are a loser!"

"What did I just say?!" wailed Floris, messing up strands of her light blond hair in frustration" I swear, you are just like your father, you both make it your lives mission to get on my nerves. Well, little mister, don't mess up with your own mother! CHARGE!"

As mother and son zoomed around on a desperate chase, the brown haired infant in the arms of Lancis began to wince and cry.

"Tch, look of what you did, you woke up Étaín."

"Oh, it's alright, Bayloupe, I am sure she will calm down quickly. There, there, Éta, mommy is here" Lancis said softly, caressing the baby in her arms.

The girl stopped crying... only to scream after 10 seconds. Lancis smiled apologetically to Bayloupe, when someone tapped on her shoulder from behind.

"May I give it a try?"

It was a mature woman with a shoulder length dark hair, wearing glasses and an Anti-Skill uniform. Touma muffled a gasp of surprise, although no one around could hear him.

'Is that... also, did her breasts got even bigger?'

"I think I saw a glimpse of you before..."

"My name is Mii. Like you, I was... involved, with Kamijou Touma." Konori Mii, because she was the newcomer, blushed slightly at the implication of the 'involvement'.

"You must be the friends of Lessar. She often speaks of you, even if you are in the UK most of the time"

"We are more than friends, we are sisters. Nice to meet you, miss Mii. My name is Lancis, this is Bayloupe, and that tired one over there is Floris. And as for the little ones, this is my daughter Étaín, while this boy who tries to climb the vending machine is the kid of Floris, Rhain. So, you were saying something about help?"

Konori nodded and, to Touma's utter embarrassment, stuck one of her breasts out.

"Come on, little one. Aren't you hungry?"

The little baby called Étaín momentarily calmed down and began to suck the milk.

"Thanks... you are a lifesaver" Lancis said with relief "I love her to bits, but she can be quite moody from time to time"

"Hmm, babies just seem to like when I feed them, as embarrassing as it may be. I happen to have a newborn son as well, and he likes to feed very often. It's like my body accumulated too much milk... well, I was drinking it the whole life so I guess karma goes back, ahahah"

"Why are you here, miss Mii?"

"Well, it's a fighting tournament. As Anti-Skill officer, I frequent to such events to see if there are some fighters with serious potential for recruitment. What about you... wait a moment, when I think about it... Bayloupe is a rather distinct name. In one of the interviews... are you by any chance related to Aoife, the "Silver Moonlight"?"

Bayloupe's lips stretched out in the demonstration of pride.

"She is my daughter. Today's event is her big time to shine, so there is no way I would miss it"

"W-Wow... your daughter is so talented and strong... it's an honour to meet a mother of such a promising young woman..."

Finally capturing the rebellious son, Floris returned to the group.

"Bayloupe, there is one problem. The VIP tickets, there is not enough for all of us"

"Tch, really? Those idiots booked them wrong! What can we do on such short notice?"

"Maybe I can by of service?!"

Three woman were walking in their direction.

"Long time no see, Mii-san. Good to see you healthy and well" spoke the one in the middle.

Kongou Mitsuko wore a dark red, shimmering dress, that went well the curtain of black hair spreading over her back. The dress was designed to highlight every curve of her attractive body and big bust, while at the same time conceal it in the minimum of decency. She carried a fan made of artificial white feathers.

Next to her were two kids that obviously were siblings. The girl in particular looked very similar to Mitsuko, and walked gracefully by her side, while the boy didn't even try to bother with etiquette and hiding his excitement about entering the place.

On the right, Wannai Kinuho wore long blue dress, with golden clips and necklace with a single water droplet. Over the years, she got very mature proportions. Although she had small obsession with seeking clothes that wouldn't make her look chubby, it was baseless fear. She was very much a charming woman, and her puffy brown hair only amplified her gentle aura and serene beauty.

She too wasn't alone. Clinging to her dress was a small girl, maybe 6 or 7 years old, that had to be her daughter. She wore a small blue sundress, lighter than Wannai. She had had her mother's eyes as well as puffy hair, but it was black, not brown. Her face also appeared to have a slightly different shape.

Finally, there was...

"Help... are we here already? Please, do something..."

Awatsuki Maaya had a white dress that clashed nicely with her long dark hair that was almost purple in certain light. Despite her worries, her feminine side shone through one more levels than one and she radiated confidence and mature charm, just like her other friends.

Well, most of the time, because now she had bags under her eyes and her silky hair was being sucked on by a small boy with a similarly coloured, messy hair, that was only slightly older than little Étaín.

"Seriously though, help! I am all sticky from saliva and need to wash up"

"I can take Hayate if you want, aunt Maaya" Kongou's daughter, Miiya, volunteered. She took small boy in her arms.

"Who wants to play with your older sister?"

The boy laughed and reached out his hands.

However, calm didn't last long before...

"Umm, auntie! It's diaper emergency! Really stinky one!"

"Hayate, seriously? I just changed you..."

"I can help." Floris sighed, stretching out her hand to Awatsuki" tired mothers must stick together. Let's change him well"

"Thank you, I can barely see straight..."

"Well, I happened to overhear your problem. But I have the solution!" Kongou smiled.

Later, Touma found himself in the VIP longue.

"Thank you for doing this, miss Mitsuko" said Bayloupe

"Oh, drop the formality, even if we are not all that close in day to day life, family is still family. Besides, in addition to a model and head of aviation business, we have a mother of a most promising fighter in the group. It simply wouldn't do without proper accommodation"

"Why are you interested in the fighting tournament, Mitsuko-san?" asked Konori.

"Oh, I am not particularly interested. But my son absolutely loves to see Aoife in action. I thought that it would be a fun change of pace so I invited my friends"

"And it seems it was a blessing for us." Lancis sighed" Miss Kinuho, was it? I am so grateful she managed to calm Éta down"

Nearby, Wannai was leaning over small hazelnut haired girl while covering her eyes with a smile.

"Peak-a... boo!"

"Kyah?!"

"A gugu! Coochie coochie coo! Ah coochie coochie coo!"

"Ghehahahaha!"

"Hmm, aren't you just the sweetest little thing? Look Mizumi..." she addressed the small girl with a puffy black hair" this is your little sister. Say hi!"

"M-My name is Mizumi. Very nice... to meet you..." whispered puffy haired girl before becoming overwhelmed by shyness.

"Tickle, tickle, tickle! Your daughter is so ticklish, Lancis-san!"

"Well, that infamous ticklishness of hers just had to go to other generation" Bayloupe smirked slightly, before turning back to the arena.

"Is Lessar going to arrive?" she asked after a moment, addressing only New Light.

"She will be late. Rather typical of her" replied Floris

"So... how is the little competition between you two in regards to Kamijou going?" interjected Lancis quitely.

"Hmph, there is no competition. And if there was, the winner would be obvious. She is younger, I am older. It's always gonna end up with his original preference"

"Even with that advantage, Lessar put up a lot of work into seducing him. And when it happened, she was so happy that she looked drunk on the pleasure. He also sounded rather... enthusiastic, when it came to memories."

"Hmph, that's the difference. I didn't really need any pressuring and when it finally happened, it wasn't just good. It was amazing, glorious, and the best. And the result of this passionate union of yours truly will step on the arena any moment now"

"Got to say, I was surprised when you allowed him to be a driving force in dating and... what followed" said Floris, making sure her son was sitting on the spot nearby and didn't flee to seek some quest he envisioned in his head. But the boy named Rhain was far too focused on conversing with his brother, Tomoya.

"What can I say, I am a dominant girl in life, but even I welcome some creative intake. For example, me and him did..."

She whispered something to Floris' ear, making the more modest girl go crimson.

"H-Huh?!"

"Pretty wild, is it not? Sorry, it's Bayloupe exclusive. Oh, it gives me good shivers..."

"Well, I for once was happy my time was gentle. He was a proper gentleman and it was really romantic..." Lancis sighed sweetly.

"C-Can w-we stop discussing and reviewing our times with him?!" Floris muttered, still flustered.

"Come on, you are an adult woman for how long now? It's not that bad. Not like the time when Lessar proposed for all 5 of us to do it together" Bayloupe crushed an empty can in her hand.

Lancis nodded.

"I honestly thought I will kill her for that. This would completely ruin the experience. It's like... like putting on 4 different gears at once, even if it's rather crude metaphor. He has his own liking, Lessar will go with absolutely every dirty thing, Bayloupe likes dominance, I prefer gentleness, while you, Floris..."

The blond woman was steaming red and covering her face.

"... you never actually told us about your experience, so I don't know what to make of that. Are you still flustered about the fact that you fell for the guy you were so strongly convinced to dislike?!"

"N-No... it's just a top secret and it's private, like how it's supposed to be!"

"Look at her blush..."

"GET OFF MY CASE!"

Meanwhile, Kongou was pouting while sitting on her ornamented VIP chair.

"Is darling going to be here? I get lonely without him."

"Yeah, I think he will be here not before long" Miya smiled reassuringly "But mom, give dad space to breathe when he arrives. Last time he was almost completely red from kiss marks."

"I know, I know, I just can't help it when I see him after a long business trip. Not to mention he looks so dashing and handsome, completed with my fabulous choice of wardrobe... say, honey, wouldn't you like little brother or sister?"

"Mom!"

"Oh, I am kidding... sort of~"

"Honestly... oh, aunt Maaya and Hayate are both asleep"

"Let's be merciful. She didn't have any sleep for 3 days straight after Hayate got tummy ache. I guess we will show her the match later on the recording"

The lights got dimmer. At the same time, a rather frazzled Lessar burst through the door and practically threw herself on the seat near Bayloupe.

"Woah, made it!" she sighed with a grin on her face.

"I am really sorry" muttered Tannia, taking a sit by her mother's side" But she couldn't decide what panties to wear! Mom, for love of god, no one cares what panties to wear for event like this"

"My dear, inexperienced daughter, panties are the first line of battle for everything! They can repel or attract. Panties can resolve conflicts with no need for sword and a gun if chosen correctly. You never know where the day will take you. I was always prepared and that's why me and your dad eloped in a passionate and-"

"Okay, I don't need to hear all the details of that time AGAIN. I know I owe that time for being... well, alive, but... no. The only reason I am here is to watch my sister fight"

"Ssssh!" two boys, Tomoya and Rhain, hushed the mother and daughter duo. They were looking down at the arena in a geeky, passionate way" It's happening! It's Aoife!"

Touma looked down, and noticed that young men and women were coming onto the arena.

The one two boys were focused on was slender and tall, with slightly visible musculature, but in no way excessive amount. She had long greyish-silver hair, identical in hue to Bayloupe's, that was braided into one long ponytail. However, the most mesmerizing were her eyes, visible on the large screens over the arena. They were pale blue with a tinge of grey and seemed to have a peculiar, reflexive shine, as if one was looking at the rare gemstone.

"And now, the favourite, creator of her own original style of fighting, the beautiful and undaunted, Kamijou Aoife!"

'Kamijou...' Touma gulped and looked at Bayloupe, who was clapping her hands with dignity and pride. He couldn't help but feel a little hot, having to look away after a moment.

"Aoife! WE LOVE YOU!" yelled two boys, who were obviously rather big fans of what was about to transpire.

"Don't embarrass her, you idiots! Why are you even so excited, she is your sister!"

"Because she is awesome, duh!" little Rhain jumped in place.

"Sis, she is a top-tier martial artist, and super cool at that. The fact that "Silver Moonlight" Aoife is my half-sister is just cherry on top!"

The girl must have heard the shouts, because she looked in that direction. Even though earlier she seemed stoic, cold even, her features softened and she mouthed 'I love you too' in their direction.

Then, the tournament began. It was apparently freestyle combat tournament, with opponents registering their style beforehand, and having to knock out or make opponent give up in order to win.

And when it was Aoife's turn, Touma was awestruck.

The girl dashed forward so quickly that for a moment, Touma saw only a silver blur, but his experienced eyes finally managed to see her better.

He never saw such moves. Girl called Aoife didn't waste any movement, combined precision and speed with expertly coordinated bursts of strength. She changed the directions and levels of attacks, kicked, punched, used almost all muscles and limbs to move like a well-oiled machine. When one thought she would be struck, she did a squat, bent backwards, or did a backflip. When she was about to be kicked, she twisted her body like wringed cloth.

But most impressive was the way she defended herself, or rather, the way in which she changed defence into offence. Aoife spun around, masterfully using centrifugal force to increase her own attacks after the evasion of other blows. She was doing it so swiftly and moved in such a flowing manner that she looked like she was...

'She is... dancing' Touma realized.

He was not the only one impressed with it.

"You must be proud" Kongou said to Bayloupe.

"She did have the finest of teachers. Myself, Backstabbing Blade, Mightiest Warrior Thor, #7 of Academy City and his wife, and of course... her father"

And as if on cue, Aoife cornered her enemy, and delivered a right hook.

The center of gravity, the stance, the speed and power. It was all perfect, no room for error.

So K.O was the only option

Touma knew that punching style. He punched like this longer than he could remember, literally.

"The winner is "Silver Moonlight" Aoife!"

The girl reached to his bride and slowly let it loose, before raising a hand in triumph which was met with enthusiastic cheers. Touma did not know if Aoife already won or if it was only the qualification, but other things distracted him.

"That's my girl!" Bayloupe screamed with pride.

"You mean 'our', don't you?"

Everyone turned around.

"Darling! You're here!"

"Hey, since when are you watching?"

"Almost the beginning actually. Who wouldn't be here for a big day of his own daughter?"

"You are like ninja, you could have just say hi or something"

"Dad, wasn't Aoife onee-chan super awesome!"

"Oh, it's you... I-I am sorry if I look awful after sleeping..."

"Don't worry, I think you actually look charming."

Touma was the only one who didn't turn back yet and he also did not follow others in greeting the man behind his back. He needed to prepare himself for this.

Finally, he took a deep breath and turned around to face his older self.

Over the crowd of family members, he saw a well-built, yet not overly muscular man, possibly in his 30s. There was no mistake. Even though there was obviously not as much gel in use, the hairstyle was still just as recognizable. But all in all... Touma could not help but smile. Sometimes, he doubted he would be lucky to actually survive for that long, so actually witnessing it was... pleasing.

But, in that moment, the man glitched. With green and purple light.

"Have fun dreaming your little dream?"

Touma's smile crumbled in a second.

The older Touma's skin peeled away and turned to dust. Time slowed down and no one seemed to be noticing the change.

Kamijou No Touma smiled wryly at his other self.

"Hello there, inferior me"

"You..."

"Come on, you didn't think I would actually leave the stage for good, right?"

"Why... why are you doing this?" Touma spoke, taking a step forward.

"Wouldn't you like to know? Don't you remember? I am not some villain who would do a monologue about their evil plans. I am a hero, a hero you were supposed to be. Let's just say that while being put inside you once again, I discovered the way to truly bring things to the way they were. Using what truly belongs to me, the inner might of Imagine Breaker, I will rectify our destiny and make it better for everyone. I'll witness each possible end of our story and erase the one eyesore that prevents final conclusion: you"

"By deceiving everyone and making them miserable? I know you, and you will do whatever the hell you want to achieve your goal. If you hate me that much, it's fine by me, I don't exactly like you too. But don't you dare interfere with others!"

"I wouldn't have to if you did things right, weakling. Face it, you need me to save everyone"

"I will NEVER need you, you bastard!"

"We shall see... maybe this will even humour me. This pathetic attempt of a rebellion you and our shared Imagine Breaker neighbours from within organize" KNT's face grew more wicked as purple and green reflexes danced inside his irises" But it's not going to change a thing."

The world around Touma cracked and the boy noticed in terror that the source of the crack is himself. Meanwhile, the doppleganger traced finger over the cheek of Kongou Mitsuko, kissed Lessar's cheek, and patted small Mizumi on the head

"STOP IT!"

"What's the matter? Why are you so mad? You thought that they weren't actually real, aren't you?" he taunted. The cracks deepened.

"You will not get away with this... you are nothing but a mistake and bad dream!"

"I am afraid that your dream is my reality. And I am emanation of Imagine Breaker, which chose you as a vessel. Are you sure that you are not the one that was added as an extra? Is body gaining a soul or does it form around it, that's the question..."

"Imagine Breaker isn't my soul, I am more than it. I am no one else other than Kamijou Touma!"

"Nice logic, smartass. But I am afraid the same applies to me. Thanks to you, I am more than I was back then, so much more. So mark my words: I will make sure that in each possible way, you are impossibility, while I am necessity!"

The world shattered completely and Touma fell into the darkness, followed by a cold laughter.

Until...

"I got you!"

He suddenly felt himself getting caught by someone and pulled into an embrace.

While his eyes were still closed, he recognized the sweet smell and voice.

Opening his own eyes, he was met with pair of blue and golden eyes looking at him

"Hmm? Can I assume that you fell for me?"

"Nephthys?!"

"Psst, you were supposed to nod! Then I would say, "because you totally stole my heart"... although my heart is actually in the jar elsewhere, so it's unfortunate example... I thought humans liked those jokes, I am just trying to cheer you up."

In each other's embrace, they were floating in the beautiful space that resembled night sky of blue and violet colours with small golden orbs of light around them.

"Where are we?"

"Between dream and waking world. It's rather beautiful isn't it... sniff, sniff..."

"Oi, you are flooding me! Even in dreams you are that tearful?"

"Years of practice. Now, tell me of the encounter I sense you had in the another fragment of our vision."

Touma told her about another experience with future phase and short confrontation with Kamijou No Touma.

"Hmm, so the stakes are as high as I thought. You must speak with the dragons once again, urgently"

"Alright... but before I go, I have one important question."

"Important answer: I never in my life wore any underwear"

"Thank you... I mean, no! The question is: he said something about me becoming impossible, and him necessary. What does it mean?"

Nephthys thought for a moment.

"Are you familiar with modal realism?"

"Modal what?"

"It's a philosophical theory developed by David Lewis that postulates the existence of infinite number of possible worlds, which are the maximum non-contrary states of affairs. Those worlds follow 6 rules. Firstly, they are really existent. Secondly, they are the same as our world, differing only in content. Thirdly, each world is equal to the other and each is actual only for its inhabitants. Fourthly, each world is whole entity and is irreducible. Fifthly, the world are in spatiotemporal separation. Sixthly, thing from one world cannot cause anything in the other world. I admit, I am not sure if other worlds exist. We Magic Gods cannot create alternate realities, only alter the one we are in. We don't even have the way to confirm if there is something out there. But those rules that Lewis applied to possible worlds can very well apply to phases as well. Phases are apparitions of reality, the world-for-me, while your Imagine Breaker is tied with world-in-itself, the objective reality that can't be truly experienced by subjective human eyes. What your other side meant ties closely with possible worlds theory. There are possibly infinite number of phases which contain various possible fates of your counterparts. Something is possible, when it has representation in at least one world out of infinity. Something is necessary when it happens in every world, and impossible, when none of the worlds represents it"

"Which means..."

"That was a declaration of war. He basically said that he will make you stop existing in all possible ends of your story, while taking your place"

"Oh... that's... very bad, actually."

"You are right... but we are not completely defenceless. To truly oppose him, you must master your inner strengths and find one you are already searching for"

"Mitsuari Ayu? How is she linked with all of this?"

"Well, it's not like you will understand all of it now... but she is one of the key components for the future phase to exist at all. We need mental powers of rather specific individuals for this. Also, for her to truly be of use for that, you and her must heal the issues regarding Shokuhou Misaki. I am afraid it will be a no-go without that..."

"Issues regarding who?"

"... which may be a little bit convoluted, given your situation. But don't lose hope, I shall see into that too"

Touma was left to ponder on those mysterious statements, as they floated, still embraced with one another.

"Nephthys..."

"Mmmmhm?..."

"I am afraid that I must go now..."

"Five more years..." she hugged him tighter. Her voice sounded like she was ready to drift to sleep.

"I think you mean five more minutes..."

"Do I?... *yawn*... human time measurements sometimes got mixed up in my head..."

Touma couldn't exactly be mad at her. Nephthys smelled great, was very warm and soft, her breath had a gentle rhytm. All of that made Touma have to fight not to fall asleep and stay in the starry void in the arms of a goddess... even though he was already sleeping.

"Can you take me to where the dragons are?"

"Well, I suppose sleeping when I am not really here would be a waste. Fine... chu!"

She kissed Touma on the brow. From the place in which her lips touch his skin, light began to spread around his body.

"By the way, you still didn't tell me your guess about my so called input to the future phase"

"Huh?"

"Pick your answer: boy? Or a girl? Good answer wins you a grand prize"

"I-I am not sure what you mean... and what if it's both?"

"Ara? Well, then I guess, for once you are in luck, because you would win a prize regardless of everything"

"What... is the prize?"

The last thing he saw before disappearing was the most teasing smile he ever saw of Nephthys' face.

"See you in the waking world, Kamijou."

(LATER)

Touma had some small talk with the dragons. But finally, he addressed Obsidian.

He could feel attention of dragon of darkness on him, which was rather strange, as he had no eyes to focus on him.

"That ability... it was truly powerful. But I don't think that it's my style. I want to save, not terrify into submission. That didn't feel like me at all"

"Even if it's so, you need all of us to truly oppose him, human" dragon answered" I will respect your decision, even if it was great to feel incarnated. But..."

"I am not discarding your power. It will be kept as the last line of defense... and I want you to teach me all about healing trauma. You know, so I won't end up hospitalized when I do this. It may be useful for the future. Being with you made me realize that only becoming darkness makes you truly understand it. It's not evil in itself, only in excess. So... I thank you and ask for continuation of our work"

Black dragon seemed surprised. His mouth twisted in a sign of approval.

"Very well, that's how it will be."

"But I can't stop now. I have to move forward."

He looked at other dragons, before stopping his gaze at Skeletal Flame, and bowing his head slightly.

"Please teach me your power"

The flames on the dragon flickered, when he lowered his head and opened his jaw.

"At once, Kamijou Touma. Let our union be brilliant in effect"

Touma took a deep breath and jumped straight into the tunnel of undead flames. With the sound of bones cracking, the jaws of the dragon closed behind him.

(IN THE WAKING WORLD)

"You are doing it wrong! It should be nyah, not... me-ow?"

"I am an aristocrat, fluent in 3 languages, controlling the 4 elements, with master of strategy and human management, one of the most acclaimed talents in my country... and you tell me I can't imitate a cat?!"

Touma opened his eyes and noticed 2 young girls arguing near his bed. Upon his awakening, Amazora and Birdway quickly straightened as both faced him.

"Hey... what's up with those clothes?"

Both girls wore maid uniforms and cat costumes consisting of ears and tails. As if on command.

"Welcome back, onii-chan. We want to play with you, nyah"

Birdway coughed and also spoke, holding her slightly curled hands to her cheeks.

"I am your sister kitty for the evening, so let's have fun, meow..."

"O-Okay, should I be afraid? Did you do something to your head?"

"No you fool!" in a flash of anger, regular short-fused Birdway returned, before calming down" Me and Gokusai talked and decided... that yesterday was far too less about you."

"So we are at your service now! We met a new friend who told us this was a way to repay you and lent us those outfits!" Amazora beamed, making a heart from her hands and sending a wink to Touma

"Huh?"

"Firstly, yesterday, we didn't actually do anything with you, only argued with one another. Secondly, you had balls to save Gokusai from being killed, and my charming face from being beaten up... or worse. You saved us both. Not to mention you called us all... siblings. Even the boss of Golden Coloured Sunlight has to pay debt after something like this"

And so, Touma was indulged by two girls.

"I made those sandwiches especially for you. Say "aaaah" and let it be tasty, big brother" with a sweet smile, Birdway presented to him a sandwich.

"I-I am not so sure about it... most culinary experiments I try are..."

"EAT UP!" Birdway showed the sandwich into his mouth without holding back.

After managing to chew and swallow the food, Touma blinked in surprise.

"This... was actually good"

Birdway puffed her chest in pride.

"Only the best for my brother. A-Also... it's... Leivi..."

"What? I can't hear you"

"IT'S LEIVINIA! My name... s-since we are siblings, for as long as we both want it, call me... Leivinia. Then I will call...Touma"

Touma smiled at the british magician.

"Fine by me. Though Leivinia is a little long. Wouldn't Leivi-chan be easier?"

"Don't push it. Lei-vi-nia. Add 'chan' and I am kicking your ass"

Next, Amazora massaged his back and shoulders.

"You are really good in this, Amazora. Is it because you can use your telekinesis to form pressure on your hands?"

"Heh heh, onii-chan discovered my secret. But the true power of those hands comes from something else"

"Huh? What's that?"

"Loveeeeee..."

They watched a movie. Played the board game together. Discussed a book Touma was reading recently. Enjoyed sibling trivia. Painted each other's faces. Ordered a pizza and were chased by nurses because of it. Played charades, and laughed hard because of impersonations that were made.

They did many more fun stuff and soon they were all laughing together, as if they've been regular siblings for many years.

The sky was darkening when Touma laid on his hospital bed pulled outside with two girls at each side, observing the sunset.

He gained another part of his extended family. The true sworn sisters.

Upon Amazora's insistance, each of them pricked their finger and put a droplet of blood in two drinks, before handing it to other two. As they drank it, they symbolically became sworn siblings. As Birdway acknowledged Amazora as useful, even if annoying rival, the two bonded this way without much of an objection.

It all seemed perfect.

Until the phone rang.

Looking at the device, Touma was bewildered. He didn't heard the name for a long time and he certainly didn't think he would get a call from that person ever in his life.

It was a video call from Kihara Enshuu.

He honestly was shocked to the core, but picked up anyway.

"Hello?"

The display showed middle-school aged girl with blue eyes and black hair buns on both sides of head, wearing pink sweater and torn black stockings, with a phone, small micro-TV, and other devices hanging from her neck.

"Welcome. I am grateful that communication worked. Do you happen to recall me?"

"W-Well, it's a bit hard to forget Baggage City. How do you have my number?"

Birdway frowned

'She was in that infamous Baggage City. Who is she...'

"I used Souji onii-chan's pattern to find the most profitable way of recovering it via hacking..."

"R-Right..."

"It's not very Kihara-like to waste time on idle chat, so I will get straight to the point. As you may remember from our previous encounter, I use over 5000 thought patterns of the Kihara family. In most instances, I don't have opportunity to actualize the thought pattern after its assimilation. However, I would like to request your cooperation in thought pattern realignment"

"You need to actualize your thought pattern? Why?"

"As a non-Kihara, it may be hard to grasp for you, so I will follow with elaboration. I used various patterns for various tasks. For example, I use Amata ojii-san and Kagun ojii-san's thoughts for attack, Noukan ojii-san's for interpersonal relationships, Therestina obaasan and Yuiitsu-oneechan for sneak attacks and distraction. But I find your thought pattern... preferable in the situation without clear criteria. It makes my dopamine and serotonin levels increase, which allows for the more efficient usage of other patterns"

If she wasn't a member of Kihara family and raised in solitude, Enshuu would probably say that feeling and thinking like Touma brought her pleasure. But, at least for now, that concept had no place in her mind.

"But your thought pattern is rather erratic and hard to comprehend for a Kihara, so I would like to perfect it by empirical observation and study of your behaviour and habits."

"S-So you wish to... spend time with me?"

"That would be the most efficient method. Is that clear to you, Touma onii-chan?"

Touma heard something breaking, loudly, behind his back, and two sounds that were terrifyingly close to growling.

"Y-Yeah, of course it is..."

"I detect hesitation in your voice. Is it because I am younger than you? I can research Yuiitsu-oneechan's, Byouri-obaasan's, and Therestina-oneechan's patterns in hope to find a matching solution for the usage of womanly charm to increase my chance of success..."

The growling became louder and more fierce.

"T-There is really no need..."

"Or maybe it's because those two ugly children behind you?"

"WHO DO YOU CALL UGLY CHILDREN, YOU ******?!" roared two voices behind Touma's back, almost causing him to lose hearing.

"Using Amata-ojiisan's pattern, with 1 hour preparation time, I can devise and enact over 2000 methods through which I can dispose of them for your distraction to cease. This number will be drastically reduced if I will need to dispose of the bodies without a trace but..."

"N-NO! There is no need to kill anyone..."

" That would be the most effective, but if you say so... I also heard that you academic skills in regards to esper power development are the equivalent of prize for participation..."

"P-Please don't say it like this!"

"...perhaps, tutoring you would be a task worthy of Kihara. Would that be a good enough prize for cooperation?"

"You would help me! Thank you!"

"I assume we have agreement then. I will eagerly await our reunion, Touma onii-chan"

"Wait, Enshuu-"

But she already hung up.

Two girls behind Touma looked as if someone set fire in their eyes.

"E-Ehm..."

"You have a sister among the Kihara?!"

"I-I don't know, she just happens to call me onii-chan... Amazora, you don't like Kihara family? Not that I blame you..."

"I met them before! The younger Kihara, like this bitch" the curse that was more venomous than Amazora's usual behaviour" mocked me for using my weapon. They said that you could swap me with monkey and the intelligence would change!"

"Well, well, well..." Birdway struck her hand rhytmically with her wand" seems like someone really gets around... any last words?!"

'Please universe... give me this! I need something for the distraction. Let someone call right now! Anyone, just let this divert the attention from the hell that is about to occur.'

He should be careful what he wished for.

The phone did, in fact, ring again.

Touma quickly picked it up as it was life saving medicine.

And paled almost instantly.

Of all the people... even though he told her earlier that he would be the one to call...

It was a video call from Tatsugami Otohime.

Forced to play along if he already started, Touma answered the call. It displayed a young girl with messy dark hair standing in front of the wall with family photos.

"H-Hello there Otohime?"

"Hi, do you have time to talk now?"

'W-Why is the phone stuck on a speaker mode? Seriously? Work with me fate! Please!"

"Yeah, but I don't have much time. I will call you when I have more of it, 'kay?"

"I know you must be busy, onii-chan..."

Touma heard the noise from Birdway's side, which horrifyingly resembled twisting metal railing of the hospital bed.

"... but I wanted to say that I really miss you. My parents are busy again, so auntie Shiina and uncle Touya let me stay the night. We were just remembering the times when we use to play with each other as kids. We climbed trees, slept in hammock... remember all the times we've been taking a bath together? You always knew how to wash me to get all the dirt from the playground?"

Death was approaching and Touma could feel it very well behind his back, as Amazora cracked her knuckles..

"R-Really? Those were the times... listen, Otohime, the service here is really bad..."

"Oh, really? I will be sure to call later then. Or rather... there will be no need! When I have the chance in the future, I will be sure to visit you on some festival occasion. Then we can do all those things again. Only this one it will be better, because I am not a kid anymore and-"

WHOOM!

The phone was knocked out of Touma's hand and call ended as two girls started to close in on Touma. And they were really not in the mood for talking.

"I-Isn't it normal in some families to have more than two sisters?" the boy said weakly" w-wait, s-stop... I-I am still huuuuuuuuurt!"

The cat girls turned into lions.

(LATER)

He was supposed to be discharged next day.

It was night time but Kamijou Touma couldn't sleep.

Even though Birdway and Amazora punished him for so called 'infidelity', they still decided to stay by his side instead to returning to the hotel and apartment respectively. So now they were sleeping on top of his covers, one by each side.

Touma sighed and laid down. It was emotional two days and he needed some sleep.

But just when he was about to fall asleep, his phone beeped.

When notification sounded for the second time, he reached for it.

What was in the message got his attention.

It was from Kumokawa Seria and said simply.

'We have a strong lead for Ayu-san's whereabouts. Come to me tomorrow afternoon, because the search is finally on'

(MEANWHILE)

Few hours passed since Shokuhou Misaki said her goodbyes for the day for the members of her clique, ate her imported and carefully selected dinner, and done her bedtime routine.

But she wasn't ready. No, it was rather that she didn't want to go to sleep.

She was like a child who believed that the day would never come if she stays awake.

But minutes, and later hours passed, and finally, it was midnight.

The beautiful golden haired girl stood before the calendar. Finally, as if her hand was weighing tons, she crossed out a day marked in red.

The red kanji read

'Anniversary of accident/our separation'

Misaki walked dully, switching off the lights, and then crawling under the covers.

She looked at the beam of moonlight that illuminated her room and her bed. Yet she didn't found will in herself to get up and do something about the curtains.

It was 2 years worth of time already...

"My prince... I miss you so very much... and yet I love you even more too" she whispered quietly, letting single tear shine in the moonlight. She didn't allow herself anymore because she genuinely feared that if she did so, she would not be able to raise next day, not to mention sleep.

But as that grieved in the dark, could she really imagine where the incoming day will take her?

(TO BE CONTINUED...)

And so we arrive at the conclusion. I simply cannot wait, I already finished the chapter, but the next will be awesome, at least it feels like it in my mind and in the concept.

One of the stars of this chapter was Konori Mii. I felt like she needed a spot in a fanfic like this. Even though she technically was involved and had a crush on Kurozuma... sorry Wataru, you were cool, but not cool enough for me not to rob you of your waifu and give her to Touma. If you write multiple harem routes, go for the win and explore as many as you can. Besides, I feel that Kurozuma and Konori would genuinely face a lot of long-term relationship troubles if she stayed with Judgement and he with the gang.

Few lore details and credits.

I took a lot of time in devising names and personalities of Touma's various children for future phase. I am deeply saddened that I can't draw at all, otherwise I would make a big family photo. So far, future phase and various timelines that fused together incorporate 16 daughters and 12 sons, not counting children of Aradia and (possibly) Nephthys. We have: Shiina Tsushima (Shishi), Kenjou, Ryodou, Kaizumi, Elizabeth, Mary, Miya, Tomoya, Tsubasa, Chousuke, Shizuka, Sei-chan, Kiseki, Kanari, Britannia, Angelo, Takami, Haruto, Leo, Kira, Parvati, Seika, Aoife, Étaín, Rhain, Mizumi and Hayate, as well as Konori's yet unnamed son.

For children of New Light, I went with celtic names to have some meaning tying it to UK soil.

So, the dragon of darkness went pretty hard. I was inspired by OSTs "Stolas of Ars Goetia" and "Return to Ash" from Evangelion when I was writing those rather dark (pun... kind of intended) scenes. I wanted it to be the sort of power that Touma would not identify with, but wants to master because of certain aspect of it. He also got overconfident with it which ended scaring Konori, which links with a hinted risk of incarnating the dragons through Touma's body because the powers take toll that is either mental, physical, or combines both.

With dragon of darkness, control of fear makes you confident and devalues your morality, letting out scariest darkness. With dragon of undead fire, it amplifies you rage and you enter a 'death drive'. With dragon of illusion, you gradually lose the idea of what is false and what is true. With dragon of poison, the power can spread on both your body and environment if you are not careful. With dragon of energy and lightning, if you lose control, you become said energy and lightning which is very powerful, but a step away from losing humanity. With dragon of memory, manipulating identities makes one need to constantly recall his own identity or it will fade. With dragon of ice and crystal, your body will slowly crystalize if you are not focused enoughed. All of those may happen if Touma loses control.

Now, few short bios of new generation introduced in this chapter. I planned to reveal it later, but upon strong insistence, I am doing it already.

Aoife Airgid Gealach Kamijou (イーファ エアギッド ゲラッフ 上条 ), or simply Aoife (pronounced EE-fa) is the daughter of Bayloupe. Her full name means "Beauty of Silver Moon" in gaelic. It was chosen because of long silver hair Aoife inherited from her mother and rare colour of eyes, which is a very pale blue with a tinge of grey around the iris, resembling the mineral moonstone. She is passionate about dancing and martial arts, mastering dances and dance-like fighting styles from west and east. Quirk of Aoife is changing her hairstyle on the occasion, wearing loose hair in casual setting and braiding it when she engages in fight. As she tends to her beauty, she relies more on speed and precise pressure than strength of muscles. Outside of fighting, she is much more mellow and gentle. Aoife acts like a straight woman of the children of New Light, despite being younger than her half-sister Britannia.

Rhain Idris Kamijou (イン イドリス 上条) is the elementary school-aged son of Floris. His full name means "spear of ardent ruler" in welsh, referring to New Light's signature Steel Glove. Despite inheriting his mother's looks, he retains his father's straightforward personality. His carefree attitude and hyperactivity tends to get on his mother's nerves and trigger her paranoiac outbursts. Despite this, Floris is very protective of him and always tends to him if he gets hurt during one of his exploits. Rhain is very passionate about many things and is the type of curious explorer who never sets for everything. He is the only male child of New Light members but it doesn't make much of a difference to him, true to his optimistic nature.

Étaín Morrigan Kamijou (エタン モリガン 上条) is the infant daughter of Lancis, the youngest of 4 New Light children showed in certain fragment of future phase (chronology is relative due to the merging of timelines). Not much is yet known about her due to her age, but she is said to be a beautiful baby and very endearing to play with. She inherited her mother's sensitivity and laughter, but it remains to be seen if magic causes the same condition. Just like older half-sister Shishi, Étaín remains universally loved and adored by her family. Her first name referes to the female heroine of Irish myth, Tochmarc Étaín, while her second name is the name of celtic goddess of war, magic, and destruction.

Kamijou Mizumi (上条水美) is the daughter of Wannai Kinuho. Taking hairstyle and eye colour after mother, and hair colour after her father, she is very shy, gentle, and is know to be a daydreamer. Her name means "Water Beauty". Mizumi often writes down her thoughts and keeps mini-diaries, most of which contain adventures her many siblings are part of. She dreams of writing a book about adventures of her father and his friends one day, but is unsure if she can do it because of her shy demeanor. Only select few know of this aspiration, including her parents, who encourage her to try at every opportunity.

Kamijou Hayate (上条疾風) is the son of Awatsuki Maaya. His name means "Gale" and was chosen as a homage to his godmother, Kongou Mitsuko. Resembling his father, he has a unique black hair bordering on the colour purple in certain light. Being born too early, there was a chance of Hayate not being strong enough to survive and only after help of Heaven Canceller and other doctors did the boy's state managed to stabilise. Hayate is a rather demanding child, but Awatsuki treats her motherhood like a mission and does absolutely everything she can to help her son grow. Tending for Hayate in his early life actually made both his siblings really careful and watchful around him.

Lullaby that Touma sings to Amazora and Birdway is 'Sleepsong' by Secret Garden

Karaoke song is 'Hey Brother' by Avicii

I do not own any of those songs.